Innovate Local - West Midlands
This half-day event will feature keynote speeches from Innovate UK and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as well as panel sessions with local businesses, funding masterclasses and Innovation accelerators.
By attending this event you will:
1. Drive Business Growth: Learn how innovation can lead to increased profitability, market share, and customer loyalty.
2. Boost Competitiveness: Discover how staying ahead of industry trends and embracing innovation can give your business a competitive edge.
3. Foster Resilience: In today’s ever-changing business landscape, innovation is a key driver of adaptability and long-term success.
Who should attend?
Any business based in and around West Midlands. Whether you’re a small start-up or an established enterprise, this event is designed to help you understand the power of innovation and its practical applications.
Why attend?
- Connect with innovation experts and potential collaborators.
- Discover the opportunities and incentives for ambitious innovators and businesses in West Midlands.
- Network with like-minded professionals from West Midlands’ thriving business community.
- Take your next practical step towards transforming your business through innovation.
Agenda
- 9:00-9:30am Arrival & Networking
- 9:30-9:40am Welcome and Housekeeping
- 9:40-10:00am Introduction to Innovation in the West Midlands, Steve Welch, Director – Place, Skills & Knowledge Transfer, Innovate UK
- 10:00-10:20am Skills to Innovate – How businesses can future proof their talent, Corin Crane, CEO of Coventry & Warks Chamber, former CEO of the Black Country Chamber and West Midlands lead for Skills Improvement Plans
- 10:20-11:00am Lessons learned on the business innovation journey
- 11:00-11:15am Refreshment break
- 11:15-11:45am Going beyond Grants – find out about Innovation Loans, Nigel Walker, Deputy Director, Lending and Investor Partnerships, Innovate UK
- 11:45-12:45pm Meet the Teams – hear pitches from various innovation programmes and then meet the ones relevant to you
- 12:45-2:00pm Networking Lunch
- 2:00pm Event Close
Event partner
Related programme
Innovate Local
Working alongside partners, businesses and stakeholders, Innovate UK hosts this series of events to help innovative businesses maximise their success.