What is Lab by Transport for Wales?
We deliver innovation across Transport for Wales Rail. Our 12-week accelerator programme has accelerated 18 start-ups into the rail industry. We help creative, ambitious start-ups pivot their existing solutions and ideas to improve customer experience and business efficiency across Transport for Wales Rail.
Successful pitches will allow start-ups an opportunity to be awarded a contract of work with TfWR, allowing them to develop and launch their solution to market.
Our lab is based in Newport’s Platform building. This is a dedicated innovation lab & co-working space for all start-ups and partners of TfWL to use. This is where all our workshops, training and coaching take place.
Our Goals
Lab by Transport for Wales has been created, in partnership with Transport for Wales Rail, with following objectives;
Position Newport as a leading hub of innovation, product design and technology
Why has it been set up?
Transport for Wales Rail (TfWR) has set out to make rail an attractive industry for tech start-ups. Lab by Transport For Wales will offer a range of opportunities & benefits, along with making entry to the rail industry easier for start-ups.
Our innovation lab will change culture by transforming Newport into a hub of innovation, powering these initiatives and showcasing the tech community within Wales.
TfWR wants to provide the best experience for passengers. TfWR understand how critical it is for large corporates to innovate and adapt. To be reactive and proactive towards changes in consumer behaviour, and to over-deliver to provide exceptional customer experience.
TfWL aims to fill the gaps and to cultivate a culture of innovation across TfWR by seeking out the most creative & ambitious start-ups to showcase their work.
If you have an innovative solution, or idea, we’d love to hear it and see if you can help Transport for Wales Rail.
Cohort 4 problem statements
Click the problem areas to find out more about how this affects TfW
Customer Support
Achieving Net Zero
Future of Transport
Revenue and Social
Find new ways of creating value for the people of Wales and its borders.
Make stations a destination.
Find new ways of adding to our social value.
Make the most of our opportunities to generate revenue.
Reducing anti-social behaviour.
Find new ways of creating value for the people of Wales and its borders.
Make stations a destination.
Find new ways of adding to our social value.
Make the most of our opportunities to generate revenue.
Reducing anti-social behaviour.
Customer Support
Reward and recognise customers for loyalty.
Offer the best value for money.
Ensuring the provision of information meets needs and expectations.
Ensure the network can attract people (existing users and new) following the pandemic.
Customer Support
Reward and recognise customers for loyalty.
Offer the best value for money.
Ensuring the provision of information meets needs and expectations.
Ensure the network can attract people (existing users and new) following the pandemic.
What solutions will transport need in the future? This could incorporate big data, AI, automation, robotics or any technology that has not yet been used in transport.
How can we ensure that in the future we have high level flexible plans for fleet that will improve operational efficiency and reliability?
What solutions will transport need in the future? This could incorporate big data, AI, automation, robotics or any technology that has not yet been used in transport.
How can we ensure that in the future we have high level flexible plans for fleet that will improve operational efficiency and reliability?
Achieving Net Zero
Support EV charging for cars and buses.
Make environments greener to help achieve zero carbon.
Reduce energy usage at stations.
Engage and educate people around carbon and greener ways to travel.
Harvest and use our own energy.
Achieving Net Zero
Support EV charging for cars and buses.
Make environments greener to help achieve zero carbon.
Reduce energy usage at stations.
Engage and educate people around carbon and greener ways to travel.
Harvest and use our own energy.
Barry Lloyd
Barry is the Head of Customer Experience and Innovation at Transport for Wales. Barry has a wealth of experience in understanding and improving customer experience having worked in customer facing roles he whole career. He has a passion for ensuring customer needs are heard, met and exceeded and sees the Innovation Lab as the next step for improving Customer Experience with technological enhancements.
Barry Lloyd
Barry is the Head of Customer Experience and Innovation at Transport for Wales. Barry has a wealth of experience in understanding and improving customer experience having worked in customer facing roles he whole career. He has a passion for ensuring customer needs are heard, met and exceeded and sees the Innovation Lab as the next step for improving Customer Experience with technological enhancements.
Michael Davies
Michael Davies is the Insight and Innovation Manager in the Customer Experience team at Transport for Wales Rail. Utilising the latest digital techniques, his role includes the delivery of a comprehensive insight programme, sharing both market and customer insight with the wider business to inform strategic decisions. He will also be overseeing the set-up and successful progression of the TFW Lab. Michael has over 10 years’ experience in using insight to then lead new projects designed to enhance customer experience.
Michael Davies
Michael Davies is the Insight and Innovation Manager in the Customer Experience team at Transport for Wales Rail. Utilising the latest digital techniques, his role includes the delivery of a comprehensive insight programme, sharing both market and customer insight with the wider business to inform strategic decisions. He will also be overseeing the set-up and successful progression of the TFW Lab. Michael has over 10 years’ experience in using insight to then lead new projects designed to enhance customer experience.
Imran Anwar
Imran is the founder and CEO of Alt Labs, the provider powering TfWL. Imran brings over a decade of innovation experience across the transport and rail sector. He has implemented innovation strategies, software & change management across SME’s to FTSE 1000 institutions, varying across CRM, ERP, MBaaS, SaaS, PaaS, Cloud, Big Data and web development.
Imran Anwar
Imran is the founder and CEO of Alt Labs, the provider powering TfWL. Imran brings over a decade of innovation experience across the transport and rail sector. He has implemented innovation strategies, software & change management across SME’s to FTSE 1000 institutions, varying across CRM, ERP, MBaaS, SaaS, PaaS, Cloud, Big Data and web development.
Paul Suggitt
Paul is the CTO at Alt Labs and brings more than 20 years of award-winning tech industry experience to his role with a deep sector knowledge of growing ecommerce using digital innovations.
Paul Suggitt
Paul is the CTO at Alt Labs and brings more than 20 years of award-winning tech industry experience to his role with a deep sector knowledge of growing ecommerce using digital innovations.
Russell Mills
Russell
Russell
Our Team
Barry Lloyd
Michael Davies
Imran Anwar
Paul Suggitt
Russell Mills
Have an idea?
Along with our team, as part of the TfWL programme, successful applicants will have access to key stakeholders across Transport for Wales and their partners. If you have an innovative idea or product – we’d love to hear from you.