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Engine Shed [2022]
Infrastructure
Impact for scaleups
400+
Companies supported per year
£600m+
Investment raised since start of programme
300+
Scaleups access and use Engine Shed’s facilities
250+
Jobs created in 2021
£29m
Generated in revenue in 2021
1,000
Events held in 2021
Key sectors
Engine Shed, based in Brunel’s historic building, is an enterprise hub led by the University of Bristol in collaboration with Bristol City Council, supporting ambitious businesses since 2013. The hub brings together investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, academics and corporates to drive innovation and inclusive economic growth. It provides flexible infrastructure for 300 fast-growing companies.
The SETsquared Bristol Incubator provides support to over 80 high growth technology businesses, and in 2021, it passed the landmark of £600m investment raised by member companies. In the past year women made up 45 percent of participating founders and ethnic minorities 24 percent.
Furthermore, the hub links scaling businesses with investors through Investors in Residence and the hosting of an Angel Hub, in partnership with UK Business Angels Association. Its Investment Activator programme led by TechSPARK aims to increase the flow of equity investment in the South West. Targeted investment events bring together over 300 account managed investors with scaling companies seeking funding. More than 1,000 founders and leaders have attended to date.
Engine Shed hosted more than 1,000 events and conferences in 2021. It supports the Bristol Technology Festival through TechSPARK. A weeklong programme of 70 events and themed days, the festival is designed to showcase the entire Tech ecosystem. In 2021, the Festival attracted over 5,000 attendees.
In addition, Engine Shed has a partnership with Geovation, the innovation arm of the Ordnance Survey to provide network members access to the quality location and property data, technical expertise and guidance in how to access a range of potential market sectors.
“As many entrepreneurs will tell you, it’s crucial to build your network fast when you are starting out as a business. Being based at Engine Shed meant that many of the right connections were already there and easy to access. We were also surrounded by peers going through the same journey as us – and being able to share that experience with others encountering similar challenges was invaluable.” Tom Carter, CEO – Ultraleap
