Innovators to help reduce stress and improve safety through Bristol Temple Meads testbed
Reducing stress for passengers and making surfaces less slippery in wet or cold weather are two challenges being targeted by UK companies.
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West Midlands innovators explore smart city export opportunities
Technology firms from Birmingham and the surrounding area with smart city innovations were invited to Barcelona to pitch their solutions to an international gathering of city leaders in November, to identify new export opportunities. We hear from two companies who made the trip to Spain: Tenants Hub and Purple Transform.
Report
Pathways to outcomes-based public space
Public spaces are the heart of urban life, playing a vital role in fostering social cohesion, promoting community well-being, and addressing environmental challenges.
Article
Multi-year contract for firm behind new airport digital assistant
Hello Lamp Post – an SME supported on four Connected Places Catapult programmes – has successfully expanded its focus from cities to railways and now aviation, by landing a multi-year contract with a trio of airports (Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton) owned and operated by AGS Airports.
Article
‘Make your first impression count’ SMEs seeking finance urged
Angel investment matchmaker Luke Pulford encourages small business owners to put themselves in the shoes of investors when looking for support.
Article
I3P re-shapes community of practice to drive sector wide impact
The Infrastructure Industry Innovation Partnership (i3P) recently brought together client organisations and supply chain members to shape the future direction of its three Community of Practices (CoP): Low carbon technology, Safety and Circular economy.
Article
Pivot! Experts advise TRIG innovators
Forty innovative businesses welcomed onto the latest round of the Transport Research and Innovation Grants programme met in the East Midlands to receive guidance from sector leaders and meet their cohort fellows.
Article
i3P annual Forum 2025 – a turning point for UK infrastructure delivery
The 2025 i3P annual forum brought the sector together for a thoughtful and forward-looking conversation about the future of UK infrastructure.
Article
Wind propelled shipping system advanced by Catapult-backed programme
New production facility for ‘rotor sails’ opens, as the next iteration of technology created by a British SME is taken forward.
Insights
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Hear the stories of innovators and thought leaders
A podcast about the future of our towns and cities, and how we live and travel in them.
What is the role of a harbour, an airport, or a train station in the 21st Century? How are cities helping to decarbonise our economies? Where does hydrogen and new fuels come in? How do we make public transport more accessible and sustainable? What does the future of our town centres and local neighbourhoods look like?
These are some of the many questions we have explored with thought leaders, senior industry figures, innovators and businesses from around the world.
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Insights
Case Studies
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Insights
Latest News
News
Decarbonisation and automation innovators join Maritime Accelerator as Royal Navy confirms support
AI supply chain management, autonomous security drones and emission reduction technologies are among the innovations selected to receive expert support.
News
New agreement will see closer collaboration between Belfast and Sejong
Connected Places Catapult welcomes the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Belfast City Council and Sejong City in the Republic of Korea, which aims to foster greater collaboration between the two city regions with areas including smart cities technologies, supporting small businesses, and the exchange of academic research.
News
Royal Mail and Skyports launch Orkney drone deliveries backed by Freight Innovation Fund
Skyports Drone Services and Royal Mail have begun to deliver parcels and letters by drone between the Orkney Islands.
News
Carbon reduction champions shortlisted in National Highways programme
Innovative low carbon approaches to road construction and maintenance will receive funding and business support.
News
Tech innovators sought to supercharge Birmingham’s public services
The DIATOMIC Accelerator will provide companies in the West Midlands with funding for trials alongside expert support. The Accelerator is designed to harness the region’s knowledge base in digital technologies, helping to bolster innovation and R&D capacity to spark commercial growth and investment.
News
New funding available for West Midlands businesses with clean transport ideas
The first round of the Clean Futures Accelerator will provide grants of up to £50K, plus expert support, to companies in the West Midlands with ideas to make transport greener. The Accelerator is designed to leverage the region’s rich transport manufacturing heritage, aligning with the West Midlands Plan for Growth to cement the area as home to the Green Industrial Revolution.
News
Award win for railway safety innovation
Network Rail and Connected Places Catapult have won a Safety Award for developing a new piece of technology known as ‘geofencing’.
News
Net Zero Neighbourhoods: an opportunity to sweeten the deal for investors
Local authorities in the UK face significant challenges in funding the net zero transition. In response, 3Ci proposes the Net Zero Neighbourhoods model, an innovative concept that packages net zero projects together – such as residential retrofit and waste management – to attract private sector investment.
News
Transport Digital Twin Vision and Roadmap launched by Transport Minister
Optimising traffic flows, providing live updates on EV chargers, and reducing infrastructure maintenance are just three ways in which digital twins are revolutionising transport. Transport Minister Jesse Norman, today unveiled a Vision and Roadmap to align efforts and supercharge this revolution.
News
£1.96m to Fund 67 Projects to Improve the UK’s Transport System
Technology that enables open sea refuelling using hydrogen generation from buoys, a personal sign language avatar that provides wayfinding information in train stations, and a climate change resilient permeable pavement solution are among 67 projects to receive a share of nearly two million pounds.
News
Maritime Accelerator seeks innovators with new ideas to float
Innovative companies have four weeks to apply for support and funding to test and develop their solutions through the second Maritime Accelerator programme.
News
Advisory Board appointed to propel freight sector innovation forward
New Freight Innovation Cluster Advisory Board features heavy-hitters from across the freight and logistics industry.
News
Digital twin helping improve the climate resilience of infrastructure gets Ofwat innovation funding
Connected digital twin project CReDo has been awarded close to £1m to investigate the effects of extreme heat on water infrastructure and offer solutions.
