News / International
Bristol green inventors given free test bed
From Tuesday 9th June, Bristol inventors are being invited to submit new ideas to reduce energy use, water consumption and waste, for trial in RBS branches. Launching at Venturefest Bristol and Bath, the RBS Bristol Innovation Gateway opened for new applications expressly from Bristol’s small-to-medium sized businesses.
The city-specific chapter of RBS’s innovation challenge has been launched to tie in with Bristol’s role as European Green Capital. It supports Bristol’s 2015 Go Green scheme, a collaboration between Business West and Low Carbon South West to encourage organisations in the city to create and implement green action plans.
In last year’s inaugural, worldwide chapter, a smart hand dryer was one of the winners, which has gone on to save the bank around £18,000, eliminating almost a million paper towels.
Matt Hatcher, NatWest’s director of commercial banking for Bristol, said: “Small businesses and innovators often struggle to get the opportunity to pitch their ideas to larger corporates, which means it’s often difficult to get the chance to prove their brilliant ideas can work. Trials and test beds like the one we are offering are crucial for innovators to accelerate their access to market.
“The first Innovation Gateway attracted ideas from brand new concepts through to market-ready products and services. We know that Bristol is a hotbed of innovation and with the city-wide focus this year on sustainability it’s the ideal time to give innovators and SMEs here the chance to take their idea or product to the next level. We look forward to supporting local businesses while helping to achieve our own aims under our Go Green plan.”
Photo by Shutterstock
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