CHAMBER NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM SPONSORED BY:
Free support to enable innovation
By Steve Upcraft Enabling Innovation Director, The University of Nottingham
Small businesses in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire are now able to access free innovation support through a new programme being run by The University of Derby, Nottingham Trent University and The University of Nottingham. The aim of the programme,
called Enabling Innovation, is to stimulate research and innovation within small and medium-sized businesses in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The programme provides
help for businesses in sectors such as manufacturing, materials engineering, computing and data, aerospace, food and drink, chemistry and satellite navigation – offering unprecedented access to university expertise and graduate talent. The three universities will be
offering a wide range of services for businesses through Enabling Innovation, including:
· In-depth support from academic experts.
· Workshop programmes designed to help businesses to innovate, explore new ideas and unlock their growth potential.
· Leadership and management development, including mentoring.
· Support for businesses to take on graduates via placement opportunities, allowing them to explore the benefits of employing graduates.
The project has been funded via the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), using funds secured by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Businesses interested in finding out about the support offered through Enabling Innovation should visit
www.enablinginnovation.org.uk
Unemployment remains at its lowest level since 1975
Local unemployment rate beats the national average
The unemployment rate in the East Midlands stands at 4.1%, better than the national figure of 4.6%, according to recently-released data from the Office for National Statistics. Figures for the three months to
the end of April, the latest available, show a drop from 4.3% in the three months November to January, of 4.5% compared with the same period a year ago and 4.9% in 2015. Nationally, the employment rate
is at a joint record high of 74.8%, with 31.95 million people now in work – an increase of 372,000 on the year, Government has announced. This rise has been driven by full
time work with average weekly earnings up by 2.1% including bonuses. Meanwhile there are 50,000 fewer unemployed people with unemployment remaining at its lowest rate since 1975, it said. These findings reflect the Chamber’s own survey work, which indicates that about a third of companies plan to recruit in the next three months if they can find workers with the skills they need. Chris Hobson, Director of Policy
at the Chamber, said: “The figures are more positive than might have been expected. In the lead up to the General Election business confidence was very high and it will be interesting to see what impact the lack of political stability has on medium- to long-term recruitment plans of local firms. “In the meantime, it’s
encouraging that our businesses continue to tell us that they plan to
16 business network July/August 2017
inevitable impact in the jobs market. Closing the skills gap between
education and the world of work were the main thrust of a major conference last month, with over 100 businesses taking part in the East Midlands Chamber Employment and Skills for the Future summit, which took place at Loughborough University, on 20 June. The summit focused on
Chris Hobson
‘The East Midlands is still proving robust, with a lower unemployment rate than the rest of the country’
grow and that recruitment forms a big part of those plans. What’s important is that we are able to support those businesses as they recruit and help them find the skilled staff they need to fill the vacancies they have. “The East Midlands is still
proving robust, with a lower unemployment rate than the rest of the country. But there are warning signs in the wider economy that consumers are starting to spend less as inflation bites and if this trend continues there will be an
developing the skills, including those for digital-era jobs that don’t exist yet, necessary to underpin the Government’s Industrial Strategy, consultation for which was held earlier this year. When talking to businesses
across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire to gather evidence for a formal response, the Chamber found the gap between the needs of employers and those leaving education remained the single biggest concern. The number of people claiming
Jobseeker’s Allowance across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire fell in May when compared with April but there was a small rise in Leicestershire. According to the figures,
Leicester saw a rise of 70 claimants and Leicestershire rose by 20 but the number of claimants was lower in Derby (-55), Derbyshire (-150), Nottingham (-40) and Nottinghamshire (-115). The net outcome across the
three cities and three counties was a fall of 265 claimants in May compared with April, a rise of 205 compared with May 2016 but 2,955 down on May 2015.
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