REQUEST FOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DECISION ADD225. Title: Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2015

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1 REQUEST FOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR DECISION ADD225 Title: Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2015 Executive Summary: This ADD sets out plans and seeks approval to organise and hold the Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2015 Prize for London University students. The Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2015 Prize (LCEP) was established to help meet the city s carbon emission target; a 60% reduction in carbon emissions by Through the Prize, the GLA aims to inspire London s students to use their creativity and innovation to tackle this issue. Following 3 exceedingly successful years, each seeing an expansion of reach of engagement across London and both quantity and quality of applications received in each year, the 2015 run of the competition will build on this success. By working with students and staff across all London s higher education institutions the competition raises the profile of the work of the GLA while inspiring creativity and innovation and encouraging students to actively find solutions to make London a resource efficient, resilient, greener city. Through the corporately sponsored development fund awarded to the winners of each year s prize and the support given by the delivery team the programme is also facilitating the creation of new green businesses in London, strengthening the green economy. An additional aspect of the corporate sponsorship comes in the form of up to 6 paid internships per year recruited from students who apply to the competition. To date 6 interns have been placed with Siemens as a result of this aspect of the programme and 5 more roles are currently open for applications. Decision: The Assistant Director, Environment approves: 1. The GLA s entry into a sponsorship agreement with Siemens, under which Siemens will provide 50,000 for the event organisation, development costs and prize money for the Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2015 prize. 2. Expenditure of the sponsorship money, the subject of Decision 1 above, be applied to the following: A grant agreement of 20,000 to the winner of the Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2015; 12,000 to be used for marketing and promotional material to targeted audience; 18,000 for the internal resource requirement of a universities co-ordinators role. AUTHORISING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/HEAD OF UNIT: I have reviewed the request and am satisfied it is correct and consistent with the Mayor s plans and priorities. It has my approval. Name: Stephen Tate Position: Assistant Director Environment Signature: Date: 1

2 PART I - NON-CONFIDENTIAL FACTS AND ADVICE Decision required supporting report 1. Introduction and background The first Mayor s Low Carbon Prize (MLCP) was launched 23November 2011 at the SmartCities conference by Mayor s advisor for Environment followed by a range of activities to communicate the prize to targeted university and their students. DD482 and DD986 both approved taking forward the MLCP in and respectively. The prize was identified in the Mayor s 2012 manifesto. It states: It is important for City Hall to show positive leadership and to foster innovative in green technology. I have introduced the Mayor s prize for new research into low carbon technology. The 20,000 prize money is targeted at students, without cost to the public purse. It is the only mayoral programme targeting higher education institutions in London The project supports the growth of the green economy. The programme supports the job creation and safeguarding potential of the environment programme set out in the Environment Team Business Plan helping London s students to become the next generation of green business owners. The programme engages with higher education students and staff across London on the need to reduce carbon emissions and encourages them to investigate solutions to these issues leading to a more resilient, resource efficient, greener city. 1.1 History of the 2014 prize is outlined in (ADD141) was open 4 months, launching 28 November 2013 and closing for applications on 28 March 2014, the prize was sponsored by Siemens to a value of 50,000 with up to 6 paid internships in addition to be recruited before June Winners and Runners-up 2014 James Winfield and Dominic Jacobson ( 15,000). The idea: Crowd Power Plant is a crowd concept surrounding purchasing renewably generated electricity from small scale producers and selling it on to customers directly removing overheads and reducing costs so giving all users better value. Kirsty Kenney and Harold Craston ( 5,000). The idea: solarbox purchases unused red telephone boxes from local councils and repurposes them into public mobile device charging points powered by solar panels on their roofs. Selling advertising space in the boxes makes it a viable commercial venture. The first box is due to be launched in October 2014 with a further 6 planned for March MLCP 2015 This paper sets out briefly proposals for taking forward the prize for It follows the previous success of the competition and the recommendation that we build on the success by further expanding and scaling up for this years prize. 1.4 The Mayor stated at the 2013 awards event that the competition would become an annual event. The response from the universities and students continues to be very positive and both would like to see the continuation of the prize and have agreed to be part of the steering group that could shape and set out next steps. 2

