Dr Andrea Wheeler, Dr Paul Rowley, Martin Hamilton

An Innovative Knowledge Platform for Business and Community Engagement

A co-developed service model for online continuing professional development in the energy sector

A CROSS-INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING FRAMEWORK FOR ENERGY CPD:

MEGS-KT

OUTLINE

• Context • Problem.• Method• Solution is: the development method

and the “demonstrator”. • Benefits

CONTEXTMidlands Graduate Energy School

The Problem

How to develop a relevant, up-to-date desirable platform for “CFD” opportunities, opening up University resources and allowing SMEs to share their knowledge.

The Method

Questionnaires and Interviews (and Ethnographic Research)

• 10 paper filled questionnaire• 18 online surveys• 16 transcribed interviews• 1 work shadow day (excellent data but too time

consuming)• 3 planned “co-design” workshops

Insights from questionnaires lack the richness of the dialogue at fellows lectures

SMEs do not have defined roles like larger companies.

SMEs have little time to research and improve their businesses

No-one understands the Green Deal (May 2012)?

SMEs cannot communicate well their needs, when asked.

In the current climate there is a lack of work/ of projects (architects lack projects, construction companies lack projects).

Bureaucratic methods for getting accredited discourages peoples/companies from accreditation (subsequent lack of jobs, loss of tenders).

Many people are interested in the DIY section of the sector.

The construction industry is poor in terms of QA.

With the Green Deal approaching there is a need for up-skilling the retro-fit industry.

Low carbon and renewable energy technologies need to be marketed to the average client.

Mapping the sector (members and potential members of the community)

ROLES(self-identification)

ACTIVITY*(interviews and

questionnaire responses demonstrated the industry to be fluid in roles and identifying activities may reflect better the characteristics of the sectors)

INFORMATION SOURCES (cited in interview and questionnaire)

BUSINESS NEED (Knowledge transfer drivers)

Client advisor-consultant-low carbon consultant-researcher-unpaid consultant-lobby group-Fire consultant-Health and Safety

engineer-Architect--Design manager--Project manager Trainer-facilitatorDesigner-Fabricator/

ManufacturerSupplierWholesalerClientHomemakerContractorTradesmenElectricanApprenticeInstallerManagerDirector-Entrepreneur

ResearchWritingBusiness

strategy/strategic thinkingDirect marketingAdministrationOrganisational tasksInnovationBusiness developmentBuilding

relationships/networkingInterpersonal

communication Client advise (consultant)Technical interface

(architect)Integration of client

advice (architect)Training TeachingResearchingGrant writing/Tender preparation

Green DealGovernment

statisticsDECCPeople in GlazingSustainable INetDerby County

CouncilUniversitiesDerby Carbon

InitiativeFabricators/

manufacturersPersonal libraryBuilding onlineRIBA-

www.architecture.comGoogle/WikipediaBuilding magiciansNHBC foundationwww.edjcdatabase.comInternational energy

agencyEDUCATEAshrae.orgCIBSEEnergy plusSAP textbooks

Communication skillsFinding fundingSupport for business innovationFinding resources for R&DMore business opportunitiesTechnical knowledgePolicy knowledgeQA training for installersFinding work/new projectsFinding new projects abroadWinning new business on the right commercial termsAllotting enough time to new business venturesDon’t know what is neededAttracting skilled workforceKnowing how to meet LEED and Breem compliance levelsTo have a variety of projectsHow to identify projects that will bring the most and those that will bring the

least financial benefitsHow to deal with the recessionMore information on the Green DealJobsMarketing to clients

The taxonomy: “ a list of lists”

Building the MEGS-KT community of practice – the Jisc, the fellows (the catalytic individuals) and SMEs teamFellows Lecture Series

17/10/2012 Robin Nicholson, Edward Cullinan Architects24/10/2012 Russell Smith, Parity Projects14/11/2012 Terry McGivern, The Institute for Sustainability and the Flash Programme05/12/2012 John Davis, Domestic Green Deal Assessor16/01/2012 Carl Benfield, Prescient Power30/01/2012 Keyur Vadodaria, Researcher, CALEBRE project20/02/2012 Rich Cartwright, RDC Energy , Jonathan Gilbert, The Rapid technology Transfer Group, and Tracy Thomas

To ensure the sustainability of the project CEDE has agreed to fund the continued development of the community and engagement with the demonstrator / website through monthly evening lectures.

