GM FE Innovation Programme
We’re thrilled to be part of the GM FE Innovation Programme, which allows us to support local businesses of all sizes with incorporating new forms of innovation into their operations.
Our Business Innovation Advisor, Billy Gilchrist, focuses on engaging with employers across Greater Manchester to understand their goals, challenges and aspirations. He’s then able to provide tailored advice and support to help develop robust innovation strategies to aid with growth.
Born and raised in Rochdale, Billy has over 20 years’ experience in the electrical industry. He’s worked with numerous companies throughout Rochdale and Greater Manchester and amongst his many expertise includes retrofit and green technologies.
Billy previously worked as the Apprenticeships Manager at Hopwood Hall before assuming his new role as Business Innovation Advisor.
Speak to Billy about the different ways that you can innovate in your business, please get in touch by emailing innovation@hopwood.ac.uk or by phoning on 07950 716 658.
The GM FE Innovation Programme builds the capacity and capability of Further Education Colleges (FECs) to increase the adoption of innovations by businesses in their locality, and to create better links between them and the City Region’s innovation ecosystem. This addresses the challenge of low productivity, and limited engagement with innovation support services in the outer areas of the City Region.
The Innovation Programme is a collaborative partnership of all nine GM FECs, which cover all 10 Boroughs of the Greater Manchester (GM) economic area.
WHAT BUSINESSES HAVE TO SAY…
“Thank you Billy. A fantastic session and already using some of the tips and functions you shared. We’ll get you back in soon for a follow up session” – Kevin Mullin, Social Value Manager at First Bus
“Great session Billy. Revolutionary and really thought provoking, excited to see the tools in action. Thanks for your time!” – John Walmsley, Social Media Executive at The Casey Group
“Thank you so much for your kind words, Billy. There are so many options to utilise within our day-to-day operations, I felt like a child in a sweet shop! Incorporating even a fraction of the applications you shared will enable us to continue in the innovative manner we strive for. We truly appreciate your efforts and are excited about the potential these tools hold for our future!” – John Keogh, Owner/Director at Bluebird Care, Rochdale
MEET BILLY GILCHRIST
“Thanks for coming and presenting to the team Billy – they are super excited to start testing out some of the sites! Highly recommend this to anyone in the Manchester area!” – Carly Webb, Senior Manager, Learning & Development at Fanatics International
“Thanks Billy, we will highly recommend you, we all thoroughly enjoyed it and looking forward to further developing our AI knowledge through yourself and putting into practice, very informative and clear explanations throughout, along with some good humour!” – Mark Harris, Director at AAA Pest Control Services Ltd.
