Businesses invited to innovation workshops

Staffordshire businesses are invited to a series of free events over the next month encouraging and promoting innovation.

The Staffordshire Business Innovation Centre is organising a series of workshops in the Stafford area aimed at small and medium enterprises with fewer than 50 employees, focusing on how they can use information technology, improve leadership skills and plan strategically to become more innovative.

The first event is an Innovation Through the Cloud lunchtime workshop at Tillington Hall Hotel, Stafford, which runs from noon to 2pm on May 19, and includes lunch. The event will focus on using cloud-based systems to improve productivity while safeguarding security.

The second event is a Leadership in Innovation workshop, run in partnership with Dove Consulting, which is being held at the Beacon International Centre, Staffordshire Technology Park, Stafford, from 10am to 4pm. The workshop will cover issues including change management, motivation and leadership styles.

The third workshop will be held at the Wolseley Centre, Wolseley Bridge, near Rugeley, on June 29 from 10am to 4pm. Titled the Business Model Canvas, it examines a strategic management template for developing a new business or improving an existing business model, with advice from experts from the Enterprise Europe Network.

Further details on all the events are available from the Staffordshire Business Innovation Centre at www.thebic.co.uk/events or by emailing sandra.butterworth@thebic.co.uk or telephoning 01782 333798.