The Innovation Masterclass is a full day of facilitated sessions designed to inspire SME owners who want to think bigger and create new opportunities for their business. Working as part of a small cohort of likeminded business leaders, you’ll be challenged with strategies to develop and implement new ways of working, and offered expert advice and mentoring to help you find the most effective route forward for your company.
Seminars and one-to-one coaching on the Innovation Masterclass are all rooted in research, insight and world-leading expertise from the University of Sussex.
Event Schedule
9am – Arrival and Networking
9.30am – Welcome and Introductions
9.40am – The Search for Opportunity with Peter Lane (Innovation Support Manager)
How do we discover new ideas, and decide which ones to pursue? Peter’s experience supporting academic spinouts from the University of Sussex means he’s perfectly placed to understand how to differentiate a great insight from a real commercial opportunity.
10.30am – Lean Thinking with Fiona Bennett (Programme Manager)
Lean Thinking underpins many of the biggest start-up successes of the 21st century. But what is it, and how can you apply it to your business? Fiona explains how the lean methodology can help you achieve more with less.
11.20am – Implementing Innovation with Tanya Popeau (Head of Innovation and Consultancy)
How can you minimise risk and uncertainty while trying to do something new? Tanya shares advice on how to turn strategy and process to your advantage to move on quickly from failure and capitalise on success.
12.30pm: Lunch
1.30pm: Leading and Managing Innovation with Claire Pasquill (Brighton Centre Director)
Innovative businesses depend on strong leadership with the flexibility to adapt and balance long-term ambitions with short-term plans. Claire outlines some of the traits of effective leaders, and the techniques you can use to uncover your own leadership style and play to your strengths.
2.15pm: Breakout Session 1
Innovation and Sustainability with Tanya Popeau
Building sustainable practices has become something that business owners can no longer afford to ignore. But facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge, what can small businesses do? Tanya explains the simple steps we can all take to start protecting people and the planet, and plotting a practical route to net zero carbon.
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Finding Funding with Nigel Lambe (CEO)
A great product may never succeed without the financial backing to reach the market. Nigel specialises in helping growing businesses secure investors, grants or alternative means of finance to give their innovations the best chance of success.
3.10pm: Breakout Session 2
Creativity in Entrepreneurship with Simon Chuter (Innovation Advisor)
Unlock the power of lateral thinking and creative design throughout your business by building a culture that encourages and rewards ideas. Simon will outline the different approaches to structuring creative problem solving, as well as tools and techniques you can use to enhance it.
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Capturing and Measuring Innovation with Fiona Bennett
An innovation hasn’t succeeded until you find a way to both capture the value it delivers and measure how things have changed. Fiona reviews the variety of metrics that can help you to confirm the impact of the Innovation Masterclass on your business journey.
Join the Innovation Masterclass if:
This programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund.
Find out more here.