Mobilising Investment for Local Net Zero: Insights from developing Net Zero Neighbourhood Investment Memorandums
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article
Carbon busting materials specialist set to scale
Low Carbon Materials is preparing to increase production of its concrete and asphalt additives by more than 20 times, following participation in an accelerator delivered by Connected Places Catapult.
“Our goal is to deliver carbon-negative solutions for the construction sector that outperform traditional materials,” says Dr Natasha Boulding, CEO and co-founder of technology specialist Low Carbon Materials.
The company has developed two carbon negative aggregates designed to significantly reduce embodied carbon, during the manufacture and installation of concrete for buildings and asphalt for roads.
These ‘carbon-sequestering’ additives are incorporated into conventional material mixes – replacing between 1% and 5% of conventional aggregate – and are said to eliminate carbon from the construction process, while also offering performance enhancements.
“Our additives are carbon negative,” says Natasha. “Carbon dioxide is permanently stored within them so it can’t be re-released into the atmosphere. These materials are then used in construction to improve technical properties and help our clients reach their environmental targets.”
Natasha adds that her company’s additives weigh significantly less than conventional aggregate, so reduce transport costs, with evidence suggesting they can also absorb harmful chemicals such as volatile organic compounds.
She also says that ongoing studies suggest that its material can be used to stop harmful microplastics from entering watercourses.
Programme helps firm to scale
Low Carbon Materials started out with a focus on developing an additive for use in concrete. It was welcomed on to the National Highways Accelerating Low Carbon Innovation programme in 2023 – delivered by Connected Places Catapult – and was encouraged to develop an additive for asphalt, used to construct and maintain the base and binder courses of roads.
“The accelerator allowed us the time and resources to speak to the end users and ask if this is something they would be interested in for asphalt. Without the accelerator, we would not have considered its application in asphalt so soon.”Dr Natasha Boulding, CEO and co-founder of Low Carbon Materials
“We worked on a product development programme with Skanska and National Highways which led to a pilot project on the M11. It was meant to be a trial of the product on a temporary works site, but they were confident enough to put it into permanent works instead.”
The carbon negative aggregate – known as ACLA – has also been used for the A64 low carbon exemplar scheme with contractor Tarmac and National Highways, and for several local authority roads across the UK. ACLA is now deployed in over 40 construction projects.
The next step for the company is to scale the technology, with major projects planned in the private and public sectors. It is now preparing to increase production of its concrete and asphalt additives by more than 20 times.
Bouncing ideas off new contacts
Low Carbon Materials was a finalist in the Earthshot Prize four years ago, and last year won the ‘Blue Earth 100’ scale-up pitching competition.
“The accelerator allowed us to connect with key technical people within the sector who we were able to bounce ideas off quickly,” she says. “The programme also allowed us to fail fast in the early stage of product development and move forward.”
Natasha adds that Connected Places Catapult helped to align the product with the needs of end users. “The process allowed us to access the wealth of experience and the amazing minds of the people involved in this work every single day.
“We are material scientists, so haven’t the experience of laying roads, so the National Highways Low Carbon Accelerator acted as the glue we needed to learn each other’s trades.”
National Highways’ Principal Innovation Advisor, Melissa Giusti says: “We’re committed to accelerating innovation across our sector and embracing new solutions. The low carbon accelerator has been instrumental in taking promising ideas and rapidly advancing them through research and testing.”
Read more about the work of SMEs involved in the Accelerating Low Carbon Innovation programme.
articles
Meet the academic looking for industry impact on net zero
Dawid Hanak is developing new approaches to decarbonisation as a Researcher in Residence with Connected Places Catapult
“What’s the point in publishing if no one’s reading,” remarks Professor Dawid Hanak, reflecting on the efforts of academics researching new ways to take forward sustainability in transport and the built environment.
“It’s not about producing papers; it’s what you do with those papers later on that’s important,” he adds. “An academic paper is a stepping stone on a journey; the ultimate destination is that an idea is implemented by someone else – and has impact.”
