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Innovation Ambassador

Nick Richardson is the founder of The Insights Family, and brings extensive senior marketing and commercial experience to our team - acting as the ideal ‘critical friend’ for businesses on the programme. With expertise in product development, Nick excels in analysing market trends, understanding competitors, and delivering tailored solutions. Following a successful corporate career, he founded. The Insights Family in 2016, developing it into a multi-million
pound business within five years.

 

Recognised for his skill and business acumen, Nick received an Honorary Doctorate for Innovation from the University of Bolton in  2022 and was a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award  in 2024. Nick commented, “GM Business Growth Hub has been a huge  part of my journey from day one. Without their support, guidance, counsel and introductions, there is no way my team would have achieved what we have. My journey has now come full  circle as the new innovation ambassador and mentor for this fantastic programme, and I’m looking forward to helping other  entrepreneurs succeed

My advice to businesses in Greater Manchester is simple: never stand still in this market environment. Instead use the opportunities you have to innovate, and you’ll create successes  beyond your wildest dreams.

Our Local Innovation Connectors

Our Local Innovation Connectors (LICs) are on the ground across Greater Manchester, embedded within the ten local authority areas. With an extensive network and years of experience working within fast-growing, ambitious businesses, they’re here to help drive your innovation projects forward.

When you join the Innovation Navigator programme, one of our LICs will be your first point of contact. It is their role to understand your business, its ambitions and assess how the Innovation Navigator could support you.

Stephen Slater - Salford 

Stephen leverages his expertise in innovation lifecycle and product development to provide novel, scalable solutions. 

With broad experience spanning various industries from toys to military and aviation, he excels in design, advanced manufacturing, compliance, testing, validation, certification, and commercialisation.

Paul Halliday - Tameside

Paul has over 20 years of experience supporting over 500 businesses across diverse sectors, solving barriers to R&D processes and market entry.

He advises at board level in advanced manufacturing, digital, green tech, and life sciences, conducting comprehensive reviews to identify valuable improvement opportunities.

Karen Fitzpatrick - Oldham

Karen is embedded in Oldham’s business community and boasts over two decades of experience helping enterprises of all sizes.

Her expertise spans various industries including manufacturing, healthcare, and digital. She works closely with businesses to foster innovation in product, process, and service development.

Mark Tibbenham - Rochdale

Mark, a Queen’s Award- winning leader, has chaired and managed a Rochdale
manufacturing company, doubling its turnover in only six years.

Specialising in innovative product design, he takes projects from inception to commercialisation.

Matt Walsh - Stockport

Matt uses his entrepreneurial expertise to help companies overcome R&D hurdles and access new commercial avenues.

He has held strategic positions in construction, distribution, pharmaceuticals, and creative sectors, with a focus on leveraging technology to create streamlined processes.

Mike Naughton - Bury

Mike is a business development specialist with almost two decades of experience in both business growth consultancy and business banking.

He has held several senior positions in high-performing organisations, championing sustainable growth and facilitating strategic partnerships to accelerate commercialisation and access to investment.

Adrian Roscoe - Wigan

With almost thirty years experience collaborating with Greater Manchester businesses, Adrian most recently supported innovative start-ups through the University of Salford.

His experience spans micros, SMEs and large organisations, adept at helping innovators access finance, skills and knowledge to successfully progress their initiatives.

Oliver Witty - Bolton

Embedded within Bolton’s innovation ecosystem, Oliver can facilitate collaborations with research institutions, local authorities and contractors across Greater Manchester. 

His rich experience of listening to and understanding business needs across multiple sectors means he can find the right resources to address innovation challenges.

Helen Fish - Manchester

Helen is an accomplished entrepreneur, having co-
founded Beatstream Media, a pioneering music streaming tech firm in Manchester.

With valuable experience of overcoming business obstacles, she has an acute skill in convincing investors of her product value and potential.

Gary Lovatt - Trafford

Gary has scaled over 200 SME enterprises, and has a track record of developing products that produce measurable impact.

His business development, technical innovation, investment and marketing expertise will prove invaluable for Trafford businesses.

Our Commercialisation Specialists

Following your initial engagement with the relevant LIC, you will be matched with one of our Commercialisation Specialists (CS) who will provide ongoing support as you navigate your innovation journey. 

These innovation specialists have deep experience in taking an idea from concept to market, and overcoming barriers along the way. Based on your project or challenge, your CS will work with you to develop a plan of action, complete the relevant documentation and coordinate the right expertise and resources that will accelerate your innovation journey.

 

Russell’s expertise lies in diagnosing the needs of those wishing to scale
and grow their business. He uses his position at the heart of Greater

Manchester’s innovation ecosystem to identify collaboration, R&D and investment opportunities that will accelerate commercialisation.

Russell says:

“My goal is to drive projects to successful fruition, from the prototype trials stage right through to the marketplace. I want to help those that need knowledge transfer and investment partners to get their project moving quickly.”

Karen has supported businesses of all sizes throughout Greater Manchester for 30 years, an invaluable asset to organisations across numerous sectors and at all stages of their innovation journey.

Karen says:

“I want to help innovative companies to advance their projects, using the tools, techniques and experience at my disposal, to create commercial success.”

With a robust background in research and development, and product and development
expertise from conception to commercialisation, Jeremy is primed to meet the needs of Greater Manchester businesses wishing to scale and grow.

Jeremy says:

“Operating at the intersection between technological innovation and problem-solving, I’m committed to empowering businesses in eligible sectors to grow and thrive.”

Paul boasts a distinguished career nurturing commercial growth across
multiple industries.

His broad skillset includes business innovation, R&D, creating strategic partnerships, developing effective channels to market, and building and managing sales teams.

Paul says:

“Innovation Navigator isn’t something that simply offers general business support. It’s a unique programme that’s been crafted solely for those working in specific technology clusters, so the value to relevant businesses will be transformational.”

Get in touch

See how we can make your innovations, reality
Speak to our team, at no charge, today.

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