The Design Council and the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) Ltd are working in partnership to deliver an exciting programme to help forward thinking businesses to stay ahead of the competition.
Developed by the Design Council and supported by government, the Design Leadership Programme which provides businesses with access to expert design support to help them develop and grow.
The programme includes a tailored package of high calibre design-led support which introduces design as a framework for innovation as well as access to Design Council tools and techniques; which can then be used to help identify and exploit opportunities for maximum effect.
Elizabeth Shaw, Innovation Manager at the North East BIC said: “For many businesses design relates solely to the shaping and styling of products but used effectively it can be so much more and in many instances it has helped to transform the way businesses think and work.”
To demonstrate how the initiative can benefit business, the BIC held an introductory workshop in conjunction with NBSL and design associates Nick Devitt and Robert Bewick.
Also present was Eddie Czestochowski, managing director of battery specialists Cell Pack Solutions Ltd who’d previously tapped into the programme to help streamline service activity to improve internal processes.
Eddie Czestochowski said: “Having moved from three small individual business units in a managed business centre into our own purpose built manufacturing building we had gone through a fairly traumatic change in our culture and working practices. The Design Leadership programme has helped to relook at our service offering and has helped to remind us what we were good at, and importantly where the gaps are.
“It really encouraged us to take apart and develop new communication and reporting channels. As a result we’ve rationalised our activity, spotted trends and enhanced our internal processes which has paid huge dividends for the business.”
Robert Bewick, design associate said: “The initiative really helps businesses to get to grips with their proposition, utilising design to help them focus on the areas that need developing.
“All too often businesses think about design in terms of branding but as Cell Pack Solutions demonstrate there is so much more to design, and it is wonderful to see businesses in the North East embracing it as an opportunity to innovate and grow.”
The next Design Leadership Workshop takes place at the North East BIC on Friday 10th October. For more information on the Design Leadership Programme or to register your interest contact Lauren Saul on 0191 516 6107.
