Commercial Development Programme

Commercial Essentials – Open to Academic Staff

A series of 6 workshops covering all aspects of how to convert a “good idea” into a commercial enterprise.

There are many good ideas that could be turned into successful commercial ventures, but how many times does the “good idea” actually materialise into an active profitable business? All too often the “good idea” remains just that – a mixture of thoughts, plans and good intentions.

The aim of the programme of Commercial Essentials workshops is to help you move your “good idea” from a thought or a concept into a successful commercial business venture.

The workshops programme has been designed to provide an overview of all areas of information that are vital when building a business plan. Topics covered include:

Intellectual Property

Market research

Sales & Marketing

Finance & Funding

Business Planning

In addition, the workshops are intended to be interactive allowing plenty time for questions and discussions. There will also be a number of case studies and external speakers to add ‘real life’ content and context.

The workshops (beginning 18th November 2009) will be delivered by a select team of consultants, all currently employed in their particular field of expertise in the private sector, together with Northumbria Commercial Enterprises (NCE):

Ross Golightly of Sphera Consulting: sales & marketing, market research and business plan development.

Stephen Slater of R-M-T: accounting, financial issues and commercial considerations required to build a robust business plan.

Matthew Rippon of BHP Law: commercial legal issues and how to successfully trade on IP.

Claire Rutherford of Murgitroyd & Company: protection of IP including Patents, trademarks and copyright.

Graham Hopson of NCE: introducing Innovation Campus and outlining the commercial support available from NCE.

Commercial Ventures

One to One mentoring to support the development of commercial business ventures

Following on from the Commercial Essentials’ workshops, NCE will provide one to one mentoring to support the development of commercial business ventures that have been identified during the workshop programme.

NCE has a developed a large pool of external consultants. These consultants will be matched to your specific needs.

There will be an application process for this support. Further information about Commercial Ventures will be available in early 2010. Watch this space….

Commercial Essentials Workshop Programme

A programme of 6 workshops has been designed to provide the building blocks to enable participants to construct a sound business plan. Real life case studies and guest speakers are used throughout the programme providing live illustrations within the workshops. Each workshop is designed to be interactive and encourage questions and discussion.

The following provides an overview of workshop programme:

Workshop 1: Thinking commercially about research.18th November 2009 3:00-500pm

The structure of the workshop programme is outlined plus the additional support available including: clinics, mentoring, the on-going support offered by NCE .

Success stories from previous years. The process of evaluating the potential of an idea: initial market research, qualifying ideas

and various strategies to commercialise an “idea”.

Workshop 2: Planning Finance and Funding your Idea.21st January 2010 3:00-5:00pm (date TBC)

The commercial side to participants “idea” is reviewed with a range of funding development options discussed.

The importance of understanding financial considerations and the impact these have on a business.

How to get the best out of networking and support that is available. Selecting the best funding strategy for your business plan.

Workshop 3: Protecting Your Idea.10th February 2010 3:00-5:00pm

Outline support available from NCE in relation to IP protection.

Overview the different types of IP protection and select the best for your business idea. How to trade on IP: non disclosure agreement, using IP within a business and how IP issues

affect your business plan. Putting building blocks in place to ensure your idea is protected from competition and

choosing the best protection to maximise commercial potential.

Workshop 4: Developing Your Idea. 10th March 2010 3:00-5:00pm (date TBC)

Initiatives supported at Northumbria University: Innovation Seed Funding, HEIF4. What is needed to develop a presentation to potential customers? Why product development increases bargaining power. How to develop the “idea” to present to potential customers: creating prototypes/proof of

concept, understanding development on-costs, working under confidentiality, primary market research and project management.

Workshop 5: Understanding, Finding and Developing Markets.14th April 2010 3:00-5:00pm (date TBC)

Understand the structure of the target marketplace and different market characteristics: B2B, consumer, service industry, industrial.

Defining the target market; what/who is the customer base, who is the competition, what does the competition offer and how does this compare to what you offer?

Desk research: sources of useful data and free information. Developing market strategies for the Business Plan including: entry opportunities, sales &

marketing planning, distribution options, pricing, promotion.

Workshop 6: Putting your Business Plan into Action.5th May 2010 3:00-5:00pm

On-going commercial support available from NCE. Mentoring and other support opportunities. How to development and refine your Business Plan. Where to go next.

If you would like to reserve your place on the Commercial Essentials Workshop Programme please contact Gill King (Commercialisation Support Manager) on 0191 227 4300 or Gillian.king@northumbria.ac.uk