Business Connect Newsletter Issue 003
Connect with Canterbury Christ Church University
Supporting organisations to reach their potential and drive innovation across a wide range of disciplines and sectors.
Brought to you by the Department of Enterprise and Engagement at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU).
As spring approaches, the third issue of our Connect B2B newsletter has been inspired by the rejuvenating energy that comes with this season of renewal. With this in mind, we will be celebrating some of our experts, shining a spotlight on part-funded initiatives to help propel business growth, and detailing how you can get involved with the University through a variety of ways, including our future events.
International Women’s Day- Inspiring Women of CCCU
In light of International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, this issue’s ‘Meet the Expert’ celebrates a handful of CCCU’s inspiring women with a bitesize snippet of their expertise.
Dr Agnieszka Gordon, PhD, MSc, MBA, FCMI, MRSC, SFHEA is the Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the CCCU Business School. She is a bilingual (Polish and English), multicultural and interdisciplinary researcher, entrepreneur and educator with over 25 years of combined experience in academia, business and third sector!
Dr Gordan’s expertise includes entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education, creativity and innovation, Interdisciplinary teaching, learning and research, digital technologies, multiculturalism and multilingual education and theoretical chemistry and computational modelling.
Dr Katie Dray is a Senior Lecturer and the Course Director for BSc Sport Coaching Science degree. Dr Dray has worked on a range of research projects that encompass a broad spectrum of psychological features of involvement in sport.
She has research expertise in coach learning and development, emotions in sport coaching, athlete cognition and emotion and supporting women in coaching.
Sonia Price is a Senior Lecturer in Adult Nursing and Arts and Health, as well as a Senior Research Fellow in the Sidney De Haan Research Centre.
Sonia is currently developing a pilot project in collaboration with the East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust Research and Innovation Team to support university music students to perform live music in the critical care unit.
Her research expertise is largely focused on exploring the value of the arts (singing, music, drama etc.) for people living with long term health conditions and implementing community-based arts interventions within social prescribing.
Miranda Hutton , Course Director? for BA (Hons) Photography at CCCU has received global attention for her photographic practice with exhibitions and features in publications sch as Vice , Stella magazine, and Esquire Magazine!
Miranda's work and research expertise combines her interests in anthropology and photography which result in projects that develop over a long period of time and often explore challenging themes.
Dr Emo Idornigie-Pearce FHEA is a Lecturer and Deputy Course Director from the School of Law, Policing and Social Sciences at CCCU.
Emo's research interest and expertise focus on International Human Rights Law, with a particular focus on socio-economic rights and the advancement of minority and Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Beyond this, she has a particular interest in the relationship between environmental law and human rights.
Micro-internships: up to 80% funding available!
Revive business capacity, and inject new ideas and perspectives...
Unitemps are co-funding five micro-internships, available to businesses across Kent and Medway, to support research opportunities or recruitment into graduate level roles.
This valuable opportunity demonstrates Unitemps’ commitment to supporting businesses in the region while developing our student and graduate employability.
How can Micro-internships help you and your business?
? Develop your relationship and explore collaborative opportunities with CCCU.
? Overcome recruitment challenges and find a talented student or graduate with Unitemps.
? Progress your research and development.
? ￡1202 match funding towards staff costs.
? Increase your business capacity.
Why work with Unitemps?
“The service Unitemps offered was great, providing a skilled student on a variable-hours contract to meet our project needs. With their support, we have developed an exciting innovation with fantastic possibilities. The whole process was quick and easy too, with very competitive rates.” (Jack Sherrin Managing Director, Aptus)
“We had an excellent CCCU student working on a project for a local company. Their project was looking at an industry-related problem researching solutions for their manufacturing processes. The project was completed in the university Life Sciences Industry Liaison Lab at Discovery Park , Sandwich. The results from the project provided new knowledge and scope to improve the company’s manufacturing processes.” (Cornelia Wilson, Reader / Academic Laboratory Director in the School of Psychology and Life Sciences, CCCU)
To apply, please fill out an application form here: https://forms.office.com/e/Lv9ruNBWk5
For more information on Unitemps , head to: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/business/unitemps
Growing Kent & Medway offers ￡600k for sustainable food innovation
Growing Kent & Medway is offering a share of ￡600,000 to businesses with innovative ideas to sustainably improve operations within the fresh produce, food and drink supply chain.
The Business Sustainability Challenge will award funding of up to ￡50,000 for innovative ideas, processes, or technologies that support sustainable production, products and packaging solutions. The funders are particularly interested in projects that create circular economies in the horticulture and plant-based food and drink supply chain.
Dr Nikki Harrison (Assoc.CIPD) , Director for Growing Kent & Medway , said “The Southeast is fast becoming the leading region for food innovation in the UK. This is a testament to the remarkable achievements and ambitions of our horticultural growers, food and drink businesses. Our previous winners of the Business Sustainability Challenge have demonstrated that innovation not only drives growth but also creates new markets and revenue streams in the region.”
Closing date for applications:?30th April 2024
To read our blog, head to: https://blogs.canterbury.ac.uk/cccuconnect/growing-kent-medway-offers-600k-for-sustainable-food-innovation/
To learn more head to: https://www.growingkentandmedway.com/funding/grant-funding/business-sustainability-challenge/
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships- for forward-thinking businesses and organisations
Part-funded by Innovate UK, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs ) involve a three-way partnership between a University, an external business partner and an associate (a suitably qualified graduate with the capability to lead on a strategic project).
