Experts from local universities will help businesses exploit their data thanks to funding available from innovation vouchers.

The Business and Local Government Data Research Centre (BLGDRC) is inviting small business owners, public sector organisations and local government including councils to apply for a £2,000 Data Analytics Innovation Voucher (DAIV). The vouchers can be used to pay for the Centre’s experts to act as consultants in order to address specific problems or help businesses collect and use data more effectively, or they can be used to provide free or reduced cost data analytics training for staff.

The BLGDRC is based at the University of Essex but also has experts at University of East Anglia, University of Kent and London School of Economics.

Professor Vania Sena, Director of BLGDRC, said, “Our Data Analytics Innovation Vouchers offer businesses a unique opportunity to explore their data and address problems with the support of our researchers who are experts in their field. You may be unaware of the type of data we can help with, that is absolutely fine! You do not need to have any specific data already collated or stored; our researchers can work with you to identify the data needed to move forward with a project.

“To help you get started we’re now offering DAIV consultation appointments, either face-to-face or by telephone, where we can discuss ideas with you. Following these meetings we can support you in completing your full application for a DAIV. We’d urge anybody who thinks they may be eligible to express their interest and book a consultation now. We look forward to working with you.”

BLGDRC offers its services to businesses and other organisations where there is potential to deliver a benefit to the public. The DAIVs aim to support small to medium organisations; however there are many ways that larger organisations can work with the Centre too. To find out more please call 01206 873859.

Published 27 April 2017