Oxfordshire is full of people with great ideas, but an idea is worth nothing if it isn’t implemented.

This is the last in our series of innovation workshops and by now you should be in a great position to accelerate progress with your innovative business. You will need a robust plan, you will need to be committed to that plan, but you will need to be prepared to be flexible.

By attending this workshop you will explore:

• How to bring together all of the thinking and tools shared through previous workshops,
• How to develop the right business plan for your innovation,
• How to set realistic and stretching goals for your innovation progress,
• How to know when to push harder or pivot.

Obviously, this workshop will also provide you the opportunity to make new connections and to grow your network. Follow-on one to one support is available for eligible businesses.

This workshop is being delivered by:

Phil Curtis (Director First Thirty) is a strategy and business growth executive. A former KPMG Managing Consultant, and Enterprise Director in two AIM-listed technology plcs, he has a 30-year track record of advising, building, and managing innovative, technology-led businesses from entrepreneurial startups to multi-national Groups. He covers the growth lifecycle from strategy through planning, growth, and transformation to achieve resilient operational performance with sustainability at the core. Using a hands-on and information-driven approach, Phil has worked with founders and leaders in space, energy, defence technology, transportation and government sectors in the UK, Europe, the Arabian Gulf, and the United States.

Paul Holmes BEng (Hons) – Managing Director/Owner of PCH Business Support Ltd has delivered a large number of 1:1s to OxLEP clients over the last 4 years. Transforming businesses that are focussing on growth, from set up, to implementing change, overcoming challenges, implementing business systems and management processes, supporting manufacturing, engineering, and technology commercialisation. Providing governance, challenge and strategy support for owners and senior business leaders. Paul works with a wide range of business support organisations across the South and South West. Degree qualified Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineer with 25+ years working in FTSE100, technology and engineering companies and at a senior level in Local Government.

Please note that this event is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is delivered as part of the Innovation Support for Business programme to help SMEs. By engaging in this programme you are being offered assistance under the De Minimis regulation which allows a company to receive up to but not exceeding €200,000 of public funding (at the applicable exchange rate) of De Minimis aid over a rolling three-tax year fiscal period. This De Minimis declaration does not cover undertakings engaged in: the primary production of agricultural goods and fisheries/aquaculture, road freight, services of general economic interest and export related activities and activities favouring domestic over imported goods. Please note, support cannot be given to undertakings (businesses) in difficulty. In order to receive support from this programme, you will be required to complete an application form and other relevant documentation. If you need to check your current position for state aid please contact us. If you would like any further information on De Minimis aid and Special Drawing Rights (SDR) subsidies, please see the state aid page on the OxLEP Business website:

https://oxlepbusiness.co.uk/state-aid