Business development training for academics

Research Consulting were commissioned in 2019 to design and deliver a programme of business development training focused on the needs of teaching and professional practice academic staff. The programme focused on consultancy and educational contracts as the primary focus for business development support and activity.

Between 2019 and 2021 Research Consulting delivered to 6 cohorts of staff and approximately 100 individuals. Initially the delivery was via a 2-day residential model, but the COVID-19 pandemic required delivery to switch to an online webinar format for subsequent sessions. A mixed model of delivery was utilised, with tools and techniques such as presentations, videos, breakouts and interactive polls using Mentimeter.

The sessions covered key concepts such as networking for business development, educational contracts, consultancy, formal tenders and proposals, converting opportunities to a ‘deal’ and marketing.

In 2022, we were delighted to be asked to return and deliver workshops to two additional cohorts of staff from the Teaching, Scholarship and Professional staff group, which primarily focused on capitalizing on activity in consultancy and education contracts.

The needs of our organisation were clearly understood and that was reflected in the quality and content of the course, providing our staff with an excellent training course.David Williams, Partnerships Support Officer, Research and Enterprise, University of Lincoln (2022)