Reflecting on a year of growth: establishing our Enterprise Hub presence in Wales

A new home for the Enterprise Hub in Wales

In November 2024, we officially moved into our new premises at the Tramshed Tech Palace in Swansea. This vibrant and collaborative space provides a perfect platform to support Wales’ entrepreneurial and engineering communities. Previously based at Swansea University’s Bay Campus through our partnership with the Pan-Wales AgorIP project, the transition marks an exciting new chapter for the Hub. It reinforces our commitment to nurturing innovation, collaboration, and commercialisation across the region.

A track record of impact

Since 2013, the Enterprise Hub has supported 18 entrepreneurs in Wales with funding, mentoring and business development opportunities to help turn ideas into impactful businesses, commercialise research and effectively scale high potential businesses.

Over £600,000 of funding has been allocated to Enterprise Hub members in Wales. This support has helped foster dynamic startups and spinouts, particularly through partnerships with institutions such as Swansea University and the University of South Wales.

We expect this number of entrepreneurs supported in Wales to grow rapidly in the year ahead, anticipating 8 early stage innovators to onboard via our Regional Talent Engines programme in early 2025.

Fostering the Welsh ecosystem

We were delighted to welcome two new Royal Academy of Engineering Fellows in Wales this year:

• Dr Rodney Pelzel FREng, CTO at IQE (Cardiff)
• Nick Millington MBE FREng, Route Director at Network Rail Wales and Borders Route (Cardiff)

Their achievements underscore the strength and depth of Welsh engineering talent and the innovative ecosystem we aim to support.

One of the most significant highlights this year was the RAE Strategy Consultation 2025-2030, held in the Autumn in Cardiff. This event brought together key stakeholders to gain insight into perceptions and priorities that will guide the Academy’s next chapter.

Regional consultation event

Stakeholders included:

• Development Bank of Wales
• University commercialisation and tech transfer teams
• Hub members and entrepreneurs
• Academy Fellows
• Welsh Government representatives
• Faculty heads of engineering
• Heads of research from Welsh higher education institutions
• Incubator hub leads
• Industry Wales

The discussions reflected the collaborative spirit and shared ambition to strengthen engineering and innovation in Wales over the next five years. By engaging diverse voices, we aim to address challenges, unlock new opportunities, and ensure Welsh innovators remain at the forefront of progress.

Mike McMahon with Eluned Morgan, First Minister in Wales

Seizing opportunities in the year ahead

Wales continues to present a wealth of opportunity for growth and impact. The Enterprise Hub is uniquely positioned to:

• Boost Welsh Spinouts and Startups: Supporting their commercialisation journey and helping them scale.
• Fund and Train Early-Stage Innovators: Through initiatives like the Regional Talent Engine, we provide grants, training, and coaching to nurture future leaders.
• Bridge the Gap: Delivering effective early-stage support to entrepreneurs from ideation through to investment readiness.
• Collaborate Across Ecosystems: Working with stakeholders across the innovation and entrepreneurial landscape to break down barriers and share best practices.
• Inform Strategic Frameworks: Liaising with the Welsh Government to help shape strategic plans and innovation frameworks that drive long-term economic growth.

As we prepare for 2025, our mission remains clear: to empower Wales’ brightest innovators and engineers. With a new home, an expanding network, and fresh cohorts ready to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys, the Enterprise Hub in Wales is poised to make an even greater impact.

Here’s to a year of growth, collaboration, and innovation—and to many more successes ahead.