North Tyneside Innovation Project

North Tyneside Council wish to engage with one supplier to continue the delivery of the specialist support service to the Business Factory pre start and new businesses. Where possible the support will be delivered within the Business Factory premises where a hot desk and use of a 3D printer will be provided. The service would be expected to offer advice to pre start and existing businesses and the minimum topics covered would be:

• Advice and guidance – This includes basic information regarding protection of the idea (Intellectual Property Rights), market research, raising finance and investment, design and development of the product or service, the steps involved in the commercialisation process, the options available and the next steps to be taken.
• A minimum of 7 workshops covering all the aspects of taking an idea to market, covering in detail the forms of protection available and how trade marks, patents and designs can be used to protect ideas and inventions. It will also cover what options are available to commercialise the idea including outright IPR sale, manufacture under license, setting up a business around the idea and finally the potential costs that might be involved.
• This service will provide the client with a set of computer generated conceptual drawings (CAD if required) and a 3D prototype if possible, With these the client can move forward along the path described in the workshop.

It is expected that successful contractor will market the programme with the support of the Project Officer and recruit eligible North Tyneside residents. The organisation may wish to explore the possibility of creating some sort of competition to reach a wider audience and help gain a higher level of interest.