Discover what’s coming next, learn how others are innovating, and showcase your own research and development at the Malvern Festival of Innovation which runs from Monday 2nd October evening to Saturday 7th October 2017 in Great Malvern.

Here are some of the highlights: 

Monday 2nd October

Embarkation - Launch Event – An evening with Brian Clegg, renowned science author speaking about scientific discovery. Free to attend, but places limited, so please register in advance.

Wednesday 4th October

Automotive Advances - Morning Symposium – Hear the latest about innovation in the automotive industry at the home of the iconic hand-built Morgan sports cars. The event is free for all to attend, but registration is required.

Startup Stories - Evening Symposium  – An evening to enthuse you about the trials & tribulations of being an entrepreneur. Free, but registration required.

Thursday 5th October

Cyber Security & AI - Business Symposium & Exhibition – Hear from some of the UK’s leading experts about the latest threats and solutions, and the promise and concerns of artificial intelligence. Free, but registration required.

Festival Dinner - Gala Event – Enjoy a stimulating evening of conversation over a three course meal with friends and colleagues before hearing from our guest speaker, Newall Hunter. Held in the elegant surroundings of Malvern College, a short walk from the town centre. Places are limited so please book on-line.

Friday 6th October

The Business of Innovating - Business Symposium & Exhibition – Emma Jones MBE, founder of Enterprise Nation, speaking about four ways to grow your business from today, followed by a further keynote from Rashik Parmar MBE, IBM Distinguished Engineer, on finding your space in digital disruption. The Business of Innovating symposium continues with news of Worcestershire’s involvement in the 5G test network and a series of informative talks on financing, IP protection and commercialisation. Finally, watch entrepreneurs bravely pitch their ideas to a panel for constructive feedback and see if you can spot a future winner - if you'd like to have a go please register here. Free for all to attend, but please register in advance as places are limited.

Concerned about protecting your data? Is poor cyber security preventing your business growth?

The Be Cyber Secure Programme helps Worcestershire SMEs protect and improve their cyber security, enable business growth and achieve cyber certification by offering free specialist advice and support to improve cyber security plus a grant to enable improvements to be implemented.

For more information and details of how to apply, please click here.

We need your help to decide what our priorities should be in the coming years. We are currently reviewing our Five Year Plan, which sets out how we intend to achieve our vision  of making Malvern Hills District better for everyone who lives, works and experiences it.

We now need your views which will be used to help us decide what new actions to add to the plan, or replace others with as they are completed.

All you need to do is complete a short survey which will ask you to choose three things from a list you think we should be doing more of and three things we should be doing less of. You can also make your own suggestions.

You can take the survey here.

Find out how the Superfast Worcestershire broadband programme is progressing in the Autumn Newsletter.

This edition includes updates on the £3.7m expansion that will enable over 3,000 more households and businesses to access superfast broadband for the first time, and the upcoming broadband voucher scheme for Worcestershire businesses.

The Our Malvern Hills Community Awards provide an opportunity to recognise those individuals, projects, groups and organisations who's dedication and commitment has improved the lives and wellbeing of residents through positive action in the community or volunteering activities. This is an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the many and diverse contributions that makes the district a better place to live and work in.

There are six categories to nominate in including 'Business in the Community'. This award is for businesses who actively support their local community through positive action. The business may have supported a local charity or community event, encouraged employee volunteering or worked closely with local schools.

For more information and to access the nomination forms, please click here.

The LEADER Rural Business Programme has funding to support rural micro and small enterprises, farm diversification and rural tourism businesses.

Grants of up to £50k are now available for eligible rural businesses with a specific idea in mind to help them grow and/or create new jobs.

The next deadline date for Expressions of Interest is 27 October 2017. Anyone interested in applying for a LEADER grant should visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/LEADER or call Programme Manager Katie Ainsworth on 01905 843992.

We have recently launched our new and improved Visit the Malverns tourism website.

The mobile-friendly site provides a wealth of information to visitors and locals alike, and includes comprehensive accommodation, attraction, and walking route finders with searchable and filterable maps. The extensive What's On guide is regularly updated with the latest events in the area and a range of videos are being added to promote this stunning part of Worcestershire.

We are also partnering with Google to create 360° Google Street Views of the Malvern Hills which will be available on the site and via Google Maps.

www.visitthemalverns.org

In conjunction with the launch of the new Visit the Malverns website, we have also launched a new walking app.

'MalvernsWalks' provides a range of informative self-guided walks on your mobile device, including walks on the Malvern Hills and town walks in Malvern, Tenbury Wells, and Upton upon Severn.

The app is equipped with GPS tracking, detailed photos, and turn by turn instructions so people can see where they are on the route and get information on key landmarks.

The app is free to download for both Android and iOS from the Google Play or Apple App stores.

www.visitthemalverns.org/app

A Dementia Friendly town like Malvern is where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported, and confident they can contribute to community life. In a dementia-friendly community people will be aware of and understand dementia, and people with dementia will feel included and involved and have choice and control over their day-to-day lives.

It is estimated that nearly 9,000 people are living with dementia in Worcestershire, and as this number is predicted to rise it is important that we take action now to support anyone affected by dementia to live well in their community. We all have a part to play in making our local areas dementia-friendly, click here to download a leaflet with some simple steps your organisation could take to better support those who are living with dementia.

To find out more about the Malvern Dementia Action Alliance or to get your business involved, please contact Rachel Vann - 01684 862475 / 07966 952027 or email rachel.vann@malvernhills.gov.uk