Innovation & Growth: What’s Luck Got To Do With It?

Great success is driven by organisations which not only spot new opportunities, but are set up to make the most of them.  There is no point being creative and innovative if the team can’t make money from it.

 “Many companies allow left-brain analytic types to approve ideas at various stages of the innovation process.  This is a cardinal error.”  (Harvard Business Review June 2009)

To kick start the day we focus on the critical subject of doing two conflicting things at the same time: the urgent (day job) and the important (innovation and growth).  Often innovation is killed off by the “Urgent” day job.  However the reverse is also bad news: the “Important” distracting the current business from delivering its financial and operational objectives.  Companies must address this key issue head on.  The market is moving too fast not to do so. Managing left-brain operations with right-brain creativity is essential to winning.  

Having created an organisation to facilitate and develop innovation, how do you identify and develop the ideas that will provide the growth you need to be successful?  Following on from the first session, we will explore how to use consumer insight to ensure that your innovations are truly customer centred.

Finally, how do you turn these ideas into cash in the bank?

Speaker Information:

Steve May-Russell, Managing Director of Smallfry, a product design and innovation consultancy

A distinguished background in industrial design and engineering, combined with study at the JLK School in Chicago under renowned marketing guru Philip Kotler and a condensed MBA from the Warwick Business School, makes May-Russell one of the sharpest minds in the field of production innovation today.

Since becoming MD of Smallfry in 1986, May-Russell’s mercurial skills/knowledge-base and tireless passion for market-led innovation have informed the development of Smallfry’s unique strategic technical and creative solutions. Located in a converted Victorian school in a Warwickshire village, Smallfry has become a focal point for blue chip companies around the world that demand razor-sharp strategic and customer-focused product design. Fascinated by the process of product development, from strategy and design to manufacture, May-Russell’s passion has led some of industry’s most successful innovations – including flashing lights in the heels of Asics training shoes, a space-age fire tender for Singapore airport and an award winning rework of a Marks & Spencer’s product.

Andrew Lester, Managing Partner of Carr-Michael Consulting Ltd specialising in Growth Management 

Andrew is an investor in SMEs and has worked in the professional services, retail, automotive, manufacturing and distribution sectors in the UK and overseas. 

Andrew is author of the acclaimed book “Growth Management: Two Hats are Better Than One” (Macmillan 2009) which Warwick Business School has recommended for their Executive MBA programme and where he has spoken on the subject of managing growth. The reviews and first chapter of his book can be viewed here

Following a degree in Marketing and Business Strategy, Andrew joined Ford Motor Company as a graduate.  After assignments in the UK, Europe and America Andrew was appointed MD of Jaguar Cars UK from 1996-2001, successfully leading the transition of the company at that time.  He lives in Warwickshire with his wife where they are joined by their daughters when on leave from university or when they fancy a hearty meal.

Colette Long, Research Director within GfK NOP, a global top 5 market research consultancy, with a passion for innovation.

Colette specialises in leading edge automotive research with specific expertise in bespoke solutions for the major OEM’s.  Colette has worked extensively across the complete product and brand development cycle from innovation and concept design, to market positioning

Colette also has client side experience working with marketing and product development teams to ensure voice of the customer plays an appropriate role in the product development process.  She has worked with research data from around the world, to ensure global programmes reflect local flavours and she has over 16 years of research knowledge and expertise.

Delegate fee @ £99 + VAT (includes all seminar materials, refreshments and lunch)

Venue: Austin Court, Birmingham

For further information please click here or contact