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Members of +ADD team are national 'Business Growth Services' advisors

Members of +ADD are now able to access grant funding to support client work under the Business Growth Services programme operated by PERA.  As regional coaches .

For new Business Growth Service clients there is grant funding available for Leadership & Management Training.   In addition to our expertise in business growth you can access  support for Intellectual Property Audits and Design Mentoring which is delivered by Design Coaches from the Design Council and the broader GrowthAccelerator community.
 
Design Mentoring is a high impact form of support which demonstrates how any business can benefit from its powerful influence to develop long-term opportunities for growth.

you can find out more by contacting us directly (paul@addstrategy.co.uk), or by looking at these sites:

GrowthAccelerator: www.ga.businessgrowthservice.greatbusiness.gov.uk/

Manufacturing advisory service (MAS): www.mas.businessgrowthservice.greatbusiness.gov.uk/

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The future of H.E...a storm is coming!

See on Scoop.it - Thoughts from +ADD Strategy

The future of Higher Education - Speakers at Conference say …a storm is coming!Perhaps it was the scale of audience, mix of speakers or simply the timing, but the ‘Future of Higher education conference’ yesterday at Salford University was certainly enlightening and gave air to some radical thinking.Several sector leaders including representatives from NCUB, AOC and JISC, universities and colleges spoke out about the need for acceleration in value creation, growth in commercial provision, income diversification, as well as the need to focus on better integration of p

See on linkedin.com

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Why online communities are undervalued – and often fail

See on Scoop.it - Thoughts from +ADD Strategy

Online communities are not given the attention they deserve by businesses. Here is why they should and why online communities often fail.

paul sutherland ’s insight:

An interesting insight.  I often feel those who sell online community concepts sell just that…empty shell services with too little support to effectively build, nourish and maintain a viable and useful scale of engagement.  Those who sell these platforms need to step up to the mark!


See on i-scoop.eu

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OpenBadges Taxonomies

See on Scoop.it - innovation in vocational education

In a previous post (Over 2 millions of badge types…) I explored the typology of Open Badges and the idea of a taxonomy to conclude to the inanity of any attempt at enumerating the different types of Open Badges. Recently, while discussing with a colleague the ideas developed in this previous post, she reminded me of […]

paul sutherland ’s insight:

I love Serge Ravet’s take on the world of Open Badges.  He is a leading light on th ework being done in Italy.  He is the Director of Innovation at ADPIOS is the organiser of ePIC, the International ePortfolio & Identity Conference (www.epforum.eu).


See on learningfutures.eu

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A new report on comparative LEP 'SME digital skills strategies'...Just in case you missed it!

See on Scoop.it - Thoughts from +ADD Strategy

This LEP survey report offers great insight into different approaches to raising basic digital skills levels and comparative views on the challanges faced.

You can find the link here: http://bit.ly/1FuJpbS

No great shocks on the needs of small businesses being very diverse; from using social media to promote their business and connect with new customers to taking payments and protecting themselves from fraud and storing digital information on suppliers and customers.


Regards barriers to progress, there is as you would expect reflection on the lack of resources and funds available to tackle the problem….but what is perhaps more surprising is the repeated reference to lack of understanding of SME’s, how to engage and communicate with them.


paul sutherland ’s insight:

Surely this is an open innovation question in the making - Given the extensive experience of economic development teams, the richness of the SME support ecosystem, and range of existing and diverse dedicated digital enterprise and related community initiaitives - we don’t need brilliant enigmatic solutions - we just need people to come together effectively to create local solutions.


There is an event in London on the 26th.  Unfortunately you can only attend if you are from a LEP which is a shame as I am sure there are plenty of potential contributors…I wonder who is attending from the North East and Tees Valley?  Certainly Interested to here the outcome.

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When the heck did learning to code become cool?

See on Scoop.it - innovation in vocational education

And why it sucks to be a beginner today…

paul sutherland ’s insight:

Interesting insights from an experienced coder…

There’s a lot of hype out there about the next latest and greatest programming fad.

A lot of progress is being made in the programming world, but in general there’s not a silver-bullet single technology someone can learn that will immediately cure all problems.

Beginners are often encouraged to start digging into solutions for problems they don’t understand yet.

 

See on medium.com

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You Need to commit to Progressive Innovation Strategy

See on Scoop.it - Thoughts from +ADD Strategy

It’s the only way to make sound trade-off decisions and choose the right practices.

paul sutherland ’s insight:

An excellent article which highlights the challanges facing those developing and implementing innovation strategy in real world business environments.  Despite good intentions, many companies seeking to invest in innovation fail to maintain a clear long term view that effectively provides a mandate for progressive innovation delivery.  

The 2014 BIS SME survey evidences a actual decline in the proportion of SME’s innovating new products and services (from 43 to 38%).    Further only a third considered they had innovation processes in place.

Under commercial pressure, many continue to make resource allocation decisions based on short term plans, favouring eclectic propositions and current percieved needs.


Bottom line is while short termism provides quick results it focusses on existing movements and current opportunity. Only after senior management agree explicit targets for different types of innovation (near to, adjecent and disruptive), and allocate a specific percentage of resources to longer term more radical projects ,will real progress be made in developing new offerings that support long-term differentiation and sustainable competitive advantage.  


Needless to say appetite for longer term varies by sector, size of business, organisational risk avoidance culture, and leadership.*


*See:  barriers to innovation:  http://goo.gl/tHsZtI




See on hbr.org

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Overseas students in London add £2.3 billion to UK economy

See on Scoop.it - Thoughts from +ADD Strategy

International students in London contribute a net benefit of £2.3 billion to the UK economy every year, a study says

paul sutherland ’s insight:

A great article but no surprises here.  The big challange is of course making sure our universities make the most of the opportunity.  I also wonder if the FE community are fully aware of the broader potential offered in working to engage and support international students.


