Essex Innovation Programme and ARU looking for the fastest growing companies in the county

Innovation 50, a project to identify the fastest growing and most innovative small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the county, was officially launched at a business showcase in Chelmsford earlier this year. The project is a joint initiative between Essex County Council’s Essex Innovation Programme (EIP) and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). The project aims to celebrate successful SME's, learn from them, and offer further support to help them continue to grow.

Over 100 people attended a showcase event in May which gave companies the opportunity to hear from successful businesses supported by EIP, meet experts from various areas of business and visit a business clinic. Attendees were also able to meet the EIP team, EIP mentors, university staff, patent solicitors IP21 and sign up to Innovation 50.

Companies still wishing to register for the scheme have until 31 July.

“It was great to see such a vast array of businesses attending the official launch of the Innovation 50 programme.

Essex has some fantastic small businesses which are vital to the county’s economic growth and the programme will support them to grow and innovate.  It’s initiatives like this that show that Essex Means Business.”

Cllr David Finch, Leader of Essex County Council

About Innovation 50

Innovation 50 is looking for 50 of the most innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SME’s) in Essex that can demonstrate growth and innovation to celebrate their success, learn from them and offer further support to help them continue to grow. In addition to recognising and promoting the achievements of the top 50 SMEs in Essex, businesses will also receive additional support to help them continue to grow.

“Innovation 50 will examine the factors behind a company’s success and identify where additional support could enable them to grow even faster.

All we need from businesses is their enthusiasm and some of their time to help our researchers get to know their company.  So get in touch and tell us why you are special!”

Dr Sandra Selmanovic, Deputy Head of Economics and International Business at Anglia Ruskin

 

Benefits of the project include:

• Free support and guidance from the Essex Innovation Programme
• Academic and business expertise from Anglia Ruskin University
• Assistance from professional business mentors
• Publicity coverage
• Networking opportunities to extend contacts within the business community
• Innovation 50 achievement accreditation

The Innovation 50 project is being run by academics at Anglia Ruskin’s Lord Ashcroft International Business School and companies have until 31 July to sign up to the scheme.

To take part, businesses should register here.

About The Essex Innovation Programme

The Essex Innovation Programme (EIP) already works with many companies providing expertise and professional mentoring to help companies to grow. Innovation 50 aims to build on this success encouraging the county’s SME’s to develop further.

EIP has worked with many companies over the last 10 years. Their team of experienced, private sector professional business advisors help companies, small and established, to grow and commercialise new products and services.

See here for more information on the Essex Innovation Programme.

Source [ARU]