Major new scale-up programme for sustainable tech firms

A major new business support programme will focus on how Westcountry companies can help pioneer the urgent change needed towards a more sustainable economy.

Launched by SETsquared and the University of Bath, the scheme is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are at the forefront of low carbon tech or keen to explore innovation in this field.

The new West of England Sustainable Technologies Scale-Up Programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is set to help accelerate the growth of 155 SMEs over the next three years.

It will launch with an online event Changing Your Business to Change the World on Wednesday, June 9, where a panel of business and academic experts will discuss how companies can be more sustainable and outline the key benefits of this programme.

The primary support will be provided through a ‘sustainability workout’ – an online workshop that will help founders and CEOs scrutinise their existing business model, understand the challenges faced and use sustainability and circular economy principles as key drivers for innovation.

Speaking about the programme, Pete Keevill, entrepreneur in resident for the West of England Sustainable Technologies Scale-Up Programme, said: “The need to make the change to a dramatically more sustainable economy becomes more urgent every day to avoid the worst effects of climate chaos.

“Customers are demanding that businesses respond and regulators and big companies are beginning to force the pace of change. But in every major shift there are huge opportunities for businesses that can anticipate, adapt to and then exploit the change and I am excited by the innovation “toolkit” we are bringing together to help West of England SMEs thrive in a sustainable future.”

Beyond the ‘sustainability workout’, the programme will support SMEs through access to researchers in the University of Bath’s Centre for Sustainable & Circular Technologies (CSCT) working on state-of-the-art sustainable technologies.

The programme allows SMEs to “start a conversation” with CSCT researchers around their technical challenges in sustainability and, potentially, join with funded collaborative research projects to exploit new technologies that can benefit their businesses in future.

The programme will help sustainable tech companies scale up – photo courtesy of the University of Bath

Director of the CSCT Professor Matthew Davidson added: “Not only will the West of England Sustainable Technologies Scale-Up Programme enable us to collaborate more effectively with additional businesses, but they will be businesses who are highly innovative with strong growth potential. Having this network available is an important asset for us.”

Changing Your Business to Change the World will take place on Wednesday, June 9 from 9am to 10.30am. The event is open to anyone interested in learning more about the programme and connecting with experts in this field. Find out more and register for the free event via www.setsquared.co.uk/event/launch-event-west-of-england-sustainable-technologies-scale-up-programme-changing-your-business-to-change-the-world/

Applications are open for companies interested in attending the first ‘sustainability workout’ on June 23 and 24. More details and information on how to apply can be found via www.setsquared.co.uk/programme/west-of-england-sustainable-technologies-scale-up-programme/.

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