A fund which aims to encourage small businesses to work with Manchester Met University has been launched.
The university will contribute £5,000 towards projects with a minimum value of £10,000, with the business themselves covering the remaining costs.
Man Met aim to help businesses become more robust and profitable by offering expertise from across the university.
Ian Gibbs, Enterprise Fellow for MMU’s Centre for Enterprise, told MM: “Individual businesses are helped with an injection of funds and guidance to help them tackle specific projects that are of interest to them.
“The outcome of these projects will be widening the knowledge base of the individual business and their sector as a whole.
“The Centre for Enterprise in the Faculty of Business and Law at Manchester Met provides programmes to support businesses in the Great Manchester, and Cheshire and Warrington areas.
“The Research and Knowledge Exchange Department (RKE) help businesses to grow through accessing the expertise of the university.
“And the business incubation centre Innospace provides a base and support network for new start-ups.
“The SEIF (Social Enterprise Investment Fund) funds are part of the wider activity of these departments which is aimed at helping Manchester Met strengthen links with local businesses and learn more about what research and support we can offer in the future.
“The brief of what we are offering is very broad and can be led by the business suggesting the project.”
Projects could focus on, but are not limited to, aims such as providing expert consultancy services, engaging in joint-venture initiatives, undertaking bespoke research on markets, products and services and joint development of specific products, processes or services.
Businesses may only apply if they employ no more than 250 people and are based in the UK.
The applicants cannot have had a previous financial relationship with MMU and must demonstrate the potential for a continuing relationship with the university even beyond the end of the project period.
The deadline for projects is July 31, for further information please contact Ian Gibbs, Centre for Enterprise, on [email protected] or 0161 247 3610.
