Developing and enhancing the practice and management of scholarly activity and research within Further Education Colleges, Higher Education Academy [HEA], City of Bristol College, 11 th 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

Nuts & Bolts: Funding Endnote Everyone gets rejected Learning from the process