Future Industry

This project closed on 30 June 2008 a summary of the final report will appear here shortly.

The Future Industry project is an initiative developed through the Designer Forum, as part of EMTEX Ltd, aimed at supporting new business start-ups and existing small to medium sized businesses within the East Midlands Objective 2 area through a flexible package of 'hands-on' business support and access to technology / incubator provision.

Assistance is available within:

# Individual & communal workspace with access to the latest ICT provision including unlimited broadband Internet connections, technology databases, and identified sources of market, innovation, and financial information

# Access to resources and equipment i.e. scanning, photocopying, specialist software, as well as the facility to develop business plans, financial forecasts & formulate ideas within the 'pre-business' stage under expert direction & support

# A dedicated specialist to assist with day-to-day and long-term business planning to ensure business growth & survival

# A full programme of specialist support (both on a one-to-one, group & online basis) in the fields of ICT, E-commerce, Product Innovation, Legal Skills, Environmental Issues, Design Protection & Copyright, Sales & Marketing, Accounting, Production Management, Negotiating Skills etc

# Secure online 'business' community whereby companies can share best practice, new market opportunities, develop business plans & financial forecasts and sources of finance / support, as well as, regular e-mail bulletins on new opportunities, innovative working practices and funding possibilities

# Complete feasibility studies providing a forward plan of products & services on offer, highlighting new working & production processes that could be adopted, new technological developments aimed at sustainable growth, new markets and product innovation

# Assistance with accessing and identifying funding programmes and signposting to support available through partner organizations

Support is available from the 8th October 2002 to 30 June 2008 for eligible SMEs within the ERDF Objective 2 area that will create new & additional employment or safeguard existing jobs by accessing this initiative.

For further information on this project please contact the Designer Forum:

EMTEX Ltd (Designer Forum), Designer Forum Studio, 69-73 Lower Parliament Street, Nottingham, NG1 3BB, T: 0115 9115339, F: 0115 9115345, E: enquiries@design-online.net