Welcome to our weekly South West Tech News roundup, where you can get all the headlines from the past week in one place.
What has our busy tech and digital community been up to this week? From award wins and innovative breakthroughs to unmissable events and capital raised, take a moment to reflect on the hive of daily activity taking place in our region.
If you have a story to share, wizz it over to beno@techspark.co – I look forward to hearing from you!
Download techSPARK's 2024 Annual Investment Review
On Wednesday we launched our Annual Investment Report, exploring the trends of tech investment over the lasts 12 months. The launch of the report was also featured an evening event which featured an introduction to the report, 2024 in numbers, and a panel discussion with Marty Reid, Rosie Bennett, Henry Whorwood and techSPARK’s own Charly Patrick.
The techSPARK Investment Review provides an overview of the key moments and raises from across the 2024 finance landscape, highlights some of the most exciting businesses from across the region looking to raise in 2025, and recognises brilliant female leaders who raised in the South West last year.
You can download a copy of the report today by clicking here.
This report and event was supported by our fantastic sponsor at TLT LLP, British Business Bank, University of Bristol / Bristol Innovations & Link Stone Advisory and Walmer Group. We want to extend a huge thank you for making this research possible and enabling us to bring the community an outline of the present landscape.
Applications are open for the 2025 Amazon Innovation Accelerator
Growth Studio has partnered with Amazon to deliver the Amazon Innovation Accelerator (AIA)—a hands-on, results-driven programme designed to help UK SMEs embrace innovation, digital transformation, and business growth.
This partnership is set to support SMEs in 10 regions across the UK, providing them with the practical tools and insights needed to scale their businesses and stay competitive in today’s evolving market.
AIA is more than an accelerator—it’s a platform to drive meaningful, practical change in your business, giving you access to Amazon’s leading practices, practical skills, valuable certification, and a national network of like-minded SME leaders. AIA can transform your SME from a small player to an innovation leader in your industry.
By joining the Amazon Innovation Accelerator (AIA) in the South West, you could be 1 of 30 top SMEs that gains expert insights, hands-on tools, and funding opportunities while experiencing Amazon’s innovation in action.
Sustainable Ventures launches two new Sustainability Impact Funds
Sustainable Ventures has announced the launch of two new Sustainability Impact Funds. These new funds will continue the legacy of the seven previous Sustainability Ventures’ cohort, which have successfully supported early-stage climate tech startups, helping them scale through tailored programmes, mentorship, and access to funding.
Both the EIS and SEIS funds have adopted the FCA’s new ‘Sustainability Impact’ label, meaning the funds invest in solutions to sustainability problems with an aim to achieve a positive impact on people or the planet.
Sustainable Ventures has partnered with multi-award winning investment manager specialising in SEIS and EIS funds, Sapphire Capital Partners LLP. This relationship will allow the funds to scale more effectively whilst driving more flexibility for investors and investee companies.
Learn more about opportunities to work at the Home Office
The Home Office works to deliver a safe, fair and prosperous UK. They achieve this through working on counter-terrorism, policing and fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports. They rely on a diverse group of talented people with a range of skills to help us deliver those objectives.
The Digital, Data and Technology team play a crucial role in supporting the department’s work. Join them online to learn more about roles within the Engineering & Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT) teams at the Home Office. You’ll hear from Head Recruiters and inspiring tech professionals working within Engineering & QAT. You’ll also get the chance to ask questions.
The session starts at 12:00pm and will last 45 minutes, delivered via Microsoft Teams.
Register for the Engineering and Quality Assurance and Testing (QAT) Online Event.
Have you registered for South West Founders?
In case you haven’t heard of it before, South West Founders is a monthly meet-up for people based in the South West who have been, are, or want to be tech start-up founders. We aim to connect local entrepreneurs with co-founders and other like-minded people as well as tech investors to create an informal support network.
Our next meetup is Wednesday 5th February, where we are talking about brand – your personal brand as a founder, and the brand of your organisation – are they connected, how do you define what you stand for, then prove it?
There is going to be a lot to unpack, and to help lead the conversation we will be joined by Emma Milington, CEO and co-owner of Modular, an independent design and development company, based in Bristol.
Register your place here to join us for South West Founders.
A Productions named one of the UK’s Best Places to Work in TV 2025
This marks the third time the Bristol-based company has been awarded the coveted accolade by leading industry website and magazine, Broadcast. The survey recognises the employers that are “doing things right and creating cultures that make employees proud to be a part of them”.
Training schemes, employee benefits and company culture are among the key factors that determine the Best Places to Work in TV. A special report based on the survey has published today, with 32 companies having made the cut.
Katherine McQueen, joint managing director at A Productions, said: “We pride ourselves in ensuring that A Productions is a diverse, inclusive and enjoyable place to work, where everyone can fulfil their potential and feel valued. It’s important to us to engage staff regularly in sharing their feedback and shaping the way we run the company, with our team’s wellbeing central to our ethos.”
