How SMEs Can Leverage the UK Government’s Sustainability Agenda for Growth

The UK government’s renewed focus on sustainability presents SMEs with an unprecedented opportunity to grow and thrive. From access to capital and job creation to simplified regulations and consumer demand for eco-friendly products, there are numerous ways SMEs can benefit from the government’s sustainability agenda.

Inspiring Innovation here in Wigan Borough

Start-up businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators of Wigan Borough - it’s time to get inspired. A support service tailored to your needs and circumstances is on offer through a Wigan Council scheme and could take your enterprise to the next level.The Inspiring Innovation programme launched earlier this year, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and dozens of businesses – from start-ups through to established firms - are already signed up.

Maxine Adam Joins Inventya Board as Non-Executive Director

We are delighted to welcome Maxine to our board," stated Aldo De Leonibus, CEO of Inventya. "Her expertise in business growth and innovation will be a tremendous asset as we continue to support our clients in navigating the complexities of scaling and achieving sustainable growth. Maxine's proven track record and deep understanding of the innovation ecosystem will enhance our strategic direction and client offerings.

Choosing the Right European Funding Instrument: EIC Accelerator vs. EIC Pathfinder

Both the EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder are great opportunities for companies and researchers, with the ultimate goal of fostering innovation within the European Union. By understanding the unique features and purposes of each funding instrument, you can strategically choose the one that aligns best with your project's stage, goals, and funding requirements. Leveraging these instruments effectively can accelerate your journey from groundbreaking research to market leadership. Shape

3 Top Tips When Scaling Your Business

As your business grows, maintaining efficiency becomes critical. Streamline processes, automate where possible, and ensure your operations can handle increased volume without compromising quality. Key actions include

Simplify CRM with Bigin by Zoho: The Ultimate CRM Solution for R&D-Focused Small Businesses

At Inventya, we can be your partners in implementing Bigin into your operations, setting your team up with a system tailored to your bespoke business needs while ensuring scalability with your business growth. In essence, our Zoho and digital growth experts will guide you through effective implementation, leaving your team to concentrate on what it does best.

Navigating Early-Stage Funding, Financing and Growth: Insights from Phil Crosland, Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist

As most entrepreneurs and innovators are well aware, transforming a concept into a market-ready product is loaded with challenges, especially regarding funding and financing this process. The insights I gleaned from a recent conversation with an expert from the Innovate UK Business Growth Programme, Phil Crosland, shed light on the complicated path many early-stage companies find themselves on, emphasising the critical distinction between growth and scale-up phases and exploring strategies to navigate these challenges.

Navigating the risks when scaling a business

Despite the inherent risks, scaling a business quickly is not necessarily a recipe for failure. With careful planning, strategic decision-making, and a focus on sustainability, businesses can mitigate these risks and achieve long-term success. Prioritising quality over quantity, maintaining a customer-centric approach, and ensuring financial prudence are essential principles to guide the scaling process. Moreover, businesses should strive for organic growth that aligns with their core values, vision, and capabilities, rather than succumbing to external pressures or unrealistic expectations.

The EIC Pathfinder Programme 2024 – An Overview

If your project has the potential to significantly impact the technological landscape and societal progress, Inventya can be your partner. Our expertise in helping companies write and submit European funding applications positions us uniquely to support your ambitions. We're here to assist in aligning your project with the most suitable EIC Pathfinder opportunity,

Strategies for Sustainable Growth when Scaling Your Business

Scaling a business is an exciting but challenging endeavour. It's the phase where your company transitions from a small operation to a larger, more efficient organisation capable of handling increased demand and expanding its market reach. However, scaling isn't just about growing bigger; it's about growing smarter and ensuring that your business remains sustainable in the long run. In this blog, I'll explore some of the best strategies for scaling your business effectively.

