Innovate Local Dorset: Connecting innovation and opportunity on the south coast
On 4 March 2026, Innovate Local Dorset brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and support organisations at the Executive Business Centre in Bournemouth for a day dedicated to unlocking innovation and driving regional growth.
Setting the tone
The event opened with a welcome session focused on ambition and collaboration. Shelley Collins-Trevett (Business Growth Dorset) highlighted the breadth of local support available to ambitious businesses, while Layla Burrows, South West Regional Manager at Innovate UK, outlined how the Innovate UK system can help organisations access funding, expertise and national networks. Gerry Greyling, COO at Bournemouth University, reinforced the critical role of academia in strengthening Dorset’s innovation capability and connecting research with commercial opportunity.
Showcasing the innovation landscape
The Innovation Landscape session offered a fast-paced overview of the support available across the region. Representatives from Dorset Business Mentors, Innovate UK Business Growth, SatApp, NCC, The Spark, The Studio (AUB) and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult delivered concise pitches demonstrating the depth of expertise on offer, from mentoring and commercialisation support to advanced manufacturing and clean energy innovation. The clear message: support is available at every stage of the journey.
Businesses share their journeys
In My Business Innovation Journey, hosted by Bruce McLelland (Innovate UK Business Connect), leaders from Lyte, ThruDark, Circular11, Fetch Energy and RenderSafe shared how they had used the Innovate UK system support to grow and scale. Despite operating in different sectors, their stories reflected common themes of resilience, strategic funding and the power of strong networks.
Financing and future opportunities
A panel on Financing Your Business Innovation Journey, chaired by Basit Mohammed (Innovate UK Business Connect), brought together voices from Innovate UK Business Growth, Dorset Business Angels, QantX, The FSE Group, and the British Business Bank to explore how grant funding, angel investment and equity finance can work together to unlock growth.
The afternoon sessions provided deeper insight into regional strengths, including Dorset’s growing clean energy marketplace and the value of embedding state-of-the-art research into business strategy through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). A practical Good Application Workshop rounded off the day, equipping attendees with actionable advice to strengthen future funding bids.
Throughout the event, one theme stood out: innovation in Dorset is powered by collaboration. By connecting businesses with the right expertise, finance and research partnerships, Innovate Local Dorset showcased a dynamic ecosystem ready to support the region’s next wave of growth.
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.
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Innovate Local
Working alongside partners, businesses and stakeholders, Innovate UK hosts this series of events to help innovative businesses maximise their success.