TEP Birmingham is home to more than 20 organisations working across clean energy, technology and innovation. But our role extends well beyond providing businesses with somewhere to locate. Robert Horsfall, Director of Finance & Strategic Projects explains how TEP Birmingham can help power the next generation of sustainability solutions:
“By bringing together workspace and infrastructure with business support, funding opportunities, commercial expertise and networks, TEP Birmingham provides an environment where innovative businesses can more easily access the support they need to develop, commercialise new technologies and grow.
Here at TEP Birmingham we play host to three innovation programmes that each provide different routes into that wider support ecosystem.
Climate Innovation Platform
Based at TEP Birmingham, the Climate Innovation Platform (CIP) is delivered by the University of Birmingham with support from HSBC UK. It provides business development opportunities for companies committed to driving energy and climate technology innovation.
CIP supports UK-registered SMEs developing innovative climate solutions. Businesses on its support programmes can access funding opportunities, incubation support and workspace, specialist expertise and a growing network of cleantech innovators.
Being based at TEP gives participating businesses the opportunity to develop within a wider clean-energy community, with access to the people, facilities and relationships that can help turn promising technologies into commercially viable products and services.
Expressions of interest are currently being invited for CIP Cohort 6. Recruitment opens in September 2026 and the programme is due to begin in January 2027.
Find out more and register your interest: University of Birmingham – Climate Innovation Platform
NatWest Accelerator
In July, TEP Birmingham became home to NatWest’s 15th Accelerator hub in the UK, creating another route for ambitious businesses to access the expertise, connections and support they need to grow.
While NatWest’s wider Accelerator programme supports businesses across a range of sectors, its presence at TEP has a particular focus on clean growth and on bringing together businesses working across clean technology and related industries.
Members can access co-working space and a wider entrepreneurial community, a programme of events and workshops, and one-to-one coaching and mentoring. From September, NatWest also plans to deliver sector-focused workshops at TEP covering areas including sales strategy, pitching and data management.
Pam Sheemar, Regional Accelerator Director, Midlands South West and Wales, said:
“TEP Birmingham provides a unique environment for the NatWest Accelerator, bringing together ambitious clean-growth businesses with the support, expertise and connections they need to scale. As we expand our activity across the West Midlands, we’re excited to strengthen that community and help more businesses turn their ambitions into sustainable growth.”
Find out more: TEP Birmingham business support programmes
Global Growth Programme
TEP Birmingham is also one of the West Midlands landing hubs for the Global Growth Programme, supporting innovative international businesses looking to invest, establish and scale in the UK.
For participating cleantech businesses, the programme can provide sponsored workspace at TEP, including office facilities and co-located industrial space for product development, testing and demonstration, alongside tailored business support.
Businesses can also connect with specialist research facilities at the Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre, become part of the TEP community, attend business and networking events and access introductions into the wider West Midlands cleantech ecosystem.
Dedicated support is shaped around each company’s needs and can include commercial introductions, grant funding, professional advice, recruitment and support in securing local investment.
This gives international businesses a practical route into Birmingham’s clean-energy ecosystem while supporting TEP Birmingham’s wider ambition to attract investment, technology and jobs to the city and region.
Find out more: TEP Birmingham business support programmes
Finding the right support
The three programmes support businesses at different stages and with different needs: from UK climate-tech SMEs looking to commercialise an innovation, to established businesses seeking support to scale, and international technology companies looking to establish a UK presence.
By bringing together workspace, infrastructure, expertise, finance and networks, TEP Birmingham is helping create the conditions in which good ideas can become successful, scalable businesses.
Interested in growing your business at TEP Birmingham? Explore our business support programmes and find out how to get involved.
