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We are Skillfluence – an experienced, dynamic training company that provides transferable skills training to researchers and academics, to complement institutional provision. We specialise in upskilling participants to work effectively with others outside of academia such as businesses, industry and the public.
What We Do
We specialise in transferable skills training that equips Researchers to work with others, both inside and outside of academia. We aim to help them maximise the social and economic impact of their research, but also to realise the value their skills and expertise could have on industry and society.
Who We Work With
We develop and deliver programmes for universities, CDTs, research centres, innovation centres, business accelerators and UKRI-funded Project Leads. Programme participants often include PhD students, early career researchers, academics and professional staff in universities and industry.
Our Approach
We have a core portfolio of programmes that can be delivered online or face-to-face. We offer different levels of learning, from introductory, taster courses to longer, more interactive sessions – we tailor to your needs. We can also enhance the learning experience with live case studies and challenges from guest speakers.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES
Training for Researchers, Academics and Professional Staff in universities in an interactive, online platform to support development during COVID-19.
The Learning Experience
Skillfluence programmes are available in an online, live, interactive format to ensure learners are still able to access our dynamic training in these difficult times.
To reduce the amount of screen time, we utilise pre-workshop content that can be undertaken flexibly, in advance of the live sessions with our trainers. This is followed by an application task that can be applied to an individual context or situation that will consolidate learning.
Our Core Programmes
Our core training programmes are tailored to your participants. Whether they are looking for training in business acumen; communicating with impact; leadership; time management; careers development or networking, we can work with you to create the programme you’re looking for.
We can also include expert speakers, live challenges and mentoring to add an extra dimension.
Range of Engagement Levels
Our existing webinars, day-long courses and week-long residentials are now available online!
Our “Online Shorts” have been a hit, turning the classic one-day, face-to-face event into a four-stage learning journey over a day or a week. Our new range of Masterclasses see our popular programmes like “Connecting with Industry” delivered over a six-week period. We’ve also developed “Sprints” and “Super Sprints” if time is really tight or you want to try something new.
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.
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.
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.
Working with Industry
Researchers learn to understand industry drivers and how to speak the “language of business”. Participants learn to explain their research in a way that is relevant and compelling to industry.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Working with Industry – Blended Programme
The Working with Industry Blended Programme was developed in partnership with Kings College London to address 2 specific challenges. 1.)... Read More
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
Innovation & Industry Engagement Academy
This was an Innovative, first of its kind programme run in partnership with Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC). The programme... 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
Business Boost for Social Sciences
Business Boost for Social Sciences This course helps researchers in the Social Sciences identify opportunities for industry engagement and develop... 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
The Team
A Diverse & Talented Team of Trainers, Coaches, Content Developers and Entrepreneurs
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.
Dr Rachel Clark
Rachel is the Training Operations Manager at Skillfluence and has over 15 years of experience working in academia since completing her PhD. She draws on her research and professional services experience to manage customer relationships for Skillfluence and contributes to the design and delivery of our training. Rachel has experience of engaging with businesses, organisations and the public through project management of Engage with Strathclyde, Images of Research and Explorathon.
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.
Joanne Hagerty
Joanne is a creative and entrepreneurial consultant and trainer who loves using systematic innovation tools and techniques to bring ideas to life. She has first hand experience building and growing enterprises across a range of sectors. Joanne enjoys working on porjects where technologies emerge and sectors converge. Joanne has extensive experience, delivering workshops to over 800 enterprises helping them grow their enterprises through practical and pragmatic use of innovation.
Dr Jamie Gallagher
In his role as the public engagement lead for the University of Glasgow, Jamie has worked improving the reach, profile and impact of research in a range of academic disciplines. As an award winning speaker and trainer, he speaks to thousands of people each year and has been published in 19 different countries. He has a PhD in Chemistry and Electrical Engineering and was named one of the “100 leading practising scientists in the UK”.
Jessica Fox
Jessica Fox is a film director, author and nerd-whisperer. She has over 15 years of directing experience with credits that span film, theatre and TV. Her memoir, “Three Things You Need To Know About Rockets” was Waterstone’s book of the month and named ‘romantic memoir of the year’ by the DailyMail. She was a storyteller for NASA and between productions enjoys working with scientists exploring the relationship between storytelling, creativity and communication.
Dr Ian Archer
Dr Ian Archer joined the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre as Technical Director in 2015 where he is responsible for directing the technical strategy of the Centre. Ian worked at Ingenza from 2004 after spending 6 years as a Work Group Leader in Process Technology with Zeneca (latterly Avecia) in Grangemouth, Scotland. He received his degree and PhD in chemistry from Imperial College, London. Ian is an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Chemistry at the... Read More
Dr Simon Bennett
Dr Simon Bennett is an experienced trainer, consultant and registered Growth Coach with over twenty years experience ranging from startup to IPO / trade sales. Previous roles have covered all aspects of business and corporate development. He mentors and advises early-stage businesses and works for several companies advising on strategy, supporting business development, licensing and scouting activities. He has a strong track record in building and growing companies as a founder member of the team.
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.
Dr Jen Allanson
Jen is a successful academic with an international profile. In 1999 she became the first full-time female lecturer in Computer Science at Lancaster University. She became a senior lecturer in The School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences at LJMU and held an honorary lectureship in The School of Psychology while researching human-computer interaction. Since 2005, Jen has been a professional trainer & facilitator, delivering nearly 300 workshops & training events in the UK, Europe and Japan.
Dr Hannah Roberts
Hannah is a career coach and professional skills trainer. During her extensive academic and industrial career, she took research from concept to start-up. Since 2018, she has been a qualified and regulated coach; trained in Talent Dynamics profiling. Specialising in team dynamics, career planning, online networking and social media skills, research planning, commercialisation and management tools. Hannah has a particular passion for diversity and inclusion and women’s leadership development.
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.
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