Fast Invest was developed in response to feedback we received from start-up technology companies in Yorkshire and Humber. They told us that an experienced executive would be invaluable to their growth. An executive would bridge gaps in a start-up management team, and lend them the contacts and business acumen which they felt were vital for their business to succeed.

As ever, we worked closely with partners and sponsors to learn from their experiences. One of our sponsors NESTA (National Endowment for Technology and the Arts) recently piloted a similar part-time management programme. The results have been encouraging, as one Warwickshire-based company Transport Design International (TDI) testifies.

TDI is developing the Minitram which could revolutionise the public transport system in Britain's towns and cities, and is due to be trialed by Bradford City Council next month. The Minitram is an ultra lightweight, electronically guided, zero-emission vehicle which offers the best features of a tram for the price of a bus.

With NESTA's help TDI brought in Richard Anderson in the autumn of 2004, with a brief to audit their business plan and prepare it for investor's scrutiny.

TDI's design director Martin Pemberton explained: 'Richard was with us for three months and in that time he used his experience in industry to overhaul our business plan, and develop a prospectus for us to present to investors and business angels.

'We began doing the investment rounds in January this year, and response so far has been extremely positive. Some investors have made us offers, but we are still waiting for a proposal which matches our exact needs.'

For details of Connect's Fast Invest programme click here.

Email the Editor

Article Id: 174211
Release date: 1 September 2005

© Copyright 2010 - Connect Yorkshire. All Rights Reserved. Site by Refractiv