Better Futures (European Regional Development Fund)
Funded by
About the programme
London is already Europe's leading tech hub but now we're investing more in our Cleantech industry - who produce technologies, goods and services that reduce negative impacts on our environment.
The Better Futures project was launched in February 2017 and aims to work with and support the growth of London-based businesses who produce technologies, goods and services that reduce negative impacts on our environment.
Better Futures is funded by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), and was created in collaboration with our partners.
More details of projects funded by ERDF in London are available to view at the Local Enterprise Partnership for London's website. including an interactive ESIF funding map, highlighting ESF and ERDF-funded projects that are currently under way.
What Better Futures will deliver
Now in its sixth year, Better Futures is working with subject matter expertise as delivery partners to provide over 200 SMEs the boost they need to be successful in London and create a hub for low-carbon and circular industries in our city. By growing London’s cleantech sector, Better Futures contributes to the Mayoral mandate of achieving zero carbon emissions for London by 2050.
The objectives of the Better Futures project are as follows:
- Stimulate innovation amongst London’s cleantech SMEs in order to bring new ideas to market and support growth of the green economy and of green jobs.
- Helping SMEs become more climate resilient and socially purpose driven will ensure these businesses survive and thrive in London’s future economy.
- Develop cleantech start-ups as a pipeline for the wider cleantech ecosystem in London, providing technologies and services that help all business to become greener.
- Develop the market for cleantech products and services by stimulating the demand amongst all SMEs for low carbon solutions to reduce their emissions.
- Develop a virtuous cycle of demand and supply stimulating each other to grow the impact economy in London.
Support available for businesses
Through Better Futures, businesses can take advantage of a host of further support measures to aid them make a positive impact on London's environment.
Businesses can benefit from:
- Investment readiness and growth support with innovation advisers.
- Access to new supply chains and markets.
- Innovation vouchers for academic collaboration projects.
- Paid short term internships.
- Marketing support.
- Innovation and commercialisation of research and development.
- Process improvement, quality assurance and technology verification.
- Product development.
- Management / Leadership support.
- Understanding organisational corporate and social responsibility.
- Public and Private funding support.
- Resource efficiency.
- Intellectual Property support.
- Access to co-working space.
- Events, workshops and masterclasses.
The programme is currently in high demand. We assess new companies for the programme every six weeks.
Depending on the volume of companies in the pipeline at any given time, those accepted on the programme would look to begin support within three to six months from acceptance.
Gender equality in CleanTech
Gender parity is still a problem in our society and in the business community, so we want to take this opportunity to lead by example on this important issue.
We're working with the London Sustainable Development Commission (LSDC) to look at the role of women in the CleanTech industry. We’re really excited to introduce our Women in CleanTech project and celebrate the role of female entrepreneurs in London.
Better Futures events
We're developing a programme of events throughout the year to help your business.
All of the events run by us and our partners are free to attend if you've registered for the Better Futures or Better Futures+ project. It takes about 10 minutes to complete our expression of interest form,
Get in touch
If you have any questions, you can check our Frequently Asked Questions.
If you can't find what you're looking for, please get in touch with us at [email protected].
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