University News Last updated 19 January 2011
Birmingham City University is urging regional companies to join a dedicated business networking group offering free advice and support.
Interiors & Lifestyle Futures comprises three teams of dedicated business support and expertise and is open to all companies from SMEs to largescale organisations working in the West Midland’s interiors and lifestyle markets.
Design Knowledge Network and the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre based within Birmingham Institute of Art and Design and CIF in Stoke offer a range of services, from business improvement workshops and support for company collaborations in pursuit of commercial opportunities, to seminars in marketing, branding and product development.
All support is fully-funded by Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund until 2012. In 2010 Interiors & Lifestyle Futures worked with 90 companies and a number of successful collaborations have already resulted, including a group of jewellery and giftware manufacturers working together to develop a shared stand for a trade event and another group forming a contract interiors project aimed at winning bigger contracts and sharing best practice.
Kathryn Burns, DKN Project Director, said: “In today’s difficult economic climate, it is essential companies stay one step ahead. Interiors & Lifestyle Futures can help do just that. It’s an excellent opportunity to pool resources, expertise and share best practice. There are real advantages to be gained in organisations finding ways to work together in the short and long term.”
Peter Wright, Technical Director, at domestic interiors’ company Strata Group, has already been benefitting from the expertise of the project. He said: “Above all else I found the project most helpful in the coming together with individuals from all aspects of various industries in the West Midlands. I realised that we were not alone in our experiences and through a growing network we would be able to share ideas in order to benefit from others points of view.
“I would recommend the experience to anyone who finds themselves wanting to advance their business.”
Future collaborative opportunities under consideration include the healthcare market, high performance clothing, hotel and bar markets and low carbon initiatives. Further information can be found at www.ilfutures.co.uk and www.ilfuturesblog.co.uk/ or by phoning 0121 331 7925 or emailing info@ilfutures.co.uk.