Education & Business Capability Statement

7-9 North St David Street EdinburghUnited Kingdom EH2 1AW

Tel: +44(0)131 524 9640Web: www.upperquartile.co.uk

Knowledge & Innovation

Globally, investment into research capability is increasing as a driver for economic and business growth –

developing expert knowledge and highly skilled people drives innovation and competitive advantage.

Whether focused on developing new research themes or new curricula - industry partnerships are increasingly

relevant, symbiotic and rewarding.

Recent research indicated that university research generates a significantly higher return on investment of

publicly funded research grants that in other areas of government supported R&D.

Upper Quartile is working with several leading universities in developing strategic partnerships and unlocking the

commercial potential of the knowledge base.

Skills & Vocational Training

Delivering skills development and vocational training that is valued by both the trainees and the business

community is recognised as the key to support private sector growth while developing sustainable employment

opportunities. There is plenty on offer for businesses: with the university and college sectors offering tailored

vocational training packages, and multiple private sector providers.

Training provision is also global, with flexible and online learning now the norm, regardless of the location of the

accreditation body.

For organisations investing in training, decisions need to be made on the design and cost, the most appropriate

delivery mechanisms, likely benefits and appropriate funding structures. Upper Quartile is working with private

sector, government and international development clients on devising the most cost effective way of unlocking

resources and ensuring the investment in training delivers sustainable and tangible value.

Imperial College London; March 2010, Professor Jonathan Haskel – click here for more info

Case Studies

Scottish Academy of Fashion

Upper Quartile has been retained as project consultant on an ambitious project to establish a global ‘centre of

excellence’ in applied research and knowledge transfer activities. Involving six of Scotland’s leading universities, industry

and international partners, Upper Quartile is driving the creation of a new model of engagement between universities

and industry.

Critical successes to date include securing development funding from Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Funding Council

and Scottish Enterprise, the support of key industrial partners including UK Fashion Textiles, and the delivery of network

building activities. Upper Quartile have facilitated several industrial collaborations now underway with lead academic

partners Heriot Watt University and Edinburgh School of Art.

Heriot Watt University School of Textiles & Design

Strategic Action Plan for Industry Engagement

Upper Quartile has been engaged to develop a strategic action plan for the School of Textiles & Design, focused on

identifying activities based on research and teaching strengths, that will drive new engagement with industry. Within a

fully costed Action Plan, Upper Quartile is developing appropriate output targets based on financial, economic impact

and educational measures.

Workshops have been undertaken with staff to ensure their proactive involvement and ownership of the project, and

extensive consultations held with key staff and stakeholders. The final Action Plan will be agreed with the School and

presented in June 2010.

Highlands & Islands Enterprise Creative & Design Industries Workshops

Upper Quartile devised and delivered a series of workshops aimed at design, fashion and creative businesses, address-

ing areas of knowledge gaps and market failure. A team of industry experts delivered sessions covering product design,

industry trends, marketing and PR, sourcing and ethics/fair trade.

Following excellent feedback from businesses who attended a series of workshops delivered in 2009, Upper Quartile is

delivering further events on behalf of HIE in 2010.

Edinburgh College of Art Competitive Analysis of Taught Course Provision

Upper Quartile undertook a competitive analysis of design related postgraduate taught course provision to inform the

development of market driven provision. While primarily focused on UK provision, the report also identified leading

examples international provision and best practice.

Harris Tweed Industry Forum / Highlands & Islands Enterprise

Harris Tweed Industry Strategy

Upper Quartile was engaged to develop and gain agreement on a forward strategy for the Harris Tweed sector. Based

on extensive consultation with the industry and stakeholders, and undertaking an Economic Impact Appraisal to

establish robust baseline data, Upper Quartile has delivered a concise strategy document articulating key growth

targets, strategic focus and priorities activities. The strategy, entitled ‘From the Land comes the Cloth: A strategy for the

Harris Tweed Industry 2010-2013’ has been endorsed by the industry and its representative body.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar / Highlands & Islands Enterprise

Harris Tweed Skills & Training Programme

Upper Quartile won a competitive tender to project manage an European Social Fund (ESF) funded project, designing

and implementing training initiatives delivering tangible benefit to the Harris Tweed sector. Upper Quartile has worked

with key training providers to develop and deliver a suite of skills development and training initiatives to build skills and

capacity in the industry.

