Our Partners
Enterprise Europe Network works with a number of top level strategic national partners to enhance our service to businesses. These partnerships are actively working with Enterprise Europe Network to help deliver our services, and we are always looking for new ways to collaborate with service providers across the country.
Business Link
Business Link is the government-funded business advice and support service in England. It delivers business support through the Business Link network of advisers and national helpline (0845 6009 006), which are managed by the Regional Development Agencies in the nine regions and via an online portal (www.businesslink.gov.uk). Business Link aims to help new and existing businesses of all sizes, to grow and be sustainable, offering independent advice based on an assessment of what they need. Business advisers provide support and guidance on all aspects of running a business.
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
Their mission is building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to succeed. To achieve this they foster world-class universities and promote an open global economy.
UK Trade & Investment
UKTI offer support to UK businesses wishing to export overseas, including the European Union. With Enterprise Europe Network also offering support for companies hoping to trade with Europe, it’s not surprising that they are a major referral partner, with links between the organisations ensuring businesses are matched with the right provider for their needs. UKTI has worked in conjunction with Enterprise Europe Network to support companies finding technology partners, bid partners for funding and running joint events and trade missions.
Knowledge Transfer Networks
The Knowledge Transfer Networks (KTNs) share a common on-line platform to help them disseminate and transfer knowledge to individuals as well as industry and other networks. There are currently KTNs in 20 different sectors, including Biosciences, Materials, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Communications. Enterprise Europe South-West recently co-ordinated a central event in Birmingham which brought together KTNs, the Technology Strategy Board and National Contact Points for Framework Seven European funding, to enhance greater communication and collaboration.
The Technology Strategy Board
The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is a business-focused organisation dedicated to promoting technology-enabled innovation across the UK. The TSB has a number of current and and forthcoming research and development competitions covering a range of technology and application areas. Various Enterprise Europe Network consortia have worked in partnership with the TSB promoting competition calls and helping companies find funding partners. Enterprise Europe Network Scotland hosts a Twitter account actively promoting TSB funding calls entitles ‘stairwaytoseven’, and Enterprise Europe Network South-West are the TSB's central point of contact for all UK EEN consortiums, and meet on a monthly basis.
Enterprise Ireland
Enterprise Ireland is the government agency responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous business sector. Its mission is to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in global markets through its extensive network of Irish and international offices. Enterprise Ireland’s key focus, for Irish companies is covered under five areas of activity: Achieving export sales/Investing in research and innovation/Competing through productivity/Starting up & scaling up/Driving regional enterprise. They also provide assistance for international companies who are searching for world-class Irish suppliers and help international companies who want to set up food and drink manufacturing operations in Ireland. Enterprise Ireland is the host organisation for the Enterprise Europe Network’s Irish consortium in partnership with five local Chambers of Commerce: Cork, Dublin, Galway, Sligo and Waterford.
Invest NI
Invest NI's role is to grow the economy by helping new and existing businesses to compete internationally, and by attracting new investment to Northern Ireland. Invest NI are part of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and provide strong government support for business by effectively delivering the Government’s economic development strategies, making the most efficient use of available resources. Invest NI offers the Northern Ireland business community a single organisation providing high-quality services, programmes, support and expert advice. We principally support businesses in the manufacturing and tradeable services sectors.
Other partners
Enterprise Europe Network works directly with a variety of regional Chambers of Commerce. Other organisations we work with include: Skills South-East, the Manufacturing Advisory Service, Asian Business Development Network, Federation of Small Businesses, The Institute of Civil Engineering, to name a few.
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