WRAP unveils ‘one-stop-shop’ business support service
The recycling sector has some unique characteristics that require a distinctive approach when it comes to providing business support, according to Dr Bevis Watts, head of business support at WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme). With this in mind, a new and extended range of tailored business support services, which aims to address the specific needs of the recycling sector, has been unveiled.
WRAP’s new ‘one-stop shop’ extends its existing advisory services and financial schemes and introduces new support in key areas such as training, innovation and marketing. All the services will be delivered by WRAP’s business support team as part of the organization’s business growth programme, which has a target to deliver 10% sustainable growth in the turnover of the specialist recycling and processing sector over the next two years.
The new support is structured to give recyclers improved access to business services, to raise awareness of the combinations of support schemes available through WRAP and to create a better understanding of complementary services available through other support organizations. All the services fall into one of four key areas: expertise, management, innovation and investment.
Expertise services are designed to help recycling SMEs to expand or develop new operations and are delivered via WRAP’s Business Development Service. Two new offerings in this category are the provision of marketing strategy development and technical support. The former offers SMEs guidance on marketing recycled products and consultancy support up to the value of £10,000 for the development of a market assessment, sales and marketing strategy, promotional or sales plan, or specific marketing communications advice.?Technical support offers advice and consultancy support up to the value of £20,000 and may cover issues such as products testing and certification, specifying feedstocks or equipment requirements and optimizing process efficiency.?
The management category addresses the short- and long-term management requirements of the recycling and reprocessing sector. It includes the Interim Manager Scheme, which funds recruitment of a highly skilled executive on a short-term basis to fast-track the development of a particular area of the business, and the brand new Funding for Training Scheme, which offers funding for senior executive training to encourage the development of management skills.
Innovation services are designed to support new recycling concepts. New in this category is The Commercialisation Centre for individuals or companies who have an early stage innovative idea, technology or product related to recycling and who need support in bringing that innovation to market. Established in April 2006, the Centre is funded by WRAP and operated by Imperial Innovations Ltd, one of the UK’s leading business development and technology transfer companies. Also in this category is WRAP’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Scheme, designed to help a business identify what potential intellectual property it may have, and then protect it through patent, trademark, copyright, registered design or licence.
The investment section includes WRAP’s new capital grant funding, which is organized as a series of competitions that aim to deliver a real step-change in the recycling of the particular material or activity being targeted. Investment services also include WRAP’s existing asset and equity finance schemes, including The Recycling Fund, a venture capital fund focused on the recycling sector, and the successful eQuip RVG scheme, which guarantees the future residual value of recycling equipment.?Eligibility for this scheme has just been extended to include larger recycling companies as well as SMEs.?
WRAP business support services are open to all recycling and reprocessing businesses, whether existing or start-up ventures, involved in one of WRAP’s focus materials or activity areas. The business support team has just completed a series of four regional roadshows to explain the extended range of services and more events are planned for the autumn. For further information visit: www.wrap.org.uk or contact the WRAP freephone helpline on: (0808) 100 2040.
WRAP’s new ‘one-stop shop’ extends its existing advisory services and financial schemes and introduces new support in key areas such as training, innovation and marketing. All the services will be delivered by WRAP’s business support team as part of the organization’s business growth programme, which has a target to deliver 10% sustainable growth in the turnover of the specialist recycling and processing sector over the next two years.
The new support is structured to give recyclers improved access to business services, to raise awareness of the combinations of support schemes available through WRAP and to create a better understanding of complementary services available through other support organizations. All the services fall into one of four key areas: expertise, management, innovation and investment.
Expertise services are designed to help recycling SMEs to expand or develop new operations and are delivered via WRAP’s Business Development Service. Two new offerings in this category are the provision of marketing strategy development and technical support. The former offers SMEs guidance on marketing recycled products and consultancy support up to the value of £10,000 for the development of a market assessment, sales and marketing strategy, promotional or sales plan, or specific marketing communications advice.?Technical support offers advice and consultancy support up to the value of £20,000 and may cover issues such as products testing and certification, specifying feedstocks or equipment requirements and optimizing process efficiency.?
The management category addresses the short- and long-term management requirements of the recycling and reprocessing sector. It includes the Interim Manager Scheme, which funds recruitment of a highly skilled executive on a short-term basis to fast-track the development of a particular area of the business, and the brand new Funding for Training Scheme, which offers funding for senior executive training to encourage the development of management skills.
Innovation services are designed to support new recycling concepts. New in this category is The Commercialisation Centre for individuals or companies who have an early stage innovative idea, technology or product related to recycling and who need support in bringing that innovation to market. Established in April 2006, the Centre is funded by WRAP and operated by Imperial Innovations Ltd, one of the UK’s leading business development and technology transfer companies. Also in this category is WRAP’s Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Scheme, designed to help a business identify what potential intellectual property it may have, and then protect it through patent, trademark, copyright, registered design or licence.
The investment section includes WRAP’s new capital grant funding, which is organized as a series of competitions that aim to deliver a real step-change in the recycling of the particular material or activity being targeted. Investment services also include WRAP’s existing asset and equity finance schemes, including The Recycling Fund, a venture capital fund focused on the recycling sector, and the successful eQuip RVG scheme, which guarantees the future residual value of recycling equipment.?Eligibility for this scheme has just been extended to include larger recycling companies as well as SMEs.?
WRAP business support services are open to all recycling and reprocessing businesses, whether existing or start-up ventures, involved in one of WRAP’s focus materials or activity areas. The business support team has just completed a series of four regional roadshows to explain the extended range of services and more events are planned for the autumn. For further information visit: www.wrap.org.uk or contact the WRAP freephone helpline on: (0808) 100 2040.
