Consultancy
Changes to the
University Consultancy Service
This is to let you know about changes
to the University Consultancy Service that will be happening over
the coming weeks.
As you are aware, the University
supports and promotes academic consultancy with external
organisations, in order to demonstrate the impact of research, to
enable us to develop relationships with external organisations, and
to provide an additional revenue stream.
The REO aims to make it easier for
academics and organisations to work together on consultancy projects
and to that end, we are introducing a number of changes to improve
and simplify it further.
These changes, which have been agreed by University Steering Group,
aim to promote engagement in consultancy by basing the consultancy
service on an equitable and easily understood revenue-sharing model,
whilst also ensuring that the full cost of doing consultancy is
covered.
Since it was launched, the University
Consultancy Service has been based on a costing model that involved
the recovery of Full Economic Costs. This has resulted in the
academic consultant and Department realising a lower share of the
client fee, and made it challenging for Departments to support
consultancy activities and ‘buy out’ of academic time.
About the new model
The new model, which is introduced with immediate effect, will base
the costing of consultancy day rates on the salary cost of the
academic consultant, a mark up to achieve an acceptable market rate,
and the addition of a 10 per cent management fee.
Revenue will be shared between the academic consultant and
the Department. The Department will receive the academic
consultant’s salary cost. The University’s share will be a 10 per
cent management fee from each project. Salary costs are to be capped
at £250 to ensure that those on higher grades retain an equitable
share of the day rate.
The consultancy policy is now being
revised and updated accordingly.
These changes aim to improve and
simplify the University Consultancy Service. The rest of the service
remains the same and so you can still use consultancy to demonstrate
the impact of your research, enhance your professional reputation
and bring in additional income for yourself via payroll or your
research incentive scheme account.
You will also still be able to receive
full protection from the University’s insurance cover, and
assistance with contract negotiations, invoicing, payments and tax.
And you will continue to be supported by the Research and Enterprise
Office, through your designated Research and Enterprise Manager and
the enterprise team.
How the REO can help
The Research and Enterprise Office can help negotiate the consultancy fee, make contractual arrangements and ensure that any Intellectual Property arising from the work is properly protected. By taking on consultancy work through university channels, staff are also provided with the appropriate professional indemnity insurance.
For further information and to discuss
consultancy opportunities, please contact:
§
Clare Avery (Social Sciences)
§
Kirstie Cochrane (Science and Engineering)
§
Emma Hewett (Humanities and Comparative Studies)
§
Ville Karhusaari (Law and Management)
§ Jenny Young (Knowledge Exchange Manager)
Consultancy approval forms need to be completed and returned to
Jenny Young.
University Consultancy
Approval Form
Private Consultancy
Approval Form
Professional Services Consultancy
Approval Form
Benefits of consultancy
Consultancy benefits both individual members of staff and the university in a number of ways:
- It brings financial and career benefits to individual staff.
Consultancy helps to augment the salaries of individual staff, stimulate personal development and broaden careers, and acts as a useful incentive to recruit and retain staff.
- It can benefit students.
Consultancy can provide placement and graduate career opportunities for students.
- It extends the research and knowledge base of the university.
Consultancy often leads to other forms of partnership, including research projects, and increases both the commercial awareness of researchers and the users’ awareness of the university’s expertise.
- It can benefit teaching.
Consultancy can result in current, relevant case study material that enhances teaching.
- It brings benefits to the university.
Consultancy provides useful contacts and marketing opportunities, and enhances the reputation of individual staff, departments and the university
