Focus on innovative practices

Feb 9 2010 by Karen Dent, The Journal

SMALL businesses with innovative ideas are being invited to an all-day event focusing on how small changes can make a big difference to their enterprises.

The Innovation Factory, which is being held in Newton Aycliffe and Newcastle next month, will look at innovative practices relating to managing finance and accounts, HR, ICT, environmental practices, partners and suppliers, and sales and marketing.

The events mark the end of Business Link’s Real Innovators campaign, which encouraged businesses to look at inventive practices to boost their performance.

Business Link advisor David Dixon said: “The Innovation Factory is an interactive and engaging way of demonstrating to the region’s businesses how – by making small inventive changes to their offering, or their processes and procedures – they can really improve their results and grow their business. Innovative businesses aren’t just the ones that come up with world-changing inventions.

“Any business that does something different to improve its bottom line justifies being labelled as innovative.”

The events takes place at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe on March 18 and The Stephenson Works in Newcastle on March 24. To register for a free place, call 0191 281 5777, register online at www.innovationfactory2010.co.uk  or email businesslink@btob.co.uk