I started to write this as a quick post on LinkedIn. I was thinking out loud. When it came to copy and paste I soon realised that was not going to work so here I am. A blog/article that's not a blog/article.
So...the 10 point plan. Good. Appreciated. Welcomed. But are there holes. Maybe. And time will tell. I like the SME market. I've worked in it most of my career. Through choice not necessity. I think the lower end of that market is incredibly interesting, and populated with lots of great, people, teams, businesses and opportunity. So I can't help but look at this through that lens.
Incredibly important, obviously. And good guidance as to where we are headed. The devil will be in the detail of course, and there is still some way to go to embed it into policy. But on the whole, a good thing to get visibility and guidance on, and clarity as to what the road may look like.
But - and by no means exhaustive - where does the likes of onshore wind, marine and tidal energy feature? I know I’m not alone here. I've read some others ponder the same. But it does make you read twice and scratch your head.
Does the 10 point plan essentially map out where private investment (Angel/VC/PE for example) horsepower will go in the SME / supply chain markets? Underpinned and helped along by some initial government support for new technologies.
Will the 10 point plan make it harder for other niche technologies supporting low carbon, to access funding, grow and scale? Do they become “less” attractive? Are they able to accelerate and commercialise at the same pace as others? What doors are open and what, if any, may close.
Do existing businesses that are not obviously operating in this “sweet spot” need to factor in at least one of these points into its go forward strategy (transition/pivot etc) to stay relevant and benefit from ongoing support. How does this list impact them and there business and value proposition. Or do they stick to the plan and forge ahead. In a “prepare for the worst and hope for the best” mentality.
Access to funding, getting to a position, and being in a position to commercialise technology, industry collaboration and partnership has to be at the core of all this.
Great businesses exist today: tech startup and early stage businesses making dents in the low carbon space. Most, if not all, contributing to the overall low carbon goal.
They continue to need various levels of support to grow and scale. We also need the resources in place to “fill the hopper” and back those still coming through. Its exciting, provides alignment, clarity and opportunity. But perhaps a little cautious optimism as the plan matures and is bedded in.
It will for sure be interesting to see this play out. And despite the questions raised above and by others elsewhere, getting guidance and clarity is better than none at all. Support at all stages for businesses will be necessary to make the most of it. Opportunity lies within.
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