Document

BionowNorthwest Development AgencyPO Box 37Renaissance HouseCentre ParkWarringtonCheshire WA1 1XBTel: +44 (0)1925 400 100Fax: +44 (0)1925 400 400e-mail: [email protected]

NorthwestBiotechnologyFinanceAdvisoryService(NWBFAS)

ENGLAND

SCOTLAND

ManchesterLiverpool

London

WALES

Glasgow

Edinburgh

Birmingham

Contents

Page

Introduction 2

Support available 2

Company eligibility 3

How to apply 3

Additional Information 4

Expert Partners Introduction 4

• Addleshaw Goddard 5

• Altium Capital 6

• Armstrong Craven 7

• DWF Solicitors 8

• Eversheds 9

• Halliwell Landau 10

• Pannone & Partners 11

Regional Business Adviser (RBA) Project 12

RBA Role in NWBFAS 12

Bionow 13

Northwest BiotechnologyCompany Map 14

Application form 15

Introduction

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)and the Northwest Development Agency(NWDA) are providing the NorthwestBiotechnology Finance Advisory Service(NWBFAS) to enable early stage and smallcompanies in the biotechnology industry toimprove their business development andgrowth.

The NWBFAS provides grant funding toeligible companies to pay for professionaladvice and expertise for businessdevelopment. The Regional BusinessAdvisers (RBA) for Biotechnology will alsosupport the NWBFAS (although there arecertain geographic restrictions to the RBAservice).

Business Development projects that maybe considered for funding include:

• Raising venture capital or other funding

• Intellectual Property protection andenforcement

• Corporate advice

• Senior Management Team recruitment

• Business Planning

To provide the level of businessdevelopment support that the NWBFASdemands, a panel of professional industryexperienced Partners has been formed.Each of these “Expert Partners” areavailable to discuss with you the nature ofyour business development requirementsand advise you on how to maximise the

NWBFAS funding. They will also enhancethe value of your project by a contributionof their time free of charge. Please notethat you are not obliged to use any of theExpert Partners but you will have to providedetails of your chosen consultant’scredentials as outlined on page 3.

If your company is working towards raisingventure capital then you will also have theopportunity to take a “reality check”sponsored by Altium Capital.

This booklet is intended to provide all theinformation needed to access the service,however you may submit further questions,by email, to Bionow, the NWDA’sbiotechnology cluster group [email protected].

The NWBFAS has a fund of £100,000 toprovide a business development grant toapproximately 20 companies before theend of January 2006 to pay for expertiseand advice. The grants are available to 13companies before 31st March 2005 and toa further 7 companies from 1st April 2005to 31st January 2006. The project cost will

be made up of a grant from the NWBFAS,a contribution of time from an ExpertPartner (who will deliver the project), and acash contribution from your company.

The Expert Partners have agreed to acontribution of work up to a value of£2,000 (see example one). However, this

is on a case-by-case basis and should bediscussed directly with the Expert Partner.If you choose to use a consultant who isnot an Expert Partner, either the consultantof your choice or your company must makeup the 25% contribution.

If the grant required is less than £5,000then contributions should be altered on apro rata basis according to the percentagesgiven in the table (see example two).

The Expert Partners are available todiscuss the nature of your businessdevelopment requirements and advise youon how to maximise the NWBFAS funding.

% Contribution Example One Example Two

Grant available from DTI/NWDA 62.5 £5,000 £3,750

Contribution from Expert Partner 25 £2,000 £1,500

Your contribution 12.5 £1,000 £750

Total 100 £8,000 £6,000

Support available

2

Company eligibility

To be eligible for this grant support yourcompany must:

• Be a Small or Medium sized Enterprise(SME). To conform to SME status yourcompany must:

1. Employ less than 250 full timeequivalent employees

2. Have a turnover of less thanc40million, or an annual balancesheet total not exceeding c27million

3. Have not more than 25% of thecapital or voting rights owned by anenterprise which itself is not anSME unless:

a) The enterprise is held by publicinvestment corporations, venturecapital companies or institutionalinvestors, provided no control isexercised either individually or jointly

b) The capital is spread in such a waythat it is not possible to determine bywhom it is held and if the enterprisedeclares that it can legitimatelypresume that it is not owned as to25% or more by one enterprise, orjointly by several enterprises, fallingoutside the definitions of an SME

• Be located in one of the five counties ofthe Northwest of England: Cheshire,Cumbria, Greater Manchester,Lancashire or Merseyside.

