Members of the business community are invited to a free interactive seminar in Ipswich to explore how to promote innovation and retain workforce skills during the economic downturn.

The University of Essex seminar, in association with University Campus Suffolk and People Managers is on Thursday 7 May from 4.30pm to 7.15pm. Entitled Future-proofing Your Business: Retaining Knowledge and Promoting Innovation During the Economic Downturn, it will provide practical case material that may help businesses to weather the recession. It is being held at the Waterfront Building, University Campus Suffolk, Neptune Quay, Ipswich, IP4 1QJ.

Chaired by Clare Avery, Associate Dean, Suffolk Business School, the seminar includes an expert panel of speakers in the fields of organisational behaviour and law from the University of Essex and University Campus Suffolk, plus an interactive workshop and a case study from business representatives.

Organiser Susannah Morley from the Research and Enterprise Office at the University of Essex said: ‘The seminar will explore how, in times of economic downturn, organisations can get the best out of their greatest asset – their people. It will show how companies that are forced to downsize their workforce can retain the skills and know-how required to take advantage of the recovery when it comes. It will also explore how a recession can present new business opportunities, both for established businesses and for those thinking of setting up on their own.’

The event will help managers understand how they can get the best out of their employees and give them insights and practical suggestions about the role of creativity within a business environment. They will have the opportunity to try out specific creativity techniques they can take back and use in their own organisation.

The seminar includes:
● an interactive workshop, facilitated by David Hall, CEO of HFL Ltd, showing how creative thinking tools and techniques can stimulate innovation.
● a case study from successful ICT start up company, Clever Atom, whose founders demonstrate that redundancy can inspire enterprise and innovation.

To reserve a place please contact the University of Essex Research & Enterprise Office on rbdoevnt@essex.ac.uk, or telephone 01206 872925.
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Note to Editors
Reporters/photographers are invited to attend the seminar. Please contact Jenny Grinter in the Communications Office at the University of Essex on 01206 872400 or e-mail: comms@essex.ac.uk for further information or to arrange to attend.