How to stop your business ideas being stolen

New business start-ups along with established companies need to protect their ideas. Now small and medium businesses in Cumbria are to get a helping hand to safeguard their intellectual property.

A workshop that will highlight the pitfalls and explain procedures will be held at the Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa near Windermere next month (March 21). Organised by Cumbria Innovations Platform, the day-long event will show that having the right type of intellectual property protection helps stop people stealing or copying your inventions, products or brands.

Experts will describe the different types of Intellectual Property protection available, such as patents, copyright, trademarks, and design rights. They will explain the processes involved in securing them and the importance of having an IP strategy.

The workshops will be run by experts in the field. Gordon Short is from Entrepreneur Business School Ltd, a private company that delivers guided entrepreneurship training for innovation driven businesses.

Frank Allison from FIS360 Ltd has a record of accomplishments of working with and supporting entrepreneurs at all stages of the commercialisation process.

Sarah Allison

Organiser Sarah Allison said: “The workshop is designed for directors and managers from established small and medium businesses as well as entrepreneurs and start-up firms, who will find out more about protecting innovations through IP and other licensing opportunities.

“It’s one of the most important aspects for any business to be fully aware of.”

The businesses must be registered in Cumbria. The event is at the Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa on Thursday March 21. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/protect-your-ideas-explaining-intellectual-property-tickets-56794997366#tickets

 

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Going greener: what florists can do to help save the planet

Windermere is to host an event to show florists how they can go greener to help save the planet. And one of the country’s leading experts on greenhouse gases will head the discussions.

The day-long workshop at Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa is aimed at companies in the floristry supply chain in Cumbria such as flower wholesalers, event managers, wedding planners, and hotels and other venues.

Low Wood Bay resort and spa venue

Organised by Eco-Innovation Cumbria, the aim is to explore the business challenges and opportunities for sustainable floristry.

“Hotels and venues are becoming renowned for sourcing local foods, using renewable energy and minimising water consumption, but are the flowers on their tables equally sustainable?” said Glyn Griffiths, Senior Project Officer.

 

“The UK floristry industry is worth £2billion. The Lake District is one of the most popular destinations for hospitality, weddings and corporate events, which places these businesses servicing this sector firmly in the floristry supply chain.”

Sustainable floristry looks at where flowers are sourced, as well as eliminating harmful plastics, foam, cellophanes and other packaging.

Contributors to the event include Mike Berners-Lee, researcher and writer on greenhouse gases, who is professor and fellow of the Institute for Social Futures at Lancaster University and director of Small World Consulting. He will look at the carbon footprint of British and imported cut flowers.

Mike Berners-Lee

Paula Baxter, co-chair of Flowers from the Farm and owner of Millpond Flower Farm will lead a discussion on British flowers for florists, and there will be case studies and workshop demonstrations.

The Low Wood Bay  team will discuss the environmental practices they implement and how they have achieved Green Tourism Gold award.

The event, on Monday March 11, is free for SME businesses in Cumbria, funded by the ERDF through the Eco-Innovation Cumbria programme, University of Cumbria, and organised by Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS).

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sustainable-floristry-event-the-reality-and-potential-for-the-floristry-supply-chain-registration-55631761095

Exercise to improve mental health

A pilot scheme to encourage people to take up exercise starts in Kendal on Sunday (Feb 24).

The mental health mile will start at Abbot Hall social centre on Dowkers Lane at 3pm. It’s organised by Jogging Pals who already operate a Couch to 5k programme, and further training for runners.

This one is aimed at getting people of all abilities, ages and fitness to get together to walk, wheel, jog and talk. A similar event has been held in Lancaster for the past year and the organisers there say that by using exercise, group work and a safe environment, they have helped the more vulnerable in the community to try something new.

Abbot Hall social centre has plenty of parking in the overspill car park, and there are toilets, and refreshment facilities.

“This is aimed at those who don’t do much exercise but might want a healthier life/work balance, and need some support and encouragement,” said Wayne Singleton of Jogging Pals.

“We want to get people out walking and talking primarily. If they want to jog/run then that’s ok, but we want to focus on inclusivity and the positive impact of activity rather than racing.”

