Driving growth and collaboration at Innovate Local South Yorkshire

Supporting local innovation

As part of the wider Innovate Local programme, Innovate Local: South Yorkshire brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs and support organisations for a focused and energising day of insight and connection.

The opening session featured perspectives from across the local and national innovation ecosystem. Abbie Miladinovic, Strategic Lead for the South Yorkshire Investment Zone, highlighted the role of place-based investment in unlocking growth, productivity and innovation across the region. Venue host Martin Baker of Gripple shared insights from a business-led perspective, reflecting on South Yorkshire’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and the importance of creating the right conditions for businesses to scale. Lee Viney, Regional Manager at Innovate UK, reinforced Innovate UK’s commitment to supporting businesses at every stage of their journey and strengthening regional capability through tailored funding, connections and expertise.

The morning continued with the Innovation Landscape session, a fast-paced series of five-minute pitches showcasing the breadth of support available to South Yorkshire businesses. Hosted by Chris Baker and Ryan Sylvester, speakers from organisations including the South Yorkshire Innovation Programme, Sheffield Tech Park, Sheffield Digital, Tech SY, the Royal Academy of Engineering, Innovate UK Business Growth, Innovate UK Business Connect, and Ferret Works demonstrated the depth of expertise and collaboration across the region. A clear message emerged throughout: businesses are encouraged to get in touch, start conversations and be guided to the right support at the right time.

Businesses share their journey

The My Business Innovation Journey session shone a spotlight on business leaders who have accessed support from across the Innovate UK system and used it to grow and scale their organisations. Hosted by Kola Ladejobi (Innovate UK Business Connect), the session brought together a diverse group of founders and senior leaders who shared honest reflections on the realities of innovation, from early ideas through to commercial growth.

Speakers including Ben White (Rivelin Rail), Katie Steele (Cheribim), Clare Lankester (Fyous), Paul O’Brien (Elaros) and Zeezy Izenman (Motion Health Ltd) discussed how Innovate UK funding, connections and business support helped them overcome barriers, refine their propositions and accelerate progress. Their stories highlighted that while each journey is different, access to the right advice, networks and opportunities at the right time can be transformational. The session reinforced that innovation support is not one-size-fits-all and that persistence, adaptability and collaboration are key ingredients for success.

Future Thinking

The Future Thinking panel looked ahead, exploring regional priorities and emerging opportunities across South Yorkshire. Hosted by Joseph Quinn, Director of Growth and Sector Development at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, the discussion brought together investment leads from local authorities across the region.

Panellists Marianne Hawksworth (Sheffield City Council), Alex Dochery (Business Doncaster), Claire Louise Green (Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council) and Ben Hawley (Enterprising Barnsley) shared insight into how each area is supporting future growth through investment, innovation and place-based initiatives. Together, they highlighted a strong commitment to collaboration across South Yorkshire, with a clear focus on creating the conditions for businesses to innovate, scale and contribute to long-term regional prosperity.

Breakout sessions

Specific programmes and insights covered on the day:

Artificial intelligence

This panel explored how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming business models and driving innovation. Speakers shared practical insights on applications like compliance and analytics, alongside responsible adoption, showing how AI can help small businesses in South Yorkshire grow and compete through collaboration and accessibility.

Health

South Yorkshire is emerging as a hub for a growing health innovation cluster, accelerating the commercialisation of new ideas and strengthening connections to expanding health opportunities and markets. Through enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors, the region is creating the conditions for health innovations to scale.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Create Growth programme

About Innovate Local

The Innovate Local programme is now in its sixth year and provides an unprecedented opportunity for businesses to find out more about the products and services offered through Innovate UK and our local partners, which help guide and transform businesses.

About Innovate UK

Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes, and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.