Innovate UK Business Growth
Innovate UK Business Growth is a key part of the UK Innovation agency's investment in the innovative businesses that drive economic growth.
Empowering your innovation-driven business to grow at pace
Innovate UK Business Growth (previously Innovate UK EDGE) is a key part of the UK innovation agency’s deep investment in the pioneering businesses that drive economic growth. It is a publicly-funded service available to all high potential small to medium sized innovation-driven companies.
Innovators are motivated to improve the ways we live and work. Innovate UK Business Growth support those building scalable businesses to achieve their goals, in every sector and from seed to scale stage.
Innovate UK Business Growth work closely with leadership teams to create the conditions for each business to succeed and bring the benefits of their innovation to national and international audiences. Since 2015 Innovate UK Business Growth have been empowering clients to grow and scale their businesses through actionable advice, access to vital resources and opportunities to enhance their abilities.
Your journey will usually start with our national enquiry gateway, which receives enquiries from innovative businesses, connecting them to their local innovation and growth specialist if appropriate. Our innovation and growth specialists are at the centre of our service, with each client engagement resulting in a bespoke strategy. Our national enquiry team can also offer additional support in areas such as market research/intelligence insights, providing you with key information about current regulation and product/service conformity in the UK, EU or worldwide.
To enquire about the support available to your business through Innovate UK Business Growth, get in touch with the team.
Innovate UK Business Growth Services
Meet the West Midlands Innovate UK Business Growth team
Amo Mangat
Amerdeep Mangat is a strategic leader and Senior Manager at Innovate UK Business Growth. With a strong track record in driving innovation and fostering high-impact partnerships, Amerdeep plays a key role in supporting UK businesses to scale, compete globally, and bring cutting-edge ideas to market.
Bringing together his deep expertise in brand strategy, content partnerships, and international media, Amerdeep has led major initiatives including the launch of the ITPro Awards, spotlighting excellence in technology and innovation. His collaborative approach and forward-thinking mindset have also driven successful partnerships between major organizations such as Future and OpenAI, aligning emerging technologies with impactful storytelling.
Known for his ability to connect vision with execution, Amerdeep continues to champion innovation as a catalyst for economic growth and positive change.
Sunny Claire
Sunny is a Senior Innovation & Growth Specialist here at Innovate UK Business Growth. With over 10 years of experience supporting innovation-led SMEs, Sunny plays a pivotal role in helping UK businesses grow, scale, and explore international markets.
Since 2015, Sunny has been instrumental in delivering Innovate UK Business Growth's mission to empower high-potential companies with strategic support, funding access, and innovation management. A standout area of his work is leading Global Business Innovation Programmes (GBIPS, mainly in India, where he helps UK innovators build international partnerships, explore market opportunities, and foster cross-border collaboration in key sectors.
Based in Birmingham, Sunny is a passionate advocate for innovation as a driver of global economic growth and works closely with entrepreneurs to turn bold ideas into commercial success stories.
Deborah Leary
Deb is the CEO of Forensic Pathways (FP), an international threat intelligence and cyber risk consultancy and technology company. Under her leadership, FP has become a leading provider of innovative technology and services to monitor and manage cyber threats. The company's offerings include:
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Clarifyi Platform, which monitors the dark web and tracks ransomware groups and tracks alerting clients to potential data leaks.
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Social media monitoring and Open Source Intelligence to track emerging threats.
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Due diligence and background investigations to ensure businesses are secure.
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Simulated phishing campaigns and cyber awareness training to improve clients’ cybersecurity preparedness.
FP is also at the forefront of forensic investigation technology, offering unique solutions such as the Forensic Image Analyser for camera identification, ballistics analysis / toolmark technology for correlating bullets and cartridges, and Anti-Contamination Stepping Plates for use at crime scenes. Additionally, FP is the official UK distributor for MMC Drug Testing Kits.
The company has garnered a range of accolades for its innovation, including the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Innovation Award 2024, Innovationfifty and Digital Forensic Awarssin 2013, 2015, and 2018. It has also been recognized as an Export Champion by the UK Department for International Trade.
