Big two pledge to help create jobs in region

SENIOR figures at Unilever and Nestle UK have vowed to help create jobs in Yorkshire by collaborating with academics and small businesses to develop new products.

Dozens of entrepreneurs and academics attended the York Open Innovation Jam, which was held at the National Science Learning Centre in York.

The event, which was organised by Science City York, encouraged small businesses and universities to work together to make Yorkshire's economy more competitive.

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The speakers included Roger Leech, the open innovation director for portfolio and scouting at Unilever, who urged the delegates to pursue innovations in the field of bioscience.

He highlighted the success of Unilever's factory in Seacroft, near Leeds, which employs 600 people. In recent years, it has become a major European centre for deodorant production.

He added: "Our mandate is to find both businesses and academic centres that we can partner with."

He said Unilever was involved in a number of partnerships with companies around York, but he couldn't name them for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

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He added: "We are looking to develop new products and processes in partnership with small to medium-sized businesses.

"The skills in Yorkshire are strong and in specialised areas the county competes very effectively."

Mr Leech said Unilever wanted to work with the universities of Leeds and York on mutually beneficial projects.

Other speakers at the event included Lee Statham, the head of innovation and renovation at Nestle Confectionery UK & Ireland, and Francois Pointet, Nestle's technical manager.

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Nestle UK employs 7,000 people across 19 sites – including around 1,700 in York – and has a turnover of more than 2bn a year.

Mr Statham is responsible for ensuring that Nestle's 850m brand portfolio, which includes KitKat and Quality Street, stays ahead of the competition.

Mr Statham said: "We have recently increased the staff and we are certainly developing the site in York.

"Today's a big starting point for Nestle. We've come here to discuss how we manage innovation and how we get products to market.

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"York is a great area – there's a lot of culture... A lot of people come to York University which gives it a continental feel. That can only be a bonus for the region."

Mr Pointet said he wanted to forge closer ties with the universities.

He added: "We need to invest in people first in order to be creative for the future."

When asked if the size of Nestle's York operation might grow, he responded: "We have a lot of ideas and a lot of projects for the future, so hopefully we can go in that direction."

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Last month, Nestle UK opened a customer relationship centre in York for Nespresso, the coffee brand endorsed by movie star George Clooney. Initially, the centre hired 48 staff but over the next year this figure is expected to rise to around 78.

Prof Nicola Spence, the chief executive of Science City York, said: "The 'Jam' was an inspirational event which highlighted how global companies have generated new ideas and products for growth through open innovation. I hope it inspired those taking part in the day to develop their own products and services bigger, better and faster by applying the same principles.

"We set out to inform and open people's minds to a new way of working – one where networking, relationship building and collaborative practice is central to their practice. The event successfully brought together a cross sector community at the heart of York's innovation eco system and wider Leeds city region to connect, promote opportunities and share ideas. I hope the event acts as a springboard for many to adopt a more open approach to business and that ultimately they reap the rewards."

A CENTRE OF ATTENTION

Science City York was established in 1998 as a partnership between City of York Council and The University of York to promote North Yorkshire as a centre for innovation.

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It became a joint venture company involving the university and the council in 2007, and also receives funding from Yorkshire Forward. Nicola Spence, Science City York's chief executive, is the former chief scientist at the Food and Environment Research Agency at Sand Hutton, near York where she was responsible for science strategy and quality.

In her current role, she has the job of bringing the worlds of business and academia together to help secure investment in Yorkshire.

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