Reflection

I am proud of the RISE team and the remarkable platform we have built to foster innovation and collaboration amongst local businesses. Our tailored programmes, workshops, masterclasses and networking events have created a nurturing environment for businesses in the West Sussex region.

RISE has been a transformative endeavour, empowering individuals, catalysing innovation, and creating positive change. As Head of Project, I am grateful for this opportunity and excited to continue our journey towards a future of limitless innovation.

Lorraine Bell, Head of Project

Partnerships and collaboration have been at the heart of RISE. Through pooling resources, sharing knowledge, and leveraging diverse expertise, we have supported over 200 businesses in tackling complex challenges more efficiently.

As you have seen, from the impactful testimonials, RISE has not only bridged the gap between academia and business, but it has also made a fundamental difference to economic wellbeing of our participating businesses. None of this could have been achieved without the support of our project team who deserve so much credit for delivering the project so successfully. On behalf of everyone, thank you for all your hard work.

Joanna Havers, University of Brighton

As Project Lead at the University of Sussex, I have valued the opportunity RISE has presented to meet a diverse range of local businesses and understand more about the innovation challenges they face. Putting companies in touch with knowledge and expertise to help address these has been really rewarding.

It can be difficult to know where to start when faced with working with a large University. RISE provided that first step to begin the conversation with business and deliver some exciting tangible results with RISE members. We look forward to collaborating further with these partners to help support their growth, reach new markets and customers harnessing innovation and shared knowledge to achieve this.

Working with RISE strategic partners West Sussex County Council helped us to understand more about the specific sector challenges across our region that will inform our ongoing service offer and collaboration approach.

It has been enjoyable to work more closely with neighbours University of Brighton. We have gained a greater understanding of individual areas of strength and capability that is well placed to meet the needs of the local business community we both serve.

RISE has been the start of something that I look forward to evolving.

Kate Thorpe, University of Sussex