• Be part of the Biotechnology industry,i.e. “A company that derives themajority of its revenue from the use orapplication of biological material,systems or information to provideproducts or services”.

• Not exceed the De minimis limits forgrant funding. This ruling declares thatno company may take up a grant award

or in-kind support from the state to avalue that exceeds a ceiling of c100,000in a rolling three-year period.

• Show that the project will provide anopportunity that would not exist withoutthe input of the expert support offeredand the grant proposed. It must alsodemonstrate value for money.

• Be able to show that the projectproposed is distinct from currentactivities in your company.

• Be a Registered Company in the UK.

The NWBFAS will be administered by theNWDA (Bionow) in collaboration with theRegional Business Advisers (RBAs). Aspart of your business development, it maybe appropriate for you to meet with an RBAto ensure that maximum value is gainedfrom the NWBFAS. For further informationon the RBAs please see page 12.

If you feel this scheme will provide you with the support you need and you match the eligibility then an application from your company iswelcomed. Application is via the form at the back of this booklet. The diagram illustrates the process:

Identify andmeet with anExpert Partner tooutline thesupport required.Agree projectdeliverables,deadlines,project costs andExpert Partnercontribution.

Consider thedevelopmentproject thatwill providemaximumvalue for yourcompany(a meetingwith an RBAmay aid you atthis point).

Submit theoriginalapplicationform plus acopy of thequote(includingprojectoutline)proposedby ExpertPartner.

The NWDAwill processtheapplicationandrespond,normallywithin tenworkingdays.

If approved – Proceed to contractwith Expert Partner.Forward copy of contract oragreed action plan to the NWDA.*A copy of the NWDA grant claim formwill be included with the approvalletter, please retain for later use.

On completionof project, submita paid invoiceto the NWDAwith the grantclaim form.

If declined – Furtherapplications for alternativeprojects may be submitted iffunds are available.

How to apply

3

Additional information

Expert Partners introduction

As your company’s needs are unique, eachproject supported by the NWBFAS will bebespoke. It is important that you discussyour requirements with an appropriateExpert Partner.

Each of the Expert Partners listed herehave supported the NWBFAS from itsconception. The organisations havecommitted to providing an enhancedservice to companies awarded a grantfrom the NWBFAS. This service will be inthe form of extra work up to the value of£2,000, provided by the Expert Partnerfree of charge.

Applications to the NWBFAS can only beprocessed if complete and accompanied

by a quote for the full project cost. Thequote must make clear the value of thecontribution from the Expert Partner as partof the project cost. Therefore discussionswith the Expert Partner must take placebefore an application can be submitted.

You may want to take independentguidance before approaching any of theExpert Partners. In this case it may beappropriate to contact a Regional BusinessAdviser (RBA) who may be able to help youdecide on the best course of action.However, it is not a requirement of theNWBFAS that you meet with an RBA. Forfurther information on the RBAs project andthe role of the RBAs in the NWBFAS, pleasesee the appropriate section in this booklet.

If you feel that none of the Expert Partnerswho are listed here have the expertise tohelp you move your business forward, oryou have already identified an alternativeconsultant, then you may submit anapplication in conjunction with analternative organisation. In this situation theconsultant you intend to use must provideevidence of at least two of the following:

1. Work at an international level in thebiotechnology industry

2. Membership of the National BusinessLink Consultants Database

3. Copy of Professional Indemnity Insuranceplus references from three clients.

• Application forms can be downloadedfrom the Bionow website –www.bionow.co.uk. However, a signedhard copy of the application form mustbe submitted (photocopies are notacceptable).

• Grants will be awarded on a first comefirst served basis to 13 companies whofulfil the eligibility criteria and provide asuitable application before 31st March2005 and then to a further 7 companiesbetween 1st April 2005 and 31st January2006. Approved applications receivedafter the allocation of grants to the first13 companies will be carried over to1st April 2005.

