Simon Bolton

Background

About Simon Bolton

I am an award winning enterprise and innovation specialist with experience of multiple senior leadership and management roles at Cranfield University, Birmingham City University and currently at Edge Hill University. I have worked globally, helping academic and industry organisations (e.g, Procter and Gamble, BBC, BSkyB, Nokia, IBM, ICESI University (Colombia), National Institute of Design (India); Polytechnico de Milano (Italy) and Tsinghua University (China)) to develop research, innovation tools and enterprise processes to systematically unlock innovation capabilities and growth opportunities. My current research focuses on reducing “growth uncertainties” in businesses in order to help them to maximise the use of data to create and capture value (dynamic capabilities). Since establishing the SME Productivity and Innovation Centre in 2017, over 240 SMEs have engaged in using my research informed innovation tools for scaling business growth, resulting in 529 new jobs; 119 new product/service/technology launches; 8 KTP projects; and a 29% average growth for the firms. The Centre has helped Lancashire based businesses to contribute an additional £34m to the local economy. For every £1 invested our public return on investment is £13.90. The Centre’s High Growth Innovation Sprint Programme has received national recognition by being endorsed by the Scaleup Institute in 2023.