The combination of the COVID-19 global pandemic, human induced climate change and the UK’s departure from the European Union provide a potent backdrop that requires the Black Country and Shropshire to embrace new economic opportunities. The UK’s legal target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 provides such an economic opportunity. Especially the task of transforming our buildings, and the infrastructure supporting their construction and refurbishment, to net zero.

The thinktank the IPPR have estimated that an additional public sector investment of £10 billion per year is needed across the UK in buildings to achieve the 2050 net zero target. BECCI’s target area of the Black Country and Shropshire accounts for around 2.5% of the UK’s population and housing stock. 2.5% of £10 billion is £250 million a year. Over the period to 2050 this is £7.5 billion of additional public sector investment in the buildings within BECCI’s patch. And the job creation potential of this additional investment is very significant.

A report by EuroAce estimated that 19 new direct jobs are created for each €1 million of investment in sustainable energy refurbishment. This suggests that around 5,300 new direct jobs will be created across the Black Country and Shropshire by this additional investment. Private sector investment is likely to double the investment and jobs numbers. As well as helping existing businesses to flourish - this building transformation will require new businesses, new products and services and above all innovation. This is why BECCI, part of the University of Wolverhampton, is launching a new Innovation Incubator to nurture and support individuals across the Black Country and Shropshire with clean technology and low carbon business ideas to make a difference to our buildings and built environment.

A balanced programme of support, structure and challenge.

The programme commences with the start of an intensive kick-off period where your peers (other selected entrepreneurs) get to know all about your idea (after signing a non-disclosure agreement of course!). After the kick-off period, there will be regular masterclasses to get you up to speed on priority topics.

A 1-2-1 programme entry diagnostic will identify exactly where your idea/start-up is at. This will help the programme delivery team to curate the best content to meet your individual and collective needs.

This will include1-2-1 Sessions with Mentors and Experts.

We believe that entrepreneurs are best supported by other entrepreneurs. The peer-2-peer dimension of our programme is important and has a focus on your fellow entrepreneurs supporting you.

After the kickoff period, your startup has continued access to the programme through specialised masterclasses, and through custom designed content based on your needs, as well as one-on-one sessions.

Experts from a range of fields, technical, finance, legal and HR, share their expertise in thematic and specially tailored sessions.

The core BECCI team are proud of their collective experience. They are a team of well-connected and motivated professionals who aren’t afraid of asking why - a lot!

The Innovation Incubator has two elements - Foundation and Pick and Mix.

The Foundation component is compulsory and includes the Launch Day, Entry Diagnostic, Mentoring, Peer to peer support and Core Curriculum. This includes the Pitching dimension and customer facing components. The Stage I Competition is also a compulsory element.

The Pick n Mix programme is optional and will be structured to meet the needs identified in the entry diagnostic.

Based on a consultation of potential members of the Innovation Incubator and other interested parties, the following programme components have been prioritised. This may change as the consultation continues, and in response to the needs of the chosen participants.

In these unprecedented times we must build back better. Create the new normal - where normal is low carbon, smart and vibrant. Buildings fit for the 21st century. COVID-19, Brexit and the target that requires the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 creates a landscape that calls out for innovation. Innovation that creates economic opportunities, jobs and wellbeing, and delivers net zero. Do you have an idea that could be a part of this new normal? An idea that can transform our built environment.

The BECCI Incubator is being created to nurture your idea:

• To provide the right sort of challenge to maximise the chances of success.
• To help you build a prototype, develop a business model, show your idea to potential customers to help make something that they will want.
• To work with likeminded peers, and get focused input and advice from industry experts, policy wonks and upstarts. We will cut through the complexity and give you what you need to bring your idea to market.

BECCI is a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funded project within the University of Wolverhampton. BECCI stands for Built Environment Climate Change Innovations. You can find out much more about it here

No - membership of the BECCI Innovation Incubator is free to all businesses as it is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and supported by the University of Wolverhampton.

