NEWS
Business Durham interim managing director Sarah Slaven and Councillor Carl Marshall , Durham County Council ’ s cabinet member for economic recovery .
INNOVATION DRIVE
New
Companies are being invited to find
out more about a new programme that has been launched to support innovation in the construction , health and electech sectors across County Durham .
Set up by Business Durham , the economic development arm of Durham County Council , the Durham Future Innovation Building ( DFIB ) programme is open to SMEs who are looking to invest in research and development to help bring their innovative product , process or service for the future to market .
The programme is targeted at the key growth sectors of construction , health and ‘ electech ’ ( electronics , electrical and embedded software ).
It will create opportunities for companies to collaborate and learn from industry and subject matter experts .
The DFIB programme will be hosting an online introduction for businesses who think they can benefit from the programme on February 23 , from 10am .
On the programme , companies will be supported to work up their ideas and connect to individuals and other businesses who can help in developing new innovations .
The programme will enable them to adapt , discover new markets , become trend setters , continuously assess their products , and adjust quickly to market conditions .
The DFIB programme will be delivered through a series of events , masterclasses , workshops and practical sessions , designed to help businesses unlock their innovation
programme launched to boost local businesses
potential and develop their knowledge and skills – even outside their initial area of expertise .
In addition to the masterclasses and workshops , companies will be able to apply for funding to increase their expertise either by taking on their own experts or bringing in external consultants and specialists .
Sarah Slaven , Business Durham ’ s interim managing director , said : “ Business Durham has a proven track record of helping innovative companies grow and thrive , and bringing innovation to market .
“ Innovators can sometimes have great ideas , but they are not always able to research and develop products for a variety of reasons .
“ We recognise the importance in helping businesses overcome these challenges to develop their products , so we ’ re thrilled to be launching the Durham Future Innovation Building programme .
“ We are looking forward to developing a ‘ mini innovation ecosystem ’ in County Durham for each of the three sectors , so we can not only inspire businesses about the potential for innovation in these areas , but also provide companies with easy access to the advice , contacts , and funding they need to bring forward new product ideas .”
The Durham Future Innovation Building programme is a two-and-a-half-year programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund ( EDRF ) for SMEs running until July 2023 .
For more details and to book a place on the online introduction visit businessdurham . co . uk / dfib .
BUSINESS BRIEFS
TECH FIRM LAUNCHED An immersive technology company has been launched on the business park with a mission to transform how customers experience entertainment , sport , visitor attractions , hospitality and retail .
Fame Media Tech has launched from Parson ’ s Court on Welbury Way , and says it ’ s in talks with a raft of sport , hospitality and visitor attraction operators in moves to change people ’ s experiences through technology .
£ 1M OF LOCAL FUNDING The Finance Durham Fund has invested over £ 1m in five businesses to grow in or move to County Durham over the last 12 months .
Established by Durham County Council in 2017 , Finance Durham is a £ 20m investment fund overseen by Business Durham and managed by Maven Capital Partners , to help businesses to accelerate growth in the county .
The fund provides debt and equity funding to support businesses of all sizes from a variety of sectors , and is aimed at companies looking to scale up , create jobs and add economic prosperity in County Durham .
DIGITAL SKILLS COURSES Free digital courses being offered by Teesside University could help people in the region bridge a digital skills gap while supporting a quicker economic recovery .
People who work in County Durham are being urged to take advantage of the Digital Skills for Growth online taster sessions and online courses which will equip them with vital creative and technical skills .
For more information and to register for the courses visit tees . ac . uk / digitalskills .
AYCLIFFE BUSINESS The 50th issue of Aycliffe Business will be out in April .
To get involved , call Sharon Hutchinson on 07940 870310 or email sharon @ aycliffetoday . co . uk .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 13