East of England
East of England announces a grant assisted programme
NETWORK FOR INNOVATION
BEST East
Network for Innovation - BEST East - offers grant support to develop innovation throughout the supply chain of capital construction and build projects from design through to product suppliers. SMEs in the supply chain learn how to innovate and develop their supply chain relationships with significant advantage to the customer and improved business opportunity for the SME. Working practices and processes are improved all along the supply chain to reduce costs, carbon emissions and waste, producing quicker builds in a more exciting and rewarding way for everyone.
What is it?
Network for Innovation forms part of 'Solutions for Business' - a highly targeted, publicly funded suite
of products and services offering solutions to real business needs and tackling market failure.
Network for Innovation BEST East is a regional scheme made possible with a £2million grant from the EU sponsored European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme which is managed locally by the East of England Development Authority (EEDA) and delivered through the BEST East Partnership.
Typically, a grant is offered to the supply chain as a whole with matched support from the client of the capital project. BEST East is led by client organizations and delivered by recognized regional industry support bodies.
Grants typically cover 30 per cent of the cost with the remaining funding provided by the client of the capital project. Costs are likely to be less than one percent of the capital but offer from 4 to 20% value improvements with quicker, cheaper, better quality and more sustainable solutions. The earlier BEST East involvement the greater the expected returns. Ideally Best East helps development of the Business Case.
Am I eligible?
Any East of England construction or build capital project is eligible with its supply chain. All organisations in the supply chain are helped with ERDF grant aid available to SMEs - eligibility criteria apply.
What are the assessment criteria?
- the client company undertaking the capital investment programme must be willing to participate, lead change and fund part of the programme.
- the client must also seek to reduce carbon emissions, water, waste and increase recycling.
- the organisations in the supply chain must be prepared to develop new methods and develop new sustainable services and products.
- everyone must be prepared to learn to innovate.
How do I apply?
Requests for further information should be made to one of the partner organisations listed at the end of this article or to John.Hall@constructingexcellence.org.uk phone 01268 569190.
Where can I go for further information and advice?
If you need to speak to someone more generally about your needs then your gateway to Solutions for Business products and services is Business Link where experienced advisors help match your organisation's needs to the most appropriate support. To find out more about Solutions for Business call Business Link on 0845 717 1615.
Programme
BEST East is led by the Construction Clients' Group - East (CCG-East) which all clients in the region both public and private sector are encouraged to join. CCG-East promotes a consistent message of performance improvement across the industry.
Delivery partners work together to ensure their services are delivered in an integrated manner maximising their combined impact on the project:
- Inspire East provide their Excellence Framework on-line toolkit and Design Review and Enabling service to ensure projects contribute to the creation of sustainable communities and deliver best practice by reference to nationally recognised standards and cross-disciplinary peer reviews.
- Collaborative Working Centre develops the integrated supply chain with appropriate procurement and creating the change culture, winning hearts and minds from the client all along the supply chain to the occupier and creating an environment for innovation to succeed.
- Build the East ensures every organisation in the supply chain has all the business basics in place and where deficiencies are identified sources remedies bring all businesses up to a high state of readiness to innovate.
- BRE provide a deep understanding of sustainability and the issues around sustainability helping the supply chain and organisations in the supply chain innovate and identify more sustainable services and products. BRE through their CLIP programme provide the tools for the supply chain to innovate and identify better practices and processes and work more effectively and efficiently reducing carbon, waste, water and increasing recycling.
- Constructing Excellence increase collaboration along the supply chain and ensure longer term access to a network of help and support for innovation.
- All parties at every intervention promote and encourage innovation from the client and all organisations along the supply chain, including design, installation and supplier organisations.
The Network for Innovation BEST East programme is part of the governments Solutions for Business. BEST East is funded by the EU through an ERDF grant managed by EEDA, led by the Construction Clients' Group - East and delivered by the BEST East Partnership.
BEST East Partnership
BEST East Organisation
Chairman, Construction Client Group - East, Peter Geall, Essex CC
Chairman, BEST East Operations Board, John Hall, Constructing Excellence in East of England, john.hall@constructingexcellence.org.uk, 01268 569190
Vice Chairman, Best East Operations Board, Martin Watson BRE
Board Members and Partners:
Peter Weavers - Build the East
Mark Deas - Inspire East
Martyn Baker - Collaborative Working Centre
For information on the programme from EEDA see click
For an EEDA Press release see click
Page last up dated 19th November 2009