1. Biz Network April 2021 1-40.qxp_Chamberlink 26/03/2021 11:03 Page 26
PATRONS
New Italian research base for university The University of Nottingham hopes to strengthen both its position at the forefront of technological innovation in green aviation and alliances with Europe’s aerospace leaders by establishing a research base in Italy. It will be situated in the Campania region, which is home to the Italian National Centre for Aerospace Research (CIRA) and one of the university’s long-standing partners, Leonardo Aircraft Division. The programme also involves establishing University of Nottingham Italy, with its researchers participating in high technology-readiness level (TRL) aerospace programmes that provide access to other key industrial partners such as Airbus, Rolls-Royce Deutschland, Safran, Liebherr and Thales.
Serhiy Bozhko, director of the Institute for Aerospace Technology at the university, said: “I am extremely happy that our strong links and great history of co-operation with the Italian aerospace community has achieved a new strategic level with the establishment of University of Nottingham Italy. “Our presence in the heart of Italian aerospace, in the Campania Region, creates exciting opportunities and enforces our university position as a leader in research towards future green aviation.” Nottingham is already the top university contributor to Clean Sky 2, Europe’s largest research programme focused on reducing emissions and increasing the competitiveness
of the aeronautics industry. Via its Institute for Aerospace Technology, based on the Innovation Park campus, the university is now planning to work with aviation leaders on the European Partnership for Clean Aviation. Due to go online this year, this will be the EU’s flagship programme dedicated to reduction the environmental impact of aviation. Chris Gerada, professor of electrical machines in the university’s Faculty of Engineering, said participation “has the potential to exploit the University’s research expertise related to the electrification of aircraft, advanced manufacturing technologies and other key areas, such as hydrogen energy system”.
Cross Productions joins as patron The company behind Niche Magazine, the bi-monthly B2B publication that champions organisations in Leicestershire, is the latest addition to the Chamber’s list of patrons. Cross Productions hopes to forge new partnerships in the Midlands and beyond by aligning its brand with the chamber of commerce. While the business continues to promote businesses and projects in Leicestershire, it works with clients across the UK for its services in marketing, lead generation and digital media. CEO Jenny Cross said: “Our team is hugely concerned with building lasting relationships that help others to thrive in business, and we have always been able to achieve this in Leicester through Niche Magazine and the Niche Business Awards. “With Cross Productions, however, we take this so many steps further as we as a parent company are not limited by Leicestershire borders. “Becoming a patron of East Midlands Chamber is a great honour and a relationship that will help us support other businesses specifically across the East Midlands.” Marketing mentoring is at the heart of Cross Productions’ wider support to clients. It runs a series of masterclasses, including How to write lead generation content, How to create a marketing strategy, and Understanding your audience. The company recruits locally and has strong working practices and values. These include ensuring each 26
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Cross Productions hosts the Niche Business Awards, pictured here in 2019
employee is a “team player”, hardworking, focused on delivering to expectation, honest, approachable and has a positive can-do attitude.
‘Our job is to find the right solution for the businesspeople we work with. This means we will never suggest an off-the-shelf package when it comes to creating a marketing strategy that works for them’
Jenny Cross
Jenny added: “What makes Cross Productions different is that we invest fully in both our clients and our team. Taking pride in our open communication policy that cuts through the
noise and ensures transparency in all aspects of our work. “As a result, the client feels special and is always comfortable in the knowledge that we are focused on their goals. “Our job is to find the right solution for the businesspeople we work with. “This means we will never suggest an off-the-shelf package when it comes to creating a marketing strategy that works for them – we will dig deep to find out what makes their potential customers tick. “We have a team of creative thinkers who will go above and beyond to add value to brands and we’re looking forward to sharing this even more throughout East Midlands Chamber and the companies it’s associated with.” Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Niche Magazine is a fantastic brand that many businesses in Leicestershire will already be aware of so we’re fantastic to be working more closely with its parent company, helping Cross Productions to grow its presence across the region.”
