Frank Ashton at SBPE16

1. +
SBPE – Harrogate 14/4/16
ECONOMIC DEV Panel
Frank Ashton – Uppards Ltd also Leeds City
Region LEP Business Innovation and Growth
Panel – Supply Chain Lead
“Better before Cheaper”

2. +
Summary of message
n Competing on price is risky for UK plc
n Respond to price pressure with Better before Cheaper –
make more of “local” and “serve needs over longer term”
n There is support for you
n Funds - Leeds City Region LEP
n Advice – “Bridging the gap” between SMEs and Enterprise/Prime
2
Frank Ashton - Leeds City Region LEP, SC Lead on BIG Panel - also Director, Uppards Ltd 14/04/16

3. +
Inexorable slide to “good
enough”, less differentiation
n Global economy driving more focus on price – less on value
or Total Cost/Benefits of Ownership
n Lower cost- and emerging market-companies try to catch up,
often driving “good enough” products
n All sectors and markets are at risk from this “less
differentiated” model – not just traditional commodities
14/04/16Frank Ashton - Leeds City Region LEP, SC Lead on BIG Panel - also Director, Uppards Ltd
3
“Competing on price is risky
for UK plc”

4. +
Respond with “Better before
Cheaper”, new business models
n Value associated with Functionality, Durability, Convenience,
Problem solving – making the product/experience Better
n These features are difficult to deliver economically/
effectively from distance/low cost countries
n Remanufacture, Power-by-Hour business models reinforce
local advantage, play to UK plc strengths/features above
14/04/16Frank Ashton - Leeds City Region LEP, SC Lead on BIG Panel - also Director, Uppards Ltd
4
Make more of “local” and “serve
needs over longer term”

5. + Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership –
region covers 119,000 SME Companies
ONGOING
WORK
&
SUPPORT
for
SMEs
• Supply
Chain
Development
Working
Group
–
Create/Safeguard
jobs
in
LCR
SC
over
next
5
yrs
• Working
with
pilot
projects/volunteer
companies
• Facilitate
change
-­‐
towards
service
and
product
• Wide
range
of
support
available
–
from
LEP
and
extensive
network
of
partners
• CAPEX
funding
-­‐
£10k
-­‐
£500k
• Infrastructure
CAPEX
Loans
-­‐
£500k
-­‐
£1M
• Skills/Training
-­‐
£0.5k
-­‐
£50k,
50%
funded
• ApprenQceships
–
help
to
recruit
(max
3
at
£2k
ea)
• Export
advice
–
UKTI-­‐driven
• LEP
growth
service
–
easier
for
SMEs
to
get
support
through
single
point
of
contact
• Helpline
–
0113
348
1818
• www.the-­‐LEP.com
• 13
Growth
Managers
across
Region

6. +
Summary of message
n Competing on price is risky for UK plc
n Respond to price pressure with Better before Cheaper –
make more of “local” and “serve needs over longer term”
n There is support for you
n Funds - Leeds City Region LEP
n Advice – “Bridging the gap” between SMEs and Enterprise/Prime
6
Frank Ashton - Leeds City Region LEP, SC Lead on BIG Panel - also Director, Uppards Ltd 14/04/16

7. +
Thank you
n Frank Ashton, Founder & Director – Uppards Consultants
n 07802 158370
n LinkedIn
n Nfrankashton@gmail.com
n @_frank_a
14/04/16Frank Ashton - Leeds City Region LEP, SC Lead on BIG Panel - also Director, Uppards Ltd
7