NEWI and Business – Creating Networks

16 April 2007

Members of the North Wales business community joined academics and operational staff at a specially arranged event at NEWI to talk about the advantages of working together to support economic development in the area. 

The one day conference took place in NEWI’s Gallery 103 last week and was attended by individuals from a range of private and public sector organisations.  All of those who attended have an interest in exploring partnerships between NEWI and the business community. 

Speakers at the conference included Professor Graeme Wilkinson, Assistant Principal at NEWI who spoke on the challenges of University-Industry Collaboration and Dr Alexis McLean, who takes up a post in NEWI’s Wrexham Business School this week, on her research into networking.   Tim McCaffrey from Swansea University gave a presentation on a successful programme developed in Lancaster to develop collaborative relationships between the university and SMEs and Paul Tincello of the Dee Valley Partnership talked about social enterprises in regeneration and how they have worked with NEWI.

The afternoon included a presentation from David Bryant on Johnsons Business Development which was then followed by an open discussion on the opportunities and that exist to work together.  Professor Graeme Wilkinson said, “It was a very valuable day and I think everyone who attended gained something from it. It was very useful for us to her first hand from local business people about the sort of help and support they need.”