Skills for the 95%
We’re re-inventing how professional skills development is delivered for PhDs as part of CDTs. In this blog, I’ll explain a bit of the “why” and... Read More
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What We Do
Our mission is to do our part to advance scientific discovery and the commercialisation of research. We do this by creating and delivering training and development programmes that equip scientists and researchers with essential soft skills, empowering them to reach the highest levels of success, achievement and professional fulfillment.
Who We Work With
We develop and deliver programmes for universities, research centres, innovation centres, business accelerators and EPSRC Project Leads. Programme participants often include PhD students, post doctoral researchers, master students, early career researchers, graduate interns, entrepreneurs and researchers and scientists working in industry.
Our Approach
We design & deliver soft skills training and development programmes for scientists and researchers. We identify best in class tools and methods and tailor them to meet the unique needs of scientists and researchers. We then incorporate sector-specific elements, resulting in programmes perfectly suited for the scientific community.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES
Bespoke Learning & Development Programmes for Scientists, Researchers and Tech Startups
Centres for Doctoral Training and Research Centres
Skillfluence works with CDT programme leads to build researcher development programmes that enhance the student experience by giving them leadership and transferable skills that align with Vitae’s Researcher Development Framework. We design and deliver programmes which include training and peer to peer learning, customised specifically for the CDT and area of research. Learn more about our work with CDTs.
Creativity@Home and Workshop Facilitation
Creativity@home is an EPSRC funded initiative designed to help scientists and researchers infuse more creativity into their research. It’s a bespoke multi-day facilitated process that leverages the academic group as the key resource. Facilitators work with the group throughout the initiative, focusing on the process, so the group can think freely about the challenge. The specific objectives are determined by the group. Read more…
Enterprise Development & Business Accleration
Skillfluence develops and runs programmes designed specifically to help university spinouts and early stage technology startups learn and apply skills, tools and methods to accelerate commercialisation and business growth. Past programmes have included everything from one day workshops to week-long industry innovation camps for as many 30 companies. Learn more about our Enterprise Development programmes.
PROJECT PORTFOLIO
Skillfluence has delivered a wide range of programmes for leading universities, research centres, industry associations and economic development agencies. Below is a sample of some of our recent projects.
The 4-Day MBA
Skillfluence has been working in partnership with SynbiCITE since 2015 to help run the “4-Day MBA” programme. The aim of... Read More
Presenting your Science
This workshop for PhD students delivered through SULSA offered participants the opportunity to learn how to speak clearly and confidently about... Read More
PhD Cohort Programme
Skillfluence delivers a programme of eight workshops that are offered to each cohort of students over the course of their... Read More
On-line Academy – AGRIFORVALOR
AGRIFORVALOR is an ongoing project funded through the Horizion 2020 Research & Innovation Programme with the stated purpose “to... Read More
Making it Concrete – Investing Women Angels
Investing Women Angels is a network of angel investors who are passionate about entrepreneurs. They support entrepreneurship with investment,... Read More
Graduate Leadership Programme
Working with the Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre, Skillfluence designed an 18 month Graduate Leadership Programme. The programme consists of a... Read More
Creativity@home – Edinburgh Centre for Robotics
Working closely with Edinburgh Centre for Robotics we designed and ran a 2 day EPSRC creativity@home workshop for their PhD... Read More
Business Bootcamp – Train the Trainer
Working with Edinburgh Research & Innovation as part of Projecte EMISHA, funded by ERASMUS+, Skillfluence designed and delivered a comprehensive... Read More
BioRenewables Innovation BioCamp
We designed and deliver two, 1-week programmes for the BioRenewables Development Centre in York. This is a European project from... Read More
PROGRAMME MODULES & COMPETENCIES
We have a unique capability to combine multiple competencies to build a single cohesive programme - whether it's a 1-day workshop or a 12-month "curriculum". This approach amplifies the cohort effect and simplifies administration by working with a single supplier.
Entrepreneurship & Commercialisation
Participants explore and gain a deeper understanding of 4 common pathways to commercialising technology, as well as a guide for navigating the startup ecosystem.
Responsible Research & Innovation
Researchers learn to anticipate and assess potential impacts and societal expectations of their work. They learn the importance of an inclusive and sustainable approach to research.
Collaboration & Multi-Disciplinary Working
Researchers learn how to apply tools and techniques that support and promote effective collaboration, including group decision making and consensus building.
Innovation Tools
Participants learn the key stages of the innovation process and specific tools and methods that when applied, can significantly increase innovation success rates.
Presentation Skills
Learn how to create and deliver impactful presentations. This includes presentation design, dealing with difficult questions and how to present complex data.
Career Planning
Define your long term career aspirations and map out a plan for achieving your goals. Then learn practical ways to strengthen your CV and improve your interview skills.
