The importance of business col-laboration cannot be understated, particularly here in Cornwall where in the region of 80% of companies employ fewer than five people. How-ever, by working in collaboration with another business, you benefit from the opportunity to pool capabilities and share resources.

How does collaboration benefit my business?Sharing resources, infor-mation and risk, means companies are better equipped to maintain a competitive edge, especially in today’s economic climate. The result leaves you both stronger and ready to move forward with added confidence.

About YTKOTo help with this collaboration process, YTKO has been appointed by the RDA as part of the Convergence programme for Cornwall. This three year project to support around 380 businesses has been awarded almost £1.35M of investment with an additional £150k coming from the RDA.

YTKO specialises in business growth for start-ups and SMEs, and for larger companies seeking expansion opportuni-ties. The company’s particular strengths include bioscience, medical devices, media, electronics, ICT, engineering, nanotechnology and the environment – all areas in which Cornwall excels.

YTKO will seek to marry businesses with complimentary strengths to achieve greater market share, improve turnover or smarter ways of working – and share the risk through support from the ERDF Convergence Programme.

About Partner to SucceedPartner to Succeed delivers the collabora-tion programme here in Cornwall, employing a skilled team with extensive local knowl-edge that ensures we know and under-stands the economic landscape of the county and appreciate the challenges unique to Cornish business.

Truro-based Black Cat Public Relations is currently involved in two collaborations with Partner to Succeed. MD, Tim Bow-cock, says: “Anyone who knows anything about Partner to Succeed will be able to see the massive potential benefits. There’s really no other organisation that brings businesses together in quite the same way, and it’s a role that needed filling. I also think that YTKO have appointed the right people here; people who understand the local business environment and will be able to think laterally.”

What is a collaboration?Collaboration can be categorised into three broad areas:

1. Co-development Where a company identifies an area of its business that would benefit from the development of new products or services. They then seek out a partner with this capability and, through collaboration, take advan-tage of the partner’s expertise.

2. Co-production Where a company has identified a business opportunity but has insufficient capacity or capability to satisfy demand, collaboration can help.

3. Co-distribution Where a company requires access to new markets for expansion. By working with a partner with access to additional markets they can offer a wider portfolio.

This enables businesses to achieve increased growth and success through access to broader opportunities.

How can Partner to Succeed help?As the ‘third partner’, Partner to Succeed is with you through every step of the proc-ess, using the skills and resources at our disposal. Areas of assistance could include:

• Marketingstrategies• Marketexploitation• Researchingmarkets• Supplychaindevelopment• Sharingbestpractice• Accesstoindustrystandardsaccreditation

Our business model is simple: we make our clients’ businesses more successful by increasing revenues and market share.

“Companies are better equipped to maintain a competitive edge.”

YTKO programme director Helen Trudgeon explains how business collaboration could be key to the future success of your business

The perfect

Tel: 01872 613000

Web: www.partnertosucceed.co.uk

Partner to SucceedCollaborate to get ahead

www.businesscornwall.co.uk Business Cornwall Magazine - October 2009Business Clinic20