Led by PP Control & Automation, PP Plus is delivering immediate access to specialist expertise and knowledge to help support companies looking to develop and scale green technologies.
Over 20 organisations are involved in what is being described as the biggest growth support network currently available in the UK, including Brandauer, Centre for Advanced Low Carbon Propulsion Systems, Cleveland Scott York, Product Approvals, Protolabs, Silverstone Technology Cluster and WMG.
Together, they can take innovators from concept development and prototyping to protecting their IP, contract manufacturing and driving sales through PR and marketing.
“PP Plus is all about unlocking and commercialising the ideas that will contribute to a more sustainable future, making UK manufacturing stronger and more successful,” Tony Hague, CEO of PP Control & Automation said in a statement.
“It is clear that the UK has a wealth of innovative companies that come up with new concepts and ideas that have true commercial potential and the opportunity to scale. However, they simply don’t have the capacity or additional expertise to realise these fantastic ideas.
“Even if they know where to look for this, they often tie themselves in knots trying to find the right route as the traditional support network is convoluted. We know this first hand from working with companies on innovative new technologies, so felt the best approach was to create our own way forward.”
PP Plus’ initial focus will be on supporting companies developing solutions for clean energy, future mobility, agritech innovation and machinery and equipment that contribute to a circular economy.
The process starts with a free, one hour ‘discovery session’ to identify the next steps and the specialist support required to commercialise and scale up the technologies.
That may see the client access one, two or three of the main pillars - namely manufacturing, business, or academia -covering anything from product approval and manufacturing capabilities to accessing grants and funding, marketing support and collaborative research and testing facilities.
Sara Williams, senior marketing manager at Protolabs, said: “PP Plus is a great initiative that meets an ever-present need in the UK to bridge the valley of death, pulling lots of commercial, manufacturing, and academic expertise together in one easy to access programme.”
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