Bringing Innovation and Growth present Big Ideas to Staffordshire Businesses

On Wednesday 16 April Staffordshire University hosted the first Bringing Innovation and Growth (BIG) Event for 2014. BIG is a consortium of partners including Staffordshire University, Keele University, Keele Science and Business Park and Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce. BIG aims to be a source of business support and a key driver of economic growth, by utilising the partners’ resources to assist local and regional SME’s.

The topic of the event was ‘Big Ideas’ and the guest speaker was Dick Strawbridge, best known for his TV work, but who is also an eco-engineer/inventor and sustainability expert. Dick talked to the audience about his experiences and how innovation has addressed challenges and led to new discoveries in his work and sustainability projects. Dick also expressed the importance he sees in university and business collaboration to strengthen the economy.

Over 90 delegates attended the event from a range of organisations across Staffordshire.

Sandra Booth, Director of Enterprise and Commercial Development at Staffordshire University and BIG Board Member said:

“We were delighted to host the first BIG event here at Staffordshire University. Our guest speaker Dick Strawbridge, really engaged with delegates and provided an entertaining insight into his experience of innovation and sustainability.

The programme of BIG events for 2014 promises to transform how your business explores ideas and megatrends around innovation, to address the global opportunities that businesses face and how connecting with Universities and the Chamber can give you a competitive edge through gaining access to the BIG thinkers and a wider pool of talent, knowledge and expertise.”

The next BIG event is taking place at Keele University on Wednesday 18 June, where another special guest speaker will talk to the audience under the theme ‘Big Challenges’.

To keep up to date with news and events from BIG join the conversation on Twitter via @Innovate4Biz