Electric vehicles: their role in clean air campaign

Businesses in Cumbria are to get expert advice on how they can improve the environment by using electric vehicles.

A free one-day workshop in Whitehaven, organised by Eco-Innovation Cumbria, will feature demonstrations by some of the region’s leading experts.

The event coincides with the Government’s clean air strategy, and with the Air Quality Forum in London. This offered practical measures to improve air quality in the UK through a collaborative approach of transport, planning and health initiatives.

And in London, the Mayor has announced new initiatives to improve air quality in the capital, including a focus on EVs.

Key note speakers Helen Acott, Fleet Manager for the Energy Savings Trust, and  Regional Development Manager for Renault North West, Mathew Kiziuk, will explain how adopting electric vehicles will help businesses to progress,

And regional car specialists DSG will talk about the reality of using an electric vehicle: the practicality of the technology, emissions, range, lifespan, warranties, running costs, and charging.

The workshop, on February 26 at The Beacon in Whitehaven, aims to help firms understand the business case for EVs, and explain about the changing EV infrastructure in Cumbria.

Glyn Griffiths Eco-Innovation Cumbria Project manager said: “Businesses increasingly recognise their responsibility to help the environment. This workshop will explain how they can reduce impact on the environment and reduce CO2, at the same time building business partnerships and collaborations that will collectively help to create the change to a cleaner environment.”

He added: “This workshop will be fast-paced and interactive, encouraging exciting collaborations between organisations as well as innovative solutions. We hope it will appeal to those who have fleets of vehicles, cars and vans, traders and those who use vans for their work.”

Eco-Innovation Cumbria, a project funded by the European Regional Development Fund, offers small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) throughout the county the opportunity to make use of invaluable university resources in order to develop and grow in an innovative and sustainable way.

Said Mr Griffiths: “This project is about creating a positive environmental impact, but it’s also about supporting the business community in Cumbria to grow and thrive.”

Other contributors include Simon Brace, Lakes Electric Delivery Service (LEDS); Phil Davies, Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS); Al Wilson from the Centre for Leadership Performance (CfLP); Daniel Heery, Will Madden and Sue Gilbertson from Charge my Street.

Bookings can be made here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Invitation to learn about electric vehicles

The value of using electric vehicles will be the focus of a free one-day workshop for small and medium businesses in Cumbria.

Organised by Eco-Innovation Cumbria, the event will feature demonstrations by some of the region’s leading experts.

Key note speakers Helen Acott, Fleet Manager for the Energy Savings Trust, and  Regional Development Manager for Renault North West, Mathew Kiziuk, will explain how adopting electric vehicles will help businesses to progress,

And regional car specialists DSG will talk about the reality of using an electric vehicle: the practicality of the technology, emissions, range, lifespan, warranties, running costs, and charging.

The workshop, on February 26 at The Beacon in Whitehaven, aims to help firms understand the business case for EVs, and explain about the changing EV infrastructure in Cumbria.

Glyn Griffiths Eco-Innovation Cumbria Project manager said: “Businesses increasingly recognise their responsibility to help the environment. This workshop will explain how they can reduce impact on the environment and reduce CO2, at the same time building business partnerships and collaborations that will collectively help to create the change to a cleaner environment.”

He added: “This workshop will be fast-paced and interactive, encouraging exciting collaborations between organisations as well as innovative solutions. We hope it will appeal to those who have fleets of vehicles, cars and vans, traders and those who use vans for their work.”

Eco-Innovation Cumbria, a project funded by the European Regional Development Fund, offers small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) throughout the county the opportunity to make use of invaluable university resources in order to develop and grow in an innovative and sustainable way.

Said Mr Griffiths: “This project is about creating a positive environmental impact, but it’s also about supporting the business community in Cumbria to grow and thrive.”

Other contributors include Simon Brace, Lakes Electric Delivery Service (LEDS); Phil Davies, Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS); Al Wilson from the Centre for Leadership Performance (CfLP); Daniel Heery, Will Madden and Sue Gilbertson from Charge my Street

Bookings can be made here