Academic Enterprise:

Working with Business

Tempus Study Visit, 1 May 2014Laura Woods, Director of Academic Enterprise

Welcome!3 questions to answer:•Why do we work with business?•How do we work with business?•What challenges does it throw up, and what opportunities does it create?

Why work with business?• Keep teaching & research up to date & relevant• Student skills, confidence & networks for success• Professional & personal development for staff• University expertise for business growth• Central role in supporting regional economy• Reputation for excellence & business understanding • Income generation

Universities’ role in economic growth

Our longstanding mission now reflected in the national Government focus for universities:

– Capitalising on research strengths– Mobilising collaborative national clusters – Supporting innovative local Small and Medium Enterprises– Working at the heart of Local Enterprise Partnerships– Central to work of Technology Strategy Board and UK

Trade and Investment (national Govt-backed bodies)

Regional and national impact• Being there” –intrinsic value of physical presence, direct and

indirect job and wealth creation• Skills and qualifications• Research, innovation and ideas• Enterprise and business development• Regeneration and culture impact on society• International recruitment and global collaborations

This type of activity is measured nationally and locally

Measuring impact• Teesside University supports £2,450 jobs per

annum (Economic Impact Study, 2014)

• Overall annual economic impact: £124 million GVA p/a

• Business engagement figures (income, CPD, business creation, etc) collated annually from each University

Teesside’s business mission

To help businesses with potential improve competitiveness through a unique combination of knowledge, innovation, facilities and ideas

via: •A cohesive central team•An integrated business service •A single approach to business

How do we work with business?Department of Academic Enterprise

Central resource, promoting University engagement with business and the community, through:

• Coordination, guidance and support for Schools• Close collaboration with other departments• Being ‘out there’ - liaising with private and public

sector organisationsReporting to DVC (Research & Business Engagement)

Key functions and activities– Business Team (Knowledge Transfer, workforce development,

consultancy, commercialisation, Enterprise Europe Network)

– DigitalCity Team (fellowships, training, internships, business & community development)

– Graduate Enterprise Team (start-up, incubation and entrepreneurship)

– Regional Office (funding support)

– Central Team (CRM, quality, performance, marketing, business intelligence)

What we do• Network with businesses and business organisations• Work with students, graduates and staff • Liaise with stakeholders like local authorities, LEPs, agencies• Develop new initiatives and find funding• Deliver initiatives (DigitalCity, EEN, enterprise and internships)• Inform and implement business policy• Run business processes • Run events, produce and support marketing

How we work with business:The wider University

• Business Engagement Strategy and Committee • Hub and spoke – central support & academic Schools• Assistant Deans (Business) and Business

Development Managers in each academic school• Named staff in central departments• Named responsibility for academic quality of

business partnerships

Features of an integrated approach• Strong relationships with Schools, through Assistant

Deans and Business Development Manager team• A menu of tailored knowledge-based support based on

academic expertise• Client Relationship Management – best in sector• Recognised customer service standards for all TU

business work• Strategic alignment of initiatives for max impact

Staff incentives• Consultancy policy• IP policy• Finders’ fees• Staff buy-out• Staff development• Business Investment Fund for commercial ideas

Wider partnerships

• Other universities• Local government and government agencies• Business intermediaries• Professional organisations• Businesses themselves

Social Enterprise

• Social Entrepreneur in Residence• Awards scheme for staff & students• Workshops & seminars • Networking opportunities

PD Ports: a package approach

• Accredited Foundation Degree• Non-accredited training• UCPD Port Security• Consultancy

Student Entrepreneurship

• Annual programme of events• Teesside Entrepreneurs Society• Enactus• Food Co-op

DigitalCity

• Over 10 years of partnership delivery • 250 digital businesses created• Cornerstone of regional strategy

In the last year…• Queen’s Anniversary Prize, Entrepreneurial University

shortlisting, Outstanding Contribution to Business Incubation

• 250 student & graduate internships• 880 organisations worked with• 2 major growth programmes for SMEs launched• 35 start ups and 21 social enterprise projects• 3,300 employees on accredited programmes

How we work with policy makers• Key economic agencies, strong reliance on HE and FE • Active contributions to government policy, Strategic

Economic Plans & European Strategies, through:– Higher skills – Research & innovation strengths underpinning LEP

priorities– High-growth business and enterprise support– Capital investments

Darlington: A business campus

Challenges and opportunities

• Competition vs collaboration• Balancing supply and demand • - capacity and capability• Getting the message out

Opportunities

Working in partnership is a Good Thing!Exchanging knowledge and best practice – nationally and internationallyPotential for replicating some of our models elsewhereWe are more than open to discussion…

Thank you

• l.woods@tees.ac.uk• www.business@tees.ac.uk