Brewing Innovative Ideas Roadshow: Rutland

Join us for an exciting day of innovation, collaboration, and inspiration at the Brewing Innovative Ideas Roadshow: Rutland. De Montfort University, University of Leicester, and Loughborough University, in partnership with Rutland County Council, are coming to your neighbourhood for a drop-in session for local businesses and organisations.

Discover how your business can benefit from working with local universities in various ways- whether it’s through student placements and internships, hiring graduates, consultancy services, professional development programs (CPD), or through collaborative research opportunities like Innovate-UK grant-funded Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs). One of the key highlights of the event will be information on the newly announced Rutland Innovative Businesses Support (RIBS) project and Innovation Vouchers, which are small grants that help businesses access academic expertise, specialised research, and facilities to drive innovation and R&D. The ten vouchers, valued up to £3,500 each, will be awarded to successful applicants, and provide a fantastic opportunity for SMEs to develop new products, services, or processes with university support.

You may have thought that the world of universities and business are far apart, that universities just provide degrees for students or that they are hard to navigate to find the areas of interest or opportunities that align to you. This event will showcase the ways that businesses of different sizes and at different stages can access the knowledge and facilities of your local universities. Our unique partnership with Rutland County Council enables us to hit the road, meeting you where you are.

Who should attend?
This drop-in session is open to all businesses in Rutland, Leicestershire, and surrounding areas, whether or not you've engaged with academic institutions before. If you're eager to tap into local expertise and resources, this drop-in roadshow is for you.

Event Structure
• 9:30 AM: Registration and refreshments
• 10:00 AM: Welcoming remarks from the three universities and Rutland County Council
• 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Drop-in opportunities for informal conversations over coffee and cake

Note: This is a drop-in session; attendees can arrive at a time suitable for them and they are not required to attend for the full morning

What you can gain:

• Discover collaborative opportunities with the three universities and leverage resources for business growth.
• Explore grant funding possibilities, including Innovate-UK KTPs.
• Network with fellow businesses and potential partners.
• Learn how you can access student and graduate talent from the three universities