March blows in

March gets off to a windy start with a funding opportunity in the offshore wind sector. But be quick the deadline is just around the corner!

Offshore wind funding call

The large-scale development of offshore wind represents one of the biggest opportunities for sustained economic growth in Scotland for a generation. 

Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have launched a research and development funding call to support project ideas with the potential to reduce the cost of producing energy from offshore wind.

Under this call Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are primarily looking to support project ideas that develop novel offshore operation and maintenance approaches including:

• higher wind speeds, and minimising the corrosive effect of saltwater which makes structural and component failure more common offshore, especially where off-the-shelf components designed for onshore applications are transferred offshore
• the most frequent outages are due to sensor, wiring and control system faults
• gearboxes, generators and blades are the source of highest unplanned maintenance costs

Whilst these ideas form the core of near term priorities, they also welcome any project idea that meets the objectives and addresses wider industry challenges.  

Who can apply?

Assistance is available to businesses of all sizes located within the Scotland and those planning to establish a base here.  

How to apply 

Interested companies should express interest by completing the online form.

The closing date for expressions of interest under this call is Friday, 29 March 2013.

More information

Please visit the Scottish Enterprise website for full details or call 0845 607 8787 or offshorewind@scotent.co.uk with any questions.

Interested in business partnering opportunities in Renewable Energy? Join us on 18-19 March for a Business Partnering Event at the Scottish Renewables Annual Conference.

Electrifying partner opportunities at Scottish Renewables Annual Conference

The Enterprise Europe Network Scotland is hosting a Business Partnering Event at the Scottish Renewables’ Annual Conference – an industry event focused on the development of renewable energy in Scotland.

We’re bringing together companies from across the sector looking for collaborative partners on 18-19 March 2013 at the EICC in Edinburgh.

What’s the opportunity?

The Scottish Renewables Annual Conference is a two day event exploring the “Big Issues” for the industry and introduces four conferences under one roof: Electricity Market Reform, Grid, Planning and Skills. With some 600+ participants across two days, the event will offer various networking and meeting opportunities including an exhibition area, quick-fire showcase sessions and drinks reception.

With so many people across all sectors in the industry coming to the Conference, there is a wealth of experience for you to access.

Business Partnering aims to link participants through 20 minute pre-scheduled meetings to exchange information and experience on topics of interest across the Scottish supply chain.

Please visit the Business Partnering website to register and book your meetings.

How does it work?

The Enterprise Europe Network has a track record for organising Business Partnering at Europe’s largest conferences and trade fairs: 

• You register, outlining your organisation's key areas of expertise and the types of business contacts you'd like to meet.
• Your profile is published in our online catalogue, giving you increased visibility.
• You select other organisations you would like to meet, and can accept/decline meeting invitations from others.
• We pre-arrange meetings for you in advance of the event, so you have a schedule.
• At the event, you meet and share views with others, present, discuss and develop new projects.
• After the event, we are on hand to help you follow up contacts.

Costs
You must register for the Scottish Renewables Annual Conference to take part and there is no additional fee for the Business Partnering.

Working in the offshore wind industry? A funding call has been launched around research and development to support project ideas with the potential to reduce the cost of producing energy from offshore wind. 

Having problems with European legislation? Not a problem for the Enterprise Europe Network!

The Enterprise Europe Network runs and manages the official feedback mechanism for influencing European policy in favour of SME’s. In this blog Ross Thomson explains what type of feedback we're looking for and how this information is collected.

Back in 2008 the European Commission (from here on in known as ‘the Commish’) realised that over 99% of companies in Europe were either classified as ‘small’, ‘medium’ or ‘micro’ (or to give them the technical term – ‘SME’). They also realised that two thirds of private sector employment in the EU is provided by these smaller companies. So, in order to give these businesses the political strength they deserve in European policy decisions the Commish introduced the ‘Small Business Act’.

I don’t have the time nor the space to go through the ins and the outs of the Small Business Act, but one fundamental facet to shaping policy in favour of these businesses was to gain feedback on the aspects of the Single Market that are constraining them. Seems logical… Without identifying the problems, how can you find the solutions?

Enter the Enterprise Europe Network!

Since the Enterprise Europe Network works at the ground level working directly with small businesses, we have been tasked with the job of managing the Commish’s feedback mechanism. 

What kind of feedback? 

Now some Euro-talk: technically the feedback required relates to the ‘functioning of the Single Market’. 

