18 technology
Success continues to GROW for hub
Innovation, mobile, hackspace, startups – these are some of the buzzwords that symbolise a new generation of business opportunity in the Thames Valley and that represent the focus of the region’s first pop-up innovation hub, Grow @ Green Park
The three-month initiative launched in September by ConnectTVT in partnership with Oxford Properties, shows what can be achieved when a region comes together.
Reading’s first pop-up innovation hub has given us the chance to see how dynamic and diverse the Thames Valley’s new wave of technology-based businesses are and the scale of interest there is in supporting them. Since opening its doors in September, the Grow@ Green Park hub has welcomed over 350 people from across the Thames Valley and beyond.
Having a physical space in which people with interesting ideas, products and services can come
together, swap skills and forge partnerships provides critical support in the early stages of building a tech business. Hubs like Grow@Green Park are developing across the country, acting as nerve centres for tech communities and providing critical touch-points for local and international business sectors looking to engage with new innovation.
In addition to providing mentoring and co-working space to over 30 early-stage tech businesses, the Grow@Green Park hub has had support from over 15 experts from the business and technology community, visits from delegations from as far away as Dallas and has hosted over 75 events including the
first Thames Valley Tech Week. It has supported local efforts to forge stronger links with national bodies championing UK tech, including techUK, Tech City and UKTI, and has established the Thames Valley’s first Startup Grind community.
“Grow@Green Park has shown what can be achieved in such a short space of time when business initiatives are focused on collaboration,” said Louize Clarke, co-founder ConnectTVT. “We have a lot of people to thank for supporting the hub – early partners including Oxford Properties, without whom the pop-up hub would not of happened, NatWest, KPMG and Pitmans, as well as a host of forward-thinkers from the region’s corporate, government, media and professional services communities. And, of course, the entrepreneurs that have amazed us with their ideas and energy.
“With Grow@Green Park we have seen how a collaborative facility can accelerate the development of new technology businesses,” Clarke continued. “As the region maps out its future direction with the new infrastructure, transport links and facilities planned across the Thames Valley, it is an exciting time to consider what is needed to support our thriving local tech businesses as well as new inward investment opportunities around innovation. ConnectTVT will continue to provide support by shining the spotlight on the region’s entrepreneurs and by helping people connect to the resources they need.”
If you are looking to start, join, develop or support a technology business and would like further information about the ConnectTVT network, contact Louize Clarke.
Details: Louize Clarke
louize@connecttvt.co.uk 07854-189407
www.connecttvt.co.uk
Recognising success
To mark the success of businesses within the Southern Tech 100 listing, GCS Recruitment Specialists presented its inaugural Training and Development Award to Ultima Business Systems (for a full report see last month's edition).
Recognised as highly commended were Allied Worldwide, which provides "an outstanding training and development programme for everyone. The company has worked tirelessly to raise the awareness of careers in technology and its apprenticeship scheme provides a fantastic opportunity for those looking to build a career within the sector".
Meg Fisher, managing director at Allied Worldwide, commented: “We’re delighted to have been highly commended by the Southern Tech 100 – we are incredibly
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proud of our apprenticeship scheme, so recognition for our efforts in training is both appreciated and satisfying. We’ve dedicated a great deal of resource to giving young people an opportunity to begin building their career at a company which is committed to professional development and has a structured two- year programme to clearly guide them through the early stages of their working life.
“The future is exciting at Allied Worldwide – there have been a number of changes in our management team and we have begun to diversify away from just end-user computing, now putting a clear focus on technology as well as people. Over the next 12 months, our progress will take all existing staff members on a training journey – taking what we have learned from
From left: Paul Glover, managing director – technology solutions; Danielle – apprentice; Meg Fisher, managing director – resource solutions; Sara Gill, sales operations director, Allied Worldwide
our apprenticeship scheme and applying it to the professional development of the company as a whole and at all levels. This will ensure employee engagement and continual progress whilst increase the amount of opportunities within the company."
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – DECEMBER14/JANUARY15
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