Connecting small businesses to innovation and supply chain opportunities.

Want to access supply chain opportunities and secure new contracts? Tees Valley Business Challenge will support small and medium-sized businesses in the Tees Valley to secure access to new market opportunities and to develop new products and services with a direct route to market.

It will also reduce the barriers to entry to innovation and help you get connected with large organisations in priority industries.

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What’s Involved?

Businesses taking part in the Tees Valley Business Challenge will be able to access the following:

1

Innovation challenges leading to new products and services

A series of five innovation challenges will be set for local businesses to tackle within the priority sectors of healthcare, manufacturing, social innovation and digital.

Using one-to-one support, grant funding and a workshop programme, SMEs will be supported to develop new products and services in response to the challenges.

2

Supply chain opportunities leading to new markets

A range of support activities will prepare businesses to access supply chain opportunities.

This will include collaboration with major UK projects, specialist support via in-depth reviews to develop action plans, as well as grants towards external support to address barriers preventing access to supply chain opportunities.

3

Capacity building in SMEs to prepare for future opportunities

Through a series of workshops, tailored one-to-one support, peer learning and access to resources, businesses will be better prepared to access future opportunities to work with large organisations, in particular within health and care.

Taking part will also help your team to develop additional skills in innovation and knowledge of how to access future supply chain opportunities

The Tees Valley Business Challenge is open to businesses based in the Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton, Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland areas). It is open to businesses, including social enterprises, operating in all sectors.

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About Tees Valley Business Challenge

Tees Valley Business Challenge is receiving funding under the UK Community Renewal Fund. It aims to strengthen innovation maturity in the Tees Valley economy, build resilience for post-Covid economic recovery and unlock growth potential.

The Tees Valley Business Challenge is being delivered through a  partnership between Academic Health Science Network, RTC North and Edge Innovation, on behalf of Tees Valley Combined Authority and Tees Valley Business.