The Knowledge Exchange, Ground floor, The Rose Bowl, Leeds Beckett University, LS1 3HB | Thursday 16th November 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Event Overview:

This event is delivered in collaboration with Leeds City Council, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds Beckett University.

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Join us for the next in a quarterly series of masterclasses providing SME business owners and directors the opportunity to share insights and experience, as well as hear from business support professionals about the wide range of advice and financial support available.

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West Yorkshire Innovation Festival returns 13-17 November 2023, showcasing and celebrating innovation across our region. Join us then for the next in our series of masterclasses providing SME business owners and directors the opportunity to share insights and experience, as well as hear from business support professionals about the wide range of advice and financial support available.

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Whether it’s introducing a new product, entering new markets or identifying new ways of doing business, innovation is a key ingredient to business success. And there are a number of reasons why SMEs are a key driver of innovation in the UK economy. While they don’t have the resources and budgets of larger companies, they are able to execute new ideas more quickly. They also have smaller, closer-knit teams that are better at working together and they can adapt faster to changes in technology and the market.

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Hear from business owners and decision makers talking about the vital importance of new ideas, invention and change plays the success of their businesses. A series of case studies will highlight the role of innovation in the manufacture cutting edge technical and high-quality textiles, the use of digital technologies to transform productivity and the way businesses operates, and the way design and product development can disrupt traditional markets to create new opportunities:

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• Amanda McLaren, Managing Director, AW Hainsworth 

• Mark Suaznabar, Systems Manager, Dempsey Dyer 

• Richard Hall, owner of design consultancy PD-m International, and regional director of trade body British Design Innovation 

• Lebene Soga, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Leeds Beckett University 

• Louise Bermingham, Senior Service Manager (Innovation), West Yorkshire Combined Authority / Innovate UK Edge

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Getting here  
Where possible, please try to travel sustainably to The Knowledge Exchange. 

• Address – The Knowledge Exchange, Ground floor, The Rose Bowl, Portland Way, Leeds, LS1 3HB (use the lower doors to the main atrium/café area, The Knowledge Exchange is on the right as you enter). 

• Train – We are a 10-minute walk or a 5-minute cycle from Leeds Station. Follow Park Row to Millennium Square and enter The Rose Bowl building behind Leeds City Council.  

• Bus – The closest bus stops are Portland Way (number 5) or Woodhouse Lane (numbers 1, 8, 26, 56 and 97).   

• Bike – There are multiple cycle lanes leading to The Rose Bowl and bike parking directly outside The Knowledge Exchange (check out the City Connect journey planner to find a route). There is a docking station near The Rose Bowl for hired city e-bikes. 

• Parking – There is limited parking below The Rose Bowl building, more spaces are available across the road at Woodhouse Lane Car Park. 

Accessibility

Please contact Becky at TKE@leedsbeckett.ac.uk if you or any of your guests would like to talk through access requirements. You can find The Rose Bowl building on AccessAble. 

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