Innovation In Action
Innovation In Action is a collaborative business-led network that identifies and applies solutions to real issues and opportunities faced by South Yorkshire businesses.
We are working together to make innovation accessible and relevant through demonstration, practical changes, and realised business benefits.
Together we identify common challenges and co-design bite-sized projects to explore practical solutions.
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About Innovation in Action
What is the Innovation In Action Network?
Innovation In Action is a dynamic, business-driven network designed to identify and implement practical solutions to real-world challenges and opportunities faced by businesses in South Yorkshire. The network fosters collaboration, helping companies to innovate, grow, and thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace.
Who is it for?
The network is open to businesses of all types and sizes. Through peer-to-peer networking, collaborative challenges, and knowledge-sharing opportunities, participants can tap into a wealth of expertise and insight.
A growing community of forward-thinking companies from sectors such as manufacturing, life sciences, health and wellbeing, and green energy are working together regionally to gain a competitive edge both nationally and internationally.
Who is involved?
We connect businesses with cutting-edge technology, pair local SMEs with experienced industry mentors, and leverage the expertise of regional innovation specialists to drive transformative change across industries. Together, we are building a stronger, more innovative business ecosystem for South Yorkshire.
The Challenge Blueprint
The Challenge Blueprint focuses on tackling the current issues facing the South Yorkshire business community. Through collaboration, we identify shared challenges, develop practical, actionable solutions, and facilitate knowledge-sharing across industries. By co-creating manageable, supported projects, we help businesses overcome obstacles, simplify the process of adopting innovation, and unlock new opportunities.
These challenges provide a safe environment for exploring fresh ideas, testing emerging technologies, and mitigating risks associated with change—ultimately delivering measurable benefits to businesses and fostering long-term success.
The Energy Challenge
Ten South Yorkshire SMEs with energy cost challenges participated in a coordinated project to address rising energy expenses. Partnering with FourJaw's plug-and-play machine monitoring platform, the initiative focused on data-driven solutions to reduce waste and costs.
This initiative offered a new model of collaboration, innovation, and practical energy solutions.
“We’ve replaced 2 old compressors and a boiler which will save us £20k in energy per year. Going forward we are looking at a new laser, saw, and laser welder informed by the FourJaw machine monitoring tech. Hopefully over the next year or so we will see further reductions in our energy usages and costs based on new machine upgrades.”
Terry Lee, Managing Director at EE Ingleton
Success Stories
Current Challenge Ideas
Partners and collaboration
AES Seal
"We are transforming into a powerful advocacy group for South Yorkshire business, shaping new and innovative ways of working collaboratively and in partnership." -
Martin McKervey, Director, AES SEAL, Chair of AMID Business Reference Group.
FourJaw
"We never tire of seeing manufacturers benefit from using our technology in their factory to drive productivity, sustainability and profitability." - Chris Iveson, CEO & Co-Founder of Four Jaw & Energy Challenge Pilot Tech Partner.
Gripple
"South Yorkshire is a thriving place for academic and industry led innovation." - Gordon Macrae, Special Projects Manager, Gripple
University of Sheffield AMRC
"The challenge has provided plenty of evidence for the SMEs to make small wins and larger business cases. This is another benefit of the initiative investment decisions are now based on data and facts." - Shirley Harrison, SME Engagement Manager, AMRC.
