Business innovation workshop arrives in Oswestry
Businesses across Shropshire, Herefordshire, Staffordshire and Worcestershire can find out how they could innovate and take their business forward at an event in early June in Oswestry.
The “Innovation: common sense but not common practice” event, organised by the University of Wolverhampton in partnership with Shropshire Council, is being hosted at the Council Chamber, Castle View offices, Oswestry on Friday 6 June 2014 from 8am to 10.30am.
This breakfast workshop is free and aimed at Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating within the four areas, that supply goods and services mainly to other businesses.
Businesses will be able to find out from Alan Ward, Director of Innovation School Limited, what innovation vs invention is, and how small changes can make an impact on your business performance.
Also presenting will be Helen Hunter-Hayes, the Eureka! Moment project manager, who will explain how your business can benefit from the free support and grants available through this new project.
The free event is one of many Eureka! Moment workshops held across the region as part of the European-funded Eureka! Moment project. The information workshops are open to SMEs across the four council areas that supply goods and services directly to other businesses. The workshops are designed to help owners and managers think differently about their business, be more competitive in their market, and win (and more importantly, keep) new customers.
Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:
“As a council we are always looking for ways to support and enable local businesses to grow, perform well and become more competitive and to satisfy the changing needs of customers.
“The Eureka! Moment workshops are fantastic news for small businesses in Oswestry and Shropshire as a whole by providing assistance to businesses whose access to other initiatives is limited, and help them grow.
“I would strongly encourage as many small or medium-sized businesses to come along to this really informative event.”
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for business growth, added:
“The European-funded Eureka! Moment project is another great example of how we can support local businesses to grow and flourish. The breakfast workshop will include a briefing on the Eureka! Moment project, future workshops and free consultancy, as well as opportunities to apply for grant finance to support your business innovation.
“If you’re a small or medium-sized business, come along and see how hugely beneficial these workshops can be to help improve and grow your business.”
Following the workshop, businesses will benefit from a free business performance review by the University of Wolverhampton, to assist them in identifying improvement projects and priority/impact plans. Revenue grants are also available to assist with the implementation cost of recommendations to improve business performance.
Peter Cherrington, a local Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry East, commented:
“I feel any help which would be beneficial to small businesses is worth investigation. I do wish the event all the very best and hope a large number of SMEs attend, with ideas taken on board.”
Martin Bennett, also a local Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry East, said:
“I welcome all initiatives which can promote sustainable employment and job opportunities in Oswestry, and hope that this will lead to improvements for the benefit of employers and existing and would-be employees.”
To book your place click here.
For more information about the event contact Helen Hunter-Hayes, Eureka! Moment project manager, business and enterprise team, Shropshire Council on 01743 252272 or email helen.hunter-hayes@shropshire.gov.uk.
For further information about the Eureka! Moment project visit http://shropshire.gov.uk/eureka-moment.
Further information
The Eureka Moment! project (formerly Stimulating Innovation and Growth) is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, aimed at SMEs (from micro-businesses to those employing fewer than 250 staff), and designed to encourage business growth and innovation.
The project is a partnership involving Shropshire Council, Staffordshire Council, Herefordshire Council, Worcestershire County Council, University of Worcester, University of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire University, and Central Technology Belt.
The Eureka! Moment project is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); businesses need to be located in the four council areas and must supply goods and services to other businesses. For full eligibility please visit the website.
