Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation from Petroc on the Business Innovation Centre Project.

Representatives from Petroc were present to provide a presentation on the Business Innovation Centre Project.

This included the following summary information:

·         The centre was called the ‘Centre of Technology & Innovation Excellence’ or ‘COTIE’ for short.

·         Refurbished 7 rooms for business activity including, hot-desking, conferences/expos, creative spaces, meeting pod’s.

·         Created a new link bridge to creative spaces.

·         Created a new and separate IT infrastructure.

·         Purchased a wide range of equipment to support the engagement project.

·         They wanted to work with businesses who had innovative new ideas, new products/service, wanted to be more proactive or increase revenue, wanted to create more jobs or safeguard ones at risk, share knowledge and participate in research and development.

·         They had delivered 16 engagements or training sessions/events and much more was planned from September onwards including digital skills training for businesses, support for business startups, Expo’s and events and opportunities for businesses to use creative spaces.

·         A vast array of technology had been purchased to support the help offered to businesses including the latest 3D photography technology, the latest 360 degree filming equipment, the very latest in extended reality headsets. As well as this, they had also invested in 10 Dell laptops, 2 gaming spec PC’s. 3 27” monitors, 15 Microsoft Office 365 licences, 2 x 75” iiyama smart screens and 1 meeting owl.

·         Upcoming events included the ‘Business Innovation Showcase’ on 11 July which would run all day and allow interested parties to drop in at any point during the day to find out how the programme could support them. The day would feature a tour of the Innovation Hub, free learning workshops, technology demonstrations and a virtual reality experience.

Discussion took place with regard to:

·         Local businesses were actively marketed and Eventbrite used to market training courses.

·         This was a project receiving funding specifically for businesses in Mid Devon and whilst this was the priority they were also reaching out to businesses in the wider community.

·         They were working very closely with the Federation of Small Businesses.

·         Different social media platforms were used to promote activities.

·         They also had links with Exeter University who had also launched their own Incubator Hub.

·         Despite what had been achieved so far the centre was still very much operating at an early stage of its development and much more was hoped for in the future.

·         Voluntary groups could be helped, for example, the Scouts, if there was a business need.

·         COTIE had a very good working relationship with the Economic Development Team. Helpful collaboration and referrals were working well.

·         Since a key priority of the Group had been to support and encourage Incubator space start up activities, it was requested that it received a case study at a future meeting, particularly one that had been a start-up and which had progressed to be a success.

·         It was confirmed that COTIE were focussing on certain core areas such as Agritech, Engineering, Digital and Food Manufacturing. However, support could be offered to other types of business, for example, a café,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9