"From a slow start (delays in contacting and mobilisation effectively wiped out the first year of a two year period) the ENIW consortium, covering England, Northern Ireland and Wales achieved 53 % of its target having helped 430 companies. If one adds in those companies supported who did not quite finish their interventions before 31/12/16, then this jumps to 86% of target (691 companies). The impact of this support has been varied as one might expect for innovation activities which can cover a broad spectrum of supporting interventions, over and above the coaching provided under the KAM service. To extract a few illustrative highlights:
In just one impact category (helped with fundraising) , one partner reported activity around grants/crowdfunding campaigns/ pitch decks and training with at least 20 businesses. They also introduced to relevant investor contacts and supported with due diligence, which has has resulted in over £2,700,000 being raised across their clients. These funds are being used to expand teams and bring new products to market.
Another partner reported client testimonials such as:
""the best investment and most rewarding use of our time that we have spent toward growing our business”
And as outlined by another client’s EMIC advisor:
“The use of the IMP3rove Innovation Benchmark got the Directors to think together about the way forward. The [product] is now in volume production with additional staff having been recruited. Work having been done on their marketing strategy, sales are very strong and the company is currently buying new premises reflecting their profitability and confidence going forward”
Although, given the relatively short time the service has been operational, this is a more typical summary of client impact:
“We have seen a good increase in sales as a result of the [EIMC intervention] on one particular site; anticipating improved market share and hence increased turnover from internet sales in particular. It is anticipated this will result in increased turnover and allow the company to recruit more staff.”
In terms of KAM support, the CoachCom database shows that we have brokered in 146 coaches, the vast majority of whom carried out high level business coaching assignments: 60% of which covered either product offering or customer insight themes (the balance being process or distribution themes). In terms of client size 55% of SME Beneficiaries in the territory are classified as Micro (0-9 employees) 74% of whom are characterised as either seed or project-to-project stage (i.e. not ready to scale yet) , and so significant impact will necessarily flow through in later downstream activities in future years as data collection continues.
Where we have solid data it has contributed dozens of jobs; helped clients become more focused, efficient and innovative; and able to absorb and reuse the skills we have embedded with them on an ongoing basis. In terms of finance the service has significantly contributed to an overall total of £45M in funding and finance sourced by clients with our help, via the combined COSME and H2020 integrated service offering, which is perhaps a better measure of an integrated service than any individual service line activity.
"
