North West clean energy-tech hub opens in Trafford, Greater Manchester

The facility has launched as part of a £300 million private investment in UK-based green innovation.

Swedish firm Aira officially opened its new hub in Trafford, Greater Manchester, a borough which has already established as an epicentre of climate tech research and development.

The facility will create hundreds of high skilled jobs for residents across the North West of England. Overall, Aira has committed to hiring 8,000 clean energy experts over the next decade to help meet rising demand for heat pumps across Britain. 

‘It’s fantastic news that Aira has chosen Greater Manchester as its centre of operations in the North-West. The company has exciting plans to grow in the UK and the investment in their new base in Trafford will generate many high-quality jobs for people across the city-region,’ said Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester. ‘Retrofitting homes and buildings is a critical part of our net zero journey, both locally and nationally, and so we welcome the contribution of innovative, clean energy technology companies like Aira.’

According to the company’s own research, one-in-three people living in the region were likely to install a heat pump at home when next carrying out renovations, with this level of consumer interest catalysing the decision to open a new HQ in the area. Earlier this year, Aira opened a new site in Sheffield, having taken over All Seasons Energy in 2023, with this latest development emphasising a commitment to England’s northern cities and towns. 

‘The opening of our North-West hub marks a crucial step toward Aira’s ambition to serve one million homes across the UK with clean energy-tech solutions,’ said Marc Clarke, Aira Head of Region, North West England. ‘The North-West region is rich with skilled workers, all the way from the Lake District to Stoke, making it a natural fit for our hub location. We’re excited to help people across the region transition to low-carbon heat pumps, helping them save money on their heating costs, while reducing CO2 emissions.’

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Image: Aira