A fully funded programme of support for South London-based businesses and third-sector organisations creating low-carbon solutions.
Why take part?
Global warming is an ever-growing issue for society and is making people think more about lowering their carbon footprint and making more conscious sustainable choices.
Led by London South Bank University (LSBU), this project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). In recognition of this important and growing area, this programme is designed to support companies in accelerating their technology/product development, access specialist expertise and facilities available at LSBU, and network and connect with a cohort of clean tech, low carbon companies and academics.
LSBU is home to impactful and world-leading research in this area. It has a strong track record of working with industry to shape new ways of working and innovative new business models.
What format will it take?
This programme offers you the opportunity to collaborate with LSBU academics at their world renowned School of Engineering and use their state-of-the-art facilities which range from wet chemistry labs and materials testing equipment to software modelling and simulation tools to help with the design, development or testing of your low carbon product or service. We particularly welcome applications from businesses looking to build an evidence base for your product.
The scope of the academic collaboration may include technical support in the development of products or services or research projects to independently evaluate your product for usability, safety and/or efficacy.
Engagement with the programme will be through a monthly one-to-one session with academic mentors and subject matter experts focused on priorities, monthly progress meetings with a member of the BIG South London delivery team and a series of easy-to-access online webinars.
This is a unique opportunity to access this level of high-quality expertise on a fully-funded basis.
Taking part in this four-month programme will culminate in a showcase enabling you to demo your products and services, expand your network and build momentum for your business. It could lead to a longer-term collaboration with LSBU.
Starting Soon: Cohort 3
UKSPF Big Growth Low Carbon cohort supports South London-based enterprises aiming to develop low-carbon solutions or implement low-carbon and energy-saving principles into their business. Starting in September, the cohort’s structure provides sustainable businesses access to the expertise, facilities and support required to succeed. As part of the application process, we will ask enterprises to identify the key technical challenges they are facing. Each successful applicant will be assigned a team of experts from the School of Engineering and will receive bespoke support offering regular one-to-one meetings with academics to help develop low-carbon solutions.
Participants will receive bespoke support to help them:
• Understand the key principles of low-carbon solutions
• Reduce their energy consumption, operating costs and CO2 emissions
• Develop an MVP
• Develop, test and improve a product through user testing
• Evaluate concepts
• Build a sustainable business model
Who can take part?
This programme is suited to clean tech enterprises seeking to harness LSBU’s experience of employing cross-industry sustainable solutions in the fast-growing market of renewable energy technologies in the following London boroughs: Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, and Wandsworth.
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. Find out more