Deborah is a global speaker and mentor on topics such as business growth, start-ups, entrepreneurship global trade, innovation, CSR, and R&DShe holds several prestigious roles, including:
- Past President of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Board Member of the Greater Birmingham Global Chamber of Commerce
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Board Member of the West Midlands Innovation Board.
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Export Champion for the Department for International Trade.
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Member of the Advisory Board at the Aston University Institute for Foresneic Linguistics, Aston University and the Business Board at Birmingham City University.
Throughout her career, Deborah has received numerous awards for her leadership and contributions to business and innovation, including:
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Export Champion on behalf of the UK Government Department for International Trade.
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International Businesswoman of the Year 2017 (Phoenix Newspaper).
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Inspiring Leader of the Year 2015 (sponsored by HSBC & Microsoft).
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Women in STEM – Business of the Year 2015.
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Honorary Doctorate from Birmingham City University.
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OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's Honours List.
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Recognised as one of the UK's Top 100 Women Entrepreurs by Real Business Magazine.
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Joyce Award for Services to the British Association of WOmen Entrepreneurs.
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FCEM International Woman Entrepreneur of the Year.
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European Woman of Achievement.
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British Female Inventor of the Year.
In 2024, Deborah was appointed as a National Scale-Up Director for Innovate UK Business Growth, a key role within the UK innovation agency aimed at supporting businesses driving economic growth through innovation.
Additionally, she was appointed as Honorary Consul to Mexica in 2024, where she is responsible for fostering and building trade links between Mexico, The Midlands, and the UK.
Deepak Pathak
Having worked for billion-dollar turnover companies Deepak, Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist here at Innovate UK Business Growth, now has a track record of turning companies into 7, 8, and 9 figure revenue generators. First ever winner of Innovate UK Business Growth's ‘Unsung Hero’, Deepak has amassed a number of accolades including best-selling author, best lecturer and best module winner for multiple years at university and nominated Coronation Champion by the King and Queen of England.
A unique mix ranging from start-up experience and high level corporate experience having been handpicked by the CEO of Europe’s largest retail company to be his understudy to learning to disseminate this knowledge through lecturing and proving it in practice with his role with Innovate UK Business Growth helping create multiple success stories, its no wonder they created a new role for him in his first corporate role and named it ‘Future Entrepreneur’.
Andrew Shortt
With a First-Class degree in Chemistry and a Distinction in MSc Pharamcology, Andrew brings deep scientific knowledge and industry insight to his role as a Senior Innovation and Growth Sepcialist at Innovate UK Business Growth. He has extensive experience working with start-ups and SMEs across health tech, biotech, med tech, life sciences, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals, helping them overcome critical growth challenges and accelerate their journey to market.
Andrew's expertise spans IP protection, access to finance, market entry strategies, talent acquisition, retention, and business development. Known for his collaborative and hands-on approach, he supports high-potential companies by offering strategic guidance that’s both technically grounded and commercially driven.
Recently awarded 'Unsung Hero,' by Innovate UK Business Growth, Andrew plays a pivotal role in driving innovation and sustainable growth within the UK’s most dynamic life sciences sectors. Working closely with a wide-ranging support network—including GBSLEP Growth Hub, Aston University, University of Birmingham, Birmingham City University, Medilink, DTI, The Growth Company, WMHTC, Technology Supply Chain and Brimingham Enterprise Community—he helps deliver an integrated support experience tailored to the unique needs of innovative SMEs.
Adam Beveridge
With over a decade of experience in the startup ecosystem, Adam is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, consultant and currently a Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist here at Innovate UK Business Growth, who has worked at the forefront of innovation across the UK and Europe. He is a two-time founder, institutional and angel investor, and trusted advisor to some of the region’s fastest-growing startups, VC funds, and accelerators.
He is currently the co-founder of 4SB Mobility, a Shell StartUp Engine and VC-backed venture developing a patented, alternative approach to EV battery swapping—delivering 90 miles of range in just two minutes, with significant cost and sustainability advantages. Prior to this, he founded and scaled a SaaS platform in the travel and hospitality sector, securing Series A investment and leading a team of 15.
