New Innovation Director

More than 100 start-ups and early-stage firms at two innovation centres in south Hampshire are to benefit from the expertise of a business advisor.

January 7th 2020

More than 100 start-ups and early-stage firms at two innovation centres in south Hampshire are to benefit from the expertise of a business advisor.

Monika Dabrowska is the new in-house Innovation Director for Fareham Innovation Centre and Ocean Village Innovation Centre, Southampton.

With extensive knowledge of innovative technologies across different sectors, Monika will be assisting occupiers with in-house business support.

She will be helping entrepreneurs with one-to-one mentoring, workshops, seminars, programmes, funding and, with the universities of Southampton, Solent and Portsmouth, knowledge transfers through internships.

Stephen Deller, Centre Manager at Ocean Village Innovation Centre, said: “More than 135 businesses have benefited to date from this invaluable in-house service; Monika has joined the team to add her expertise and to support businesses at the innovation centres.”

Ocean Village Innovation Centre is home to 45 pioneering companies, with 40 at Fareham Innovation Centre.

They range from start-ups to established businesses. Sectors include aviation, marine, maritime, aerospace, engineering and advanced manufacturing.
Stephen added: “The importance of small-to-medium size enterprises on the local economy cannot be underestimated – according to government figures there are 5.7 million in the UK, comprising 99% of all businesses.

“Of those, the vast majority are micro businesses of up to nine employees, accounting for 96% of all businesses in the UK. Many of our customers are of this smaller size and they are the unsung heroes of the local economy.

“Thanks to Monika, and the wider support staff at our innovation centres, customers can benefit from business support advice, helping to forge inward investment, expand supply chains and create new jobs locally.”

Monika was appointed following a rigorous selection process by Oxford Innovation, which runs both centres, as well as two others in Hampshire - BASE Bordon Innovation Centre and Portsmouth Technopole.

Oxford Innovation also operates a further 22 innovation centres elsewhere across the UK.

With a wealth of experience in obtaining EU and national funding for R&D and capital investment, Monika has also advised and assisted in management of EU-funded projects.

She said: “One of my key roles will be to act as an innovation catalyst, guiding business owners from idea to profitable revenue streams.

“Wearing the business growth accelerator hat, I’ll be identifying prime growth opportunities customers, backed up with structured plans for realistic expansion.

“It’s also about connecting customers with qualified professionals and peers so everyone benefits from best practice and latest thinking.”

Other Oxford Innovation centres in Hampshire are BASE Bordon Innovation Centre, Fareham Innovation Centre and Portsmouth Technopole.

Interested in joining the business community at OVIC? Call us on 023 8038 1920 or visit oceanvillage-ic.co.uk to find out more.

May 26th 2023

Oxford Innovation Space delighted to be managing its first London based innovation centre

Oxford Innovation Space manages the largest network of innovation centres across the UK and Ireland, with FBC Clerkenwell bringing their current total to 28 managed centres, with a further four in the pipeline. Businesses within these centres directly benefit from their business support onsite, access to business angels and funding, as well as being part of the wider network of centres.

May 26th 2023

Taking tech companies to the next level

Tech businesses looking to commercialise new ideas will be able to draw upon expert help at a special afternoon event in Hampshire.

An innovation and growth session takes place at Ocean Village Innovation Centre (OVIC), at Ocean Marina in Southampton, on Wednesday, 7 June.

April 28th 2023

Orchard blossoms in first year with new staff and recruitment

A recruitment consultancy in Southampton marked its first anniversary by making two employment moves of its own.
Orchard Recruiting, based at business hub Ocean Village Innovation Centre (OVIC), recruited Laura Baker as a permanent consultant and Rachel Marshall as a recruitment advisor.
Founded by Lisa Orchard, the firm has seen demand steadily increase from companies struggling to fill vacancies or expand themselves due to the UK’s labour shortage.
The start-up focuses on filling roles such as office administrators and customer service – temporary and permanent – for employers and job seekers, including in finance, accountancy, marketing, insurance, law, HR and manufacturing.