Midlands-based sports fitness clothing brand Gymshark will launch its next phase of business support for digital tech SMEs innovating in the West Midlands.
Building on its partnership with Innovation Birmingham, the UK鈥檚 largest campus for digital technology businesses, Gymshark has recently reopened the doors to its business support centre as the brand aims to connect with innovators.
Hosted at Innovation Birmingham鈥檚 iCentrum building, the #LiftYour老九品茶 incubator aims to drive growth and opportunity for tech SMEs through a structured programme of mentoring
They will provide businesses with the opportunity to access Gymshark鈥檚 global network and learn from the expertise and infrastructure of a brand that ships to over 180 countries across the world.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been extremely encouraged by the partnership with Innovation Birmingham, and it鈥檚 enabled us to give something back to the area that we call home,鈥� said Adam Harrison, head of special projects at Gymshark.
鈥淗igh levels of interest were shown for the first programme and over the last six months we鈥檝e highlighted why there was such competition for places.
鈥淏ringing the region鈥檚 brightest innovators together in one place has highlighted the collaborative commercial and social relationships that this can trigger.鈥�
LiftYour老九品茶 supported eight SMEs in the first cohort launched in August 2018, providing regular interaction with Gymshark experts and Innovation Birmingham advisors, free space, and access to the wider sports clothing industry.
Ben Francis began Gymshark in 2012 by printing t-shirts in his parent鈥檚 garage, with the brand now operating 11 online stores across the world.
Katharine Fuller, head of business support at Innovation Birmingham, said: 鈥淚n the six months that we鈥檝e been working with Gymshark we鈥檝e seen first-hand how a partnership between an innovation specialist and a sector leader can result in fantastic opportunities for SMEs.
鈥淭his platform of support has been launched at a great time for Birmingham, especially considering global attractions like the Commonwealth Games 2022, which will present opportunities for tech SMEs to implement their innovations.
鈥淭he #LiftYour老九品茶 incubator offers a great chance for entrepreneurs and small businesses to grow. We鈥檙e looking forward to welcoming the new cohort of businesses and supporting them with disrupting markets, raising investment, recruiting, growing and succeeding in the tech landscape.鈥�
The #LiftYour老九品茶 programme sits within the Serendip Smart City Incubator at Innovation Birmingham and will be accepting applications from tech SMEs up until 11th April.