As an investor, Adam has led or supported over 100 investments through leading funds such as SFC Capital and Just Eat Ventures, overseeing scouting, due diligence, and term sheet negotiations across Seed and Series A stages. His angel investment portfolio spans Energy, FinTech, SaaS, and FMCG businesses.
In his consulting work, he has supported more than 70 startups through organisations such as LSE Generate, Innovate UK Business Growth, London & Partners, WeWork Labs, and SeedReady. His insights have been featured at high-profile platforms including the UK Technology Summit at the Houses of Parliament, StartUp Britain, and BBC Radio 1.
His achievements have been recognised with prestigious awards including the Amazon Scale-Up Awards, WeWork Creator Awards, Go:Tech Awards, and Lloyds Bank National Business Awards. Known for his charisma, contrarian thinking, and relentless drive, Adam is passionate about turning bold ideas into scalable ventures.
Bill Welch
Bill is a seasoned business leader and advisor with a uniquely broad skillset built from leadership roles across Marketing, Sales Planning, Business Operations, and Finance. Having worked in both head office and regional positions.Bill brings a 360-degree perspective to business growth and strategy.
Now, Bill channels this experience into empowering the next generation of business talent—ranging from MBA students at some of the UK's top business schools to innovative start-ups through Innovate UK Business Growth. His practical, hands-on approach helps early-stage businesses navigate the challenges of market entry, growth, and brand positioning.
Specialities include:
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Business strategy
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Product management
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Pricing & branding
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Marketing communications
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Experiential marketing & sponsorship
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Agency & budget management
Known for his clarity, strategic thinking, and commercial insight, Bill is a trusted Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist for businesses looking to scale smartly and sustainably.
Jonathan Gamble
Jon is a seasoned technology strategist and business advisor with over 20 years of directorship and senior management experience across both start-ups and multinational corporations. His career has been defined by a commitment to accelerating innovation that delivers not only commercial success but also environmental sustainability and meaningful improvements to people's lives.
Currently advising within the Innovate UK Business Growth as a Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist, Jon focuses on investability—helping high-potential companies prepare for scale, attract investment, and successfully commercialise emerging technologies. His cross-sector expertise spans semiconductors, energy, aerospace, medical devices, smart buildings, mobility electrification and wearable technology.
Jon’s career highlights include:
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Space: Contributed to systems now deployed on the International Space Station supporting long-duration space research.
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Aerospace: Core member of the team behind the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Innovation—the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft.
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Lifesciences: Delivered game-changing innovations in cancer diagnostics, stroke rehab, and elite sports medicine, helping bring advanced treatments to under-served communities.
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Energy & Zero Carbon: Played a pivotal role in the global LED lighting revolution, brokering the first-ever collaboration between industry giants like GE, Philips, Panasonic, and Toshiba.
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Finance & Commercialisation: Launched his first company at age 28, supporting over £280 millioin investment into transformative tech. He has advised high-growth names likeZoopla.com, Graze.com, and Vega-Chi.
With deep application knowledge and sharp business acumen, Jon is known for turning complex ideas into investment-ready ventures, creating strategies that align technological innovation with market need, and mentoring teams through every stage of growth.
Nick Housby
Nick is a highly experienced entrepreneur, founder, director, and Non-Executive Direcor (NED) with over 25 years of leadership and innovation expertise in precision medicine, medical devices, and biotechnology. With a strong academic background from the University of Oxford - Said Business School, Nick has been instrumental in founding and growing businesses that drive transformative change in healthcare and life sciences.
Currently serving as a Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist at Innovate UK Business Growth, Nick brings his extensive experience to support high-potential companies in the healthtech and biotechsectors. His work focuses on fostering innovation, driving growth, and supporting the commercialization of groundbreaking technologies in the medical space.
Nick is the Managing Director of Arcamis Limited, a consulting firm that specialises in helping early-stage bioscience businesses navigate the complexities of product commercialization, market entry, and strategic partnerships. His leadership experience also extends to his role as CEO and co-founder of Accunea Ltd, a company that revolutionised kidney function monitoring through AI-powered diagnostics.
