< HOME / news

Inspiring Innovation here in Wigan Borough

August 30, 2024

Danielle Wallis
Marketing Manager

28 August 2024

Start-up businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators of Wigan Borough - it’s time to get inspired.

A support service tailored to your needs and circumstances is on offer through a Wigan Council scheme and could take your enterprise to the next level.

The Inspiring Innovation programme launched earlier this year, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and dozens of businesses – from start-ups through to established firms - are already signed up.

The personalised support remains available with residents encouraged to get in touch to find out more.

Councillor David Molyneux MBE, Leader of Wigan Council, said: “The programme is ideal for creative and business-minded residents who want to either start their own venture or would appreciate advice on how to take their existing organisations forward.
“Helping borough-based businesses and encouraging start-up initiatives is a priority for the council and developments such as the Civic in Wigan town centre are going to provide flexible bases for these sorts of firms.
“It’s an exciting time to be a business in our borough and we’d encourage anyone with an interest to consider the Inspiring Innovation programme.”

The Inspiring Innovation programme brings together Wigan Council and Inventya, a North-West based innovation consultancy.

More than 30 businesses are already involved, ranging from childcare organisations to engineering firms, manufacturing to graphic design, and digital marketing to fine art, with a number of unique initiatives helped with business plans and strategy.

Sam Marshall of Snippit Mirrors said "The Inventya support programme has been really influential on aligning our business aims and objectives together at a crucial point in our growth.
"The programme is structured not to give the answers but to dig out and calibrate around the answers you already have as an entrepreneur. Having been involved in several Startup support schemes, both government and private funded, this programme really has stood out among the best."
Inventya's Business and Entrepreneur Advisor Steve Smith, said “The business community across Wigan Borough is always incredibly warm and welcoming, with loads of ideas and energy. It is a real privilege to support such great people on their business journey'. "

John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital & Centric, said: “Our transformation of Civic is underway, turning the redundant brutalist building into a design-led hub for growing businesses. With the council’s support, Wigan is a brilliant place to have a base and scale a business.
“Civic will be right at the heart of the town centre, a creative space that fosters connections between like-minded, ambitious businesses. We’re already having conversations with potential occupiers and are keen to hear from those who want all the amenities and high-quality design you get from a city centre spot, but right here in Wigan.”

To find out more and register your interest, visit inventya.com/wigan-business-inspiring-innovation

For more information, contact Wigan Council's media team on PR@wigan.gov.uk

Inspiring Innovation here in Wigan Borough

Photo, front row L-R: Aidan Thatcher (Wigan Council), Councillor David Molyneux (Leader of Wigan Council), Patricia Evans (Wigan Council), Charlotte Ollerton (Inventya), Jason Huyton (Palatine Paints), Margie Simm (Merch 360), Hannah (Groundup Digital), Claire Burnham (Wigan Council)

Back row L-R: Andrew Kent (Inventya), Steve Smith (Inventya)

August 30, 2024
← back to news
Start-up businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators of Wigan Borough - it’s time to get inspired. A support service tailored to your needs and circumstances is on offer through a Wigan Council scheme and could take your enterprise to the next level.The Inspiring Innovation programme launched earlier this year, funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and dozens of businesses – from start-ups through to established firms - are already signed up.
Thank you! We will be in touch shortly.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

More of our news

Building a Strong Consortium for Collaborative Grants
Collaborative grants open the door to larger, more ambitious innovation projects. But to succeed, funders want more than a good idea – they want the right team to deliver it. Strong consortia bring together diverse expertise, reduce risk, and demonstrate the project’s real-world impact. Whether you're an SME, academic institution, or R&D leader, knowing how to build and present a well-structured consortium can significantly boost your funding success.
August 25, 2025
R&D in Construction & Engineering: Overlooked Opportunities
While construction and engineering are typically seen as practical, hands-on sectors, they are also rich with technical innovation. Often, businesses in these sectors are unsure how to assess whether their projects meet HMRC’s eligibility criteria.
August 11, 2025
R&D Tax Relief for Startups: Navigating Innovation With Confidence
Startups often operate under intense financial pressure. Balancing product development, team growth, and market fit can leave little room for error. R&D tax relief remains one of the most valuable funding tools for UK businesses pursuing technological or scientific advancement—but it’s not automatic or guaranteed.
August 4, 2025
R&D Tax Shakeup: What UK Innovators Need to Know About the New Unified Scheme
From 1st April 2024, the UK government is introducing a unified R&D tax relief scheme, replacing the SME and RDEC schemes. This article outlines the key changes, including updated rules on subcontracting, overseas R&D, and support for R&D-intensive SMEs. Learn how the new scheme affects your business and what steps you need to take to stay compliant and maximise your claim.
June 19, 2025
Scaling with Innovation - Why the Right Support is Crucial for Business Growth
In today’s competitive business landscape, standing still is not an option. Growth-hungry companies must continually innovate, not just to stay relevant, but to lead. But innovation on its own isn’t enough. Scaling a business takes more than a great idea; it takes strategy, resilience, and the right support network to turn innovation into sustainable success.
June 9, 2025
Inventya Ltd Recognised in FT1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies 2025
Inventya Ltd is proud to announce that we have been featured in the Financial Times’ ninth annual FT1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies 2025 list. This prestigious ranking, compiled in collaboration with Statista, recognizes the top 1,000 European companies that have demonstrated exceptional revenue growth and resilience over the past years.
March 5, 2025