Challenge Works Programme Delivery

Challenge Works is a new initiative launched by Buckinghamshire New University in partnership with Buckinghamshire Business First that aims to harness the power of innovation generated by the private sector to help address the key societal challenges faced by the public sector within the Buckinghamshire region. Challenge Works is increasingly relevant given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic upon both the private and the public sector, and the wider challenges both must overcome in order to survive and adapt in the changed operational environment that has now become the norm. Challenge Works seeks to support the re-orientation of small businesses as they recover from lockdown by helping them better suit their innovations towards the urgent needs of the market. This will be achieved by running up to six cohort programmes of free digital business support to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK. Each cohort will focus on its own specific challenge theme and will take place over a four-to-six-week period whereby participants will meet with the key stakeholders in that area to breakdown the issues and challenges that they, their customers, patients and colleagues are currently facing. The participants will then be guided by the successful bidder through a collaborative customer journey to increase their innovation, thereby encouraging the joining of the private sector to the public sector by developing synergies between enterprises, research and development centres and the higher education (HE) sector. Challenge Works is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programme which is designed to support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. Suppliers must be familiar with and comply with ERDF requirements.