Dawid is a Professor of Decarbonisation at Teesside University’s Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, and is focused on developing concepts and testing new ideas around carbon capture, the role of hydrogen, and the decarbonisation of buildings. At the same time, he strives to introduce the market to broader innovations developed on site.
He recently completed a Researchers in Residence placement with Connected Places Catapult – working to identify opportunities to decarbonise train stations – and is also an editorial board member for the Clean Energy Journal with Oxford University Press. “We make sure that what is published is relevant, high quality and also adds value to industry,” he says.
Dawid’s advice to academics with new solutions designed to help decarbonise industry is to “get your research out there” by whichever medium is appropriate: academic journal, social media, or in person.
He is also a co-founder of ‘Motivated Academic’ – a community for PhD researchers and early to mid-career academics offering guidance on how best to share their research outputs and expertise. Dawid’s aim is to help more than 1000 people publish and gain visibility for their work.
“We started during the pandemic to share advice and experience with people who may have felt isolated during Covid. The idea is to help provide people with motivation to drive through the challenges we face as researchers, and give something back to the academic community.”
Growing up in Poland
Dawid was born in Poland, and lived in a heavily industrialised region to the south where many of the houses were heated with coal. His father was an electrician in one of the local mines and his mother was an accountant.
He played volleyball – representing his school in a national competition – and excelled at chemistry, maths and geography. Dawid remembers taking an interest in class discussions around the carbon cycle and global warning and, when he was 16, took a summer job in a materials strength testing laboratory.
He would prepare the facilities for clients about to test different samples of cement and asphalt mixtures containing waste from nearby coal fired power stations – and it got him interested in the chemical sector. A chance conversation with the company chief executive who was looking for engineers who speak English led to the offer of a part-time job.
Dawid went on to study sustainable energy engineering at university, with a focus on nuclear power, and was appointed vice president of a clean energy technologies student scientific group. “It was a good time,” he reflects.
“We started talking about sustainable technologies in areas such as steel making, and went on tours to visit combined heating and power plants, and waste energy plants.”Professor Dawid Hanak
“I started to appreciate different technologies, but also the challenges that operators faced when they asked how their plants could be improved.”
Developing a new solution
Dawid went on to study a Masters in power engineering, before gaining a place on an Erasmus academic exchange programme at Cranfield University in the UK which covered the emerging topic of carbon capture.
He continued his studies with a doctorate in process engineering, and secured a role at Cranfield as a research assistant, and later research fellow, lecturer, senior lecturer, and associate professor; spending nearly a decade there.
“I developed a process that integrates carbon capture with energy storage capabilities for renewable energy,” he explains. “Not many energy specialists were thinking about it this way; it was either one or the other. I thought ‘why not have both at the same time?’ Along with colleagues, we are looking at demonstrating it next year.”
In 2023, he moved to Teesside University to join the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre and focus on carbon capture and storage; where he became a professor of decarbonisation.
Around the same time, he applied to Connected Places Catapult to join the Researchers in Residence programme, and started a piece of work to decarbonise rail stations as part of the Station Innovation Zone at Bristol Temple Meads.
“A key learning from this project is that when it comes to decarbonisation, how people get to and from a station is something we need to pay attention to,” he says. “But the quickest win is to get rid of using gas in the station and switch to alternative heating options. Another option is incentivising taxi drivers to switch to electric vehicles, or for there to be a zero emission zone within the station environment.
“It’s been great to work with Connected Places Catapult. I now see things in a different way, have more interaction with industry, and have improved the way I share information, so people outside the academic community can understand it better.”
Developments that moved the needle
Dawid is currently working on a ‘fuel choice’ project to produce a roadmap for how best to introduce low carbon fuels into the transport sector.
He adds that he appreciates recent Government announcements around the funding of carbon capture schemes and hydrogen innovations “that really move the needle in terms of what we can do for industrial decarbonisation.
“But what we need now is greater interaction between academia and industry; working together on specific funding mechanisms for technology implementation in a specific sector.”
