To support the translation of early-stage technology solutions into commercial products, UKTIN is providing a comprehensive programme of support to ensure companies have well-developed business models with the potential to scale globally and raise investment for growth and R&D. This is delivered through our Innovation Platform, a community space for small businesses to network, gain early and exclusive access to various opportunities - UKTIN specific and more broadly through the University of Bristol’s role in the SETsquared programme - and access to our Innovation and Investment Workouts.
Read our interview with Chris Pett — the Trainer for the UKTIN Workouts —to learn more.
1) Which companies are signing up to the Innovation Platform, solely telecoms or adjacent sectors too?
Adjacent sectors. For example, in cybersecurity: companies may be applying security hardware to network switches but this same hardware can be applied to other markets as well. We see it as an application in the telecoms sector for an adjacent technology. Photonics is another. Then, there’s space: networks are one of the applications of satellite technology.
2) What challenges are these companies facing?
Understanding what and how telecom companies want to buy. We have two courses: the Innovation Workout and the Investment Workout. In both, we’ve come across this challenge, which is a good thing because we’re here to help.
If I want to sell something to Cisco or Vodafone, how do I do that? Do they buy from small businesses? If so, what’s the best way to go about this? What are the pitfalls or traps to watch out for? We are signposting innovation programmes and helping SMEs understand which kinds of companies are looking to innovate, offering access to experts through conversations that we facilitate immediately after the course. Access to business relationships within the supply chain is key.
Another challenge is innovation partnerships. We give companies the space to develop relationships and test and deliver concepts and trials before they go on to make a big pitch to a customer. This gives them evidence that it actually works.
3) How can UKTIN help?
It’s important to remember that UKTIN is a network. We are not an accelerator. We're not an incubator. We're not there to hold your hand and answer every question for you, but we do want to support you to succeed. We are a network of people who have a common aim and mission with start-ups. On behalf of the University of Bristol, our workshops and signposting work are about introducing start-ups to the broader UKTIN ecosystem - which of course is growing all the time - and helping people engage with the network.
We hope the workouts will encourage SMEs to respond to opportunities that are posted by academics, larger-scale corporations and even the government. These companies can also get involved in the development of white papers that are going to be given to both sides of innovation and technology as well as business and trade to help understand any gaps.
Ultimately, the workouts will provide an opening to this vast network, which, without that, could look quite intimidating. But UKTIN is for everyone.
4) What have you learned from speaking to companies?
There’s a big community of exciting individuals and a lot of PhD research going into this, lab work and companies that are coming out of university spinouts or deep research. We’ve been really impressed by the high-quality deep knowledge that is bringing innovation to the sector.
However, what we have also realised is just how much people need to feel that they are in a network of support to be successful. Many telco companies feel isolated and out of the loop. We have accepted the challenge of fixing that. I’m so glad that this is a part of the UKTIN programme because, without it, I think we would struggle to retain that SME voice.
5) What is the one thing you’d like readers to know about the small business support UKTIN offers?
It is specific and engaging. We take the time to tailor the content; it is not just a pack of information, but a dialogue. Each course is slightly different because our expert instructors respond to individual needs and so far, this has proven to be very effective.
