Roadshow outlines the benefits of innovation

Roadshow outlines the benefits of innovation

18 December 2013

THE Down Business Centre was the venue last week for a roadshow outlining the benefit of innovation to small businesses.

The Innovation, Opportunity, Training and Advice (iOTA) programme is designed to help people understand what innovation in business is, why it is important and what help is available to businesses.

The iOTA roadshows, which are funded by the EU, offer a wide-range of innovation support including training, innovation mentoring and advice, workshops, clinics and masterclasses.

Down Council chairman, Maria McCarthy, attended last week’s event at the Down Business Centre and was joined by other local authority officials and representatives from business support organisations and higher education colleges.

Councillor McCarthy explained the iOTA Programme seeks to “demystify” the process of innovation and will help build innovation into local companies’ activities.

“The programme is an exceptional opportunity for potential new or existing businesses in the Down area to learn more about innovation and develop their innovation capability by accessing new skills, expertise and knowledge,” she said.

Down Business Centre manager, Janice Symington, welcomed the opportunity for guest speakers Paul Miller from Horizon Two Six and Niall Greenan of Smart Bunker, an innovative storage bunker designed and developed in Castlewellan, to provide innovation advice and direction to businesses throughout the day-long roadshow.