Developing and enhancing the practice and management of scholarly activity and research within Further Education Colleges, Higher Education Academy [HEA], City of Bristol College, 11th June.
Nuts & Bolts: Funding Nuts a workshop
Mark Stone
Nuts & Bolts: Funding
Introduction
In the current financial climate, investment funds will be even tighter. Therefore, we need to be strategic about what we apply for and focused in how we apply.
Nuts & Bolts: Funding
Preparing to bid [a]
• Read the bidding briefing documents• Check your understanding with those that have
already worked with the funder• Understand the funders priorities• Check what has already been funded [projects and
calls] - and what has not been funded• Be clear you understand the benefits and burdens
funding will bring• Decide if the funding will bring real benefits not just
extra, partially funded work• Check that you can’t do the core of the work
without external funding
Nuts & Bolts: Funding
Preparing to bid [b]
• Get line manager and institutional backing early– Use their ideas, experience and leverage– Let your success be their success as well - ‘my
staff are doing great work...’• Align bid with local, institutional and sector
strategies• Show you are building on what others have done• Spot the gaps • Offer different angles / approaches, collaborations
Nuts & Bolts: Funding
Preparing to bid [c]
• Have a clear easy to understand core idea - the pub conversation
• Be brief / ingenious• Be memorable• Names are important• Have a good dissemination plan [more later]
– Be visibility PR and outputs + dissemination = impact• Make it some thing the funder will like / be proud of
Nuts & Bolts: Funding
Developing the bid
• Answer all the questions in the call – think about the bid reviewers / makers [volunteer to do this yourself]
• The how [method/s] is as important as the what• Link approach to team track record• Managing risk• Staging the bid [expect/plan for change]• Project management [process and experience]• Advice and guidance + later use• Think about how you will come across [more later]
Nuts & Bolts: Funding
Tightening the bid
• Make it deliverable [save some bits for later]• Have a clear narrative• Think about it from the bidders perspective• Clear deliverables / beneficiaries• Readers• Offer core outcomes and value added• Use relationships to underpin, launch and sustain
the project• Compromise - the art of the possible / fundable• Collaborate• Have early wins / outcomes
Nuts & Bolts: Funding
You as bidder [a]
• A full CV– All projects and all outputs– Organisational and role context– Interests and skills – A narrative of what has been learnt and achieved
• Biography– An up to date snap shot inc photo– Significant milestones– What now– What next
• Research Rpt / Digest– Ensure your work is listed and acknowledged by key
organisations
Nuts & Bolts: Funding
You as bidder [b]• Expertise list
– Ensure your knowledge and experience is known– Have material to hand and ability to respond rapidly– Build confidence to speak on issues or represent the
institution or field - get training • CoPs & Networks
– Publicise interests activity and outputs as peers– Should be one of the first ports of call for research and writing
partners– Finding contacts and connections for you– Also a source of advice and guidance
• Get a track record as a junior partner
Nuts & Bolts: Funding
Dissemination [a]
• Core subject target audience +• Peers• Colleagues• Students• New audiences• Related or tangential connections• Process and experience
Nuts & Bolts: Funding
Dissemination [b]
• Articles• Reports • Briefing / discussion paper• Guides / resources• Event posters / presentations / papers / workshops• Journal papers and book chapters• Websites >>> repositories