About CREST@UCS
The Centre for Research into Environmental Science and Technology (CREST) is based at University Centre Shrewsbury (UCS), Shropshire. It is one of four funded business support programmes operating out of UCS and targeting the Marches LEP area.
CREST (ESBRC Project) is a £2.3M European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project set up in partnership with Reaseheath College. More recently, University of Birmingham have joined the partnership. CREST offers support to SMEs who want to reduce their environmental impact, or develop new products or services. Our multi-disciplinary team of experts works closely with SMEs to design, develop and bring new products and services to market; develop processes to save time and/or money; understand markets (e.g. market research, introduction to buyers and suppliers) and develop successful business models.
We can offer:
- 12 hours of free business innovation support
- The potential for longer term research projects
- Direct support from our team of Business Development Managers
- Themed innovation workshops and masterclasses
- Access to a team of academic experts and state-of-the-art laboratory
- Access to drones and a geospatial service
- Specialised business support
- Links to University of Birmingham ARLI and ATETA business support programmes
- Contacts for student placements and internships
Eligibility
There are some exceptions, but generally your business will need to be:
- Based in and/or trading from Shropshire or Telford & Wrekin, business to business
- With fewer than 250 employees
- Turnover less than the equivalent of 50 million Euros per annum, or a balance sheet of less than 43 million Euros
The following sectors are ineligible for ERDF support through CREST:
- Retail
- Building and decommissioning of nuclear power stations
- Provision of local social welfare facilities e.g. hospitals, nursing homes, fire stations, child-minding facilities, sports facilities, parks, public libraries
- Coastal protection, soil conservation and infrastructures; all with an exclusively agricultural bias, reforestation and prevention of forest fires. This does not include green infrastructure which is eligible under ERDF
- Building and renovation of housing, except for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy operations.
- Major infrastructure in private sector ports
- Agriculture and primary production.
Contact us to turn your ideas into reality and make a real difference:
Contact us to turn your ideas into reality and make a real difference:
CREST@UCS
University Centre Shrewsbury
Guildhall
Frankwell Quay
Shrewsbury
Shropshire
SY3 8HQ
The Centre for Research into Environmental Science and Technology.