Social Media Skills
Researchers learn how to navigate the world of social media, discovering how to use social media as a career development tool and as a powerful research tool.
Leadership Skills
Practical approach to leadership that teaches researchers how to build cohesive teams, get the best out of people, lead under pressure and how to pro-actively develop personal leadership skills.
Networking Skills
Our interactive approach to teaching networking skills helps to eliminate fear, while learning practical and effective techniques to help participants develop this critically important skill.
Science Communication
Learn how to effectively communicate your research to a range of different audiences, as well as exploring specific strategies for increasing public engagement.
Project Management
Learn proven and effective project management techniques and methodologies specifically tailored to the lab environment as well as planning and managing PhD theses.
Working with Industry
Researchers learn to understand key industry drivers and how to speak the “language of business”. Participants learn how to explain their research in a way that is relevant and compelling to industry.
Working in Teams
Learn and practice the skills required to work well as part of a team, including how to inspire teammates, knowing when to compromise and negotiation and influencing skills.
Equality & Diversity
Participants learn about their responsibilities to promote and support equality and diversity in the workplace as well as how to effectively handle challenging situations.
Resiliency
Providing PhD students with practical strategies, tactics and tools to strengthen mental and emotional resilience enabling them to effectively cope with the stresses of academic life.
The Team
A Diverse & Talented Team of Trainers, Coaches, Content Developers and Entrepreneurs
Heather Livingston
Heather is an experienced trainer, facilitator and coach. She specialises in helping individuals and groups work positively towards effective career transition, change and development. Heather is a fully qualified Careers Adviser and member of the CDI (Career Development Institute) with 20 years career management experience across all sectors. She is skilled in developing and delivering workshops to help people successfully develop and progress in their careers with confidence and purpose.
Kev Walls
Kevin is an action oriented consultant and trainer who loves working to accelerate growth in early stage start-ups. In his previous role at Entrepreneurial Spark in just 2 years he supported over 100 entrepreneurs in accelerating their businesses. Collectively they have generated over £7m in sales, raised £1,5m in funding and created 26 new jobs. He works closely with entrepreneurs delivering workshops in areas including business model canvas, knowing your customers and pitching.
Zach Sorrells
Zach has been working in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship for over 15 years. He’s an experienced trainer, facilitator, coach and entrepreneur and believes in a disciplined, structured and systems-based approach to innovation and business growth. He has applied, or taught, this approach in a variety of roles with individuals, companies and organizations ranging from multi-nationals, SMEs, economic development agencies, universities, SMEs, angel investors, startups and high school students.
Heather Asiala
Heather has worked with well over 100 students and academics from across Scotland encouraging them to pursue enterprise as a viable career option. She has developed and delivered multiple entrepreneurial training programmes designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs realise their potential. Heather previously led the Enterprise Campus project for the West of Scotland and has more than 7 years experience working in higher institutions in the US and UK.
Alison Gray
Alison is the founder & Director of Skillfluence. She has a worked for over 15 years in the skills arena for Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Enterprise and Careers Scotland. Alison studied cutting edge Training Design at UC Berkeley, Collaborative Leadership at the American Management Association and Lean Startup methodology at Stanford University. She is passionate about science & technology and specialises in tailoring innovative training programmes for science professionals.
Paul Macalindin
Paul has worked across Europe for 15 years as a trainer in intercultural communication, strategy, leadership, negotiation, creativity and innovation. His clients include DHL, Deutsche Telecom, Allianz, Generali and Deutsche Bank. As the leader of numerous international classical music projects, Paul practices what he preaches. He is recipient of the first Global Blue Ocean Shift Award for innovative business strategy presented by the Prime Minister of Malaysia at the 2017 Global Entrepreneurship Summit.
Our Blog
If you want someone to go that extra mile to provide professional training material to suit your requirement I would have no hesitation in recommending them.
, Enterprise Development Manager: Launch.Ed, Edinburgh Research & Innovation at University of Edinburgh
We employed Skillfluence to develop a series of training programs tailored towards science graduates. The facilitators were highly professional, easy to work with and they listened and responded to our specific training needs with excellent suggestions and a bespoke program. The workshops delivered our training goals and got excellent participant feedback. We are very happy with Skillfluence and will be using them again in the future.
, Biotechnology Masters
Alison presented the communication skills and career workshop at the European Congress of Biotechnology as initiated by the Young European Biotech Network. It was a pleasure to collaborate with Alison. Her presentation was well designed and contained many important advises for young scientists. She did a fantastic job in encouraging the attendants to get out of their seats and practice their communication skills during the presentation.
, Chairman of the Young European Biotechnology Network
“This is my first time to learn about job interviews and Ph.D experience, especially UK job description which is new for me. Therefore, I learned significant details and technique from this workshop and found out it’s very useful for my future.”
, University of Glasgow Biotechnology Masters Student