Enabling Innovation at NTU

University programme supports over 500 local businesses to innovate

Since July 2016, Nottingham Trent University’s Enabling Innovation programme has supported over 500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

In the first of a series of snapshot videos, find out how Enabling Innovation has helped support Affari Media, Hallam Internet Ltd and OFFUNDO Limited develop new products, services and talent into their organisation.

The programme has helped businesses to introduce innovation through development of new products and designing new services. Enabling Innovation has utilised funds from the European Regional Development Fund, supporting SMEs to bring something new to their company or market place.

Businesses have received support in the form of expert-led consultancy, mentoring, product design, access to industry leading facilities and funding to recruit graduates.

The programme has already delivered over 140 events with more workshops planned until April 2019.

Access our support

Are you an SME? Contact our team to find out how to start your journey.

Enabling Innovation is a three-year collaboration between Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham, and the University of Derby to support SMEs in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire to innovate. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

You can find out more about Enabling Innovation and the support it offers businesses on our website.

Twitter: @NTU_EI
LinkedIn: Enabling Innovation at NTU
Phone: +44 (0)115 848 8899

Notes for editors
Enabling Innovation will enables NTU to support businesses to invest in research and innovation; to make them more competitive, and help them to grow and create high-skill jobs with a range of schemes. We will achieve this in a number of ways, including:
- dedicated technical hubs in food and drink, materials engineering, computing and data, and design innovation
- innovation management workshops delivered by Nottingham Business School
- a contribution of 20% towards 60 graduate salaries for up to a year, to support businesses to introduce innovative products, services or processes
- academic and student-led projects and consultancy
- intensive specialist support for innovative businesses
- networking and business development workshops and events.
The project has received £10 Million of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund.
Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.