When going green can help firms to grow

Mar 18 2010 by Iain Laing, The Journal

INNOVATIVE environmental experts are getting ready to inspire businesses and plant seeds to help them grow their businesses by thinking about how being greener can win new contracts.

As part of the Innovation Factory, a free day-long event organised by Business Link being held at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe today, two experts will help firms get more creative.

Mary Argyraki, senior lecturer in Environmental Management in the School of Applied Sciences, University of Sunderland and Derek Watson, programmes director of Tyne and Wear-based Integra Training and Consulting, will help businesses create and shape new opportunities that will move their businesses forward throughout 2010.

“The Innovation Factory will inspire businesses to develop new ideas, improve business performance and stay ahead of competition,” said Ms Argyraki.

“The green agenda is increasingly offering businesses opportunities. We want delegates to learn the importance of environmental management and sustainability and how they can take advantage of this.

“As trainers and facilitators we want to help businesses leave the experience brimming with new, practical ideas and inspiration to implement when they are back in their own work environments.”

The Innovation Factory is about learning by doing. It is challenging, thought provoking and highly interactive with a series of workshops designed to help businesses identify how they can improve the management of their finance and accounts, HR, ICT, environmental practices, partners and suppliers, and sales and marketing.

The event builds on Business Link’s Real Innovators campaign to champion innovation, and encourage North East firms to introduce inventive new practices, that will improve their business performance and profitability.

Sophia Tones, Business Link events co-ordinator, said: “The Innovation Factory strengthens Business Links commitment to encouraging and providing support to businesses to help them to successfully exploit new ideas.

“We really want people to come along and to work with us to spark innovation and generate new ideas that will help their businesses in the long term.

“Innovative businesses aren’t just the ones that come up with world-changing inventions. Any business that does something new or different to improve its bottom line justifies being labelled as innovative.”

Derek Watson adds: “Encouraging innovation and maximising its potential will both help to develop new areas of opportunity and also protect and reinforce those areas in which the region already excels.”

The Innovation Factory will also be taking place at The Stephenson Works on March 24. To register your place call 0191 281 5777, e-mail businesslink@btob.co.uk  or register online at www.innovationfactory2010.co.uk