Round table: ‘It’s not all about bleeding-edge innovation’

East Midlands companies will have to “innovate or die” – that was the message from our latest round table event, sponsored by Freeths.

Business owners and advisers came together in Nottingham to talk about innovation in a post-Brexit world.

David Lane, partner at Freeths said that while businesses have become frustrated with the Brexit impasse, there remained opportunities for companies in the region.

“Any market shock creates opportunities,” he said. “When businesses simply don’t want to change, that’s when they’ll fall down.

“Brexit will hit some sectors harder than others – for example those that rely on overseas staff.

“What is most interesting is that business owners are now actively turning away from taking advice from government and politicians. There is definite Brexit fatigue out there. However, money it still flowing in the form of funding and the cup has to overflow at some stage.”

Katrina Starkie, marketing director at Purpose Media said she thought change and innovation was necessary. She added: “Our workforce is used to adapting, but what we’re finding is that our clients are interested in marketing themselves at the moment – they’re more focused on recruitment.

“We’re also finding that clients don’t want innovation in its rawest form; they’re taking parts of existing platforms to make something new. It’s not about bleeding-edge innovation at the moment.”

For Richard Sutton, director at NG Chartered Surveyors innovation was all about the scale of an operation. He said: “We can innovate all we like as we’re a relatively small company. We’re a speedboat that turnaround overnight – it’s not see easy for the bigger beasts.”

All full report from the event will appear later this month.