Business Innovation Workshops

Business Innovation Workshops Programme

9.30am – 4.30pm

Wednesday: 3 November, Connect Space, Millennium Point, Birmingham, B4 7XG

Wednesday: 10 November, Connect Space, Millennium Point, Birmingham, B4 7XG

Wednesday: 17 November, Eastside Rooms, Woodcock Street, Birmingham, B7 4BL

Are you looking for new insights to take your business forward?

Coming up with new ideas for your business can be a great way to overcome obstacles, and can lead to the realisation of new products, services, and processes.

Sometimes it can be hard to implement this on your own, and this is where our Business Innovation Workshops can help by introducing you to new ways of thinking, tools and techniques to try, and a great space to generate and share your ideas with like-minded professionals.

Business Innovation Workshops Programme

Wednesdays: 3, 10, 17 November – 9.30am – 4.30pm

The programme comprises 3 full-day workshops. Participants are encouraged to attend each of the workshops to gain the full benefit of the content: Wednesdays 3, 10, 17 November. The programme is open to eligible businesses* (see Eligibility Criteria).

Our business support specialists will help SMEs develop new knowledge, experiment with practical exercises, and drive innovation across three specific topics:

• Workshop 1: Envisioning for Growth through Innovation – Wed 3 Nov

• Workshop 2: Strategy & Leadership for Innovation – Wed 10 Nov

• Workshop 3: Marketing for Innovation – Wed 17 Nov

You will gain an understanding of the concepts, tools, and techniques needed to create a culture of innovation and develop a framework to implement in your own company to drive business growth.

During our workshops, we will help you to identify, understand, and assess your company’s strategic and cultural abilities, and create a business environment of innovation and growth.

General Information

• It is advised that companies attend each workshop just once.

• All Business Innovation Workshops start at 9.30am and end at 4.30pm.

• The workshop, lunch and refreshments will be provided in a Covid-safe manner.

Registration: Important Information

The programme comprises three full-day workshops and participants are encouraged to attend each of the workshops to gain the full benefit of the content. On completion of at least 12 hours, delegates receive a prestigious ‘Managing Innovation in Business Certificate’.

Your registration will include your access to all three workshops.

Innovation Vouchers

SMEs in need of a cash injection to drive innovation and growth could be eligible for up to £2,500 match-funding through the Innovation Vouchers scheme. https://www.innovation-vouchers.com/

* Eligibility Criteria

The programme is only available to those businesses that meet the following criteria:

• Located within the GBSLEP area: Birmingham, Solihull, Bromsgrove, Redditch, and Wyre Forest (based upon Kidderminster), through funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

• Based in an eligible sector. See this page for more details: https://www.innovation-vouchers.com/innovation-voucher/

• Have received less than €200,000 de minimis state aid in the last three years (see below).

• Meet the European Union definition of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) i.e. employ less than 250 full-time staff (or equivalent), have an annual turnover of no more than 50 million euros and/or annual balance sheet no more than 43 million euros. See this page for more details: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/sme-definition_en

De Minimis State Aid

The support we plan to provide through the workshops will comply with the State Aid rules using the de minimis exemption (in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1407/2013, OJ L 352/1). Under this exemption a single undertaking may receive up to the limit of €200,000 of De Minimis aid from the Member State within which it does business and which provides the aid over any period of three fiscal years.

To attend the workshops, you will be asked to complete a Statement of Previous Aid received under the De Minimis exemption and arrange for a director of your business to sign it. Using this information we will assess your eligibility to receive assistance.