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Visit Business Link Northwest to access independent advice and guidance on the best support for your business.

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0845 0066 888
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Innovation Vouchers

Innovation Vouchers are designed to help Northwest businesses owners, entrepreneurs and social enterprises to purchase a knowledge provider's expertise to develop innovation and enhance business

The scheme provides a voucher up to £3,000 to growing businesses and social enterprises and was set up to encourage and make it easier for more people to engage with the knowledge base; in particular universities and further education colleges.

The key benefits are:

  • Access the wealth of knowledge from our knowldge base, including public and private sector research and technology organisations
  • Resolve a business issue, quickly, efficiently and through a source not previously utilised
  • Easy to apply and 'spend' the voucher
  • The scheme is funded by the NWDA and ERDF, so is a credible and stable way to fund your organisation's growth.

A larger voucher of £7,000, to be matched with £3,000 from the applying business, will be available at the end of 2009. This voucher will be for businesses that need a bigger piece of work undertaken by the Knowledge Providers, and where the piece of work would not be eligible for other NWDA grants.

Discover how Innovation Voucher recipients have used theirs.

Applications for Innovation Vouchers will be accepted during a series of Rounds:

  • 3 August 2009 - 28 August 2009
  • 7 December 2009 - 4 January 2010
    • 200 x £3,000 vouchers
    • 50 x £7,000 vouchers
  • 5 April 2010 - 30 April 2010
    • 200 x £3,000 vouchers
    • 50 x £7,000 vouchers
  • 2 August 2010 - 27 August 2010