3 1.5 The competition is planned to be launched in September 2014 and close for applications in February 2015 giving a minimum of 5 months for students to apply to the competition. 1.6 The competition will continue to be open to all undergraduates, postgraduates (taught and research) and research PhD students in London 1 and will be judged by both an expert and a high profile respected panel of judges. The winner(s) will receive funding to develop their idea(s), and promotional support from the Mayor. Applicants must attend an eligible London university or have graduated from one in After 3 years of working with a university delivery partner, no delivery partner will be used in This is a result of internal expertise and a network of contacts in the higher education sector having been gained by internal staff over the past 3 years. This will also reduce administrative costs and allow additional staff resources to be employed directly to support the delivery of both this programme and other competition related programmes. 1.8 The GLA delivery team will be working to promote the prize to as many London-based university students as possible. There will be a fixed date for all entries to be submitted by. Submitted ideas must contribute towards reducing direct and indirect CO 2 emissions in London and will be judged for their ability to reduce carbon as well as against the following criteria: - Originality - Practical application it must work - Clarity of proposal and how the idea would be taken forward using the prize money - Broader sustainability benefits - Proposal must be from an eligible student. 1.9 The proposal can be for anything as long as it meets the above criteria. This includes developing new technologies, overcoming existing barriers to uptake or recommending more efficient ways of doing things Categories for applications were introduced for the 2014 application process and as they were successful communication tools these categories will be used again in Product design - Transport in the city - Materials/reuse and recycling/circular economies - Behaviour change/networking - Energy efficiency/capture/generation - Food/food waste - Water management - Other any other idea to help create a sustainable future for London 1.11 Additional categories/challenges could be included after consultation with corporate sponsors 1.12 To take part, students will have to complete a short application form, setting out their idea and how they will use the prize money to take the idea forward and develop it further. Applications will then be screened by a panel of expert judges and successful candidates invited to further develop their proposal and pitch to a high profile respected panel of judges. The actual format for judging the 1 Students must be enrolled at either (i) Higher education institutions with degree awarding powers (Recognised Body) or (ii) colleges and other institutions which do not have degree awarding powers but provide complete courses leading to recognised UK degrees validated by institutions which have degree awarding powers (Listed Body) during the 2011/12 academic year. Proof of academic status will be required from all shortlisted candidates. A full list of Recognised and Listed Bodies is available on the BIS website: 3

4 winner(s) and awarding/allocating the prize money will be decided later in consultation with the sponsors and the Mayor s Director of Environment. The judging and award event are likely to be held on the same day in 2015 to reduce burden on high profile judges. The event is to be held in City Hall, the Chamber Sponsorship We have in principle agreement with Siemens to sponsor this year s prize the final sponsorship details will be set out in the Sponsorship agreement signed by the two parties but the GLA is not likely to receive the money until November Additional sponsorship funding from a second sponsor Shell is in discussion and will similarly be covered by a signed Sponsorship agreement Costs The cost of organising and hosting the Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2014 are approximately 50,000 This covers costs of the GLA: (a) 18,000 Recruiting additional staff resource (b) 12,000 budget to deliver the marketing and promoting the competition to the targeted audience to include: (c) Buying in consultant training expertise for the students (d) for events including a high profile end of year judging/award ceremony event in the Chamber attended by the Mayor and celebrity judges (e) Grant of 20,000 to the winner of the Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2015 It is proposed that the above costs will be covered in full by sponsorship this will be match funded by the GLA through the use of existing staff resources to manage the project Organisation The Environment team will be responsible for organising the competition, liaising with GLA marketing, GLA press team and sponsor/s. A steering group of judges and key university contacts will also be consulted 1.16 Ideas The winning prize ideas will receive funding to help develop them further. This can include designing a prototype or running a pilot project. Development money will be made available on production of a satisfactory project plan and paid in instalments according to agreed project milestones this will be managed by the GLA project manager. We expect the winners of the prize to provide a business plan showing how they will use the prize to develop their proposal further. As part of the prize provision of basic personal mentoring service to winning student; maximum of seven sessions in the period April 2015 to March This will help ensure the successful translation of idea to practice. Furthermore, where appropriate, the GLA will seek confirmation that participation in the competition will not adversely affect a student s academic work Programme staff will continue to monitor the success of previous winners to obtain longer term measures of success in reducing carbon emissions 1.18 The GLA will review all ideas, and in particular the winning applications, to determine how they can best be used to support the delivery of the Mayor s Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Strategy. 2. Objectives and expected outcomes 2.1. Objectives 1. To engage with London s higher education students on carbon and energy reduction as well as wider environmental issues 4

5 2. To grow the green economy by supporting the creation of new green businesses (Mayoral Manifesto, p.10 & p.29, 2012) 3. To hold a high profile awards event attended by the Mayor and celebrities from the business community with an interest in sustainability 4. To continue to expand the influence and scope of the competition building stronger relationships and brand awareness across all London higher education institutions 2.2. Expected outcomes 1. Over 200 applications from across London s higher education institutions 2. At least 1 winning student business idea to be developed using the corporately sponsored development fund into a viable business 3. A high profile judging and award ceremony celebrating the students success to be held in March Equality comments Equalities have been considered for this programme. The programme is open to all protected groups. The only limiting factor for eligibility to apply to the programme is that the applicants are or have recently (graduated in the previous year) been students at a London university or college. The programme is open to all, regardless of background or circumstances. The mission is to be open to people, places, methods and ideas and as such, equality and diversity are at the heart of everything we deliver and aim to providing an inclusive culture in which all individuals are encouraged to participate fully. 4. Other considerations 4.1 High level risks Risk description (cause, 'risk event', potential impacts) 1 Lack of student engagement 2 Lack of practical ideas 3 Lack of interest from High profile people to act as judges Mitigation/Risk response (state if the response is done or pending) Using a variety of communication tools and incentives for students to get involved mitigates against this risk (has been built into the communication strategy) Working closely with lecturers reduces this risk as does clear communication that the ideas will be judged on their ability to run (has been built into the communication strategy) Ongoing conversations with previous recruited judges allows for interest to be maintained. Bringing on Probability (1-5) Impact (1-5) RAG 1 4 Green 1 4 Green 2 3 Amber 5

