What is it?

You are invited to this event at which there will be a focus on some of the challenges related to dealing with the monitoring and controlling of air pollution, as well as encouraging people to change their behaviour by, for example, enabling the uptake of low emissions vehicles. Sustainability West Midlands have worked with industry-leading organisations, including those implementing the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, to identify some of these, so visit this website to learn more about them and come along to the event if you have a possible solution to these, or other related challenges!

The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for Greater Birmingham and Solihull is piloting an ‘Innovation Challenge Programme’ to increase business innovation in key industries.

The Innovation challenge events aim to encourage smaller companies in the LEP area to innovate, and will support two business innovation projects arising from each event, including the opportunity to apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to be matched by the beneficiary business.

Who is it for?

SMEs with an innovation idea who are ready to solve a pre-set challenge, willing to learn and understand how to use innovation to improve and grow their business.

They are especially interested in talking with companies located in these areas: Birmingham, Solihull, Wyre Forest, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield and Tamworth; in short, within the boundaries of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise partnership (GBSLEP) which is sponsoring this project.

As part of this project, GBSLEP is making available additional support for relatively small businesses in this geographical area, including four days of expertise to help you develop your idea further by helping you talk with potential customers to find out how well your ideas fit their challenges. In addition, GBSLEP has £5,000 grants available for winning innovation ideas which address some of industry challenges faced in Social Care, Air Quality and Transport Electrification.

What will it involve?

The event will also include a keynote speaker from Shammi Raichura from Uber, who as a company are making great strides in reducing air quality from their fleet and operations. This event will also, therefore, give you a unique opportunity to engage with this growing company.

At the event we’ll also inform you about some of the challenges being faced in the areas of transport electrification and social care – you never know where your ideas might lead!

A free, interactive workshop where you will learn how innovation can help solve business and industry challenges and gain the expertise to apply it, as well as becoming equipped to drive your business forwards and generate greater sustainability and  long-term value.

Please apply below to tell us about your idea and receive an invitation to the Challenge Events on the 11th November (Social Care);  19th November (Air Quality) and 25th November (Electrification).  Following the introduction events you’ll be invited to submit a proposal which will be assessed by our consortium and the winning entries will help to access £5000 grants that enable their solutions to be suitable for industry needs. GBSLEP is also making a wider offer of additional business support, as part of the project, including four days of business consultancy expertise to help you develop your idea further.

For more information please visit the Sustainability West Midlands website at  www.swm.org.uk