“We’ve been talking about carbon capture and decarbonisation for the past 20 years, and we only see commercial plants being deployed now,” he adds. “We need to have demonstrations of other technologies as soon as possible, so we can accelerate learning and deployment.”
Dawid says the best thing about being an academic is “the fact that I can explore ideas freely. If a thought comes into my mind, I have the relevant tools and a strong academic and industrial network who can support me in exploring it.
“I’m not an expert in everything, but know who to talk to when I need support.”
Find out about our Researchers in Residence scheme. To be alerted about opportunities at Connected Places Catapult, join our Academic Network
reports
Mobilising Investment for Local Net Zero
Insights from developing Net Zero Neighbourhood Investment Memorandums.
As part of their mission to catalyse investment into net zero, 3Ci worked with local authorities to identify a diverse range of prospective Net Zero Neighbourhoods and subsequently published them in our Net Zero Neighbourhood prospectus. The next step was to translate these opportunities into propositions that could attract real investment.
Acting on a recommendation from 3Ci’s Investor Task Force to produce investor-focused documentation, 3Ci with support from KPMG as our professional advisors developed detailed Investment Memorandums (IMs) in collaboration with Hounslow Council and Glasgow City Council. Barclays contributed feedback to 3Ci to help align the work with likely investor expectations.
The UK’s legally binding commitment to achieve net zero by 2050 creates one of the most significant challenges for the built environment.
This report, produced by Connected Places Catapult and 3Ci, demonstrates that place-based Net Zero Neighbourhoods, supported by targeted government funding and robust investment models, can unlock private capital and accelerate large-scale retrofit across the UK.
events
london international shipping week
The must-attend global shipping event
Event finished: 19th September 2025
London International Shipping Week is one of the biggest global maritime events in the calendar.
Connected Places Catapult is delighted to be an active partner of the event, celebrating our contribution to accelerating innovation in the UK’s Maritime sector.
Find out more below on the events we’re taking part in, plus some of our recent reports on coastal shipping, future fuels and more.
Events
ITS Maritime Forum
09:30 – 12:00
Meeting in London on 16 September, this gathering will bring together industry leaders, experts, and innovators to discuss the importance of resilience in the maritime sector.
We’ll be discussing key topics, including the impact of GNSS interference on maritime operations, and how robust global data standards form the backbone of safe, sustainable and resilient maritime operations, as well as delving into challenges related to autonomous vessels.
Richard Holland, Head of Maritime at Connected Places Catapult, will be presenting as Maritime Forum vice-chair.
We’ll hear also hear from Royal Institute of Navigation, ITS Norway, Peel Ports, and Zulu Associates, with more to be confirmed soon.
Clean Maritime Day
10:00 – 17:00
Maritime Innovation Day 2025 is an Innovate UK flagship event to showcase the Department for Transport’s pioneering environmental work in the maritime sector.
This year, Connected Places Catapult’s Head of Maritime Mark Wray will be speaking on the Maritime Investment panel.
We are also delighted to be exhibiting at the event, so please do stop by our stand to discuss the future of maritime innovation with us.
resources
Future Fuels Blueprint
Connected Places Catapult has created an interactive blueprint which aims to accelerate the transition to future fuel adoption by producing a pathway to 2050 for UK ports and harbours.
Coastal Shipping
This report explores how shifting more goods to coastal shipping can relieve pressure on road networks, reduce emissions, and support regional economic growth.
Green Shipping Corridors
The UK Government made a pledge in the Clydebank Declaration at COP26 to establish six green shipping corridors by 2026. This report describes in detail a pathway to deliver, what could be the first in the UK, between Liverpool and Belfast.
Centres of Excellence
The National Shipbuilding Office’s Centres of Excellence Task and Finish Group has launched a Centres of Excellence (CoE) Playbook, developed in collaboration with Connected Places Catapult.
programmes
Zero Emission Heavy Goods Vehicles
Connected Places Catapult is helping to accelerate the transition to zero-emission heavy goods vehicles.
Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) are vital to industry and represent the backbone of trade and commerce worldwide. They are responsible for ensuring we have access to food, medicines, and goods of all kinds.
Almost 90% of domestic goods transported in the UK in 2022 were moved by road – the vast majority of which by HGVs. These vehicles currently produce approximately 19% of all UK domestic transport greenhouse gas emissions. By 2050, this must be reduced to zero, in line with the UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy.
Connected Places Catapult is supporting Innovate UK and the Department for Transport with the Zero-Emission HGV & Infrastructure Demonstrator programme, which represents a public investment of up to £200 million, match-funded by industry. The programme is deploying the first large (40+ tonne) zero-emission HGVs in significant numbers, together with supporting infrastructure, which will enable freight operators to determine the suitability of the new technology for their operations. Public-facing battery-electric charging stations and hydrogen refuelling stations will enable HGVs to go beyond ‘back to base’ operations.
Together with the British Standards Institution (BSI), Connected Places Catapult is supporting partners involved in the Innovate UK-funded demonstrations, and stakeholders in the wider zero-emission HGV ecosystem.
Learn more in our new reports:
- Ensuring safety in the transition to zero emission road freight
Best practice guidance for developing and operating safe refuelling and recharging infrastructure for zero emission HGVs.
Zero Emission HGVs Safety and Security
File type: pdf
File size: 57.77Mb
- Planning and delivery of infrastructure for zero emission HGVs
Setting out the key considerations and optimal pathways for the planning and delivery of zero-emission HGV infrastructure.
Zero Emission HGVs and Infrastructure: Infrastructure Planning and Delivery
File type: pdf
File size: 94.64Mb
In the coming weeks, we will publish the remaining reports, including:
- UK Investment Prospectus for Zero Emission HGVs and Infrastructure
For those considering investing in or financing zero emission HGVs, or charging or refuelling infrastructure in the UK. The prospectus outlines the exciting opportunities in this growing market and highlights the UK’s strong foundations for investment in zero emission HGVs and infrastructure.
To be notified as soon as these reports are available, please complete this form.
Standards – in partnership with BSI
Standards are crucial in ensuring zero-emission HGVs can roll out in an efficient and safe manner, with interoperability embedded from the start, and to create a market that delivers on required outcomes. Through the standards work, in partnership with BSI, we have formed a Standards Advisory Group for zero-emission road freight that will provide the decision making and governance for the standards development work. Three ‘flex’ standards, which are well suited to fast-moving areas of innovation, are currently being developed.
Further to the publication of the Zero Emission HGVs and Infrastructure Standards Prioritization Report, we’re pleased to announce that the following standards have been released as part of our project:
BSI Flex 2071 offers recommendations on how to design charging sites for battery electric HGVs, including safety considerations and optimal layouts.
Specification for operating workshops, inspection, and maintenance of battery electric and hydrogen-fuelled heavy-duty vehicles.
Design recommendations and implementation of mobile and static hydrogen refuelling sites – Code of practice.
Further background on our standards work can be viewed here.
How do I get involved?
If you’d like to find out more, please email us at zeroemissionroadfreight@cp.catapult.org.uk.
Complete this form to be notified when new reports are available.
events
The UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum
A forum dedicated to unlocking investment and driving regeneration and development across the UK
Days hours mins secs
We’re delighted to partner with the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) in Leeds, a forum dedicated to unlocking investment and driving regeneration and development across the UK to accelerate economic growth.
This year’s event promises to attract over 16,000 delegates, over 2,500 fringe event attendees, 1,250 speakers and 150 exhibitors from the built environment representing every core UK city and region.
Connected Places Catapult will have its own Pavilion – a dedicated platform for partners and stakeholders from UK cities, regions and freeports to network, collaborate and discuss pressing challenges and solutions in the built environment, transport, data and digital, and international partnerships.
Meet us in Pavilion Square to collaborate, discuss and extend your network.