• Suitable applications must show theproject deliverables provide value formoney.

• Applications will be considered inisolation. Companies may submit morethan one project provided it is a distinctproject.

• The evaluation panel will compriseemployees of the NWDA and its advisers.

• Application forms may be submitted forprojects that are delivered by aconsultant other than the Expert Partners.This consultant must be able to fulfil thecriteria shown below.

• Altium Capital will provide a “realitycheck” at no extra cost to companieswho are working towards raising venturecapital. This service is provided as extrasupport and will not count as part of theproject cost in the NWBFAS. To discussthis option please contact an RBA orBionow.

• The NWDA will endeavour, to the best ofits ability, to provide a decision tocompleted applications within tenworking days.

• All information supplied will be treated ascommercial-in-confidence.

4

Addleshaw Goddard

The FirmAddleshaw Goddard is a national law firmwith offices of equal strength in the keyregional centres of London, Leeds andManchester. With a fee income of some£130 million for the year 2002/03, aworkforce of 173 partners, over 500 feeearners and a total firm-wide complementof more than 1,250 people, the firm isexcellently placed both on a regional andnational level to deliver focused clientservices through five practice groups(Commercial, Corporate, Finance andLitigation, Employment and Property)located in our four strong offices. Inaddition the firm has a wide internationalnetwork of 'preferred firms' around theworld to help enhance the delivery of ourservices on an international level.

Sector ExperienceThe firm has a significant range ofexperience in providing legal services inthe biotechnology sector. During 2002 and2003 we have worked extensively with theNWDA to help deliver the unique andprestigious National BiomanufacturingCentre project, a £30-millionbiotechnological and biopharmaceuticalfacility to be based in Speke, Merseyside,with the anticipated creation of some 1,000new jobs locally.

In addition, we currently advise a range ofbiotechnology companies such asCyprotex, F2G, Renovo and others(including those working in important areasof medical research and innovation) inrelation to corporate, commercial andintellectual property matters and venturecapital projects. Whilst we are well-placedto work with businesses that haveachieved success in the sector, we alsoprovide valuable advice, including business“surgeries”, specifically tailored towards theassistance and development of fledgling

and start-up companies in thebiotechnology sector, as well as acrossother sectors of industry. This includesthose arising from the ManchesterBusiness School Incubator and CampusVentures. In addition we also regularlyadvise venture capitalists that recognisethe emergence of the biotechnology sectorand are investing into it.

We are continuing to develop our expertiseand our biotechnology client base, whichwe see as a continuing process. Webelieve that our expertise in thebiotechnology sector places us in a strongposition to be able to help support Bionowin developing the emerging biotechnologyenterprise cluster in the Northwest. InNovember 2003 we underlined ourkeenness to do this by sponsoring theBionow 2003 award for the NorthwestBiotechnology Start-up of the Year, won bySenexis Limited.

Expertise AvailableOur practice areas are highly regarded inoffering recognised expertise, a servicecapability that is second to none, andwhich has significant critical mass. Wehave bench strengths unlike many otherfirms. We aim to use this platform todeliver new levels of service and addgreater business value to clients.

At Addleshaw Goddard we will continue todevelop our commitment to our clientsthrough our client care programmes and, inso doing, enhance our reputation amongour clients for commerciality, proactivity andresponsiveness. This commitment to ourclients remains paramount.

The following can be contacted in relationto any aspect of our biotechnology work:

Neil WoolhousePartnerTel: 0113 209 2289

Jim TullyPartnerTel: 0161 934 6646

Christopher BrennanAssociateTel: 0161 934 6679

100 Barbirolli SquareManchesterGreater ManchesterM2 3AB

www.addleshawgoddard.com

5

Altium Capital

The FirmAltium Capital, formerly the corporatefinance arm of Apax Partners, is a leadingEuropean investment banking groupoperating through a network of owned andaffiliated offices.

