Graduate Placements & Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Graduate Placements & Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

What is a Knowledge Transfer Partnerships?

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) is a UK-wide government sponsored programme enabling businesses to improve their competitiveness, productivity and performance.

A KTP achieves this through enabling businesses to work collaboratively in a three-way partnership - your business, the College and a high calibre recent graduate, allowing you to access skills and expertise to help your business develop.

The knowledge sought is embedded into the business through a project (s) undertaken by a recently qualified graduate (known as the Associate), recruited to specifically work on that project. Projects typically focus on a key strategic problem, which can range from developing..., increasing..., improving... and typically affect a combination of corporate strategy, innovation & marketing, competitive advantage and are designed to enable your business to acquire the knowledge in order to gain a competitive advantage and improve profitability. Whilst at the same getting added value from your investment in the KTP and establishing a long lasting relationship with the College.

KTPs can vary in length from 1 to 3 years (classic KTP) and from 10-40 weeks (shorter KTP), depending on the needs of the business and the desired outcomes.

The good news is the Government funding is available to companies, public sector bodies and not for profit (3rd Sector) organisations, which means your business could be losing out on a Government Grant. Partnerships can range from multi-national companies to small companies as well as allowing a multiple project involving more than one graduate.

Nationally there are 1,000+ active KTP programmes running at any one time, which have generated headline statistics like: Increase in annual profit before tax circa £270,000, Investment in Plant and Machinery £165,905, New jobs created 3, Company staff trained 14, New research projects initiated 3 and Commercial benefits from application of Intellectual Property 26%.

KTP are a WIN for you and your company, WIN for the graduate and a WIN for the college.

Interested and want to know more...

Writtle College has an excellent reputation and proven track record in assisting business realise their strategic goals – don’t delay and apply today. Your competitors may have already benefited or about to benefit from a Knowledge Transfer Partnership.

The College runs seminars throughout the year, so you can hear first hand how and why a KTP may be right for your business, which involves a short presentation, example Case Studies and 1-2-1 discussions to help identify suitable projects. It’s also an opportunity to meet the Team in an informal way, chat to academics who have supervised previous projects.

Please feel free to contact Writtle College’s Business Development Unit, Telephone: 01245 424275, email bdu@writtle.ac.uk

How does it work?

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) ethos and aim is to help UK and EU businesses improve their competiveness and productivity via the acquired knowledge, technology and skills .

By applying for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership enables your business to access and to work with a talented graduate (known as the Associate) who is mentored by an experienced qualified academic, who visit your business for the equivalent of ½ day per week for the duration of the project. Together they will help your business realise the strategic challenge and to transform your business.

The Associate is recruited and employed by Writtle College as the Knowledge Base, so we take care of all of the recruiting process for you, however you will have an input to the selection and be involved in interview if you so choose. The Associate is usually based in your company, but they can also be based here at the College/ Knowledge Base. Some KTP involve working with one or more Associate.

The Associate works in your company on a project with an agreed work plan with deliverable milestones and quantifiable outputs, which are tailored to each partnerships needs and aspirations and is jointly supervised by you or a nominated senior manager known as ‘Company Supervisor’ and by the Academic Supervisor.

A review meeting with predefined roles takes places every 4 months called a ‘Local Management Committee’ meeting and is usually chaired by the Company Supervisor. Each party prepares a short report reflecting on progress made and the challenges faced, compared to the previously agreed project plan. The Regional KTP Adviser is also present and acts in a steering capacity and mentor to the Associate.

How much will it cost my company?

The principle sponsors for KTP is the Technology Strategy Board, attracting co-sponsorship from the Research Councils and a number of other bodies. The grant for a small to medium sized enterprise (SME) would be 67% with a company contribution of only 33%. A large company grant would be 50%. There is a standard budget covering Associate Employment Costs, Associate Development, Travel and Subsistence, Consumables, as well as provision for Directly Allocated Costs and Indirect Costs. This typically equates to circa £60K per year, which means an SME pays circa only £23K per year and a large company pays circa £35K per year.

Please contact the Business Development Unit, Telephone: 01245 424275, email bdu@writtle.ac.uk to discuss the project and to see if your company would be eligible for funding through a KTP and we will assist you in putting together your application.

You could be missing out on the development of a potential employee, which your competitors could be taking advantage of, so don’t delay apply today.

Shorter Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Shorter Knowledge Transfer Partnership (sKTP) is an excellent way for micro sized organisations, recent start-ups and SMEs alike, (which have the potential for growth) to undertake a project requiring expertise not available within your company or organisation to take advantage of leading-edge knowledge and expertise based in the College.

