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Virtual Incubator
What's the programme about?
The Virtual Incubator programme is a regional initiative seeking to incorporate the development and management of the region’s first ‘virtual’ platform to support incubator companies. Delivered through the already successful Business Innovation Centre Network the Virtual Incubator will be able furnish support, advice and practical assistance to a much wider range of SMEs who may not have a physical location within an existing science park or incubation centre. The programme’s key objectives are:-
| - | Develop a ‘virtual incubator’ in partnership with the region’s three Business Innovation Centres (BICs) and the West Midlands e-Portal (2WM). The project will incorporate primarily capital expenditure for a period of 2 years in order to develop the regional infrastructure for a larger programme of activity.
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| - | Furnish both an integrated network of business support ‘online’ (calling upon the services of Business Link) and address incubator companies needs through specific online applications (i.e. legal advice, room booking, flexible working services, ICT support etc.)
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| - | Seek to co-ordinate the current range of support services and initiatives currently available to SMEs, through a carefully designed and operated online advisory service.
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| - | Work closely with key regional partners, including the Business Link network, Universities, Public Private Partnerships, Trade Associations etc. and also seek to engage with a wider audience of intermediaries, in particular minority business associations. |
The Virtual Incubator (Virtual Office Services)
The Virtual Incubator will incorporate the development of two specific online applications. The first of which will include virtual office services for employers/ employees who are not necessary located physically within a BIC site. Each BIC will manage and operate their own online application; however there will be a benchmark/ standard required encompassing all virtual services.
Virtual office services can offer the total office experience without physically buying, leasing or renting an actual office. A virtual office can take care of telephone, postal, email and ordering systems, fully operating all communicational concerns of the front end of a business. Staff are able to answer the phone, provide a postal address for a business, mail and relay messages to SMEs in any number of formats: telephone, email, SMS text, fax or pager.
Each BIC will also develop/ champion a specific specialism or area of expertise. Examples include, location Independent Working, Access to Finance processes and procedures, Strategic Business Planning, Technology Transfer and Business Networking.
Within the project the VIN will include ICT capacity for Location Independent Working (LIW) - especially targeting start-up micros and those companies who would otherwise expand out of the physical incubators (and potentially out of the region).
A jointly developed ‘online’ application will provide a shared information/ advisory service for the use of SMEs. This application will provide direct access into a host of support services which have been pulled together within an updateable directory. Prior to insertion into the directory, each service will be carefully researched, logged, categorised and relevant individuals contacted as key information providers, mentors etc.
The application will be hosted and integrated within the current West Midlands e-Portal (2wm).
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