By fostering a partnership approach with relevant agencies, Upper Quartile has secured further investment into the

project, increasing the project fund by 24%, and ensuring that skills and training solutions are coordinated with other

initiatives to assist the longer term implementation and embedding of new skills.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar / Highlands & Islands Enterprise

Harris Tweed Skills Audit

Upper Quartile won a competitive tender to undertake a skills audit of the Harris Tweed sector, identify needs,

investigate training options and make recommendations for a Skills & Development Plan related to sector development.

Upper Quartile succeeded in getting a high level of responses and proactive input from a wide variety of interviewees.

Training options were comprehensively explored, a process which involved getting information from multiple

providers, and from the bodies responsible for qualifications development. Overall the report was delivered on time and

to budget. It was endorsed by the industry and key stakeholders and formed the basis for ongoing assistance.

Heriot Watt University KnowHow2

Upper Quartile was appointed to undertake a needs analysis of future skills and competencies required by the Scottish

textile industry, with particular reference to the School of Textiles & Design. Upper Quartile devised and undertook a

focused industry survey. Drawing on this and wider expertise, a summary and recommendations were delivered.

Findings were presented at a EU level meeting as part of a ‘Transfer of Innovation’ EU funded project.

Training and VocationalEducation in Afghanistan

Upper Quartile was commissioned by DFID in June 2010 to review the training and vocational education system in

Afghanistan and make recommendations on the most appropriate form of support. The country’s vocational training

system is wholly inadequate to support economic growth. Its weakness also contributes to a growing pool of

unemployed, disaffected young men who are then more easily tempted into crime and violence. DFID has recognised

the urgent need to tackle the problem and Upper Quartile helped define what the priorities for intervention should be.

We particularly recommended an emphasis on short-term training for the un- and under-employed, with parallel

investment in the broader vocational training system and infrastructure to build longer term capacity. The project

played an important role in shaping the UK Government’s position at the Kabul Conference of July 2010.

Senior Executive Service, Tanzania

The Public Service Management department of the Tanzanian President’s Office wishes to introduce a Senior Executive

Service (SES) into the Tanzanian public service structure. Upper Quartile and its partners in Tanzania were commissioned

in March 2010 to design a SES and make recommendations on how it could be introduced. The project has involved

examining good practice in other countries and discussions with public service leaders throughout the country. It has

identified the appropriate structure, membership, training and development needs, recruitment methods and

performance management systems for the SES. It has also developed strategies for ensuring acceptance of the SES by

the political and civil service establishment.

University of the Highlands & Islands energy projects

Undertook economic project appraisals in the energy sector for UHI. These covered establishing the economic benefits

of two projects – the Centre for Energy and the Environment (CfEE) teaching and research building at the Thurso

campus; and the Marine and Renewable Energy and the Environment project (MaREE). The feasibility and potential

benefits of these investments were assessed for the UHI and its co-funder, Highlands & Islands Enterprise. The projects

have since been implemented to establish world leading centres in their fields.

University of the Highlands & Islands funding strategy

The University’s college on the Isle of Skye, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, teaches a wide range of subjects from business and

administration to culture and history through the medium of the Gaelic language. UQ personnel prepared a Funding

Strategy aimed at attracting new and diverse sources of finance to the University in times of declining support from

central government.

Maldives skills certification and ICT training

Worked with the Government of the Maldives in Malé on establishing the costs and benefits of ICT training programmes

and the framework of certification required to implement this, including the setting of benchmark skills and

competencies. oject played an important role in shaping the UK Government’s position at the Kabul Conference of July

2010.

Indian Colleges linking with UK Higher Education Institutions

Working with various higher education colleges and foundations in north and south India to set up strategic

partnerships with UK universities, for the exchange of students and faculty staff. This involves devising programmes and

business models, and presenting them to college and university boards in India and the UK.

Higher Education Governance

Personnel within the UQ team have served in various governance and advisory capacities in the higher education sector

in the UK. These include the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council’s research grants Committee, allocating

£ millions for research to Scottish Universities; working on the project teams for establishing a new university; advising

on the creation of new MSc courses; and acting as external examiner.