Date
25 NovemberTime
09:30 – 13:00Location
iCentrum, Holt St, Birmingham, B7 4BPOrganisers
GBSLEP, Innovation Birmingham, Innovation Alliance WM and othersThe Event
What is it? The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for Greater Birmingham and Solihull is piloting an ‘Innovation Challenge Programme’ to increase business innovation in key industries. The Innovation challenge events aim to encourage smaller companies in the LEP area to innovate, and will support two business innovation projects arising from each event, including the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to be matched by the beneficiary business. We are especially interested in talking with companies located in these areas: Birmingham, Solihull, Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth; in short, within the boundaries of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise partnership (GBSLEP) which is sponsoring this project. As part of this project, GBSLEP is making available additional support for relatively small businesses in this geographical area, including four days of expertise to help you develop your idea further by helping you talk with potential customers to find out how well your ideas fit their challenges. In addition, GBSLEP has set aside a pot of £5,000 grants to help you take your idea up a further level. You could be one of the lucky recipients of this grant if your idea has clear potential!Innovation Birmingham is part of a consortium looking for businesses and entrepreneurs with innovative solutions to 15 challenges faced by industry in the GBLSEP area. Do you have an idea that could answer one of these challenges?
Who is it for? SMEs with an innovation idea who are ready to solve a pre-set challenge, willing to learn and understand how to use innovation to improve and grow their business. We are especially interested in talking with companies located in these places: Birmingham, Solihull, northern Worcestershire, eastern Staffordshire – in short, within the boundaries of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise partnership (GBSLEP) which is sponsoring this project. What will it involve? A free, interactive workshop where you will learn how innovation can help solve business and industry challenges and gain the expertise to apply it, as well as becoming equipped to drive your business forwards and generate greater sustainability and long-term value. Please apply below to tell us about your idea and receive an invitation to the Challenge Event. Following the introduction events you’ll be invited to submit a proposal which will be assessed by our consortium and the winning entries will help to access £5000 grants that enable their solutions to be suitable for industry needs. GBSLEP is also making a wider offer of additional business support, as part of the project, including four days of business consultancy expertise to help you develop your idea further. Two other events are taking place on different themes: one on the 5th December (Social Care) and on 10th December (Air Quality).