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HS2 Accelerator

Applications are now closed.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/12″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”10/12″][vc_column_text]This is a High Speed Two Ltd Accelerator Programme supported by Connected Places Catapult.

The programme has launched its search for six small businesses to develop new technology ideas for the rail scheme; to be selected for trial and funded by HS2 and its main contractors. 

The six successful SMEs will be accelerated through a bespoke five-month programme involving: 

• Business development opportunities across HS2 and construction firms involved in the project, including Sir Robert McAlpine, VolkerFitzpatrick, Bouygues Construction, Balfour Beatty, VINCI, Skanska, Costain, STRABAG, Eiffage, Kier, Ferrovial Construction and BAM Nuttall. 
• Project scoping workshops with domain experts and challenge owners from within HS2, the Department for Transport, and the wider industry. 
• Investment readiness support including opportunities to meet investors, and best practice advice for raising investment and refining investment strategies and plans. 
• Bespoke business coaching from a consortium of mentors and technical experts with specialisms in areas including Marketing & PR; Product Development & Strategy and Procurement & Bid Writing. 

Since its conception in 2020, the HS2 Accelerator programme has supported 25 small technology firms who have collectively secured 23 pilot projects across HS2, and more than 50% of the firms are now procured on contracts across the supply chain. The participating SMEs have subsequently raised over £220 million investment & funding, and more than doubled their headcounts, creating over 420 new jobs.

The accelerator challenges and eligibility criteria can be found below.[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1697709638821{margin-bottom: 2rem !important;padding-top: 2rem !important;padding-right: 2rem !important;padding-bottom: 2rem !important;padding-left: 2rem !important;background-color: #efefef !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=””]

Application Support Webinar

On 18 April, Connected Places Catapult hosted an Application Support Webinar.

This event gave applicants the opportunity to find out more about the programme offering, challenges, the application process, scoring criteria and the assessment process. There was a live Q&A for prospective applicants to ask any further questions or check their eligibility.[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/UNoUFzBLo6k” css=””][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/12″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1697611524103{background-color: #006a53 !important;}” el_class=”white-text”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Key Dates

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Programme Challenges

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Find out more

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1: Accelerating Design in Construction

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]How can we rapidly explore design possibilities and adapt designs to evolving project requirements and site-specific constraints?

How can we standardise design to promote consistency, efficiency, and excellence across construction projects?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][cpc_image cpc_image_desktop=”10315″][vc_column_text]

2: Automating Handover in Construction

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]How can we efficiently and accurately verify as-built assets to their approved designs?

How can we automate and streamline the management, review, and approval of documentation during handover?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][cpc_image cpc_image_desktop=”10317″][vc_column_text]

3: Reducing Waste in Construction

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]How can we adopt a more circular approach to deconstruction and disassembly?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” css=”.vc_custom_1697613714131{background-color: #006a53 !important;}” el_class=”white-text what-you-get”][vc_column][vc_column_text]

What’s on offer to SMEs?

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Project Development

Develop funded project opportunities with challenge owners & domain experts.

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Coaching and Mentoring

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Business Development

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Industry Events & Showcase Opportunities

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Eligibility Criteria

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]To be eligible, applicants: 

• Applicants must be a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME).
• Applicants can be headquartered outside of the UK, however, they must be able to engage fully with the programme, including attending in-person activities and events.
• Applicants must have a solution which is technical readiness level (TRL) 5 – 8.  This means that the solution has, at least, been tested or demonstrated in its intended environment and, at most, has been deployed as a first-of-a-kind commercial system.

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How to apply

Applications are now closed.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Supporting Documents

[/vc_column_text][cpc_button_arrow cpc_button_arrow__type=”white” cpc_button_arrow__text=”Accelerator Terms & Conditions” cpc_button_arrow__link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fcp.catapult.org.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2FHS2-Accelerator-Terms-Conditions.pdf|target:_blank”][cpc_button_arrow cpc_button_arrow__type=”white” cpc_button_arrow__text=”Application Guidance” cpc_button_arrow__link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fcp.catapult.org.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2FHS2-Accelerator-Application-Guidance-2-1.pdf|target:_blank”][cpc_button_arrow cpc_button_arrow__type=”white” cpc_button_arrow__text=”Challenge Specification” cpc_button_arrow__link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fcp.catapult.org.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F05%2FHS2-Accelerator-Full-Challenge-Specification-1.pdf|target:_blank”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Point of contact

If you have any questions about the programme and application, please contact:

Jasmine Pollock, Accelerator Programme Manager, Connected Places Catapult. jasmine.pollock@cp.catapult.org.uk [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][cpc_image cpc_image_desktop=”7211″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1710241931462{margin-top: 25px !important;margin-left: 10px !important;}”][cpc_image cpc_image_desktop=”10618″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][/vc_column][/vc_row]