HBIC Programmes
Access to Knowledge (A2K)
"There are a range of decisions that a business has to make around funding as it develops. A range of funding sources are available, but it can be difficult to understand the pros and cons of each. Every form of funding must deliver a financial benefit to someone, and the differences are about risk/reward/time/controls. Events like A2K facilitate invaluable discussion between people about their experiences." Mark Gilligan, Syrris Ltd
A2K (Access to Knowledge) is a new initiative which will stimulate networking and learning through a series of breakfast seminars, aimed at directors or senior executives of businesses. The programme identifies critical elements that companies have to consider in order to drive forward sustainable business improvement and growth.
Each seminar is extremely informative, through providing a powerful combination of personal development and networking which has been identified through business needs. We are delighted that A2K (Access to Knowledge) is supported by the following partners who wish to assist in the development and growth of businesses: -
EEDA, Business Weekly, Baker Watkin, Brignalls Balderston Warren, Marks & Clerk, IET, Goldsmiths Management Centre, JGC and Stevenage Borough Football Club
.jpg)
To see details of past and future A2K seminars and to register for the events please select here
To register to attend the next A2K seminar please fill in the online form
Sponsor Profiles Download
Directions Download
Administrational costs £15 + VAT for each attendee
ee-NET
ee-NET is a unified regional network of business specialists with national and international partners operating in Enterprise Hubs, Centres of Excellence, Research Networks and Innovation Centres. With a strong focus on key industry sectors each partner represents a significant knowledge capital in terms of personal networks and relationships. This valuable resource can be leveraged to provide unique support to entrepreneurs, academics, research institutions and growing businesses.
Six agents based in each one of the counties of the East of England work in collaboration pursuing opportunities across the whole region. Each agent establishes and collates information on innovative technologies, new entrepreneurial initiatives or on specific requests for business and technical support. This entails assistance on collaborative R&D projects, industry partnerships, funding or knowledge based agreements. ee-NET helps deliver business support throughout the whole product development process, from initial idea up to commercialisation.
Womens Enterprise for Tomorrw (WE4T)
The aim of the WE4T programme is to provide a dedicated business incubation service to women, particularly lone parents and those from Black and Minority Ethnic communities, in the area of Northern Hertfordshire and Stevenage. The project will provide extended and enhanced services specifically designed to address the needs of these presently underrepresented client groups, thereby further reducing the recognised gender specific barriers to enterprise development, and impacting significantly on start-up and survival rates of micro and small enterprise development in the specified geographical area.
WE4T will provide the administrative incubation services through the co-operative working of a group of existing micro-enterprises on a contract basis, thus creating a model of social enterprise incubation support that will have the potential to be sustainable in its own right by the end of the project. This has been successfully delivered in France under the SCOP model; and the setting up and successful operation of the ‘Cooperer pour entreprendre’ network of BECs in 2003 (for full report refer to www.cooperer.coop :
WE4T will be managed in partnership by the three main providers of business development support and incubation services in the area: Stevenage Business Initiative, incredit ltd and Hertfordshire Business Incubation. The management partnership brings together a combination of extensive experience across all levels that will allow clients to benefit not only from organisational examples of innovation and best practice but also from a multi-dimensional approach to business incubation that one organisation alone could not provide.
Eastern Aerospace Alliance (EAA)
The East of England today offers a wide range of Knowledge, Resource and Technology surround the aerospace sectors, which are more than capable of servicing the advancing needs of the global aerospace industry and its diversification into other markets & sectors.
The Eastern Aerospace Alliance is an active business network which aims to enable its members to achieve better market penetration and best practice exchange, whilst receiving valuable business support and knowledge transfer services; this is not only in the Eastern Region but Nationally and Internationally.
The Region
The East of England boasts a rich heritage in and around Aerospace, in terms of aerospace manufacture and services, civil and military establishments, along with after markets.
Today the region has a diverse civil and military aerospace presence with four active and busy airports two are which are major undertakings at Stansted in Essex and Luton in Bedfordshire.
There are Major military airfields at RAF Wittering (recently home to the Harrier Jump Jet), RAF Mildenhall (the key US militay European air bridge and home of USAF air tanker squadrens) RAF Lakenheath (home to USAF strike command F15 Eagles) and RAF Marham in Norfolk.
Surrounding these facilities and distributed throughout the region are sites of the major world aerospace companies including Bae Systems, Matra Bae Dynamics, Smiths Industries, Cobham Aerospace, GKN Westland, Astrium, TRW, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin. Additionally Boeing McDonald carried out significant sub-contract work in the region.
Supporting all of these, are their supply chains and the very many SME's providing products and services to the sector.
Encompassing the civil airports in the region, there are many companies providing technical products and services to the engineering operations of the various resident airlines known as the aftermarket.
Finally the recently formed Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO) has a focus in this region at RAF Wyton providing logistical support to the RAF world wide.
Back to top ^