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Leeds Women in Business

Leeds 2

Amazon is hosting an exclusive Innovation Accelerator day in Leeds for ambitious women founders and senior leaders of SMEs. This dedicated program equips participants with Amazon’s proven strategies to accelerate business growth and innovation.

What You’ll Gain

Learn from Amazon’s Experts – Discover how Amazon launches and scales new products, with insights you can apply directly to your business.

Build Innovation Culture – Access leadership workshops specifically designed to address barriers women face in innovation, helping you create environments where innovation thrives.

Join an Elite Network – Connect with carefully selected SMEs chosen for their innovation potential.

Recognition & Rewards – Earn recognition as an AIA Innovation Leader and compete for the Innovation Challenge Prize, with £100,000 in funding available (£50,000 first prize).

Why This Matters

Despite making up 51% of the UK population, women hold only 30% of senior SME leadership roles, with just 32% of UK businesses being female-founded. Women-led SMEs face unique barriers including limited mentorship networks, lack of tailored support, and structural challenges in accessing capital and partnerships.

The Amazon Innovation Accelerator breaks down these barriers through targeted access to Amazon’s innovation infrastructure, practical training, leadership development, and curated networking opportunities.

Apply now

Who Should Apply?

Our programme offers tailored resources and support designed to elevate your business. Experience growth through innovative solutions and expert guidance.

Ambitious SMEs

SMEs looking to embrace digital transformation, improve operational efficiency, and scale their business using proven innovation strategies.

Business owners and decision-makers

Who are eager to learn from Amazon’s approach to innovation, leadership, and automation to drive growth in their organisations.

SMEs across all sectors

SMEs that want to connect with like-minded peers, access expert insights, and gain practical tools to future-proof their business.

Apply now

Why Join?

This special initiative goes beyond traditional growth support—delivering Amazon’s innovation know-how directly to women entrepreneurs, founders and decision makers.

Learn from Amazon’s Innovation Framework

Gain exclusive insights into how Amazon drives efficiency, automation, and continuous improvement, and apply these strategies to your business.

Unlock Growth Opportunities

Access expert-led workshops, a digital learning platform, $1000 AWS credit and a chance to win a share of £100,000 through the Innovation Challenge Prize to fuel your innovation journey.

Connect and Collaborate

Join a community of forward-thinking SMEs, industry experts, and policy influencers to share ideas, challenges, and opportunities for growth.

Apply now

What to Expect?

Play Video

E-Learning & Resource Platform

Get access to expert-led masterclasses, case studies, and leadership courses designed to help you adopt Amazon’s innovation framework in your business.

Innovation

Experience innovation firsthand with exclusive access to Amazon’s cutting-edge robotics and automation systems, paired with hands-on workshops led by Amazon’s top experts.

Community

Connect with a peer-to-peer community of SMEs across the UK and your region to exchange ideas, collaborate on solutions, network effectively, and innovate together for shared success.

Leeds Women in Business Agenda

Time

Agenda

09:30

Welcome & Introduction
Kickstart your innovation journey with an introduction to the Amazon Innovation Accelerator and how Amazon’s Leadership Principles can help your SME grow and thrive.

09:45

Introduction from Participants
Meet fellow attendees and start building your innovation network.

10:15

The Culture of Innovation at Amazon – Part One
Work through Amazon’s “Working Backwards” method to create a tailored innovation strategy for your SME.

11:00

Real-World Innovation: Fulfilment Centre Tour
Take a guided tour of an Amazon Fulfilment Centre to see how technology, people, and processes work together to drive efficiency and sustainability.

12:30-13:15

Collaborate & Connect: Networking Lunch
Engage with SME leaders and Amazon experts over lunch, share ideas, and expand your network.

13:15

Onboard on SME Hub

13:20

FSC
Panel discussion with Female Founder and Innovation Leaders around the drivers of gender imbalance in SME Leadership.

13:50

The Culture of Innovation at Amazon – Part Two
Continue developing your strategy with the support of Amazon experts and fellow SMEs.

14:50

Break

15:00

Activating your AI Strategy - A Practical Guide for SMEs
Discover how AI can help your business save time, cut costs, and stay competitive. Explore key trends like Gartner’s 2026 outlook on Generative AI, and learn why strong data foundations matter. Get practical steps to build a clear AI strategy which avoids common mistakes, manages risks, and supports long-term growth.

15:30

From Insight to Action: Applying Amazon’s Principles & Next Steps
Q&A session with Amazon experts. Get more insights into your business challenges and find out more about the next steps on the programme.

