Cumbria Innovations Platform is providing a brand new workshop for small Cumbrian businesses struggling to allow time for innovative thinking. The workshop, at the North Lakes Hotel, Penrith on May 2, is the first of its kind for event organiser, Sarah Allison.
The workshop, developed in partnership with Lucy Harrison of the Harrison Network, has been designed to help businesses create the space in which innovative thinking happens, using a number of different tools that business owners/managers can test out and take away to use in their own organisation.
Having worked with small businesses for several years Sarah understands the challenges of taking time away from operations to think about the next new product or service improvement. Yet it is crucial to success and growth.
“Larger companies can employ R&D teams to seek out and develop the next innovation, but in a small business there’s the risk that owners and managers don’t allow themselves that time. And they often don’t have the time to think about innovation in a structured way.”
The workshop will give the delegates a creative space to think about new ideas and how they want their business to develop. There will be practical coaching skills to help them engage, empower, influence and listen.
Sarah says: “I want to help business owners or managers realise the importance of innovative thinking both for themselves and for their teams. It’s an opportunity to give those smaller businesses and sole traders the tools and techniques to support innovative thinking.”
She adds: “If we don’t take the time to observe what’s happening within our sectors and don’t take time to think about our longer term customer needs, we are in danger of stagnation.”
The workshop is taking place at the North Lakes Hotel and Spa at Penrith on May 2, and includes lunch, refreshments and networking opportunities.
