BIG GROWTH: INNOVATION PROGRAMMES
A fully funded programme of innovation support for South London-based enterprises.
Programme overview
The BIG Growth: Innovation Programmes have been designed to support your next growth goal.
How? By bespoke collaborations with leading academics from London South Bank University (LSBU).
With an impressive track record of innovative tech and business solutions, LSBU can help you develop a product/service, carry out research, evaluate concepts, secure investment, develop a circular economy solution, and much more.
Currently, there are four innovation programmes and a range of workshops available and you could be eligible to join more than one.
Click a link to find out more or register:
Programme journey
During each programme, you will have the opportunity to apply for an academic collaboration with experts from across LSBU.
We will work with you to determine the scope of your collaboration and offer one-to-one sessions with academic mentors and subject matter experts. You will also have regular progress meetings with the BIG project management team.
Meetings will take place online or in person at LSBU's Southwark Campus, conveniently located in the heart of London.
Who can take part?
This programme is open to start-ups, established businesses, social enterprises, and charities in the following London boroughs: Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, and Wandsworth.
Digital Health and Wellbeing
FROM JANUARY 2024
This unique opportunity supports enterprises to access high-quality expertise at a world-leading level on a fully funded basis.
Collaborate with LSBU academics from the Schools of Applied Sciences or Engineering on the design, development or testing of your digital health and wellbeing product or service.
The scope of the academic collaboration may include technical support in the development of products or services or research projects to independently evaluate your product for usability, safety and/or efficacy.
Any technology area is relevant, including but not limited to, wearable devices, virtual reality applications, remote patient monitoring, AI, app development, healthcare analytics and Big Data and healthcare cybersecurity to support mental health, wellbeing, healthy living, and illness prevention.
The programme is open for registration.
Circular Economy
FROM MAY 2024
Circular Economy refers to strategies and practices aimed at minimising waste and maximising the use of resources by keeping products, components, and materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, recycling, and regeneration.
This is a unique opportunity to work with pioneering Circular Economy experts on a fully funded basis. We will support your business or third-sector organisation to create Circular Economy solutions or implement Circular Economy principles.
The format is a series of easy-to-access online webinars, plus the opportunity to gain dedicated expertise from one of LSBU’s academic teams to either evaluate an existing product or service or provide expertise to develop a new one.
The programme content will apply to your business whether you operate in a high-tech or low-tech sector. Here are some of the key areas we will cover:
- Introduction to Circular Economy
- Eco-design and design for circularity
- Introducing circular solutions to your enterprise
- Increasing your existing circular solutions and improving your products and services
- Measuring circularity
- Introduction to the principles of life cycle sustainability assessment (LCA) and circularity
- How to use the Circular Data Centre Compass (CDCC) - an online tool designed to assist data centre industry businesses in IT design/procurement/end-of-life decision making
This four-month programme will culminate in a showcase enabling you to demo your solutions, expand your network and build momentum for your enterprise. It could also lead to a longer-term collaboration with LSBU.
The programme is open for registration.
Close the loop on sustainability: join our introductory workshop!
Wednesday 6 November | 13:00 to 16:00 | LSBU Southwark Campus SE1
Are you ready to take the first step towards a more sustainable future for your business?
This workshop is the perfect opportunity to dive into the essentials of green business practices. Whether you're new to the concept of the circular economy or looking to enhance your current strategies, this session will provide valuable insights into waste minimisation and sustainable growth.
The workshop is open to all, but is also forms part of our fully-funded Circular Economy Innovation Programme, in partnership with BIG South London. On the day you'll have access to expert guidance from LSBU research fellows who will bring specialised industry knowledge to help align your business with the latest net zero strategies.
It's never too late for SMEs to embrace sustainability and make a real difference. Let's start your journey towards a greener, more resilient future.
Register now and be part of the change!
Creative and Digital Tech
FROM MAY 2024
This fully funded programme, based out of London South Bank University’s Immersive Media Hub invites South London-based businesses and third-sector organisations working with creative technologies.
Successful participants will have access to a range of creative, content production technologies including:
- Virtual reality
- Motion capture
- Virtual production
- High-end editing workstations
The programme will offer various types of support, regardless of whether you or your business is familiar with immersive technology or not, with group-based workshops available to those looking to test and explore new technology and gain a better understanding of how creative tech can enhance their productivity, or be used for prototyping new products and services.
You also will be available to engage in ‘Academic to Business’ collaborations by being paired with academic expertise from LSBU’s School of Arts and Creative Industries. These collaboration opportunities provide businesses with bespoke, 1-2-1 support and differ from the workshop designed as introductory and idea-provoking support.
