Emma Hewitt

Role
Based within the Research and Innovation Directorate, as Head of Knowledge Transfer and Business Development I am responsible for the strategic direction and management of knowledge transfer and business development external engagement activities, policies and processes.

In summary, the Knowledge Transfer and Business Development Team has the remit for a range of activities as outlined below which includes current contestable funding projects:

1     Providing a centralised function for managing Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (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 and is the elected Chair for the KTP National Forum Committee feeding directly into the strategic level working with the Technology Strategy Board  

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

3     Delivery of the Economic Challenge Investment Fund outputs – inc. award of Enterprise Vouchers, occupancy of Formation2.0, management of the LINK facility and partnership working

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

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

6     Marketing and communications for PRIMaRE (Peninsula Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy

7     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

I manage the Knowledge Transfer and Business Development Team within Research and Innovation consisting of 13 staff members – project managers, project officers and administrators plus responsibility for all KTP Associates.

Responsibility includes acting as the first-line institutional link with KTP Sponsors (in particular the Technology Strategy Board), prospective partners (i.e. businesses/ organisations and academics), business intermediaries and other University KTP Offices. I also pro-actively represent the national KTP Office community as Chair of the KTP National Forum which involves attendance at KTP Management Board meetings.

Qualifications & background

* BA (Hons) Business (2:1), University of Plymouth

* Certificate in Management Studies (Distinction), University of Plymouth

After graduating, I joined the Department for Business Development (now part of Research and Innovation) in 1999, and worked on TCS (which has since been re-branded by the Government as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships). I was promoted to KTP Manager in 2002. During 2006 my role expanded to include managing other Knowledge Transfer activities which has continued to evolve and now includes various business development drivers.

As part of Research and Innovation’s senior management team I also undertake Directorate wide responsibilities including chairing the Management Operations Team, active participation with the Business Development Group and health and safety.  

Professional membership

• Member of the Institute of Knowledge Transfer
• Member of the Association for University Research and Industry Links (AURIL)
• Chair of the KTP National Forum Committee