Connected Smart Home: Supply Chain Opportunities
DATE: Wednesday, 23rd January 2013
VENUE: Bradford University School of Management
TIME: 8:00am – 10:00am (Breakfast from 7:30am)
FREE PARKING
Hosted by the Advanced Digital Institute in partnership with the Bradford and Airedale Manufacturing Alliance
The “connected smart home” market is at the intersection of a number of important growth sectors for the local and national economy. IT has already transformed the way we work and communicate, and it is about to transform the way we live at home. Manufacturers of everyday household items and equipment, from boiler controls, thermostats and pumps, home gateways, in-home entertainment systems, locks, healthcare products, and alarm security systems, to vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances, can all use IT to add value to their products, differentiate themselves from their competitors, and gain business from the Smart Home refit that will happen over the coming decade.
This 2 hour concentrated session on the Connected Smart Home is an opportunity for companies, either already in, or wishing to enter this growing sector’s supply chain, to learn from two experts in the field:
- Dr Mike Short CBE FREng CEng FIET (Vice President – Public Affairs, Telefónica Europe)
- Peter Coddington (Implementation Manager – Innovation Delivery, Yorkshire Water)
To book your place on this event, please e-mail events@bradfordchamber.co.uk with your name and contact details with “Connected Smart Home” as the subject.
‘An export isn’t an export until your money is in the bank’
Next month (6th November 2012) Chamber International will be holding a full day workshop at Yorkshire Bank, Merrion Street, Leeds for exporters who experience problems getting paid from overseas buyers.
- Discover how to avoid cashflow worries
- Top ten mistakes that exporters make when working with letters of credit revealed
- Understand the security, currency, speed and cost of different payment types
Click here to book your place or contact Gemma Price on 0845 034 7200 or email gemmap@chamber-international.com
Cost £315 plus VAT (discounts available to Chamber of Commerce members)
Includes lunch, refreshments and Certificate of Attendance issued by British Chambers of Commerce as part of its accredited programme.
Trade Opportunities – Emerging Europe
9am to midday – 4 October 2012, DLA Piper UK LLP, Leeds
This seminar is packed full of thought-provoking ideas and practical insights for maximising sales and winning new business in *Emerging Europe. Benefit from strong and authoritative advice from knowledgeable sources to help you determine risk and opportunity.
Why should you attend?
- an overview of the market conditions and trends
- support from UK Trade & Investment
- Enterprise Europe Network – connecting you with the markets
- key sectors and opportunities
- maximising the impact of your website
- communication and business culture
- the practicalities – getting your products there
Includes a one-to-one assessment of your chances of success and networking lunch
Click here to book online or telephone Gemma Price on 0845 034 7200
*Markets covered – Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic
In partnership with UK Trade & Investment
Kindly sponsored by DLA Pipe
Manufacturing Matters: Made in Yorkshire
Sep 13th
Simon Manning, head of manufacturing at Deloitte in Yorkshire, says the region can be proud of its manufacturing industry but policy makers must create the right conditions to help it thrive.
The announcement that the UK had recorded its biggest trade deficit since modern records began seems, at first glance, like a body blow for hopes of a manufacturing-focussed, export-led recovery for the UK economy.
Weak global demand, due in part to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the eurozone, means the short term picture for Yorkshire’s manufacturing industry remains challenging.
But away from the headlines, Yorkshire’s manufacturing sector has transformed itself into a lean, hi-tech, globally competitive industry that will prosper as demand recovers. Yorkshire’s manufacturers are already looking overseas. More than 70 per cent of British manufacturing output is now exported, with Germany a key market.
Read more here.
Funding is available to help kick start academic-industry collaborations
Sep 12th
Call 2 is now open and closes on 3rd November 2012
METRC Innovation Awards will support new research projects between the Universities of Bradford, Durham, Newcastle and Sheffield, and companies in the fields of Nanotechnology, Science and Engineering.
Funding is available in £5,000 pots (multiples may be awarded to individual projects if a strong case is made), which must be matched by the collaborating company. Research is to be industrially relevant, with a plan for future collaboration. It is anticipated that these will probably be proof-of-concept type projects, and might be used to pay for post-doctoral time, consumables, PI time, etc. For specifics, please see funding guidelines online.
Any company is able to apply but preference will be given to SMEs.
Funding guidelines and a simple, 3-page application form are available on the METRC website. For any enquiry, help, advice on applying or general information please contact them here.
Innovation voucher scheme to help firms develop ideas
Sep 11th
A new national Innovation Voucher scheme has been launched, aimed at encouraging the development of ideas within smaller businesses operating in the agri-food, built environment and space sectors. The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is to launch the scheme, which is available to start up, micro and small or medium-sized businesses in the UK, in late September. Successful applicants will be given vouchers up to the value of £5,000, or up to £8,000 for space sector projects, to pay for expert help to develop and improve their ideas.
Read more on this scheme at http://www.innovateuk.org/content/news/innovation-vouchers-coming-soon.ashx
£16 million for eco-entrepreneurs
Aug 24th
As part of a £35 million fund for innovative entrepreneurs, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has launched the first phase of the Entrepreneurs Fund. For entrepreneurs, a £16 million fund will be available to develop new ideas.
The aim of this funding is to speed up the development of low carbon technologies towards commercialisation, helping cut carbon in the UK, supporting jobs and creating export opportunities.
A second phase of this scheme, building on the first phase, will be launched in early 2013 with the remaining £19million available. For more information, see the DECC website.