This programme is open for registrations.
Improving London Communities
FROM JULY 2024
Transform your organisation's impact with the BIG Growth Programme, designed for third sector organisations, charities, B-Corps, start-ups, and social enterprises working across London in areas like youth support, homelessness relief, wellness programs, and social care. This fully funded four-month programme offers you the tools and knowledge to elevate your services and drive meaningful change in your community.
Through hands-on workshops, industry-specific networking events, and expert consultancy from LSBU's School of Applied Sciences, you'll learn how to embed metrics and measurements into your day-to-day business processes. Understand the critical importance of tracking and analysing data to gain deep insights into your users' needs and the effectiveness of your services. Discover how to apply logic models and evidence pyramids to enhance your decision-making and achieve tangible results, from tailoring your services to applying for funding with the data you collect.
Participants will also benefit from exploring new features and products for their existing platforms, or even building new ones, all with the support of LSBU's academic experts. Plus, connect with a talented pool of students for potential placements, internships, and collaborative projects that can bring fresh perspectives to your work.
What format will it take?
The support through the BIG programme may include:
- Exploring your stakeholders’ experiences to understand what works and what doesn’t.
- Identifying new needs/priorities that you could target as proposed by your stakeholders.
- Evaluating data that you already have, being used demonstrate your success and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Exploring the acceptability and effectiveness of potential new offerings your organisation might extend to your communities.
Eligibility: This programme is open to start-ups, established businesses, social enterprises, B-Corps, and charities based in Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond, Southwark, Sutton, and Wandsworth.
Join the BIG Growth Programme and equip your organisation with the knowledge and tools to make a lasting impact—apply now and drive positive change in your community!
This programme is now open for registration.
Embedding metrics and measurements into your business processes
Tuesday 12 November | 09:15 to 14:45 | LSBU Hub Southwark SE1
Utilising metrics in your day-to-day operations is crucial in helping you make well-informed decisions for your organisation.
Gain valuable insights into why it is important to do so and how to track and analyse data effectively to drive informed decision-making and achieve tangible results.
Join our workshop and learn how to embed metrics and measurements into your day-to-day business processes, most significantly understanding your users and how effective your services are to them. Gain valuable insights into why it is important to do so and how to track and analyse data effectively to drive informed decision-making and achieve tangible results, which could include a more tailored service to your user’s needs and the possibility of using data gathered to apply for funding.
Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your team with the tools they need to measure success and drive continuous improvement.
Sign up now and take the first step towards a more data-driven and successful future for your organisation!
Low Carbon
FROM SEPTEMBER 2024
This is a unique opportunity to connect you with LSBU's world-renowned School of Engineering academics and expert consultants on a fully funded basis.
This programme is best suited to any enterprise seeking to reduce the carbon footprint, or, is aiming to develop low carbon solutions. Or, implement low carbon and energy saving principles into their business model. Through academic collaboration, we plan to support you in bringing new cleantech products, processes, and services to market.
During the programme, you will have access to LSBU's state-of-the-art facilities which range from wet chemistry labs and materials testing equipment, to software modelling and simulation tools.
Across the four months you will join workshops to support you in understanding key principles of low carbon solutions and work with LSBU experts to:
- Reduce your energy consumption, operating costs, and CO2 emissions
- Explore securing investment to reach growth ambitions
- Develop a Minimal Viable Product (MVP)
- Develop, test, and improve a product
- Build a sustainable business model
This programme will finish with a showcase allowing you to demo your products and services, expand your network, and build momentum for your business which could also lead to longer-term collaboration with LSBU.
This programme is now open for registration.
Energy saving support
Practical advice for small businesses
Thursday 24 October | 13:00 to 17:00 | LSBU Southwark Campus SE1
Looking for energy-saving advice for your business that will save the planet and your bottom line?
Join London South Bank University (LSBU) to explore how energy-saving principles could not only reduce energy consumption and minimise environmental impact but also improve your business’s profitability too.
The session will explore practical steps you can take to reduce your business's carbon footprint and increase sustainability, while also highlighting how LSBU can play a vital role in helping businesses achieve these objectives.
This upcoming workshop offers a unique opportunity for your business to discover and implement actionable low-carbon strategies that are available right now. This includes academic collaborations for product development, carbon reduction support, LSBU’s Heating and Cooling Group, and LSBU's Energy Advice Centre.
Don't miss your chance - register today
Funding information
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
UKSPF is a central pillar of the UK government’s improvement agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
Need more information?
No problem, our friendly project management team is ready to answer your queries and questions.