Accelerating the growth of UK maritime businesses

The Port City innovation Hub (PCiH) initiative supports the growth of startups and SMEs locally in the Liverpool City region.

Accelerating Innovation for maritime Industries

PCiH is a first of its kind Innovation Accelerator initiative delivering region-wide business advice and support to increase the number of SMEs bringing new products and services to market for the UK maritime sector.

How we help

The PCiH offers a range of support for SMEs to grow in the UK. We deploy our decades of startup expertise with assistance in customer discovery, prototyping and launch.

Sprints

Coaches

Experts

Events

Types of sprints

Customer Discovery Sprint

Join a small cohort on an expert-led 6 week blended learning sprint designed for start-ups and SMEs. You’ll need a new revenue generating concept you are looking to quickly commercialise and follow a proven approach led by Rainmaking to validate customer need, gain market insight, and quantify implementation challenges.

Prototype & Launch Sprint

This 14 week sprint builds on Customer Discovery to support the launch of your new product to the market. We do this by working with you to develop your MVP, secure early traction and test the riskiest assumptions in your business model. The Rainmaking team are global industry experts, leveraging their know how to gain the tools and skills to launch and grow your new product.

“The PCiH is a unique programme delivering innovation in to the maritime sector in the Liverpool City Region and we invite you to come and join us on the journey.”

Neil Meekin, Innovation Program Director, Rainmaking

Partners

The initiative is created in in collaboration with Wirral Chamber of Commerce, Mersey Maritime, and University of Liverpool.The project is led by Wirral Council and funded by the European Development Fund and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Supporting with cluster support and development

Wraparound support, events and networking opportunities delivered by the UK’s leading maritime cluster organisation. We’ll help connect you with business leaders, facilitate supply chain opportunities and share industry expertise and best practice.

Supporting with short and long research support

Benefit from access to world class expertise and facilities to solve your R&D challenges. Whatever the technical need or your level of in-house capability, The University of Liverpool can match your ambition to expert resources to create added value for your business.

Supporting with innovation diagnostic & action planning

We’ll collaborate with you to identify and understand your own innovation challenges and prioritise actions to best make progress. Understanding where you are now, and where you want to get to, will help you navigate to successful outcomes.

Lead Partner for the PCiH supporting with project oversight

As Wirral Borough Council we are the Lead Partner and provide end to end oversight of all project activity and dedicated support of the 4 core delivery partners as part of the PCiH initiative.

More about our partners

Apply to the program today…

…or contact us to learn more