As sKTP are designed to address operational or tactical issues that your company or organisation faces, sKTP durations are therefore shorter i.e. 10 to 40 weeks compared to the way ‘classic’ KTPs operate.

sKTPs are an excellent way for companies and organisations to take advantage of knowledge and expertise based in the College for the first time. sKTP can be standalone, run in parallel with or follow-on or leading-to a full or ‘classic’ KTP addressing strategic and operational issues . You can have more than one sKTP running at the same time.

As with a ‘classic’ KTP, an sKTP Associate is employed by the College and based in your company to undertake the operational project. A unique feature of the sKTP programme allows an existing employee of your Company can take on the role of sKTP Associate undertaking the project at the College. Also an Associate can be employed part-time.

Shorter Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are an excellent way for Writtle College to work collaboratively with your company or organisation, who have not previously worked with the College. To enable you and business or organisation to realise the benefits that can be achieved through this collaborative partnership, perhaps just like your competitors may have already. So don’t lose out apply today.

How much does a sKTP Cost?
sKTPs are a heavily subsidised grant scheme supported by the government, the maximum Grant Rate per Week is £950

The current SME grant rate (based on the EU definition of an SME) is 60% of the ‘standard’ project cost, large companies or groups receive a grant rate of 40%.

Please contact the Business Development Unit, Telephone: 01245 424275, email bdu@writtle.ac.uk for an informal no obligation chat to discuss costings.

All grant application forms are subject to eligibility, due diligence checks and a competitive assessment.

The average time from submission of proposal to issue of Grant Offer Letter is 36 calendar days, due impart to the ‘light touch’ processes and quick decisions, simplified forms and all stages of the process are online.

Frequently asked questions

Who will drive the project?
A talented recent graduate known as the ‘Associate’ is recruited and employed by the College, who works on an agreed Project Plan with milestone outputs and key decision points.

The associate is mentored by a qualified academic known as the ‘Academic Supervisor’ who will visit your company the equivalent of ½ day per week for the duration of the project.

The Associate is usually based at your premises, but can be based on campus and works on a strategic project and is mentored by a senior employee in the company, who is known as the 'Company Supervisor'.

The outcome of the project will have enabled the business to achieve the strategic change and to have the ‘know how’ embedded into the company for future reuse.

How long does a KTP last?
Full KTP’s are 1 to 3 year projects, with the average KTP duration is 2 years.

Shorter KTP (SKTP) due to their operational or tactical nature is 10 to 40 weeks. SKTP are particularly fitting for micro enterprises and SME employing less than 4 people.

What kinds of organisations are eligible?
Typical company or organisations will need to:
  • have been trading for a minimum of two years
  • be profitable as evidenced in the Accounts
  • employee a minimum of four or preferably more full-time staff
  • have potential for growth
  • have a suitable strategic project that meets the ‘Overarching Criteria for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships’
  • lack the expertise to do it in-house

Businesses of all sizes and sectors are eligible to apply for a KTP Grant, the Business Development Unit will happily discuss your businesses eligibility. Your competitors may be applying, so don’t miss out!

How much does a KTP Cost?
KTPs are a heavily subsidised grant scheme supported by the government, the average annual costs are currently £60,000PA.
  • KTPs
    The current SME grant rate (based on the EU definition of an SME) is 67% of the ‘standard’ project cost, large companies or groups receive a grant rate of 50%.
  • Shorter KTPs
    The current SME grant rate (based on the EU definition of an SME) is 60% of the ‘standard’ project cost, large companies or groups receive a grant rate of 40%.

Please contact the Business Development Unit for an informal no obligation chat to discuss costings.

All grant application forms are subject to eligibility, due diligence checks and a competitive assessment.

Is help available to apply for a KTP grant application?
Our Business Development Unit team are on hand to help guide your company through the funding processes, demystify the acronyms and help you complete the grant application, in liaison with the lead academic.

The Business Development Team will endeavour that your application is one of the 85% of Grant Applications that are funded 1st time by the Partnership Approvals Group (PAG). We are here to support you every step of the way.

How long does it take to get the Grant?
Each application is unique but once the application is approved by the Regional KTP Adviser it is submitted to the PAG who meet throughout the year, once approved PAG issues a Grant Offer letter. The first time submission rate for successful applications is 85%, you should allow for a 6 month end-to-end timeframe before the Associate(s) commences.

What information does my company need to provide?
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is a part-funded government grant which requires an Expression of Interest (EOT) form to be initially completed to determine eligibility and to secure funding from potential sponsors, subject to successfully completing a full Grant Application and Proposal Form.

