From Inspiration to Innovation
Continuing in its series of briefings focussed on supporting business, Craven District Council will host a panel of business growth experts at Bentham Golf Course on the 29th of September and highlight funding opportunities up to £100k.
The council is working to ensure local businesses maximise the remaining opportunities for grant programmes funded by the European Regional Development Fund which will be coming to an end after spring next year.
Many of the programmes are aimed at business innovation, new product or development and improved systems; improvements which can otherwise be an expensive and daunting process for any business.
The north Craven event will reveal how businesses can access these funding programmes and obtain expert assistance in the innovation process. Business growth experts will talk about how businesses can access government funds or use tax offsets to bring new products and services to market. Between them they have helped hundreds of new ideas flourish.
Among the speakers is Helen Floyd of the Spark Fund, who explains “We provide the financial spark to ignite new ideas presented to us by the region’s businesses. We can refer them to teams of experts to help identify the path from an idea to a new product or service and then we help them build an application to apply for grants of up to £100k.”
Andy Taylor leads the Innovate UK EDGE team across Yorkshire and the Humber and works with ambitious, innovation-led businesses to address the challenges of bringing new products and services to market. He says “Eligible companies who engage with us receive coaching from a team of Innovation Specialists who are familiar with the strategies, partnerships and the wider business support available to accelerate your growth. It all starts with a conversation.”
Ben Sayer of Leyton Consulting adds “Businesses around the country are under huge pressure simply to survive while costs spiral, and jobs go unfilled. As with the pandemic, it is those companies who look to change or bring in new ways of working or start on new projects that will emerge stronger once these difficulties wane.”
The event is part of the Council’s Langcliffe Quarry Enterprise Project which received funding from the European Regional Development Fund. Businesses that wish to sign up to the free event can go to https://Inspiration_to_Innovation.eventbrite.co.uk
The Council’s Rural Business Development Officer, Stefan Sykes, will be on hand to assist businesses across the district to access other business support services. He can be contacted on 07510 382 691 or ssykes@cravendc.gov.uk.