Innovation Networking Breakfast

Join our Innovation networking breakfast to find out how you can access our Innovation service, including the new GM Innovation Navigator programme and learn how it can help accelerate your innovation projects to commercialisation by connecting you to local innovation specialists, research partners, and funding across Greater Manchester.

Attendees will take away from the session:

· Increase awareness of the Innovation Service

· Potential to work with specialists across Greater Manchester

· Referral to Local Innovation Connector for bespoke support

· Access to financial support

Bio of Deliverers

Mark Tibbenham CEng

Local Innovation Connector – Rochdale

An award-winning Business Leader, Chairman and Entrepreneur

Having owned a manufacturing business in Rochdale, Mark is a proud ambassador and advocate for the region. Over the years he has forged business relationships at the highest levels and developed networks that include local industry, particularly in the manufacturing sector, ties with regional universities and schools as well as sitting on national bodies such as the BSIA.

As a Chairman and Managing Director, Mark is an experienced business leader with an eye for identifying opportunity. He has expert knowledge of P&L, project management and business transformation, along with an impressive record for leading, training and developing teams. Mark is comfortable developing beneficial relationships with stakeholders at all levels, on a global scale and has in-depth experience with all the different aspects of large-scale management, including budgeting, man-management, resource management and performance management/KPIs. He is passionate about innovation and utilising the latest technology, industry trends and best practices to reduce costs, maximise productivity and delivering results. As a strategy developer, his work has been recognised by both President Nelson Mandela for Export and Her Majesty The Queen for Enterprise in the Category of International Trade.

Belinda Carp 

Primary Skills:

• product and service innovation
• environmental responsibility
• project management
• idea generation

Additional Skills:

• networking
• strategic planning
• research and writing
• business communications

 Belinda grew up in the Greater Manchester area, and has spent more than three decades working in small businesses – primarily in the textiles sector.

She studied Business Sustainability Management with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) in 2019 and became a Climate Reality Leader in 2020.

For 20+ years, Belinda worked in a sales and marketing role at a specialist publishing company, providing research-based business information on the global textile industry to senior executives in the industry and to international trade organisers, to inform their strategy for the textile industry. This gave her a wealth of experience in such areas as strategy, research, analysis, leadership and management, and, above all, communications – as well as a variety of editorial responsibilities.

More recently, Belinda has specialised in helping companies to develop and implement their sustainability strategies and to communicate their message clearly to businesses and consumers. She has also written many research reports, magazine articles and blogs on textiles and sustainability, to raise awareness of environmental and social responsibility, and to educate consumers and businesses about the benefits of developing a more sustainable supply chain.

Belinda is currently working as an Innovation Specialist with the GM Business Growth Hub, helping companies in Greater Manchester to develop and commercialise their new products and services.

Eligibilty Criteria:

GM based businesses withing Advanced Manufacturing, Health and Life Sciences, Digital and Creative and Net Zero and Other Sectors

As this workshop is fully-funded, businesses are subject to funders' eligibility criteria. If your place is confirmed, you will receive an email from us with further details.

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