Created to support pre start-up and established companies in the med tech and life sciences sector located within Nottingham city, the MeTAP business support programme is designed to empower organisations by providing the right knowledge, expertise, skills and connections to help commercialise their innovations. The first of their Pre-Accelerator programmes has been successfully completed with Innovators learning the first steps required for starting at business within the sector.
The MeTAP partnership consists of Nottingham City Council, the University of Nottingham and Medilink Midlands, each ideally positioned to help individuals and organisations at the very start of their business journey. In helping to achieve commercialisation, the organisations in turn have a role to play in enabling continued expansion of the life sciences and med tech sectors, helping to secure the growth of the local economy and continuing to elevate the reputation of the sector within the region.
“Through the MeTAP Pre accelerator programme and others like it, Medilink Midlands provide a clear road map for innovators from the sector to start and grow successful businesses. Bringing together experts from academia, testing facilities, funding, branding, insurance, patent registration, legal and marketing specialists to deliver high quality, relevant content for innovators to take the next steps in their commercialisation journey,” comments Medilink Midlands Advisor, Victoria Patel.
The final workshop of the first phase of MeTAP, ‘Going to Market and Funding Options’ took place last week, on Wednesday 15th November, at Nottingham Trent University’s MTIF facility located at the Clifton Campus.
Attendees of the workshop included start-ups looking to commercialise innovations such as sanitising products through to data providers, app developers, hair care for cancer patients to identifying plant ingredients in food and cosmetic products. All were extremely appreciative of the support and advice given.
Providers and delivery partners for the workshop included Turbine Creatives and Brand Clear who helped our entrepreneurs with their branding strategy and offered tips and advice on identifying their target audience, TBAT who took them through grant funding and regulatory requirements, Edwards who offered guidance surrounding finance and accounting, Adamson Jones who specialise in patents, and Mills and Reeve delivered knowledge and experience on the legalities of business.
Other contributors included engineering design company, Renfrew Group, CHEATA who offer a unique support service to clinical, academic and commercial med-tech developers aiming to work with the NHS, IMED on the Regulations required and Nightingale Design Research.
The MeTAP programme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and is to provide £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, people, and skills.
For more information, and to find out when the next workshop will take place, visit: https://www.medilinkmidlands.com/metap/
Caption on newsletter: LtoR front: Jo Maltby of Medilink Midlands, Genevieve Watts and Nikoleta Georgieva of Genevieve’s Hair Design, Frances Brown of Nightingale Research, back: Sean Maters of Brand Clear, Tim Bassford of Turbine Creatives and Victoria Patel of Medilink Midlands.