Innovation, enterprise and infrastructure were all topics covered by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership this morning (Jan 27), as one of its senior officers spoke at a UK conference held at the University of Nottingham.
The University of Nottingham Innovation Park (UNIP) hosted the UK Science Park Association’s winter 2016 meeting, yesterday and today (January 26 and 27). It featured a wide range of speakers including from universities, businesses who have set up on the Innovation Park, BioCity Nottingham and from D2N2.
D2N2 is the LEP for Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Derbyshire. It works with businesses, universities, skills and training providers, local and national government, and community and voluntary organisations to grow its area’s economy, with the aim of creating 55,000 new jobs in ten years (2013-2023).
D2N2 also oversees the strategic development of the Nottingham & Derby Enterprise Zone – which benefits businesses who set up there through reduced rates, superfast broadband, and capital grants for machinery and equipment – which includes six sites across the LEP’s area, one of which is the Nottingham Science Park.
Lindsay Allen, Senior Programme Manager for Sector Development at the D2N2 LEP (pictured), was invited to speak at the UK Science Park Association’s event this morning (January 27). She covered the role and importance of innovation to the D2N2 economy, and the support programmes on offer via the D2N2 Growth Hub (which she oversees). The Growth HUb is a free and impartial business support and advice service set up by the LEP to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access funding and grow.
Pro-Innovation measures recently funded and announced by the D2N2 LEP and Growth Hub include the Enabling Innovation programme. The £20million project managed by the three D2N2 area universities of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent and Derby aims to give more than 2,000 SMEs across the LEP’s area (over three years) access to specialist universities’ expertise in research and innovation; to enable businesses to be more competitive, grow and create high skilled jobs. The programme is being half funded by D2N2 (providing £10.1m) and half by the universities involved.
Also featured in Ms Allen’s session this morning was a short D2N2 video, giving highlights on D2N2’s recent work on innovation. This can also be viewed on the LEP’s YouTube channel online HERE.
For more information on D2N2’s work on innovation, visit its website at www.d2n2lep.org/Growth/Innovation
For more information on the work of the D2N2 LEP generally visit www.d2n2lep.org and for more on the D2N2 Growth Hub’s work see its website at www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk
For More Information on the above release, please contact: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sean Kirby D2N2 Communications Manager 01159 578749 |  | Sam Burbage D2N2 Social Media and Marketing Officer 01159 578254 | ||
Find us on: | ||||
| Google+ |  Youtube | |||
| Tweet | ||||
