Examples of key projects:At True North we have vast experience of running one to many Innovation workshops across many sectors, including Food & Drink, Tourism, Life Sciences, Creative and Digital and Manufacturing. These are practical, results-oriented, designed to build business capabilities and deliver new products and services. We have developed over 150 tools and methods for such workshops, and provide handouts to allow the participants to use the skills in future.In-depth market analysis reports for university spin-outs, startups or established companies developing a new product/service, reviewing the opportunities, including market trends, drivers, forecast size and growth rate, stakeholders, competitor landscape, barriers, critical success factors, implications for the company, estimated market share and recommendations. This has resulted in companies being more focused in the tasks required for success, achieving funding/grants and altogether having more confidence in the opportunity.Ran series of workshops at Scottish Enterprise's Winning Through Innovation events on how to carry out market research and undertake in-depth qualitative research with product and service users. The workshops covered where to find existing sources of information, effective use of Google, questionnaires, focus groups, interviews and observational research methods.Worked with various NHS Trusts to improve service delivery, e.g. reduce time from referral to treatment, rationalise service provided, improving return rate for mobility aids, setting up ways to introduce more patient ideas.

Entrepreneurial Spark™ is a not-for-profit social enterprise engine that is geared to drive entrepreneurial mindsets and behaviours in and from ScotlandMentors work with entrepreneurs (chiclets) to help them develop into sustainable, scalable companies.

Work with WHI part-time, providing support to clients seeking to develop products or services for wellness, prevention and independent living. Projects include:-Research to identify opportunities for smart clothing and wearable technologies for wellbeing and independent living.Focus on Independent Living - the needs of elderly and disabled people living in their own homes, the issues, technologies, enablers and gaps. The deliverables were a white paper and poster promoting the opportunities for SMEs to develop new services and products in this area. White paper on the therapeutic benefits of Far Infrared (FIR) and what products could be developed incorporating FIR for health and wellbeing.Explore the risk of dehydration in the elderly in care homes, hospitals and at home, and develop new concept for a drinking device.Carry out a situation analysis in a cosmetic company and develop a new product development process to manage the process for gathering new ideas, reviewing them and developing them into new product lines.Research the market situation for a device that simulates the effects of altitude training to maintain general wellbeing.

True North Innovation is part of the consortium Innovation For Success™, which helps organisations become more innovative in business, product or service development.Our aim is to work with our clients to help them become more innovative by developing their people and their processes in order to generate, evaluate and develop new ideas.

NPD consultancy prior to merging with True North Innovation.Key projects:Interim director of company which has designed and developed a moving and handling device for patients in hospitals and nursing homes. Includes testing prototype, identifying potential partners, carrying out market research and preparing business plan.Interim Sales and Marketing Director for company which has developed software for people with diabetes to help them gain better control of their blood glucose levels. Included researching market, setting up key contacts in hospitals, creating all the marketing support material, organising clinical trial and directing sales team.Managed project for introduction of new product for hernia repair. This involved carrying out market research to identify requirements for new product, managing the development, overseeing clinical trial and writing up results, setting up distributor agreements and managing all aspects of the launch.

Initially in marketing, then project management of new product development, and latterly in innovation and business development.

managing national and then international campaigns for medical products.

providing customer support and training.