What is it doing?

Home > Programmes > Essex Innovation Programmes > What is it doing?

Business support

New Ideas Programme

There is now support available for those wishing to start or develop a new business that involves the commercialisation of new design, know-how, technology or scientific ideas.

New Ideas Programme details 

For further information about what is on offer and how to access this support please click on the link above or contact Simon Maidment on 01245 702417 or email simon.maidment@exdra.co.uk.

Developing Innovative Businesses Programme

For innovative businesses in their early stages of trading as well as more established businesses there are also similar packages of support now available through the Essex Innovation Programmse, subject to certain criteria.

Developing Innovative Businesses Programme details 

For further information about what is on offer and how to access this support please click on the link above or contact Simon Maidment on 01245 702417 or email simon.maidment@exdra.co.uk.

Business incubation space

In addition to this support, the Essex Innovation Programmes is also working with a series of partners to develop new incubation space focused purely on offering a supportive environment to early stage innovative businesses. The first of a network of these is up and running at Ongar, the Essex Technology & Innovation Centre.

Further facilities in the network will be available in the near future in Southend, Colchester and Harlow. Others will follow in Chelmsford and Basildon.

The Harlow Enterprise Hub is now up and running. Click here to find out more information

Sector Support

Key sectors are being supported which offer future growth potential including:


Funding advice

For small and medium sized businesses looking for financial support to share the risk in undertaking research and development in new technologies, the Essex Innovation Programmes can help to access regional funding available for this purpose.

For more information about the support available please contact Simon Maidment on 01245 702417
(Email: simon.maidment@exdra.co.uk).

International Trade

Increasingly, joint activity is helping these sectors access emerging markets such as India and China, and more established markets such as Canada and Europe. For more information on international opportunities click here.

Essex i-labs

For businesses wishing to unlock the creativity within their organisations, a series of “i-lab” facilities are available through the Programmes. The “i-labs” use the latest creative thinking software and offer a stimulating environment for idea generation, strategy development and teambuilding.

For information on the availability of these in Colchester, Thurrock and Southend, follow the following links:

http://www.essex.ac.uk/ilabs/
www.hassenbrook.org.uk
www.essex.ac.uk/southend/ilab/index.asp

Developing education links

A significant portfolio of work is being undertaken to support the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators. Stretching from the Science Alive project in Harlow, to the Young Enterprise Summer School in Colchester, and from the i-lab at Hassenbrook School in Stanford-le-Hope to the international twinning of Essex Science, Technology and Engineering Colleges with counterparts in China, a range of projects are being supported to encourage interest in careers in science, technology, engineering and design.