Innovation workshops: no cost, high value

PAPI’s innovation workshops offer two days worth of business support to encourage business growth.

The Product and Process Innovation (PAPI) project supports businesses in Leeds City Region, York, and North Yorkshire to create innovative new products through the provision of grants and workshops. Delivered by the University of York, PAPI provides 40% grants of between £8,000 and £20,000 for the purchase of equipment which will create new products, services and jobs.

Innovation workshops: no cost, high value

The team at PAPI also deliver high-impact, free innovation workshops for businesses looking to thrive and innovate. They comprise two days worth of business support, in two parts, from top business coaches as well as bespoke mentoring sessions with innovation and business growth expert, Dr Jo North. PAPI have delivered 16 workshop programmes to 120 businesses in Yorkshire so far, ranging from new start-ups to established businesses looking to re-evaluate and re-energise their operations.

The aim of the workshop programme is to support businesses to innovate and grow, discover fresh ideas and turn innovative thinking into commercial reality, and are delivered in two parts.

Two days worth of support

Part one is a group session with like-minded business owners, and provides tools and insight into innovation techniques. The sessions encourage business owners to think in ways they’ve perhaps not considered before.

Part two is a range of ‘pick and mix’ 1.5 hour sessions, hosted by subject business experts. Topics include ‘how to do business with large organisations’, ‘how to create innovative online content’, ‘numbers and finance’, and much more. Following these sessions, Dr Jo North provides a one-to-one mentoring session, culminating in a detailed, bespoke innovation plan.

Recommended by businesses

Businesses in the region have faced unprecedented change during the past two years, and many are adapting to the ‘new normal’ by altering their business plans to ensure future profitability. PAPI workshops are perfect for businesses seeking help growing, innovating or just navigating the changing business landscape.

Andy Jenkin of Design for Performance Consultancy Ltd attended a PAPI workshop in 2021, and found participation valuable: “It’s not just the breadth of input and advice that makes the program so great - it’s the depth to which each expert facilitator goes to, and the discussions with other participants, that makes it so rich”.

Tina Harris, from Gingingers Ltd was similarly impressed: “I would highly recommend the team and the program, 5 days of fantastic content that will now shape my future.”.

Apply now for February 2022

The next PAPI workshops, for businesses in the Leeds City Region will take place on February 15th 2022 (part one) followed by sessions from March 7th-10th (part two). Demand is expected to be high for workshop places, so act quickly to apply for a place at www.papi.org.uk.

If you would like more information, please contact the team at: papi-innovation@york.ac.uk, call 01904 328076 or visit papi.org.uk. There is no charge to attend, but a short application form is required.

The PAPI project is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by the University of York, in partnership with The Northern Powerhouse.