Bright Tide in call for bright ideas

Innovative ideas for ocean-based business are being invited as part of an initiative to support sustainable development.

Small-medium enterprises (SMEs) have until 15 April to submit their proposals to the Blue Economy Ocean Accelerator Programme, organised by social enterprise Bright Tide. The 10 businesses selected will secure places on the eight-week programme which will offer between 5-10 hours a week of dedicated support including one to one tailored expert individual mentorships with industry experts, group mentorship sessions, peer-to-peer learning, commercial pitching opportunities, workshops and access to professional networks.

Shortlisted businesses will also take part in exclusive in-person industry meet-ups with the programme’s corporate and blue economy partners, professional networks, peer-to-peer circles and scientific academic partners, and will have the opportunity to pitch at a “Meet-The-Buyers” event in London.

The initiative is also supported by founding sponsors The University of Plymouth and Investec Wealth & Investment.

Bright Tide is a social enterprise which works with businesses to help them make climate change and biodiversity a strategic priority, by providing guidance and advisory support to organisations on their sustainability and social impact strategies.

Founder and director of Bright Tide, Harry Wright, said: “By moving human activities which directly impact and depend on the ocean towards being more sustainable, we can rebuild ocean prosperity and restore biodiversity. Activities such as shipping, fishing and marine renewable energy need to rapidly transition into a sustainable blue economy, however currently this remains exceptionally underfunded. This was the motivator behind us launching our biggest ever accelerator programme for ocean-impact innovators. We’re proud to be supported by founding sponsors at The University of Plymouth and Investec Wealth & Investment, and we can’t wait to see the exciting businesses that apply to take part.”

The organisation is looking to hear from a range of SMEs, from food producers using ocean sourced ingredients such as seaweed, through to sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, offshore wind and beyond.

To apply or to find out more go online to www.bright-tide.co.uk/blueeconomy 

Harry Wright, Founder and Director, Bright Tide