Local businesses in Greater Manchester to gain easier access to cutting-edge expertise at the University of Manchester
Business Growth Hub, part of The Growth Company, has appointed a new Business Development Manager to support SME access to the University of Manchester, in their journey of growth and innovation.
Vicki Taylor, who had previously worked in similar roles for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group and its’ partners for the last decade, joins a network of already-established business development managers at Manchester Metropolitan University, the University of Salford and the University of Bolton, completing a team that enables local businesses to access expertise and facilities at Greater Manchester’s four universities.
The group work closely alongside the universities’ engagement teams and academic schools, offering businesses technical and sectoral advice, and helping them access university resources to develop new products and services or reinvigorate their business models.
Previous success stories from the University of Manchester that have received Business Growth Hub support include Lankem, who have accessed expertise in diesel emissions, and Kenny Waste, collaborating on an image analysis project.
Vicki Taylor said: “I am excited to join the Business Growth Hub and look forward to working with the team, further developing their offering to businesses across Greater Manchester. I have a background in managing successful entrepreneurial relationships and am looking forward to continuing that tradition with the University of Manchester.”
Chris Greenhalgh, head of innovation and programme development at Business Growth Hub, said: “The world-class academic knowledge and research facilities on offer at our region’s universities allow us to create an unparalleled innovation network of research capabilities, knowledge, and facilities with the potential to make a real difference to businesses across Greater Manchester.
“Vicki comes to the role with a wealth of experience, having gained over a decades-worth of experience of offering support for start-up and scale-up businesses for an international banking group.
“We are very happy to welcome her to the Hub, and are confident her guidance will help to generate even more business success stories from the University of Manchester.”
Luke Georghiou, deputy president and deputy vice-chancellor at the University of Manchester, said: “In a globally competitive environment where knowledge and innovation is a key driver of economic growth, the ability of institutions such as major universities to collaborate and share knowledge is vital.
“These new partnerships will allow businesses across Greater Manchester to tap into a network of world-class research and expertise, and help to surmount challenges, deliver key research objectives and spark innovative ways of thinking.
“It has the potential to make a profound difference to the success of both the regional business community and wider economy, and I am confident that with Business Growth Hub we will create a thriving culture of entrepreneurship competing at the forefront of this new knowledge-based economy.”
The Hub’s innovation service has been developed to guide and support entrepreneurs and businesses through the innovation challenge, from idea conception through to launch.
Businesses who are looking to innovate can get access to specialist support and cutting edge research by visitingwww.businessgrowthhub.com or calling 0161 359 3050.
Business Growth Hub projects are part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the GM Business Growth Hub project designed to help ambitious SME businesses achieve growth and increase employment in Greater Manchester.
