Marks & Clerk becomes e4f’s first sponsor

A BUSINESS incubation scheme at Birmingham Science Park Aston has secured its first sponsor.

Intellectual property experts Marks & Clerk will offer its services to fledgling technology businesses operating through the Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) scheme giving advice on a range of issues including patents, trademarks, designs and copyright.

Businesses taking part in the incubation programme – which is available to technology start-up companies – already benefit from funding support, office space, access to state-of-the-art internet and technology, and expert advice and mentoring from leading businesses for up to six months.  

Simon Jenner, head of incubation at BSPA, said:  “Since launching e4f 18 months ago, we have seen an increasing demand from a hugely diverse array of different technology-based businesses that feel they could benefit from the support and mentorship that we provide.  

“The recent launch of our third phase – including additional physical office space – has ensured that we are keeping up with demand from SMEs and start-ups eager to grow their businesses.

“The addition of Marks & Clerk’s experience will provide our members with a vital understanding of intellectual property, which is imperative for any business operating in the technology sectors.”

Established in Birmingham in 1887, Marks & Clerk now has 19 offices around the UK and globally including Luxembourg, France, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

David Ward, regional managing partner at Marks & Clerk, said: “As a business that started its life in Birmingham over 120 years ago, it is hugely rewarding to be able to support the development of technologically-aware, forward-thinking businesses that themselves will hopefully stay in the area and contribute to the economic development of the West Midlands economy.”

Based at BSPA, the e4f Centre is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.  Since launching in November 2009, the e4f programme has seen 35% of start-up businesses go on to become revenue generating companies in their own right.

BSPA recently launched the third phase of the e4f programme, which included the addition of more offices and desk space, enabling the programme to support up to 50 companies a year.