6 minute read
Advancing innovation and scale-up potential in the Liverpool City Region: The SME Productivity
Advancing innovation and scale-up potential in the Liverpool City Region: The SME Productivity & Innovation Centre at Edge Hill University Business School
& Innovation Centre at Edge Hill University Business School
For over seven years, Edge Hill University Business School’s SME Productivity & Innovation Centre (PIC) has driven sustainable growth in scale-up potential SMEs across the region, helping them to transform into high-growth, high-productivity businesses.
For over seven years, Edge Hill University Business School’s SME Productivity & Innovation Centre (PIC) has driven sustainable growth in scale-up potential SMEs across the region, helping them to transform into high-growth, high-productivity businesses.
For over seven years, Edge Hill University Business School’s SME Productivity & Innovation Centre (PIC) has driven sustainable growth in scale-up potential SMEs across the region, helping them to transform into high-growth, high-productivity businesses.
The Centre’s two leading initiatives, Innovation Sprint Programme and Leadership for Growth have transformed Edge Hill Business School into a leading force for empowering previously untapped SME growth potential.
The Centre’s two leading initiatives, Innovation Sprint Programme and Leadership for Growth have transformed Edge Hill Business School into a leading force for empowering previously untapped SME growth potential.
The Centre’s two leading initiatives, Innovation Sprint Programme and Leadership for Growth have transformed Edge Hill Business School into a leading force for empowering previously untapped SME growth potential.
Identifying scale-ups: a key driver of growth for the Liverpool City Region economy
Identifying scale-ups: a key driver of growth for the Liverpool City Region economy
Identifying scale-ups: a key driver of growth for the Liverpool City Region economy
Impact numbers in the Liverpool City Region (2023 – 2025)
Impact numbers in the Liverpool City Region (2023 – 2025)
Scale-up businesses are critical to economic growth, contributing 55% (£1.4 trillion) of the total SME output across the UK, despite accounting for just 0.6% of the business population. In the Liverpool City Region (LCR) there are 645 visible scale-ups within a business population exceeding 90,000. These businesses do play a vital role in driving regional prosperity and must be supported to sustain and enhance their growth, however addressing LCR's productivity challenges requires delving deeper to support established SMEs who have untapped, scale up potential. PIC provides a unique approach to identifying and nurturing these 'hidden' SMEs - upwards of 20,000 firms in LCR - with two flagship support programmes: Innovation Sprint (an exemplar programme endorsed by the ScaleUp Institute) and Leadership For Growth.
Scale-up businesses are critical to economic growth, contributing 55% (£1.4 trillion) of the total SME output across the UK, despite accounting for just 0.6% of the business population. In the Liverpool City Region (LCR) there are 645 visible scale-ups within a business population exceeding 90,000. These businesses do play a vital role in driving regional prosperity and must be supported to sustain and enhance their growth, however addressing LCR's productivity challenges requires delving deeper to support established SMEs who have untapped, scale up potential. PIC provides a unique approach to identifying and nurturing these 'hidden' SMEs - upwards of 20,000 firms in LCR - with two flagship support programmes: Innovation Sprint (an exemplar programme endorsed by the ScaleUp Institute) and Leadership For Growth.
Scale-up businesses are critical to economic growth, contributing 55% (£1.4 trillion) of the total SME output across the UK, despite accounting for just 0.6% of the business population. In the Liverpool City Region (LCR) there are 645 visible scale-ups within a business population exceeding 90,000. These businesses do play a vital role in driving regional prosperity and must be supported to sustain and enhance their growth, however addressing LCR's productivity challenges requires delving deeper to support established SMEs who have untapped, scale up potential. PIC provides a unique approach to identifying and nurturing these 'hidden' SMEs - upwards of 20,000 firms in LCR - with two flagship support programmes: Innovation Sprint (an exemplar programme endorsed by the ScaleUp Institute) and Leadership For Growth.
Between 2023 to 2025, the PIC has been empowering LCR scale-up businesses to overcome growth barriers across four critical areas: market access, leadership development, digital transformation, and investment readiness.
Between 2023 to 2025, the PIC has been empowering LCR scale-up businesses to overcome growth barriers across four critical areas: market access, leadership development, digital transformation, and investment readiness.