6 4 Sponsorship is withdrawn board new judges helps to raise the profile of the competition and appeal to a wider audience Planned continual communication with the sponsor mitigates this risk. To further reduce this risk other potential sponsors are investigated and representatives from these companies are invited to attend high profile events to experience the prize first hand 2 5 Red 4.2 Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities - This programme supports the Mayoral manifesto promise to grow the green economy by supporting the creation of new green businesses (Mayoral Manifesto, p.10 & p.29, 2012) - This programme also supports the Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Strategy aim to reduce London carbon emissions by 60% by Financial comments 5.1 Assistant Director of Environments approval is being sought for the GLA s entry into a sponsorship agreement with Siemens, under which Siemens will provide 50,000 to the GLA for the event organisation, development costs and prize money for the Low Carbon Entrepreneur 2015 prize. 5.2 Approval is also being sought for the expenditure of the sponsorship money on the following: A grant agreement of 20,000 to the winner of the Low Carbon Entrepreneur ,000 to be used for marketing and promotional material to targeted audience. 18,000 for the internal resource requirement of a universities co-ordinators role (see 5.4 below) 5.3 It is expected the commission will span two financial years as follows: Total Marketing and promotion 12,000 12,000 Staffing (Grade 7 for 8 months 0.6 FTE from 14,000 4,000 18,000 October 2014 including on costs) Prize - winner of Low Carbon Entrepreneur ,000 20,000 Total 26,000 24,000 50, The internal resource requirement referred to in 5.2 above is being approved via a Short Term Assignment Form (STAF 524) to create a Senior Project Officer post to work on this project. At grade 7 this post will cost approximately 30,000 (at lowest-point salary scale including on costs) for 8 months from 1 October 2014 to 31 May The post is proposed to work three days a week (0.6 FTE equating to 18,000) on Mayor s Low Carbon Prize and two days a week (0.4 FTE equating to 12,000) on Business Energy Challenge (to be funded from Environment programme budget as per MD 1378). 6

7 5.5 As this project is sponsorship funded and will span two financial years approval must be sought from the sponsor to carry forward income from to as shown in the table in 5.3 above. Also carry forward of any budget is subject to it being approved as part of year end carry forward process. 5.6 As the post will be offered on a fixed term basis, the GLA may become liable for redundancy and/or pension capital costs if the appointee has on-going continuous service, the cost of these are to be met from existing environment budget. 5.7 Any changes to this proposal must be subject to further approval via the Authority s decisionmaking process. 5.8 The Environment Team within the Development, Enterprise & Environment Directorate will be responsible for managing this project. 6. Planned delivery approach and next steps Activity Timeline Procurement of contract [for externally delivered projects] NA Announcement [if applicable] September 2014 Delivery Start Date [for project proposals] September 2014 Final evaluation start and finish (self) June 2015 Delivery End Date [for project proposals] June 2015 Project Closure: [for project proposals] June 2015 Appendices and supporting papers: None 7

8 Public access to information Information in this form (Part 1) is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI Act) and will be made available on the GLA website within one working day of approval. If immediate publication risks compromising the implementation of the decision (for example, to complete a procurement process), it can be deferred until a specific date. Deferral periods should be kept to the shortest length strictly necessary. Note: This form (Part 1) will either be published within one working day after approval or on the defer date. Part 1 Deferral: Is the publication of Part 1 of this approval to be deferred? Yes If YES, for what reason: Publication should be deferred until the sponsorship agreement is signed. Until what date: Until 1 December, Part 2 Confidentiality: Only the facts or advice considered to be exempt from disclosure under the FOI Act should be in the separate Part 2 form, together with the legal rationale for non-publication. Is there a part 2 form NO ORIGINATING OFFICER DECLARATION: Drafting officer: Sally Dagli has drafted this report in accordance with GLA procedures and confirms that the Finance and Legal teams have commented on this proposal as required, and this decision reflects their comments. Drafting officer to confirm the following ( ) HEAD OF GOVERNANCE AND RESILIENCE: I confirm that financial and legal implications have been appropriately considered in the preparation of this report. Signature: Date: 8