Scaleup programmes
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Engine Shed
Infrastructure
Impact for scaleups
400+
Companies supported per year
£660m+
Investment raised since start of programme
1,200
Events held every year
300+
Scaleups access and use Engine Shed’s facilities
19
Growth, inclusion, and innovation projects are underway
Key sectors
Engine Shed, based in Brunel’s historic building in Bristol, is the University of Bristol’s leading innovation hub in collaboration with Bristol City Council. The hub brings together ecosystem players from investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, academics and corporates to drive innovation and foster inclusive economic growth. It provides flexible infrastructure for more than 300 fast-growing companies and has been supporting scaling businesses since 2013.
Amongst resident organisations, the SETsquared Bristol Incubator has supported over 350 innovative scaling companies across multiple different technology sectors. To date, these businesses have raised over £660 million. In 2022, SETsquared Bristol provided support to over 85 high growth businesses across 20 tech sub-sectors. These businesses generated over £20 million in revenues, created 150 jobs and raised £33.1 million in fundraisings.
To build the equity ecosystem and remove barriers to access finance for local scaling businesses, Engine Shed links scaling businesses with investors through their ‘Investors in Residence’ programme and the hosting of the Bristol Angel Hub, in partnership with UK Business Angels Association. Their ‘Investment Activator’ programme led by TechSPARK and supported by both public and private sector organisations, aims to increase the flow of equity investment in the South West by putting the spotlight on the local scaling companies and bringing investors together to network, share and learn.
In addition, Engine Shed’s continued partnership with Geovation, offers scaling businesses using location or property data free access to their membership community. This includes access to expert business advice and mentorship, business advice and specialist data support from Ordnance Survey and HM Land Registry.
Every year, Engine Shed hosts 1,200 events and conferences, while 30,000 people visit Engine Shed for events and meetings. The Bristol Technology Festival supported through TechSPARK, is a weeklong programme of 70 events and themed days, the festival is designed to showcase the entire Tech ecosystem.
During the Festival in October 2023, Barclays announced its first Bristol based Eagle Lab, in partnership with Engine Shed. This is its 34th location in the UK and is due to open before the end of the year. Barclays Eagle Labs will join SETsquared Bristol, the University’s tech incubator at Engine Shed, to enhance support to a broader range of businesses, including business expertise, banking services, and mentoring and coaching from scale-up specialists. The Eagle Labs’ team will also host a year-round events programme dedicated to promoting collaboration and innovation in the community.