Between 2023 to 2025, the PIC has been empowering LCR scale-up businesses to overcome growth barriers across four critical areas: market access, leadership development, digital transformation, and investment readiness.
The 160+ SMEs supported have tackled key growth challenges by developing actionable, strategic plans for effective scaling — including data driven decision making, optimising resource allocation, embracing digital innovation, and designing agile business models. The Innovation Sprint provides deep analysis of business performance at strategic, operational and tactical levels to identify opportunities for new growth. Leadership for Growth empowers strategic leaders and operational managers with the skills to drive performance and lead transformational change. Together, these initiatives support SMEs to maximise their productivity and competitiveness.
The 160+ SMEs supported have tackled key growth challenges by developing actionable, strategic plans for effective scaling — including data driven decision making, optimising resource allocation, embracing digital innovation, and designing agile business models. The Innovation Sprint provides deep analysis of business performance at strategic, operational and tactical levels to identify opportunities for new growth. Leadership for Growth empowers strategic leaders and operational managers with the skills to drive performance and lead transformational change. Together, these initiatives support SMEs to maximise their productivity and competitiveness.
The 160+ SMEs supported have tackled key growth challenges by developing actionable, strategic plans for effective scaling — including data driven decision making, optimising resource allocation, embracing digital innovation, and designing agile business models. The Innovation Sprint provides deep analysis of business performance at strategic, operational and tactical levels to identify opportunities for new growth. Leadership for Growth empowers strategic leaders and operational managers with the skills to drive performance and lead transformational change. Together, these initiatives support SMEs to maximise their productivity and competitiveness.
PIC delivers practical, commercially relevant support, underpinned by the latest research-informed expertise. Edge Hill's Business School is accredited by the UK’s Small Business Charter, highlighting the commitment to supporting SMEs, and PIC programmes hold endorsement by the ScaleUp Institute and accreditation from the Chartered Management Institute. Funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund helps to ensure these programmes are widely accessible to LCR businesses.
Impact numbers in the Liverpool City Region (2023 – 2025)
160
112
SMEs supported New jobs created
18
19 New productivity improvements New technology/ processes adopted
New productivity improvements New technology/ processes adopted
SMEs accessing Innovation Sprint and Leadership for Growth support
SMEs accessing Innovation Sprint and Leadership for Growth support
Sustained and expanded support for 2025/26
Sustained and expanded support for 2025/26
Sustained and expanded support for 2025/26
Further investment from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for 2025/26, ahead of wider reforms to local growth expected in the new Invest 2035 Industrial Strategy, has enabled the PIC to continue delivering high-impact support through the Liverpool City Region. This renewed funding (available until March 2026) not only sustains existing initiatives but also introduces an enhanced programme with a dedicated focus on driving readiness for AI digital transformation: the AI Adoption Readiness Programme.
PIC delivers practical, commercially relevant support, underpinned by the latest research-informed expertise. Edge Hill's Business School is accredited by the UK’s Small Business Charter, highlighting the commitment to supporting SMEs, and PIC programmes hold endorsement by the ScaleUp Institute and accreditation from the Chartered Management Institute. Funding from the UK Government’s
PIC delivers practical, commercially relevant support, underpinned by the latest research-informed expertise. Edge Hill's Business School is accredited by the UK’s Small Business Charter, highlighting the commitment to supporting SMEs, and PIC programmes hold endorsement by the ScaleUp Institute and accreditation from the Chartered Management Institute. Funding from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund helps to ensure these programmes are widely accessible to LCR businesses.
Shared Prosperity Fund helps to ensure these programmes are widely
Further investment from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for 2025/26, ahead of wider reforms to local growth expected in the new Invest 2035 Industrial Strategy, has enabled the PIC to continue delivering high-impact support through the Liverpool City Region. This renewed funding (available until March 2026) not only sustains existing initiatives but also introduces an enhanced programme with a dedicated focus on driving readiness for AI digital transformation: the AI Adoption Readiness Programme.
Further investment from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for 2025/26, ahead of wider reforms to local growth expected in the new Invest 2035 Industrial Strategy, has enabled the PIC to continue delivering high-impact support through the Liverpool City Region. This renewed funding (available until March 2026) not only sustains existing initiatives but also introduces an enhanced programme with a dedicated focus on driving readiness for AI digital transformation:
