About
Somerset Council has invested £13million and secured external funding across:
- Growth Deal (£14.2million)
- European Regional Development Fund (£6.8million)
- The Getting Building Fund (£5.7million)
This funding supports a network of innovation centres and wrap‑around support services for businesses in Somerset’s key growth sectors. We co‑designed each element with industry partners, working closely with the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership,
HM Government and other key stakeholders.
The network plays a central role in our work to increase productivity and raise wages in Somerset. We support growth by encouraging collaboration and innovation. The network also helps Somerset deliver cleaner growth through:
- Ongoing developments in clean energy
- Less carbon-intensive aerospace solutions
- New and improved digital solutions
All of which are crucial to achieving Somerset’s net zero commitment.
The iAero Centre - Yeovil
The iAero Centre is a 2,398 square metre research, design and innovation facility in Yeovil. It supports the competitiveness and growth of Somerset’s aerospace sector and related high‑value design and engineering supply chains.
The centre provides high‑quality office space, light industrial units and areas for collaboration, alongside innovation support services. Funding came from the European Regional Development Fund, Local Growth Deal funding and the government’s Getting Building Fund.
Find out more on the iAero Centre website.
Somerset Energy Innovation Centre (SEIC) - Bridgwater
The Somerset Energy Innovation Centre in Bridgwater cost £19 million and covers 6,100 square metres. It is a hub where businesses work together to explore opportunities in the clean energy sector.
We established phase 1 of the campus (SEIC 1) to support the multi‑billion‑pound construction of two new nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point C. It created a supply chain integration facility that helped SME secure contracts. The campus has since expanded to include two further facilities, SEIC 2 and SEIC 3. Our ambition is to create a lasting economic legacy through the growth of a South West low‑carbon energy cluster.
SEIC acts as a catalyst for collaboration and innovation. It offers flexible, high‑quality office and meeting space, alongside a café and networking area. The South West Manufacturing Advisory Service (SWMAS), operates the facility and provides expert advice to help businesses build capability, innovate and grow.
Find out more on the Somerset Energy Innovation Centre website.
Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation (FCDI) - Taunton
Digital technology now underpins almost every sector, and Somerset is well placed to make full use of opportunities in digital and data.
Due to open in spring 2024, the £11 million Digital Innovation Centre will provide a 2,493 square metre innovation facility in the heart of Taunton. The centre will drive innovation‑led growth in the digital sector, create and protect jobs, and support small and medium‑sized businesses to grow in Somerset. Capital funding for construction and fit‑out came from the European Regional Development Fund and the government’s Getting Building Fund.
You can read more on the Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation website.
Innovation Support Services
The Somerset Innovation Network (SI-Net) supports collaboration and innovation across Somerset’s three innovation centres:
- Somerset Energy Innovation Centre (SEIC)
- Somerset Digital Innovation Centre (SDIC)
- iAero. Business West
Working in consortia with other expert agencies, delivers fully-funded support services to tenants and users of the three centres.
The support that businesses can access includes, but is not limited to:
- Sector-specific expertise and advice across Digital, Aerospace and Advanced engineering and the Low carbon renewable energy sectors
- Business Diagnostic and Action Planning
- Supply Chain Certification
- Business Process and Structure
- Principles of Collaboration
- Market Strategy
- Digital Marketing
- Knowledge transfer
- Digital IP
- Access to Finance
European Regional Development Fund
The iAero (Yeovil) Centre Project is receiving up to £3,049,240 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Somerset Digital Innovation Centre is also receiving up to £1,700,000 of funding under the same programme. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is the Managing Authority for ERDF. Established by the European Union, ERDF funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.
