Professional and Financial Services – Data Access and ESG Innovation Lab Competition

Posted on04 July 2023

Innovate UK is promoting a significant funding opportunity for projects focussed on:

Seeking to improve data access in at least one of Accountancy, Insurance, Legal and Financial services AND
1. Seeking to improve ESG outcomes and/or reporting; or
2. Addressing incentives, opportunities and ongoing business models to ensure a sustainable data access approach ; or
3. Considering broader, non-technical aspects of data access methods, including ethics, bias and privacy as well as any technical approaches (platforms, standards etc.

In order to be able to form a consortium and bid for this opportunity, the lead business/firm must have attended a free UKRI 3 day data innovation lab in October. Deadline for applications for that is 30 August.

Briefing slides and other information for your perusal, attached below.

Data Access Innovation Lab Competition Briefing

Guideline - Funding Percentages

"This is a significant opportunity both in the shape of beneficial attendance at a multidisciplinary data innovation lab for one of your team, but also to actually participate in the eventual bid for projects of up to £2M. There is nothing stopping teams to participate in the innovation lab but then not to become part of a bid" Dagmar Steffens, Head of Strategic Innovation WECA and Co-Chair of Bristol +Bath LegalTech (BBLT)

Firms serious about legal services innovation and ESG responsibilities should consider this opportunity.

Please feel free to pass this on to accountancy and financial services contacts who might be interested. Funded projects can also straddle legal across to the other disciplines, so you could work with your clients on this.

Apply here

Burges Salmon has been an enthusiastic supporter of BLS for many years. BLS provides a valuable role in uniting and promoting the whole of the legal sector across Bristol to benefit both its members and the city. It facilitates collaboration across the sector to ensure that we can all make a difference. Whether that is driving important initiatives in, for example, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and the use of new technologies, liaising with stakeholders and charities in our wider community or providing training to generations of lawyers, the service and support provided by BLS is invaluable. More recently BLS has taken a lead on promoting Bristol’s legal brand, encouraging legal and business services talent to come to the city, which in turn attracts clients and inward investment to our thriving and vibrant commercial community. BLS breaks down barriers and brings those in the profession together for the greater good. We are proud of our long-standing association with BLS.
Roger Bull - Managing Partner, Burges Salmon
Three things to say about my experience of working with Bristol Law Society. Their central team, council members and general hangers-on are just about the nicest, most generous group of people working in the legal sector today. The numerous events, awards, socials and conferences I’ve had the pleasure to attend over the years have been, without exception, top quality and supremely organised. And, thirdly, they consistently exceed and challenge the boundaries of what lawyers might assume a regional Law Society will restrict activities to – from a hugely successful charitable school meals drive to corporate social responsibility and diversity campaigns to being joint architects and coordinators of the region’s unique Bristol+BathLegalTech group, which it has been my privilege to co-chair for the last five years.
Chris Bull - Principal, Edge International
As one of the leading Insurance brokers for law firms in the UK and with a large presence in Bristol it seemed only natural for us to support the Bristol Law Society. Bristol Law Society is one of the oldest and most vibrant of the Law Societies in England and Wales. We are pleased to be working with them on important matters relating to law firms’ liability insurances and Risk Management. From Sole Practitioner to Top 20 law firms we are sure our two organisations can provide excellent support and assistance for the challenges faced by the legal profession.
Matthew Baker - Financial Lines Group, Howden Insurance Brokers Ltd
Joining BLS in 2013 and becoming President in 2018/19 has created many longstanding friendships and business relationships, whilst also unlocking doors to other opportunities in the City. BLS enabled a perfect balance of professional development and also opportunities to give back to the legal and wider community. I am pleased that my Firm has supported BLS in many capacities since 2013 and continues to do so.
Nicholas Lee- Managing Director of Paragon Costs Solutions and Past President of BLS