Workshop will help turn ideas into success

Sep 24 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

FLEDGLING businesses will tonight have the chance to attend an innovation workshop which aims to transform new ideas and technologies into commercial success.

Newcastle Science City has teamed up with Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) to run a two-day event where some of the country’s top creative consultants will advise would-be entrepreneurs.

The workshop is aimed at people who have identified a market opportunity but need additional support to develop it into a successful business proposition.

Dr Arun Harish, business innovation consultant at EEN, said: “Regional SMEs and pre start-up companies have expressed a need for assistance with the full life-cycle of the commercialisation of ideas and novel technologies.

“This workshop aims to address that gap.”

The event will cover business creation and development and will include an introduction to commercialisation, concept development, and defining direction.

NSC programme director Estelle Chatard said: “We organised this workshop with the specific aim of helping business people in the North East take their innovative ideas to the marketplace.

“We wanted to deliver an original event to help them on their entrepreneurial journey and are confident that the chosen team will provide an innovative and thought provoking workshop.”

Among the experts attending the event will be Belina Raffy, director of Maffick Ltd and a guest lecturer at the prestigious Cranfield School of Management.

Simon Strong, an advertising and branding expert who has worked for Saatchi & Saatchi will also attend.

The event will be held at Time Central, Gallowgate, Newcastle and places cost £50 and must be pre-booked by emailing the organisers arun.harish@uk-cpi.com  or estelle.chartard@newcastlesciencecity.com

As space is limited there is a restriction of two places per individual business.

The event runs from 6pm to 9.30pm today and 9.30am to 4.30pm tomorrow at Time Central, Gallowgate, Newcastle.