Scott Penfold

Background

About Scott Penfold

Innovation & Prototyping Technician | Supporting Startups & SMEs | Innovation Management | Technical Expertise As an Innovation & Prototyping technician at Cranfield University, I specialise in combining technical expertise with business support to help startups and SMEs innovate and grow. My role involves: Providing technical guidance in Set-Based Concurrent Engineering, Lean Canvas, and Lean Principles to improve product design and development strategies. Supporting businesses in refining their innovation strategies, ensuring cost-effective and scalable solutions. Leading day-to-day operations across two innovation hubs: Cranfield Barclays Eagle Lab (a partnership with Barclays) and AVIATE+. Driving process improvements by applying Lean Principles and Process Mapping to enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency. Offering health & safety advice to businesses, ensuring safe and effective use of makerspace resources. Managing and enhancing makerspace capabilities, ensuring facilities align with evolving technical and customer needs. Providing mentorship and training to students, startups, and SME teams to support skill development and innovation. I’m passionate about helping businesses turn ideas into reality through practical prototyping solutions, effective innovation strategies, and a customer-focused approach. By combining technical expertise with leadership and innovation management, I aim to empower businesses to thrive in competitive markets.