To find out how to arrange a business meeting with us, join the discussion in the pavilion or collaborate on projects contact us at events@cp.catapult.org.uk
Last year we attracted over 1,300 visitors and 50 speakers. View 2026 pavilion’s programme:
Creating innovative urban spaces with sustainable community investment.
09:50 – 10:00
Opening Address
Kick-start your visit to the Forum by learning how we help grow the UK economy by driving the commercialisation of emerging innovations and next technologies in transport and the built environment in our towns and cities.
- Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Places Catapult
10:00 – 10:45
Is Investing in Innovation Infrastructure a Priority for UK cities?
Hear about how UK cities and place leaders understand the role of innovation – and high-quality, purposeful innovation spaces – in driving economic growth, attracting talent, and supporting sustainable development across different regional contexts.
- Chair: Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Places Catapult
- Alisdair Gunn, Project Director, Glasgow City Innovation District
- Stephen Jones, Director, Core Cities UK
- Carolyn Dwyer, Non-Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult
11:00 – 11:45
Strategic International Collaboration as a Driver for Local Growth
As UK places look to the exploitation of urban challenges as drivers for local growth and innovation, carefully crafted international partnerships have the potential to derive greater impact in response to common ambitions. The Innovation Twins programme participants, Birmingham and Swansea Bay, will share their insights from different points in their collaboration journey.
- Chair: Gareth Davies, Head of International Partnerships, Connected Places Catapult
- Raj Mack, Head of Digital City and Innovation, Birmingham City Council
13:00 – 13:45
Transforming Public Spaces: Driving Health, Investment & Sustainability in Real Estate
Join us for a panel discussion on how innovation in the public realm can drive economic growth, improve community health and well-being, and support sustainability in real estate development.
- Chair: Gavin Summerson, Head of Digital Construction and Infrastructure, Connected Places Catapult
- Daisy Narayanan MBE, Public Realm Director, The Crown Estate
- Matt Baker, Urban Regeneration Specialist, Rise Associates
- Lucy Musgrave, Founder, Publica
- Phoebe Mangoma-Dennis, Planning Lead, Social Value Portal
14:00 – 14:45
Building Bridges – Digital Twins Driving Regional Economic Growth
This session will look at the growing use of digital twins in regeneration to drive economic growth in the West Midlands.
- Chair: Iain Mansell, Head of Regional Engagement, Connected Places Catapult
- Raj Mack, Head of Digital City and Innovation, Birmingham City Council
- Laura Collings, Head of Policy and Strategy, City of Wolverhampton Council
- Sarah Windrum, Head of Cluster Development at Horiba Mira and Deputy Chair of the West Midlands Innovation Board
15:00 – 15:45
Innovation Districts: Catalysts for Economic Growth and Urban Transformation
This session will explore how Innovation Districts are reshaping urban economies and driving sustainable inclusive growth through strategic clustering of research institutions, enterprise, startups, and talent. Our expert panelists will examine successful Innovation District models, how to measure their impact on local economies, and the essential elements for driving the innovation economy.
- Chair: Carolyn Dwyer, Non-Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult
- Alisdair Gunn, Project Director, Glasgow City Innovation District
- Emily Robson, Assistant Chief Executive, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool
- Dr Adrian Johnston, Innovation Commissioner, Innovation City Belfast
16:00 – 16:45
Innovative Public and Private Partnerships Through Procurement
Despite the public sector spending over £400Bn on procurement in the public sector, we still have significant challenges in the built environment around affordable housing, Net Zero, creating liveable places, economic growth and much more. This panel will discuss the opportunities, challenges and recommendations on how public and private collaboration can help create new value.
- Chair: Rikesh Shah, Head of Procurement Technical, Connected Places Catapult
- Graeme Craig, Chief Executive Officer, Places for London
- Johnny Hugill, Managing Director, Public
- Sophie Bloom, Marketing & Product Director, Bloom
16:50 – 17:00
Thank You and Wrap Up the Day
- Alan Welby, Build Environment and Local Growth Managing Director, Connected Places Catapult
Driving regional growth through investment, data and new technologies.