The Role of Case Management A Seamless Client Journey for B2B Companies: From Pre-Sales to Post-Sales

In today's competitive landscape, business-to-business (B2B) companies are constantly tasked with refining their operations and elevating the level of service they provide to their clients. A critical aspect of achieving this balance is the effective management of the client journey, from the initial engagement in the sales pipeline to the delivery of services and beyond. Inventya, leveraging the capabilities of Zoho software, has created custom solutions that address this very challenge, ensuring a seamless, efficient, and profitable client management process.

Spring Budget 2024 – Direct and Indirect Opportunities for SMEs.

The Budget's focus on data utilisation, digital infrastructure enhancement, and the proliferation of preventative actions through technology highlights the potential for SMEs to contribute to and benefit from government plans to modernise public services. This could involve the development of AI-driven applications, digital platforms, and specialised technology applications that support early intervention and diagnosis in healthcare, among other areas.

We're Proud to Announce Our Spot on the FT1000 List!

With pride, we are thrilled to announce that Inventya has ascended nearly 100 places from last year, landing at the 827th spot on the prestigious FT1000 Europe’s Fastest-Growing Companies 2024 list, as published online by Statista. This achievement is a testament to our commitment to innovation, excellence, and the positive impact we strive to create in our industry.

Inventya Launch Digital Growth Ecosystem for SMEs as Affiliate Zoho Partners

Inventya are proud to announce its affiliate partnership with Zoho, a global leading CRM solutions provider. This strategic affiliation marks an important milestone in Inventya's commitment to providing SMEs with best-in-class solutions for business growth and market access.

Credit Data Research and Inventya launch 360° Financial Plan powered by Credit Passport Plan in the UK

Empowering SMEs for financial prosperity, the strategic partnership between Credit Data Research (CDR) and Inventya plugs a significant gap in financial tools for SMEs. Combining Inventya's extensive network and operational expertise with Credit Data Research's innovative technology, particularly in Open Banking applications, this collaboration is a definitive game-changer.

Invitation to Tender: Business Data and Insights Platform

Inventya is a consultancy that supports innovators to grow and scale by commercialising new products, services and innovation. Supporting clients to secure future funding and finance, to enter new markets, protect their IP and ensure their projects comply with funders and stakeholder requirements

Would You Lend Your Business Money? 3 Crucial Questions Businesses Must Ask Before Applying for a Loan

In the UK, the business financing scene is witnessing a marked transformation. The year 2022 saw UK SMEs secure bank loans totalling a noteworthy £65.1 billion, a 12.8% rise from the previous year, indicating an escalated reliance on external financial sources. A significant 36% of these SMEs have been leaning on such financing, typically borrowing over £25,000.

EIC Accelerator Challenges 2024

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has unveiled its 2024 Work Programme, allocating over €1.2 billion for strategic technologies and scaling up companies that can have a major impact on EU objectives. This funding is primarily aimed at SMEs and start-ups, especially in the realm of “deep tech” innovations. Here’s an overview of the key challenge areas:

Securing Investment in an Adverse Climate: Strategies for Preparing, Targeting and Submitting your Pitch

In the current economic climate, attempting to secure investment is an understandably daunting task. For entrepreneurs and business leaders, the landscape is indisputably challenging, but with informed strategies and preparation, it's possible to find and secure support from the ideal investors for your business proposition.

5 Business Resolutions In 2024 - New Year, New Business Priorities

As we step into 2024, another increasingly essential component of business strategy is sustainability. As the necessity for increased environmental stewardship mounts, many companies are taking proactive steps. However, 2023 has also witnessed the rising issue of ‘Greenwashing’, which is a serious risk if companies aren’t willing to implement sustainability into the core of their business strategy. PR/Marketing-related sustainability stunts are becoming easier and easier to spot, and this may be worse for your business reputation in the long run than doing nothing at all.

The ERC's Call for Proposal Writing Integrity in the AI Era: The Indispensable Role of Human Expertise

While generative AI (GenAI) is becoming a staple tool across industries and has great potential in a wide variety of use cases, using it for grant writing has many limitations. These issues aren’t only around the integrity of your application, but also around the ability to submit a compelling, well-reasoned and persuasive proposal. In other words, AI is most probably jeopardising your chances of securing funding, particularly if it's completely displacing the human element.

