Welcome to our roundup, where you can catch all the South West tech news highlights from the past week.
As usual, a lot is going on in the community. We’re hitting the ground running in this new year. Luckily you can now quickly access the headlines under one roof here. From technological breakthroughs to unmissable events, what’s the latest from our techie world?
If you have a piece of news to share, do reach out to our Head of Content, Shona Wright at shona@techspark.co
Inclued AI scoops national award for innovation
Bristol-based Inclued AI from Bristol has scooped a national award from Innovate UK, the UK’s Innovation Agency. The prestigious award will support them to grow their innovative business idea which aims to give content creators an objective way of measuring inclusivity within marketing content.
Joyann Boyce, founder & CEO at Inclued AI, is among the 233 high-potential innovators who have been awarded a £50,000 grant. Critically, they will also receive 12 months of tailored business support to help them grow, stimulating the UK’s economy.
Joyann’s idea aims to develop AI bias detection for written marketing content: “I am delighted to have Innovate UK support to help with the further development of Inclued AI. With the increased use of AI to create content, it is more important than ever to have guardrails to the content we publish.” says Joyann.
TalkLife announces latest investment round
Bristol-based TalkLife has successfully secured investment from TELUS Ventures. Using elements of social networking combined with a safe, supportive environment, the TalkLife platform delivers real-time, ongoing peer support to more than five million lives worldwide at any time of the day or night across multiple languages, providing clinical escalation and real-time professional moderation.
“No one should struggle alone, and we believe that peer support has the power to break the stigma around mental health. Technology allows us to create safe spaces for people to connect and share whenever they need to and wherever they are,” says Jamie Druitt, CEO of TalkLife.
Pop into the Engine Shed for free apprenticeship advice from the Western Training Provider Network
Apprenticeships have changed a lot in the last decade, and so have the ways that employers can get involved and benefit from them. To help you make the most of these opportunities, the West of England Apprenticeship Service will be offering free drop-in guidance sessions every Wednesday morning at Engine Shed for businesses interested in getting involved, which started this week.
Check out this whistle-stop introduction to apprenticeships answering some of the most frequently asked questions to kick things off.
Creative Bath gets a rebrand
Have a look at Creative Bath’s brand new look and feel, including the launch of the latest Creative Bath Awards website. If you’re interested in learning more about how the team developed the new brand from scratch, or simply keen to talk all things design and web development, you can come along to the Creative Bath Brand New Journey event at Komedia on Wednesday 13 March.
Pxlbake launches new website for easy-to-use virtual tour software
Bristol-based startup has unveiled its newest piece of tech, making virtual tours an attainable tool in the arsenal of professionals and small businesses alike.
Matthew Evans, founder of Pxlbake, says, “After much preparation, we’re proud to launch the new Pxlbake website. We recognise the significant impact an immersive virtual tour can have whether you’re selling property, training employees, or showcasing a venue, and we wanted to help bring this technology to as many people as possible.”
£11m University of Bristol semiconductor research centre could be key player in net zero mission
The University of Bristol will be home to the new £11m Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) REWIRE, set to deliver pioneering semiconductor technologies and new electronic devices.
Semiconductors are increasingly being recognised as an area of global strategic significance due to the integral role they play in net zero, AI and quantum technology. On this note, the centre will advance the next generation of semiconductor power device technologies and enhance the security of the UK’s semiconductor supply-chain.
This means the IKC will accelerate the UK’s ambition for net zero by transforming the next generation of high voltage electronic devices using wide/ultra-wide bandgap (WBG/UWBG) compound semiconductors.
1.4m households offered easy access to solar and wind energy ownership through Propflo and Ripple Energy partnership
Propflo, an award-winning AI retrofit platform, has partnered with Ripple Energy to make owning a source of green energy affordable and accessible to homeowners and tenants without the need for on-site installations.
Benefits at a glance:
- Direct ownership of large scale wind farms and solar parks.
- Ideal for those unable to install physical solar or wind systems (e.g., living in flats) or facing budget constraints.
- Long-term stability of energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint.
Propflo is currently engaging over 1.4 million homeowners and tenants, presenting them with the opportunity to own large wind farms and solar parks through Ripple Energy. Savings are directly applied to energy bills, providing an affordable green energy solution. Savings are also transferable if you move home.