Altium Capital provides a wide range ofservices including advice on dealstructuring, merger and acquisitiontransactions, as well as disposals andfundraisings for both public and privatecompanies. We aim to advise on allaspects of corporate strategy, includingraising capital through each stage of acompany’s development. This can includedebt and equity fundraisings as well asIPO sponsorship.

Sector ExperienceAltium Capital has significant experience inproviding investment banking solutions tohealthcare and lifescience companies. Inrecent years we have developed an in-house lifescience capability and workedextensively on developing links with localcompanies and university technologytransfer agencies. Consequently, we havea strong team who have a deepunderstanding of the lifescience sector.This, coupled with our imaginative dealorigination, advice and professionaltransaction management, makes us aleading advisor in the sector. Recently,Altium Capital has advised on a number ofprivate equity investments and iscontinuing to develop its sector expertise.

In addition, we work closely with CodeSecurities, a newly formed banking andsecurities division focused exclusively onlifesciences. Code Securities was foundedby Chris Collins, the former head ofWestLB Panmure’s Lifesciences Group.Code Securities has the largest and mostexperienced team in Europe dedicated tothe lifesciences and medtech sectors, andwas created through the recruitment ofhighly ranked specialists from the majorinvestment banking firms in London, tocomplement the core of the WestLBPanmure team.

Completed Transactions:Recent transactions completed by AltiumCapital include the £20 million placing andadmission to the official list of IntegratedDental Holdings plc, the £3.5 million and£4 million private placements ofCambridge Sensors Ltd and OxfordBiosensors Ltd, as well as the sale ofTransform Medical Group Ltd to CovenantHealthcare Ltd.

Phil AdamsManaging DirectorEmail: [email protected]

Joe Smith Managing DirectorEmail: [email protected]

Adrian ReedAssociate Email: [email protected]

Altium Capital5 Ralli CourtWest Riverside ManchesterM3 5FT

Tel: 0161 831 9133

Website: www.altiumcapital.co.uk

6

Armstrong Craven

The FirmArmstrong Craven is a businessconsultancy specialising in the provision ofa wide range of bespoke research servicesto help businesses successfully grow. Ourclient base ranges from professionalservice firms, to small to medium sizedbusinesses and large multi-nationalcorporations. We have a team of over 30researchers and 10 information specialistsready to respond to client requests forinformation and research. The range ofexperience and resources at ArmstrongCraven enables us to provide added valueinformation services that in turn, enablebusinesses to meet their objectives.

Sector ExperienceSince 1997, Armstrong Craven has had adedicated Healthcare practice, providingthese services to all areas of thehealthcare sector including biotechnology,biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical,medical devices, diagnostics, outsourcingorganisations, healthcare providers andventure capital companies.

Armstrong Craven is an active member ofBionow and other regional biotechnologybodies, including MerseyBio andbioscience initiatives in Yorkshire. We aredelighted to be part of the NWBFAS.

Expertise AvailableServices of interest can include:

Executive ResearchWe draw on over 13 years of experience inproviding executive research services to awide range of clients to find the bestavailable candidates for specifiedvacancies.

Customer ReferencingOur experienced research team can obtainobjective feedback from current andpotential customers, either for clientcompanies or Professional Advisors as partof the pre-transaction commercial duediligence process.

Management ReferencingUsing a third party for management duediligence brings objectivity and ensuresthat there are no surprises postappointment or post completion of a dealor investment.

Market IntelligenceThis service is used to help developbusiness plans, to increase marketknowledge and competitive advantage,and/or to help successfully developexisting or penetrate new markets.

General Business InformationWhen you need to know who, where,when, why or how much, our BusinessInformation team can provide clients withpublished company, market and peopleinformation across a wide range of sectors.

Lead GenerationA combination of research and businessinformation is used to proactively targetcompanies that meet client’s criteria. Thisservice can be used for the purpose ofmergers, acquisitions, MBI/MBO’s or forgenerating sales leads.

