Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership

Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership (MCIL)

Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership is a prestigious innovation leadership programme addressing distinctive organisational and leadership challenges for innovation-led, knowledge-intensive businesses across the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership area.‌

ERDF and MCIL logo This programme is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the England 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme.

Through a fully-funded Innovation Leadership programme, business leaders and entrepreneurs can benefit from:

Six two-day sessions of facilitated group learning, led by academics and expert business leaders
A dedicated Entrepreneur in Residence to provide coaching, advice and guidance on a one-to-one basis
A unique blend of action learning, including one-to-one sessions, peer review, activity-based learning, creative challenge-based activity and self-directed learning
Development, implementation and a review of a practical, innovation-focussed action plan for your business
Access to the latest thinking around innovation and social value, specific masterclasses and a unique innovation eco-system.

ELIGIBILITY

The programme is open to the leaders of small to medium-sized businesses, early-stage and aspiring entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial social innovators. These individuals must be looking to develop products and services, achieve scalable routes to market and achieve strategic business growth. Applicants must be an owner, director or employee of a registered business in the Stoke-on-Trent or Staffordshire area.

BENEFITS TO YOUR BUSINESS

Dedicated time to focus on innovation and R&D as a strategic driver for your business growth
Apply world-leading research and knowledge on innovation leadership in order to produce a positive impact on your business’s bottom line
Access to the wide scientific and technological infrastructure of Keele University
Be part of a unique innovation network
Learn from fellow hand-picked entrepreneurs and social innovators