East Northamptonshire Enterprise Centre East Northamptonshire Enterprise Centre
East Northamptonshire Enterprise Centre
School students having a discussion with their teacher School students having a discussion with their teacher
School students having a discussion with their teacher
Northampton College Advanced Engineering Centre Northampton College Advanced Engineering Centre
Northampton College Advanced Engineering Centre
A Starship Robot driving down a street A Starship Robot driving down a street
A Starship Robot driving down a street
Northampton Waterside Campus Northampton Waterside Campus
Northampton Waterside Campus
People talking in a building under construction People talking in a building under construction
People talking in a building under construction

Business Summit helps shape SEMLEP growth plans

8 November 2013

Over 120 businesses gathered in Milton Keynes this week to debate business issues, have their say and to contribute to SEMLEP’s growth and funding plans.

SEMLEP Chief Executive Daniel Mouawad told the packed audience about exciting plans afoot to launch the VeloCITY Growth Hub - a virtual offering for any business seeking advice, funding and growth.

“A dedicated website will soon be launched so companies can log in, key in their postcode and be put through to a locally based person who will chat through business issues,” explained Daniel. “If that person can not help or you have a more complex issues you will be put through to a Business Time Bank, where a specialist will be allocated to you for free, to give you the advice you need.”

Following Daniel’s announcement five keynote speakers took to the floor - Chief Executive of Briteyellow Ltd Fredi Nonyelu, Brackmills BID Chair Sara Homer, Colworth Science Park Enterprise Director Dr Wesley Randle, John Cove from MK Dons and Paul Griffiths from the Northampton and Milton Keynes Chambers of Commerce. 

Delegates were then invited to debate three topics: skills shortage, access to finance and access to markets.

Throughout the event there was a live Twitter feed #SEMLEPbeheard which enabled delegates to post their thoughts, questions and suggestions for business support.

SEMLEP is bidding for part of a £2 billion pot which is to be spent across the UK over the next 10 years to boost local growth and local jobs.  Feedback from this event will enable SEMLEP to shape SEMLEPs plans and priorities.

If you were unable to attend the event but would still like to contribute the questions debated are listed below:

Skills Shortages

Q1: What three things would help you recruit the right people?

Q2: What challenges will you face to recruit the right people in 12 months? Are these the issues you face now?  

Q3: What would success look like?

Access to Finance

Q1: What are the challenges your business faces in accessing finance?

Q2: What three things would help you access finance?

Q3: What would success look like?

Access to Markets

Q1: What are the challenges your business faces in accessing market opportunities?

Q2:  What more needs to be done to help businesses access markets?

Q3:  What would success look like?

Submit your answers via Twitter @SEMidlandsLEP or by emailing gayle.pope@semlep.com

 

 

Your login details have been used by another user or machine. Login details can only be used once at any one time so you have therefore automatically been logged out. Please contact your sites administrator if you believe this other user or machine has unauthorised access.