But to elaborate a little… if EU laws are having a negative effect on your business (i.e. an increase in costs or causing an unnecessary administrative burden), if EU rules are not being enforced properly, or if there is just a complete lack of rules where you believe there should be. You should have your voice heard through the Enterprise Europe Network’s feedback mechanism

If you’re worried that your feedback won’t count for anything then you’d be wrong. The system works on the idea of ‘strength in numbers’; so if you’re having issues with a certain piece of European legislation then there is a strong chance many other companies from around Europe will be facing the same difficulties. If you don’t submit your problems then you will never get a solution.

How do you give to feedback? 

I was going to explain the various ways you can give feedback but to be perfectly honest, the best thing you can do is pick up the phone (or hit ‘compose new email’) and get in touch with your local Enterprise Europe Network office directly. If you carefully explain the problem/issue, we can submit feedback on your behalf meaning that you avoid spending all that time on arduous admin.

So, in conclusion, if you submit your feedback, you will be:

• Getting your voice heard
• Influencing European policy
• AND saving you time

 That’s a win/win/win in my book, so what do you have to lose?

If you would like to get in touch with the Enterprise Europe Network in Scotland please e-mail us at info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com.

Five easy ways you can be more innovative

At its core the Enterprise Europe Network offers free business and innovation support for SMEs looking to access new and exciting markets. In this blog post we have asked our valued colleague Mamta Singhal to give us her throughts on how you can be more innovative. Mamta is an Innovation Advisor for Scottish Enterprise and has worked for exciting companies like Mars and Dyson. ...she’s also got lovely eyes.

1) Be honest, upfront - don’t have structural boundaries.

This is about being open to change, options and views. Some of the best ideas come when people are relaxed and enjoying what they are doing. Every firm needs a level of structure however many new firms are taking a casual approach to this and hierarchy isn't important, it's more about freshness and reaching business goals.

2) Be around creative people who know how to have fun. No grey or beige.

Yes, having fun at work is possible. The old school view of wearing grey and having beige walls has long gone. It's about being bright, bold, brave and brash. If you have a talented creative person on your team you will be surprised how much energy and unique ideas they have and the commercial sense that it will make.

3) Have creative hobbies - dancing, music, art, etc.

Outside of work do some exciting and expressive hobbies. Let your mind play and explore. The people you will meet and they way you see the world will change. Learning golf or fishing may be your thing but try something new and different like salsa dancing or photography, your work will be more creative as a result.

4) Understand and appreciate the short and long term benefits - feel the passion. Think like the Dysons & Apples of the world (I worked for Dyson!).

All too often we aim for short term results but is it best long term?  Do both!  Think like the great designers of the world who never gave up until they had a great product or service, for them it wasn’t the short term goal it was the longer term vision of making a difference. Master strategic thinking and see how short term goals will benefit your longer term vision.

5) Be you. Be unique. Have morals. Don’t just go for the result - do what feels right.

You are unique and use those skills. Every person in a team should have the freedom and time to add to a firms creative goals. Ditch the 'barcode code' diary that is just meeting after meeting and have more team based activities. Equally always do ethical business - morals and integrity is important for long term loyalty with staff plus have a fun personality coupled with self awareness and refined social skills.  Always follow what feels right.


If you would like to get in touch with the Enterprise Europe Network in Scotland please e-mail us at info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com. 

Would like to meet...

The Enterprise Europe Network offers a range of services to companies in Scotland, one of which is providing support to find European business partners. In this blog, Elizabeth McNeil highlights upcoming opportunties for you to meet your ideal customers, suppliers or partners.

With Valentine’s Day next week our thoughts turn to finding or renewing connections with loved ones. But have you ever considered matchmaking for your business?

Often described as “speed dating”, our matchmaking events allow you to book pre-arranged meetings based on a profile submitted to the event’s website. This gives you the opportunity to meet potential customers, suppliers or partners face-to-face to explore business opportunities through targeted meetings.

Over the coming months Enterprise Europe Network is hosting a number of matchmaking events and we invite you to join us and find your perfect match!

Find out what’s hot in sustainable energy

Sustainable Energy: Challenges and Opportunities for the Supply Chain is the focus for this year’s sustainable energy event on 20 and 21 March at Edinburgh’s Napier University. Companies with green interests at heart can connect with like-minded companies at the industry-led brokerage event.