Jane KirkDirector of Business [email protected]

Rachel DavisHead of [email protected]

Trident IITrident Business ParkStyal RoadManchesterM22 5WN

Tel: 0161 493 1700Fax: 0161 493 1701

www.armstrongcraven.com

7

DWF Solicitors

The FirmDWF (the trading name of Davies WallisFoyster), through its work with successfuland growing businesses – has becomeone of the fastest growing law firms in theUK. Described by Legal 500 as “a regionalheavyweight”, the firm comprises over 350legal staff (including 56 partners) and atotal of over 600 staff across its Liverpool,Manchester and Warrington offices.

Sector ExperienceThe DWF Science Group delivers acomplete menu of legal services forbiotechnology businesses.

These services cover:

Asset Finance

Banking

Business Recovery

Commercial Agreements

Competition

Construction

Corporate

Debt Management

Employee Incentive Planning

Employment Law

Food Law

Health, Safety & Environment

Insurance

Intellectual Property

Internet & Technology

Pensions

Planning

Property

Wealthcare

DWF is involved with the NWBFAS as wehave genuine expertise and experience inaccessing finance for science-basedbusinesses on favourable terms and wewish to continue expanding our client basein this area of work.

We are an active member of Bionow – theNWDA’s biotechnology cluster group – andwe deliver direct support to the businessesbased at MerseyBio, Merseyside’sbiotechnology incubator organisation. Inaddition, DWF has representation on theMerseyside Life Sciences Steering Group.

Nationally, DWF is a Business AffiliateMember of the UK Science ParkAssociation (UKSPA) and has rareexpertise in accessing public and privatefinance to protect and exploit scienceinnovation – from initial proof of conceptfunding to full-scale development capital.

Expertise AvailableLegal services are delivered by peoplewith genuine experience in the industry,who can quickly get to the heart of thematter and help businesses extractunbeatable value from their legal budget.Through our network of business contacts,we can also leverage in a whole range ofother advice and support to helpbiotechnology businesses achieve theirambitions. Further information about theDWF Science Group can be found atwww.dwf.co.uk.

Both Jeremy Swift and Gareth McIntegart,who lead our biotechnology financeservice, are always happy to have aninformal discussion, at no charge, toexplore how they might be able to helpsolve a problem or seize an opportunity.They are supported by our uniqueBusinessBoost service that provides smalland medium sized growing businesseswith a free ongoing legal managementservice.

Jeremy Swift PartnerEmail: [email protected]

37 Peter StreetManchesterM2 5GBTel: 0161 603 5000Fax: 0161 603 5050

Gareth McIntegart PartnerEmail: [email protected]

5 Castle StreetLiverpoolL2 4XETel: 0151 907 3000Fax: 0151 907 3030

Website: www.dwf.co.uk

8

Eversheds

The FirmAt Eversheds our lawyers are businessadvisers as well as legal experts. Webelieve in true partnerships with ourclients: really getting to know you so ouradvice is the best it can be and addingvalue to our relationships through creativethinking and an open mind.

With over 2,000 legal and businessadvisers based in 19 offices andassociated offices in Europe and Asia, weare one of the largest legal practices in theworld.

Each office provides a wide range ofservices to the business and financialcommunity as well as to the public sector.Our distinctive approach gives clientsaccess to a large team of lawyers whocombine local market knowledge with aninternational perspective.

Sector ExperienceJanet Knowles leads Eversheds LLP’sBiosciences team in the North. Evershedsis a major player in the provision of legalservices to the Bioscience Sector andmembers of the UK BioIndustryAssociation.

Janet has a wide range of experience withcommercial deals and their intellectualproperty and competition law implications,as well as regulatory issues for medicinalproducts and medical devices. She dealswith a variety of bioscience clientsincluding clients working in

pharmaceuticals, pharmacogenomics, DNApurification and mass spectrometry. Sheworks with clients through from start-ups toIPO and beyond. Clients includeDepartment of Health, CP Pharmaceuticals,Epistem and DxS.

Janet is company secretary of Medilinkand a member of the Licensing ExecutivesSociety, AURIL (Association for UniversityResearch and Industry Links) and UNICO(University Companies Association).

