Collaboration across the concrete sector and supply chain is critical to scaling successfully
Concrete is undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by innovations that enhance sustainability, performance, and versatility. The UK needs to rapidly scale the adoption of low-carbon concrete solutions to meet the built environment’s 2050 net zero targets.
The next-generation low-carbon concrete Growth Cohort will pilot a new approach to funding and supporting scaling businesses in this high-growth area. Innovate UK will build a cohort of up to 20 innovative businesses developing solutions to decarbonise concrete. Working with industry, the Growth Cohort will collectively address barriers to scale whilst offering tailored individual support for each business’s specific needs, ultimately aiming for a greater number of innovative solutions to secure investment and scale to market.
Innovate UK will run a series of entry competitions between April 2026 and February 2028, and anticipates investing up to £11.5m in this programme by its completion in 2030.
Join our briefing event on Friday 24 April at 10am to find out more.
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The Growth Cohort will deliver a responsive, tailored and more agile support offer that aims to enable ambitious businesses to unlock the barriers to commercialisation and deployment.
The Growth Cohort is structured in two stages, as outlined below. Businesses within the cohort will be provided with wrap-around support aligned to their needs.
Stage 1 – cohort entry competition [this stage]
The aim of this competition is to recruit ambitious businesses to join the Growth Cohort. Successful businesses will be provided with a dedicated Innovate UK cohort manager and up to £50,000 and 6 months to develop an innovation and growth plan. You must apply for the full amount, but you can claim less if you do not need it.
Businesses must apply and be successful in the entry competition to access any further support or funding beyond the £50,000 grant.
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Innovate UK is seeking to fund and support the most ambitious businesses working on scalable low-carbon concrete solutions, those with a great team and that are building traction in the construction industry and sustainable concrete supply chains.
UK-based businesses that:
- are developing low-carbon concrete solutions
- have started to build traction in the construction industry
- can demonstrate ambition and potential to scale
- are seeking to rapidly scale
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The Growth Cohort is designed to support businesses at different development stages that are focussed on developing and delivering their technology at scale in the construction industry.
Your business and project must:
- be ambitious with solutions to decarbonise concrete that have started to build traction in the construction industry
- be active in the sustainable concrete supply chain
- provide a letter of support from a commercial entity currently operating in the concrete supply chain demonstrating that your idea is considered scalable within the concrete industry
- upload a video in response to the video pitch question in your application
Applicant businesses must be able to dedicate sufficient resource to actively participate in the programme and the range of activities on offer across the duration of the programme, to March 2030.
For details on the specific scope of eligible businesses, please refer to the IFS competition page.
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Innovate UK will hold a webinar briefing at 11am on Friday 24th April: click here to register for a place. A recording and slides will be available afterwards.
There will be up to 5 Rounds of this entry competition (stage 1) between April 2026 and January 2028.
If you are an investor or corporate organisation with an interest in decarbonising concrete and would like to support the Growth Cohort, please get in touch with our experts.
Understanding the Growth Cohort model and phases
Businesses in the Growth Cohort will access funding and sector-specific support to develop (in stage one) and deliver (in stage two) ambitious, executable innovation and growth plans. Businesses should expect to be involved for the duration of the cohort programme, including participation in reviews and key milestones. Further detail will be provided to successful applicants.
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To enter the Growth Cohort, you must apply to the cohort entry competition and be selected. You must complete an application through the Innovation Funding Service, including the submission of a letter of support and a video pitch.
If your application passes the first stage of assessment, you may be invited to attend an interview, where you must give a presentation. Your interview will take place either online or at a designated location.
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Successful businesses entering through the cohort entry competition will develop a growth plan specific to their business needs, building on their existing business planning work. To support this, they will be provided with:
- a dedicated cohort manager to help identify and coordinate Growth Cohort activities
- an analysis of their current growth plan, knowledge and capability gaps
- £50,000 Minimal Financial Assistance (MFA) grant to procure third party services to fill any identified and agreed gaps
- guidance to identify and apply for tailored follow-on growth support packages, including access to further funding and support
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Once a cohort business has defined its growth plan, a proposal can be submitted to Innovate UK for additional funding and support to help the business achieve its defined objectives.
This competition is expected to open in February 2027 and remain open until December 2028. Applications will be assessed and notified of success at specific dates during the competition open period.
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Throughout the Growth Cohort, businesses will be provided with sector-specific “wrap around” support. This will include engagement with investors, industry and others in the cohort.
The Growth Cohort will also support businesses in overcoming industry challenges by convening cohort members and relevant stakeholders on policy, regulatory, and commercial barriers.
Innovate UK's application and funding process
If you need more information about how to apply, please read our funding support pages. For additional support, reach out to our team of innovation experts who are ready to help you navigate the application process and maximise your chances of success.
For more information
Accessibility and Inclusion
Innovate UK welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to making our application process accessible to everyone. This includes making reasonable adjustments, for people who have a disability or a long-term condition and face barriers applying to us.