Celebrating Jardin Living Ltd's BCorp Certification!

Celebrating this accomplishment, Kavita Basi remarked: ‘ As a small business owner, being neurodiverse and achieving this great milestone of BCORP certified has been a testament to the true meaning of why I started my company. It's so rewarding to be recognised and has given a boost to strive for more innovation and keep improving our carbon footprint.’ Kavita Basi

Innovation Spotlight at Inventya

The tech landscape is buzzing with pioneering collaborations and breakthroughs that herald a new era across multiple industries. Here's a closer look at some of the latest advancements

AI in Music: A Shift in Creation and Consumption

The convergence of the music industry—a stronghold of raw human emotion and creativity—with Artificial Intelligence might initially seem paradoxical. But this fusion is not about AI overshadowing the artist's touch. Instead, it's about augmenting it. By enhancing creativity with data-driven insights, AI offers musicians a broader palette and listeners a richer experience. Recognising the burgeoning possibilities

Beyond the Balance Sheet: The Importance of Business Value Maximisation

Business value isn't just about numbers on a balance sheet. It's an amalgamation of an organisation's tangible assets, brand reputation, customer loyalty, and the potential for future growth. While assets like machinery, property, and cash reserves do contribute to a business's value, there's a whole spectrum of other elements at play.

From Tradition to Tech: The New Horizon of Professional & Financial Services

The digital era is reshaping industries, and professional and financial services aren't spared. From AI in legalities to revamped insurance strategies, we're witnessing massive change… In our newest piece, we dissect: Blockchain's game-changing role in transactions. AI & ML's dominance in financial insights. Ethical challenges surfacing in the tech-finance world. And more!

Innovation Fuelled by R&D Tax Credits & Patent Box Scheme

Both R&D tax credits and the Patent Box aim to boost innovation in UK businesses, albeit in different ways. The former provides tax relief for relevant R&D expenses, while the latter encourages commercialisation by offering a reduced Corporation Tax rate on profits derived from patented inventions.

Generative AI - Redefining Creativity and Efficiency in a Digital Age

Generative AI: Redefining Creativity and Efficiency in a Digital Age Can a machine paint a masterpiece, write a novel, or compose a symphony? With generative AI, the boundaries of creativity are being redefined. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving innovation across various sectors, with generative AI taking centre stage. As a prime example, ChatGPT, powered by generative AI, boasts an impressive user base of 100 million within months of its launch. This is just the tip of the iceberg; let's dive deeper into the transformative potential of generative AI.

Tips for Driving Business Growth: Unleashing Your Potential as an Entrepreneur

With the right approach and a clear plan, you can pave the way for sustainable growth. In this article, we'll provide you with essential tips tailored to UK entrepreneurs who are eager to stay ahead in the world of innovation.

The Lonely Landscape of Entrepreneurship: Unravelling Complexities and Overcoming Hurdles

Entrepreneurship: An exhilarating, rewarding, and at times, solitary journey. Let's shine a light on the less discussed challenges, and how to transform them into fuel for growth. Dive into our latest piece and discover how, together, we can navigate the complex world of innovation.

The Camel Business"​: Thriving in Any Business Climate

Starting, running, and building a business can be challenging, especially so during uncertain times. However, having the right mindset and approach can make all the difference. That's why we want to share with you the idea of a "Camel Business."

Cultivating Creativity: Pioneering Sustainable Business Growth Through an Innovation-Centric Culture

Imagine a business setting where creative ideas bloom, perceived risks metamorphose into opportunities, and innovation is the very lifeblood of every operation. This isn’t a mere fantasy; it's the lived reality for organisations that have mastered the art of cultivating a culture of innovation. Far from just another business buzzword, an innovation culture permeates every corner of an organisation’s activities, inspiring employees across the board to challenge, create, and pursue ideas.