Participants are urged to create an online profile prior the event to highlight their capabilities and to maximise the chance of finding their perfect business match. The free event will provide a platform for Scottish companies to meet international contacts to talk about their innovative products and services.

For more information or to register for the brokerage event please visit the website.

Fish around the global seafood market

Companies within the food and drink industry are already cooking up their plans for the largest seafood trade fair in the world, the European Seafood Exposition, which takes place 24 to 26 April in Brussels.

Again this year the Enterprise Europe Network team will be hosting a matchmaking event. Last year’s event attracted 104 organisations - from sole traders to multinationals - from countries including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Turkey and Iceland.

To find out more or to register please visit the ESE Brokerage Event website. 

Tap into the latest technology advances

The Scottish Technology Showcase consistently brings together some of Europe’s top industry minds. Technology leaders will flock to Glasgow on 12 June to take part, offering a chance to network with over 1,500 like-minded experts.

Enterprise Europe Network is keen for Scottish companies to make the most of the associated matchmaking event and forge potential partnerships and business links. Keynote speakers will also discuss the latest technology developments and how these can impact on your business.

For more information or to register please visit the matchmaking website. 

For more information on these matchmaking events please e-mail me at elizabeth.mcneil@scotent.co.uk.

Low carbon makes business sense

The Enterprise Europe Network aims to help all companies, of all sizes, across Scotland. In this blog, Elizabeth McNeil discusses low carbon and looks at what it means for all companies, not just energy businesses.

 

Low carbon is often associated with renewable energy. And while that is true, the low carbon agenda isn’t just for the big energy firms. Reducing your carbon footprint can also increase your bottom line.

Not only is adopting low carbon technologies and practices is the right thing to do in the fight against climate change, it can also save Scottish companies millions of pounds.

Simple things such as cutting out business travel and using video conferencing, fitting speed limiters to company vehicles, cutting energy costs and switching machines off after use, can make significant savings.

Even something as apparently trivial as keeping a single computer and monitor switched on 24 hours a day can cost £50 a year – so imagine those costs multiplied across a large business with dozens of machines.

Adopting a low carbon culture can also enhance a company’s reputation, as many businesses are finding that increasing numbers of their clients are making choices based on how environmentally sound a company is. 

While Scottish companies and organisations are working to become models of low carbon best practice, the switch to a low carbon economy is also seen as increasingly important to Scotland’s bottom line as a whole.

According to the Scottish Government, Scotland’s low carbon market is forecast to rise to around £12 billion by 2015-16 – over 10 per cent of Scotland’s GDP. Overall jobs in the low carbon economy could rise from 70,000 to 130,000 by 2020 to become over 5% of the Scottish workforce.

Becoming a low carbon business is easy and the benefits are clear, but there’s no definitive rulebook on how to reduce your carbon footprint. Every business is different and it’s important to consider your individual circumstances when striving to go low carbon.

Small changes can lead to big improvements and huge savings. To get you started on the path to low carbon success there is a varied menu of support available; here’s a few I like:

Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise works in close partnership with the Carbon Trust, Zero Waste Scotland, Energy Savings Trust and Business Gateway to offer practical advice and assistance, helping you realise your company’s low carbon potential.

Free support ranges from workshops and training on business efficiency and Lean Management to masterclasses in innovation and one-to-one consultancy. Download the guide to see how you and your business can benefit from these services.

Sustainable Food & Drink
Sustainable Food & Drink is a joint venture between the European Development Fund and SEEKIT to help Scottish SMEs in the food and drink sector bolster their business competitiveness through effective management of carbon emissions.

The scheme provides free support to eligible businesses – often equivalent to up to eight days of private consultancy – covering carbon, energy, waste, and networking and collaboration. For more information on the scheme’s services and eligibility criteria visit the website.

Scottish Environmental Technology Network
SETN holds events to encourage discussion around environmental issues and helps connect clean technology businesses with Scotland’s research base. It also offers information and advice on such areas as green procurement and global markets and can provide seed funding through the SETN Innovation Grant. For more information pleae visit the SETN website.

For more information please get in touch with me at elizabeth.mcneil@scotent.co.uk.

On the Roadshow

The Enterprise Europe Network aims to help all companies, of all sizes, across Scotland. In this blog, Michelle Wemyss, tells us a little bit more about the very successful Highland Roadshows of 2010…and what to expect in 2011!

