Situated right at the heart of the city, next to the landmark cathedrals, Coventry University enjoys a compact and well-connected site supported by an excellent communication infrastructure. Its Technology Park is adjacent to it and regarded as very much part of the campus. The city is economically buoyant: thousands of new jobs are expected to be created in the next decade; radical plans for the retail offering have just been announced; and major development programmes including sports, cultural and arts facilities are underway, many of them in partnership with the University. Meanwhile, just a short journey away by car, lie the historical attractions of Warwickshire including Stratford-on-Avon (birthplace of William Shakespeare), Warwick and Kenilworth Castles. London is just over an hour away by train; Birmingham 30 minutes.

With some 2,200 staff and 16,000 students, Coventry is a medium-sized university. Its turnover in the academic year 2006/7 was just under £124m. In 2007/8 the University will embark on a £160m investment programme for its estate designed to expand its Technology Park, enhance the sense of community and identity for the Faculties, provide innovative, flexible learning spaces that encourage interactive pedagogies, and improve the architectural quality of its buildings.

The University is organised into five Faculties or Schools (Health and Life Sciences; Art and Design; Engineering and Computing; Business, Environment and Society; and Lifelong Learning). Three new Institutes (Health Design Technology Institute, Serious Games Institute and the Institute for Creative Enterprise) are also based on the Technology Park alongside the Futures Institute which was established in 2005.

Teaching and Research in the University

Most of the courses have a vocational focus. The University adopts a work-related pedagogy where appropriate and ensures that its graduates have the advanced knowledge, the skills base, and the personal capabilities needed to make a successful transition to good, graduate-level, jobs. There are three, nationally-funded Centres for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at Coventry: Mathematics Support, Transport and Product Design, and Health. In 2007 the University was also awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its work in automotive design.

The University has pedagogic expertise in the use of digital technologies and repositories to enhance the learning experience, in the use of problem-based learning, and increasingly in the use of simulation through, for example, its partnership with Advanced Construction Technologies (UK) Limited (ACT-UK) which is building a state-of-the-art training facility on the Technology Park.

The University’s research is applied and user-defined. Over the last three years the University has achieved 50% year-on-year growth in income from this source. The University entered the 2007/8 Research Assessment Exercise in 16 Units of Assessment. It has invested in 10 Applied Research Centres that are multidisciplinary and also encourages the formation of recognised Applied Research Groups within each Faculty.

In addition, as mentioned above, the University has recently established three, externally-funded, ambitious Institutes situated on the Technology Park which combine research, teaching and consultancy services to companies in new and exciting ways. These Institutes are: Health Design and Technology which focuses on new products and services for the ageing population and those with long term conditions; Creative Enterprise which focuses on SMEs in the emerging creative industries sector of the economy; and Serious Games which translates and develops techniques from digital leisure games into training and other corporate applications.

For further information about the University see www.coventry.ac.uk

Coventry University Enterprises Ltd has successfully managed numerous, externally-funded programmes that provide commercial business support services to 4,500+ SME companies each year through a core of 100 full-time staff. It is these programmes which are being focused into a new Division – Commercial Development Services – with the aim of establishing it as a wholly owned subsidiary in the near future. The programmes span four areas:

1. Provision of support to approximately 120 start-up companies each year.


2. Provision of expertise in knowledge and technology transfer, and licensing.


3. Support to companies wishing to develop international trade. This includes a major contract from UKTI to set up support offices (called “soft-landing-zones”) in 20 locations internationally.


4. Access to advanced facilities (including the University’s own Metrology Laboratory) and related best practices.

Several of the programmes are delivered through setting up and running regional networks for companies. These networks include: Inside Manufacturing Enterprise; the Innovation Relay Centre for the Midlands, and the regional Intellectual Property Forum. The networks are funded, variously, by Regional Development Agencies, Central UK Government departments, and by the EU.

About Commercial Development Services

In order to enable the existing commercial business services to reach their full potential, it has been decided to reorganize them into a single, more focused Division, to be called Commercial Development Services. The remit of this new Division is to grow and establish itself as a wholly owned subsidiary in its own right able then to develop its future business activities more freely, flexibly and innovatively. The new Division should be able to maintain the current successful ethos and culture, but needs to become more focused on the private sector, and offer better niche consultancy services to generate significantly greater revenue from its existing client base. The Division will have an initial turnover of £4.8m.

CUTS Ltd is being established as a wholly owned subsidiary of the University to offer direct training provision to businesses.

The background is that in 2006 the University began a pilot programme of employer-based training through its School of Lifelong Learning as part of a Government initiative funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). Funding of £5m over two years has been secured and has enabled the University to develop its Employer Engagement Programme, now in its second year of operation. The work has a high national profile and is seen to be market-leading.

