This case study shows the scope of support to low carbon innovation enterprises from 2014 to 2022 delivered by Clive Bonny at Strategic Management Partners in partnership with Clean Growth UK and the University of Brighton.
BACKGROUND
Clean Growth UK is a consortium of University partnerships supporting low carbon innovation enterprises across the UK. Their wide range of support programmes includes the funding of experienced qualified consultants to deliver group webinars and one-to-one tailored advice and training to SME owner managers. Clean Growth UK evolved from the successful development of the Green Growth Platform 2014 to 2019 which supported over 1000 SME’s with ERDF UK funding. After open tendering in 2014 they contracted a team of independent consultants including Clive Bonny at Strategic Management Partners. In 2019 after 5 years of successful support with Green Growth Platform Clive was retained for ongoing SME training and advice with Clean Growth UK who, by 2022, had extended their support to over 2000 SME’s.
SCOPE OF SUPPORT
Clive’s scope of support has covered the full life-cycle of SME innovation development from start-up concept testing and product design through IP protection to full commercialisation. Project support typically provided short regular interventions lasting three months, and involved strategic business canvas tools, QA compliance, market research, stakeholder mapping, digital adoption, environment and social impact ESG standards, B2B and B2C routes to market, due diligence checks for equity funding, and introductions to potential partners to accelerate growth.
DELIVERY SUCCESS
The flexibility of support times and places have helped busy SME owner managers to make and keep appointments. Group webinar bookings are made several weeks in advance, with one-to-one advice online or face to face at locations accessible to clients. After every review Clive emails the University a written report with next actions which is approved and signed by the client. Clive’s clients have developed diverse products and services across many low carbon sectors including recycling of plastics and textiles, vegan and insect foods, environmental conservation services, energy-saving devices, safe cleaning products, new building infrastructure materials, eco-tourism, sustainable clothing materials, e-book publishing, air and water purification, hydrogen energy, eco-packaging, electric vehicles, windfarm design, bioplastics, marine based textiles, healthcare mobility and biophilic building design. Clive also produced a series of accessible online education videos tailored for SME owner managers covering IP and brand sustainability, business continuity planning, and access to private equity funding.
COMMENTS
Mark Riminton at the University of Brighton says “We have known and worked closely with Clive Bonny over the last seven years in his capacity as a strategic coach for our Green Growth Platform and can wholeheartedly testify to his integrity, broad expertise, and commitment to supporting micro enterprises. The Green Growth Platform, part of the University of Brighton, supports the growth of SMEs bringing to market low carbon goods & services.”
Funded business support
Business owners and managers employing over 5 persons now have access to funded support for business growth from experienced independent business mentors and coaches
This supports senior managers of small and medium-sized businesses to boost their business profitability, resilience, and long-term growth. The bespoke programme builds capabilities in areas tailored to each business. These include strategic innovation, marketing and sales, recruiting and training staff.
The programme is designed for businesses from any sector and has the benefit of being heavily subsidised, with 90% of the cost funded by the government.
Dear Clive
Thank you for your work on Brighton’s first cohort. Each of you played a key role in making Cohort One successful both for participants and the university.
Many of the participants mentioned that there was a tremendous breadth of content to be absorbed in a short time (one told me that he would like to repeat the whole programme!) and it was only an opportunity to work with a skilled mentor that helped them to transform the content into practically useful principles and practices,
your dedication, deep understanding of the tools and techniques and your willingness to go the extra mile. All the very best
David L Francis PhD
Facilitator: Help to Grow Programme School of Business and Law
University of Brighton Elm House Brighton BN2 4GJ