Deadline: 9-Dec-22
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is pleased to announce the applications for Pathfinder Accelerator Programme to support programme delivered through the Northern Innovation Hub, designed to build on and accelerate business innovation.
It is funded through the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal – a joint initiative supported by £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, The Highland Council, HIE and University of the Highlands and Islands. This programme also receives financial support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Innovation strategic intervention.
What to Expect
- Training and mentoring: Group sessions, masterclasses and 1-2-1 coaching by business experts and investors across a range of disciplines
- Networking opportunities: Connect with funders, investors and other key contacts. Form a lifelong bond with other entrepreneurs who are on the same journey.
- Accessible: Pathfinder is delivered online for a post-COVID world. This means no travel, 24/7 access to learning content, more touchpoints with expert coaches and the ability for you to fit it into your busy schedule, no matter where you're based.
- Practical: You can use what you learn from day one. Every programme touchpoint is designed to drive action, helping you move quickly towards your commercial goal.
Support
- Any organisation applying for funding from HIE must comply with their fair work conditions for financial support. This includes:
- Paying your employees aged 18 years or over the Real Living Wage as a minimum (currently £9.90 per hour).
- Having a flexible working policy in place and a current Fair Work action plan.
- You must also be able to demonstrate how you support workforce development and foster employee engagement.
What does the programme cover?
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Through a series of workshops, led by highly experienced trainers, the programme covers a range of business skills. These aim to help you boost your business and fast track the development, implementation and growth of new products, services, or business models. Topics covered in the programme include:
- Define and de-risk your venture
- Business model design
- Customer discovery
- Building and leading your team
- Funding your project
- Pitching to investors
- Scaling for growth
- As part of the programme, you will have access to coaching, mentoring and the opportunity to work with experienced investors and roundtable events with subject experts.
- Duration: The programme runs for 15 weeks. After this you will be invited to join their alumni events.
Eligibility Criteria
- Pathfinder Accelerator supports businesses, social enterprises, entrepreneurs and start-ups in the Highlands and Islands region looking to develop a product, service or business model that relates to technology, life sciences, IT, healthcare, engineering, or aquaculture. This includes businesses using technology to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- This business should be based in the Highlands and Islands region and looking to launch a new product or service or changing your business model. This includes businesses using technology to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery.
For more information, visit Pathfinder Accelerator.
For more information, visit https://www.hie.co.uk/support/browse-all-support-services/pathfinder-accelerator/