More than 330 Greater Manchester businesses have been helped to grow, innovate and improve productivity by the University of Salford’s Center for Sustainable Innovation (CSI), which was launched two years ago.
Founded in 2024, the Center for Sustainable Innovation was created to give small and medium-sized businesses access to university expertise, specialized facilities and funding opportunities that are often out of reach for growing companies. Since opening, the center has received more than £2.5 million in external funding to directly support SMEs across the region.
The program has helped companies develop new products, test ideas, improve operational processes and establish more sustainable business models. According to the university, this support has helped create 30 new innovations, strengthened leadership and management skills and enabled businesses to embark on longer-term growth activities, supporting jobs, skills development and investment across Greater Manchester.
One company benefiting from this is Lagan’s Healthcare, a Bolton-based provider of training for paid carers and nurses working in residential and community care settings. Founder Carren Bell worked with the center to develop leadership and management skills before advancing a new spin-off idea. With access to professional innovation support and funding advice, the company secured more than £10,000 to develop a prototype, helping to transform an early-stage concept into a product with commercial potential.
Another beneficiary is AJAX Equipment, also based in Bolton, which designs and manufactures bespoke solids handling and processing machinery for global markets. Over the past two years, the company has worked with CSI to strengthen its strategic foundations, introduce new machinery, improve internal processes and increase operational efficiency. The collaboration now supports further exploration of automation and innovation opportunities to drive long-term growth.
Sara Boswell, director of the Center for Sustainable Innovation, said the center’s second year had seen rapid progress compared to its original ambitions.
“When we launched in 2024, our aim was to create a leading hub for sustainable business and digital transformation, giving SMEs access to the expertise, facilities and technologies they need to innovate and grow,” she said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see this vision translate into tangible benefits for businesses across Salford and the wider region.”
Boswell added that the center’s strength lies in supporting organizations at every stage of their development. “From building leadership and management skills to developing new innovations, accessing funding and forming knowledge transfer partnerships, we are already seeing the difference this work is making across Greater Manchester,” she said.
In addition to working directly with businesses, CSI works closely with industry, government and academic partners to ensure innovation and investment remains anchored in the region. Partners include Salford City Council, Microsoft, Barclays, Siemens, Northern Automotive Alliance, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and The Growth Company.
The University of Salford said the centre’s early success shows the role universities can play in driving regional productivity and sustainable economic growth, particularly by helping smaller businesses overcome barriers to innovation and investment.
