A public sector organisation that provides support, advice and funding for East Midlands construction companies and their supply chains will be making its debut at this year’s Ecobuild.

The Sustainable Construction Innovation Network (iNet) will be joined by four of the region’s leading innovative organisations; Hertalan UK, LEDinlight Ltd, The University of Northampton and Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited (NEL) on Stand 455.

Funded by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Sustainable Construction iNet has a number of roles, particularly in helping SMEs innovate and generate profits and jobs. The iNet focuses on a number of key annual themes in delivering support to those businesses through in-depth, sector specific advice.

“The East Midlands has always had a very strong construction sector,” says Charles Meynell, Senior Business Adviser at the iNet. “Our region, however, hasn’t escaped the dreadful effects of the recession but is prepared, and is increasingly adapting to, new economic and environmental realities. Construction is at the forefront of this transformation and we think it’s important to showcase some of the latest developments, as well as notifying other East Midlands companies of the help and support that’s available to them.

“This year’s Ecobuild is focusing on emerging issues, new thinking and challenging ideas. Now that sustainability is firmly at the core of the construction sector we need to provide much-needed advice, networking and financial support to companies so they can harness and / or benefit from innovation. Perversely, this difficult economic climate actually helps the process of innovation – necessity being the Mother of Invention, – and so we are expecting innovative products and processes to lead us out of this and onwards towards a new prosperity.”

LEDinlight will move into a Nottingham-based manufacturing facility at the start of March (03.03.10). Sweedish Managing Director, Eva Ottosson believes that the East Midlands is the ideal place to grow a construction business:

“We’re really pleased to be attending Ecobuild, the support we’ve received from the iNet has really helped us acclimatise to the British construction sector. If it wasn’t for the iNet we would not have been able to exhibit at such a prestigious national event. The East Midlands has a thriving environmental technology industry and, with support services from a variety of organisations, I would encourage anyone planning to develop a construction based business to consider the East Midlands.”

As well as providing funding programmes to support innovation in the construction sector, the iNet also offers specialist advice and organises and hosts industry-leading events across the region.

Furthermore, the iNet offers financial support through two schemes; the Innovation Support Grant (ISG) offering up to £10,000 matched funding and the Collaborative R&D Fund (previously known as HECF), in collaboration with higher education institutions, which can offer larger grants for projects involving both academia and sme’s.

To qualify for an ISG the applicant must be operating commercially in construction or an associated industry sector such as mining, quarrying, waste management, energy or water, or in professional services such as architecture or surveying. They must require technical or consultancy assistance for their idea, product or process and expect to protect or create jobs in the East Midlands as a result.

The Collaborative R&D Fund provides grants for companies to access the support and expertise of the region’s universities and technical colleges. The fund requires two or more East Midlands’ higher education institutions and one or more SME construction companies, employing fewer than 250 people, to work together towards a commercial goal that will ultimately deliver competitive advantage.

Scheme details for both initiatives can be found at www.eminnovation.org.uk/construction.

The partnership created as a result of the Collaborative R&D Fund must also enable the applicant to bid for even larger sums from the European Union and other sources.

Businesses from the East Midlands wanting to find out more about the Sustainable Construction iNet and the grants available should visit them at stand 455, telephone 01604 892836 or visit www.eminnovation.org.uk.

-ENDS-

Issued on behalf of the Sustainable Construction iNet by Lava. For further information contact Matt, Stuart or Lindsey at Lava on 01522 842 800 / matt@lavapr.co.uk / lindsey@lavapr.co.uk / stuart@lavapr.co.uk

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