10
Jun
2021
Future Innovators: Where is Innovation?
//
Comments0
/Where is innovation? One of the first questions we ask participants on our Future Innovators programme is “What is innovation?”. As we discuss all the answers and start talking about taking a systematic approach to problem solving, it becomes clear that an important next question to consider is “Where is innovation?”. The word “innovation” comes... Read More
26
May
2021
Pathfinder Accelerator Launch
We are absolutely delighted to announce our involvement in the relaunched Pathfinder Accelerator programme! Applications for the first cohort, beginning on 9th September are now open. Skillfluence has partnered with Investing Women Angels to deliver Pathfinder Accelerator, a Highlands and Islands Enterprise development programme for Highland businesses looking to launch a new business or product.... Read More
1
Apr
2021
Connecting with Industry – Hearing from Learners.
As discussed previously, Connecting with Industry is our flagship programme that aims to bridge the gap between industry and academia by teaching tools and techniques that help researchers understand how they can present themselves to work in and with industry. Participants are asked to fill out a satisfaction survey at the end of each course.... Read More
25
Mar
2021
Connecting with Industry – Bridging the Gap
In our previous blog, we looked at the origins of our Connecting with Industry programme and how has evolved in since its creation. This week, we are diving a bit deeper into how the programme better aligns researchers with the needs of industry, leading to richer partnerships and career progression. It’s complicated… More and... Read More
18
Mar
2021
Connecting with Industry – The Story So Far
Skillfluence was founded to bring industry-centric skills and training to researchers. Since day one, our training and support products have focused on helping researchers develop skills and connections that will enhance their personal impact and that of their research. In this blog, we are sharing more about the origins and evolution of Connecting with Industry.... Read More
23
Feb
2021
Getting to know Skillfluence
Getting to know Skillfluence In this week’s blog we hear from Alison Gray, founder and director of Skillfluence. Here, she tells us about her motivations for setting up the company, aims for Skillfluence and how it has evolved over the years. How it all began… The idea for Skillfluence started to take shape during... Read More
4
Feb
2021
Who is Skillfluence?
Hello, welcome to Skillfluence! Over the next few weeks, our blog is going to be reintroducing Skillfluence to the world. We want to tell you our story, how we have evolved and, most importantly, how we can help you. To start us off, this post is going to cover who is Skillfluence and what we... Read More
10
Sep
2020
Are Virtual Conferences a Win for Exhibitors?
Are Virtual Conferences a Win for Exhibitors? The Skillfluence team have prepped their virtual booth for our first virtual conference – 4 days exhibiting at Vitae Connections! We’ve spent the last 6 months adapting our training to deliver all of our programmes online and have reached over 1,000 researchers in that time (hear more at... Read More
3
Jun
2020
Adapting to the “new normal”
Adapting to the “new normal” As lockdown continues, we’re all coming to terms with what the “new normal” might involve in our personal and professional lives. Firstly, everyone at Skillfluence extends their best wishes to you and your family and hope that you all remain in good health. Secondly, we would like to say a... Read More
20
Aug
2019
Proven Process + Good People + Hard Work = Results
If you’ve ever organised a training programme for PhD students around a “non-core” topic like “working with industry”, you know how difficult it can be to get students to attend. You also know how important it is to develop these “transferable” skills in PhDs. We recently had the opportunity to run a pilot designed specifically... Read More
15
Aug
2019
5 Insights from our first “Blended” Programme
If you’ve ever organised a training programme for PhD students around a “non-core” topic like “working with industry”, you know how difficult it can be to get students to attend. You also know how important it is to develop these “transferable” skills in PhDs. We recently had the opportunity to run a pilot designed specifically... Read More
21
Feb
2019
9 Considerations When Applying for a PhD in a CDT
1. Cohorts A big part of joining a CDT is that you will be a member of a cohort. Think about what this will mean for you. What will you gain from this and what might you contribute to the group? Consider how your strengths could enhance your ability to collaborate with others and how... Read More
20
Jul
2018
Business Etiquette
“Civility costs nothing and buys everything.” — Mary Wortley Montagu. Why is Having Professional Business Etiquette Important? Business etiquette is a highly valuable transferable skill in almost every career. It’s how you present yourself to others and showing you are to be taken seriously. Business etiquette helps to build and maintain long-term professional relationships with... Read More
8
Jun
2018
Are You Emotionally Intelligent?
We recently conducted an Emotional Intelligence (E.I.) survey with 90 graduate students to evaluate if there is a gap in this soft skill area and to discuss possible solutions. It’s been almost 30 years since the term ‘emotional intelligence’ first appeared in literature. It’s a desirable attribute in any career, but nevertheless, is lacking in... Read More
21
Mar
2018
20 Tips for Delivering a Successful Technical Presentation
You’ve been asked to give a presentation about your research at an upcoming conference. With only a couple weeks before the conference, a combination of fear and excitement has set in. To help ease your anxiety and help you deliver an awe-inspiring presentation that will be the talk of the conference, we’ve put together a... Read More
21
Mar
2018
Structuring a Winning Presentation
Choosing the right structure for your presentation, sometimes referred to as the “flow”, is critical to effectively achieving your desired result, whatever it may be. Additionally, by having a clear structure in mind, it will help you to more efficiently design and prepare your presentation. The structure provides the framework on which you can build... Read More
21
Mar
2018
Your Guide to Giving Engaging Presentations
There’s nothing worse than giving a presentation where the audience is completely disengaged. Now, your instinct may be to blame it on the audience members. After all, how rude is it for them not to give you their full and total attention? Well, the reality is it’s a shared responsibility. While they should be giving... Read More
16
Mar
2018
Designing & Managing a Complex Research Project – Keys to Success
Designing and managing complex research projects is a challenging task for even the most experienced researcher. As part of our on-going exploration into “soft skills” that deliver big impact for researchers and scientists we’ve discovered some interesting and highly relevant research for anyone involved in a large, complex research project. The research was assembled by... Read More
8
Mar
2018
Stop Wasting Time!
Influencing others may be as simple as asking a colleague to do something or as complex as building multi-party coalitions. Whatever the situation, success depends on the strategies you employ. In this blog, I’ll outline 9 strategies, when each strategy is most effective and least effective. You can find more detail on each strategy in... Read More
8
Mar
2018
9 Effective Influencing Strategies
Influencing others may be as simple as asking a colleague to do something or as complex as building multi-party coalitions. Whatever the situation, success depends on the strategies you employ. In this blog, I’ll outline 9 strategies, when each strategy is most effective and least effective. You can find more detail on each strategy in... Read More