Catalytic Individuals and Our Social Media Fellow Tracy Thomas

LinkedIn Community (50+ additional members in the East Midlands)

Twitter Group 920 Followers

The Community of Practice

Community (50 participants over 7 workshops (9 speakers))

Fellows: Robin Nicholson (Award Winning Architect, ex- Vice President RIBA), Parity Projects (Award Winning SME), Institute for Sustainability (Training Centre), John Davis (Green Deal Assessor), Saucy Horse (Social Networking Business Champion). Carl Benfield (Prescient Energy [Solar and Wind]), Keyur Vadodaria (Researcher/ Architect), Richard Cartright (Engineer, RDC Energy Ltd, [Heat Pumps]) Jonathan Gilbert (Rapid Technology Transfer Group [Innovative Technologies]) Tracy Thomas (Saucy Horse, Social Media Marketing)

PhD students/Researchers (Loughborough University, Nottingham University) Enrique Centelles, Kate Simpson, Sergey Fomin, Paula Cosar, Becky Gough, Philip Leicester, Sven Hallin

Academics: Professor Jacqui Glass, Dr Paul Rowley, Dr Steven Firth, Zulfikar Adamu

Fellows Lecture Series + Co-design workshops ahead of fellows lectures

WO

RK

PA

CK

AG

E 2

Co

-desig

n, refin

ing

need

s, bu

ildin

g th

e specificatio

n

Barriers and limitations to this sort of primary research

• Hard to engage SMEs • SMEs don’t know what their knowledge needs are (they

don’t know what they don’t know)• Professional bodies/networks limiting access to SMEs by

“outsiders” (difficult to send out questionnaire via professional bodies)

• Concerns about sharing commercial information from SMEs – “I prefer not to say”

The Science Bit (Bayesian inference!)

Sustainability• Megs steering committee support for the platform being

sought – this will ensure the long term sustainability of the project (after evaluation phases).User testing carried out in Feb/March proposed by “correspondents” proposed to continue with “fellows” over 6 months.

• Fellow – Tracy Thomas will continue to maintain LinkedIn group and twitter feed.

• Lecture series post project to continue with the support of CEDE (responding to the demand) as part of the outreach activities of CEDE.

• IT services Loughborough University to continue to host and provide technical support for the platform in the case of technical difficulties.

Benefits to others

• Links to the Institute for Sustainability FLASH programme to develop the long-term potential of MEGS-KT in joint funding projects to deliver training – a long term vision for the “demonstrator” combining with the FLASH programme now being delivered outside.

• (Links with other cluster projects.)• SME approaching University to be part of

research projects and to test their products.

The Community Views

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx602KnOiFM

Thanks again for another great evening. Can you direct me to the web page where we can download the lectures.

Carl Benfield BEng (Hons) MSc CEng MIMechE MioDManaging Director, Prescient Power Ltd

SUMMARY: What will the world look like after the project?

• We have fostered an interest in University based research developments in green technology from SMEs.

• We have established a community of academics, researchers, local individuals and SMEs keen to develop proposals and pilot project testing community energy projects.

• Provided physical opportunity for community meetings around renewable energy and interest in community energy projects.

• We have a service demonstrator which will sustain this community and it’s thirst for knowledge (and a sustainability plan).

• We have begun to build a widening group of local individuals.

• We have successfully explored the role of social networking in building a local business community.

• We have a demonstrator platform will foster this community and link University resources and initiatives to the community.

Transferability

• The solution – an easy to use, desirable online “demonstrator” to share and review new knowledge – an online platform for a developing community of SMEs (installers), researchers, academics and local homeowners.

• Are the community using it? Will be and evaluating.

• What does the community think about it? • Are there benefits outside the community?