We interviewed our Senior Innovation Specialist here at RTC North, Glyn Selway, who is one of many advisors that are helping to deliver Connecting Innovation. Here’s what he had to say about the programme, and why businesses in the Leeds City Region need to take advantage of it!

What is Connecting Innovation?
Connecting Innovation is a fully-funded programme of innovation support, helping companies to level up their business and knowledge by accessing services that are readily available to them.

The programme is aimed at SMEs based in the Leeds City Region covering Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Selby and the City of York council areas.

Who is it for?
The programme is designed specifically for ambitious business owners and managers who are keen to embed a culture of innovation within their everyday activities.

Innovation is not a one-off activity, rather it is a mindset that constantly questions the way things are done and finds better solutions, leading to better outcomes and a better standard of work overall.

Through Connecting Innovation, we’re able to help implement this innovation mindset and show companies how to take advantage of it.

How does it benefit clients?
The programme offers bespoke support designed to increase the innovation capabilities of businesses in the region, helping them understand the regional Innovation Support ecosystem. SMEs will learn integral skills that they can implement from day one to advance their business.

Clients will also have the opportunity to share and receive best practice advice, make connections with and gain useful insights from other like-minded innovative business owners through regular Innovation Knowledge Exchange forums.

What are some of the key issues/barriers/problems that Connecting Innovation can help to get past?
One of the biggest challenges for many of our clients, and any business owner really, is maintaining current awareness of the range of innovation support they may be able to access. This can in turn, help them to solve a wide variety of other problems. When they know where to turn to for support and advice on a particular topic, problems get solved and barriers get broken down. It’s all about communication.

Involvement in the Connecting Innovation programme will ensure that all participants have the opportunity to gain a much clearer picture of the local and national innovation support landscape and the brilliant services that are available to them.

Who is involved?
The programme is being delivered by RTC North and selected associates on behalf of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership. There is a wide and varied timetable of events, workshops and knowledge exchange forums plus access to experienced advisors for 1-2-1 support to overcome specific innovation challenges such as finance, IP, sales & marketing or process design.

What’s your message to people thinking of reaching out for support?
DO THINGS BETTER – DO BETTER THINGS. We are here to help you increase your innovation capability – all you have to do is ask.

How can people get in touch?
Any companies who are thinking of getting involved with Connecting Innovation can drop me an email directly at Glyn.Selway@rtcnorth.co.uk, and we’ll go from there!

Do things better – do better things.