Digital technology is moving at a pace never seen before. While businesses’ adoption of digital technology has been steadily climbing for years, the Covid-19 pandemic has provided a catalyst for Lincolnshire SMEs to digitalise to remain competitive.

This year, the UoL4.0 Challenge project at Lincoln International Business School connected three more Lincolnshire SMEs with groups of Operation Management students. Action It Theatre, Octagon Lincoln and Lestons Legal Services all put forward business challenges to be considered by the students. With the support of academics, the student teams explored the opportunity for digital solutions to support new commercial ideas, improved processes and market opportunities.

Students worked in collaboration with the businesses over the course of the semester and, at the end of the project phase, presented their digital solutions through two public facing events – a poster exhibition at University of Lincoln and a live streaming presentation through LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook reaching wider audiences.

Twenty businesses have so far taken part in UoL4.0 Challenge, with half of participating businesses able to implement all or part of the solutions put forward by the students. All identify the benefits that a fresh perspective on their business can bring. Previous participants include Lincoln City Football Club, Ruddocks, Branston Potatoes, Hemswell Antiques and Teledyne.

How To Get Involved?

If you are an SME in the region and are interested in taking part in the next cohort, which starts in Oct 2022, please get in touch with Liz Price (lprice@lincoln.ac.uk) or Herbert Mapfaira (hmapfaira@lincoln.ac.uk). This project is partly funded through European Regional Development Fund and eligibility criteria for participation will apply. To find out more about UoL4.0 Challenge please visit: https://uolchallenge.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/