Innovation Support Programme: Key Dates
Innovation is key to maintaining a competitive edge, but it doesn’t always mean disrupting a whole industry. It can be small changes such as evolving your internal processes or workflows, rethinking your business model, or tweaking your product range. Whatever the size of your start-up, SME or third-sector organisation – innovation is relevant to you.
The programme is packed with support and workshops to help you integrate innovation into every fibre of your organisation. A series of workshops targeted businesses at all innovation and growth stages. Whether you’re in the early stage or are ready to hit the ground running, we’ll have the workshops for you to start implementing strategies outlined in its Innovation Health Check.
Diagnostic Session
Date & Time: Ongoing
Location: Online
Each business gets a 1-hour diagnostic session with a member of the team from LSBU, Kingston University, or St Mary’s. A member of the team will get in touch to book your Diagnostic session, and we’ll use this to learn more about your business and how we can meet your specific needs. We also use the information you share to work out which businesses are best suited to the programme’s different pathways, including Student Consultancies and Academic Collaborations
Finance, Funding, and Investment Readiness
Date & Time: 19 September 2023 (17:00 – 19:00)
Location: Online
Facilitator: Letitia Seglah, Founder
A good financial strategy makes it easier to achieve business success and is a good foundation for future prospects. In this workshop, participants will gain an understanding and the tools to:
- Evaluate the current financial situation
- Determine what you need funding for and how much you need
- Funding options – customers, grants, equity, and debt
- Claiming R&D Tax credits – unlock funding from the government
- How to fundraise – get investment ready, how to approach investors, how to pitch and win investors, banks, and customer
Strategies for Scaling Growth
Date & Time: 21 September 2023 (17:00 – 19:00)
Location: Online
Facilitator: John Kouraklis, Postgraduate Business Programme Lead
Whether seeking business growth in new geographies, new markets or new product areas, several fundamental questions are answered in every successful growth strategy. This workshop will take a practical approach to preparing and planning for your business’ growth. Topics covered include:
- Identifying growth opportunities, and determining the best way to grow
- Effective approaches to balancing benefit and risk
- Determining resources required for growth
- Utilising readily available resources
- How to scale and grow in a pandemic
Branding: Business & Personal Sales, Marketing & PR
Date & Time: 26th September 2023 (17:00 – 19:00)
Location: Online
Facilitator: Doug Faulkner
Looking to build connections and loyal customers? Branding allows you to build relationships with your target audience, in many ways you can appeal to people’s emotions through branding and brand development. This workshop will focus on key aspects of how to achieve these results.
- What is Branding, and The Power of Brand Storytelling
- Key elements that build a strong Brand
- Importance and applications of Personal Branding
- What is Sales?
- What is Marketing?
- What is PR?
Pitching and Presentation Skills
Date & Time: 28 September 2023 (17:00 – 19:00)
Location: Online
Facilitator: Doug Faulkner
The ability to engage an audience and make them want to listen to you is key to winning work and boosting your company’s profile which leads to career success and growth opportunities. This workshop focuses on the key skills you will need for:
- Planning and Deck building
- Energy management
- Presentation skills
- Feedback
Social Media for Small Businesses
Date & Time: 3 October 2023 (17:00 – 19:00)
Location: Online
Facilitator: Joseph Bradfield
There are a bewildering array of options for any small business owner looking to dip a toe into the world of social media marketing. How do you decide which channel is right for your brand, and ensure you get the most return on the time you’re investing? Joseph explains where to start and how to shape a content marketing plan that won’t need you to become a full-time social media manager on top of your job.
Innovation Culture and Process – Have Great ideas And See Them Through
Date & Time: 5 October 2023 (17:00 – 19:00)
Location: Online
Facilitator: Doug Faulkner
Have great ideas and see them through. Innovation cultures aren’t easy to build and maintain but once up and running are considered essential for creating competitive differentiation and competitive advantage, this workshop focuses on defining and how to create a culture of innovation.
- Who should be responsible for innovation?
- What does innovation culture prototyping look like? / Design thinking
- When and why to have an innovation idea generation session
- Examples of innovation processes
- How to facilitate an innovation idea generation session