Shifting Gears: Driving into the Future of Electric Vehicles (EVs)

The spotlight on sustainable solutions grows brighter each day, accelerating the transition of electric vehicles (EVs) from niche to norm. This groundbreaking shift from fossil fuels to renewable electricity marks not just a change of power, but a revolution in our conception of mobility. Let's illuminate the key factors driving the future of EVs – their rise, the hurdles ahead, technological innovations, and the environmental consequences.

Inventya Strengthens Scottish Connections with New Office in Edinburgh

Our new office is situated at CBC House in Edinburgh marking an important milestone in our ongoing growth strategy and our deepening ties with the Scottish innovation ecosystem. Our Co-Founder and Innovation Director, Valerie De Leonibus, expressed her enthusiasm for the expansion, "Scotland has a thriving technology and innovation scene and we're incredibly excited to be part of it. Our new office in Edinburgh will allow us to work even more closely with Scottish companies to maximise their growth potential and accelerate their commercialisation process.

Green Hydrogen: Unleashing a Sustainable Future and Empowering Visionary Entrepreneurs

Green hydrogen is hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, or hydropower. It represents a clean, sustainable alternative to conventional hydrogen production methods, which rely heavily on fossil fuels. Through a process called electrolysis, water is split into hydrogen and oxygen, with the hydrogen then being stored and transported for various applications.

The Human Element: Balancing Technology and Empathy in a Hyperconnected World

In our hyperconnected world, technology has transformed the way we communicate and interact with each other. From smartphones and social media to video calls and virtual reality, we rely on technology to connect with others, access information, and streamline our tasks. While technology and its evolution have undoubtedly brought many benefits, it has also led to concerns about the erosion of the human element in our interactions.

Unlocking the Power of International Collaboration: How Working with Partners Abroad Can Benefit Your R&D Activities

It's no secret that we're living in a hyperconnected world, where challenges can feel overwhelming as we huddle behind our screens. However, collaboration is the key that unlocks the door to enduring solutions, and we've witnessed this first-hand during the COVID-era. Global communities united to contain the spread, develop vaccines, and establish effective treatments. This joint effort played a crucial role in restoring a semblance of order amidst the chaos.

What to Consider When Choosing Your Grant Writer – the Importance of the Human Touch

Over the past two decades of writing grant applications, I've experienced the transformation of government funding. When InnovateUK was still called the 'Technology Strategy Board,' many businesses were unaware of available grants, and some were hesitant, thinking that such non-repayable funding was too good to be true.

Navigating the Ethical Crossroads: Striking the Balance between Grant Compliance and Innovation

In a world where market disruption and system modernisation are the norm, grant-funded projects face the challenge of balancing compliance and innovation. On the one hand, strict regulations ensure ethical conduct and resource allocation, while on the other, innovation is essential for solving complex problems and driving progress.

Unlocking the Potential of Sustainable Technologies: How R&D Tax Credits Can Pave the Way

Unlock the potential of sustainable technologies and pave the way towards a greener future with R&D Tax Credits. Learn how this government incentive can help your business reduce costs, improve cash flow, and drive innovation for environmental sustainability.

Common mistakes to avoid when writing a grant proposal

Key to writing a good grant proposal is to be diligent, focused and persistent. By avoiding common mistakes like lack of clarity, unrealistic budgeting, and failure to meet the funder’s priorities, you can increase your chances of getting grant approvals. Carefully plan your proposal while adhering to the submission guidelines and stay true to your project vision to bring your project to life.

Accelerate Your Small Business Growth with ChatGPT: Exploiting AI Language Models

ChatGPT (Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer) has become a viral sensation in recent months. It seems that everyone is talking about its abilities and how it’s going to change the world and displace numerous jobs. But what is it really and how can small businesses and entrepreneurs take advantage of it?

