Author: Paul McGinnity

A new chapter for Vehicle Testing Solutions at CEME

Posted on October 29, 2026 - News

We are delighted to welcome Vehicle Testing Solutions Ltd (VTS) to the CEME campus, marking an exciting new chapter for the company as it expands its capabilities and explores new opportunities for growth.

The move represents much more than a change of address for VTS. By joining the CEME business community, the company gains access to a wider range of facilities, business support, innovation networks and potential funding opportunities to help support its future development.

With access to vehicle workshop bays, specialist equipment and machinery, as well as fabrication and welding facilities, VTS is now better positioned to support projects at a complete vehicle level.

These additional capabilities complement the company’s existing engineering, testing, diagnostics and training services, creating opportunities to take on more varied projects and provide customers with more comprehensive support.

CEME brings together companies, innovators and industry partners, providing an environment where businesses can develop new ideas, access support and explore opportunities for growth.

VTS Director Scott Lindsay said: “This is a great opportunity to expand our capabilities, build new relationships and explore new ways to support our customers. Looking forward to seeing what this next chapter brings!”

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Find out more about business spaces at CEME, visit our On Campus pages, or fill out the form below to speak to a member of the team.

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CEME one of the Best Places to Work 2026

Posted on June 5, 2026 - News

A picture of the deck at CEME campus with the Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 logo super imposed over the top.

We’re proud to share that CEME has been named in The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work 2026, earning a place among the 195 Best Small Places to Work in the UK.

The recognition reflects our commitment to creating a positive, inclusive and supportive workplace culture where people can thrive, collaborate and make a meaningful impact.

As we continue to grow our work supporting innovation, skills and regional development, this achievement highlights the importance we place on our people and the culture that underpins everything we do. Find out more about CEME, our work and our values in the About CEME section of this site.

A huge thank you to every member of the CEME team for making this possible.

A team of three women work at a modern office space with dual monitors.

Work on campus

At CEME we have a range of workspaces available to rent. From meeting spaces and hot desks to bespoke offices for your team or workshops to bring your big idea to life.

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Congratulations to CEME-based H2CHP

Posted on May 28, 2026 - News

The team from H2CHP with their invention in a work space at CEME.

We’re delighted to see H2CHP, a Durham University spinout and CEME-based business, secure £1.5 million in funding to scale its clean energy technology.

At CEME, we’re proud to support innovative companies like H2CHP as they grow, providing not just space, but an ecosystem for scale‑up, collaboration and innovation.

Their success highlights what’s possible when cutting‑edge ideas are matched with the right environment to develop, test and commercialise.

H2CHP is developing next-generation distributed electric generators for use in data centres, ports, construction, back-up power and microgrid development.

Its fuel-flexible technology means the high-efficiency generators can be run on hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels and e-fuels. Crucially, this helps mitigate supply-chain risk, cut carbon emissions and improve performance. In doing so, the company aims to disrupt the multi-billion-dollar global generator market, aided by rising pressure to reduce emissions and persistent grid reliability challenges.

Stephen Hampson, Co-Founder of H2CHP, said: “This support is an important step for H2CHP as we continue to develop and demonstrate our free-piston linear generator technology. We believe there is a major opportunity for high-efficiency, low-emission and fuel-flexible local power generation in applications such as microgrids, EV charging, ports and data centres, where resilience, cost and decarbonisation all matter.”

At CEME, as we continue to build our role as a hub for green tech and low‑carbon innovation, we’re keen to support more start-ups and scaleups working on solutions for the future economy.

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Join our Business Growth Academy

Businesses grow four times faster at CEME compared to the UK average. That’s because we give you more than space. We give you the support, resources and inspiration you need to thrive. 

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Hughes & Associates joins CEME campus

Posted on March 6, 2026 - News

The Hughes & Associates logo is superimposed over a blurry image of the CEME campus.

CEME is delighted to welcome Hughes & Associates Property Services Ltd as the newest tenant on site.

Hughes & Associates is a RICS‑regulated commercial chartered surveying practice, providing a comprehensive range of consultancy, contracting and compliance services across the UK, with particular expertise in building consultancy, fire risk management and project management. The company helps clients understand and manage risk, maintain and improve their assets and deliver projects efficiently and compliantly.

The onboarding of Hughes & Associates will be overseen by Mujahid Rasheed, Business Growth Director at CEME, and marks another positive step in the growth of the campus community.

CEME continues to attract businesses looking for flexible workspace in a collaborative environment that supports productivity and expansion.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Hughes & Associates to CEME,” said Mujahid. “Their expertise in surveying, compliance and asset management will add excellent skill-set diversity to our campus. We are committed to supporting their growth and success here at CEME.”

