Small and medium-sized manufacturers in the Bath area can tap into new product development expertise through a project launched this week by the South West Manufacturing Advisory Service.
Businesses will be able to receive grants to support up to 40% of the external costs associated with product development. The project support should lead to the creation of at least 166 jobs across the South West.
A dedicated support programme focused on helping accelerate the development and introduction of new products from concept to commercial reality, the Product Development Centre (PDC) will be in operation through to March 31, 2015. Qualifying businesses will be able to benefit from a bespoke package of support from the PDC as it will be tailored to suit each company’s specific needs.
The will PDC be part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund Competitiveness Programme to the value of £1.5m.
Innovation advisor for the PDC Paul Gilbert said: “This project is a new and exciting opportunity for businesses and has a dedicated focus on innovation – companies should think of it as a one-stop-shop for new product development. We can provide help with business strategy, Intellectual Property (IP), legislation, identifying and accessing markets, product and tooling design, prototyping and testing.”
As part of the PDC offering, businesses will benefit from a free ‘innovation review’ and ‘action plan’ to highlight the key areas for support and ensure they receive the most appropriate help at the right time. A dedicated team of expert advisors can provide up to two days of free support, while companies will also gain access to an exclusive ‘knowledge hub’, linking them with specialist expertise within universities, colleges and research centres.
For more information, to check eligibility or arrange a free PDC innovation review, call Kathryn Edwards, business development, SWMAS, on 07870 251694 or email kathryn.edwards@swmas.co.uk