The company will need to provide as part of the ‘due diligence’ a clear and coherent business case outlining the strategic objectives, 3 years accounts and any other relevant financial information e.g. consolidated Management Accounts and will need to provide an overview of the markets served and position.

Please be reassured that confidentiality is stringently adhere to throughout the life of the KTP and beyond and we actively encourage companies to have Non Disclosure Agreements in place to protect all parties.

Role of the Regional KTP Adviser
The Regional KTP Adviser acts a ‘critical friend’ to ensure that your company or organisations is eligible to participate in a KTP or sKTP in keeping with the criteria of both programmes. They are also on hand to offer guidance when answering the questions on the Grant Application Form. Part of their role is to carryout due diligence checks of your premises, inspect your Accounts and to discuss your strategic issue and commitment, financial obligation of undertaking a KTP.

The Regional KTP Adviser plays a pivotal role in assessing which Funding Council to submit the Expression of Interest to in order to seek funding, subject to successfully submitting a Grant Application which is approved by the Partnership Approvals Group. It’s an opportunity to strengthen or to add value to the application i.e. seek additional information and to clarify a proposal, or to suggest funding organisations information that would strengthen proposals or support decision-making.

Part of the role is to assist and support the assessment process, particularly Risk by considering how the funding organisations might perceive the risks, which are not the same as how your company or organisation assesses the risk.

At the Partnership Approvals Group stage the Regional KTP Adviser prepares a confidential report supporting the application and defends the application in this meeting.

How is the project monitored?
All KTPs follow an agreed structured Work Plan with milestones and key decision points, which forms part of the Grant Application Form. A Local Management Committee meeting (these meetings take place in your company) comprising of the Company Supervisor, Academic Supervisor, KTP Regional Adviser, The Associate and the KTP Project Coordinator reviews and monitors progress quarterly.

Intellectual Property Rights?
The College actively encourages companies to have in place an Intellectual Property Agreement signed and in place prior to the commencement of the programme. If your company does not have one in place, we recommend using one of the Lambert Agreements [www.ipo.gov.uk/lambert] to ensure that the company owns the intellectual property of the project.

What are the typical project areas?
  • Strategic business development
  • Business process improvement
  • Manufacturing
  • Engineering
  • Product design
  • Innovation
  • Research & Development

The good news KTPs can be from any sector

What are the academics benefits of KTP?
KTPs are an opportunity for academics to work collaboratively with your business in helping you realise your strategic challenge, whilst offering a rewarding and ongoing collaboration with your company long after the KTP has been completed. It gives academics the opportunity to use this experience to develop relevant teaching and research materials, which may lead to articles being published in academic journals, speaking at conferences etc. KTPs now count towards publishing in the Research Excellence Framework.

The nominated academic supervises the KTP Associate, mentors their personal development, acts as a consultant to your company and spends on average ½ day per week at your company to advise on the KTP.

What are the graduate benefits of KTP?
The KTP programme offers a bright and talented graduate the opportunity and intellectual challenge to work with your company and supervised by an academic expert, to help your company achieve its strategic challenge and to realise the goals. KTPs are an excellent career opportunity and gives real experience to enhance ones CV, an Associate is eligible to apply for a higher degree from the College whist undertaking the project.

Nationally 75% of graduates are offered permanent positions in companies, often in senior positions on completion of the KTP project.

What is the selection process?
Each KTP requires a recent talented graduate to be individually recruited to undertake the KTP in your company. All of the recruitment administration is undertaken by the College and the College is responsible for drawing up and advertising KTP vacancies. Candidates are jointly assessed and a short list of candidates are invited for interview. You have the final say in which candidate is offered the position.

Who employs the graduate?
The KTP Associate is employed by the College on a fix-term contract, but is typically based in your company but can be based on campus and works full-time in accordance with your company’s hours and holiday periods. The College is responsible for all of the administration of the Associate employment throughout the KTP.

Want to know more information...

Don’t delay call today, and take the first step towards growing your business, by finding out which KTP is best for your business.

Tel: 01245 424275
Email: bdu@writtle.ac.uk

Online enquiry form:
Please also visit the Governments Knowledge Transfer Partnership www.ktponline.org.uk website to see up-to-date information and more....

Useful Links - Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

Please refer to the following related links of programmes specifically designed for academia to work collaboratively with small, medium and large businesses, including work based placement schemes.

Our Business Development Unit is on hand to assist, but for the latest information please refer to the individual organisations website listed below:

 
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