Helping Businesses Transform Great Ideas into New Products, Processes & Technology.
Great Ideas is a new £2.5 million business innovation programme, part of the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire’s Business Innovation Fund. It offers personalised innovation support and gives eligible businesses the opportunity to pitch for purpose-built grants of up to £60,000 to help them implement their innovative ideas.
Why Join?
Develop new products and services
With step-by-step guidance tailored to your business needs.
Boost efficiency
Improve processes, productivity, and performance across your operations.
Connect and collaborate
Engage with regional experts, peers, and partners to unlock new opportunities.
Access funding
Participants with the most investment ready projects will have the chance to pitch for an innovation grant of up to £60,000. You’ll receive full guidance and support throughout the application and pitch process. These revenue grants are designed to help you access regional innovation expertise and assets, removing the final barriers to implementing your great idea and getting it investment ready.
Taking York and North Yorkshire's Great Ideas Further
Meet some of the York and North Yorkshire businesses we are supporting to take their Great Ideas to the next level. They have pitched their ideas and now they have the expert support and financial backing they need go further. We will update this page as more businesses apply successfully for support.
80 Noir
Grant Awarded
£60,000
AI In Schools
Grant Awarded
£56,900
Digital Ability
Grant Awarded
£59,585
HMI Elements
Grant Awarded
£60,000
Incremental Solutions
Grant Awarded
£60,000
Kirsty's
Grant Awarded
£44,920
kWh Coffee
Grant Awarded
£13,500
Matchez
Grant Awarded
£38,500
Moorside Mushrooms
Grant Awarded
£52,283
Nooj
Grant Awarded
£32,000
One Team Tech
Grant Awarded
£56,400
Phorest Diagnostics
Grant Awarded
£20,000
SimVenture
Grant Awarded
£54,550
Sealstop Ltd
Grant Awarded
£59,580
Slurp
Grant Awarded
£35,000
The Incredible Plant Company
Grant Awarded
£41,300
TwoCan Mentor
Grant Awarded
£56,120
Zest Consult
Grant Awarded
£43,000
Innovation Areas You'll Explore
Tailored guidance across key sectors and challenges:
- Defining, designing and developing new products and services and enhancing existing ones
- Testing potential new products and services with prospective customers
- Sourcing specialist expertise
- Understand how to protect your intellectual property
- Raising finance to fund your innovation
- Developing and implementing new ways of working to increase your efficiency and reduce costs
- Minimising waste and reducing your carbon footprint
How it works
- Register Your Interest – Quick online form to start your journey.
- Innovation Health Check – Personalised assessment to identify opportunities and next steps.
- Tailored Support –Workshops, webinars, coaching, and (whereappropriate)grant application guidance.
Flexible, practical support designed for your business
We know every business is unique. Great Ideas provides a flexible approach with various support streams, so you can access the support that’s most relevant to you. No jargon. No cost. Just practical, step-by-step guidance to help you innovate, grow, and thrive.
Ready to take your ideas further?
Register today to join the Great Ideas Programme and start your innovation journey with fully funded guidance and support.
Great Ideas is a programme supported by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire and funded by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority as part of the Business Innovation Fund.
It has been developed in partnership with UMi.
