Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, visited the University’s SETsquared Business Acceleration Centre last week to launch a Green Bonds scheme and to talk to local environmental companies based in the Centre. The scheme, run by Bristol City Council, will allow people to invest in environmentally friendly businesses. Investors will be able to buy ‘Green Bonds’ for firms developing sustainable technology.
Speaking about the scheme, the MP commented:
‘Green Bonds will allow people in Bristol to invest in new green technologies. By supporting small businesses, Green Bonds will create new jobs and help create an infrastructure for a long-term, green economic recovery.’Centre Director, Nick Sturge added:
‘The Green Bonds scheme is an excellent way of engaging businesses in the environmental field as well as encouraging investors to back sustainable technology firms, such as those based in the Centre.’Several of the businesses based in the Centre are developing sustainable technologies and took the opportunity to discuss their work with Mr Clegg.
Amongst the firms to meet the MP were renewable energy provider Tidal Generation Ltd, which is developing large submerged turbines to generate electricity from tidal flow, with each machine producing enough electricity to supply 650 homes; Auriga Energy, which develops control systems to deliver high-efficiency energy generation; and Learning Science, which specialises in e-learning consultancy and product development for the science education sector.
The SETsquared Centre in Bristol (one of 4 centres run by the University, together with the universities of Bath, Southampton and Surrey) helps technology businesses move from initial ideas into commercial viability. The Partnership brings together the research strengths of the four leading universities with private-sector commercial expertise and a network of experienced entrepreneurs, potential investors and business professionals across Southern England.