Frank Ashton presented on competing on price and supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Leeds City Region. He argued that competing primarily on price is risky for UK businesses. Instead, businesses should focus on delivering better value through functionality, durability, and problem solving. This "Better before Cheaper" approach plays to UK strengths. The Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership supports over 119,000 SMEs with funding, skills training, and export advice to help them adopt new business models and compete based on value rather than price.

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
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“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
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