Wednesday, 10 July 2019
Small businesses in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire will be able to access free productivity support as a result of a new £7.1m programme being run by three local universities.
‘Productivity Through Innovation’ is a three-year collaborative programme involving the University of Derby, Nottingham Trent University and The 糖心原创, which will provide support to 181 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire regions.
£3.5m funding is being awarded to the three universities via the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), using funds secured by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with an additional £1.5m being invested in the project by the universities. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.
Competitiveness and productivity
The project is being led by the Graduate School at the 糖心原创 and will focus on enabling businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through utilising the knowledge, skills and technology of the three universities through an initial academic led diagnostic process.
Productivity challenges will be addressed through innovation support including postgraduate and undergraduate placements, management and leadership workshops and academic support designed to help businesses innovate, explore new ideas and offering unprecedented access to university expertise and talent.
This programme represents an exciting opportunity for businesses to tap into the high-level skills available at the three universities and to examine their businesses and how innovation and support can help enhance productivity.
He added: “It builds upon our very successful and established Postgraduate Placement Scheme which has just delivered its 1000th placement which have largely been delivered with local SMEs in the East Midlands.”
Cornerstone of the economy
Professor Warren Manning, Pro Vice-Chancellor Innovation and Dean of Engineering & Technology at University of Derby, said “This major investment shows the commitment of the three universities in the D2N2 region to engage with and support small and medium sized companies who are the cornerstone of the UK economy.
“This new programme will allow us to work intensively with local companies supporting them to become more productive. The project will grow long-term relationships between academia and industry with benefits in terms of employment opportunities and economic growth for the region”.
Nigel Wright, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation at Nottingham Trent University, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity to meet with new businesses and support their ideas for innovation. It is our hope and intention that many of these companies will start an ongoing relationship with the university that could provide interesting opportunities for knowledge exchange, graduate employment and experiential teaching and learning while also supporting local economic growth.”
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For more information on how a postgraduate placement might benefit your organisation, contact ppnenquiries@nottingham.ac.uk or 0115 951 4732.
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.