GLEAM Presents: Funding and Support for Innovation in Manufacturing

**GLEAM Presents: Funding and Support for Innovation in Manufacturing**

Join us on 6th June at The Bridge, Lincoln for an insightful event focussed on unlocking funding opportunities within the manufacturing sector. Enjoy a working breakfast with like-minded peers and gain invaluable insights from expert talks covering R&D tax credits, regional funding options, banking sector support, and National Grant Funding.

We are pleased to be joined by representatives from the University of Lincoln, The Bridge, Made Smarter, Business Lincolnshire, NatWest, Wright Vigar, Innovate UK Business Connect, and Innovate UK Business Growth.

Reserve your spot today and secure funding that will support your manufacturing ventures and kickstart business growth!

----------------------------------------

Featured Speakers:

Dr Matthew Thornton – The Bridge

Chris Owens – Made Smarter

"Chris worked for Caterpillar Inc. for nearly twenty years, in a variety of international senior executive positions including Director of Manufacturing, where he was responsible for 38 manufacturing facilities across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Chris also worked in the UK’s automotive industry for over 10 years with all the major OEMs, and their supply chains to boost the competitiveness, productivity, and economic growth of the UK’s automotive sector. Alongside his portfolio of non-exec Director roles, Chris is currently the Programme Director for Made Smarter East Midlands. "

Harry Haslam & Trevor Durant – Business Lincolnshire

"As a Growth Hub Adviser for Business Lincolnshire, Harry’s role is to provide SMEs with tailored impartial advice and support through action plans and signposting. Harry has a diverse background in business development and analysis, from gaining an MSc in Entrepreneurship, to working on a large-scale consultancy project, and to most recently working with a social enterprise in the Shetland Islands. Harry is passionate about supporting the growth of small businesses Lincolnshire and is keen connect and assist where possible. If you wish to contact Harry, his email address is: harry.haslam@bizlincolnshire.com"

"With 25 years of experience in Manufacturing, Trevor began his career as an Apprentice with Coca-Cola and progressed to Operations Director within textiles. He has worked in brewing, confectionery, produce, soft drinks, and textiles. Now, he operates a manufacturing advice consultancy delivering sprint projects aimed at rapid improvement of productivity, yield, and quality. Trevor is married with two children. He plays guitar in a classic rock covers band and enjoys clay shooting, cycling, and running."

Garry Wilkinson, Manufacturing Specialist – NatWest

Garry has over 35 years experience working in the Banking sector, working directly with SMEs, providing advice & support to help business owners realise their business goals and aspirations. Having worked for over a decade with SMEs within the manufacturing sector, Garry has built strong relationships with key industry stakeholders, industry bodies and supporting organisations and helps to raise awareness of these valuable areas of support as part of strategic planning discussions with his clients. Garry has been a member of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP manufacturing board from its inception in 2017, using the platform to help influence areas of support for manufacturers throughout the County.

Julia Clarke, Tax Director – Wright Vigar

"Julia trained as an Inspector of Taxes back in the days of the Inland Revenue. Preferring to work with businesses to help them through the tax maze, she moved into practice spending 20 years in Big 4 and Top Ten firms before joining Wright Vigar in 2013. As a corporate specialist she is involved in a range of advisory work including business restructuring, company purchases and sales, and of course the ever-changing world of R&D tax relief."

Stephen Morris, Knowledge Transfer Manager – Innovate UK Business Connect

"In his role within the Materials Team, Steve offers specialist advice and expertise in Smart Materials, particularly focusing on emerging commercial areas such as metamaterials, self-healing technologies, energy generation, transmission, and storage. Steve works closely with colleagues in his team and across multiple sectors to share knowledge and facilitate collaboration and networking.

Steve also has an interest in textiles, spanning technical and smart fabrics to fashion, including their manufacture, sustainability, and circularity. He is actively working with colleagues in the Made Smarter Innovation Network, exploring digital technologies for textiles and fashion, and potential routes to a more sustainable sector.

He is a member of the CLIMATES Team helping to deliver the materials aspects of the Government's critical materials focus with Chem/IB colleagues, currently rare earths. In addition to this, he is currently working with BSI to deliver a standards landscape for rare earths and PAS standards for secondary processing.

With his background in technical sales and marketing of alumina chemicals and through working in RDA’s and Materials KTN, Innovate UK KTN, and now Innovate UK Business Connect, Steve has built an understanding of the needs of innovation linked to materials and their technologies."

Dr Matthew Thornton, Commercial Manager, The Bridge, University of Lincoln

Prior to joining the University of Lincoln as the Commercial Manager for The Bridge in February 2023, Matthew worked in industry for over 15 years, most recently as Innovation Director and Chief Innovation Officer for two SMEs. He has a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry with Chemical Engineering from the University of Huddersfield, UK (2001) and a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Nottingham, UK (2005). He is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, a Chartered Environmentalist, and a Board Member of both the Elastomer Group and the Polymer Group of the IOM3 and a Committee Member of the East Midlands Materials Society. He has a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration from the Open University, UK (2022), and is the Secretary-General for the International Rubber Conference Organisation.

Ian Evley, Innovation and Growth Specialist – Innovate UK Business Growth

Bio to follow

----------------------------------------

Network with other Lincolnshire-based professionals in the sector, share ideas, and tap into the funding and support on offer by providers, all while enjoying the excellent facilities provided by The Bridge.

This event is for professionals in the manufacturing sector, places are limited and priority will be given to businesses based in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland. Unfortunately we are unable to accept intermediaries upon registration.

---------------------------------------

This event is for professionals in the manufacturing sector, places are limited and priority will be given to businesses based in Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland. Unfortunately we are unable to accept intermediaries upon registration.

GLEAM is brought to you by Business Lincolnshire (part of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP), the University of Lincoln, and MAKE UK.