The application process is very straight-forward and is completed via an expression of interest to the Incubator lead Richard Davies via email r.davies10@wlv.ac.uk.  Richard will arrange a short telephone call with you to explore your motivation and suitability.

Ideally yes - you would have some sort of footprint in these areas. That might be where a significant number of your potential customers reside, or where you live, or where your business is registered or plans to register. If you have no obvious connection with the project area and still would like to apply for a place, then please contact Richard for a chat (contact details above).

• Be a small to medium enterprise, located within the Black Country (Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell or Dudley) or the Marches (Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin)
• Have an annual turnover of less than £50million
• Employ no more than 250 people
• We will also encourage applications from individuals who have a good idea, or a well identified and defined pain/problem with the intention of creating a start-up
• Larger entities and organisations will be considered for the programme provided that they agree to spin out and establish an eligible legal entity at an appropriate point.

There is currently no deadline for submitting an application.

We welcome applications from individuals who need support in finalising an idea.

We think the key to a good start-up is identifying the pain or the problem that you really really want to fix.

If you have identified a pain/problem but are unsure about the product or service to fix it, then we encourage you to apply.

If you don’t have a pain or a problem, and you don’t have a product or a service, then spend your time focused on resolving that and not applying to the BECCI Innovation Incubator.

Not at the point of application.

What we require is that all members of the BECCI Innovation Incubator form an appropriate legal entity before the end of Stage I. We can help you decide on the best form of legal entity to take your start-up forward.

No. You do not need a team to apply—you may apply individually or as part of a team. If you are applying as part of a team, please only submit one expression of interest.

You will find out shortly after your phone conversation with Richard. 

We are seeking around 10 ideas/start-ups.

The BECCI Innovation Incubator is led by Richard Davies MBE, ably assisted by Sue Swansborough.

Richard is a Chemical Engineer by profession. Co-inventor of the world’s first manmade ecological fibre Tencel. Richard founded the climate change and sustainable energy not for profit Marches Energy Agency in 1999. More recently he has worked with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 small businesses programme. Contributed to the work of the EU’s European Institute of innovation and Technology to their Knowledge and Innovation Communities on Climate KIC and InnoEnergy. The Queen honoured Richard with an MBE in 2011 for services to sustainable energy. More recently he has been investing in renewable energy and cleantech startups.

Sue is the BECCI Incubator Innovation Executive supporting Richard on all aspects of delivering this exciting initiative.  Sue began working for the BECCI project in April of 2021.  She had previously worked for the University of Wolverhampton mainly working with funded programmes.

The wider BECCI team of seasoned professionals will further assist throughout the program. Information on the members of the BECCI team can be found here. Technical, business and professional support will be commissioned and available from the University and beyond as soon as the needs of the participants are known and understood.

This is dependent on individual business needs – initially we are suggesting a foundation of 1 day per month plus some homework.

A “pick n mix” approach will most likely be optional; designed to meet specific needs. We hope the content provided will be exciting and interesting - but depending on the stage of your idea/business, not all the pick n mix will be relevant or a high priority for everyone.

Business incubators nurture the development of entrepreneurial ideas in start-up businesses, helping the companies survive and grow during the start-up period when they are their most vulnerable. Incubators provide their member companies with business support services and resources tailored to early stage ideas & businesses.

Yes.

You may apply if you are still studying, no matter at what level; however, you must be able to commit a minimum of one day per month to the program. We encourage students who are graduating in 2020 to apply. If you are a student, you must have a well-defined idea and/or pain/problem; be a part of a start-up of your own; or be part of a larger organisation where you can spin out and establish an eligible legal entity at an appropriate point.

You should be able to give us a sense that the idea can be successful. There needs to be enough information for the Selection Committee to assess the likeliness of success. We do not need a definite that it can work, we are here to support and nurture innovative ideas.

If you have more questions or would like an informal chat about the opportunity then please call Richard on 07941 155 538 or email r.davies10@wlv.ac.uk

Thank you.

Richard Davies and Sue Swansborough