David Marshall

Role

Based within the Research and Innovation Directorate, as a Knowledge Transfer Project Manager I am responsible for supporting KTP throughout all phases of the project life cycle including; initial contact with prospective clients, bid writing to secure funding, candidate selection and the Chairing of interviews, performance management, pastoral care, project management support to ensure that benefits to all parties are maximized and project closure and final report writing. 

I manage a porfolio of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) Projects across a range of business sectors and sizes of organization.   In addition, the Knowledge Transfer and Business Development Team has the remit for a range of activities as outlined below which includes current contestable funding projects:

Providing a centralised function for managing KTP – which is a top level University of Plymouth Key Performance Indicator. This function takes a pro-active lead on sales, marketing, proposal development, graduate recruitment, project management and administration. Plymouth has national profile as a UK leader for KTP.

Delivery of the Plymouth Graduate Internships Programme. This function takes a pro-active lead on sales, marketing, graduate recruitment and administration.

Management of the University’s Enterprise Solutions Service (the main entry point for ‘businesses’)

Building brand value and marketing for the University’s Enterprise Solutions

Marketing and communications for PRIMaRE (Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy)
 
A business development function with the intention to win new business and maximise opportunities with existing business customers including managing and representing at business engaging events, company visits to undertake needs analysis, pro-actively working with business support and partner organisations (network relationship management), networking and closer liaison with the research centres through the Business Development Action Group.

Qualifications & background

* BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering (2:1), University of Plymouth

Upon leaving school I joined the Royal Marines and was based in and around Plymouth for over 10 years.  Deciding upon a career change I undertook a Science Access course at the Plymouth College of Further Education, which allowed me to gain entry to the Foundation Engineering degree here at the University of Plymouth.  Upon successful completion of this course I undertook a sandwich degree in Mechanical Engineering as a mature student, graduating in 1995. 

Following graduation I became one of the first TCS Associates (TCS was the forerunner to KTP) with Spinnaker International Limited based in Saltash. Following the TCS I then remained with Spinnaker as an R and D design engineer involved in many exciting and challenging projects and implemented their 3D CAD system. 

Having an interest in Knowledge Transfer I joined the Department for Business Development (now Research and Innovation) in 2000, and worked on TCS (which has since been re-branded by the Government as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships as a Project Manager.  As such I have considerable experience gained through my involvement with both the University and with TCS/KTP over a number of years.