Innovation Network tackles changing times

The University’s Innovation Network, in partnership with The Yorkshire Post, will host a seminar looking at how companies can evolve while facing challenges.

Johnston Press Yorkshire managing director Helen Oldham leads the line-up for the event, which will take place at The Yorkshire Post’s Leeds offices.

Ms Oldham said innovation is about change, which is ever-present in the media sector.

She said: “The processes of production and distribution of media are changing. The ownership and financing of media are changing. The roles of users are changing. And our ideas of what media is are changing.

“So never was there a time or a sector in which innovation was required more to shape future sustainability.”

While ideas could previously take years, decades or centuries to come to fruition, businesses today must make the same leap in days, hours or minutes, she said.

Ms Oldham will be sharing breakthrough thinking about growing regional news brands in a digital world, and the importance of brand and culture to success.

Attendees will also hear from Leeds Council head of innovation and sector development Simon Brereton and AW Hainsworth managing director Tom Hainsworth.

Katie Rigarlsford, Enterprise and Innovation Academy manager at Leeds Beckett University Enterprise Services said: “Innovation is an important driver for growth within our region.

“The innovation network aims to bring theory to life and share stories to inspire future business growth within our region.”

Tickets for the free event, which takes place from 8.30-10.30 on November 26, can be booked here: http://eia.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/events/innovation-through-challenging-times/