Last year I worked with Business Gateway to deliver a Roadshow for local business folk in the Highlands & Islands. We travelled to Aviemore, Wick, Fort William, Buckie, Dornoch, Skye and of course Inverness, and….despite the best efforts of the weather….we managed to run all the events with great success.

While planning these events, there was consensus with our lovely colleagues at Business Gateway that the Roadshow should focus more on the companies themselves, rather than the organisations hosting it. Part of this was to ensure that events were a PowerPoint free zone!

So the format went something like this…

Events kicked off at around 4pm with a mini trade fair. At this, companies had the opportunity to show their wares, network with other local businesses, and meet potential customers and suppliers. In advance of the event they were encouraged to fill out a profile form (detailing a bit about who they are, what they do etc) which was included in a catalogue that we circulated to attendees prior to the event – this ensured that people were able to turn up with a bit of a “hit list” of people they wanted to speak to or companies of interest. Basically, ensuring their networking was as focused as possible.

After the trade fair, there was a bit of a group discussion.

Here, we again wanted to let those attending see real life examples of companies who had already been helped by ourselves, the Gateway, or both. With that in mind, we approached companies with whom we had previously worked and asked them to come in, give a little testimonial and answer a few questions.

I should say that both the Business Gateway advisers and the Enterprise Europe team were also on hand to answer questions and contribute where appropriate – we weren’t just there for the free lunch….

Speaking of which….the day was finished off with a buffet supper and more networking until around 7pm.

I felt this structure created a relaxed atmosphere which really allowed attendees to focus on networking and interaction, and I’m pleased to say that the positive feedback was indicative of this.

The events were such a success that we are doing it all again this year!

The plan is to follow the same format, with a few additional experts involved in the group discussion.  For the first event we have Jill Fryer from Ledingham Chalmers and the procurement team from the Highland Council.

This time around the Roadshows will be visiting:

•    Thurso – 21 September
•    Skye – 5 October
•    Inverness – 19 October
•    Fort William – 3 November
•    Ullapool – 16 November
•    Elgin – 29 November

If it’s coming to a town near you and you would like to attend then please book on our website via those links above or, alternatively, call me (Michelle Wemyss) on 01463 715 400 or email me at mailto:enterprise.europe@highland-opportunity.com

How to become a Eurostar with the help of EEN!

The Enterprise Europe Network, offer a range of services to companies in Scotland, one of which is providing support to access European funding programmes. In this, our first blog entry, Anis Mourad, discusses the Eurostars Research and Development funding programme.

 

Since 2008 we have undertaken numerous activities to promote the European Commission’s R&D funding programmes including successfully running a number of events to promote the Framework Programme Seven (FP7) funding scheme - all of which have been well attended by organisations across Scotland. However, we recognise that FP7 isn’t for every company and so feel it is crucial to highlight the opportunities for Scottish SMEs that may exist in other programmes and areas.

At the end of March this year, calls opened under a programme which is dedicated for research performing SMEs - and is reasonably close to the market. The Eurostars programme is open to all sectors, with one of the main benefits that it takes a ‘bottom-up’ approach to project generation. By that, we mean that projects can address any technological area. Projects should aim at the development of a new product, process or service.

Another bonus, in my opinion, is that the application process is a lot simpler than that of FP7 - you only need two participants from two different Eurostars member countries to be in a consortium, unlike the three participants from three countries minimum of FP7. The single-stage, online application also led to one individual saying that "an FP7 application is like doing a degree where as a Eurostars application is like doing a Standard Grade" - or GSCE depending on where you come from in the UK!

The funding rates are also quite attractive with UK participants able to receive up to 50% of of their eligible costs up to a maximum grant of 300,000 EUR. Each applicant receives funding from their own national funding body, with the total amount of funding available from each country different - in the UK the money comes from the Technology Strategy Board, in France from their equivalent organisation and so on.

Having already worked with a plethora of Scottish companies to develop proposals, find partners and review applications, we are extremely keen to see more local SMEs getting engaged in European Funding. With that said, I encourage you to investigate Eurostars further, getting in touch if you wish to develop a proposal or have any questions about the mechanics or dynamics of the programme itself.

PS: For an informal but informative insight into the programme, check out our podcast on Eurostars. It even includes a dream sequence! http://bit.ly/qPvIri

For more information on Eurostars click here.

To contact me directly email: Anis.Mourad@scotent.co.uk