09:50 – 10:00
Opening Address
- Alan Welby, Build Environment and Local Growth Managing Director, Connected Places Catapult
10:00 – 10:45
Unlocking Opportunity – How Freeports are Driving Growth, Jobs and Prosperity
Hear how the UK Freeports are leading the charge on Place Based Growth, by attracting investment into parts of the country that have historically missed out. Freeports are becoming hotbeds of innovation and building new clusters in sectors of the future, creating thousands of long-term, high quality jobs for local people, join the conversation.
- Chair: Ibrahim Mohamed, Associate Director Freeports, Connected Places Catapult
- Philly Strahan, Freeport Innovation Network Manager, Connected Places Catapult
- Ben Russell, Deputy Head of Freeports and Investment Zones, Department for Business and Trade
- Chris Rowell, Head of Net Zero, Tees Valley Combined Authority
- Nora Senior, Chair, East Midlands Freeport, East Midlands Freeport
11:00 – 11:45
Investor Panel: Translating Public Sector Innovation into Private Sector Investment
Local Authorities in the UK have set ambitious Net Zero targets that require sector-wide collaboration to achieve. However, there’s still a conflict between the demand for Net Zero funding into the public sector and private investors’ risk appetite. This session explores the perspective of investors on the appeal of place-based investing, the risks it can carry and how financial institutions can overcome these risks to enable Net Zero funding at scale.
- Chair: Catherine McGuinness CBE, Non-Executive Director, Connected Places Catapult
- James Close, Head of Climate Change, NatWest Group
- Kate Gilmartin, Non-Executive Director, Great British Energy
- Dom Boyle, Local Authority Advisory & Lending, National Wealth Fund
- Julian Batson, Head of Government & Local Authorities, Barclays
12:00 – 12:45
A Tale of Two Cities (Regions)
This session will explore the approaches taken by Belfast and Liverpool to drive growth through innovation and will also consider two city regions roles as major places within the Irish Sea Rim with its rich assets and talent pool.
- Chair: Erika Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, Connected Places Catapult
- Dr Adrian Johnston, Innovation Commissioner, Innovation City Belfast
- John Fogarty, Executive Director, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
- Professor Phil Leigh, Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager, University of Cumbria
13:00 – 13:45
Dissert & Discuss with BSI Group –
Decarbonising the Built Environment Through Standardisation
Explore how trusted standards support credible, consistent net zero strategies in infrastructure—enabling whole-life carbon management, aligning global efforts, and empowering collaboration across the value chain to drive meaningful climate action.
Attend this session to gain practical insights into using trusted standards like PAS 2080 and the ISO Net Zero Guidelines to embed decarbonisation across infrastructure projects, align with climate targets, and future-proof your strategy.
- Chair: Rahul Shah, Global Director, Built Environment, BSI Group
- Arun Thaneja, Technical Services and Sustainability Director, Winvic Construction Ltd
- Dr Natasha Boulding, CEO & Co-founder, Low Carbon Materials
14:00 – 14:45
What’s Next for the Future of Planning?
Join us to hear from leading voices from organisations at the forefront of shaping the next chapter of digital planning in the UK. Our speakers will reflect on the successes and lessons learned from nearly a decade of digital transformation in the UK planning system, and look ahead to explore the emerging challenges and innovation opportunities in spatial planning.
- Chair: Alan Welby Managing Director, Built Environment and Local Growth, Connected Places Catapult
- Peter Kemp, Head of Change and Delivery, Planning, Greater London Authority
- Dr Wei Yang, CEO, Digital Task Force for Planning
- Bridget Wilkins, Head of Adoption, Engagement and Innovation, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
- Stefan Webb, Principal Partner – Place and Infrastructure, TPX Impact
15:00 – 16:30
The launch of Historic England’s Heritage Investment Prospectus
We are delighted to partner with Historic England and Buttress Architects. Join the launch of Historic England’s first Heritage Investment Prospectus at UKREiiF 2025 in Leeds. Hear first-hand a curated collection of historic sites and buildings across England, many with planning permission or agreed development briefs with local authorities, which actively seeking partners or investors to help write their next chapter.