Working together, a KTP is designed to deliver an ambitious and innovative project with the capability to transform or accelerate the business or organisation in some way (over the course of 1-3 years).
Not-for-profit organisations can benefit from 75% funding towards the cost of a project; 67% for SMEs and 50% for large companies.?
This issue’s example of a KTP features Accelerated Knowledge Transfer (AKT) funding- Inspired by the highly successful partnership model of a KTP, Innovate UK- now offer a separate funding stream to deliver a rapid and targeted intervention to accelerate the evaluation or development of an innovation project or concept, which has the potential for significant impact for the business partner.
In January, we were delighted to find out that we had been successful in securing Innovate UK’s AKT funding . The four-month project will work like a ‘mini’ KTP. One of our undergraduate engineering students alongside one of our Advanced Manufacturing Master’s graduates have been recruited to work with Dr Soumya Manna and Dr Hany Hassanin from the School of Engineering, Technology and Design. Together, they will develop specific solutions for the external partner, eXroid Haemorrhoid Electrotherapy Treatment Ltd at Discovery Park before transferring and embedding vital new knowledge into the business- specifically, redesigning an electrode component that is part of an electrotherapy device for haemorrhoid treatment.
3 key benefits:
For more information, head to: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/asset-library/alumni/051-23-KTP-brochure-web.pdf
Apprenticeship funding- our gift to you
As an apprenticeship levy paying employer, CCCU can 'gift' some of its unspent apprenticeship levy to other employers.?This can be used to fund an apprenticeship, to upskill an existing member of staff or to recruit a new apprentice.
Here at CCCU, we are keen to sponsor apprenticeships for local employers who have social, charitable, or community-based objectives and share our vision of creating a more socially and environmentally conscious and sustainable society.?
Who we partner with is important to us, as gifting the levy to local employers could have a significant social impact, not just to the growth of the employer but also to the wider community.?
If you feel your organisation fits the bill, apply here for levy gifting: https://forms.office.com/e/CvgnSvzSc7
Catapult Innovation Vouchers- offering you up to ￡5,000 towards an innovative project (match funded)
Secure up to ￡5,000 innovation funding to access expert advice and resources at the University to help your business innovate, develop and grow.
Our Catapult Innovation Vouchers are aimed at encouraging industry-academia partnerships to drive innovation, whether that be the development of new products, services or processes or accessing expertise to industry-academia accelerate business growth. Available for small to medium-sized businesses (less than 250 employees), the vouchers enable you to harness the University’s tailored advice and support.
The kind of activities that the vouchers can be used to fund include:
A voucher can provide up to 50% of the total value of a project (maximum ￡5000, excl. VAT), with?the business funding the remaining 50%?(minimum). Applications for Catapult Innovation Vouchers will be considered and funded, subject to eligibility and availability of remaining funds.
Events
Bookings now open! Vice-Chancellor’s Business Games!
4th July 2024, 11:30 AM - 4:00 PM
A fantastic opportunity for staff from local businesses and partners to gather and enjoy some friendly competition as they take part in a range of sporting activities, competing for the Business Games trophy.
You can:?
Join us for a day of fun, fundraising, and friendly competition.
Artificial Intelligence for Business and Enterprise Conference
16th May 2024, 9.30am – 4.00pm
Are you wondering how artificial intelligence (AI) can help your business to expand its horizons?
CCCU, in collaboration with Credera , is proud to announce the inaugural Artificial Intelligence for Business and Enterprise Conference . The event will take place in the Verena Holmes Building, our state-of-the-art, ￡65 million building, home to our dynamic science, technology, health, engineering, and medicine courses.
As businesses seek innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and drive growth, AI emerges as a transformative force. With AI adoption doubling since 2017 and poised for exponential growth, understanding its strategic applications is imperative for organisational success.
The conference offers a unique opportunity for business leaders to delve into the realm of AI: gain insights from national and international trends; explore current and future research directions, and envision AI's role in shaping future investments, workforce dynamics and skills.
Don't miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights and propel your business into the AI-driven future.
For more information and registration, visit: https://cccub2b.my.site.com/AIConference/s/about
Fun Fact of the Month
Did you know that the University started out as a teacher training college in 1962 in response to a national shortage of teachers? The first cohort of 75 students studied at St Martin’s Priory, next to St Martin’s church, the oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world.?
St Martin’s Priory is still part of the University’s estate today, offering wood-panelled conference rooms and a walled garden. The picturesque venue includes a beautiful 2.5 acre tiered garden, which is the perfect backdrop for a marquee event, including wedding receptions of up to 150 guests!
As spring inspires new beginnings, we are here to help organisations flourish and embrace change. At CCCU, we are committed to nurturing growth, fostering innovation, and providing tailored business solutions across various fields. Whether you seek research, consultancy, event hosting, or networking opportunities, we can support you in cultivating success during this vibrant season of renewal.
Connect with us at: [email protected]
Visit our website: www.canterbury.ac.uk/business
Follow us on?LinkedIn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/showcase/cccu-connect/
?