Skip to content

Nottingham Trent University supports OFFUNDO Limited with Enabling Innovation

The Design Innovation hub at NTU support local businesses to develop innovative solutions in design and 3D technologies

    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 fourth of a series of snapshot videos, find out how Enabling Innovation has helped support OFFUNDO limited

    Enabling Innovation with OFFUNDO Limited
    FFUNDO Limited gained access to facilities and expertise to develop their product through 3D printing

    Helping businesses to innovate through product design

    The Enabling Innovation programme has provided us with a vast talent pool, access to specialist facilities and technologies that would have been beyond our reach as a small entrepreneurial business. The experience and knowledge that we have been able to tap into across the programme is enabling us to move the business forward with more confidence in our abilities.

    Julie Whitehead – OFFUNDO Limited

    Enabling Innovation's work with SMEs has greatly helped local business OFFUNDO Limited. They approached NTU looking for help to develop their innovative butter spreading product for the commercial market. NTU helped the company transform their product from stainless steel to plastic.

    Having remodelled the 2-part stainless steel product to suit plastic production, a 3D printed prototype was made. The plastic parts are lighter in weight, dishwasher-proof and food-safe whilst retaining the strength seen in the metal unit.

    With the functional and aesthetic improvements made, the cost of commercial producing the 3D design prototype would be slashed by 88% when compared to it's metal predecessors.

    By offering a range of benefits to small and medium-sized organisations, Enabling Innovation hopes it can support further businesses with 3D technology and product design innovation.

    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)

    The programme runs until March 2019 and NTU is looking for further small and medium-sized enterprises to make the most of the support it can offer their business. 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.

    Published on 15 May 2018
    • Subject area: Business, management and marketing
    • Category: Business; Nottingham Business School