Innovation

Any business that wants to make positive change through new ideas and new ways of doing things, or has a forward-thinking approach to their work, is innovating. Innovation is crucial to building sustainable businesses in our City Region – it is a source of competitive advantage, it creates efficiencies, increases revenues and improves productivity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of businesses doing things differently; having the agility to become more resilient, flexible and reactive to the economic changes and new ways of working.

If you’re an SME in Leeds City Region looking to develop a new product, have an idea for a new service or can see ways to improve your processes, yet feel unsure about the next steps or how to make it happen, we are here to help.

Our ambition at the LEP, as part of the West Yorkshire Innovation Network, is to create an inclusive and collaborative environment for innovation to thrive in our City Region, connecting businesses with the right support to make their ideas or projects become a reality.

Ideas come through collaboration and the LEP’s innovation support programme provides funding for SMEs as well as connecting them with the right people, helping businesses through the ecosystem of innovation resources. Our team of Innovation Growth Managers are your brokers, coordinating your specific needs with relevant support.

Connecting Innovation

Our independent and specialist innovation programme, Connecting Innovation, is one way for businesses to navigate what innovation support is available.

Connecting Innovation can help SMEs to access funding or grants to support projects, including:

• Kickstart Innovation Fund: LEP funding for collaborative innovation projects of up to £24,999
• High-Impact Innovation Fund: LEP funding for industry leading innovation projects of up to £100,000
• Advice about local, regional or national innovation grants

Through Connecting Innovation, SMEs could be eligible for up to 12 hours of support (or more if required) with an Innovation Growth Manager, helping to:

• Implement innovative practices or processes into your business
• Access specialist expertise from the network of universities, catapult centres (not-for-profit, independent technology and innovation centres), research organisations, advisory services and private sector organisations
• Provide ongoing one-to-one support to help make your project a success, through to implementation

Get in touch to see how we can help you on your journey. Connecting Innovation is delivered by the LEP in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund for England and the Local Growth Fund.

Read Connecting Innovation's privacy notice about how your information is used.

Watch our animation

Our animation explains how our innovation team can help you and your business realise your innovation idea. There is no one size fits all when it comes to innovating. Our team of Innovation Growth Managers work with you to gain a better understanding of what your business needs to realise your innovation idea and help you access the right support to make it happen.

Inclusive growth:

As part of the LEP’s commitment to delivering inclusive growth that benefits everyone, we have introduced new measures to encourage businesses to maximise their positive impact on the region.

If you receive a grant of £25,000 or over, you will be expected to make additional inclusive growth commitments. There are lots of different ways businesses can get on board, from volunteering in a local school to becoming a real Living Wage employer.

Additionally, businesses receiving a grant of less than £25,000 are encouraged to volunteer to undertake an inclusive growth commitment.

The LEP and its network of partners can help businesses to access several products and services that will help them to take these positive actions. Initial guidance and advice on these commitments are available here.