Northwest Companies Offered Support from Knowledge to Innovate

THE Northwest Regional Development Agency has launched the Knowledge to Innovate (K2i) Programme for small and medium sized enterprises with the potential to grow and develop. It will provide companies with free assistance tailor-made to their particular strengths and weaknesses, and is designed to increase their competitiveness and boost business.

K2i will work with companies across the broad spectrum of their innovation needs including product/service development, approach to market and innovation within their business processes. The process is a collaborative one, and will be unique to each company.

Selected businesses will learn how to inspire and create a culture of innovation amongst employees to help them deliver new objectives and make the most of opportunities. In addition a K2i expert will work with the company head, together with an ‘innovation champion’ to help look at the business in detail and find areas where innovation could make a significant difference – whether by developing new products and services, improving existing ones or identifying better routes to market.

Other services include analysing a company’s business model to make sure it can accommodate growth plans, and identifying ways to achieve that growth through new innovations. Support is flexible and based around mentoring change and helping businesses access knowledge and new technology.

Geoff Birkett, leading the Knowledge to Innovate programme said, “The market place for businesses and professional services is changing beyond recognition. New legislative frameworks are freeing up companies, allowing them to operate in new ways and encouraging innovative approaches to clients and service delivery.”

He continued, “The Northwest needs to remain competitive, and K2i can ensure that businesses realise their potential and do not get left behind. If your company has an innovative idea but needs support to see it through, then this is the project that can help.”

Funded by the NWDA and delivered over the next three years through the strong partnership of WM Enterprise and C-Tech Innovation, K2i offers a rare opportunity for companies to enjoy professional mentoring and support at no charge.

Innovative SME companies with 20 or more employees, (or smaller companies with definite growth potential), who are keen to expand their business are invited to register with the programme and meet a member of the project team. Companies interested in finding out more about K2i should go to www.k2i.org.uk.