15:45

Driving Impact Together: Wrap-Up & Feedback
We value your input—share your thoughts to help shape future AIA programmes.

16:15

Q&A Panel Discussion 
Final discussions with Amazon leaders and fellow SMEs.

16:30

Close

*Agenda subject to change

Apply now

Our Speakers

Charlene Manning

Regional Business Development Manager
Charlene Manning is a Regional Business Development Manager at AWS, focused on supporting the public sector in leveraging cloud technology to drive innovation, efficiency, and digital transformation.
Applications closed

Leeds Women in Business

3 October 2025
QGH7+8Q, Leeds LS9 0DZ
Directions

Exclusive on-site day at Amazon: See cutting-edge innovation in action.

Innovation Leadership Accreditation: Access the exclusive AIA Innovation e-learning course.

Prizes for Your Innovation Ideas: Enter to win a share of £100k in the Innovation Challenge Prize.

I found the tour fascinating and the conversations and work we did through the day have given us lots to think about.
Daniel I’Anson
Head of Business Intelligence, SCOPE
It was good to develop my understanding of Amazon and see how some of your methodology can be applied to our work at TeenTech – I’m still digesting all the information.
Maggie Philbin
CEO , TeenTech
Hearing about how Amazon has embedded leadership principles and culture into the business was fascinating and something we’re keen to learn from.
Connor Blunt
Sales Operations Manager, Millennium Cargo
The Amazon Innovation Accelerator has given me quite a lot of inspiration including how we can learn from Amazon’s attention to detail on the factory floor and how small improvements to processes can lead to efficiencies. We have started to look at how we can incorporate similar improvements.
Thomas Baumgartner
Finance Director, Voestalpine Metsec
Seeing the behaviours and the values of Amazon and how they foster innovation as an employer, it’s good to see how they make that sustainable with so many people which has made us look at what we do. We have continuous improvement processes but not as systematically as Amazon. That process has helped us reinvigorate what we do.
John Wingfield
Managing Director, Flambeau EuroPlast
The information we have learned from the course from Amazon will help feed into how we look at systems, IT projects and what we ultimately prioritise to make the best improvements.
Jon Booth
Head of Sustainability & Performance, AV Dawson
This programme will accelerate local businesses around them to grow, become more successful and employ more people so that everyone’s winning. Amazon do an awful lot to help the wider population.
Daniel Stewart
, McDonald Water Storage
It was great to meet like-minded people from other SMEs from around the Greater Manchester area who have similar problems, but just in different markets with different products, and hear about what they’ve been doing.
Mike Jenkinson
Managing Director, Booth Industries
I was inspired by the structured approach to everything that Amazon does and thought that was very strong and was probably my core takeaway. I was already process-orientated in my mindset but it’s pushing open a door in terms of my own thoughts.
Dr Gavin Pell
Managing Director, Chandlers

Case Studies

James Lister & Sons

James Lister & Sons Ltd, a leading engineering firm based in Birmingham, joined the Amazon Innovation Accelerator to gain insights into Amazon’s innovation and leadership practices. Since completing the programme, they have begun integrating artificial intelligence to automate machinery scheduling, applying learnings from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to enhance operational efficiency.

The Accelerator has inspired a cultural shift within Lister, embedding Amazon’s philosophies of “always day one” and “failure is an opportunity” into their business strategy. With a renewed focus on workforce development and innovation, Lister is fostering a culture where every action has a clear purpose, ensuring sustainable growth and long-term success.

HMG Paints

HMG Paints, a leading family-owned paint and coatings manufacturer, has always embraced innovation—most recently developing a groundbreaking wind turbine coating applied via drone. Through the Amazon Innovation Accelerator, they enhanced their digital capabilities by 20%, gaining practical tools and insights to drive transformation.

The programme also empowered their leadership team with new problem-solving frameworks, such as the Fish Bone Diagram, helping to boost productivity and embed a culture of continuous improvement. Equipped with these new strategies, HMG Paints is optimising operations and future-proofing their business in an evolving market.

JJ Hardy & Sons

JJ Hardy & Sons, a 170-year-old family-run manufacturing company in Hartlepool, has always embraced innovation and early adoption of technology. The Amazon Innovation Accelerator provided them with valuable insights, inspiring them to explore robotics integration, implement centralised workforce management systems, and develop apprenticeship programmes to attract young talent.

