Over the last five years, the Arrow programme has helped over 150 businesses to step into the future.
From collaborating with wig-makers to teaming up with a service that helps families during the grieving process – Arrow supports businesses by connecting them with expertise from across the University, strengthening our local economy along the way.
Thanks to new funding, Arrow can now give businesses access to researchers, expertise and facilities from across four North East universities.
What is Arrow?
Growing a small business brings a variety of challenges, but enterprises don’t have to do it all alone.
Innovation is a key factor in economic growth, and Arrow aims to boost the innovation capacity of businesses by giving access to world leading researchers and facilities at Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland Universities, along with wider collaboration links to regional networks.
The Arrow programme provides a range of support to help businesses grow and equip themselves with the tools they need to succeed on their innovation journeys.
This support includes:
- a dedicated team of innovation practitioners
- support for innovative start-ups
- help with research and development
- proof of concept and validation
- specialist data science expertise
- access to state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment
What has Arrow achieved so far?
Throughout its first five years, Arrow has been a gateway for small to medium-sized businesses to access world-class facilities and university expertise. It breaks down barriers, offering bespoke support and advice, allowing companies to test-drive the relationship to ensure a good fit.
Over 150 businesses have benefitted from the programme, whether through access to research, university experts, facilities or match funding to accelerate product development and launches, or access to wider networks, long-term collaborators and collaborative bids.
An independent assessment has forecasted that – within the next three years – the first phase Arrow will have:
- created 143 new jobs
- developed 53 new products or services
- increased private investment by £2.6m
- Increased turnover by £16.9m
This current stage of Arrow plans to help over 106 more businesses and create even more ecomonic benefits for the region.
Our vision is to make a difference both in the region and around the world.
Arrow has stimulated research and development across the whole region, a key ingredient in bolstering growth and employment. Furthermore, the long-term nature of Arrow’s successes will continue to have an impact on the economic and social make-up of the North East for generations to come.
How has Arrow supported regional businesses?
Arrow helps a wide range of regional businesses and organisations to innovate and progress to meet their goals.
Some of the businesses the programme has collaborated with include:
LightOx
LightOx is a Newcastle-based company that develops new treatments for cancer. Arrow matched LightOx with university experts to test the effectiveness of its compounds on the growth of yeast species.
Wonderful Wig Company
The Wonderful Wig Company is a Newcastle-based purpose-built hair-loss studio for the people of the North East - the first of its kind. Arrow helped Wonderful Wig to understand the well-being benefits of wigs to those who have lost their hair to life changing events such as cancer.
Armatrex
Armatrex utilises expanding foam polymers for use in emergency response casts, supports, and splints. Arrow collaborated with Armatrex to develop and lab test a protype inflatable splint to support injured limbs in the field. ArmaTrex’s products are now being actively deployed and are in operation and being used by the Ukraine Special Forces Ops Team on the front line.
Yu Cook
Arrow worked with Yu Cook – a Newcastle-based start up – to investigate the nutritional benefit of cooking with Protein Pod, their patented product. Further research considered the use of sustainable food-grade materials to inform their design.
Settld
The first of its kind in the world, Settld is a solution to the added stress of end-of-life admin when a loved one has died. Arrow directly helped Settld to fund the development of their minimum viable product and match the company with expert developers to ensure that Settld got the best service they could for their funding.
Nebula Labs
Nebula Labs is a small technology company that specialises in mobile app development and bespoke software. The Arrow programme has helped to develop their data expertise by matching them with experts at the National Innovation Centre for Data so they could launch an innovative new transport monitoring system.
FYTO
FYTO Ltd is a Newcastle-based start-up that uses hydroponic vertical farming to bring an ultra-local supply of low-carbon food. Arrow connected staff at FYTO with academics who could help them understand the best lighting to use to enable the optimum growth of their plants.
Collaboration is key to innovation and success, and Arrow is actively breaking down the barriers between higher education and small businesses.
As a result of the programme’s success over the last four years, Arrow has expanded and now offers access to four partner universities in the North East, allowing to access an even wider pool of researchers, experts, academics, and facilities across the whole region.
We are always open to hear from businesses who are keen to collaborate with the University and take the next steps on their innovation journey.
Find out more about how Arrow could support your business or get in touch to register your interest.
How is Arrow funded?
Arrow's support at no cost to the business is been possible through its part-funding by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the North of Tyne Combined Authority and Durham County Council as the lead authority in their respective areas.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and places, supporting local businesses, and people and skills.
The North of Tyne Combined Authority is a partnership of three local authorities: Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, and Northumberland County Council and the North of Tyne Elected Mayor.
