Support for SMEs
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are vital in providing local employment and generating local wealth. Here at the University of Central Lancashire we are dedicated to supporting this vital sector of the economy.
Our entrepreneurial approach has enabled us to become a national leader, helping more than 1,000 students and graduates start a business or become self-employed in the last five years.
More than 1,500 regional commercial organisations have been assisted through business support projects, with 950 reporting business improvements and more than 400 jobs created or safeguarded.
Our award-winning Centre for SME and Enterprise Development provides a focal point where you can connect, collaborate, network and learn so that whatever challenges you face you can benefit from excellent tailored business advice, support and knowledge.
Centre for SME and Enterprise Development
The Centre for SME and Enterprise Development responds to the needs of the SME community to stimulate enterprise, innovation and business growth.
Idea2Scale-Up
This programme is a reimagined package of support that extends our knowledge transfer expertise into companies of all sizes and sectors.
Funded SME support projects
Improve Digital Performance (Digitalplus)
The Digitalplus project supports Lancashire SMEs with the use of digital technologies.
Improve Manufacturing Processes (DigitME2)
The DigitME2 project supports manufacturing SMEs in Lancashire, helping businesses increase productivity and become more efficient using digital technologies.
Health MATTERS
The Lancashire Health MATTERS programme is a partnership between UCLan and the NHS Innovation Agency. We provide SMEs in Lancashire who have created new approaches, practices or products with the support needed to help them gain access to the NHS and social care markets.
Product Development (Innovation Clinic)
The Innovation Clinic are specialists in new product development, supporting SMEs in Lancashire.
Business Investment (Investment Readiness)
The Investment Readiness project supports Lancashire SMEs in becoming ready for investment.
Leadership and business development programme (Lancashire Forum Creative)
The Lancashire Forum Creative project supports SME leaders in Lancashire to develop themselves and their companies
Energy (MaCaW)
The MaCaW project assists Lancashire SMEs to reduce their carbon footprint, saving them money in the process.
Industry project work for graduates and students: UNITEplus
The UNITEplus programme assists Lancashire SMEs by providing a student or graduate to work on a specific project
Skills and Business Workforce Development (UpSkilling Lancashire)
The UpSkilling Lancashire project supports SMEs in Lancashire to increase the skills and capabilities of their employees.
Eco-I North West - research and development to support a green recovery
Eco-I NW is a £14m business Research and Development (R&D) programme which will support small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the North West (Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire and Warrington).
Propeller Start-up Programme
Propeller offers support to students, graduates and staff to start their own business or become self-employed.
Lancashire Innovation Drone Zone (LIDZ)
Is your business already developing products or services for the drone sector, or are you wanting to find out how you can get involved in this exciting and rapidly growing new marketplace? The Lancashire Innovation Drone Zone (LIDZ) project team can help you.
MedIComm
The Medical Innovation and Commercialisation Accelerator Programme (MedIComm) is a unique programme in partnership with UCLan and four Lancashire NHS trusts.
Completed funded SME support projects
More than 600 individuals employed by Lancashire-based Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have benefitted from the University of Central Lancashire’s Executive Education and Leadership-led Leading Lancashire project.
Tuesday 30 May 2023