Innovation Advice and Guidance
John Hall, Innovation Manager

Innovation Advice and Guidance has been set up to offer fully funded advice and guidance for achieving innovation to Lincolnshire businesses until October 2012. In order to qualify for this scheme, businesses must have a turnover of no more than £43 million and employ no more than 249 staff, as well as a few other eligibility criteria (which can be discussed with a member of the ANGLE team).

The Innovation Advice and Guidance service is funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which is managed in the region by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) through Single Programme funding. It is a Solutions for Business product that is being delivered by ANGLE Technology Ltd.

The scheme employs consultants, of which John Hall is one, who have a wealth of experience in the commercial field. John is the main consultant for South Kesteven but is able to call upon a number of skilled individuals dependent upon the clients needs.

Local business people are invited to have an initial conversation with John (or one of his colleagues), after which they may be offered the chance to sign up to this project. In return they will receive advice and guidance, the form of which will vary according to the business’s needs.

The scheme aims to assist businesses increase innovation, either through development of new products and services or by altering current processes. The overall aim of the scheme is to promote commercial activity in the local area as a whole and create new jobs, but the impact it can have on the individual businesses that it works with can be huge (examples can be seen on the website www.innovationlincolnshire.co.uk/IAG by clicking on Case Studies).

If any LOGIC member is interested in finding out more about this free service, then please visit www.innovationlincolnshire.co.uk/IAG, email innovationlincolnshire@angleplc.com or call 0800 8488840.

Innovation Advice and Guidance is part of Solutions for Business, the Government’s portfolio of publicly funded business support to help companies start and grow. To find out more about Solutions for Business call Business Link on 0845 058 6644 or visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/eastmidlands.