LYVA Labs Hosts Net Zero Discussion for Liverpool's Manufacturing Network at Glass Futures

Photo, l-r Tom Johnston, Operations Director, Arete Zero Carbon; Francis Wight, Investment Manager, LCR CA, Paul Tallon, LYVA Labs’ Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Cluster Manager; Lorna Greene, CEO LYVA Labs; Colin Tattam, Executive Director for Net Zero and Sustainable Industries, Innovate UK KTN; Rory Back, R&D Incubator Technical Manager at St Helens-based NSG Group; Patrick Fenner, Director, and Head of Engineering at DefProc; Stephen Sykes, Managing Director 2030hub; Gary Adlen, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Carbon Happy World; Joe Cooke, Innovation Partner, LYVA Labs; Ivo Kerkhof, Senior Innovation Consultant, LYVA Labs.

Two of Liverpool City Region’s (LCR) innovation leaders, LYVA Labs, and Glass Futures combined their knowledge, networks, and facilities, to connect businesses, academics, and funders, from LCR’s advanced manufacturing sector.

The Innovation in Net Zero Event, run by LYVA Labs as part of Innovate UK’s Advanced Manufacturing Launchpad programme, stimulated discussion about how and where the sector can support the city region’s ambition to become net zero by 2040 – a full 10 years ahead of the UK target.

Lorna Green, CEO of LYVA Labs said: “We were delighted to see such broad representation from across the advanced manufacturing sector at this event, and hope it initiated some useful collaborations. The inspirational stories shared on the day highlighted the range and ambition of net zero innovation and partnerships already taking place in the region’s thriving advanced manufacturing sector.”

Speakers at the event included: Peter Liggett, Senior R&D Project Manager at St Helens-based Glass Futures, who talked about their world-leading R&D testing and trials facility, driving decarbonisation in glass production; Rory Back, R&D Incubator Technical Manager at St Helens-based NSG Group, who explained how the company produces low-carbon glass and develops glass products to enable net-zero buildings and transport; and Patrick Fenner, Director, and Head of Engineering at DefProc, who discussed an award-winning net-zero partnership with Northern Gas Networks.

A panel, chaired by Colin Tattam, Executive Director for Net Zero and Sustainable Industries, Innovate UK KTN, welcomed Francis Wight, 'Investment Manager, LCR CA; Gary Adlen, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Carbon Happy World; Tom Johnston, Operations Director, Arete Zero Carbon, and Stephen Sykes, Managing Director 2030hub, to discuss LCR’s plans to achieve net zero earlier than other parts of the UK.

The event was the second in a series designed to engage with key people in the advanced manufacturing sector about challenges, opportunities, and themes in the sector.

LYVA Labs, which was created with a £10.5m investment from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, was excited to host the event at Glass Futures as the facility represents the scope and ambition of LCR’s investment in innovation and the manufacturing industry. Glass Futures was set up with the help of a £9m grant from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and a £15m UKRI grant.

Peter Liggett, Glass Futures’ Senior R&D Project Manager, said: “This event was the perfect opportunity for us to support LYVA Labs in its quest to bring key innovators, entrepreneurs, and funders together to discuss decarbonisation. Attendees took a tour of our facilities, which will be the world’s first test and trial furnace for industry and government-backed R&D projects, giving them first-hand insight into how St Helens is helping to drive decarbonisation across the region.”

LYVA Labs looks forward to inviting its Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Network to our next event, which is due to take place early next year. Sign up here to join our Advanced Manufacturing LinkedIn site to learn more about the date, theme, and venue.