University Fair at Sci-Tech Daresbury Friday 21st November 2014 09.30 – 12.30 The Cockcroft Institute Sci-Tech Daresbury INTRODUCTION Sci-Tech Daresbury was established in 2006 (formerly known as Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus) as one of the UK’s national science and innovation campuses and more recently in 2012 as a strategic Enterprise Zones. It is internationally-recognised for the world-class Location scientific facilities and expertise that is located on the site through the Science and Technology The event will take place in the The Cockcroft Facilities Council’s Daresbury Laboratory Institute at Sci-Tech Daresbury. For directions particularly in areas such as accelerator science, please go to http://www.sci-techdaresbury. high performance computing, modelling & com/location. Visitor parking is available in the simulation, big data analytics, sensors and Daresbury Laboratory car park adjacent to the detectors. reception building. It is also home to over 100 technology companies Registration in areas such as advanced engineering, digital/ ICT technologies, biomedical technologies and The Sci-Tech Daresbury University Fair is now services, and clean technologies. It is now widely- open for bookings. To book your place at the recognised for the business support it brings to event on please click here (you will be prompted the businesses to help companies accelerate their to login with your NewsHub user name and growth, innovate more effectively and more easily password in order to access the event page). identify and establish collaborative partnerships. If you aren’t already a member of the Sci-Tech A critical part of this is our relationships with the Daresbury network, click here to become a regional universities who we see as key partners member and then go to the webpage for the in bringing support and expertise to technology event to register. companies in areas such as: • Student recruitment, projects & placements • Collaborative research & Knowledge Transfer Partnerships • Access to facilities • Skills development & CPD Therefore this event is designed to help technology companies better understand the breadth of support available to them and how they can best take advantage of this. It will be done through two mechanisms: • Short session highlighting 4 company case studies through a combination of interview and expert panel • Exhibition enabling you to meet with representatives from 7 regional universities to explore potential areas of support and collaboration AGENDA 9.30 – Registration 9.45 – Welcome and housekeeping - John Leake, Sci-Tech Daresbury 9.50 – Company case studies with expert panel Session 1 Company Representative Area of engagement Inventya Michael Holroyd, Business Student recruitment, projects (www.inventya.com) Development Manager and placements Risktec Vicky Billingham, Training & Training & CPD (www.risktec.co.uk) Education Business Leader Expert panel Expert Position University/Organisation Paul Gaunt Director of Careers & University of Chester Employability Dr Karen Wright Biomedical & Life Sciences Lancaster University lead for External Relations & Enterprise Prof Ahmed Al-Shamma’a Dean of Engineering & Technology Liverpool John Moores University Rachael Collins Placement Supervisor University of Liverpool Session 2 Company Representative Area of engagement Arvia Technology Nigel Brown, Technical Director Collaborative research & (www.arviatechnology.com) Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Contec Heat Controls Pat Broderick, Director Access to facilities (www.conteccontrols.com) Expert panel Expert Position University/Organisation Dr Phil Hollifield Projects Manager University of Central Lancashire Dr Mohammed Akmez KTP Associate University of Manchester Nabeerasool Joe Flanagan Consultancy Manager University of Salford 10.20 – Exhibition There will be exhibition stands from the following organisations: • University of Central Lancashire • University of Liverpool • University of Manchester • University of Chester • Liverpool John Moores University • University of Salford • Lancaster University 12.30 - Close ROUTES TO UNIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT Continuing Professional Graduate Recruitment Development All universities are very keen to enhance the rates All the regional universities make use of their of graduate employment and offer a wide range academics and knowledge base, offering of services to prospective employers to ensure continuing professional development (CPD) that they have easy access to their graduate and other training courses which are principally cohort. Typically these services will include aimed at developing the skills and knowledge advertising of vacancies through internal student of employees. There is an extensive range of channels, recruitment fairs and direct assistance CPD courses available covering a vast range to recruiters with shortlisting and advertising. of subjects and disciplines, with the highest Aside from full time employment, universities will demand often for business skills courses offered also assist companies seeking to recruit part time by the university business schools. Courses may roles, vacation employment, or placements. be non-credit bearing, accredited by external There is a continuing demand for ‘real life’ student bodies (such as professional institutions) or by projects across a range of subjects. These could the universities themselves with credits counting be a short focussed assignment, for example towards an academic qualification. Typically, CPD development of advertising material for an arts courses tend to be delivered on an open basis (i.e. and media student or a longer term assignment anyone can attend and no prior qualifications are such as business strategy development for a required) and run for 1-3 days. Some universities MBA student. Such projects are usually at no (or now offer CPD courses as an on-line option and minimal) cost to the business and aside from many will offer to design and deliver bespoke and the valuable experience gained by the student, in-house courses to suit the needs of an individual the business can benefit from the input of fresh company or organisation. thinking and new ideas. There is also an on-going demand from universities for industry panelists and speakers to present to students in order that they can gain a first-hand insight into routes to employment and advice about future careers. Many universities also operate mentoring schemes for students and are always willing to discuss this approach with individuals wishing to become mentors. Consultancy With their vast range of academic disciplines and extensive facilities, universities are well placed to solve business problems on a consultancy basis. Such consultancy assignments can range from relatively straightforward laboratory testing and analysis through to more complex strategic advice. Consultancy projects are carried out through a commercial agreement between the business and the university and there are some grant funds available to the business e.g Innovate UK’s Innovation vouchers https://vouchers. innovateuk.org. ROUTES TO UNIVERSITY ENGAGEMENT Research Intellectual Property Development Whereas consultancy is about applying existing Many of the research intensive universities have skills and knowledge to solve a problem, research a body of intellectual property (IP) that they is about the creation of new knowledge and actively exploit, principally through one of two there is an increasing emphasis on ensuring that routes. Licenses may be granted to businesses research is relevant to ‘real world’ issues. Research to commercially exploit university patents that projects tend to longer term, have less certain cover new products, processes and other novel outcomes and generally the academics involved in inventions. Alternatively, universities may choose the project would like use the results for scientific to exploit IP through spin out companies often papers. Universities will undertake both contract with the assistance of external investors. and collaborative research for business and in the latter case some of the costs will be met by a third How to make contact with a party usually a government funding body such as Innovate UK (https://www.innovateuk.org). University Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (http://www. Universities are large and complex organisations ktponline.org.uk/) commonly known as KTPs and it can be a challenge for a business to identify are an especially popular form of collaborative the most appropriate individual. The first point research and SME businesses are eligible for a of contact for a business should be dedicated grant which can cover up to 2/3 of the cost. At business engagement team at the university who the heart of the KTP scheme there is a recent can then direct the enquiry to the appropriate graduate or post graduate (known as a KTP department of individual in the university. Most associate) who works within a business, over a university websites have a ‘business’ page which period of between 6 and 36 months, on a specific will contain all the relevant information and new product development project that will contact details for businesses wishing to work ultimately improve profitability. Throughout the with the university. period, the KTP associate will receive academic input and supervision from the University partner, with the ultimate aim of embedding new skills and knowledge within the business. BIOGRAPHIES - COMPANY CASE STUDIES Inventya – Michael Holroyd Arvia Technology – Nigel Brown Business