Pictured above: Chris Arnold
Food and drink firms in the East Midlands are being encouraged
to re-ignite the creativity of children as a way of developing
their businesses.
The Food and Drink Innovation Network (iNet) is staging an
iThrive event designed to turn the spotlight on ways of exploiting
creative potential within companies and their workforces.
Guest speaker is former creative director of one of the UK's top
advertising agencies Saatchi & Saatchi, Chris Arnold, who is an
expert in creativity and its application to business. He will be
encouraging delegates to re-ignite the imagination and ingenuity
they experienced as children.
The iThrive event also marks the launch of a new programme of
intensive business support being offered by the Food and Drink iNet
to the region's food and drink businesses.
A number of food and drink firms who attend the event will be
chosen to receive the support, which features four one-day
workshops guiding businesses through the new product development
process - from the generation of an idea to product launch.
The iThrive new product development event and the programme of
NPD support that it launches have been formulated by the Food and
Drink iNet to ensure that innovation, in the form of new product
development, thrives within the East Midlands food and drink
sector.
"The iThrive event is an excellent opportunity for food and
drink firms from across the region to focus on the importance of
sparking and harnessing creativity," said Food and Drink iNet
director Andrew Butterwick. "We are delighted that Chris Arnold,
who is an acknowledged expert in this subject, will be our guest
speaker.
"The event also marks the start of our exclusive new programme
to offer new product development support to up to ten food and
drink businesses in the East Midlands. This is the perfect
opportunity for companies in the sector who are interested in NPD
to find out more."
The New Product Development - Converting Creativity into Cash
event is free to attend and takes place at the Pride Park Stadium,
Derby, on October 12th from 8.30am to 12.30pm.
Food and drink firms from Derbyshire, Leicestershire,
Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland are
eligible to attend this free event but booking is essential to
guarantee a place. Email enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk or call
0115 9758810 for more information.
Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and the
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Food and Drink iNet
co-ordinates innovation support for businesses, universities and
individuals working in the food and drink sector in the East
Midlands. One of four regional iNets, it has developed an effective
network to link academic and private sector expertise and knowledge
with local food and drink business innovation needs.
The Food and Drink iNet also aims to build on the tradition of
innovation in the food and drink industry in the region by helping
to create opportunities to develop knowledge and skills, and to
help research, develop and implement new products, markets,
services and processes. It is managed by a consortium, led by the
Food & Drink Forum and including Food Processing Faraday,
Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and the
University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park,
Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region.