Keep Me Informed

Keep up to date with STEAMhouse news and developments

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Business Name

Business Postcode

By submitting this form you agree to Birmingham City University contacting you about STEAMhouse and handling your information as outlined in our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

STEAMhouse Funded Programme

A 12 month business support programme designed to bring your ideas to life with technology, production space, workshops and expertise.

Plan it. Make it. Launch it.

The STEAMhouse Funded Programme is powered by Birmingham City University in partnership with Eastside Projects and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

WHO

Eligible sole traders, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises

WHAT

Support programme to help young and small enterprises turn their business ideas into a reality

COST

No cost (due to funding by ERDF)

DURATION

12 months

How will the STEAMhouse Funded Programme help me?

DEVELOP YOUR CONCEPT

Got a new product idea? We have the production space and expertise to make your idea a reality.

ACQUIRE NEW KNOWLEDGE

Develop skills and knowledge, and be inspired at workshops, masterclasses and events.

FIND NEW NETWORKS

Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and gain new business contacts and opportunities.

ACCESS FUNDING

Gain access to prototyping grants of £2,500 to eligible SMEs and sole traders.

What our members say

The techniques that STEAMhouse guided us through enabled some great insights we’d not imagined and ideas and solutions came about through a highly collaborative, interactive and creative approach.

Richard Haynes, Innovation Manager at Walsall Housing Group

About the programme

Originally launched in early 2018, the programme invited business thinkers to collaborate, innovate, and engage with hundreds of entrepreneurs, artists, makers and SMEs in the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership area.

The programme gave members access to substantial production space, metal, wood and print workshop facilities and equipment, supported by the guidance of multiple specialist technicians. The aim of the programme was to help entrepreneurs, artists and creatives to turn their business ideas into a reality.

In April 2020, the programme was extended. It introduced new facilities and workshops that enabled users to experiment with digital design technologies.

Business idea to develop?

Eligibility

The STEAMhouse Funded Programme is open to sole traders and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises with a focus on four sectors:

Creative & Digital
Advanced Manufacturing
Health & Life Sciences
Low Carbon

Monthly intake

Each month we select up to 20 applicants to become STEAMhouse Funded Programme members. Members get access to exclusive online events, technical and business support, remote prototyping facilities, and a wide network of members, academics and like-minded businesses.

Length of membership

Membership lasts for 12 months.

Cost

Because the programme is funded by ERDF, members get all the benefits of the STEAMhouse Funded Programme at no cost for 12 months.

More details about the STEAMhouse Funded Programme

You will find full details of the programme, packages, and eligibility in our info pack. Please read through carefully before applying (STEAMhouse Funded Programme is referred to as STEAMhouse 1.5 in the info pack).

Application process

We strongly recommend you attend a STEAMhouse Funded Programme Pre-Application Workshop before completing a new application.

Following the Pre-Application Workshop we will invite you to complete our online application form. It will ask for information about the concept you wish to develop, and a short proposal describing what you want the STEAMhouse Funded Programme to support you with.

The application deadline is 3pm on the last day of every month. We review applications in the first week of the month and aim to contact all applicants within three weeks with a decision.

I’d like to apply

If you would like to apply for the STEAMhouse Funded Programme, please visit our events listings and register for the next available STEAMhouse Funded Programme Pre-Application Workshop.

VIEW EVENTS LISTINGS

Ready to apply now?

Complete application form

Funders and partners

Created in partnership with Eastside Projects and funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Arts Council England, we’re driving innovation and research for major long-term growth across the region. Bringing inventors, entrepreneurs, businesses and craftspeople together to develop exciting new ideas and products.