A Nottinghamshire business has become one of the first companies in the East Midlands to receive funding from the Sustainable Construction Innovation Network (iNet) to help develop its range of valves used in the recycling process.
Alex Marshall has run the family-business, Midland Industrial Designers (MID) in Watnall, since his father retired in 1996, and is continuing to develop a new range of innovative valves, which are used to help recycle building and construction waste materials. MID supplies valves to a range of high-profile clients across the UK and internationally, including East Midlands based British Gypsum.
Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Sustainable Construction iNet offers business grants of between £3,000 and £10,000, alongside assistance and expertise in research and development of new services, products and processes to companies in the construction sector.
“The iNet grant will help us go through a certification process, which will hopefully allow us to sell our product range in new markets across the world,” commented Alex.
“We are doing strong business in the USA and Europe, and the grant will allow us to develop our product offering even further. We will be able to expand the business and even create new job opportunities to help with delivery,” continued Alex.
Speaking about the scheme, Charles Meynell, Senior Business Adviser at the iNet, said:
“We want people with commitment and vision, like Alex, to be given an opportunity to develop their innovative ideas which will have a positive impact on the construction sector.
“I am sure that there are many other companies in Nottinghamshire that supply products and services to the construction sector, which could also benefit from this fund. So, we are actively encouraging all companies who want to develop their innovative ideas to contact the Sustainable Construction iNet, where we will give them access to funding, advice, information and contacts so that they can bring their services or products to the marketplace.”
To qualify for an Innovation Support Grant, the applicant must be based in the East Midlands and operating commercially in construction or an associated industry sector such as mining, quarrying, waste management, energy or water supply. They must also require technical or consultancy assistance for their idea, product or process and expect to protect or create jobs as a result.
For more details on the Sustainable Construction iNet and the grants available, 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 or Lindsey or Becky at Lava on 01522 842 800 / matt@lavapr.co.uk / lindsey@lavapr.co.uk / becky@lavapr.co.uk
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Notes to editors
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
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.
Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:
- Had a significant impact on the region’s economy
- Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs
- Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends
- Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year
- A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone.
emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times
About ERDF
The ERDF Programme aims to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by supporting regional economic development.
The ERDF objectives for England are:
- Promoting innovation and knowledge transfer
- Stimulating enterprise and supporting successful business
- Ensuring sustainable development, production and consumption
- Building sustainable communities
- Improving accessibility and connectivity (for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly only – as part of their Convergence Programme).
A Programme Monitoring Committee consisting of regional stakeholders such as Government Offices, RDAs, Regional Assemblies, Local Authorities, Sub-regional Partnerships, Higher Education Institutions, Trade Unions, and the private and voluntary sectors will monitor and oversee programme implementation in each region.
For more information on ERDF funding generally, please visit www.erdf.communities.gov.uk or http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funds/feder/index_en.htm
About ERDF in the East Midlands
The East Midlands is eligible for 268.5m Euros between 2007 and 2013, which, when combined with match funding, provides a programme value of approximately £420m – a significant investment in the economic development of the region.
The East Midlands qualifies as a competitiveness and employment region under the EU’s Cohesion Policy, which aims to meet the EU Lisbon objective to become ‘the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social inclusion.’
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is responsible for the programme management and delivery of the region’s 2007-13 ERDF Competitiveness Programme. The responsibility for the ERDF programme management was transferred from the Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM) to emda following a decision by the UK Government to seek greater alignment between ERDF and regional strategies and funding streams. The 2007-13 ERDF Programme is therefore set firmly within the framework of the Regional Economic Strategy.
A Programme Monitoring Committee, chaired by the Regional Director of Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM), guides the strategic direction of the programme and works closely with emda.
To find out more about ERDF, the region’s strategy for delivering the funds, how to apply for funding and how the programme is managed, please visit www.eastmidlandserdf.org.uk
