Lancashire Made Smarter Program Unlocks £92 Million Investment, Over 610 Jobs

Small Business Week in Cornwall featured a networking and learning event focused on "Pathways to Growth," where local business leaders and officials emphasized continuous learning and strategic networking for business development. In the investment sector, despite technology investing being out of favor, there is a strong case for backing unlisted tech growth companies, particularly in underserved markets like Australia, where funds aim for high returns by partnering with proven operators in fintech and other sectors. Lancashire's manufacturing sector, supported by the Made Smarter adoption program, is leveraging digital technologies such as AI and robotics to transform SMEs, create jobs, and boost the local economy, highlighting the importance of innovation in traditional industries. Meanwhile, investors are increasingly favoring large-cap growth stocks, especially those in the S&P 100, as these have significantly outperformed other stock categories and continue to attract substantial investment due to their strong performance. Lastly, breakthrough innovations often emerge from niche markets, with methods like the EDGE framework helping identify high-potential disruptive trends by focusing on extreme behaviors and gaps in mainstream markets, emphasizing the blend of AI and human insight for successful innovation.