In addition to his entrepreneurial ventures, Nick serves as a Commercial Advisor and Non-Executive Director for various health tech companies, where he leverages his expertise in clinical development, business strategy, and partnership management to drive commercial success and innovation in the life sciences field.
A passionate mentor and coach, Nick is committed to supporting the next generation of innovators, helping them navigate the evolving landscape of healthcare technology and achieve long-term success.
Phil Cliffe
Phil is a seasoned Business Operations Professional with over 35 years of international experience in the Upstream oil and gas sector. Having spent 22 years with Royal Dutch Shell in senior technical leadership roles across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Phil developed deep expertise in Drilling, HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment), Asset Management, Supply Chain, Commercial Operations, and Non-Operated Ventures.
In addition to his corporate experience, he is a Senior Independent Advisor with Bain and Company, where he drives performance improvement, strategy development and due dilligence for a global client base, offering expert insight on complex business challenges. Over the past 12 years, Phil has consulted in executive and board-level advisory roles, now currently at Innovate UK Business Growth, working with top-tier clients such as UK Oil and Gase Authority, BG Group, Infrastructure and Projects Authority (Cabinet Office), Neo Energy, Jersey Government, and MOL.
His career is defined by his ability to provide strategic leadership, drive performance improvements, and deliver insightful, actionable advice to executive teams and boards, helping organisations tackle challenges and capitalise on growth opportunities.
Anshul Gupta
Anshul is a seasoned investor and growth specialist with a deep focus on supporting consumer, tech, and AI businesses.With over 8 years of experience as a personal fund investor, he has backed a wide array of exceptional entrepreneurs, driving innovation across diverse industries. Some of his notable investments include Code First Girls, Secret Escapes, Streetbees, Avora, Inde Wild, Diem, Pott, Vieve, Plend, Eterland, and Glowb. Previously, he worked with a private fund of a high-net-worth individual that supported companies like Motorway, Curlsmith, Swoon, and the Plum Guide.
Currently, Anshul is a Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist at Innovate UK Business Growth, where he supports scaling businesses with a focus on innovation, strategy, and market expansion. He is also a Board Advisor for several high-growth businesses in the consumer and tech sectors, helping them navigate challenges and scale successfully. He has also served as Head of Organisation at Active Partners, a leading consumer-focused investment firm, where he played a key role in backing and building tomorrow’s great brands. In addition, Anshul's experience includes a position as Associate Director at Deloitte, where he led the consumer M&A teamto advise high-growth, founder-led businesses.
Anshul’s career has been defined by his ability to spot high-potential ventures and guide them through pivotal growth stages, combining strategic insight with a practical understanding of the markets and industries he works in.
Avalon Adjei-Maison
Avalon is a dedicated Innovation and Growth Specialist with a focus on helping SMEs grow and expand into international markets, particularly within the EU Single market. With a deep understanding of cross-border trade and the challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses, Avalon provides strategic guidance to unlock international opportunities and drive sustainable growth. He is also highly experienced in advising on the importance of a robust Intellectual Property (IP) strategy, both domestically and internationally.
Through tailored support and hands-on advice, Avalon empowers entrepreneurs to navigate complex markets and build resilient global strategies.
His passion lies in making international trade more accessible, helping UK innovation thrive beyond borders.
Maisie Salter
Maisie is a recent LLB Law Graduate from Aston University, where she gained a comprehensive understanding of the legal field, complemented by hands-on experiences both within and outside the classroom.
After transitioning from law to business and marketing, Maisie has applied her strategic mindset and strong organisational abilities to drive impactful change. She spent a year recruiting for the tech industry, where she focused on sourcing top-tier software developers and tech talent. This experience honed her understanding of the technical landscape and further developed her interpersonal and decision-making skills.
Currently serving as a Marketing Coordinator at Innovate UK Business Growth, Maisie plays a key role in planning and executing events that foster collaboration, drive economic growth, and engage key stakeholders.
Passionate about tailoring strategies to meet the unique needs of her audience, she ensures that every initiative delivers a positive and differentiated experience. With a solid foundation in people management and a commitment to continuous learning, Maisie is dedicated to personal growth and empowering others to succeed.
