Applied Knowledge Exchange

AGRICO UK is working with Glasgow Caledonian University on a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is Europe’s leading programme, helping business to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base. 

With the help of Glasgow Caledonian University’s food science experts in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Agrico aims to introduce laboratory techniques to support the development of novel potato genotypes with specific nutritional properties.

The Applied Knowledge Exchange can help your business with a Knowledge Transfer Partnership – give us a call to find out more on 0141 331 3189 or visit www.gcu.ac.uk/business

Campbell Dallas has won the Scottish Accountancy Awards’ Fastest Growing Firm, sponsored by Glasgow Caledonian University.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Mike Smith presents an award

Johnston Carmichael was recognised for its push into the central belt when it picked up best medium firm ahead of Anderson Anderson & Brown and Campbell Dallas. Campbell Dallas received a special commendation in that category.

Glasgow Caledonian University’s Caledonian Business School has sponsored the award for the past two years. The school has significant expertise available in accountancy, risk management, and work-based leadership and management programmes.

The firm saw fee income rise by an impressive 16.4% during 2009, despite a freeze on rates, and received a special commendation in the Best Medium Firm award, which was won by Johnston Carmichael.

Lord Smith of Kelvin, chairman of Weir Group, was given the outstanding achievement award at the event. Currently he is chairman of Weir Group and Scottish & Southern Energy and a non-executive director of Standard Bank Group Ltd. In addition, he is chairman of Glasgow 2014, a member of the Council of Economic Advisors to the First Minister of Scotland, chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland and patron of the Scottish Community Foundation.

KPMG was named ahead of rivals Deloitte and Ernst & Young in the big firm category, while its pensions advisory group was picked out as the team to watch.

The judging panel was chief executive of British Polythene Industries John Langlands,Weir Group’s Professor Ian Percy, area director for West of Scotland commercial banking at Bank of Scotland Craig McNaughton, chief financial officer at Hudson Aileen Brown and president of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in Scotland Peter Fee.

The Scottish Funding Council made an award of funding to Glasgow Caledonian University to directly support collaboration between Scottish small and medium sized enterprises and higher education institutions.

The Innovation Voucher Scheme is supported by the new SFC funding stream Strategic Priority Investments in Research and Innovation Translation (SPIRIT) and offers each higher education institution funding to meet up to 50% of the costs of one or more new collaborations with Scottish SMEs.

Glasgow Caledonian University is working on projects with Oak Tree Inn, Q&Q Foods, William Latto & Son and Cordale Housing through Caledonian Business School and the School of the Built and Natural Environment.

To find out more about Innovation Vouchers or business development funding, call 0141 331 3189.

Glasgow Caledonian University has a newly approved Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with diving and marine contractors Shearwater Marine Services Ltd.

The partnership will develop a remote web access technical information database to improve diving inspection processes, business intelligence and provide efficient and added value customer reporting facilities.

The partnership received a grant of £85,700 and is being overseen by Professor Brian Stewart of the School of Engineering and Computing. For more information on KTPs and how they can support your business requirements, contact the Applied Knowledge Exhange on 0141 331 3189.

Daniel Sutherland, designer of a quick-heating baby bottle called the Milkistar, has been hitting the headlines this week.

Daniel has been assisted with the design by the Applied Knowledge Exchange’s Business Transformation Fund, which helps fund innovative product research. 

Check out the Press & Journal article:

Glasgow Caledonian University will be attending the KTP Scotland Awards Ceremony on 2nd February at the Doubletree Dunblane Hydro in Perthshire.

Glasgow Caledonian Uni has had several successful KTP partnerships with businesses including Novograf.

Current KTPs include those with Fearsom UK and If Only Holidays Limited.

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is Europe’s leading programme helping business to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base.

At the Applied Knowledge Exchange, we welcome enquiries about funding and eligibility for Knowledge Transformation Partnerships from business and third sector organisations.

The main speaker at this year’s event will be Lord Smith of Kelvin, Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland.

Professor J John Lennon, Director of the Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism Business Development at Glasgow Caledonian University, delivered modular teaching input in Malawi Institute of Tourism (MIT) in Blantyre as part of an MSc International Tourism Enterprise being delivered by the University.

This will see eight members of MIT faculty upgrade their qualifications and allow for new teaching material and knowledge to filter into the institution. 

This is part of a long term commitment to upgrade and develop MIT that is being undertaken by the Moffat Centre with the financial support of the Scottish Government. Grant assistance for two projects was awarded to the Moffat Centre which has incorporated the construction and development of information communications technology teaching facilities, library building and related learning resources, the development of food service and food production facilities and the development of short course training programmes for the Malawian tourism industry.

The Applied Knowledge Exchange can also facilitate short course training or bespoke educational packages for your business.

With Climate Change and carbon management the hot topics of the day, the Caledonian Environment Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University has developed a bespoke carbon footprint tool to support companies in understanding their carbon impact.

The Centre, part of the School of the Built and Natural Environment, won funding from the Scottish Government and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to work on carbon management within Scotland’s food and drink sector.

The Centre is assisting food and drink related SMEs to improve their business competitiveness and environmental performance by managing their carbon emissions. The Caledonian Environment Centre has established an environmental capability assessment tool which provides bespoke carbon reduction plans for companies. 

The programme has so far engaged about 1,000 companies and surveyed over 340 for climate change and carbon management. 

The Centre is alo working on “Going Carbon Neutral Stirling” to develop a software application that formulates carbon reduction plans for communities.

Caledonian Evironment Centre is also working with the Scottish Prison Service, which is undertaking the Carbon Trust’s Carbon Management Programme, to establish a reduction strategy of between 15 and 25% of their current baseline.  The programme plan seeks to make cost savings for the service, supporting both the environmental impact of carbon, waste and transport by the organization and promoting well-being in inmates.

The wait is over for nominees of the Moffat Awards for Travel and Tourism. Winners were announced at an awards ceremony held on Thursday, 28 May 2009 in The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh.

Hannah Norman, owner of Room With a View Restaurant in Fife, won the Moffat Award for Outstanding Economic and Community Impact along with a £1500 cash prize.

Moffat Awards ceremony

Christine Macintosh, owner of Heb Hostel, a 4-star backpackers hostel located on the Isle of Lewis in The Hebrides won the Personal Growth and Development Award. The award for Excellent Customer Care went to Hattie Fry of Frontline Falconry at Auchen Castle Hotel, Dumfries. While offering flying demonsration and hawk walks, Hattie’s ambition is to extend their breeding programme to provide support for endangered species from around the world.

The awards, In association with The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust, recognise outstanding young business talents that demonstrate best practice and excellent customer service. Winners also demonstrate a positive economic and community impact on the in the Scottish tourism sector.