See on timeshighereducation.co.uk

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UK enterprise hothouses, incubator programmes and grant funds with deadlines looming!!!

See on Scoop.it - Thoughts from +ADD Strategy

Outbox Incubator is now accepting nominations for the 2015 cohort. The programme will inspire the next generation of female STEM* entrepreneurs during a 6 week intensive programme of events. Application Process closes at midnight on 28th May 2015.  http://outboxincubator.com/apply/ 

Wayra UK has a few spaces left on its incredible digital start-ups acceleration programme! (Deadlline 28th May) Over the last 3 years, they have supported over 100 new and emerging businesses, with $50M raised in third-party investment to date. http://wayra.co/ First

Steps Enterprise Fund is a £300,000 pilot fund offering loan-grant packages to charities and social enterprises working in communities in the North West and South West of England. From 13 April 2015, small community-led organisations can apply for up to £30,000 from to help them grow their services and become more sustainable.  Deadline for applications is noon 26 June 2015.   Read the guidance here

Hatch incubator - London space/ mentor/ A total of 20 workshops are delivered over the course of the 12-week programme. Conducted by industry experts, they cover a range of subjects essential to start-ups - Application Deadline on 20th May 2015/ http://www.hatch-incubator.org/programme

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UK enterprise hothouses, incubator programmes and grant funds with deadlines looming!!!

See on Scoop.it - Thoughts from +ADD Strategy


paul sutherland ’s insight:

Outbox Incubator is now accepting nominations for the 2015 cohort. The programme will inspire the next generation of female STEM* entrepreneurs during a 6 week intensive programme of events. Application Process closes at midnight on 28th May 2015.  http://outboxincubator.com/apply/ Wayra UK has a few spaces left on its incredible digital start-ups acceleration programme! (Deadlline 28th May) Over the last 3 years, they have supported over 100 new and emerging businesses, with $50M raised in third-party investment to date. http://wayra.co/ First Steps Enterprise Fund is a £300,000 pilot fund offering loan-grant packages to charities and social enterprises working in communities in the North West and South West of England. From 13 April 2015, small community-led organisations can apply for up to £30,000 from to help them grow their services and become more sustainable.  Deadline for applications is noon 26 June 2015.   Read the guidance here


Hatch incubator - London space/ mentor/ A total of 20 workshops are delivered over the course of the 12-week programme. Conducted by industry experts, they cover a range of subjects essential to start-ups - Application Deadline on 20th May 2015/ http://www.hatch-incubator.org/programme

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Was Tech City UK at risk post-election?

See on Scoop.it - Thoughts from +ADD Strategy

It’s unknown whether Labour will fund and support the quango that was established under the Tory-led coalition

paul sutherland ’s insight:

I wonder if Tech City UK and other such initiaitives which may appear to have closer alignment or affiliation with conservative agenda’s were really at risk?  

Surely both lead parties equally recognise the importance of Digital and STEM economic development and skills related investments.  

If there was a risk, which initiaitives are more exposed to political winds and which are less at risk?  What do you think?


See on techworld.com

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Recall - impact of Conservative win on the learning and skills agenda

See on Scoop.it - innovation in vocational education


paul sutherland ’s insight:

Apprenticeships !!!  3 million more apprenticeships over the next 5 years.  But how are we supporting learning and skills needs beyond 25?  


Business and industry demand for a better skilled workforce, changing skills needs (Reskilling), an ageing population (3rd careers), longer working lives, and of course globalisation all suggest we need great education and training for adults .


In March College leaders warned the latest 24% funding axe to further education will cost 190,000 adult course places….food for thought!



See on hrmagazine.co.uk

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UK - Digital skills gaps holding back half of UK firms

See on Scoop.it - NortheRN Research Network: A market research community in the north

Economic growth is being put at risk due to skills gaps in the tech workforce, according to a survey of 1,600 employers by the Tech Partnership.

Employer Insights revealed that 72% of large companies and 49% of smaller companies were suffering from gaps between the skills held and the skills needed by their tech specialists. Certain sectors feel this problem more acutely than others: 61% of financial services companies, 59% of tech firms and 55% of public sector organisations.

See on staffingindustry.com

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Paul Joins FE Associates community

See on Scoop.it - NortheRN Research Network: A market research community in the north

FE Associates is recognised as a leading performance improvement consultancy in the post-16 sector working with colleges and training providers to help deliver their strategies and operational plans.

They provide a range of services including interim management, recruitment, strategic consultancy, quality improvement, financial efficiency analysis and business development.

Paul joined the register in May.

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London Event will share insights from the CIM's largest ever SME marketing study

See on Scoop.it - NortheRN Research Network: A market research community in the north

Paul Sutherland of +ADD Strategy is talking at the CIM's Think Big Act Small event in London on the 18th May alongside Emma Jones from Enterprise Nation, and Adam Rowse, Managing Director at Barclays Bank. They will share key findings from the CIM’s national SME marketing survey and provide best practice marketing insight and ideas.  

The CIM is focussed on improving understanding, and enhance marketing practice in the small medium sized businesses.  To ensure best support for SME community, the organisation recently conducted thier most in-depth piece of research in this sector to date. 


The event, hosted by the CEO of the CIM Anne Goddfrey, will provide insight through case studies and expert panel discussion on how to drive your business marketing forward, and how the CIM intends to help.

Book here:  https://www.cim.co.uk/eventbooking/?crid=69857

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