Introduction
The University's Strategic Plan includes key elements which encourage the growth of external interactions especially with business to stimulate innovation and to develop partnerships with commercial organisations.
To support these aims, the University has developed a new Policy on External Professional Activities [PDF 111KB] which includes consultancy and provides a consistent approach to supporting and encouraging consultancy arrangements, providing appropriate governance and risk management while helping staff to engage with and benefit from relationships with external organisations.
There is plenty of help and support available to academic and academic-related staff, who are eligible to undertake consultancy, and the following documents will provide a useful starting point for anyone who needs to know about the new policy process:
The new policy and process
- Quick guide to the Consultancy policy [PDF 21KB]
- Consultancy flowchart [PDF 30KB]
- What is the difference between Research and Consultancy? [PDF 42KB]
- Consultancy FAQs [DOC 138KB] - a handy guide to typical queries
- Authorised Signatories [PDF 40KB] - responsibility for final approvals
Consultancy - a 3-step process
- Costing, pricing and approvals form [XLS 115KB]
This is the consultancy template and is the only form which the consultant, with the Business and Enterprise team, will need to complete to undertake a standard consultancy. It provides a framework to help define the cost and price of the consultancy and collect the signatures required to proceed with the work. - Offer of services letter [PDF 161KB]
On behalf of the University, the Business and Enterprise team will negotiate the consultancy contract with the client using University terms and conditions as default. Using an external contract usually requires significantly more time to agree. Once the agreement has been fully signed the work can begin. - Example of the handover to Research Finance report [PDF 15KB]
As the work begins there will be a handover from Business and Enterprise to Research Finance, this link provides an example of the handover form used. A specific account will be created for charging of costs, invoicing and income distribution.
Who to contact for consultancy support
- E-mail: consultancy@sussex.ac.uk
- Business and Enterprise
Telephone: (01273) 877800 - If you are already working closely with the Business Development Manager in your School, please contact them for advice and further information.
Other useful information
- Optimising Consultancy- an AURIL guide to implementing a consultancy strategy
- Research and Enterprise documents and policies