How can local government ‘build back better’?

Beverley Gower-Jones looks at the options for driving small business entrepreneurship in clean technologies.

Innovation is essential for local authorities to save money and reduce emissions, it is the engine that develops thriving local businesses and creates jobs.

Successful small businesses drive local prosperity. For that prosperity to be long lasting, it needs to be clean and green. After Covid-19, there is an opportunity to build back better, helping fulfil the ambitious commitments set out in the Energy White Paper and the prime minister’s 10-point plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Much needed green growth and jobs can be created by deploying grant funding and commercialisation support for cleantech companies directly into local communities.

Applying National Best Practise Locally

At a national level, Carbon Limiting Technologies (CLT) has managed the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund (EEF) programme since 2012, delivering more than £75m in grants and incubation support to more than 135 companies. Through the programme, CLT helps entrepreneurs grow their companies through a hands-on business incubation support programme.

We strongly believe that the EEF model would be successful at a local level, driving entrepreneurship and helping realise the benefits of successful innovation. Through an Energy Entrepreneurs Local (EEL) scheme, authorities or Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) will be able to capitalise on the innovative capacity of SMEs, creating sustainable and resilient communities.

How it would work

There is an incredible opportunity to leverage the experience gained delivering innovation at a national level to design and run programmes for at the local level. This would fuel the development and growth of cleantech entrepreneurs in UK regions.

Programmes could fall under the remit of the LEPs whose individual goals and industrial strategies would be reflected in the programme design. CLT would work in partnership with a delivery partner to design and facilitate the grant competition, evaluate the applicants, oversee the offer letter process and provide valuable incubation support.

These grant competitions can be completely flexible and adapted to suit requirements, with a focus on entrepreneurs based in the local area, or specific industries.

What is incubation support?

To realise the benefit of grant funding it is essential to provide targeted support to businesses. Through a range of tools and methods we analyse the commercial readiness of each start-up and deliver commercialisation support in areas where gaps are identified.

Incubation provides targeted, timely and value for money support, helping maximise the impact of grant funding. It equips entrepreneurs with the commercial capabilities they need to bring technologies to market and successfully grow a start-up.

CLT provides an end-to-end incubation programme including:

• Planning and delivery of the complete programme.
• Promotion of the scheme to ensure a broad range of applicants.
• Management and co-ordination of the grant assessment process.
• Management and delivery of support activity – including working with the business to prioritise target markets, form industrial partnerships, secure intellectual property rights, and prepare for venture capital investment.
• Evaluation of programme effectiveness.

Successful projects can create hundreds of green jobs and kickstart millions-of-pounds-worth of private sector investment across the UK. Organisations who have been helped by the EEF fund include:
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• CCm Technologies in Swindon who are working with Walkers Crisps to implement carbon capture innovations in its factory processes;
• Axis Energy Projects, who are developing a game changing foundation platform for floating offshore wind platforms
• Melius Homes, who build hight quality, affordable, flexible new homes and transform existing dwellings into energy efficient, comfortable and healthy homes.

CLT is excited to see how communities embrace the opportunity to build back better. The potential is huge for clean growth, providing job opportunities and much needed investment. We would be delighted to provide specialist support to anyone looking to maximise the impact of clean growth investment.

Beverley Gower-Jones is chief executive of Carbon Limiting Technologies.

Please contact us if you would like to learn more about how incubation could work in your local area:
James Ruel, +44(0)7894 571198, james.ruel@carbonlimitingtechnologies.com

Photo (cropped) by Henry & Co. on Unsplash