- Chair: Erika Lewis Chief Executive Officer Connected Places Catapult
- Councillor Jane Ashworth OBE, Leader of the Council Stoke on Trent
- Emma Squire CBE, Director of Regions, Historic England
- Stephen Anderson, Director, Buttress Architects
- Richard Upton, Commissioner, Historic England
Fringe event at the Connected Places Catapult Pavilion
17:00 – 18:30
Commercial Property Investor, Developer and Occupier Mixer
Meet place senior decision makers from investors, developers, occupiers and operators within commercial property. This is a closed event organised in our pavilion together with the UKREiiF team, express your interest to attend by contacting Kevin Smith at kevin.smith@ukreiif.com.
Bridging the gap between discovery and the market to spark innovation across the country.
08:30 – 09:30
The UK Innovation Districts Group Business Breakfast
We know it’s the third day of UKREiiF and you may well be exhausted so we have got you! Join us light breakfast and connect with other members and those within the wider ecosystem. It will be informal but will give you the chance to catch up with all those working within or alongside Innovation Districts.
Please feel free to extend to colleagues, but please do get in touch with us at events@cp.catapult.org.uk so we know the number.
10:30 – 11:00
The Art of the Possible: Unlocking the Potential of Community-Based Finance in the UK
Following the launch of our recent The Art of the Possible report, this session explores why community-based finance matters, what the research reveals, and what needs to happen next to unlock local investment and drive economic growth.
- Chair: James Cushing, Head of Regional and Local Growth Technical, Connected Places Catapult
- Ipsa Agnani, Programme Coordinator, Impact Investing Institute
11:00 – 11:30
Meet the Innovator: City Science
Join City Science to explore the need to act quickly and efficiently to progress your net zero plans. With the need for meaningful outcomes with current budget constraints, how do we get to net zero at pace? How do we fast track local plans, economic strategies and infrastructure and create better communities? Join us to hear more.
- Suzanne Conn, Net Zero Partnership Lead, City Science
reports
Green shipping corridors: a holistic approach to decarbonising maritime
Urgent action is needed to address shipping’s greenhouse gas emissions
The UK Government made a pledge in the Clydebank Declaration at COP26 to establish six green shipping corridors by 2026. This report describes in detail a pathway to deliver, what could be the first in the UK, between Liverpool and Belfast. This route is approximately 130 nautical miles and is one of the busiest routes in the Irish Sea, connecting the two major UK cities. A green shipping corridor is defined by the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UKSHORE) as zero emission maritime routes between two or more ports, and are seen as vital for encouraging the development of vessel and shoreside technology in clean maritime.
Maritime, shipping and the movement of goods and people in the region via its ports is a major economic driver for both Liverpool and Belfast, contributing £5BN in economic activity. However this activity also attracts significant global greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to poor air quality locally. The UK is committed to see these emissions reduce and recognises that as an Island Nation, this represents a sizeable challenge and opportunity to transition to low or net zero emissions. This report is a summation of a lot of focused work by a large stakeholder group in examining options for decarbonising a route linking the Ports of Liverpool and Belfast, to demonstrate it is possible and establish a blueprint available for scaling to other routes, perhaps initially in the Irish Sea Region and then further afield.
This report captures what is needed to establish a green shipping corridor and identifies 29 suitable pilot projects to develop the corridor further and secure a leading international role in green ports and shipping for the UK. Green shipping corridors require a systems approach to implementation and to consider each element that contributes directly to the reduction of carbon emissions or provides a part of the enabling environment to support this reduction. We have identified the existing assets and enabling components of the maritime ecosystem, including subjects such as fuel production and communication systems, as well as governance and skills. This is a substantive tome full of rich detail covering nationally applicable matters but through a focused place lens. Delivering a Green Shipping Corridor is complex, but this work has shown us that with a well motivated stakeholder group this can be broken down in to manageable and crucially investible projects ready for delivery.
