INNOVATION
Dynamic – the Innovation Challenge aims to harness the power of innovation to drive business growth across the area .
New Innovation Challenge can give your business the Edge
If you have a small-to-medium-size business somewhere across the Tees Valley , help is nearby .
Plenty of business owners reading this may already know where they want to go , but don ’ t know how to get there . That ’ s where the Tees Valley Innovation Challenge programme comes in .
Launched in May , the big brother to the Tees Valley Business Challenge created in 2022 , the Innovation Challenge aims to harness the power of innovation to drive business growth across the area .
Led by Edge Innovation and Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria on behalf of the Tees Valley mayor and Combined Authority , and funded through the government ’ s UK Shared Prosperity Fund ( UKSPF ), the programme consists of four areas of support : > Innovation challenges : Facilitating collaboration between SMEs and large organisations .
> One-to-one coaching and mentoring : Personalised , practical support from advisors and sector specialists .
> Innovation training : Equipping business owners with tools and techniques to identify and reach potential customers .
> Innovation showcase : A high-profile event highlighting Tees Valley as a hub of innovation .
The innovation training is a cornerstone of the programme , offering four half-day courses that guide businesses through a design thinking approach using the Double Diamond framework : discover , define , develop and deliver .
This framework helps businesses understand their market , prioritise problems , generate creative solutions and develop actionable plans . Additionally , oneto-one coaching provides tailored support to address specific business needs .
After a successful first cohort , two more cohorts are scheduled for October / November at the Wilton Centre and November / December at Stockton ’ s Employability Hub . The training is fully funded but spaces are limited , so early registration is encouraged . Anyone interested is encouraged to sign up early and go through the short suitability and eligibility process .
Sophie Walton , Tees Valley Business Board lead for science , innovation and technology and director of strategic partnerships at CPI , said : “ Ensuring our local businesses have access to the right tools and support to drive innovation is crucial to the sustainable growth of our economy and keeping our region at the cutting edge of industry .
“ Tees Valley Business Board has helped to roll out a raft of support for local SMEs , including this programme , and I ’ d urge all business owners and entrepreneurs to
For further details on the Tees Valley Innovation Challenge Programme visit teesvalley-ca . gov . uk / innovation-challenge
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explore the targeted support on offer to help them achieve their goals .”
Mélissa Bourseau , head of design at Edge Innovation , emphasises the tailored nature of the support . She said : “ We focus on helping businesses understand their current position and where they want to develop . This isn ’ t a one-sizefits-all approach . We ’ re committed to moving parts of the Tees Valley out of deprivation and helping businesses achieve sustainable growth .”
“ Our team are focused on supporting Tees Valley businesses using the design thinking approach and we have a range of support for businesses no matter what stage of development they are at .
The programme also includes regular peer networking events to foster connections and drive further innovation and collaboration .
Hannah Brennan , from Seerbi , was involved in the Business Challenge programme . She said : “ The programme can benefit organisations in the region by helping to expand what their ideas are , helping them to really think outside the box for a start , and to realise the potential of what their ideas are .
“ We ’ ve been able to realise new revenue streams . We deliver specific AI workshops that are tailored by the knowledge that is gained through the design thinking workshops .”
Support – the Business Challenge programme includes regular peer networking events to foster connections and drive further innovation and collaboration .
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