Manchester Digital Development Agency » SME http://www.manchesterdda.com Manchester Digital Development Agency is the lead organisation for the development of a digital strategy for Manchester and the surrounding region. We do lots of other stuff, too. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:30:33 +0000 en hourly 1 NWDA Innovation Voucher Scheme – funding for Northwest businesses owners, entrepreneurs and social enterprises in the creative and digital sectors http://www.manchesterdda.com/2009/08/12/nwda-innovation-voucher-scheme-funding-for-northwest-businesses-owners-entrepreneurs-and-social-enterprises-in-the-creative-and-digital-sectors/ http://www.manchesterdda.com/2009/08/12/nwda-innovation-voucher-scheme-funding-for-northwest-businesses-owners-entrepreneurs-and-social-enterprises-in-the-creative-and-digital-sectors/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:27 +0000 Alan Holding http://www.manchesterdda.com/?p=693 The Innovation Voucher scheme is open to anyone running a Small Medium Enterprise in the Northwest – covering Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cumbria.

It is aimed at people already running one of the following ventures:

  • Small or Medium business
  • Social enterprise
  • Not-for-profit organisation

Such ventures in the Northwest can apply for funding (a voucher) which can be used to purchase knowledge from one of the NWDA’s registered knowledge providers.

The aim is to improve your company’s innovation capability.

The key benefits are:

  • Access the wealth of knowledge from the  knowldge base, including public and private sector research and technology organisations
  • Resolve a business issue, quickly, efficiently and through a source not previously utilised
  • Easy to apply and ’spend’ the voucher
  • The scheme is funded by the NWDA and ERDF, so is a credible and stable way to fund your organisation’s growth.

Creative and Digital Industries are one of the sectors where applications are being given a higher priority.

NWDA particularly welcome applications from women, minority groups and businesses in deprived areas. Please note that charities are not eligible to apply.

Application deadlines

The current application round is open until 28 August 2009.

The following vouchers are available in the current round:

  • 250 x £3,000 vouchers
  • 50 x £7,000 vouchers

More applications rounds are planned for December 2009, April 2010 and August 2010.

How to apply

The application form should be submitted online. If you are awarded an innovation voucher you can use it to purchase leading edge expertise to meet your innovation requirements.

You can apply online on the NWDA website.  The application process will take about 20 minutes.

More information

Please contact the Innovation Voucher Team on 01925 400466 for further guidance, or visit the NWDA Finance for Business website.

]]> http://www.manchesterdda.com/2009/08/12/nwda-innovation-voucher-scheme-funding-for-northwest-businesses-owners-entrepreneurs-and-social-enterprises-in-the-creative-and-digital-sectors/feed/ 0 New approach to Risk Management for Small & Medium Enterprises http://www.manchesterdda.com/2008/12/01/new-approach-to-risk-management-for-small-medium-enterprises/ http://www.manchesterdda.com/2008/12/01/new-approach-to-risk-management-for-small-medium-enterprises/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:58:54 +0000 Alan Holding http://www.manchesterdda.com/?p=501 In order to promote Information Security the the European Network and Information Security Agency – ENISA, has produced an approach that helps Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to understand and apply Risk Management.

The approach targets non-experts from small enterprises that want to introduce Risk Management as an initial step towards installing IT-security in their organizations.

The Document

The approach is available in English, French, Greek, Italian and Spanish from the ENSIA Website.

Feedback

ENISA have feedback from 3 pilot large deployments (Italy, Spain and UK), but are interested to receive any additional feedback that you may have either by trying to apply or by just reading our RM/RA approach.

Please send comments to ENISA’s Expert in Risk Analysis and Magement – Mr Daniele Catteddu.

Future work

ENISA are currently working on an additional version which will be tailored to the needs of Micro Enterprises (MEs), i.e., enterprises with less than 10 emploees.

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