Regional Talent Engines is a six-month programme that supports early-stage engineering and technology entrepreneurs in Northern England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. It helps individuals with promising ideas build the foundations for a successful start-up through expert mentoring, practical training, and £20,000 in equity-free funding to support living costs while developing their venture.
Participants attend workshops, roundtables, and speaker events in regional hubs including Belfast, Swansea, Leeds, Liverpool, and Newcastle. They also receive one-to-one business coaching, access to experienced mentors, and free lifetime membership to a network of co-working spaces across the UK. The programme also connects founders to a community of ambitious innovators and the RAEng awardee excellence community.
Launched in 2022, the programme has already supported 186 early-stage founders, helped ventures secure £20 million in further startup funding, and contributed to the creation of more than 200 jobs. It has also achieved a strong participant satisfaction score, with a Net Promoter Score of 81.7.
By the end of the programme, participants are prepared to seek additional support, grow their startup, or pitch for their first investment to bring their innovation to market. Places are awarded through a competitive application process and require no fees or equity. The programme is open to engineers and tech innovators with early-stage ideas for scalable businesses.
Location: South Yorkshire
Value: £20,000
Grant Deadline: 14-04-2026