Edge Hill University and University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) will work together to help drive growth, innovation and job creation in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the borough.

The West Lancashire Collaborative Innovation Programme (WLCIP) will deliver a range of programmes supported by West Lancashire Borough Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund until 31 March 2025.

The primary focus is on supporting SMEs who have the potential to scale up through innovative ways of working.

The programmes help SMEs to achieve profitable growth by helping them improve productivity, increase market share, develop new products and adopt business technologies.

• High Growth Innovation Sprint: Focuses on boosting market share and profit. Businesses taking part in the 60-hour programme have achieved an average turnover growth of 29 per cent. Includes one to one support.
• Product Innovation Programme: Support from the UCLan engineering innovation team on product design and development.
• Leadership for Growth: Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute and delivered by experts from Edge Hill's Business School, courses boost leadership capabilities.

Professor Simon Bolton, Associate Dean (Enterprise and Employability) at Edge Hill University (pictured) said: "By combining the expertise and innovation resources of Edge Hill and UCLan we are bringing a comprehensive offer of proven innovation and leadership development services to West Lancashire businesses.

"Edge Hill's SME Productivity and Innovation Centre is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for supporting scale-up potential businesses and our High Growth Innovation Sprint is formally endorsed by the UK Scaleup Institute.

"Likewise, UCLan have an excellent record of supporting SMEs with product development and we're very pleased to be collaborating again with them.

"Whether a business is looking to improve their market share, grow into new markets, or develop new products and services, the West Lancashire Collaborative Innovation programme will be able to help."

For further information about WCLIP contact: [email protected]

To learn about the launch event, visit: https://ehu.ac.uk/7hv

April 15, 2024

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