HOVIP - Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme

• Sole Traders
• Businesses with less than 20 employees
• Businesses with more than 20 employees
• Social Enterprise Business

Testimonials

"I have been impressed by the pragmatic approach taken on the project."

M. Pearce, Avantis Ltd.

2009 Highlights

• In depth support for 66 businesses is contributing to safeguarding 372 jobs and generated £372,000 new business
• Raised £365,000 (£15k jointly with a Welsh Assembley Government Innovation Manager) in funding distinct from the Single Investement Fund and Local Investment Fund
• Creation of the HOVIP Security Cluster (www.securewales.co.uk) who have won their first order (£15,000) following support from HOVIP and the first successful application (£10,000) to the new Enterprise Networks Fund for the Welsh Assembly Government
• 550 individuals have attended the three annual Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards and Marketplace events (double the number attended in 2009 compared to 2007)
• Completed the Turning Heads Pilot with 100% support from members (Award entrants) to continue (60% survey response rate)
• University of Wales Global Academy Prince of Wales Initiative becomes main sponsor for the 2009 HoV Innovation Awards & Business Exhibition Event
• HSBC, BT, South Wales Chamber of Commerce and Capital Law sponsor the 2009 HoV Innovation Awards
• First HOVIP part-subsidised Higher Education or Further Education training provision (Sales for Non Sales Persons) delivered by Cardiff University
• First HOVIP business (Regan Construction) employs a JobMatch recruit
• HOVIP is sponsoring the introduction or enhancement of HoV local authority Business Innovation Awards and relevant business initiatives
• Phil Corke, MD of Design and Manufacture and winner of the 2008 Merthyr Business Lifetime Achievement Award said:

  “To any business thinking about using HOVIP’s services they would be foolish to ignore the support that is available.”

• Neil Cripps, MD of Caerphilly-based Rockfield Safety Ltd. said:

  “PIA support was just what we needed when the economy took a downturn. Mike’s innovative approach to growing the business gave us a lot of encouragement. Mike and I discussed the critical success factors for the business and we put in place an action plan that will increase revenue and profits by around 15% by the end of the year.

  The main long-term benefit for us is being part of the network cluster that Mike has set up. We have learned a great deal from other members of the cluster already, especially Vince Price from CVCPA who can open doors for us and gain access to government sponsored projects. We have already started to exchange sales leads worth several thousand pounds.”