Connecting with the Northern Way

The Norther Way Summit, held in York, brought together all three development agencies to discuss how we can all work together as a cohesive whole. Developing synergies, achieving more together than we can alone. Collaborate, compement and add-value. 1+1+1 = 5! All good stuff and exactly what Connect is all about!

From a management theory perspective, to promote teamwork across the three regions requires functional consistency and some 'subject/problem (solution?)' orientation that spans the geographic regions - see matrix versus functional in any book on organisational development. Connect, being focused on promoting and nuturing knowledge-based companies ideally fits, the bill. We are working closely with other regional Connects to develop our business model, to work collaboratively, yes, to achieve more together than we could alone.

What do Technology Companies Need To Succeed?

From the Sunday Times 19/2/2005 that caught our eye:

"It is vital that technology companies have the people who can turn their products into sales & profits. This means having the confidence, knowhow and balls to knock down doors."

This is exactly what our Fast Invest initiative is all about. Its easy to think your product is worldbeating and people will beat a path to your door. The reality is that for most businesses, you have to get out there and lead them to it!

"Just as important are control skills because fast-growing businesses change out of all recognition and the management have to handle the transistion from one office and ten employees to maybe 3,000 employees in a dozen offices around the country or abroad."

Nice problem to have, but seriously at each stage in a companies develop there are step changes that need to be navigated. Probably the hardest is going from an owner-managed situation, where the innovator has a finger in every pie, to building the cornerstones of a management team on which the rest of the organisation can be established. At some point the entrpreneur becomes the obstical to, rather than the reason for continued development.

"The difference between a good idea and a successful business is going out there and doing it."

How many ideas have you had, that a few years later someone else is doing. We've had a few in our time!

Welcome!

Connect Yorkshire is the fast track to growth for Yorkshire's technology companies. We nurture new enterprises in the region and help fast-track their development. We do this through a range of innovative products and services:

Fast Invest - loans of £10-50K to help kickstart fledgling technology businesses or help later-stage companies achieve sales life-off.

Fast Forward - help (read grilling) by a panel of experts on your business idea and direction to get a 360 degree perspective. Great for validating your USP's and looking at your approach from every angle.

Investor Readiness Programme - hone your Business Plan and pitch to sell you idea to investors or, indeed, customers.

Investment Forum - matching innovative young companies with investors looking for growth.

What else should we be doing to support technology companies? Let us know by posing your comments!