The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has signed a new collaboration agreement with Daikin to further its low-carbon work in the area.
As part of the collaboration agreement, Daikin has been designated as the first member and chair of the newly formed Greater Manchester Low Carbon Heating Industry Group, a first for both the industry and the Combined Authority.
The agreement was signed by Andy Burnham, Tomoji Miki, the managing director of Daikin UK and Tsubouchi Toshitaka, president of Daikin Europe.
The collaboration agreement will last for up to five years, following the success of the two year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GMCA and Daikin, which focused on decarbonisation and the transition to low-carbon heating, developing green skills and jobs for Greater Manchester residents, supporting communities through practical action and outreach and driving innovation and industry leadership in heat pump deployment.
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Daikin has played a significant role in our journey to make Greater Manchester a greener, more sustainable place to live. Our partnership has delivered low-carbon heating technology through the installation of 1,500 heat pumps, while educating our young people about sustainable technologies and boosting our green skills offering.”
“We’ve already achieved a great deal together, and we’re excited to continue building on that strong foundation. Daikin’s ongoing investment in skills, innovation and low-carbon technology is exactly the kind of partnership we need to help drive lasting change in Greater Manchester. We look forward to continuing our work with Daikin as they grow their presence in Greater Manchester.”
Under this renewed partnership, Daikin UK will chair Greater Manchester’s Low Carbon Heating Industry Advisory Group, bringing together businesses and policymakers to strengthen collaboration across the region’s green economy, tackle decarbonisation challenges and help shape Greater Manchester’s journey to net zero.
The GM Low Carbon Heating Industry Group aims to create a joint space for all willing organisations committed to innovating in Greater Manchester and accelerating low-carbon heat deployment in the region. This will be the first time a group of low-carbon heating ‘innovators’ will work together in this way, focusing on delivering the GM Five-Year Environment Plan target of installing 64,000 low-carbon heating systems across Greater Manchester between 2025 and 2030.
Tomoji Miki, managing director of Daikin UK, commented: “The Memorandum of Understanding between Daikin and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority has been a powerful example of what can be achieved through meaningful collaboration and shared ambition.”
“Over the past two years, we’ve not only helped to decarbonise homes and buildings through the deployment of heat pump technology, but we’ve also made real progress in addressing the skills gap that sits at the heart of the net zero transition. By working closely with local authorities, education providers and community partners, we’ve built a strong foundation for lasting change. Looking ahead, Daikin remains deeply committed to Greater Manchester’s 2038 carbon neutrality target, and we are excited to continue supporting the region through innovation, investment, and our shared vision for a low-carbon future.”
The forward plan confirms Daikin’s commitment to GM’s transition to carbon neutrality by 2038, building on the strong foundation established over the past two years. In addition to chairing the new Industry Group and feeding into the Low Carbon Challenge Group every six months, Daikin’s individual programme will include a focus on initiatives to grow the market, including:
- Investing in Greater Manchester: New Training Centre Opening in Summer 2025
- Growing numbers of new entrants into the local skills base: Employ 30 apprentices up to 2030 in line with the volume of work with GM.
- Utilising national policy support changes for heat pumps locally, for example, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS).
- Raising awareness: Continuing to deliver heat pump awareness sessions during installation programmes for Local Authorities or social housing landlords.
- Tackling homelessness: Delivering plans in place for supporting the Embassy Village project.
- Innovation: Ensuring the connection of at least 170 heat pumps in social housing in GM through the 5G Innovation Region funding by March 2026.
- Collaborating with other Greater Manchester partners and Daikin’s customers to accelerate the delivery of low-carbon heat.
