The Foundation is a unique partnership between government and the private sector, a showcase of Wales harnessing global excellence for local and national prosperity, aligned to the Foundation Economy and Wales’ Economic Action Plan.
How do we do this? We engage with private, public & third sector organisations to surface problems they are facing that our teams could solve with a software solution to become our challenge partners.
The Alacrity Foundation with its links to Sir Terry Matthews via his investment arm, Wesley Clover, and David and Heather Stephens – two sets of globally important technology entrepreneurs – is an exemplar of what can be achieved in a dynamic and fundamental sector when government proactively supports start-ups with global ambition.
Economy
Alacrity has an impact far outweighing its size and resourcing. Based in the centre of Newport, Alacrity is a beacon of economic activity producing world-class digital start-ups in a city in desperate need of regeneration. Beyond Alacrity’s local and regional impact, the Foundation has contributed significantly to the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Wales; our leadership team and graduates provide extensive pro bono technical support and business advice to individuals, companies and institutions that contribute to improving Wales’ economic and social wellbeing.
Our programme aligns with Welsh Government Economic Action Plan (EAP), Prosperity for All, published at the end of 2017. EAP contains a number of calls to action. Our programme addresses each of these:
1
Decarbonisation
As digital businesses, our companies have a low carbon footprint. Several of our companies are directly involved in reducing carbon emissions, for example, Surple
2
Headquartered Innovation
This is the core of what Alacrity does; produce innovative, entrepreneurial, viable businesses headquartered and operating in Wales.
3
Exports & Trade
Utilising our global network, as well as digital marketing and sales, our companies have a global reach, for example, Enjovia has 70% of its customer base outside of the UK.
4
High-Skilled Fair Employment
Our programme produces companies and employment with high gross value added (GVA). The programme retrains and upskills our Founders at Level 7, master’s level or above. We are confident that no other further, higher education or training provider comes close to the upskilling that our Founders receive in terms of their technical abilities, but also, and most importantly, as entrepreneurs.
5
R&D, Automation & Digitisation
R&D, automation, and digitalisation – R&D is admirable, but can only help achieve the aims of the EAP through commercialisation. Our programme is focused on commercialisation and uses digital R&D and innovation to achieve this aim.
Part of the global Alacrity Entrepreneurship Programme
