Hear how Bri-Stor Systems, specialists in commercial vehicle conversions, accessed fully funded* business support to innovate its business plan.
Company Overview
Bri-Stor Systems Ltd is a Stafford-based business, specialising in commercial vehicle conversions. Operating for over 35 years, they provide high-quality services across most sectors.
Greg Howell, Business Improvement Manager at Bri-Stor Systems Ltd, discovered the pilot Innovation and Productivity Pathfinder programme after being approached by Philip O'Neill, Business Development Manager at Staffordshire University.
Bri-Stor Systems liked the benefits that came with the project, such as the saved costs and time to identify plausible paths for innovation-led growth. Therefore, they onboarded two student Innovation Consultants to innovate their business plan for 6 months.
Funded Business Support
As part of taking part in the fully funded* project, the business accessed Innovation Enterprise Zone's facilities, an Innovation Advisor and two Innovation Consultants to deliver a bespoke business plan.
Ozan Duman, a Staffordshire University student Innovation Consultant, identified potential solutions to investigate untapped opportunities to innovate Bri-Stor Systems. He also had an Innovation Advisor, Alan Christian, to support him with questions he may have.
Ozan would meet with Alan Christian weekly to discuss potential ideas and solutions and offer support and guidance to help shape how this would work in practice.
Project Outcome
Greg Howell and the wider team at Bri-Stor Systems have been impressed with the project, as their Innovation Consultant delivered a thorough business plan. Greg asserts that the wrap-around support was excellent.
Ozan Duman was a self-starter and highly independent and confident when approaching different areas of the business. He identified areas that the company knew they needed support in and developed innovative solutions for the areas of improvement.
Because of the positive impact of the Pathfinder programme, Greg Howell says that the company would look to work with Staffordshire University students in future projects.
Both the business and the Innovation consultants took a lot away from the project. Not only has the business gained fresh ideas to investigate further, but the project also offered Staffordshire University students the opportunity to build their skill sets to take to their graduate roles.
*The Innovation and Productivity Pathfinder project has been fully funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund. The UK Community Renewal Fund is a UK Government programme for 2021/22. This aims to support people and communities most in need across the UK to pilot programmes and new approaches to prepare for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It invests in skills, community and place, local business, and supporting people in employment.
The Innovation Consultants delivered us a very thorough innovation plan with regard to opportunities within our business. The managing of the project was seamless for us. The students we were given and the Innovation Advisors were self-starters.