ESSEX businesses must consider working with universities if they want to move forward, according to a business support group.

Simon Daniels, business development manager for i10, explained that, while it's not a solution for all businesses, many could benefit from higher profits, by working in partnership with higher education institutions.

It's all about "knowledge transfer" between universities and businesses, said Mr Daniels.

"The Government is pushing the knowledge economy and, as manufacturing is moving to India and China, we have to address where our strengths are. In the eastern region we are very innovative and good at ideas and producing new products and ways to do things.

"By working with universities, companies can grow," he said.

i10 is a Government-funded organisation that works in the east of England. It puts businesses that need help with specific skills, facilities and resources, in touch with the university in the region best equipped to support it.

Essex University works closely with i10, and regularly helps businesses with facilities such as the iLab, which aims to stimulate creative team thinking in colourful and flexible meeting rooms.

As well as acting as an "easy access point" to universities, the organisation can also help businesses get hold of funding from the UK and Europe.

Mr Daniels said the service industry may not be as interested in what i10 offers and working with universities, but it should appeal to engineering and high tech firms.

"Universities are a resource that can be brought in flexibly, on a needs basis. For example, if a company doesn't have a person with the necessary skills to work on a particular project, they could consider hiring someone from the university, a student or academic, just for that project. And payment for that is subsidised by the Government so businesses would only pay 40 per cent of the cost," explained Mr Daniels.

"It's just another way businesses can address growth issues, staffing, skills and resources to develop new products."

Business Link East, which provides general advice and support to businesses, regularly refers clients to i10.

Partnership manager for the Haven Gateway area, Christian Bone, explained: "It's often very difficult for smaller businesses to access universities, mainly because they don't feel it's relevant to their work or they don't understand how universities operate. But it is relevant, more so for businesses looking to get into a new market or after some research or product development services.

"Working with universities can give companies a competitive edge - after all, they are the leading institutions for developing technology and techniques," added Mr Bone.

WHAT IS i10?

i10 was formed two years ago and aims to provide businesses with an easy way to get in touch with the 11 universities in the east of England.

It covers six counties but Essex/Suffolk has its own business development team, made up of four members who are all from a business background.

i10 formed after it was realised many new businesses were springing up around Cambridge University, having used the institution's resources and facilites.

i10 another in a long line of business support groups in north Essex, but Simon Daniels, business development manager at i10, said the difference is i10 is "proactive".

"Nationwide, this is the most proactive organisation that goes out and stimulates businesses to look forward and represents a group of universities. There are many traditional channels of help businesses can use and we are another way of addressing issues within a business. It's an excellent was to progress businesses ideas," he said.