Hughes & Associates said: “We’re delighted to open our new office at CEME as we continue to grow our presence across Greater London and the surrounding counties. This move reflects our commitment to supporting expanding projects in the region and fostering closer collaboration with our clients and partners. CEME’s innovative and dynamic environment makes it the perfect base for our next stage of growth.”

The company’s arrival reflects continued confidence in CEME as a destination for growing professional services and offers tenants access to quality space, business support and connections within a thriving campus ecosystem.

The perfect space for growth

Find out more about CEME’s on campus facilities at in our On Campus pages. From workshop space to hot-desking we have a space for every business!

If you would like to talk to us about your business needs, please get in touch either by email at officespace@ceme.co.uk or by calling us on 0208 596 5450.

On Campus »
An aerial view of the CEME campus with The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025 small organisation logo placed over

CEME to install 20 EV charging stations

Posted on February 2, 2026 - News

A row of new white EV charging stations in an outdoor carpark.

CEME has secured a major boost to its sustainability and tenant services with the announcement of a new partnership with Blink Charging, backed by a UK Government EV infrastructure grant covering 75 per cent of installation costs.

The initiative will see 20 EV charging stations installed on the CEME campus.

Over the next few weeks, a feasibility study will explore optimal locations, technical requirements and projected usage for the new charging stations. Once completed, the network of chargers will provide tenants, visitors and staff with convenient electric vehicle charging and create a modest income stream for CEME.

The project is being delivered in collaboration with Blink Charging, a leading provider of EV charging infrastructure, which has been recommended by CEME’s EV car supplier, Octopus.

Ben Houheche, CEME Finance Director, said the project was a timely investment in both environmental infrastructure and tenant experience: “We’re delighted to be moving forward with this EV charging project. The grant support has made this possible and working with Blink Charge means we’re confident in delivering a state-of-the-art network that meets real user needs.”

With the UK aiming to rapidly increase the number of EV chargers nationwide to support the transition to electric vehicles, local infrastructure investments such as CEME’s reflect a growing market trend of workplace and community charging deployment.

“Our tenants and visitors increasingly expect EV charging as part of modern infrastructure. This scheme not only reduces barriers to electric vehicle ownership but also offers a new revenue stream for CEME and enhances the overall sustainability of our campus,” added Ben.

Photo: Irene Miller / Shutterstock.com

A successful Hydrogen Summit 2025!

Posted on December 9, 2025 - News

A wide shot of a conference panel discussion taking place in a brightly lit room with large windows. Five speakers (mostly women) are seated on stage facing an audience seated in rows of chairs. A digital screen on the right displays text about "Developing Green Skills" for the Hydrogen economy.

CEME’s landmark Hydrogen Summit 2025 brought together industry leaders, innovators, academics and policymakers from across the UK to explore how regional initiatives are shaping the future of hydrogen.

With the theme ‘Learning from regional developments’, the summit took place on 27 November at CEME and aimed to foster collaboration, share regional success stories and identify practical steps for scaling hydrogen adoption.

The summit opened with remarks from CEME CEO Noorzaman Rashid and Margaret Mullane, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, who emphasised the importance of regional collaboration and innovation in achieving the UK’s hydrogen ambitions. They highlighted hydrogen’s potential to drive economic growth, create jobs, and support the UK’s net-zero targets.

Kate Willard OBE, Chair of the Thames Estuary Growth Board, underscored the importance of regional leadership in driving hydrogen adoption. She highlighted how local clusters can act as catalysts for innovation and investment, ensuring that hydrogen strategies are tailored to regional strengths and opportunities.

Martin McCluskey MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, delivered the keynote address, reinforcing the government’s commitment to hydrogen as a cornerstone of the UK’s net-zero strategy. He stressed the need for policy stability, infrastructure investment and strong industry partnerships to accelerate adoption.

The summit concluded with a call to action: sustained collaboration, investment and skills development are essential to realising the UK’s hydrogen ambitions. Attendees left with renewed commitment to driving innovation and building a resilient hydrogen economy.

Find out more »

Learning from regional developments in hydrogen

Posted on November 20, 2025 - News

A poster for the CEME Hydrogen Summit 2025

In advance of CEME’s landmark Hydrogen Summit 2025, taking place on Thursday 27 November, we are delighted to have produced our Learning from regional developments digital magazine.

The summit will bring together industry leaders, innovators, academics and policymakers from across the UK to explore how regional initiatives are shaping the future of hydrogen. 

The UK’s hydrogen transition is no longer a distant ambition – it is taking shape region by region, through projects that combine innovation, collaboration and a deep understanding of local strengths.

Noorzaman Rashid, Chief Executive, CEME said: “Across the country, we are seeing pioneering work in every corner – from universities driving research excellence to businesses creating the technologies and skills that will power a net zero future. 

“The challenge now is to connect these efforts, share lessons and accelerate the pace of delivery. At CEME, our role is to help make those connections happen.”

This publication brings together perspectives from some of the organisations leading the way: Brunel University of London, NOCN Group, Verciti, Thames Estuary Growth Board, University of Lincoln and the Humber Industrial Cluster, Calgary Economic Development, Learning and Skills for Business and Delta H. 

Read the publication »
Hydrogen Summit 2025 »

Essential FREE guide to net zero for SMEs

Posted on November 3, 2025 - News

A reader views the cover of our recent eBook on their tablet device.

Climate change, rising energy costs, tighter supply chains and new sustainability standards are making net zero more than just a “nice to have” – for many smaller businesses, it’s becoming essential.

That’s why we’ve launched our new guide, Net zero for SMEs, created by CEME to help small and medium-sized enterprises understand what becoming greener means in practice, and how to take simple, effective steps to get there.

SMEs are the backbone of the UK economy and they have a crucial role to play in the transition to a low-carbon future. But they also face unique challenges – from limited time and resources to balancing sustainability goals with day-to-day operations.

Our free guide offers practical, straightforward advice to help SMEs cut emissions, reduce energy costs and build more resilient, future-ready businesses.

The guide explores:

  • Why net zero matters for smaller businesses and how it drives competitiveness and growth.
  • How to measure and manage emissions, including tips and free tools for energy and carbon tracking.
  • Practical steps such as improving energy efficiency, switching to renewables, reducing waste and engaging suppliers.
  • Funding and support available to UK SMEs from government and industry programmes.
  • CEME’s own sustainability journey, including the installation of solar panels on our main campus and the creation of our Green Tech Hub.

At CEME, we’re committed to becoming a greener, more sustainable innovation campus. We’re reducing our energy use, expanding renewable generation and enhancing biodiversity across our site.

CEME CEO Noorzaman Rashid said: “At CEME, we see first-hand the drive, ambition and innovation that small and medium-sized enterprises bring to the economy. These businesses are the engine of growth in the UK – and they have a crucial role to play in the transition to a greener future.

“Net zero isn’t just a target for governments and large corporations. It matters to SMEs because the world is shifting fast… Net zero matters because the future of business depends on it. For SMEs, the time to act is now – and we’re here to help.”

Get your copy »

Working in collaboration

Posted on October 31, 2025 - News

The CEME and NOCN Group logos super imposed over a group of people putting their hands together in a teamwork pose.

CEME is proud to announce a landmark partnership with NOCN Group, one of the UK’s leading skills and education charities. 

This strategic partnership marks a powerful alignment of purpose – to equip individuals, businesses and communities with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving, green-driven economy.

This partnership opens doors to:

  • Tailored training programmes aligned with real-world employer needs
  • Access to NOCN-accredited qualifications and apprenticeships 
  • Collaborative innovation projects in green tech and sustainable infrastructure 
  • Networking with national thought leaders and industry pioneers
  • A stronger voice in shaping the UK’s skills system for a net zero future.

NOCN is also the headline sponsor for CEME’s forthcoming Hydrogen Summit 2025!

Nicola Hollands, CEME Head of Partnerships, Skills and Training, said: “This partnership brings significant value to CEME and our local community of micro, small and medium sized enterprises in specific area of skills development, green technology and sustainable growth.”

Celebrating local excellence at the Havering Small Business Awards!

Posted on September 30, 2025 - News

A group picture of the evening's winners.

CEME was proud to be a sponsor at this year’s Havering Small Business Awards, recognising and celebrating the incredible businesses and community organisations who are making a difference.

CEME CEO Noorzaman Rashid had the honour of presenting two awards on the night:

CEME's Noorzaman Rashid presents Quantum Group's Maria Gonella with their award.

Best Sustainable Business: awarded to Quantum Group for its commitment to driving sustainable innovation.

Noorzaman presents Thames Chase Community Trust with their award.

Best Social Enterprise: awarded to the Thames Chase Trust Community Forest for their inspiring work in protecting green spaces and engaging the community.

The fourth annual Havering Small Business Awards, run by Havering Council, was held on Wednesday 24 September 2025 at Lumiere Romford, Mercury Mall, Romford, and was hosted by Mark Dover from Nation Radio London.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists!

At CEME, we’re passionate about supporting enterprise, innovation and community impact. It was inspiring to see so many local organisations leading the way.