Businesses showcase innovations from extendable coat hangers to electricity-generating road surfaces at inaugural Bootcamp Showcase

Six businesses showcased Cleantech innovations developed in Wyre Forest at a showcase event on Thursday 23 June.

The companies have been supported by BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp – an eight-week programme bringing leading experts from the Cleantech world to north Worcestershire to help local entrepreneurs and established businesses develop technologies that will lead industry supply chains towards Net Zero.

Innovations on display included:

• Aceleron – a Li-ion battery with improved maintenance, lifetime and material sustainability
• Ecoforest UK – a combined hot water cylinder, thermal store and control system to integrate with heat pumps and simplify installation.
• GroHanger – a clothes hanger that extends from baby to adult size, reducing waste
• Hummingbird Design – an innovative road/floor surface that converts movement to electrical energy
• R-Net – outdoor recycling bin with durable net instead of bin bags, angled to throw recyclable waste into it
• Voidfill Packaging – On-site machine that manufactures EcoNutz, Voidfill’s innovative packaging “peanuts” made from paper, reducing transport emissions

Luke Willetts, Deputy CEO at Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said:

“The showcase was the culmination of a six-month programme designed to identify and develop Cleantech innovations here in Wyre Forest.

“Our six bootcamp participants have been supported by some of the country’s leading experts to develop their products, enhance their understanding of their markets and develop their commercial offer.

“The showcase provided a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the progress they have made, creating relationships with investors, partners and customers who can support them in their goal of driving real environmental change across their industries.

“Our vision for BetaDen North is to pave the way for a nationally-significant centre of excellence for carbon-reducing technologies in the area, working with cohort members to establish the region as a UK leader for developing the technologies society needs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle the climate crisis.”

BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp offered cohort companies a programme of support worth £25,000 over eight weeks to develop and commercialise their Cleantech innovations. This included grant funding, tailored support and mentoring from industry leaders, skills-based masterclasses, guest speakers, networking and business introductions, and free office space at Wyre Forest House.

Nick Lewis of Grohanger, which took part in the bootcamp and showcase, said: “We applied to the Bootcamp to access the financial and mentoring assistance available at what was a critical time for our business as we looked to launch our newest, sustainable product.

“The programme delivered a great mix of education, mentoring support and discussions with other Cleantech entrepreneurs that have helped us define our market and commercial approach.

“Taking part in BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp really accelerated our progress bringing our new Grohanger to market and the showcase was a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate its potential to customers and partners.”

BetaDen North Cleantech Bootcamp was funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund and enabled by Wyre Forest District Council and Worcestershire County Council. The programme, delivered by Carbon Limiting Technologies (CLT), brought to life real issues and opportunities for businesses arising out of the push towards Net Zero, which will impact businesses and organisations of all sizes across all sectors.

Councillor Helen Dyke, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Planning and Localism, concluded: “Promoting low- and zero-carbon technologies is a key part of the county’s economic strategy and the innovations coming out of this inaugural bootcamp are evidence of the wealth of potential that exists in our region. The showcase not only demonstrated the progress made by individual companies but provided a platform from which to celebrate the work of the wider Cleantech community in the region, which is working hard to deliver a cleaner, greener future for us all.”

At the time of the launch, Councillor Marc Bayliss, cabinet member with responsibility for Economy and Skills at Worcestershire County Council also added: “The Community Renewal fund is a fantastic opportunity to make a real positive impact through funding imaginative new programmes that will boost productivity and grow local economies.”

For further details, visit www.betaden-north.co.uk