Business Support

Welcome to Thames Valley Innovation & Growth Team

The Thames Valley Innovation & Growth Team (IGT) exists to assist businesses who realise the importance of innovation, and who have the ambition to grow rapidly. As part of South East Business Innovation & Growth, a SEEDA (South East England Development Agency) funded business support infrastructure, Thames Valley is one of eight Innovation & Growth Teams in the South East providing local, tailored assistance via a team of business experts called Portfolio Directors. Their Portfolio Directors have created, managed, grown and sold businesses. Consequently, they are perfectly positioned to work with the management teams of high growth companies throughout the Thames Valley area.

Expert business advice delivered by business experts

Portfolio Directors bring all their personal experience and the combined expertise of the IGT to business leaders, constructing an action plan bespoke to their business. The aim is to provide eligible companies with expert support, advice and guidance, which is largely free of charge and designed to help business of all sizes along every stage of growth. "In addition to providing one-to-one input, Thames Valley IGT supports a broad network of exciting companies. This ‘Community of Innovation’ consists of rapidly growing businesses of all sizes who take advantage of workshops and networking meetings as well as a pool of wider resources.” Ed Cooper Operations Director & Portfolio Director My experience has come from a number of very diverse roles. I’ve been a contract manager on a number of capital-intensive construction projects. I was the environmental manager on the £2.5m restoration of the former Greenham Common airbase, and I was an Enterprise Hub Director working with start-ups for seven years before becoming an IGT "Our role is to work in partnership with innovative and fast growth businesses at every stage of their development path through advice, coaching, mentoring, networking and making intelligent connections. IGT provides

• Bespoke support to meet the specific needs of your venture’s development and commercialisation plans
• A team with wide ranging commercial experience and practical business knowledge. Portfolio directors have all worked in senior positions in large and small businesses, most in their own businesses
• Networks, including Mobile Communications and Life Sciences networks, peer groups and events to share experiences and encourage collaboration
• High growth and start-up accelerator programmes

Greenham Common Trust has also opened an Innovation Centre in Basingstoke in partnership with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and SEEDA to help support fledgling businesses and help them grow. Business support services and venture capital investment advice is available on site as well as professional education and training. Find out more. For more information please contact IGT portfolio director for the Newbury area Ed Cooper on T: 01635 500301 M: 07899 794794 E: ed.cooper@innovationgrowth.co.uk W: www.innovationgrowth.co.uk/thamesvalley Download more information on Thames Valley Innovation and Growth

Download the Innovation Centre floor space PDF

Download the Innovation Centre Availability and Price List PPT