Business

Queen's University to offer free Covid-19 support programme for SMEs

The free-to-attend 12-week programme has been part-funded by Department for the Economy.
The free-to-attend 12-week programme has been part-funded by Department for the Economy. The free-to-attend 12-week programme has been part-funded by Department for the Economy.

A FREE support programme for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) has been launched by Queen University.

Adapt4Growth has been designed to help smaller firms maintain a competitive position in global markets, secure jobs and increase productivity during and following the Covid-19 crisis.

An initial pilot is already underway with businesses from across the north, with future courses set to run during the summer.

The programme, which is open to furloughed and non-furloughed workers as a training exercise is directed by an experienced team of experts from Queen’s University and supported by European specialists in innovation.

The free-to-attend 12-week programme has been part-funded by Department for the Economy (DfE).

Head of innovation programmes at Queen’s, Paul Donachy, said: “Recent data and analysis shows the extreme threats and opportunities facing the Northern Ireland economy due to the COVID-19 crisis, particularly surrounding high growth ventures and the science and technology sectors. NI will be one of the hardest hit economies in the UK. “

The university’s innovation director, Brian McCaul, added: “Queen’s University’s has a strong track–record in creating new technology start–ups and helping to commercialise leading–edge technology from the Queen’s research base.

“Drawing on Queen’s strengths in commercialisation and delivery of innovation programmes, the University has the opportunity to offer dedicated support to businesses via a novel intervention to help local companies to re-design their business models in the face of Covid-related market disruption.”

Adapt4Growth’s programme director Amanda McCullough said the first cohort of organisations cover a range of industries including manufacturing, hospitality, construction, technology and biotechnology.

“We welcome enquiries from SMEs who would be interested in participating in future cohorts and would encourage them to get in touch with us via the Adapt4Growth webpage.”