Case Study - H2Origin Ltd

Founded in August 2022, H2Origin Ltd is a purpose-driven company committed to reducing plastic waste and carbon emissions through smart water refill stations.

Led by Dominic Appleby, the company blends environmental innovation with user-centric design, offering still and sparkling water vending machines enhanced by IoT technology. These machines track carbon savings and support ESG reporting for high-footfall venues such as airports, stadiums, and educational institutions.

Dominic’s vision was clear, but his background in sales meant he needed technical, financial, and strategic support to bring his concept from idea stage to commercial launch.

Recognising this, Innovate UK Business Growth (IUKBG) stepped in—not just as a support service, but as a collaborative partner.

Through a multi-faceted partnership, H2Origin received the following support to navigate the innovation landscape:

• Mentorship & Strategic Guidance: Michael Hadfield, Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist, provided ongoing mentoring, acting as a sounding board for product development and market strategy.
• Funding Pathways: IUKBG supported a successful £15K RTO/Catapult grant application, enabling technical development of the IoT system.
• Research Collaboration: Facilitated a partnership with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC NW), where H2Origin’s units were trialled and validated in a live environment.
• Investor Engagement: Supported pitch deck refinement and introduced H2Origin to GM Advance and GC Angels, resulting in £100K in equity and grant funding.
• Market Access: Enabled connections with key stakeholders, leading to contracts with Chester Zoo, Salford City FC, and AMRC NW, and opening discussions with Premier League clubs, airport groups, and colleges.

The collaborative efforts between H2Origin, IUKBG, and its partners have led to:

• Secured Funding: £15K R&D grant and £100K in equity and grant investment.
• Commercial Traction: Contracts signed with major venues and institutions.
• Environmental Validation: AMRC NW research confirmed an 80–90% reduction in CO₂ emissions per 500ml dispense compared to bottled water.
• Scalable Innovation: Smart sensors now allow partners to quantify their sustainability impact, aligning with corporate ESG goals.

Dominic Appleby, Founder, H2Origin Ltd, said: "H2Origin was born from a simple idea—refilling a bottle at Manchester Airport and realising the experience could be better. Innovate UK Business Growth didn’t just support us; they connected us to the right people, funding, and research to make our vision real.

"The partnership with AMRC NW, enabled by IUKBG, gave us the data we needed to prove our environmental impact. That credibility has opened doors to high-profile contracts and investor confidence.

"We’re now scaling across the North West and beyond, helping organisations reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions—thanks to a network that believed in our mission."