Business Innovation & Funding
Business innovation should be an accessible goal for organisations of all sizes and does not always have to revolve around technology.
There are many ways in which businesses can think creatively about how they adapt to the rapidly evolving needs and tastes of their audience.
However, businesses are often restricted by a lack of finance, resources, time or know-how to get ideas off the ground. Plus, unpredictable world events can make it difficult for businesses to think about business innovation.
Our growth managers can work with you to refine your plans and, with strong links to partner organisations and educational establishments, help you find a route through any barriers that you may be facing.
In addition, we can provide innovation advice to organisations that are looking to relocate to York and North Yorkshire. Whether you are a foreign-owned or UK business looking to expand, relocate or invest, Invest in York & North Yorkshire can help.
We can help with:
- Cultural barriers
Challenges with cross-cultural communication, especially for businesses looking to expand into international markets.
- Structural barriers
Tackling natural or tactical barriers that arise preventing new entry into your market.
- Financial Barriers
Wanting to make change but lacking the funds to accomplish these goals
- Business communication
Improving internal and external practices and reducing errors by sharing information in the right way.
Fund your business innovation with Made Smarter
If you’re a manufacturing business that is looking to increase the use of technology and expand your business capabilities, the Made Smarter programme could help you access advice, support and even grant funding.
Whether you are completely brand new to digital technology, or you have already started your digitalisation journey, you will be able to receive bespoke advice on anything from skills and leadership to innovation strategies.
Adopting new technology can be daunting, but the Made Smarter scheme will enable you to get the best advice and support from the pioneers and experts in national and local industry bodies.
Made Smarter is encouraging the UK’s next industrial revolution by giving you the competitive edge in a rapidly-growing industry. The programme aims to bring the best out of the UK manufacturing industry by upskilling and encouraging collaboration and innovation – keeping us ahead of the competition in the global manufacturing stage.
Find out more about Innovation
To find out more about how we can help with Business Innovation, get in touch.
Articles
Christmas crafters urged to check tax rules
People making money from Christmas crafts, seasonal market stalls, or selling festive items are being urged to check if they need to tell HMRC about their earnings. As the festive season approaches, HMRC's Help for Hustles campaign is reminding anyone earning extra income from activities like making Christmas decorations, upcycling furniture for seasonal sales, or running market stalls, that they will need to tell HMRC if they earn more than £1,000.
Steps into Digital: Voucher Scheme
Benefit from a bespoke approach to digital transformation, accessible and manageable to all at any level. Providers will collaborate with business's on a one-to-one basis, delivering tailored support that aligns with specific digital needs and objectives.
Work with the Growth Hub: Invitation to Quote to Providers
The York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub is inviting providers to express interest in delivering two new business support programmes funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF). These initiatives aim to strengthen local business networks, improve resilience, and support growth across the region.
Events
13th November 202510:00 am - 4:00 pmFREE
🟢 Website Essentials Workshop (Thirsk)
This workshop is designed to empower small businesses with knowledge, advice, and techniques to help improve their online presence! You’ll learn essential best practices to ensure your website is clear, user-friendly, and optimised for success.
13th November 202510:00 am - 4:00 pmFREE
Business Automation for Beginners: Day 1
This beginner-friendly workshop helps you feel more confident using everyday digital platforms like Google Docs, Trello, and Asana. You’ll learn how to map out tasks, reduce repetition, and set up basic workflows, even if you’re brand new to tech. Perfect for those looking to replace paperwork with simple, time-saving solutions.
14th November 202510:00 am - 11:30 amFREE
🟡 Steps into Digital: Data Driven Decision Making
Too often, businesses make decisions based on gut feel rather than evidence. This session shows how to close that gap by transforming reports into insights, tracking meaningful KPIs and embedding a culture of data led decision making.
Resources
Webinar Recording: 🟢 Data Protection Essentials
In this engaging and practical webinar series, Privacy Protect Group Ltd will guide you through everything you need to know to build a confident, compliant, and resilient approach to data protection in your business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your practices, each session is designed to build your understanding step-by-step.
Webinar Series: Data Analytics for Smarter Decisions
Data Analytics for Smarter Decisions, is a nine part online workshop series designed to help businesses at every stage of their data journey, from those just starting out to those ready to explore artificial intelligence and compliance. Each session is practical, jargon free and grounded in real business use cases, ensuring participants leave with tools and knowledge they can apply immediately.
Data Analytics for Smarter Decisions
We recommend bookmarking this page, as all recordings and resources will be added here after each webinar. Data Analytics for Smarter Decisions, is a nine part online workshop series designed to