Oxford Innovation Advice

Around £800m of #UKSPF funding goes into supporting #SMEs through programmes commissioned by local government to boost #growth #productivity #innovation #sustainability. Due to delays in funding reaching local councils, most business support programmes were commissionned in Autumn/Winter 2023 and have been running for about a year. The first few months of a new business support programme are always hard - it takes time to put a delivery team in place and build momentum with #SMEs - but most programmes are now starting to deliver results. Combined Authorities and Councils need to know now what UKSPF funding they will have in 25/26 to enable them to plan local business support. Without clarity beyond 31 March 2025, they and their partners will soon have to start planning for programmes closures. Unless funding is confirmed, the momentum gained will be lost and there will - yet again - be a gap in business support provision. To provide SMEs with the stability and continuity that they have promised, the Government needs to clearly (and quickly) state its intentions for UKSPF and support for SMEs. https://lnkd.in/erepXrgn Mark Hart Colin Bell Ian McLaughlan Sarah Bowes Paul Edwards Paul Mountford Sue Crow Josie Gough Janine Smith

“There are 5.5m SMEs in the UK and it is important we get it right!” For sustainable economic growth, the government needs to ensure the right support is being delivered for SMEs across the country. At Oxford Innovation Advice we currently deliver 13 programmes to enhance SMEs with their #innovation, #growth, access to #finance and those within the #manufacturing sector.

Today we are excited to be attending the Enterprise Research Centre (UK) 9th 'State of Small Business Britain Conference' with a focus on all aspects of business support. Whilst we eagerly await the #AutumnBudget at the end of this month, we are keen to understand what continuation of funding for SMEs, for #stability and #longevity, remain. And whether the importance of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (#UKSPF) delivered regionally will enhance those #ecosystems going forward. This conference will be a great opportunity to listen and learn from a variety of views on SME business policy - including fantastic speakers Karen Bonner, Jun Du, Alan Lowry, Karin Bachinger, Eugenie Golubova, Maria Wishart, Stephen Roper, Mark Hart, Jane Galsworthy and Mike Nicholson. #SmallBizBritain24

📢 Exciting opportunity to join our @Innovate UK Business Growth Team as an Innovation and Growth Specialist.  As a funding and finance expert, you will be supporting SMEs to accelerate their journey to grow and scale. The role will also act as an interface with ecosystem partners and stakeholders including accelerators, launchpads, freeports and regional clusters.   Apply today...

Improving average #productivity has got to be the most important aim of #policy and #businesssupport. But within an individual #SME there are lots of levers of productivity - more innovative products/services, more engaged and skilled staff, using technology to make processes more efficient, better management. It is worth remembering that for SMEs, improved productivity can be achieved in lots of different ways - it is an outcome not an intervention.

🎉 Congratulations to Yorkshire-based cycling products manufacturer Restrap for their win of a King’s Award for International Trade for outstanding short term growth in overseas sales over three years. Read their story here... On Thursday 25th July, Department for Business and Trade are hosting an online event to encourage applications for next year’s King’s Awards for Enterprise. You can request a place by emailing them with your name and company, at kingsawards@businessandtrade.gov.uk West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber, West Yorkshire Good Growth Programme Jane Galsworthy, Andrew Finley, Dean Barnes, Kapil Patel, Martin Hall Simon Hall OBE, KAREN DRUCE, Christina West, Amanda Johnston

📢 Another successful contract win for us, partnering with Worcestershire County Council to deliver the Elevate Manufacturing Programme. Commenting on this opportunity, our MD Jane Galsworthy said: "It is now more important than ever that SME manufacturers have access to specialist support to continue building their resilience and underpin growth.” Read more here... #BusinessSupport #SMEmanufacturing #Opportunities #EconomicProsperity Dean Barnes, David Ledbury, Andrew Finley, Kapil Patel, Martin Hall, Michelle C.

We are thrilled to announce that we have successfully contracted with Walsall Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority to deliver the ‘Walsall High Growth Business Programme’. "We are delighted to have won this contract so we can expand on the support we are already delivering to businesses across the West Midlands and enhance the economic prosperity within the region." Jane Galsworthy Read more here... Catherine Bray MBA, Dean Barnes, David Ledbury, Martin Hall, Andrew Finley, JAGDISH SOOR Business Growth West Midlands, Richard Parker, Rt Hon Rachel Reeves

As many celebrated Pride at the weekend, we want to shed light on a fantastic West Midlands based business ZANZO. The company was shaped by the diverse backgrounds of its founders Anneliese Lewis and Krystopher Gayle, which included the experiences from the #LGBTQ+ community, #ethnicminorities, and #neurodiverse individuals. #Pride embodies love, unity, and belonging, while acknowledging the ongoing fight for equality and reflecting on their progress. This has encouraged ZANZO to be unapologetically themselves, celebrating their identities and striving for a future free from discrimination. Read how they have navigated unique challenges, made a real difference in transforming medical waste, accessed a variety of support - including our Investment Readiness Programme (Access to Finance) and are planning for their future! Business Growth West Midlands, West Midlands Combined Authority Innovate UK, Medilink Midlands #BusinessGrowth #Support

Helen Fortune and I, attended the Climate Innovation Platform Cohort 4 Graduation & Showcase Event, today at HSBC. Julian D. Moore and Mahmuda Khanom thanks for the invitation. Martin Freer, Debbie Smith, Energy Systems Catapult, Paul Jordan Webster & Horsfall, and Michaela Wright HSBC have run four successful cohorts, since 2021 at Tyseley Energy Park. The Innovation and technology created by the Entrepreneurs will support the quest for Climate change and future generations. The Entrepreneurs in cohort 4, explained how they started their journey with an idea but pivoted by the end of their journey. Lots of changes to their business models and research on routes to market. Great to hear that Innovate UK has supported IP strategies and funding on research and development. Equity finance has also been raised on many of the projects. If you have an exciting new project that requires finance, the Investment Readiness Programme (Access to Finance) provides free support to SMEs across #Birmingham, #Solihull, and the #BlackCountry. Our expert team of Business Finance Specialists can guide you through tricky topics including: ·      Debt Finance ·      Asset Finance ·      Equity Investment ·      Crowdfunding ·      Pitch Decks ·      Finding suitable grants ·      Creating Forecasts & Business Planning Documents The wealth of support available in the West Midlands is remarkable and our teams work with key stakeholders and partners, to achieve your growth plans. To learn more, inbox me. Heather Coupland Robert Rabone Connor McManus Vernon Hogg Davies Okeowo Peter Austin Amanda Johnston Business Growth West Midlands Midlands Engine West Midlands Combined Authority #finance #sme #investmentreadiness #innovation #climatechange