The UK bank NatWest has been named the headline sponsor of the UK’s only in-person, dedicated micromobility event – Micromobility UK 2023, hosted by WMG.
WMG, an academic department at the University of Warwick, will host the 3rd edition of its annual event at NAEC Stoneleigh, Warwickshire on 11th May.
The department has become a global reference point for effective collaboration between academia, private enterprises and the public sector in developing the burgeoning micromobility movement.
On the partnership, Richard Hill, Sector Head of Mobility and Logistics at NatWest, told Zag Daily: “The mobility market is changing at pace and while the push towards electrification is evident to all, it is by no means a single solution to drive down emissions and meet climate ambitions.
“I foresee the development of micromobility encapsulating components of active travel, being critical to the wider transition to net zero and we want to be at the forefront of helping this component get established. We know e-cargo and active travel will provide one of the biggest ways to cut emissions from urban areas, but they can also bring about significant commercial opportunities for UK businesses.”
With the ambition to play a leading role in helping to address the climate challenge, NatWest and WMG launched a joint venture last year called the Clean Transport Accelerator Hub.
This is a free programme enabling ambitious SMEs to scale and capitalise on clean transport opportunities by offering coaching from industry experts, networking with other entrepreneurs and access to community events.
There were 13 businesses on the cohort last year covering areas such as micromobility, aviation and battery technology. Around 20% of the businesses gained investment off the back of the programme, and around 25% entered the prototype phase, with a few of the businesses gaining support from WMG.
“Although it’s still early days, our Accelerator Hub just recruited its second cohort of businesses receiving practical help from WMG, and leadership support from NatWest,” said Hill.
Professor David Greenwood, CEO of High Value Manufacturing Catapult at WMG, told Zag: “Micromobility is a huge opportunity for the UK – both to decarbonise transport, and to create high value manufacturing jobs.
“WMG and NatWest have created our Clean Transport Accelerator to help companies develop and grow into this emerging market. We’re delighted that some of those innovative organisations will be presenting on the NatWest stand at our forthcoming UK Micromobility 2023 event at NAEC Stoneleigh.”
