What business wouldn’t like to know how to use the Internet to double its turnover in just a few months? And what manufacturer wouldn’t like to develop a revolutionary product, which has potential new customers beating a path to its door?

These are achievements which have already been notched up by companies in the North West. The innovative thinking which made them possible will be shared with other businesses from the region at a special event in Manchester on 1 November. Called ‘Transforming Businesses: North West’, it’s part of the Design Council’s national Design in Business Week initiative.

Among those taking part will be Stuart Armstrong of cooksons.com: an Internet operation spun off from a long-established ironmongery business. The success of the online operation, which is continuing to double its turnover every three months, is not confined to its financial performance. It’s also forced a radical re-think over ways of doing business, and enabled Cookson’s to smash the traditional supply chain.

Stuart Armstrong will be sharing some of his secrets of success at next month’s Design in Business event at The Lowry. He’ll be challenging business people from across the region to be more creative in their thinking. He says : ‘Companies need to be braver over the way they innovate. It’s not just a question of tinkering with an existing business. You must be prepared to think and work in radically different ways.’

Another speaker at the Salford event will be Robert Rix of Gorix Ltd. The company, based in Southport, has developed a revolutionary new textile that conducts electricity. It is being incorporated into a range of products that includes gloves for astronauts, an intelligent fire door and a portable electric blanket, for use by ambulance crews.

Gorix is one of the businesses in the North West which has been awarded Millennium Product status by the Design Council for its outstanding design and innovation. Since receiving the award, Gorix has continued to establish itself in international markets. Instead of having to go out and look for new applications for its technology, the company is being approached by potential new customers from around the world who are interested in using Gorix’s new textile in their products.

A third North West company, Liquid Plastics Ltd, will also contribute to the Manchester event. It was awarded Millennium Products status for a new liquid waterproofing solution, which overcomes many of the problems associated with alternative materials.

Design Council business director Harry Rich said : ‘All the companies taking part are great examples of what businesses can do when they put effective design at the heart of their strategy and ideas generation at the top of their agenda. We want to inspire all businesses to do the same, both by giving them first-hand examples of the kinds of gains good design can bring and encouraging a free flow of ideas and experiences’.

Transforming Businesses: North West will be chaired by Anthony Wilson, founder of Factory Records. Lord Terry Thomas, chairman of the NW Development Agency, will also take part. The event is being staged at The Lowry, Salford from 10am to 12.30pm on 1 November. Anyone who wants to attend should phone 01730 235022 or e-mail dibw2000@designcouncil

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