Bedford Business Newsletter September 2020

Funded Business Support Programmes available

Innovation Bridges

Innovation Bridges is an EU funded project developed to provide support for innovation engagement between SMEs and the University of Bedfordshire along the strategically significant Oxford to Cambridge Arc. This programme aims to help eligible organisations to bring new products, processes or services into their business and out to the market.

Innovation Bridges offers an initial fully funded academic consultancy- up to 20 hours, there is also  available a part funded substantial grant element (up to £15,000) to help implement ideas for new products and services post this consultancy or a 50/50 co-funded Masters by Research or PhD via collaborative R&D.

For further information on eligibility and to register, please visit www.bit.ly/innovation-bridges

Time2Grow

Time2Grow is a multi-million pound EU funded programme designed to help businesses solve some of their most challenging problems by accessing a skilled graduate workforce.

Who is eligible:

o   Businesses with fewer than 250 employees.

o   Graduates are placed in your company for 280 hours over a continuous 10 week period, and are funded 60% of their salary.

o   Business has to be based in SEMLEP region.

o   It can be any graduate, living in the SEMLEP area, who has graduated from any university in the past 5 years.

For further information on eligibility and to register, please visit  https://time2grow.org.uk/

Johnson Matthey donates space to make ventilators

Johnson Matthey in Royston has donated space at one its sites in order to help DHL to assemble ventilators on behalf of Ventilator Challenge UK. This is a not for profit organisation that is led by two different consortiums making two types of ventilators.

DHL was asked to create, construct and manage logistics operations for both consortiums who have been charged with manufacturing 15,000 ventilators in 12 weeks. This is a marked increase on the 4,000 ventilators typically manufactured in the UK each year.

As it became clear that capacity would be constrained if both supply chains continued to operate from one facility, DHL approached Johnson Matthey to support the consortium and logistics provision through its site in Bedford.

JM’s Bedford site is now being used as part of the Ventilator Challenge UK Supply Chain. Six trailers worth of product arrives at the site each day - this will enable the DHL teams to support the assembly of approximately 600 ventilators every day.

https://matthey.com/en/news/2020/johnson-matthey-donates-space-to-make-ventilators

The Future of Transport – Green Business Network  

Online event, 30 September 2020 at 2.00pm - 3.30pm

Are electric cars really green? Is home delivery better for the environment? What vehicles should I buy for my fleet? Will hydrogen save us? Will I look good in lycra?

Our transport system was already changing before the pandemic. The government is grappling with how we drastically cut transport emissions for health and climate reasons.

Now, the future seems more uncertain with the airline industry in tatters, and working from home the new normal.

If you have questions about transport, our September seminar will be the perfect chance to find answers.

You can find out more details on the Green Business Network website at:

https://greenbusinessnetwork.co.uk/event/the-future-of-transport/

All things Business Magazine

Lisa Milton and Sam Whalley have joined the team at All Things Business to spearhead the launch of the business publication’s new Bedfordshire magazine.  All Things Business already has successful magazines in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes.

As Media and Content Managers Lisa and Sam bring their considerable experience in local newspapers, business to business marketing and radio to All Things Business, taking up their roles in August in preparation for the launch of the company’s third magazine on the 01st October.

Sam said: “I was brought up in Bedfordshire and know what a diverse and innovative area it is. It’s very exciting to be bringing All Things Business, which has a great standing in

Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes and widening it out to a Bedfordshire audience.”

They would welcome the opportunity to discuss how they can place your brand in front of their audience.  To get in touch please email lisa@allthingsbusiness.co.uk