Expertise AvailableWe provide both local and internationaladvice and skills across Europe and havefurther developed close relationships withkey US law firms (both East and Westcoast) and UK patent agents. Ourqualifications include pharmacology,physiology, biophysics and biochemistry,chemistry, and microbiology. Supported bya dedicated ‘know-how’ lawyer with a PhD,the team’s areas of expertise include:

• Development of strategies for protecting,valuing and exploiting patents and otherintellectual property rights

• Legal advice on licensing, assignments,collaborations and other commercialtransactions involving intellectual property

• Advice on regulatory matters and clinicaltrials

• Legal advice on company start-ups, andcorporate finance.

Janet KnowlesPartner

Tel: 0161 831 8207Mobile: 07831 554 120Email: [email protected]

Website: www.eversheds.com

9

Halliwell Landau

The FirmHalliwell Landau was established over 28years ago and is one of the largestcommercial law firms in the Northwest.The business now has over 600 staff,including 67 partners and more than 196lawyers. We have offices in Manchester,London and Sheffield.

We have developed long-standingrelationships with many of our clients byproviding a personal, responsive andflexible service. At all times we aim toensure that we fully understand our clients’needs and guarantee delivery of service.We regularly evaluate our ownperformance and undertake continuousrelationship management to ensure acontinually high quality of service.

Sector ExperienceThe work undertaken by The IntellectualProperty, Commerce and Technology teamextends far beyond the traditionalcategories of commercial agreements andintellectual property protection andenforcement to include advice on any formof intangible rights and, save for thoseconcerned with real property or corporatematters, any type of commercialarrangement. We involve colleagues fromother specialist areas such as corporate,employment and commercial propertywhere necessary.

The department advises a range of clientsincluding those in the high technology,biotechnology, pharmaceutical,manufacturing and information technologysectors. Work handled includes draftingand advising on all aspects of commerce,

from technology development andlicensing to manufacturing, supply,distribution and franchising arrangements,through to service provision, outsourcingand facilities management. Projects haveincluded multi-jurisdictional joint venturearrangements and patent basedtechnology exploitation.

Expertise AvailableHalliwell Landau is proud to be part ofBionow's advisory panel and we haveallocated two lawyers from the 11 strongIntellectual Property, Commerce andTechnology team to act as the main pointsof contact. Jonathan Moakes and PeterBudd’s details appear here together withthe services available from the team. Thedepartment regularly advises in respect ofthe following:

• Technology procurement

• Joint ventures

• Pharmaceutical licences includingcontract manufacture arrangements andlong term supply agreements

• Research, development and licensingdeals involving technology basedcompanies

• Patent and know-how transfers andlicences

• Trade secrets, confidential informationand non-disclosure agreements

• Contentious matters, including patentlitigation, passing off, trade markinfringement and domain name disputes

• E-commerce advice and assistanceincluding data protection.

Jonathan MoakesPartnerDirect dial: 0161 831 2700Email: [email protected]

Peter BuddAssociate SolicitorTel: 0161 831 2733Email: [email protected]

Website: www.halliwells.co.uk

10

Pannone & Partners

The FirmPannone & Partners is a Manchester citycentre practice offering specialised legalservices to corporate and personal clients.Pannone & Partners has 77 partners, 210legal staff and a total staff of 450.

Sector ExperienceSimon Wallwork is a partner in thecorporate department of the firm. He has adetailed knowledge of the life sciencessector and has advised a number ofcompanies from start up through the earlystage and development stage funding toeventual sale. Pannone & PartnersBiotechnology clients include SenexisLimited, Neurosolutions Limited,Neuroserve Limited, Lectus TherapeuticsLimited and Ralinea Limited. In the pastSimon has acted for Cambridge DrugDiscovery Limited, CambridgeCombinatorial Chemistry Limited andSense Proteomic Limited.

Expertise AvailablePannone & Partners are able to provide afull range of legal advice to biotechnologycompanies including:

• Corporate advice: Setting up of thecompany, advice relating to shareholderagreements and tailored articles ofassociation, advice regarding directorsresponsibilities and liabilities; advicerelating to fundraising, including thedifferent forms of fundraising, availabilityof funds and the documentation of anyfundraising; and advice on raising fundsby way of listing

• Taxation advice relating to the issuingof shares to employees, share optionschemes and the Restricted Share regime

• Employment advice: Serviceagreements, employment contracts,

company handbooks and would alsoinclude share options schemes whetherby way of enterprise managementincentive schemes, unapproved shareoption schemes or other forms ofemployee share option arrangements

• Intellectual Property: Protectingintellectual property, development of anintellectual property strategy; researchand collaboration agreements, licensingarrangements, joint venture agreementsand partnering arrangements

• Property advice relating to thepurchasing and leasing or licensing ofthe premises.

