Rent-free office space for renewable energy businesses at Coventry University's Technology Park

Coventry University Enterprises, the commercial arm of Coventry University, has launched a new offer to entice businesses with a specialism in renewable energies to its Technology Park.

From this week entrepreneurs, start-up companies and SMEs operating in or supporting the energy industry will be given three-months free rent if they lease office space at the Technology Park, located on the city's Puma Way.

Businesses signing up to the offer will also receive 21 hours free expert mentoring over a six-month period and six hours free legal advice. The offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and is available for a limited period of time only.

Obi Okwuadigbo, Assistant Director at Coventry University Enterprises Ltd, said the offer was the first in a line of initiatives to position the Technology Park as the 'go to' hub for businesses with an interest in developing renewable energies.

As a Technology Park we are absolutely committed to supporting carbon reduction, not only in terms of the companies we house on site, but also in how we as a business operate on a day-to-day basis and in the projects and funding we bid for.

We want to hear from businesses who match this ethos, and in the case of the particular offer any company which is in an way, shape or form contributing to the low carbon agenda. As a University we are already championing, through our applied research agenda, areas such as Low Impact Buildings and Low Carbon Vehicles, and any business coming to the Technology Park has the opportunity to work with some of the UK's leading academic experts in those fields. Therefore, companies with an focus on R&D may be particularly attracted to our offer.

Alongside renewable energies, the Technology Park is also continuing to develop its expertise in the digital innovation agenda. The Park is home to the Serious Games Institute, which supports businesses ranging from start-ups to large corporate organisations in the development of gaming technologies for training purposes. It boasts the development services of a serious games studio, a mobile applications lab and a purpose-built teaching lab. The Institute has developed into an international brand for excellence in its field, with new overseas branches in Singapore and South Africa and a commercial spin-out company Serious Games International which has attracted £2 million in loan investments.

Mr Okwuadigbo said:

The renewable energies and digital innovation agendas are we, as a Technology Park, want to be. We've always supported the development of innovation-led, high-growth, knowledge-based businesses - and have worked with well over 500 SMEs to date - and now we are really focusing on our strengths in these two key areas, which are absolutely vital in terms of regional and national economic growth.

Businesses interested in the Coventry University Technology Park offer should contact Obi Okwuadigbo on OOkwuadigbo@cad.coventry.ac.uk.

To arrange an interview with Obi Okwuadigbo please contact Hannah Murray on 01727 737997 or hannah@communicationsmanagement.co.uk.

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