Beyond Brokerage

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Technical Development Grants

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Catapulting Kids Further

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Sustainable Construction

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What we do

NTI’s objective is  help small and medium sized firms to increase their use of advanced technology and improve their skill levels.

Through the NTI network of universities and colleges, small and medium sized businesses can have access to a unique mix of skills, knowledge and resources.

Our specialist Networks

The East Midlands NTI management team is based at the Innovation Centre, De Montfort University, Leicester.

The 23 colleges and universities are formed into five specialist Networks to enable them to target relevant businesses. The Networks are:

  1. Creative Industries
  2. Food & Drink
  3. High Performanace Engineering
  4. Construction
  5. Healthcare

NTI funding & learning makes it happen

It is with regret that we announce that East Midlands New Technology Initiative (NTI) will close its doors at the end of July 2010, due to changes in Government funding.

For the past six years the NTI has distributed over £3.5million to small and medium sized businesses to invest in equipment to keep them at the forefront of new technology, and encouraged them to improve employee skills through high level training at the region’s colleges and universities.

Whilst this is a very sad decision, the success enjoyed by the NTI since the company started way back in 2003 cannot be underestimated. During that time the company awarded 559 grants to the value of just under £3.5m and its member network of the region’s leading universities and colleges has benefited from over £2.2m capital investment.

In three independent evaluation documents, NTI has been noted to have achieved or exceeded all its outputs and targets, and has been seen as a model of good practice across the region.

As well as the grants programme, NTI also won funding for one of two East Midlands Centres for Knowledge Exchange which were funded for five years until July 2009. NTI also led a Learning Skills Council (LSC) funded Innovation in Sustainable Construction project - one of only five projects to be funded out of 133 applications nationally - and this has been hugely successful. The company led two of the Action Based Task Groups for the Skills for Sustainable Communities Lifelong Learning Network until end March 2010.

Hilary Whaley and the whole NTI team would like to thank all of our members for their support since 2003. Whilst we sad that NTI finally has to close, we know we can move on in the knowledge that we did everything we set out to achieve and more, and are respected for the work we have done and the contribution we have made to both the economic regeneration and skills development agendas in the East Midlands.

The future of the Beyond Brokerage and Catapulting Kids Further! projects will be announced shortly.

Focus on...

Beyond Brokerage scheme helps put film maker in the picture.

A scheme to help businesses find the best training has helped a young film maker track down a specialist motion picture course, and found it on his doorstep.

News & success stories

  1. Sustainable construction roadshow success.

    Almost 1500 people attended a series of roadshows put on to give construction industry information about sustainable energy products and techniques.

  2. Come and talk with a Specialist Advisor and see some of the Innovative Technologies demonstrated at an FE College near you. Free 2 Hours of CPD.

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    Come and talk with a Specialist Advisor and see some of the Innovative Technologies demonstrated at an FE College near you. Free 2 Hours of CPD.

    The six regional colleges all offer advice on a range of new building products and processes.

    Who should attend?
    Designers, contractors, specialist contractors, students and you; if you are interested in Innovation in Sustainable Construction.

  3. Businesses too uncertain about new technology

    Small and medium sized construction companies are not incorporating energy efficient technology because they are too uncertain about the products available.

  4. Catapulting Kids Further! Phase 2 funding results

    The Phase 2 grant funding pot of £1.682m has been allocated to schools and SMEs for teaching the applied and/or vocational learning for 14 – 19 year olds, in order to enable them to buy equipment to support the delivery of the courses. The East Midlands New Technology Initiative (NTI) has recently informed all the applicants of the outcomes.

  5. NTI builds awareness of sustainable construction techniques.

    The East Midlands NTI showcased their Innovation in Sustainable Construction scheme at the recent Expo exhibition at Leicester’s Walkers Stadium giving businesses an insight into the ground breaking project.