The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme has been running for over 40 years and is one of UK's leading programmes helping businesses access expertise and resources available within universities. The UK-wide programme is part funded by several organisations including Government, research councils and charities.

A KTP is a partnership between a company, university and a graduate (Associate) who work together to deliver a strategic project for the business which the company would be unable to do without the knowledge and expertise provided by the University.

More information can be found out about Knowledge Transfer Partnerships on the funders website here: https://www.ktp-uk.org/

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships enable companies to access resources and expertise they need to innovate, grow and improve their performance. KTP is a cost effective way to help your organisation:

• ​Access technological, scientific or management expertise to enable your business to undertake a strategic project
• Access highly qualified people to lead new projects
• Develop innovative solutions to help your business grow
• Access specialist equipment and facilities

The government sponsor will meet 67% of the costs of a KTP with an SME, with the organisation contributing the remaining 33%; for a large company the grant rate is 50%. The total cost (approximately £24,000) of a KTP to the organisation amounts to less than recruiting a graduate directly, plus the company benefits from the input of professional and technical expertise of the university, and the use of university facilities.

In Wales, the Welsh Government has announced that they will contribute to 75% towards the total costs of KTP projects for Welsh SMEs that meet the eligibility criteria and are approved for participation in the KTP programme.  This would mean that eligible businesses in Wales would now only have to contribute 25% rather than the usually expected 33%.  This equates a reduction in company contribution from c. £24k p.a. to c. £18k p.a.

Private sector, third sector and some public sector organisations are eligible for KTP. The company:

• ​Must have at least four employees
• Must have been running for at least two years
• KTP proposals from large companies (over 250 employees) should seek to facilitate the involvement of SMEs within their supply chain
• Public sector organisations are required to demonstrate effective dissemination of the project outcomes to other organisations similar to themselves elsewhere in the UK

The company will need to supply the last two year's audited accounts and latest period management accounts to facilitate assessment of liquidity and profitability to confirm that the company can 'afford' the cost of the KTP.

A KTP lasts for anything between 12 and 36 months, depending on the extent of knowledge transfer required. ​

Cardiff Metropolitan University has academic expertise spanning a broad range of subject areas residing in our schools and research units:

• Cardiff School of Art and Design
• Cardiff School of Management
• Cardiff School of Education and Social Policy
• Cardiff School of Sport & Health Sciences
  
• Cardiff School of Technologies
  
• PDR – International Centre for Design & Research
  
• Food Industry Centre
• Fablab

The University has the professional and technical expertise to help companies develop their business potential, including:

• Refining existing products, or designing new products
• Opening new markets, for new or existing products
• Improving business, marketing or manufacturing systems
• Cutting costs and waste to run the business more efficiently

Once we have defined your needs we identify two or more academics who transfer their technical expertise, research and innovation to the company via the Associate, spending on average half a day per week supporting the programme.

Cardiff Metropolitan University have a five step KTP process which can be viewed by following the link below:

Five Step KTP Process

Management KTPs ( mKTPs) create a dynamic 3-way partnership between a company, a team of academic experts and a skilled graduate. The focus of a mKTP is specifically on driving effectiveness through better management practices.

mKTPs aim to deliver transformational productivity improvement, identifying key, strategic management-based projects to increase business effectiveness.

• Growth-oriented SMEs, eager to build and execute their ambitious management strategy by introducing better management practices.

• Businesses seeking significant productivity gains, recognising that good management and leadership can help deliver this.

• Organisations looking to up-skill their people and make step-change improvements in productivity by deploying industry-leading practices and innovation processes.

mKTPs take a wide view, incorporating a range of leadership and management skills and requirements to build a strategy that drives change and improves business performance. 

Spanning all key business functions - from marketing to IT, creativity to strategic management; HR to employment relations; finance to logistics -  mKTPs seek to support strategic management projects across core activities including:

• Monitoring and target setting

• Communication and motivation

• Organisation, resource planning and strategic thinking

• Problem-solving and decision-making

• Commercial awareness and risk management

• Coaching and mentoring

• Options evaluations and horizon scanning
  

The cost of a mKTP is shared by you and Innovate UK who contributes 50-67% of the project cost via a grant to the Management School. The company make a cash contribution for the remaining project cost with a small-to-medium business contributing 33% and a large business 50% per annum.

Management KTP projects can last between 12 months and 3 years.

As a business-orientated university, we focus on industry needs addressing strategic or operational problems. We provide expertise in a range of areas, including leadership and management development, international competitiveness, entrepreneurship, innovation, small business management and regional economic development and our expert staff have a proven track record of working with businesses in a consultative capacity.

For more information about our Cardiff School of Management click here: www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/management/Pages/default.aspx

The KTP Associate will manage the project, jointly supervised by the business and University supervisors.

These include:

• Fast track career development
• A competitive salary
• Employment within chosen academic discipline
• Working with both academia and industry
• Training and development opportunities
• Register for a higher degree during the projects
• Access to a wide range of Cardiff Mets facilities

KTP Associate vacancies are advertised throughout the year on they can also be accessed by viewing the Innovate UK Graduate Vacancies page​.