Net Zero and the Circular Economy: Navigating Uncertainty and Embracing Long-Term Resilience through Innovation Grant Funding

As you may already know, the UK has set a huge goal for itself - to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This is a monumental undertaking, requiring public and private sector cooperation, extensive research & development alongside huge investment into reshaping industrial and commercial practices. Let's face it, the industries that have driven our economic growth have also been major contributors to our nation's greenhouse gas emissions. And that's why the concept of the circular economy is so important in our journey towards net zero.

Inventya partners with HOST to help SMEs and start-ups access funding and accelerate innovation

Inventya, is partnering with HOST, the Home of Skills & Technology in MediaCity, to provide diverse SMEs and start-up businesses with access to funding, commercialisation and internationalisation support to accelerate growth and innovation.

Stretchline CLPD Project Press Release

Stretchline UK are working in partnership with an East Midlands based consortium made up of Laser Optical Engineering, Loughborough University and Cresco Innovation on a project funded by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Energy Entrepreneurs Fund.

Inventya announces a strategic partnership with Credit Data Research

Inventya Ltd is delighted to announce our strategic partnership with Credit Data Research Ltd. This partnership will allow us to further support our clients to further accelerate their growth thanks to Credit Data Research and Credit Passport®.

Inventya partners with Swoop to provide enhanced expertise to accelerate the growth of our respective clients

Inventya Ltd is delighted to announce our strategic partnership with Swoop Funding. This partnership will allow us to combine our expertise to support each other’s clients and broaden our proposition to further support small businesses with critical services.

Food innovation in dairy and meat alternatives - Market Summary

Within the last decade, the meat industry has faced a rising challenges related to business, ethical and environmental concerns. Many global food corporations have also began shifting into plant-based protein due to increased pressure from food start-ups and changes in consumer behaviour .

Are you ready? Inventya’s guide to Technology Readiness Levels:

If you’ve ever applied or considered applying for an Innovate UK or Horizon Europe grant, you’ve probably seen references to Technology Readiness Levels (TRL).

Congratulations, you’ve secured an Innovate UK grant! What next?

One of the questions that we’re frequently asked is how quickly can our project start? If we receive an email confirming that our application has been successful one week, can we launch the project the next?

filling to word count

Whilst many applicants do struggle to restrict text to within these confines, others can wrestle with the issue of filling up the available space and need just as much support to maximise their text and boost the strength of applications.

Inventya Grants Limited announces Merger with Cresco Innovation Limited

Inventya Grants Limited are pleased to announce that we have completed a merger with Cresco Innovation Limited.

Less is more… Our top 10 tips to editing back grant applications

When applying for grants, applicants are faced with looming word count restrictions, which can sometimes feel particularly challenging to meet.

Collaborate to Innovate

There’s a lot to be gained from collaboration, in this article Carmel Meredew takes an in depth look at how it can help you to stand out from competing applicants.

Inventya makes progress as it continues its sustainability journey

As the eyes of the world focus on Climate Change with COP26 this week, sustainability remains at the core of many conversations and debates within many businesses. Like many businesses we are not only supporting our clients delivering programmes to help meet the needs of the renewable energy supply chain and access contract opportunities but are also working internally to reduce our own CO2 emissions and effect positive changes across our day-to-day activity. We hope to continue our journey into becoming a more sustainable business and will attempt to the best of our ability to uphold any regulations to aid in the fight against climate change.

Innovators - How specialist market research will vastly improve your product or service commercialisation strategy

Market research typically covers addressable and obtainable markets and competitor research, but it often does not provide entrepreneurs and innovators with sufficient technical depth to be able to assess markets effectively.

Groundbreakers, Conservatives, Casuals and Traditionalists – a study of SME Market Segmentation

The 4 market segments of SMEs and what they mean for innovation

Invitation to Tender Documents

Timescales for Innovate UK grants - Hold your horses!

