We provide expert advice, a supportive centre team and other external resources, so you can keep adapting and reaching your goals.
Network partners
Essex county council
Essex County Council is the county council that governs the non-metropolitan county of Essex in England. It has 75 councillors, elected from 70 divisions, and is currently controlled by the Conservative Party. It contributed £2m to the funding of the Innovation Centre Knowledge Gateway.
Colchester Borough Council
Colchester Ultraready is the official business website for Colchester. Whether you are looking to locate here and need information to help make a business case, have an existing business here looking for advice about growth or operating your business or looking to start a new venture this site can help.
Technation
Tech Nation empowers ambitious tech entrepreneurs to grow faster through growth programmes, digital entrepreneurship skills, a visa scheme for digital skills, and by championing the UK’s digital sector through data, stories and media campaigns. To find out more contact Thea Goodluck, Entrepreneur Engagement Manager for the East of England at theagoodluck@technation.io
Let’s Do Business Group
Let’s Do Business Group is a leading provider of business support and finance across the South East and East of England. Let’s Do Business Finance, the finance arm of Let’s Do Business Group is here to support start ups and established businesses looking to grow with funding available up to £150k.
Leading Edge Only
Oxford Innovation has an exciting partnership with Leading Edge Only (LEO), the world’s largest Global Innovation Platform. Operating in over 120 countries, LEO connects innovative fast-growth start-ups & scale-ups to corporations seeking the latest innovative technologies, products, services or expertise – corporates such as IBM, Fujitsu & Walgreens Boots Alliance. This is a free service for those customers who are seeking to get their solutions and expertise in-front of major corporations.
Beauhurst
Beauhurst is a searchable database of the UK’s fastest-growing businesses, plus the funds and accelerators that back them. OI has a subscription to the Beauhurst platform, which lets us track 32,000+ companies across the country, from early-stage start-ups to established scaleups. Using Beauhurst we can find comprehensive information on customers’ competitors, comparable companies, sources of funding and grants.
visa scheme for digital skills, and by championing the UK’s digital sector through data, stories and media campaigns.
Funding partners
EIRA
EIRA (Enabling Innovation: Research to Application) is a consortium of seven universities and colleges in the East of England that supports innovation in the region by providing businesses with access to academic expertise, specialist facilities and funding opportunities. This ground-breaking project offers knowledge exchange across three key areas: artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and digital creative.
Some of the support EIRA can offer your business includes Innovation Vouchers, Research and Development Grants, Start-up Microfinance and Innovation Internships. More recently, EIRA have launched the Enabling Recovery Fund scheme, which enables businesses to respond to the coronavirus, or support those looking to overcome current business challenges. If you would like to find out more, get in touch with us through the EIRA website.
British Business Bank
The British Business Bank Finance Hub is designed to help businesses understand the financial landscape and ultimately access the right finance for their growth potential. It’s an independent, impartial digital hub designed to raise awareness of the different types of finance available for growing UK businesses. Explore finance options and find funding to suit your business.
Innovate UK
Innovate UK drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base. Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation and funds the Enterprise Europe Network, the Knowledge Transfer Network, to provide the advice and support that businesses need to succeed.