With the help of a KTP Adviser and the support of your KTP Office, you will identify an academic or researcher who has the right expertise for your business. With your chosen knowledge base partner, you will then define and agree a project that will enable you to draw on their expertise and apply it to your business. The agreed project could be for any length of time between one and three years, with the overall aim of helping your business make a step change in an area that you have identified as a high priority.

Which businesses can take part?

KTP has worked with over 3,000 organisations.
From manufacturing to design, sustainability to marketing; any business sector, including 'not for profit' and public sector organisations such as the NHS, can take part. Businesses of all sizes can take part too. Ask your KTP Adviser or KTP Office for more advice.

What type of projects can we carry out?

KTP works across a wide range of academic disciplines from over 140 knowledge bases. Expertise from the knowledge bases has already helped businesses to improve their performance.

For example:

• Improving existing products or developing new products
• Developing and implementing a marketing strategy to enter new markets
• Developing new systems and frameworks to improve efficiencies in staff and processes

How does the project develop?

When you, your Adviser, KTP Office and knowledge base partner have worked together to prepare a proposal, the knowledge base partner makes a formal application to the Government for approval.
Once it has been approved, you and the knowledge base partner will recruit an Associate to work on the project. Your KTP Associate will be a recently qualified person (NVQ level four, equivalent or above, such as a graduate or postgraduate. They are employed by the knowledge base partner but work in your business to manage the project, apply their own knowledge and ensure that the expertise of the knowledge base partner is transferred into your business.

Academics from the knowledge base remain closely involved throughout the project, working with people to contribute their own knowledge and experience. They will spend the equivalent of at least half a day each week with you and your KTP Associate.