Four environmental experts have been appointed as 'Entrepreneurs in Residence' at Innovation Birmingham Campus to drive its €1million climate change programme.

The quartet will spearhead activity across its Clean Launchpad and Low Carbon Accelerator programmes which are part of the European-funded Climate-KIC initiative.

Mike Goodfellow-Smith is an experienced international sustainable development director and an external lecturer at Aston University.

He has been appointed to Clean Launchpad which is a project to uncover innovative business ideas for tackling climate change from students and other applicants.

The best concepts are then taken forward to the next stage of development which is the Low Carbon Accelerator for business start-ups, the culmination of which will see the best start-ups selected to visit Silicon Valley, California, during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November.

Stephen Harris and Alan Wood have been appointed as Entrepreneurs in Residence for the Low Carbon Accelerator programme, working alongside Richard Davies MBE, who has had his contract renewed.

Mr Harris is an occupational psychologist and qualified business coach who has supported more than 400 business start-ups during the past 15 years.

Mr Wood is a business consultant, specialising in energy solutions from renewable sources, while Mr Davies is an entrepreneur and chartered engineer.

All four are spending two to four days per month working with the 35 early-stage businesses enrolled onto the 2014 programme.

Earlier this year, two experienced marketing and sales entrepreneurs - John Cooke and Alistair Fox - joined the campus as Entrepreneurs in Residence to help companies promote and sell their ideas.

Catherine Shelley, Innovation Birmingham's Climate KIC programme development and delivery officer, said: "The campus is one of six centres across Europe, working to develop the low carbon economy.

"We are spending over €1million per annum, spread across a number of local initiatives, including comprehensive support for start-up businesses focused on climate change.

"Having expert Entrepreneurs in Residence to work with these start-ups is critical to their growth as sustainable businesses.

"The team of four is advising on business plans, routes to market, access to finance and sales and marketing."

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