Presentation made on the 27th February to Jisc in York as part of the cluster to the whole group

1. A CROSS-INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING FRAMEWORK
FOR ENERGY CPD:
MEGS-KT
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

2. OUTLINE
• Context
• Problem.
• Method
• Solution is: the development method
and the “demonstrator”.
• Benefits

3. CONTEXT
Midlands Graduate Energy School

4. 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.

5. The Method

6. 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

7. 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.

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

9. The taxonomy: “ a list of lists”
ROLES ACTIVITY* INFORMATION BUSINESS NEED (Knowledge transfer drivers)
(self-identification) (interviews and SOURCES (cited in
questionnaire responses interview and
demonstrated the industry to questionnaire)
be fluid in roles and identifying
activities may reflect better
the characteristics of the
sectors)
Client advisor Research Green Deal Communication skills
-consultant Writing Government Finding funding
-low carbon consultant Business statistics Support for business innovation
-researcher strategy/strategic thinking DECC Finding resources for R&D
-unpaid consultant Direct marketing People in Glazing More business opportunities
-lobby group Administration Sustainable INet Technical knowledge
-Fire consultant Organisational tasks Derby County Policy knowledge
-Health and Safety Innovation Council QA training for installers
engineer Business development Universities Finding work/new projects
-Architect Building Derby Carbon Finding new projects abroad
--Design manager relationships/networking Initiative Winning new business on the right commercial terms
--Project manager Interpersonal Fabricators/ Allotting enough time to new business ventures
Trainer communication manufacturers Don’t know what is needed
-facilitator Client advise (consultant) Personal library Attracting skilled workforce
Designer Technical interface Building online Knowing how to meet LEED and Breem compliance levels
- (architect) RIBA- To have a variety of projects
Fabricator/Manufacturer Integration of client www.architecture.com How to identify projects that will bring the most and those that will bring
Supplier advice (architect) Google/Wikipedia the least financial benefits
Wholesaler Training Building magicians How to deal with the recession
Client NHBC foundation More information on the Green Deal
Homemaker Teaching www.edjcdatabase. Jobs
Contractor Researching com Marketing to clients
Tradesmen Grant writing/ International
Electrican Tender preparation energy agency
Apprentice EDUCATE
Installer Ashrae.org
Manager CIBSE
Director Energy plus
-Entrepreneur SAP textbooks

10. Building the MEGS-KT community of practice – the Jisc, the
fellows (the catalytic individuals) and SMEs team
Fellows Lecture Series
17/10/2012 Robin Nicholson, Edward Cullinan Architects
24/10/2012 Russell Smith, Parity Projects
14/11/2012 Terry McGivern, The Institute for Sustainability and the
Flash Programme
05/12/2012 John Davis, Domestic Green Deal Assessor
16/01/2012 Carl Benfield, Prescient Power
30/01/2012 Keyur Vadodaria, Researcher, CALEBRE project
20/02/2012 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.

17. Catalytic Individuals and Our Social Media
Fellow Tracy Thomas

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

19. Twitter Group 920 Followers

20. 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

21. Co-design, refining needs, building the specification
Fellows Lecture Series + Co-design
workshops ahead of fellows lectures
WORK PACKAGE 2

23. 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”

30. The Science Bit (Bayesian inference!)

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. The Community Views
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx602K
nOiFM

34. 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 MioD
Managing Director, Prescient Power Ltd

35. 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).

36. • 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.

37. 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?