Business engagement and knowledge exchange (BEKE)
The SEED Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange (BEKE) team supports academic staff to develop and sustain meaningful partnerships with external organisations, including businesses, local authorities, NGOs and public bodies, translating SEED research into real-world impact.
BEKE sits at the intersection of SEED's four strategic research themes and the University's wider commitment to social responsibility, collaborative income and REF impact. Whether you are exploring your first external collaboration or looking to scale and existing partnership, the BEKE team is here to help.
New to external engagement?
Start with a conversation. Contact the BEKE team to discuss your ideas - no formal proposal required.
Email: yishuang.xu@manchester.ac.uk
What BEKE can help you with
- Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) - connecting your research expertise with a business through a funded graduate project;
- Consultancy - translating your expertise into paid advisory work with external clients, supported by the University's consultancy framework;
- Collaborative research funding - identifying and developing bids for Innovate UK, UKRI, local authority and industry-funded projects;
- CPD and training - designing and delivering professional development programmes for external organisations;
- Impact development - building the evidence and narratives needed for REF impact case studies;
- Showcasing your work - featuring your research and partnerships on the SEED digital showcase hub.
We run a series of three Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange workshops for academic staff in SEED:
|
Workshop |
Theme |
Date of next workshop & link to join |
Recording |
|
Workshop 1 |
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships — an introduction |
TBC |
Coming soon |
|
Workshop 2 |
Consultancy opportunities for academic staff |
Coming soon |
|
|
Workshop 3 |
Faculty BEKE overview: funding and partnership routes |
Coming soon |
Key external funding mechanisms for SEED researchers
- Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) - Innovate UK-funded, typically 1–3 years;
- Innovate UK collaborative R&D - business-led projects with academic partners;
- UKRI Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAA) - short-term proof-of-concept and engagement grants;
- Local authority and GMCA commissions - policy research and evaluation contracts;
- CPD and training income - fee-based professional development with external organisations.
Contact us
For any queries about business engagement or knowledge exchange activity in SEED, please contact the team below.
SEED Associate Director, Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange
Faculty of Humanities Business Engagement team
- Rachel Kenyon - Business Engagement Manager, Faculty of Humanities
- Karen Gamble-Flowers - Business Engagement Officer, Faculty of Humanities
- Scot Furness - Business Engagement Officer, Faculty of Humanities
- Knowledge Exchange Partnerships Team