FPInnovations launched its FPInnovations Associates - a new service for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the secondary wood products manufacturing sector across Canada – at WMS Toronto in November. The program is designed to offer a cost-effective alternative to partnering with FPInnovations.
According to Terry Knee, FPInnovations communications director, this unique and comprehensive service aims to support the sector’s competitiveness by providing businesses with direct access to one-stop, specialized help, and a customized Web platform.
Knee says the program is going pretty well and they have so far signed up close to 50 members, which put them in good position to reach their 100-member goal in the first year of the program.
FPInnovations studied the needs of SMEs and created FPInnovations Associates to open up a world for SMEs looking to benefit from a wide range of expertise and resources tailored to their needs.
With focused access to FPInnovations’ Secondary Wood Products Manufacturing Program, FPInnovations Associates is specifically designed to meet the distinct needs of SMEs, including technical support, training, market intelligence, networking, access to free workshops and webinars, online reports and publications, funding information, performance comparison tools, and specialized help with operation-related issues.
Knee says that by joining FPInnovations Associates, participating companies gain fast, affordable access to valuable resources that will help enhance business performance.”
“FPInnovations is proud to offer a practical and affordable one-stop solution that will enable SMEs to overcome the obstacles involved in finding help and resolving operational issues in a timely manner,” says Pierre Lapointe, president and chief executive officer, FPInnovations.
“By creating a new way for SMEs to partner with us, FPInnovations Associates will expand our relationship with these businesses to deliver greater impact for the entire sector.”
“We don’t feel we are competing with anyone else in the market,” says Knee. “We offer a very specific and unique set of tools both online, in seminars and webinars as well as in face-to-face meetings for our members.”
For an annual subscription fee of $500 per company, FPInnovations Associates will offer direct access to industry advisors, networking events, training, performance benchmarking, strategic intelligence, technical articles, funding information, industry links, webinars and workshops, newsletter and online reports and publications.
FPInnovations Associates is open to all businesses in the secondary wood products manufacturing sector with less than 500 employees.
