Two Nottinghamshire entrepreneurs hungry for success are well on their way to making their children’s ‘healthy eating’ tableware ideas a reality after winning £10,000 of business support services.
Sue Amplett and Vonny Shelley, from Sherwood, received the prize package after winning Last Business Standing at this year’s innovation EXPO (iEXPO). They beat more than 50 entrepreneurs who competed in the climax of the iEXPO, the opening event of this year’s innovation Festival (iFestival).
Funded by emda and organised by East Midlands Innovation, the iFestival took place between 9 March and 17 April and encouraged businesses, researchers and the wider community to recognise and celebrate the importance of innovation to the region’s economic prosperity.
The programme of support has been coordinated by Business Link, and began with a diagnostics meeting to produce an action plan to help Sue and Vonny set up their business, Piccy Products Ltd and develop their product ideas, which they designed to encourage children to enjoy healthy eating.
Sue said: “There are many support services available to start up businesses like ours, so our initial meeting was crucial in identifying what stage we were at with our business plans and product designs and ensure that we met with the best advisors for our needs.
“We have had our first support meetings, beginning with the Manufacturing Advisory Service to discuss further alterations to our prototypes. ProspectIP gave us some important advice on trademarks and the various options of protecting and registering our designs, logos and packaging and we also discussed sourcing and specifications of raw materials for our products with innovation company Pera.
“We are currently working on our business plan, so our meeting with accountants Smith Cooper was really helpful in looking at ideas for prices and quotes that will form part of our financial forecast.”
Sue and Vonny are also receiving ongoing support from the Food and Drink Innovation Network and are in the process of organising a mentor via the Business Link Startup Service.
Mentoring Project Manager, Michelle McAreavey, said: “The selected mentor will take a high level overseeing role for Piccy Products and help Sue and Vonny through their various action plans from the various support meetings they will continue to have.”
They have also received specific expertise from the East Midlands Business Champions, a unique pool of independent business volunteers, committed to shaping the region by sharing their knowledge and inspiring others.
“Winning this prize has really got the ball rolling in terms of moving our ideas forward and has made us realise how important it is to take our time to get things right at the very beginning,” explained Sue.
Mike Carr, emda’s Executive Director of Business Support Services said: “emda recognises that expert knowledge and guidance can really make a difference between success and failure for an ambitious entrepreneur, as well as help to build confidence in their own business skills and abilities.
“The business services that Sue and Vonny have been able to access are available to people across the East Midlands and we would encourage anyone who is serious and passionate about their business propositions to contact their local Business Link adviser and find out about the advice and help that is accessible to them.”
Existing entrepreneurs or individuals who are thinking of starting up in business should contact Business Link on 0845 058 6644 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands for help and advice.
For further information about the iFestival and East Midlands Innovation please visit www.eminnovation.org.uk
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Issued on behalf of the iFestival by Lava. For further information contact Matt, Louise or Becky at Lava on 01522 842 800 / matt@lavapr.co.uk / louise@lavapr.co.uk / becky@lavapr.co.uk
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Notes to Editors:
About the iFestival
• The annual iFestival is region-wide and took place this year between 6th March and 17th April 2009. Building on the success of 2008, the iFestival encompassed an inspiring, inclusive programme of events, designed to help foster a culture of innovation in the region with activity targeted at young people, businesses, communities and organisations supporting or involved within an innovation environment. Innovation is regarded as a key driver in creating a dynamic, knowledge focused East Midlands’ economy and it is identified as a strategic priority in the Regional Economic Strategy.
• Improved productivity in an increasingly competitive global market means that businesses and organisations in the East Midlands must put innovation at the heart of their core activities, if they are to flourish and stay ahead of the game. The iFestival is co-ordinated by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and East Midlands Innovation – The Regional Science and Industry Council.
• For further information please visit: www.eminnovation.org.uk
About East Midlands Innovation
• East Midlands Innovation is the Regional Science and Industry Council which was established in 2005 by emda.
• East Midlands Innovation’s principle responsibility is to take the lead for emda in implementing the Innovation Strategy and Action Plan for the East Midlands with the aim to grow a long term, sustainable, innovation-led economy.
About emda
• East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in
• England set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
• Working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations the aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) ‘A Flourishing Region’, which sets out regional priorities until 2020.
• The RES, coordinated by emda, highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and builds on the previous two strategies; ‘Prosperity Through People’ and ‘Destination 2010’.
• In early 2007 the National Audit Office announced emda had received the highest possible grade of ‘performing strongly’ in an independent assessment of our work – scoring 22 out of 24.
• www.emda.org.uk