News
Researchers in Residence scheme welcomes first four academics to tackle built environment challenges
Specialists involved in railway decarbonisation, construction circularity and transport safety have been selected to join the new scheme.
News
Three innovators selected for Bristol Temple Meads trials
Passengers passing through one of the South West’s busiest rail stations are set to experience new ideas and technology at the station this spring.
News
Funding announced for freight demonstration projects
Innovators with new ideas to make freight deliveries greener and more efficient have received financial support.
Shape the future of Connected Places
Align your career with bold goals to create connected places that are good for people, prosperity, and the planet.
Mission & vision
We are the UK’s innovation accelerator for transport, the built environment, cities, and local growth.
Our mission is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge ideas and real-world impact, driving sustainable, equitable solutions for people and places.
If you’re passionate about creating smarter, greener, and more inclusive futures, join us in shaping the connected world of tomorrow, redefining how people live, move, and thrive.
Discover how we’re driving innovation for transport, cities, and local economies – and the team behind our work.
Collaboration at our core
Partner with governments, SMEs, and academia to scale innovations in transport and the built environment.
Empower businesses and regional organisations to unlock inclusive economic prosperity across the UK.
Work across sectors to bridge the gap between data potential and real-world impact.
Benefits
At the heart of this is a talented, collaborative, and purpose-driven team that reflects the values of Connected Places Catapult.
Flexible freedom
Hybrid working and a 9-day fortnight (alternate Fridays off) to fuel creativity and balance.
Grow while giving back
2 paid volunteering days yearly to support causes you care about.
Payroll Giving to amplify your charity impact.
Wellbeing first
Cash Health Plans including access to essential healthcare such as flu vaccine, dental and eye-care, + 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme (extended to family).
Perks With Purpose
Retail discounts (Adidas, Tesco, M&S), cutting-edge tech access, and offices designed for collaboration (bike racks, showers, and innovation hubs).
Financial wellness
Salary-sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, tech loans), mortgage advice, and matched pension contributions.
Family-friendly
Enhanced parental leave for all parents, with flexible options and paid keep-in-touch days, supporting you through life’s big moments.
Hear from our team
What makes Connected Places Catapult unique? Our people.
What makes Connected Places Catapult unique is the people. The passion and commitment to making the world a better place and the diversity of thought and backgrounds within our workforce make coming to work a real pleasure!
I am genuinely inspired by how Connected Places Catapult lives its values. The forward-thinking policies and benefits are a testament to our commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive, and truly unique workplace.
The company recently funded my attendance at a Model-Based Systems Engineering course, which was a brilliant opportunity for professional development and to learn a new skill. And thanks to the generous pension double-matching scheme, I’m able to plan and save for retirement with confidence.
Our Values
We are
Respectful
We build trust, treating each other with dignity, consideration and fairness.
We are
Accountable
We hold ourselves to account and work in an open, honest and transparent way.
We are
Curious
Seeking out and share knowledge and learnings openly and collaboratively, deomstraing a desire to learn from others.
We are
Purposeful
We work with energy and focus, driven by our goals and opportunities to achieve impact that is more than the sum of our parts.
Current roles
Ready to turn vision into action?
Our team
The experts behind the innovation
Our team has diverse and extensive experience spanning cities and the built environment, mobility and transport systems, innovation and enterprise support.
About connected places catapult
The UK’s innovation accelerator
The UK’s innovation accelerator
for transport, the built environment, cities and local growth
Our vision
Better connected places across the UK
At Connected Places Catapult, we are on a mission to create better connected places across the UK and beyond. We believe that innovation is the key to unlocking the potential of our towns, cities, and transport systems, making them more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous for everyone.
When connected places work, it benefits:
People: wellbeing, access and inclusion for everyone.
Planet: sustainable and increasingly regenerative living and moving.
Prosperity: prosperous local economies and trade.
From supporting SMEs to develop clean transport technologies to helping local authorities unlock innovation in public procurement, our work is making a tangible difference. We help businesses secure millions in investment, create jobs, and drive forward solutions that address climate change, social isolation, and economic inequality.
What we do and why it matters
Our mission is to bridge the gap between great ideas that can otherwise easily fail, and the marketplaces where they could be in demand. Download our full strategy to find out more.
We bridge the gap
Our big priorities
Transport Decarbonisation
Transport is the UK’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. We are committed to reducing emissions by accelerating the adoption of clean technologies, particularly in harder-to-transition sectors like aviation and maritime.
Creating Efficient, inclusive, and safe transport
Integrated transport systems are essential for thriving communities. We work to improve end-to-end journeys, making public and shared transport more accessible, efficient, and safe.
Building Sustainable and Inclusive Spaces
The built environment plays a critical role in shaping our quality of life. We support the development of sustainable buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces that are designed with people in mind, helping to create places that are resilient, regenerative, and inclusive.
Place-making, planning and urban design
Misaligned spatial planning can delay critical infrastructure and hinder investment. We are helping to modernise planning processes through digital tools and integrated approaches that align housing, transport, and biodiversity.
Empowering local innovation economies
Strong local innovation economies are key to regional prosperity. We help address barriers such as finance, regulation, public-sector procurement, and place-based leadership and empower businesses, local authorities, and regional organisations to unlock investment, create jobs, and boost productivity.
Unlocking the benefits of data and digital
Data and digital technologies are transforming how we design, manage, and experience our places. We are fostering greater data sharing and collaboration across sectors, using tools like digital twins to improve decision-making and resilience.
Our Partners
