Frank Ashton Better before Cheaper

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SBPE – Harrogate 14/4/16 ECONOMIC DEV Panel Frank Ashton – Uppards Ltd also Leeds City Region LEP Business Innovation and Growth Panel – Supply Chain Lead

“Better before Cheaper”

+Summary of message

n  Competing on price is risky for UK plc

n  Respond to price pressure with Better before Cheaper – make more of “local” and “serve needs over longer term”

n  There is support for you n  Funds - Leeds City Region LEP

n  Advice – “Bridging the gap” between SMEs and Enterprise/Prime

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Frank Ashton - Leeds City Region LEP, SC Lead on BIG Panel - also Director, Uppards Ltd 14/04/16

+Inexorable slide to “good enough”, less differentiation

n  Global economy driving more focus on price – less on value or Total Cost/Benefits of Ownership

n  Lower cost- and emerging market-companies try to catch up, often driving “good enough” products

n  All sectors and markets are at risk from this “less differentiated” model – not just traditional commodities

14/04/16 Frank Ashton - Leeds City Region LEP, SC Lead on BIG Panel - also Director, Uppards Ltd

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“Competing on price is risky for UK plc”

+Respond with “Better before Cheaper”, new business models

n  Value associated with Functionality, Durability, Convenience, Problem solving – making the product/experience Better

n  These features are difficult to deliver economically/effectively from distance/low cost countries

n  Remanufacture, Power-by-Hour business models reinforce local advantage, play to UK plc strengths/features above


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Make more of “local” and “serve needs over longer term”

+ Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership – region covers 119,000 SME Companies

ONGOING WORK & SUPPORT for SMEs •  Supply Chain Development Working Group –

Create/Safeguard jobs in LCR SC over next 5 yrs •  Working with pilot projects/volunteer companies •  Facilitate change -‐ towards service and product

•  Wide range of support available – from LEP and extensive network of partners •  CAPEX funding -‐ £10k -‐ £500k •  Infrastructure CAPEX Loans -‐ £500k -‐ £1M •  Skills/Training -‐ £0.5k -‐ £50k, 50% funded •  ApprenQceships – help to recruit (max 3 at £2k ea) •  Export advice – UKTI-‐driven

•  LEP growth service – easier for SMEs to get support through single point of contact •  Helpline – 0113 348 1818 •  www.the-‐LEP.com •  13 Growth Managers across Region

+Summary of message

n  Competing on price is risky for UK plc

n  Respond to price pressure with Better before Cheaper – make more of “local” and “serve needs over longer term”

n  There is support for you n  Funds - Leeds City Region LEP

n  Advice – “Bridging the gap” between SMEs and Enterprise/Prime

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Frank Ashton - Leeds City Region LEP, SC Lead on BIG Panel - also Director, Uppards Ltd 14/04/16

+Thank you

n  Frank Ashton, Founder & Director – Uppards Consultants

n  07802 158370

n  LinkedIn

n  [email protected]

n  @_frank_a


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