Flagship accelerator programme to support nature-based solutions in Glasgow

Glasgow Caledonian University is going back to nature as part of a first-of-its kind partnership with the City Council.

GCU has joined Glasgow City Council on their Horizon 2020 Project, along with Connecting Nature and local social enterprise The Melting Pot’s Good Ideas , to launch a new nature-based accelerator programme.

This is a pilot programme to support early-stage nature-based businesses and social enterprises (nature-based enterprises) that are, or could be, making positive environmental, social, and economic change in Glasgow.

 The ideas may involve nature either directly or indirectly. The initiative is a three-month fully-funded programme and is the first of its kind in Scotland. The accelerator is seeking individuals, existing enterprises, entrepreneurs, students and staff to take part.

The overarching aims are to find new ways to encourage more local and resilient nature-based economies, create more green jobs, and help us to achieve our net-zero targets. One of the main focuses of the pilot is how we can use innovative enterprise ideas to help improve and maintain open spaces in Glasgow.

Director of the Research & Innovation Office, Mark Majewsky Anderson, said: “The programme sets a precedent for innovative new ways of working in partnership locally to support social and community enterprise.”

If you are interested in reading more about the programme, or applying, more information can be found at: https://good-ideas.org/nature-based-accelerator. The closing date for applications is May 21 and the programme will run from June until September.