We can all learn a thing or two from organisations such as Apple and Google when it comes to innovation and expanding businesses in a changing and competitive marketplace.

Development teams in these organisations create products and services that are constantly evolving to present better solutions for emerging requirements. They invest in developing new ways of doing things as well as reinventing existing concepts to make them more sophisticated. While most York businesses can’t boast the resources required to support global development teams, they are certainly no less resourceful, and we’re lucky to have a wide range of support available to innovative businesses and entrepreneurs in the region. This month sees a major platform for the north’s most promising science, technology and knowledge-based entrepreneurs return to York.

Venturefest Yorkshire takes place on March 13 to give entrepreneurs – including a number of our own design students – the opportunity to showcase their creative ideas and products, and access support that will help turn those ideas into viable businesses. The EU has also done much to bolster British science and innovation by making billions of euros in competitive funds available to small businesses. People in the region who want to do things differently can access financial support through The Yorkshire Innovation Fund which was launched late last year to help businesses collaborate with universities to develop marketable products.

The Fund helps entrepreneurs and the region’s universities to work together to make things happen. It can help cover the cost of bringing in a new person to introduce fresh perspectives or new ideas and to help breathe life into those new ideas. Working in partnership with some of these entrepreneurs, we provide support to help them realise their ideas, grow their businesses and develop as a company. And by no means do further education institutions stand still when it comes to innovation, either. We are constantly innovating to develop new programmes with changing emphases to provide businesses with highly skilled, employable graduates, and to nurture and support the entrepreneurs and businesses of the future.

In my opinion, the greatest innovations come from businesses and individuals who are able to look around them, and see new ways of doing things. They are not afraid to push the boundaries and do things differently. Importantly, they are not too proud to seek support and take advice when needed – and there’s certainly plenty of it around.