The application for the advanced business development programme eXpression Future Retal Lab opens today. New for this year is an expanded catchment area where companies from the entire northern coast including surrounding municipalities are given the opportunity to participate. The programme is aimed at new entrepreneurs and businesses in the retail sector and businesses in the tourism and experience industries adjacent to retail, thereby attracting a broader target group and a larger geographical market.
We stand ready with a strong business development programme, built on the knowledge of running it for two years, and we look forward to welcoming a new group of committed and driven entrepreneurs," says Annakarin Nyberg, Programme Manager eXpression Future Retail Lab,
The programme has been adapted to the ongoing coronas pandemic, both in terms of content and structure.
For those of us working in business and innovation support structures, it is important to be able to adapt business development support sensitively to the changes that both we and companies face. To say the least, this year has been a year of change for many companies. To remain a relevant and timely business development programme, we need innovation and flexibility from all parties. Annakarin Nyberg, programme manager at eXpression Future Retail Lab.
The next round of the programme will start in August 2021 and run until March 2022. 16 companies will have the opportunity to join a business development journey with industry experts, researchers, business developers and entrepreneurs. It is hoped that some meetings can take place physically, with the business incubator eXpression and Umeå as a base. The programme is also adapted to be delivered digitally.
Getting practical coaching, inspiration and guidance has really been a boost and a privilege. New knowledge, insights and not least the network we have gained through the programme is something that will be of enormous benefit to us in the future," says Johan Hallberg, CEO of Eljest Umeå, one of the participants in the current round of the programme.
The background to the eXpression Future Retail Lab is about the new transformational demands on businesses in the retail, hospitality and experience sectors. This is as a result of globalisation and digitalisation, as well as the ongoing Corona pandemic - factors that are contributing to changing conditions for an already severely challenged industry.
Today, we see how customer and consumer behaviour is changing and that physical and digital stores and other meeting places are playing new roles for the customer. To meet these changing conditions and create a future sustainable retail and hospitality industry, the need for new knowledge, digital tools and exploration of new business models is greater than ever.
The companies that participated in the first two rounds of the programme are all very satisfied with the outcome, and new collaborations have sprung up and new business models have been developed.
Applications for the third round of the accelerator programme can be submitted via the eXpression Umeå website www.expressionumea.se/future-retail-lab/. It also provides more information about the programme and criteria that applicants need to take into account when applying.
A selection for admission is made through an interview process in the spring. By 11 June, the companies participating in the programme will be announced, starting in August 2021. The programme is free of charge and the accepted companies contribute with their time and commitment.
The eXpression Future Retail Lab programme is a joint venture with the Swedish Commerce Federation via the Merchants' Association Foundation, Umeå municipality and is part-financed by EU structural funds.
For more information:
Annakarin Nyberg, Programme Manager eXpression Future Retail Lab
annakarin.nyberg@expressionumea.se
070-667 94 43
