Innovation is not rocket science

Making a big difference to your business needn't be complicated. Big things can happen through incremental changes, implementing new ideas, new approaches and new ways of thinking.

This is the theme of the Business Innovation for Growth (or BIG) Conference, taking place on Wednesday July 10 at Lancaster University and backed by Lancashire Business View.

The conference is designed to help Lancashire’s business leaders from all sectors to think differently about business growth. It's a chance to look at ways of growing businesses through exploiting new technologies and conquering new markets.

Martin Ainscough, from the leisure and hospitality sector, said: "For me the BIG conference last year highlighted how good design is essential in all parts of a business, in how we present our service and the customer journey.

"Innovation is not just about creating new products, it's about exploiting new techniques to create things in new cost effective ways, developing new business models and services that help you, help your clients and help you stand out from your competitors."

Delegates will hear from business and tech experts who have applied innovation and creative thinking to their own businesses - ultimately increasing sales, delivering efficiencies and contributing to the bottom line.

Martin Higginson, who started a publishing business at 19 which he later sold to IPC Magazines, will be presenting a keynote speech. Martin has since started numerous businesses including Monstermob Group plc - a mobile business that currently employs 1,000 people in 13 different countries.

Design guru Wayne Hemingway will lead a panel including Graham and Brown on 'how to build global brands'. Lancashire Enterprise Partnership board member and Queen's Award winner Dennis Mendoros will explain why growth will come from global markets. Clive Grinyer, Cisco's Director of Customer Experience will predict what could be travelling along the Superfast Lancashire broadband.

Charles Hadcock, chair of Creative Lancashire, said: "The unrelenting pace of change is redefining the way that we do business, but it can also bring a wealth of opportunity.

"Changing technology, emerging business models and expanding world economies will all affect the growth of Lancashire companies over the next ten years.

During the afternoon workshop innovation experts Pera Consulting will be running an innovation masterclass for business leaders who want to roll up their sleeves and get started on making changes.

The conference has been designed for business leaders and professionals from all sectors who are looking to implement new ideas throughout their business.

This year's BIG Conference will be held at the Lancaster Institute for Contemporary Arts (LICA) at Lancaster University on Wednesday 10July, from midday onwards.

For more information about BIG or to register visit http://www.creativelancashire.org/html/BIG2013_879.html