West Sussex Health and Life Sciences Cluster September 2016 Update

Welcome to the latest news update, keeping you informed about the health and life sciences initiatives we are progressing, highlighting relevant sector events and opportunities, and updating you on the exciting things that are happening in the county.

In this update we launch news of two new exciting events, highlight ground breaking research being carried out by Blond McIndoe in the world of regenerative medicine, and offer an opportunity for you to raise your organisation's profile and access high numbers of students and graduates.

Since the last update we have been busy expanding our ecosystem and connecting with organisations such as the Knowledge Transfer Network, OBN, the Science Council, and Cogent Skills. We have linked with numerous regional projects including the University of Chichester's European Regional Development Fund Care through Innovation Bid, and IoTUK & DigiCat Brighton's Care Clinic. We have been gathering additional intelligence on the sector and are delighted to report that we have now identified over 120 related companies in the county.

What are your business needs?

It is our ambition to further our understanding of your needs and will be shortly commissioning a piece of work which will look into the skills and workforce development challenges that you face, and also the business support requirements of our SMEs.

More information will be included in the next update, but those wishing for additional information in advance of this should contact Rachael.merriman@westsussex.gov.uk

Do you have a wage bill of over £3 million? Are you interested in finding out how to utilise the Apprenticeships Levy?

On November 4th we will be partnering with Cogent Skills to deliver 'An Employers Guide to Skills Reform and Apprenticeship Levy Workshop' in Horsham. The free event will cover a range of useful topics and will help companies prepare themselves for the changes that are due to come into effect in May 2017. For a full list of topics, event information and registration please follow this link.

Save the date- Tuesday 6 December at 6.30pm. Top quality funding and export event to take place at the Holiday Inn, Gatwick. 

The West Sussex Health and Life Sciences Cluster are delighted to announce that we are partnering with OBN to deliver an event entitled 'Sources of public non-dilutable funding and export support to UK R&D companies' in December. The event will consist of several high quality presentations from experts in the field followed by an exciting panel discussion and networking opportunities with companies from the wider South East Region. 

To read the full press release and for further details click here.  

Coast to Capital Region Business Growth Grants - Open for Applications

Grants of between £15,000 to £100,000 are available to SME businesses who are located in the Coast to Capital Region, which includes the whole of West Sussex and who are looking to grow and to create new jobs. The grant should be used to fund capital items and can be used for up to 40% of the total project costs.

If you are interested in the grants programme and would like to learn more about how it could help your business please visit or email businessgrants@westsussex.gov.uk

West Sussex Research Group unveils plans for Scar Biobank

The ‘Scar Study’ is a collaboration between Blond McIndoe Research Foundation, The Queen Victoria Hospital and Horder HealthCare.  All three organisations are based on the East Grinstead campus and share a collective aspiration to deliver patient-oriented innovations.

The aim of the Scar Study is to develop a scar tissue biobank which will assist research in understanding processes and therapies that lead to scar-free healing.  The potential to reduce the impact of scarring on the patient exists through the development of novel materials, cell therapies and medicines. In order to understand how these therapies should be developed, a better understanding of the molecules and proteins (biomarkers) involved in scarring is necessary. Knowing the involvement of these biomarkers in scarring will enable innovative approaches to be harnessed, perhaps enhancing the body’s own regenerative processes to promote scar-free healing.

If you would like to understand more about the study or would like to be involved as a sponsor, please get in touch with CEO, Maxine Smeaton maxine.smeaton@blondmcindoe.org or telephone her on 01342 414295.

Are you interested in accessing 3,000 potential candidates for as little as £200?

On November 2nd the Universities of Brighton and Sussex will jointly host a careers fair at the Amex Community Stadium. The Careers Fair will be an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of your organisation with students and graduates from Brighton, Sussex and the wider higher education pool. For more information please view.

Coastal STEMfest to be repeated again in 2017!!!

Coastal STEMfest, the two month-long celebration of science and engineering for young people in West Sussex has proved so popular it will be staged again in 2017. The festival links schools and employers, and encourages young people to consider STEM subjects and careers. To read the full press release click here.

If you are interested in participating please contact coastalstemfest@brighton.ac.uk or 01273 644178.

GSK interacting with students at the BigBang@Butlins 2016

If you have any updates or stories that you would like shared with the cluster please email Rachael.merriman@westsussex.gov.uk