In relation to the NWBFAS project itself,Pannone & Partners advice for the ProjectFunding would be supported as follows:

• The incorporation of the company (ifneeded), shareholders agreements andarticles of association and all necessaryadvice and documentation in order to putthe required share structure in placeincluding tax advice. Advice relating tothe rights and obligations of shareholdersand the rights and obligations of directors

• Advice and assistance in relation to thesources of initial funding

• Service agreements and employmentcontracts for the directors and employees

• Initial advice on share options schemes

• A review of intellectual property rightsand advice on the protection ofintellectual property rights

• Advising on any initial research andcollaboration agreements or licensingarrangements that are needed for theonward development of the business ofthe company.

Simon WallworkPartner

Pannone & Partners123 DeansgateManchesterM3 2BU

Tel: 0161 909 3000 Email: [email protected]

www.pannone.com

11

Regional Business Adviser (RBA) Project

In 2003, the NWDA initiated a three-yearpilot project to support the growthperformance of SMEs across 14 priorityindustry sectors that mirror the strategicfocus of its cluster organisations. Thisincluded Biotechnology and other LifeScience businesses.

Around 28 senior business professionalswith specific industry sector experiencewere engaged to work as RegionalBusiness Advisers (RBAs) with eligiblecompanies in the Northwest region. RBAswork on a one-to-one, longer-term basiswith senior management teams on issuesof strategic priority for their business. Theymay also broker links with other supportagencies or other cost-effective businesssupport organisations. They will assistwhere possible, in the promotion ofnetworks and contacts beneficial to thebusiness. In some cases financial supportis also available to support companieswanting to employ consultants for specificprojects.

Eligibility of companies for RBA support isdependent upon location – support istargeted to SMEs in designated Objective2 areas of the Northwest region. Areas thatare designated Objective 2 are those thatrequire support for the economic andsocial conversion of industrial, rural, urbanand fisheries areas facing structuraldifficulties. Contact your local Business

Link at www.businesslink.gov.uk forinformation on whether your company islocated in an Objective 2 area.

The RBA project is part-funded by theEuropean Regional Development Fund(ERDF) and backed by UK Trade &Investment and Business Links.

The RBA roles are complementary to thatof the NWDA’s cluster organisations, andcompanies can be cross-referred to thecluster groups as well as the network ofother business support servicesappropriate to the industry.

Sue Buchanan and David Hawkins are theRBAs for Biotechnology and work in closecollaboration with Bionow.

Sue is an independent consultant with20 years’ experience in marketing andbusiness development and managementconsultancy in the Life Science industrysector. Prior to practicing as anindependent consultant, Sue held roles asDirector of Marketing for GeneMedix plcand as Managing Consultant for PAConsulting Group’s Life Science andTechnologies Consulting Practice.

David is a qualified pharmacist and aFellow of the Chartered Institute ofMarketing. He has previously held the postof Managing Director for AstraZeneca inThailand and Turkey. David has spent thelast three years working for UK Trade andInvestment as a Healthcare Consultant.

Sue BuchananRegional Business Adviser (Biotechnology)

Email: [email protected]: 07815 284676

David HawkinsRegional Business Adviser (Biotechnology)

Email: [email protected]: 07715 054613

RBA role in NWBFAS

The NWBFAS will be administered byBionow within the NWDA and incollaboration with the RBAs forBiotechnology. It will significantly enhancethe range of support on offer to early stageand small companies in the NWbiotechnology industry, through the inputof expert consultants renowned for their

understanding of the biotechnologyindustry at an international level.

Much of the work being undertaken by theRBAs for Biotechnology with Northwestcompanies is in advising on businessplanning, market development, securingfunding and gaining access to furtherprofessional support for these activities.

