RWE is one of the largest power producers in the UK, accounting for around 15% of all electricity generated amounting to over 10 GW pro rata – enough to power over 10 million UK homes. RWE is also the one of the largest renewables generators in the UK with a diverse operational portfolio of technologies including onshore wind, offshore wind, hydro and biomass and employing around 2,600 people. Overall, and including its committed investments in projects already under construction, RWE expects to invest up to £15 billion in new green technologies and infrastructure in the UK by 2030.

Equinor is a leading broad energy partner to the UK, supplying natural gas from Norway, developing domestic energy resources and generating low-carbon electricity. Equinor has been operating in the UK for nearly 40 years and aims to reach net zero emissions globally by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, the company employs 22,000 people globally, and over 650 in the UK. Equinor supports the UK economy by investing billions in crucial energy infrastructure, working with over 700 suppliers across the country.

Equinor currently powers around 750,000 UK homes through its three operational wind farms; Sheringham Shoal, Dudgeon, and the world’s first floating wind farm, Hywind Scotland. In partnership with SSE Renewables and Eni Plenitude, Equinor is building the largest offshore wind farm in the world, Dogger Bank, off the Northeast coast of England, and is maturing its plans to extend both the Dudgeon and Sheringham Shoal wind farms.

Sustainable Ventures was established in 2011 with a vision of the world in which the twin challenges of climate change and resource scarcity are addressed by commercial innovation. Over the last 10 years, it has founded eight companies to this end, invested in 30 and supported a further 300. Its team includes some of the country’s most talented venture development and early stage investment professionals all dedicated to creating value for our community whilst making the world a better place. Through Sustainable Workspaces it develops and curates inspiring co-working spaces. Its two sites – ‘Sustainable Bridges’ and ‘Sustainable County Hall’ – sit at the centre of Europe’s largest Cleantech Ecosystem with over 50 sustainability start-ups in residence. Through the Sustainable Accelerator, it has invested in 30 companies over the last four years. From circular economy to subsea innovation, agritech to domestic energy efficiency – its four cohorts to date include some of the most exciting Cleantech businesses around. At heart, though, the Sustainable Ventures team are still entrepreneurs, and through its Venture Development function continue to take its own ideas from concept through to exit.

BDO is the UK’s 5th largest accountancy firm and offer a wide variety of services for clients including accountancy, advisory and compliance services to support growing entrepreneurial businesses. A key focus of BDO is to provide support on administrative tasks to allow the innovative SMEs to concentrate more on the development and launch of their technology. As part of the Launch Academy, BDO will support these small businesses scale-up and bring their technologies to life in order to enhance progress the offshore wind supply chain.

Murgitroyd is one of the largest group of patent and trade-mark attorneys and is recognised globally for their services. They advise clients on the capturing and protection of their Intellectual Property in order to make their technologies market ready. The Launch Academy programme will provide the successful SME applicants access to commercial and academic research opportunities with Murgitroyd, which they otherwise would not have outwith the programme. Murgitroyd recognise that SMEs tend to have very limited budgets when it comes to patent protection and so, they will offer support and guidance on how best to protect their IP.

Inclusive Employers are the UK’s first and leading membership organisation for employers looking to build inclusive workplaces. We offer consultancy, training and thought leadership, to help you make inclusion an everyday reality at your place of work. With over 390 member organisations, we support employers in their goal to build inclusive workplaces and diverse workforces whether they’re at the very start of their journey or more established.