HOVIP - Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme

• Hands On Support
• Clusters
• Creativity and Innovation Workshop
• SalesCo Pilot
• Innovation Awards
• Innovation Marketplace Event
• Turning Heads Club
• Joint Innovation Initiatives

Testimonials

"Excellent. I have gained an alternative approach for my future marketing strategy."

Suman Ghose, Operations Director, Golden Dragon Ltd.

Links

• London 2012 Opportunities

  CompeteFor is a ‘business dating agency’ that will match companies in Wales to opportunities subcontracting and supplying London 2012 contractors. Find out more at www.sell2wales.co.uk/olympics.html

• The Alchemy Suite, Brynmawr

  Turn your ideas into gold at the Alchemy Suite, near Brynmawr. This provides ‘budding entrepreneurs’ with the ideal environment to develop their business. For more information please contact Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council on 01495 355700 or download this The Alchemy Suite brochure(PDF ).

• Blaenau Gwent Business Development Services

  The Business Services Team is dedicated to helping businesses start, grow and develop within Blaenau Gwent.  The team offers guidance and support in relation to sites and premises, financial assistance and general business issues. For information please browse www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/business/30.asp

• Business in Wales – media opportunity

  Download information here (PDF )

• Caerphilly Business Development Services

  Please browse www.caerphilly.gov.uk/site.aspx to find out more about business support and advice, business property and sites, doing business with the council and the conference facilities available in Caerphilly County Borough.

• Chwarae Teg Agile Nation

  New ways of working in the 21st Century. Find out more about this exciting new project which promotes gender equality, support career advancement and contribute to the reduction of the pay gap. Visit www.agilenation.co.uk.

• Europen - Pen International

  Europen - Pen International is the worldwide practice firms network with over 5500 practice firms in 42 countries. A practice firm is a virtual company and a centre of vocational learning that runs like a "real" business silhouetting a "real" firm's business procedures, products and services. Each practice firm trades with other practice firms. See www.europen.info for more information. HOVIP is currently in the process of securing funding for a related International Trade Fair, to be hosted in Merthyr in Easter 2011, in partnership with Europen – Pen International and Coleg Morgannwg (the UK holder of the practice firms franchise, www.colegmorgannwg.ac.uk). Relevant Trade Fair updates will be added to www.hovip.org.uk/latest-news.php

• Finance Wales

  Finance Wales makes commercial investments in Wales-based businesses with the potential to grow. They will invest in SME’s, social enterprises and creative commercial projects.

  www.financewales.co.uk/default.aspx

• Global Academy Prince of Wales Innovation Scholarships

  Targeted at the best graduate talent across the World, the Prince of Wales Innovation Scholarships will provide 100 prestigious 3 year PhD scholarships in welsh businesses between 2009 and 2012. The aim of the project will be to help improve business access to research and development and cutting-edge thinking and, from this, generating new products, processes, patents and services. Download Global Academy Business Opportunity flyer.

• Go Wales

  Graduate Opportunities Wales is an employability and business development programme that encourages businesses and graduates in Wales to get the most out of working together. Offers businesses the opportunity to offering work experience to a student or graduate, take advantage of the cash support for staff training, recruit a student or graduate through a work placement or advertise a vacancy free of charge.

  www.gowales.co.uk
  0845 225 60 50

• Heads of the Valleys Regeneration Initiative

  The Heads of the Valleys Programme is a 15 year regeneration strategy, from 2005, developed in full partnership with five local authorities, (Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Blaenau-Gwent and Torfaen), and other local stakeholders to tackle the root causes of economic inactivity and other key issues in the area within the context of the Wales Spatial Plan.
  See www.wales.gov.uk/headsofthevalleys

• Inside Welsh Industry Scheme

  A programme to promote industry best practice in Wales
  Visit www.insidewelshindustry.org.uk

• Merthyr Tydfil Social Enterprise Network (MTSEN)

  MTSEN events offer relaxing and welcoming opportunities to network, share experiences, do business and make a real difference to social justice and local community regeneration. Join our network and you will find a diverse range of interactive workshops and seminars relevant to your organisation's needs, with key speakers discussing issues of crucial concern to the sector. For information please browse www.mtsen.org

• National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA)

  NESTA invest in early-stage companies, inform and shape policy, and deliver practical programmes that inspire others to solve the big challenges of the future. Please browse www.nesta.org.uk to find out more about our investments portfolio, policy and research work and approaches to innovation.

• National Minimum Wage Helpline

  0845 6000 678

  www.hmrc.gov.uk/nmw

• Orbit Business Centre, Merthyr Tydfil

  For meeting rooms / conference facilities please contact reception on 01685 352 700. For office space enquiries please contact Sharon Phillips on 01685 725 016. See www.orbitbusinesscentre.co.uk or download the Orbit Business Centre brochure (PDF ) for more information.

• Rhondda Cynon Taf Business Club

  Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT business club provides a relaxed and welcoming environment in which new contacts can be made, wider networks established and business opportunities increased. For more information about the Club and other RCT business development services please browse www.rctbusinessclub.co.uk.

• Sell2Wales Directory

  Promote your business free to the biggest buyer in Wales – the public sector. Keep ahead of the game with automatic alerts of suitable opportunities. Register now.
  www.sell2wales.co.uk

• Torfaen Business Development Services

  Please browse www.torfaen.org if you are or want to be a business based in Torfaen and need support and advice.

• Workforce Development Programme

  For information on skills support available to your organisation then please download this flyer or contact our Business Skills Hotline on 0845 60 661 60.
  Download Workforce Development Programme Flyer