Setting a strong foundation

It was the Electech Innovation Cluster Annual Conference in Lancaster today and it was an opportunity to reflect on how much the cluster has achieved in a relatively short space of time. It’s been 4 years since a small group of us made a commitment to come together to collectively create a member led organisation that would look to help and support one another, solve problems and look for opportunities to grow.

There’s a strong foundation, the cluster has achieved its key objectives and we are now looking ahead to what’s next.

The aim was 30 members, there were 34 at the last count. It’s important to keep the membership size ‘tight knit’ so members can build close relationships with one another.

Collectively, all members have generated £161 million in revenue and employed 940 people, increases of 68% and 11% when compared to figures in 2020.

There have been 24 events, including 2 at Wenning House and the cluster is regular mentioned in the press and at other cluster events. We’ve also been invited to the House of Commons in Westminster twice in two years!

When it comes to education and engaging with the our future workforce, alongside other members, we’ve delivered masterclasses in local colleges and visited local high school careers fairs.

Looking forward, at Like Technologies we’re excited to get started on the Electech Lab Link, continue our Innovators in Residence growth programme with Lancaster University and welcome a new member of the team, who joined us initially on a placement from Kendal College.

Speaking about the cluster, Innovate Lancashire said; “The ETIC is a great example of private-sector led collaboration and innovation, and by working across both North Lancashire and South Cumbria it also demonstrates that regional industry clusters can thrive outside of formal administrative geographical boundaries.”

This blog only summarises what they Electech Innovation Cluster has achieved. Click here to read the Electech Innovation Cluster Progress Report