Businesses urged to make use of funded innovation support programmes

Growing firms across Coventry and Warwickshire are being urged to access six new support programmes delivered under some of the final EU business funding for the region.

The programmes are designed to help companies develop products, grow their business, work with other firms across the area and offer a range of help including grant funding.

The initiatives were launched at an event – Unlock Your Innovation, Grow Your Business – at Coventry Transport Museum attended by around 80 companies from all sectors.

The support is being co-ordinated through the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP’s Growth Hub, and the programmes are delivered by WMG at the University of Warwick, Coventry University and Coventry City Council.

Craig Humphrey, of the CWLEP Growth Hub, said the programmes could help businesses at various stages of development.

He said: “They can help companies prove and develop their products, work with other companies to bring products to market and work more effectively with digital media and technology.

“The delivery partners are working together to ensure we can be as effective as possible in delivering support which aims to boost business innovation among SMEs and ensure that the benefits of new technology and increased productivity are felt in the local economy.

“We are, by nature and tradition, a very innovative area across all sectors, but supporting that pioneering spirit needs to reach all levels of industry. The CWLEP has a focus on us being the Knowledge Capital of the UK for that very season.

“More than 95 per cent of local research and development spend focused on 16 large businesses and while it is great that those firms are thriving, we need to ensure that all innovation is supported and these programmes can go a long way to making that happen.

“The EU finance is there until December 2018 and I would urge all companies that are developing products with the aim of launching them to market, to have a look at the programmes and get in touch.

“While the support is being delivered through both our universities and Coventry City Council, if any interest companies contact the Growth Hub our advisors will direct companies to the most suitable programme to cut down on their time.”

The event included presentations from Andy Williams of the CWLEP and Kathy Beresford of the Autins Group.

Companies interested in accessing the support, funded through the European Regional Development Fund, should contact www.cwgrowthhub.co.uk