An in-person workshop that will guide you towards new 'green' commercial opportunities & equip you with the tools to eliminate waste.

Are you looking to improve the environmental impact of your products, create a more profitable business model or increase your competitive advantage?

Welcome to Eco-FORCE, an in-person workshop that will guide you step-by-step towards new ‘green’ commercial opportunities and equip your business with the tools to eliminate waste.

Delivered by experienced green innovation and carbon specialists, this three-hour session is fully funded – meaning there’s no fee to pay – and is guaranteed to be worth your time (we know how precious that is).

Whether you’re already producing green goods and services, or are looking to move into this area, Eco-FORCE will put you in the best position to increase your business opportunities, productivity and profitability.

And, as you’ll be in a cohort of business leaders, you’ll also benefit from networking opportunities in the margins around the session.

Topics discussed during the session:

• Why green innovation: ensuring your business is resilient to sustainability-led future
• Drive towards the circular economy
• Eco design and technology enablers
• Protecting your innovation through Intellectual Property
• Measuring and reducing carbon emissions
• Funding opportunities

Take control of your future

We’re pretty sure your business is amazing. Chances are, you’ve been forced to overcome all number of obstacles over recent times, including ones that none of us saw coming, and you’re still here. One of the 100,000-plus businesses that help make Greater Manchester what it is.

With further change coming fast, as net zero deadlines approach and the drive towards the circular economy intensifies, there’s never been a better time to stop and think how your business is going to adapt.

• Will you be able to reach new and expanding ‘green’ markets?
• What’s the best way to attract new investment?
• How do you make sure you’re on top of new regulations?

Following the session you'll be able to:

• Understand the environmental and social impacts of products and how to communicate these to your customers to build trust
• Identify opportunities for product and service innovation to become a more sustainable business
• Maximise the value of resources to reduce carbon emissions and waste
• See key green themes in supply chain and procurement to boost your competitive advantage
• Access the right organisations, funding, people and research partners to make your green innovation happen
• Recognise how circular economy principles can drive profitable business models and increase revenue opportunities

Our winning approach to innovation

Whatever their size, businesses that embrace innovation are more likely to experience improved turnover, productivity and competitiveness than those that don’t.

And we’re proud that our innovation service has provided support to more than 3,000 SMEs across Greater Manchester, helping them to turn business ideas and opportunities into sales.

Within this service, our specialist green innovation team exists to enhance the environmental performance and competitiveness of your products and services.

Our experienced advisors offer support that is tailored to your business, removing whatever barriers you’re facing… whether that’s a lack of finance, human resource, specialist know-how, time, technology, strategy or appropriate facilities.

Here are just a few of the Greater Manchester SMEs we’ve worked with recently:

"We received a great deal of support from our dedicated advisor. This included a full business review and considered aspects such as business planning, intellectual property, environmental impact and areas of business strength and development." – Rebecca Murphy-Peers, Owner, UBU Environmental Ltd (see how this Salford SME benefitted from eco-innovation support)

“It was great to be able to partner with organisations that already have such great track records of working with industry – not just from the practical side, but also because it adds to the credibility of the product.” – Lisa Furlong, Director, Green Mole (find out the energy efficiency specialists were able to access the expertise they needed to innovate and grow)

“I'd heard positive feedback from other companies about the value that GM Business Growth Hub can add, so when we approached them, we were confident that we’d get something useful out of it. And that really has been the case. Everything started very small but has grown and grown. That’s down in no small part to the Growth Hub.” – Dr Liam Britnell, Director at clean-tech start-up Vector Homes

Eligibility criteria

• This programme is open to businesses trading in Greater Manchester