Businesses

Supported by the UK government, this programme aims to help businesses to access the University’s expertise and trigger transformative growth.

As a research-intensive university, we are one of the UK’s top 25 universities for research quality in REF 2021. Operating in six interdisciplinary Schools, we are home to some of the brightest minds across the globe. We encourage innovative and rising talent and enable established and emerging research leaders to investigate and respond to new business challenges. We are here to help you to find innovative solutions to business challenges and drive competitive advantages through consultancy and collaboration.

We bridge cost-effective access to world-class knowledge and offer new technology using our cutting-edge facilities to tackle existing industrial problems. Finding qualified graduates with relevant skills through recruitment, we provide timely support and academic supervisory to navigate them, fulfilling employers' demands in KTP projects.

Management KTP (mKTP)

Just like the classic KTP, mKTP projects also involve a 3-way partnership between the company, academic team and a suitably qualified graduate ('the Associate'). The main focus of an mKTP is to trigger a culture change within the organisation and to enable transformational improvements by identifying strategic, management-based initiatives that help to increase business resilience, financial performance and long-term sustainability using the cutting edge expertise of the academic team at the School of Business & Management at Royal Holloway. For more information on mKTPs, please visit the mKTP website and get in touch with us today.

Omnidrome Research and Innovation Centre

Royal Holloway, University of London is home to the brand new Omnidrome Research & Innovation Centre. Established in 2022, with over £2 million investment, the integrated centre focuses on research, innovation, education and knowledge exchange for air, land, and water-based drones. Over 50 academic experts work in challenge-led research on all aspects of drones, robotics and AV technology and application across multiple disciplines from sciences, engineering, the social sciences arts and humanities.

Omnidrome' s versatile inventory includes aerial drones, tracked and wheeled robots, floating and submersible robots, plus a wide range of sensors, robotic elements, and supporting equipment. The one-of-a-kind, purpose-built training and testing facility enables critical commercial and academic research potential and momentum for drone and software testing in real time locations and environments. And allows operators to develop and test specialist and experimental drones and software in a controlled, safe space, without disruption to the local environment or residents.

Omnidrome welcomes opportunities to explore partnerships with academic collaborators, government partners, businesses, industry partnerships, joint research bids, and student project opportunities addressing real-world challenges and applications.

If you would like to know more or collaborate with Omnidrome on a KTP please get in touch.

Frequently asked questions for businesses

How to apply to a KTP

A dedicated team from Royal Holloway will work with you throughout the application process and for the lifetime of the project, alongside a KTP Advisor from KTN Innovate UK. The process follows these steps:

How much does a KTP cost?

Employer size	Funding rate	Employer contribution (approx.)
Large Business	50%	£55K per year
SME	67%	£35K per year
Third Sector	75%	£28K per year
Public Sector (temp)	50%	£55K per year

An SME is expected to contribute around 33% of the total cost of the project which on average is around £35,000 per year. Large companies will be expected to contribute 50% which will be around £55,000 annually. Third Sector organisations will be expected to contribute 25% of the total project cost, which is an average, around £28,000 per year.*

*project costs depend on a number of factors including associate salary costs, project duration and company location.

Can I apply for a KTP?

A UK-based business of any size can apply, and this includes Third Sector organisations as well as some public sector. There are some exclusions so please get in touch today to check your suitability.

Typically, a company partner must have:

SMEs, they need at least 5 full time employees (FTE)
Must have a 2-year trading history
Be able to make the required financial contribution to the cost of a KTP project
Be able to show that your project demonstrates Impact, Innovation, Challenge and Cohesiveness

What types of projects are being funded?

The type of projects suitable for a KTP include:

Refining existing products or designing new products.
Opening new markets for new or existing products.
Improving business, marketing or manufacturing systems.
Improving efficiency and cutting costs

What is the application process?

On average, it takes at least 6 months from the decision to proceed. The steps are as follows:

Fact Find Form
Advisor meeting
Proposal
Submission
Grant Offer Letter
Advertise position
Shortlisting and Interviews (academic interview for skills and company look for fit)
Associate is hired and project officially starts

Will I be the recipient of the grant?

The university will be the grant holder and the company will be invoiced monthly in arears for their contribution.

What support will I get from the University?

Our KTP team, alongside a KTP Advisor will help you develop a KTP application form and once the project has been approved by the funder, the KTP Office, alongside the academic will help you to recruit a suitably qualified associate to work on this project.

You will receive support from the Royal Holloway KTP Officer throughout every stage of the KTP process, from pre-application stages, throughout the life of the project and until the submission of the Final Report at the end of the KTP.