New funding scheme to support innovative small companies - Starts April 2011

Hi,

I have just created a mailing list with people I know that are interested in developing new products. If you want to be included, just email me at john@thebigconsultant.com

I created the list I created today. I thought it would be easier and quicker to send any useful info that I come across and share it.

As you may or may no know, I am no big fan of Government backed funding schemes. They often end up being intensive on the old paperwork, and you often get sidelined to advisers who in my opinion have very little experience of product development.

However, I did think that this link was of interest. The blurb says

"Managed by the Technology Strategy Board, the Grant for Research and Development scheme, which comes into effect from 4 April 2011, will support small and medium-sized companies (SMEs) across the UK that want to carry out research and development generating new and innovative products and services. The new scheme supersedes the Grant for R&D scheme previously managed by England’s regional development agencies and will have similar objectives."

And the direct link is here

http://www.innovateuk.org/content/news/new-funding-scheme-will-support-innovative-small-c.ashx

I have not researched this link fully yet, and there is as we know a hold on Business Link for funding new ideas. However, I do know that government grants will be available, even with the cuts. But these will likely be subject to strict financials being provided.

Please direct any enquires via my email john@thebigconsultant.com

Kind regards,
John Biddleston

--
The BIG Consultant John Biddleston MDes BSc LCG By Phone:- +44 (0) 7879 498079 Email:- john@thebigconsultant.com "The little company with the BIG ideas" www.thebigconsultant.com

Smooth Talker product launch

The BIG Consultant is pleased to announce the launch of a new product "Smooth Talker" this month.

Designed for Special Needs (SEN) and with a modern and stylish design SMOOTH TALKER is the most versatile, single and sequential message, Communicator currently on the market.

I am pleased to see that there is already a review of this product here http://teachinglearnerswithmultipleneeds.blogspot.com/2011/01/smooth-talker.html in which is is clear that consumers, in this case for Special Needs, are very happy with at least 2 of the new products features, which we researched and created for this market with our customer.

The product is now widely available for sale at a guide price of £109 in the UK and is also being distributed in Europe, USA and Australasia

For more product details or availability see Inclusive Technology

http://www.inclusive.co.uk/smooth-talker-p4946 in the UK or QED

http://www.callscotland.org.uk/Services/Equipment-Bank/Item-Details/index.php?recid=5790;search=toy;type=Switch in Scotland

http://www.tfeinc.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=3548 USA

http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product/smooth-talker Austrailia

For all other enquiries please see http://thebigconsultant.com/partners.html

The Chinese way of working has almost defeated one British entrepreneur, writes Malcolm Moore in Wuxi

This is a very funny story of a British entrepreneur determined to make his fortune by manufacturing high-end electric scooters in China and importing them to Britain.



Read this very amusing and colourful true story here about manufacturing in China , and you'll get a clear picture of how this advanced manufacturing nation operates!!

The moral of the story. Get your product manufactured and made by companies that care, and havea reputation to uphold... Preferably English speaking too. Making products in China is laughably prone to errors, and there are a whole host of companies that profess to help you to do this. Trust me, there are better ways!!

Where can you go to learn how to get your product to market?

Where can you go to learn how to get your product to market?

There are inventors clubs all over the country: Sheffield, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham to name a few. But what do you find there?

To my mind there are elite groups of sharks, charatans and parasites that wish to take over your Intelectual Property. These rings are not unlike being passed from one adviser to another at Business Link.

All the time somebody is making a commission!! Ching ching.

My advice:-
1. Reasearch your market carefully.
2. The internet is your best friend. It never tells on you when you ask it questions regarding your product or invention.
3. Write a business plan!! - they dont tell you how to do this at the inventors clubs (",)
4. Make carefull notes and strategy on how to procede.

The business plan is the single most important aspect of any product related endeavour!!

You can download a free business plan template here

Rapid Tooling Yorkshire and Birmingham

The BIG Consultant was sked to undertake the training and product development for tooling components for the New MG Mini by a company near Birmingham. This allowed them to utilise rapid tooling techniques to shorten time to market, reduce costs, increase accuracy and most importantly access higher and more lucrative markets.

Phil Court, Managing Director of Court Engineering said “We wanted to produce the best for our client, MG Rover Cars, in order to tender other contracts". Onsite training was provided to staff in 3D techniques, shrinkage calculations and generating CNC data. The project was successful, and Court Tools are now onsite.

Website link Rapid Tooling & Prototyping for MG Mini - The BIG Consultant - Engineering Product Design Yorkshire

The BIG Consultant is a multi-disciplinary product design consultancy, based in Sheffield that provides

* Professional mechanical engineering services.

* Creative conceptual product design services.

* 3D CAD/CAM and engineering training.

Design Prototype Manufacture

With solid industry experience and professional credentials, you can be assured of quality and a first class service. – -

-Product Development - Rapid Prototyping - Injection Moulding, Sheet Metal and Casting design

-3d Animation and photo-realistic concept renderings - Finite Element Analysis FEA

-Mechanical Engineers - On-site or remote SolidWorks training.

Please email or call to discuss for product development, mechanical engineering or on 07879 498079

Serving Rotherham, Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster, Yorkshire, Hull, Humberside, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield, Derbyshire, Mansfield, Nottingham, Derby, Manchester, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, London and UK.