HOVIP - Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme

• Sole Traders
• Businesses with less than 20 employees
• Businesses with more than 20 employees
  • Case Study
• Social Enterprise Business

Testimonials

"Very good tools and techniques to address the issues businesses face. I will definitely use to generate innovative marketing ideas."

Jenny White, Owner, The HR Partnership.

SMEs with more than 20 Employees Case Studies

1. Royvon Dog Training School (25 employees: Merthyr and Esher)

   Challenges

   • To encourage employees to take more ownership of change and improvement
   • To raise the local profile of both the Merthyr and Esher (Surrey) Schools given initial emphasis on UK-wide customer base
   • To increase the capacity for innovation

   Progress

   • Identified a range of ideas (e.g. approaching local vets, school open days, school visits etc), during the workshop, to raise their profile in the Heads of the Valleys
   • Generating additional income of c£1500 per month as result of using the workshop techniques during team meetings and identifying and implementing new services (e.g. fitness, socialisation and games classes) for boarders
   • The internal skills transfer has also included colleagues using the workshop techniques to improve the arrangements and responsibilities for ordering dog food
   • Produced an Innovation Report and Action Plan as a result of an organisation wide survey. The Report provided one input to helping Royvon achieve Investors in People accreditation. Management have approved the recommendations which include the piloting of new grass roots driven communication processes.

   Workshop feedback

   "Excellent. Would highly recommend. Go for it! It's hard to think of ideas at work. This workshop gives you a chance to step back and think clearly. Great advice. Really enjoyed."

   Sarah Draper, Director

2. Williams Medical Supplies plc (160 employees)

   Challenges

   • To establish a more planned and strategic approach to innovation
   • To enhance the WMS ideas scheme
   • To develop the capability of the Employee Forum
   • To encourage WMS employees to take more ownership of change and improvement

   Progress

   • 3 on-site Creativity and Innovation Workshops delivered in addition to one employee attending a cross sector HOVIP workshop
   • Ideas to enhance the WMS Product Catalogue which will be incorporated in the next issue
   • A project to improve the senior management recruitment process (e.g. including a virtual tour of the area and company)
   • The Employee Forum, who attended the on and off-site Creativity and Innovation Workshops are now using the techniques with colleagues to achieve real benefits:
     • Developed and implemented ideas for an internal environmental awareness campaign which has resulted in WMS achieving the Green Dragon Award (Level 2)
     • Improved content and layout of the corporate website
     • Implementing ideas to change the internal perception of the ICT group (e.g. ranging from the creation of customer service '10 commandments' through to taking individual ICT names off the telephone listing to encourage staff to contact ICT via the Help Desk)
   • The role of the Employee Forum is being transformed from, for example, a policy review and internal communications channel to a group that instigates and facilitates internal improvement in the light of the examples above
   • The Managing Director has given the Employee Forum (which is predominantly a non-managerial group) a budget of £10k to progress improvements, including ideas that have emerged from the innovation training
   • The HR Director used the innovation techniques on a Management Away Day to generate ideas on how to raise awareness of a new benefits package
   • The Managing Director wants the innovation techniques to become business-as-usual and a standard working practice for all employees
   • About to launch the internal WINNOVATE programme to promote and sustain internal innovation
   • Finalised the pending innovation survey questionnaire following feedback from employees

   Workshop feedback

   "I would recommend the innovation training to the whole of WMS as it is a fantastic learning experience. Absolutely brilliant! Can't wait for the next session!"

   Kelly Hughes, Sales

   "Just the right time and opportunity to use this new knowledge. To anyone thinking about doing this training – JUST DO IT! It's a whole new way of thinking"

   Paul Williams, Warehouse Operations

   "Definitely attend the HOVIP workshops as you can only benefit when learning how to think creatively."

   Cath Godwin, ICT Manager

   "Go for it! Go along with an open mind and you'll be surprised at what you can get out of the session."

   Cathryn Griffiths, HR