This report is an output of an Innovate UK funded programme, Pulse, which examined a suite of challenges in the aviation and maritime sectors. The report has been prepared by Connected Places Catapult, working in collaboration with Royal HaskoningDHV, Liverpool John Moores University, the University of Liverpool, Queens University Belfast, and Mersey Maritime.
This report is part of a larger body of ongoing work to decarbonise the maritime sector, supported principally by the Department for Transport, Department for Business & Trade, the National Shipbuilding Office and Innovate UK. UKSHORE supported by Innovate UK has administered the Clean Maritime Demonstration programme, investing £206M of grants with private sector match funding since 2022 across a host of propulsion and infrastructure projects. This includes investing in selection of feasibility studies into Clean / Green Shipping Corridors between the UK and Europe, which are due to conclude by Spring 2025.
Liverpool Belfast Green Shipping Corridor Executive Summary
File type: pdf
File size: 39.78Mb
Liverpool Belfast Green Shipping Corridor Report
File type: pdf
File size: 158.63Mb
news
West Midlands green transport innovators secure funding and support
From automating EV charging to designing lightweight components, 19 firms with ideas to make transport greener have been selected to join the latest cohort on the Clean Futures accelerator.
29.08.24 BIRMINGHAM, Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership, has today announced 19 small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) selected to join the Clean Futures accelerator programme in the West Midlands.
Now in its second year, the accelerator has already supported 20 SMEs through the first year’s cohort. 18 out of 20 companies participating in the first year have entered serious discussions with new customers about their innovations. £2.6 million has so far been secured for SMEs through contracts or research and development funding; with a further £43 million in the commercial pipeline. So far, £1.3 million has been raised in private investment, with a further £27 million pending.
The companies chosen to join this year’s new cohort will each receive up to £50,000 to trial their solutions over the next six months. Their solutions respond to challenges associated with the rail and automotive manufacturing sectors. These include clean and efficient vehicle manufacturing and assembly design; the production of cost-effective solutions for clean transportation infrastructure; and the production, transport, and storage of alternative fuels such as hydrogen or biofuels.
Alongside funding, the accelerator will also provide the businesses with bespoke technical and commercial support, utilising expertise and cutting-edge facilities at the BCIMO in Dudley and the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering at Coventry University. The cohort will also be provided with networking and showcasing opportunities to connect with industry and financial partners.
The companies selected are:
Aeroforge
Alucast
Composite Braiding Ltd
EnginSoft UK Ltd
Extend Robotics
GBR Rail Ltd
Geospatial Ventures
Grinsty
Integrated Systems Engineering
LiBatt Recycling
MOLE
Moasure
Moonbility
OX Delivers
Raeon Ltd
Taraz Metrology Ltd
Treeva
Unipart Powertrain Applications
Vanguard
Find out more about each of the companies in the cohort brochure.
Clean Futures is led by Connected Places Catapult, alongside the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO), Coventry University and Coventry University Services. It is part of the wider West Midlands Innovation Accelerator, which is designed to bolster the region’s innovation and R&D capability and capacity to spark commercial growth and investment. The West Midlands Innovation Accelerator is delivered in partnership with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Innovate UK and the West Midlands Combined Authority.
“Clean Futures is supporting the West Midlands to be at the heart of the green industrial revolution. Through our close collaboration with BCIMO and Coventry University, we are enabling green transport innovators in the West Midlands to test their ideas and build their businesses.
“The first-year cohort of businesses on this programme has already seen millions of pounds worth of contracts and investments secured, and I’m excited to see what this year’s cohort can achieve.”Alex Cousins, Director – Regions at Connected Places Catapult
“Clean Futures is helping the region move towards being net zero by 2041 and we’ve already seen huge successes with the first cohort of SMEs involved in the accelerator programme. We are excited to see what the next group of entrepreneurs can bring to the table and use Coventry University’s cutting edge research facilities to make a difference here in the West Midlands and further afield.”Professor Marcos Kauffman, Director of the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering at Coventry University
