Swedish clean energy-tech company Aira, has officially opened its new hub in Manchester.
The centre of operations will create hundreds of highly skilled jobs in the North-West of England, contributing to Aira’s overall goal of hiring 8,000 clean energy expert roles across the UK over the next decade.
Earlier this year, Aira’s market research found that over one in three people based in the North West of England (39%) were likely to install a heat pump in their home when renovating their home or replacing their heating system, showing a growing consumer interest in clean energy solutions. The local authorities are also supporting the clean energy transition, with both the GMCA and the LCRCA’s ambitious net zero targets set at 2038 and 2040 respectively, aligning well with Aira’s ambition to take Europe off gas by accelerating the electrification of residential heating.
Aira’s new base in Trafford will operate as the company’s centre of operations in the North-West under the leadership of Marc Clarke, who joined Aira in 2023 and has over 20 years’ experience in the home heating sector. The existing team of clean energy technicians have installed thousands of heat pumps throughout their careers and new roles will include planners, salespeople, designers, customer service agents, heat pump installers, apprenticeships and new positions in the local leadership team.
Following Aira’s acquisition of Yorkshire-based All Seasons Energy in 2023 and the recent opening of the first Aira Academy in Sheffield, the North-West hub is the next step in Aira’s expansion across the North of England, serving households in key cities and surrounding areas of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire, Cheshire and more.
Marc Clarke, Aira head of region, North West said: “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. 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.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, who was on hand for official ribbon-cutting duties, added: “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. 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.”
