About - UEA Innovation Funding

UEA Innovation Funding is an experienced team supporting ambitious businesses across the East of England to access investment, expertise and connections.

It is based in the award-winning Enterprise Centre at UEA, one of Europe’s greenest buildings.

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OUR TEAM

We’ve spent many years working with innovative businesses in the region, helping them develop their ideas, prepare for investment, secure finance and grow. We deliver investment funds and business support programmes across a range of sectors, from climate technology and energy to the creative industries.

We and our network of businesses, investors, universities, public sector organisations and industry specialists bring together the knowledge, relationships and investment needed to help businesses progress. Our work has helped businesses access significant private investment, while our own investment activity has backed companies developing new products, technologies and services.

SAFFRON MYHILL

Innovation Funding Team Manager

Saffron Myhill is Innovation Funding Manager at University of East Anglia overseeing business support programmes such as Creative Unlimited, Invest East Investment Readiness Programme and Low Carbon Innovation Funds 1 & 2. Since 2012 she has worked with many early and growth stage businesses supporting them to develop and raise equity investment – closing more than 100 investment deals. Saffron started her career in the advertising, design and print industry and worked for more than 10 years in London agencies large and small. After this she moved into sustainability, working for National Energy Foundation, and founding both a not-for-profit training organisation and a solar design and installation business. Her experience of scaling businesses in both the creative industries and clean growth sector have been extremely valuable in understanding the needs of ambitious businesses in the region.

SAM BURTON

Senior Investment Advisor

Sam started her career in factual television production, working on programmes for ITV and Sky before moving into film where she was the Production Executive at Screen East where she invested in sustainability in Film, Computer Games and TV through a Low Carbon Content Fund.

For over 14 years, Sam has been working with businesses across all sectors making investments through the Low Carbon Innovation Fund at the University of East Anglia. During this time, she has also worked as an advisor for several investment readiness programmes.

JOSH ALLTON-JONES

Programme Communications Coordinator

Josh leads communications for UEA Innovation Funding, shaping how the team’s investment funds and business support programmes connect with businesses, investors, partners and wider regional audiences. His work focuses particularly on the Low Carbon Innovation Fund (LCIF), alongside communications for Creative East.

He brings a broad background in marketing, communications and business development, having worked across higher education, technology, branding and the creative industries. This includes building relationships with businesses and partners, developing brands and campaigns, and helping organisations communicate their ideas and opportunities to new audiences.