Scottish Enterprise Clean Heat Accelerator – UK

Objectives 

• The Clean Heat Accelerator will be a training course delivered to a small cohort of businesses involved in clean heat. The Accelerator will help to develop business skills and sector knowledge for participants with the intent to promote business growth and networking in the sector. The aim is to enable job growth and create investment opportunities in participating businesses.
• The Accelerator will support the delivery of the Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings Strategy.
• Participating businesses will be supported to:
  • Develop a commercialisation action plan
  • Build business capabilities and sector knowledge
  • Create new partnership and/or investment opportunities
  • Expand their sector network

Stipend

• Stipend Bursary/stipend of £2,000 will be available to all participating businesses to contribute towards costs of participating.

UK Subsidy Control 

• To comply with UK Subsidy Control requirements, this support is being given under the Minimal Financial Assistance allowance. The value of the subsidy being provided is £11,525. The maximum any business can receive under this allowance is £315,000, over a rolling three-year period.
• The application form asks you to declare any UK Subsidy or State Aid received from 1st April 2022 onwards. This could include:
  • Other elements of Minimal Financial Assistance;
  • Any subsidies given as small amounts of financial assistance following the UK’s departure from the European Union
  • Services of public economic interest assistance; and
  • Aid given under the EU State aid de minimis regulations either before the end of the implementation period of 31 December 2020 or after this date.
• Failure to declare any subsidy received could result in you being charged for the support provided if it cannot be provided as a subsidy.

Time Commitment 

• The Accelerator will be delivered as a 16-week programme, spread over 21 weeks accounting for holiday periods, this will include:
  • Two virtual sessions per week (1-3 hours per session)
  • Three in-person events (6-8 hours per event)
  • Individual specialist mentor for each company
• The time requirement will therefore be in the region of 4 hours per week over the 16- weeks. To gain the most benefit from the Accelerator, there will also be elements that can be worked on by participants between sessions to develop commercialisation and growth plans.

Why join the accelerator?

• Expanded Network
  • Meet customers, supply chain partners, peers and investors.
• Skills and Knowledge
  • Online masterclasses and in-person events to build business skills and sector knowledge.
• A Plan for Growth
  • Create a practical action plan to grow your business.
• Expert Guidance
  • 1:1 mentoring with dedicated industry experts.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Businesses must meet specific eligibility requirements in order to join the cohort:
  • Companies should be directly involved in clean heat:
    • Technologies can include heat pumps, thermal storage, heat networks, solar thermal, biomass, insulation, energy efficiency, deep retrofit, sensors, metering and smart controls.
    • Manufacturers, installers, servicing, training or supply chains for clean heat technologies.
    • There must be a carbon reduction impact from the technology or service.
  • Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), i.e. less than 250 staff.
    • Focus on small and start-up businesses.
  • Businesses must be a registered company in active operation, i.e. trading and products / services on the market.
  • Businesses must have the potential and ambition for growth to support the clean heat agenda.
  • Businesses must be registered or with a material operational base in Scotland and employing staff in Scotland.

For more information, visit Scottish Enterprise.