Are you a Foundation Industry SME looking to reduce costs? Increase productivity? Reduce energy or resource use? Decarbonise your business? Apply now to receive guidance in innovation planning and accessing the rich array of innovation support, tools and grant funding available to UK companies Last few spaces remaining, apply by midday 12th August Foundation industries Cement Paper Ceramics Metals Chemicals Glass Transforming Foundation Industries – Success through innovation will assist 18 Foundation Industry SMEs to increase their ability to achieve productivity gains, save energy and reduce emissions and access the support and grants available to implement change. Find out how we can help your business. About the programme The programme presents a fantastic opportunity for 18 Foundation Industry SMEs to be supported over 7 months to build innovation capabilities and engage with available support. The project is open to Foundation Industry SMEs in sectors principally concerned with manufacturing core materials. Support available 1 Guidance as to what support, tools and funding can be accessed 2 A bespoke innovation plan 3 Individual support and group workshops 4 Connectionswith sources ofsupport This programme will help you address the huge challenges you are facing, described in the Innovation Readiness in UK Foundation Industries report, for example: International competition and the need to regrow the UK’s industrial base Record energy costs Achieving Net Zero by 2050 Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic UK’s departure from the European Union and the end of the transition period Despite these, there are opportunities for future growth through innovation and we can help your business to take advantage of these. Innovations could be improvements to renew, modernise, or introduce a new technology or process. Ideally these result in energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The support will help you to Develop an innovation plan or roadmap Start to implement your innovation plan / roadmap Connect you to sources of innovation support and funding Build capacity and confidence to innovate and seek support Pursue projects to reduce emissions and energy use Develop collaborative partnerships through supply chains and between businesses Find opportunities for your business to network and grow Delivery will be a mix of face-to-face workshops and webinars supplemented with one-to-one support. Workshops and webinars alone are likely to require 3-4 days commitment over the programme plus the one to one support time. Delivery will commence with a launch event that we plan to hold on 15th or 16th August. Eligibility To apply complete short application form by midday 12th August to secure your place. APPLY