On behalf of Invest Neath Port Talbot (NTPCBC), 4theRegion is convening a new innovation partnership for the construction, digital, technology, engineering and manufacturing sectors, to facilitate purposeful collaboration and deliver economic benefit to local firms.

NEATH PORT TALBOT INNOVATION EXCHANGE brings together large and small players in the regional business landscape, in a spirit of collaboration and partnership, with the goal of strengthening local companies, maximising economic opportunities and creating a sustainable innovation sector for Neath Port Talbot and the wider region. Through your participation in conversations and events, members will increase your awareness of what’s going on, grow your local connections and uplevel your ambitions for the long term.

To receive invitations to upcoming events, please email Helen at:

innovationexchange@4theregion.org.uk

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF ABP’S PORT AT PORT TALBOT
With 21 ports, Associated British Ports (ABP) is the UK’s largest port operator. ABP has five ports in South Wales: Cardiff, Barry, Newport, Port Talbot and Swansea and this is an exciting time for us. Wales is at the vanguard of ABP’s exciting future strategic opportunities to support the UK’s net zero transition. This event presented a range of important development opportunities for South Wales, such as plans for the development of the port at Port Talbot.

RWE FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND & SUPPLY CHAIN
RWE, which has offices in Baglan, Pembroke and Mostyn, has been involved in UK offshore wind since the beginning, from the first demonstrator project and onto the first commercial-scale offshore wind farms, with floating wind farms representing the next step. This event was the first of RWE’s engagements with businesses in the region as they look to develop their supply chain plan in the coming years.

EXPORT SUPPORT AND ABOUT THE SHARED PROSPERITY FUND
This session saw the Ministry of Defence, ADS Group and DASA join us to share their experience with supporting SMEs to access procurement opportunities, tips and guidance and how SMEs can access procurement opportunities with these organisations.
EVENT RECORDING | EVENT NOTES

SUPPLY CHAIN OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE MOD
This session saw the Ministry of Defence, ADS Group and DASA join us to share their experience with supporting SMEs to access procurement opportunities, tips and guidance and how SMEs can access procurement opportunities with these organisations.
EVENT RECORDING | EVENT NOTES

PROPERTY AND BUSINESS GROWTH
Businesses from across Neath Port Talbot came together to talk about their business growth ambitions and their requirements for property and facilities to expand into.
EVENT RECORDING | EVENT NOTES

MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY CHAIN OPPORTUNITIES
We heard from local companies that have been successful in securing contracts, including Marine Energy Wales and The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult and their Wales-based Marine Energy Engineering Centre of Excellence (MEECE) project. Organisations were invited to discuss key industrial sectors and supply chain opportunities.
EVENT RECORDING | EVENT NOTES

BUSINESS AND INNOVATION SUPPORT
This session focused on business and innovation support available for the innovation, engineering and manufacturing sectors, including opportunities from InnovateUK EDGE, Swansea University, UWTSD, TownSq and SMART Innovation. This session also invited attendees to join an open discussion about what innovation means to them and what is needed to encourage growth and overcome barriers in their organisation.
EVENT RECORDING | EVENT NOTES 

SKILLS AND TRAINING SUPPORT
Our first in-person event at Neath Port Talbot College provided attendees with an opportunity to network, socialise and share ideas with other locally based businesses in Neath Port Talbot. This session connected businesses with programmes and partners who can support investment in skills, including presentations from ION Leadership, Project Metal at Swansea University, MADE Cymru, Flexible Skills Programme, Cardiff Met Leadership and Neath Port Talbot College.

ABP’S FUTURE PORTS VISION FOR PORT TALBOT
Manufacturing & engineering firms across Neath Port Talbot were invited to an audience with ABP to hear about their “Future Ports” vision for Port Talbot, followed by a Q&A session. The forum also included open discussion with local firms about collaborating for business growth in Neath Port Talbot.
EVENT RECORDING | EVENT NOTES 

NEATH PORT TALBOT INNOVATION EXCHANGE LAUNCH EVENT
The launch of the Neath Port Talbot Innovation Exchange saw a range of businesses share their recent experiences, successes and challenges and voice their biggest priorities for the project to address. The Neath Port Talbot Innovation Exchange embraces the principles of collaboration, shared purpose and peer learning to establish a network of trust and deliver valuable content to locally-based firms, for business benefit and wider social value creation.
EVENT RECORDING