Top 5 Funding Calls for July

Approaches to SME segmentation for innovation

Stroke and Technology competition - addressing the challenges faced in stroke care

Women in Innovation – reaching untapped audiences with inclusivity

On 15th June, we hosted yet another monthly Women in Innovation event – this time we talked all about reaching untapped audiences with inclusivit

Bid Writing Advice from Inventya

R&D Tax Credits with Inventya

Fund Her North

Top 5 funding calls for June

Women in Innovation – how to interpret health, women and ageing

Insights: Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging (SSPP) ISCF Challenge

Could a critical friend strengthen your grant application?

Business growth stages

Inventya work with businesses at all stages of their journey; from start-up to scaleup! Alongside our broad range of services including R&D tax credits, bid writing and funding.

How does market segmentation work with SMEs?

Women in Innovation – formulating a strategy and identifying change.

Top 5 funding calls for May

Have you considered European funding?

Top 5 Funding Calls - April

Inventya's Bid Writing Team recommend which Funding Calls you should apply for in April

YouTube: an inclusive platform, an audience for everything.

What does the new 2021 budget mean for me?

Each year, the chancellor’s report of the annual budget outlines the government’s plans for the economy, marking a critical moment in the business year to strategize for the year ahead. And this year, more than most, business-owners have been at the edge of their seats to learn of any new developments which may affect them.‍

Top 5 Funding Calls to apply for in March 2021

App and smart sensors empower people to better manage their mental health

Inventya were a project partner and provided Commercialisation and Intellectual Property support

Internationalisation - From local to global - 5 things to know before going international

The Top Funding Calls to apply for in February

Our Top Funding Calls for February include the Smart Open Grant Funding Programme, Improving Hip Fracture Outcomes, Commercialising Quantum Technologies and Improving Multimorbidity Acute Care Using Data Analytics.

Young Innovators Award - Benjamin Ndubuisi

Exploiting the Fourth Industrial Revolution

As we enter 2021 we are already seeing enormous changes in the way we work as a consequence of the COVID19 crisis.

Top 5 Funding Calls - January 2021

As we enter a New Year, it is time to start thinking about your business goals for 2021 and how to achieve them. We have compiled our Top 5 Funding Calls for January to help you and your business to highlight and shortlist the possible funding opportunities for you this year. 

Inventya’s bid writing client, Meta Additive secures £1.2M Innovate UK Smart Grant

Inventya’s bid writing client, Meta Additive secures £1.2 Innovate UK Smart Grant

December's Top 5 Funding Calls

As we approach the final few weeks of 2020, we’re recommending our Top 5 Funding Calls for December. Whilst many of these have closing dates in January, we always recommend giving yourself plenty of time to apply.

5 suggestions about how to plan your 2021 Marketing Budget 

Intellectual Property: Is IP relevant to your business & should you do something about it?

Whether rapidly growing and needing to ration shareholder investments or bootstrapping your self-funded Start-Up the challenge is no different; what is the point of spending lots of hard-earned cash on attorneys and registration fees? 

Introducing Our Innovate UK Funded Services 

At Inventya we can help you to grow your business with our one-to-one support… Leverage our expertise in raising finance, exploiting strategic and international networks, and commercialising new products and services.

Helping clients bounce back post-Covid-19 – an opportunity

The effects of Covid-19, and the resulting mass furloughing, has sent shockwaves throughout the whole world. This has affected the economic landscape of every region, including an increased uncertainty for many SMEs.

Inventya and Think Beyond answer how to strategically plan marketing in 2021

Women in Innovation – Having the Confidence to Lead Others 

Are you a woman in innovation who is looking to develop and up-skill in the area of leadership? If the answer is yes, then this informative article is for you!

Top 5 Funding Calls - November

There’s lots of great Funding Calls closing before the end of the year, and our Bid Writing team have listed their Top 5 Funding Calls for November.

INNOVACC – The Project Partner Answer

Find how INNOVACC could be the new solution for your business

Financial management– making things simpler for innovators

Financial management– a new direction?

October's Top 5 Funding Calls

Women in Innovation Awards

The Women in Innovation awards close in mid-October and they're a great opportunity to get support for your innovative businesses