The support offered through the NWBFASis, therefore, highly complementary to therole being undertaken by the RBAs. Assuch they are expected to be a keyconduit for company identification andaccess to this support, alongside Bionow.

12

Bionow

Bionow is the NWDA’s biotechnology,pharmaceutical and healthcarecluster group.

To aid the continuing growth of theindustry, Bionow provides the followingservices to companies at all stages ofgrowth throughout the whole of theNorthwest of England.

Access to information• Website (www.bionow.co.uk) – There is a

large information resource on companiesin the region with direct links to theirwebsite from the regional map and alsothe company database. Alongside thecommercial focus, there is a wealth ofinformation on the key agency fundingand projects, premises available andsupport activities of partner organisations.

• Newsletter – This is available in electronicformat only and is sent out at the end ofevery month. The content includes up-to-date news from the companies in theregion and relevant press releases arewelcomed. A regular feature is thecompany profile, with the spotlight on adifferent company each month. To accessback copies or sign up for a subscription,log on to the Bionow website.

• Northwest Biotechnology Directory –Provided in hard copy only, this directoryis designed to provide a snapshot ofevery company that works in the regionalbiotechnology, pharmaceutical andhealthcare cluster. Listings in the directoryare free and available to all biotechnologycompanies located in the Northwest.

Strategic projectsA key service provided by Bionow to theindustry is the development, managementand support of strategic projects that willcontinue to encourage growth in theregion. These include:

• National Biomanufacturing Centre

• Core Technology Facility

• Northwest Institute for Bio/HealthInformatics

Central point for access topartner agenciesBiotechnology is a key industry and thereare a number of publicly funded initiatives,agencies and not-for-profit organisations allworking to drive the growth of the sector.Bionow works with its sub regionalpartners, Government Office of the NorthWest, and other key organisations toprovide a comprehensive support structureand sign-posting service. More informationcan be found on the Bionow website.

Overseas trade promotionThe biotechnology industry is a globalindustry. Bionow works with UK Trade andInvestment to aid bio partnering andsupport industry missions to keyinternational marketplaces forbiotechnology. Also, when companies andexperts visit the Northwest, we will helpinteractions with regional companies byarranging meetings and visits.

Inward investment supportAlongside our colleagues at the NWDA, weare available to provide active support forcompanies wishing to locate in the regionwith specialist sector advice. TheNorthwest offers an exciting location forbiotechnology businesses with its strongresearch and manufacturing base and weare always pleased to help introduce newcompanies and help integrate them intothe region.

Events and NetworkingIs it a well known fact that face-to-facecommunication is the most effective wayto build business relationships andnetworking is certainly key to this industry.With this in mind, Bionow provides avariety of occasions to meet with otherindustry colleagues, key academics andnew partners. These include:

• Quarterly Networking Events – Theseearly evening events offer a mixture ofeducation through short presentationsfrom industry leaders as well as informalnetworking. They are aimed at senior

managers in the core biotechnologycommunity. Membership of Bionow isrequired in order to attend these events.

• Conferences – Bionow organises andsupports a variety of conferences andworkshops as well as highlighting otheruseful events around the UK on both thee-newsletter and the website events page.

• Bionow Awards – Bionow organises anannual Awards Dinner with major industrysponsors. This is a tremendous occasionto recognise and congratulate thecompanies, projects and people in theregion who are taking the industryforward.

Regional Business Advisers (RBAs)Working with our Business Link partnersthere is now a regional resource forbiotechnology SMEs to provide expert andspecialist one-to-one business advice. Thesector-specific RBAs have alreadysuccessfully worked with a number ofNorthwest companies and are keen tomeet with others who may be able to takeadvantage of their expertise (see theBionow website for details).

Whatever your stage of development,Bionow is working to provide the supportyou need to help your business flourish.If you would like to know more about ouractivities we would be delighted to hearfrom you.

Dr Linda MageeHead of BionowNWDARenaissance HouseCentre ParkWarringtonWA1 1XB

Tel: 01925 400345Fax: 01925 400400Email: [email protected]

Website: www.bionow.co.uk

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