REGIONAL TALENT ENGINES

Do you have a great idea that you want to turn into an engineering startup? Our pre-accelerator programme is designed to provide you with the practical support, £20k funding and training you need to help refine your innovation and bring your vision to life.

For the first time, we are welcoming applicants from Wales to apply as we will be providing hybrid training in Cardiff alongside existing training locations in Belfast, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle.

To learn more and to apply:https://enterprisehub.raeng.org.uk/regional-talent-engines

Regional Talent Engines is a six-month pre-accelerator programme for early-stage founders in Northern England, Northern Ireland and Wales to transform great ideas into new engineering and tech startups. 

Regional Talent Engines is funded and delivered by the Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub, and we do not charge fees or take any equity. 

What do we offer? 

We help you to get your business off the ground and ready for further growth, with a unique package of funding and training: 

·       an equity-free grant of £20,000 

·       hybrid training workshops, roundtables and speaker events in Belfast, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle 

·       one-to-one business coaching 

·       one-to-one mentoring from our unrivalled network of the UK’s leading engineers and Royal Academy of Engineering Fellows 

·       lifetime access to our co-working spaces in London and Belfast 

·       lifelong Enterprise Hub membership with exclusive opportunities for networking, events and investors 

We will cover business fundamentals, including: 

·       leadership and operations 

·       business modelling, value proposition and strategy 

·       marketing, sales and customers 

·       finance and funding sources 

·       understanding the innovation landscape 

·       design thinking process and prototyping 

By the end of the programme, you will be ready to seek further support for your new startup or pitch for your first investment to bring your innovation to market. 

Who is eligible? 

We are looking for aspiring entrepreneurs who: 

·       are experienced engineers or skilled tech professionals 

·       want to set up their own business in Northern England, Northern Ireland or Wales 

·       will not be in full-time work or study during our programme 

·       have the right to live and work in the UK 

Recent graduates from university, or university spinouts, should apply instead to our Enterprise Fellowships programme. Please read our full eligibility criteria for Regional Talent Engines. 

What innovations are supported? 

We support: 

·       new innovations from any area of engineering, including but not limited to, agricultural, digital, biomedical, fintech, mechanical, electrical, chemical, nuclear, space technology  

·       original ideas for scalable businesses 

·       concepts that are beyond invention (TRL2 or above) with a practical application identified, but not past the prototyping stage 

·       newly registered businesses if the innovation is not yet available to the market 

We can’t support consultancies, or ideas for mobile apps, websites or pure software-based creations unless they are underpinned by an innovative technology, such as AI, blockchain or machine learning. 

When can I apply? 

Applications open on 18 September 2023 and close on 30 October 2023. Please read our Essential Guidance Notes and submit your application online. 

Pre-interview training will be included to help perfect your pitch to our panel. Places on the Regional Talent Engines programme are competitive and will be decided by our selection committee. 

For all enquiries, please contact the Regional Talent Engines programme managers: 

Lee Gosling   Lee.Gosling@raeng.org.uk 

020 766 0616 

Dale Woods  Dale.Woods@raeng.org.uk 

020 766 0769