Event Description
Join EEEGR, the University of Essex, Innovate UK EDGE, Essex Business School and Virginia Beach for an event discussing the sustainable opportunities and funding available to businesses in the East of England, the UK and the USA in the near future.
Agenda
13:30 John Stenhouse, Investment and Equity, University of Essex
13:40 Julie Pauley, Ecosystem Relationship & Gateway Lead and Fernando Centeno, Sustainability Lead, Innovate UK EDGE
14:10 Paige Fox, Business Development Manager and Charles Macdowell, UK Representative, Virginia Beach Economic Development
14:40 Sophie Skipp, Head of Energy Skills, EEEGR
14:50 Q&A
15:05 Networking
Speaking at the event will be:
John Stenhouse, Investment and Equity, University of Essex
Managing Angels@Essex the free equity investment platform for innovative businesses, having facilitated over £53m equity raised over the previous 3 years across many sectors
Julie Pauley, Ecosystem Relationship & Gateway Lead, Innovate UK EDGE
Julie Pauley has spent most of her career providing business advice and helping hundreds of Companies to access a range of funded business support programmes and innovation grant funding. Julie will provide an overview of Innovate UK EDGE and how you can tap into the funded service, which is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s deep investment in the pioneering businesses that drive economic growth. It is a publicly-funded service available to all high-potential small to medium sized innovation-driven companies. Innovate UK EDGE is part of the Innovate UK family, it partners with the EEN network, which is the largest innovation network in the world, it spans more than 65 countries worldwide bringing together 3000 experts from more than 600 member organisations. Innovate UK EDGE empower businesses to grow at pace and achieve their industry- and society-transforming ambitions by pairing each business with an Innovation & Growth Specialist to deliver bespoke, tailored innovation and growth support.
Fernando Centeno, Sustainability Lead, Innovate UK EDGE
Fernando has an extensive background in innovation and sustainability. Fernando is a highly experienced entrepreneur, consultant, coach, and mentor with a track record of helping companies bring innovation to market in the cleantech and circular economy sectors. Fernando has advised many companies on strategy, marketing, equity finance, grants, product development and sustainability, improving their innovation expertise.
Charles Macdowell, UK Representative, Virginia Beach Economic Development & Paige Fox, Business Development Manager, City of Virginia Beach, USA
The City of Virginia Beach is a growing US hub for green energy with the two largest US offshore wind projects starting construction in 2024. The City has a successful programme helping overseas companies of all sizes set up US operations with a popular low cost International Incubator office facility and an International Advisory Committee providing specialist services such as recruitment, visas and US company registration. An Industrial Incubator, providing assembly and warehousing space, is due to open in 2024.
Sophie Skipp, Head of Energy Skills, EEEGR
Following a career in operational leadership and training, Sophie has gained an insight into recruitment and retention. It was in more recent years working for a STEM focused school and sixth form, University Technical College Norfolk, Sophie gained valuable experience as an ambassador for STEM careers in our community.
If you would like to attend the event, please book using the Eventbrite link.