Beyond operational improvements, the programme fostered new business opportunities and introduced practical efficiency measures, such as standing desks and expanded Wi-Fi coverage. Managing Director Andrew Pailor noted, “It was great to see how a big company is doing things, and we can try and pick some of that and use those for our own little company.” With a forward-thinking mindset, JJ Hardy & Sons is set to evolve and thrive in an ever-changing industry.

voestalpine Metsec

voestalpine Metsec, the UK’s largest specialist cold roll forming company, joined the Amazon Innovation Accelerator to gain insights into Amazon’s innovation and operational strategies. Inspired by Amazon’s approach, the company is now exploring AI technologies and evaluating ways to integrate digital processes into their production floors.

The programme reinforced their customer-first mindset and strategic long-term thinking, helping them stay ‘one step ahead’ of the competition. As Finance Director Thomas Baumgartner noted, “The Amazon Innovation Accelerator has given me quite a lot of inspiration, including how we can learn from Amazon’s attention to detail on the factory floor and how small improvements to processes can lead to efficiencies.”

Partners

We collaborate with a network of industry leaders, business hubs, and innovation champions who help us connect SMEs with the resources and support they need to thrive. Together, we’re driving innovation and growth across the UK.

Interested in becoming a partner?
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Contact Us

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Growth Studio drives growth and innovation for startups and established businesses, partnering with global brands like Cisco and Amazon to deliver impactful results.

As AIA’s delivery partner, we provide tailored, hands-on support, equipping SMEs with actionable insights, valuable connections, and the confidence to thrive in a dynamic business environment.

Learn more

FAQs

Everything you need to know about the AIA Programme.

Still have questions?
Reach out to our team for more information.
Contact Us

The AIA is a free, practical programme designed to help SMEs across the UK adopt digital technologies, enhance innovation, and achieve sustainable growth. The programme provides hands-on learning, expert insights, and access to a thriving community of business leaders.

The programme is open to SMEs across various industries in the UK that are eager to embrace digital transformation and innovation within their business operations.

Participants will gain:

  • A one-day immersive workshop at an Amazon Fulfilment Centre to learn from Amazon experts.
  • Access to an exclusive digital learning course, leading to an AIA Innovation Leader accreditation.
  • Opportunities to network with SME peers, Amazon experts, and industry leaders.
  • A chance to compete for the Innovation Challenge Prize, with funding of up to £100,000.

Complete the online application form for your nearest regional event on the relevant event page. Applications are open on a rolling basis, and successful applicants will be notified one month before the in-person workshop.

No, the programme is fully funded by Amazon and is free for all participating SMEs.

Once you submit your application, our team will review it, and you will receive confirmation of your participation at least one month before the in-person event. You will also be granted access to the digital learning platform ahead of the workshop.

Here’s what to expect in the coming weeks after you apply:

  • Application Review – Our team will carefully review your submission to ensure alignment with the programme goals.
  • Cohort Confirmation – If selected, you’ll receive an official confirmation about one month before your regional event.
  • Programme Kickoff – Once confirmed, you’ll receive everything you need to know about your on-site day and next steps.
  • Attend the On-Site Event – After your cohort’s on-site day, you’ll gain access to our exclusive online community and digital course, preparing you to innovate like Amazon.

The one-day event at an Amazon Fulfilment Centre includes:

  • A behind-the-scenes tour to see Amazon’s innovation in action.
  • Hands-on workshops with Amazon experts to learn best practices in innovation, automation, and business operations.
  • Opportunities to network with other SMEs and industry stakeholders.

By completing the digital course, participants will earn the ‘AIA Innovation Leader’ accreditation, which demonstrates their commitment to innovation and can enhance their credibility with partners and investors.

Participants will access the digital course after the on-site day in their region, where they can engage with learning modules, downloadable resources, and fireside chats with industry leaders.

Participants who complete the programme will have the opportunity to enter to win a share of £100,000 in the Innovation Challenge Prize to implement their innovation strategies. The First Prize is £50,000. (Only UK registered business can apply for the ICP)

You will receive ongoing engagement on the AIA SME HUB, including guidance from Growth Studio and Amazon experts, access to a dedicated online SME community, and regular check-ins to help track your progress.

Once selected, you will receive login details for the AIA SME HUB, where you can connect with peers, access learning materials, and participate in live events and discussions.

Yes, while the in-person event is limited to one representative per business, you can invite another two team members to access the digital course and participate in online discussions.

The programme runs across multiple regions throughout the year with ongoing learning and engagement on the AIA digital platform which is accessed after your on-site day for the region you applied for. Visit our website to find the dates for your nearest cohort and submit your application in time.

Following the workshop, you will continue your learning journey through the digital platform, fireside chats, and exclusive networking opportunities, helping you apply the lessons learned and stay connected with the AIA community.

You can contact our team at aia@growthstudio.com for any questions or assistance with your application and participation.