Promoting a green economy

Norfolk is on a mission to grow its economy in a way that protects the environment, creates good jobs, and improves life for everyone. We're investing in clean energy, greener businesses, better skills, and stronger infrastructure to support a more sustainable future.

Key sectors leading the way

Norfolk is home to exciting industries that are helping tackle climate change and build a greener future.

Clean Energy: Norfolk is a global leader in offshore wind, which will produce clean power for over four million homes in the UK. Bacton in North Norfolk offers significant opportunities in the energy space ranging from Carbon Capture, utilisation, and storage to the production of Hydrogen and other alternative e-fuels.
Agri-Food, Agri-Tech and Life Sciences: From farms to food research labs, Norfolk is leading the way in growing food sustainably while protecting nature.
Life Sciences: Norwich Research Park is a world-leading centre for food, health, and life sciences, driving global innovation through cutting-edge research, biotechnology, and genome science.
Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering: Local businesses are building greener technologies, from electric vehicles to eco-friendly products.
Construction: New homes and buildings are being designed to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Tourism and Culture: We're making Norfolk an all-year sustainable holiday destination, boosting the economy while preserving our heritage and environment.

Supporting local businesses

We're helping Norfolk's businesses grow and go green by:

Creating Green Business Hubs: We're building places like clean energy campuses and food innovation centres where green businesses can grow.
Offering Free Business Support: Our New Anglia Growth Hub will provide specialist sustainability business guidance as well as support access to funding to implement new practices and purchase low carbon technologies. This will help them to become more sustainable, innovative, and successful.
Strengthening Supply Chains: We're encouraging local companies to work together, especially on big green projects like wind farms and clean transport.
World leading research base: Through Norwich Research Park, Agri-tech, Fintech and Digi-tech, advanced manufacturing sectors look to encourage and support our businesses through their decarbonisation and sustainability journeys while enabling them to continue to survive, thrive, innovate and grow.
Investing in Green Ideas: We support new technologies that make life better and the planet healthier—like sustainable packaging made from mushrooms!

People and Skills for a green future

We're making sure everyone can benefit from clean growth by:

Creating Green Jobs: As we grow, we're creating jobs in sectors like renewable energy, green farming, sustainable construction, and digital tech. Considerable employment opportunities exist within current and proposed development of Norfolk's offshore wind Zone, Sizewell C Nuclear Power Plant in Suffolk and Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon Wind Farm extensions.
Skills for the Future: Our schools, colleges, and universities are offering new training to help people gain the skills needed for today's green economy. As partners of the Building Growth Skills Network (BGSN) for Norfolk and Suffolk we will bring together businesses and stakeholders to support workforce development and the uptake of green apprenticeships.
Reaching Everyone: We're working to make sure rural and coastal communities aren't left behind, by offering better access to learning and job opportunities.

Infrastructure

To support our clean growth, we're improving the way Norfolk is built and connected. Housing and transport are core to our transition to a low carbon economy particularly around energy, water and digital connectivity:

Transport: We're upgrading major roads, supporting better bus services, and encouraging walking and cycling to reduce pollution. Improving transport connectivity will encourage people to use more public transport, cycle or walk to connect to their services. Transport accounts for 26% of Norfolk's carbon emissions with 92% of that amount due to road vehicles. 
Energy Access: We're making sure homes and businesses can benefit from clean, reliable energy through a Norfolk and Suffolk Energy Plan and improved energy infrastructure. We will explore opportunities for community energy and infrastructure that directly benefits residents. These projects include retrofitting houses, community built solar systems, heat networks and small-scale energy infrastructure which is owned and managed by communities.
Places to Work: We're building new spaces for green businesses, including offices, labs, and workshops.
Sustainable Housing: We're supporting eco-friendly homes and revitalising older neighbourhoods in towns across Norfolk.