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New chief at the helm
01/05/2008
Five years ago when a fresh faced new kid on the block – East Midlands New Technology Initiative (NTI) – was launched many didn’t give it much hope. On the face of it here was a government backed initiative that was both complex to understand and even tougher to whip into a cohesive team.
Take 30 of the region’s top universities and colleges, a modest funding pot and a largely sceptical group of small and medium sized businesses who had become ‘business initiative weary’- not perhaps the most promising formula. But against all the odds – and where many other business initiatives designed to help had sunk without a trace - NTI succeeded and businesses across the region embraced it with unprecedented enthusiasm.
Credit for making this complex partnership work, survive and prosper has largely been laid at the feet of its chairman Mich Stevenson, described by emda’s chief executive Jeff Moore as ‘Mr East Midlands’.
When he stepped down at NTI’s recent AGM to make more time for his increasing national commitments, Mich said: “NTI has been a trailblazer in enabling small and medium sized businesses to advance the use of technology, improve skills and be more competitive. It has been a catalyst for knowledge transfer between the NTI Network of universities and colleges and the business sector.
“There is no doubt that by creating and driving forward its unique formula of funding, skill development and access to the resources of the region’s leading universities and colleges, NTI has had a significant impact on the region’s economy.
“NTI support has made it possible for small and medium sized businesses to innovate through technology – creating new products, systems and enter new markets in the UK and overseas.
“In order to cope with demand emda has awarded NTI an additional £500,000 capital for small and medium sized business grants over the life of the contract to 2009. Success breeds success as the saying goes, so it comes as no surprise to report that NTI has either met or exceeded all targets and outputs and we are now reporting on an incredibly successful year.”
In handing over to the new chairman, John White, Mich paid tribute to John’s commitment and to what he described as the inspirational energy and vision of executive director, Hilary Whaley and the hard work of the NTI Board.
Mich added: “Since its inception NTI has been through many testing times in terms of the demands placed upon the organisation through contractual processes and the rigours of evaluation. Such demands have required a high degree of dedication and innovation from the NTI’s own team. There are more challenges ahead - discussions are taking place regarding the sustainability of NTI after the end of the current contract in March 2009.”
When Jeff Moore presented Mich with a crystal vase on behalf of all the NTI partners, he praised Mich’s work saying that he had been a tireless champion for NTI and had done so much for Nottingham and enhancing the region’s economy.
NTI’s new chairman John White, joined the board in 2006 and is Chairman of Clegg Developments Limited. John has more than 40 years’ experience in the construction industry. Working at senior levels in the industry, he has taken the lead role on many high profile projects. His public and private sector posts include Non Executive Director of the Erewash Partnership, National Council Member of the Institute of Directors, CBI Regional Council Member, Non Executive Director East Midlands Centre for the Built Environment.
John says he relishes the challenges ahead in continuing to drive NTI’s agenda forwards and provide the support now in great demand by the region’s businesses. He added; “NTI has an exciting role to play and it is my fervent hope that this unique partnership of Higher and Further Education institutions will continue to contribute to the region’s economic health whilst supporting the knowledge transfer agenda.”
East Midlands NTI is an initiative backed by leading universities and colleges and is funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Businesses can apply for match funded grants of up to £10,000 to invest in capital equipment and enroll staff on NTI approved courses to gain advanced technology skills.
The East Midlands NTI has helped 187 businesses in the last year alone, helping them to create 35 new jobs and safeguard many more.
The East Midlands NTI is unique in its role in acting as a catalyst for so many colleges, universities and business sector organisations to work together – and jointly to collaborate with small and medium sized businesses. It has given over £300,000 match funded grants to its member education institutions in the last financial year to invest in new technology specifically to support businesses. Businesses can work with postgraduate students and the new technology for research, product development and new marketing skills.
Caption: Mich Stevenson receiving crystal vase from Geoff Moore.
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