CITY SIGNS ARE A DIAMOND COMPANY

Professional signs, banner printing and vehicle graphic business City Signs is celebrating its diamond anniversary after clocking up 60 years in business this year.

Founded in 1960, the Worcesterbased company is celebrating by fundraising for the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust.

Family-owned City Signs aims to raise £6,000 for the local cancer charity by holding fundraising events throughout the year.

City Signs, based in Hallow, was founded by Horace Wilkins in Luton, Bedfordshire.

Five years after completing his apprenticeship in signwriting, he moved to a modest shop unit on Foregate Street in Worcester and began specialising in traditional signwriting.

Darren Wilkins, CitySigns’ Managing Director, said: “What better way to mark our 60th anniversary than supporting a charity which matches our own family values.

“Grace Kelly was a special little girl who was taught to dance by my sister Debbie, the owner of Happy Steps in Worcester. We feel passionate about putting our celebrations to a good cause to raise awareness and funds for a charity so ingrained in our community.”

Midlands firms advise on software company employee buyout deal

A Midlands law firm and a national accountancy practice have played lead roles advising over the employee buyout of award-winning Alcester software company, Vectric Ltd.

Corporate partner Clare Lang and trusts expert Gary Priest from mfg Solicitors advised founder Brian Moran and the firm’s executive board on the deal, which has seen the company’s 24 employees take a controlling stake in the business through an employee ownership trust.

Chartered accountants and tax advisers, Toby Stephenson and Jay Boyce from MHA MacIntyre Hudson structured the deal, providing tax and accountancy advice and working closely with the mfg team.

The CNC software firm, which has previously received two Queen’s Awards for Enterprise and International Trade, is a specialist in creating software for CNC routing, milling and engraving. Its speciallydeveloped software helps clients to quickly create precise toolpaths and designs.

Founded in 2005 by Brian Moran, the company will continue to be headed by Managing Director Edward Powell with Brian stepping back from day-today control.

New ideas are central to the innovation process and protecting them is critical to successful development and commercialisation. WINN’s Proof of Concept Manager Hannah Ross works closely with the business community to provide grant funding and business support, which can help businesses to understand and access IP information, support, and services.

“Creating a new idea can be a true ‘lightbulb’ moment, but safeguarding that idea can be daunting and complex. For me, it’s really important that innovators can access the information and support required to protect their intellectual property, so they can get on with the exciting business of commercialising!”

Proof of Concept Grant Funding

Proof of Concept is a grant fund that supports businesses to create, develop and commercialise new products and services. Grants of up to £30,000 can be used for:

 New tooling and equipment

 Creating a prototype, including necessary raw materials

 Product testing and certification

 IP/trademark protection

 Outsourcing costs for first production batches

 External market research

 Marketing material

 Product launch

Proof of Concept has been available since 2016 and many applicant businesses have used the funding to pursue patents and trademarks or register design rights. In these cases, grant funding has helped businesses to overcome the major financial barriers preventing them from developing and commercialising their IP.

Innovation Launchpad

WINN’s new business support initiative, the Innovation Launchpad has been designed to help businesses transform their mindset, define their goals and access the specialist support required to accelerate their business success.

Phase 1: businesses receive 1:1 transformational coaching, critical business planning, and hear from innovative speakers during a 6hr ‘mission day’.

Phase 2: businesses receive four 1:1 bespoke specialist support sessions delivered at their business premises.

Intellectual Property expertise is available in Phase 2 and can help businesses to identify their IP and understand how it can be protected. This won’t always involve patents, and businesses can really benefit from understanding the best approach to adopt.

Intellectual Property Insight

In partnership with The Hive, Hannah will be providing impartial IP support at several county libraries. The initiative is supported by the Business and Intellectual Property Centre (BIPC), which is a partnership between the British Library and the UK Intellectual Property Office. This partnership is aimed at providing free or very low cost business and IP support to entrepreneurs and SMEs through 1-1 sessions, workshops, networking events and free access to a variety of resources such as market research databases. Worcestershire Libraries will be joining the BIPC network later this year with The Hive being the central hub however, IP support will be in place starting March 2020.

If you are interested in any of these initiatives, please visit WINNs website winn-hub.com

The Proof of Concept Project has received £2,575,157 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.

For more information visit www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding