Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Sustainable Ventures Launches Manchester Climate Tech Hub in Renold Building Sustainable Ventures, the UK’s leading growth partner for climate tech businesses, has officially launched a new climate tech hub in Manchester, located in the Renold Building, a recently Grade II-listed site formerly part of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST). […]
Sustainable Ventures, the UK’s leading growth partner for climate tech businesses, has officially launched a new climate tech hub in Manchester, located in the Renold Building, a recently Grade II-listed site formerly part of the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
The new hub is capable of hosting over 100 businesses and provides funding, workspace, and tailored business support to help climate tech startups scale more quickly and create jobs in the region. It builds on the success of Sustainable Ventures’ existing hub in London.
The Renold Building, known for its brutalist architecture, first opened in 1962 to educate generations of engineering students. It now forms the first phase of Sister, a major new innovation district developed in partnership between Bruntwood SciTech and The University of Manchester.
Sustainable Ventures’ new facility has been developed using sustainable materials sourced from Manchester and surrounding areas, reflecting its core mission to drive environmentally responsible innovation.
The Manchester hub has been backed by investment from both Barclays and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. Together with Sister, they have supported more than 15 companies to install and trial cutting-edge sustainable materials within the Renold Building. These include:
Low-carbon wall tiles by Dekiln
Sheep wool acoustic tiles by Wull Technologies
Carbon-negative bricks by earth4earth
Natural fibre partition walls made of hemp straw and mineral binders by Ubuild
The choice to locate the hub in the Grade II-listed Renold Building goes beyond symbolism. Adaptive reuse of existing structures is a key sustainability practice, significantly reducing embodied carbon, the emissions associated with producing construction materials and building anew. Instead of demolishing and rebuilding, Sustainable Ventures’ approach preserves architectural heritage while modernising functionality to support a green economy.
This model reflects a growing global trend: making the built environment part of the climate solution by reimagining how space, design, and materials contribute to sustainability.
The hub will also serve as a business support platform for various stakeholders in the climate tech ecosystem:
Start-ups and entrepreneurs will gain access to customers, partners, investors, and expert guidance from the Sustainable Ventures team.
Investors and corporates can engage directly with high-potential climate tech businesses and learn from proven early-stage partnerships.
Public sector and academic institutions will be invited to explore replicable models for growing regional climate tech ecosystems and collaborate on shared environmental and economic goals.
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:
“This hub is doing what Manchester does best – bringing together the right expertise from a broad range of disciplines to deliver our vision for low carbon investment and economic growth.”
She emphasized that the hub’s strategic location in Manchester’s innovation district creates an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration between the public sector, academia, and commercial partners.
James Byrne, Partner at Sustainable Ventures, added:
“We’re thrilled to co-invest with regional partners into this exceptionally well-located climate tech hub at Sister in Manchester. The unique approach to its development has accelerated the use of innovative sustainable materials, many of which have come from the local area or are supported by Greater Manchester’s world-class academic institutions.”
He noted that bringing over 100 businesses together under one roof would contribute significantly to Manchester’s climate tech growth trajectory.
The launch of the Manchester Climate Tech Hub marks just the beginning of a broader ambition to strengthen the climate tech ecosystem in the North West and across the UK. By supporting high-potential businesses, attracting inward investment, and fostering public-private-academic collaboration, the hub is positioned to play a central role in accelerating the UK’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
As more companies join the community and trial sustainable innovations, the hub will not only contribute to job creation and economic growth but also help establish Manchester as a national and international centre for climate innovation. The unique model developed here may serve as a template for similar regional initiatives in the future.
The launch of the Manchester Climate Tech Hub also presents an opportunity to deepen cross-border collaboration between the UK and Ireland in the growing climate tech sector. Ireland has developed a strong ecosystem of clean energy, agri-tech, and sustainable construction startups, supported by organisations like Enterprise Ireland and research hubs such as the MaREI Centre for energy, climate, and marine research.
Given Manchester’s proximity and strong transport links to Ireland, the new hub could serve as a gateway for Irish climate tech companies looking to scale into the UK market. The region’s access to investment, academic partnerships, and real-world pilot opportunities makes it an attractive landing spot for innovators seeking expansion.
Conversely, Irish academic institutions and startups offer a wellspring of expertise that can contribute to the Manchester hub’s goals, particularly in areas such as circular economy, offshore wind, and carbon capture.
As both nations pursue net-zero targets and increasingly align on green policy and innovation strategies, hubs like Manchester’s Renold Building can act as bridging points, fostering shared learning, co-investment, and technology exchange across the Irish Sea.
The opening of Sustainable Ventures’ climate tech hub in Manchester’s Renold Building represents a significant step in advancing the UK’s climate goals through innovation and regional collaboration. Backed by Barclays, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and key partners like Sister and Bruntwood SciTech, the hub offers vital infrastructure, expertise, and funding to support the next generation of climate tech entrepreneurs.
By repurposing a historic building with sustainable materials and fostering real-world application of emerging technologies, the hub is not only preserving the past but actively building a cleaner, more resilient future.
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