The West Sussex Health and Life Sciences Cluster March Update

Can you spare 10 minutes to assist us with our skills challenges and business support survey?

We are trying to better understand the issues faced by businesses in your sector and we hope that the results of our survey will help us identify possible solutions to the issues that are raised.  Your experience is vital to shaping services and support fit to meet your needs.  If areas such as access to funding, challenges around capacity, entering new markets or recruiting staff are familiar challenges, participating in this survey will help us ensure that planned investment in support is right for you.

Marketing Means is in the process of engaging with companies, please contribute to the survey to allow us to make informed choices about how we can assist you.

If you would like to participate in the survey, and have not been contacted yet, please email Rachael.merriman@westsussex.gov.uk

Innovation South Science and Innovation Audit Bioscience Workshop March 21st, 12-2 in Horsham or Crawley (tbc)

Bioscience stakeholders are invited to take part in a discussion as part of a Government endorsed project to help shape local and national investment in innovation in Bioscience.

“Innovation South”, a consortium of businesses, universities, and local enterprise partnerships in the South of England, invites you to take part in a workshop event to help drive growth and digital innovation in *Bioscience in the South of England.

The Government has asked “Innovation South” to identify our region’s innovation strengths in *Digital Enabling Technologies, and investigate their potential for driving innovation and new growth opportunities.

Why should you come? The workshop aims to:  

• Identify areas of global competitive advantage in your sector
• Help to strengthen future bids for inward investment & export contracts
• Help make a powerful case for championing and promoting the South of England and its businesses at home and internationally as a go-to region for enterprising innovation
• Define innovation priorities     

Lunch will be provided. For more information and booking please click here.

Coastal STEMfest 2017 Launches at Ricardo, Shoreham

Coastal STEMfest now in its second year, launched on February 7th at Ricardo, Shoreham.

Secondary school teachers, careers advisors, local authority and higher education staff were brought together to discuss STEM skills in the local economy.

The two month long festival provides an extensive programme of activities to enthuse and inspire students to pursue STEM careers. The festival culminates in a Big Bang@Butlins on March 14th with several of our cluster members set to participate.

If you are interested in becoming involved in Coastal STEMfest please contact CoastalSTEMfest@brighton.ac.uk

Change someone's life in one summer by becoming a Nuffield Placement Provider

Nuffield Placements (NP) place Year 12 students (16-17 years olds) in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) organisations for 4-6 weeks. The placements provide students with the invaluable experience of working alongside STEM professionals in a real work environment. 

Organisations are not required to make any financial commitment and the benefits for organisations are considerable. In return for some supervision and guidance, students can work to a high standard on different types of projects and make significant contributions to organisations.  Work carried out by students often leads to published papers and can be used as the basis for grant applications. Students can also help staff members develop their own teaching and mentoring skills, and can contribute to organisational corporate social responsibility. 

Cluster members Deltex Medical and GSK already participate in the scheme. Lee Linfield, Production Team Leader at Deltex Medical said 

“I am continually surprised by the students’ work ethic and capability. Not only with the projects carried out at Deltex but also during the presentation evening when you see all the projects. For students their age to do such advanced work in a fairly short amount of time is amazing.”

Ali Khan, Early Talent Adivisor at GSK likewise cited benefits for his organisation in regards to students offering a fresh perspective.

 “Fresh eyes, we can take a lot from the students…with students it’s all new and everything is questioned…it’s a great way to find improvements.” 

Full case studies for GSK and Deltex Medical can be found here.

For more information, please contact STEM Sussex, the regional co-ordinators. Please call us on 01273 644178, email nuffield@brighton.ac.uk or visit the Nuffield area for employers website.  

Science Industry Partnership launches Action Plan to ensure the supply of 260,000 new scientific entrants required through to 2025

Its Action Plan is aimed at attracting these numbers and at ensuring a globally competitive science industry sector – which includes life sciences, medical technologies, bio-technology, chemicals and advanced materials. It sets out to meet a number of objectives from raising Standards and embedding vocational skills in the education system, to upskilling the current workforce and promoting the wide variety of exciting STEM careers on offer.

To read the more information on the Action Plan please click here.

Responsible Research in Practice offers Cluster Members Reduced Priced Workshop 

Cluster member Responsible Research in Practice has offered other cluster members the opportunity to host a 'Bioscientists guide to RI' workshop for the reduced price of £500 plus travel.

This half-day workshop for researchers at any stages of their research career, will provide an introduction to research integrity and responsible conduct in the context of biomedical/life science disciplines. We will discuss what research integrity is and what this means in daily practice.  The session will include a mix of presented content, workshop activity and group discussion designed to make the session interesting, engaging and interactive, whilst also providing an opportunity for self-reflection. Attendees will gain an improved understanding of what RI is and the key issues currently facing biomedical/life science researchers will be highlighted. Tools and resources that are available to support researchers to avoid or address these issues in their own research practice will be promoted, enabling every individual to take responsibility and be accountable for their own research conduct with renewed confidence

Communication and Leadership Skills Training

Would you or your staff benefit from communication and leadership training? Do you meet regularly with clients and need help making presentations or taking meetings? Are you looking for a low cost solution for employee skill-building?

Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. Members learning through doing, by attending club meetings. Clubs are either community based or work-place clubs. Clubs worldwide are supported by e.g. Merck, Fisher Clinical, Pfizer and GSK. We have clubs across West Sussex, at Gatwick, Worthing, Chichester and in Horsham, at Fisher-Clinical.  Guests are warmly welcomed at our clubs.

More information on the Toastmasters on the West Sussex offer can be found HERE.

A LEAP forward for local businesses with Small Business Grants 

Part of a West Sussex-wide scheme, known as the Local Enterprise and Apprenticeship Platform (LEAP), there is approximately £71,000 available for businesses located in Adur and a similar amount for businesses based in Worthing.

The scheme recognises the vital role that small businesses play in the local economy and the particular difficulties that micro businesses (those with up to 10 employees) can face in accessing funds to help them grow and take on staff. Small businesses (up to 50 employees) can face similar difficulties when looking to take on an apprentice or provide apprenticeship opportunities for existing staff, and these are the type of businesses this scheme is designed to help.

How to Apply?
Come along to Worthing and Adur Chamber of Commerce's Networking Breakfast on 24th March at 7.30am to understand the criteria and information on what will be accepted for the grants. Click here to Register for the event 

About these grants
The scheme is being delivered by the Adur & Worthing Business Partnership and businesses will be on the Awards Panel, helping to decide which applications are successful.

Small Business Grants
The Small Business Grant is available to local micro businesses of up to 10 employees and the Councils are offering grants of up to £2,500 which you will need to match fund. For example, if you want to purchase some equipment that costs £1,500 you can apply for £750 from the grant fund and source the additional £750 needed from your own funds.

You must be able to demonstrate how the project will develop or establish your business and what difference it will make.

Apprenticeship Grants
The Apprenticeship Grant is available to small businesses of up to 50 employees and the Councils are offering grants of £1,500 to match funding currently available from the Government.

For more information about the grants, guidance notes and application forms please click here