Innovation
Frequently asked questions Q: I have a business problem that I think could be overcome with the help of a graduate work placement. Can you help me find an appropriate graduate? A: Yes – we are aware that companies can benefit from specialist skills that do not exist within their businesses. Working closely with a team of specialists, backed up by the skills and knowledge of a university/college department, we can find a suitable graduate to work in your business for two years. A grant is available to assist with costs. A: Intellectual property rights and associated issues, including confidentiality, copyright, trademarks and design registration, are an increasingly important aspect of business innovation. Advice and guidance is available to show businesses how to carry out their own informal patent and other searches. Financial assistance may be available to access third party expertise (e.g. patent agents). Q: I want to investigate selling my products into different markets. What implications could this have on how I operate my production processes? A: We can advise on production planning, factory layout and also what the demands of specific sectors are (e.g. supermarkets often stipulate standards for suppliers). Q: I have an idea for a new product (or process) but I want to know if it already exists. A: Where appropriate, advice and some financial assistance can be offered to carry out market research. Q: I have developed a new product which I want to exhibit for the first time at a trade show, can you help me? A: We recognise that first-time exhibitors may need a helping hand and we can sometimes offer limited financial support. Q: Can you assist with sourcing equipment/materials? A: We have a team of specialists who can help with your search, or we can sometimes provide financial support to attend trade exhibitions. Q: I have an idea and think that it has commercial potential but don’t know what to do next. A: We can help by offering early-stage advice on the commercial potential of your idea and how to protect it. Inventors and small, innovative companies can get free and completely confidential advice on how to develop ideas into actual products and processes. For more information on any of the above, please contact your Local Enterprise Company. |