The Programme has developed an innovative approach to work-based learning and accreditation – one that actively seeks the input of employers in design and aims to meet organisational development needs as well as those of employees. Working with major national private and public sector organisations the Programme is designed for middle managers and combines accreditation against National Occupational Standards with credit for an HE award.

The Programme is particularly innovative in that it is delivered in the workplace without the need to take employees off the job. Customised, on-the-job learning is delivered by Learning and Development Consultants who are part of the Coventry University Employer Engagement Team. Employers take an active part in the Programme, ensuring that organizational learning is generated from the work of the “students”. This encourages middle managers to address real and critical issues in the workplace as an integral part of their learning.

Coventry University is currently delivering the Programme to 200+ middle managers in four large organisations with the expectations that the first students will complete the Programme in June 2008.

In order to enable the Programme to grow and reach its full potential, the University has decided to turn it into a wholly-owned subsidiary company of the University so that it can develop new business models more freely and flexibly, on an appropriate business-to-business basis.

This area of work is seen as having the potential to generate significant gross revenues, based on considerable volumes of learners/students in large companies, but the margins are fine. The company will have the opportunity to shape funding arrangements with the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and client companies.

Purpose

The essential role of Managing Director of CUTS Ltd is to develop and grow this emergent business.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Take over and grow the company from its current, initial base into a substantial, high quality operation.
2. Develop further a distributed model for the company so that it can deliver to clients across the UK or to major clients with operations across the UK. In due course develop programmes for clients outside the UK.
3. Develop further the existing model of employer engagement and develop new models as the business grows and the policy context changes.
4. Over time, develop capability in (NVQ) Level 2 and 3 training using “Train2Gain”, Foundation Degrees and other funding sources through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Learning & Skills Council (LSC), the NHS/Department of Health or other bodies.
5. Over time, develop consultancy and senior executive training provision in niche areas, possibly using a group of ‘associate’ freelancers.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Managing Director of CUTS Ltd will provide professional leadership for the staff within the company and will develop its activities according to an agreed business plan, targets and budgets. He/she will be accountable to the Board of the Company but within the University Group will report to the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business Development.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This is an exciting new role requiring a leader who enjoys innovation and the challenge of developing an operation in an emergent context. He/she will need to understand and shape both the external policy environment and the internal, university environment so that the company anticipates opportunities for growth, and develops processes that allows it to operate in a ‘smart’ and efficient way alongside the more traditional educational provision of the University.

The appointee will be expected to have substantial, relevant experience in the private sector and a deep understanding of training needs in relation to the ‘bottom line’, organisational development, and the corporate success of businesses. But he/she will also need to be sympathetic to, and develop swiftly an appreciation of, the HR needs of major public sector clients such as the NHS and their rather different stance on personal development.

He/she must command credibility and respect at the highest levels in client companies, excel at client management, and be able to develop long-term, multi-touch collaborations for example by working with other senior staff in the University to achieve synergies between the applied research, knowledge transfer and training agendas for clients.

The ability to pitch for new business, negotiate and close deals will clearly be important in achieving the growth of the company. The appointee may wish to appoint a Commercial Director to develop new business but must him/herself be able to contribute appropriately to securing new contracts.

As the leader of a team of experienced professionals, the appointee will exhibit good communication and mentoring skills, develop a supportive, creative and enterprising culture where the staff can develop their capabilities and experiences, and are encouraged to seek and secure opportunities to develop the business actively themselves.

Many of the company’s staff will be located at a distance from Coventry and making them feel as much part of the team as those in Coventry will be important. The use of advanced communication technologies to support the work of the team as well as regular face-to-face meetings and team building events will be required. High standards of delivery to clients will be essential, and the Managing Director will need to set and monitor the achievement of appropriate standards across the company’s activities. This will require evidence of delivering to assured quality standards that are appropriate and relevant for the clients, as well as the Quality Assurance Agency in the higher education sector.

Evidence of successful budget setting/monitoring, and strong financial management, will be required.

A more detailed list of required attributes is below.

]]> http://www.harveynash.com/uk/microsites/coventryuniversity/2008/02/managing_director_cuts_ltd.html http://www.harveynash.com/uk/microsites/coventryuniversity/2008/02/managing_director_cuts_ltd.html Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:27:05 +0000 JOB DESCRIPTION

Purpose

The essential role of the Director is to grow this already well established business into a separate trading subsidiary of the University Group. The appointee will be a Board member of CUE Ltd.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Take over and grow the operation from its current base, building on existing strengths and quality of services offered so that revenue streams are significantly enhanced.
2. Increase the focus on the private sector and consultancy services/products.



3. Prepare and then establish the operation as a separate trading subsidiary.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Director provides professional leadership for the activities of the Division and is accountable for its results against the agreed business plan, targets and budgets to the Board of CUE Ltd. Line management will be provided by the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business Development.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This is an exciting new role requiring a leader who enjoys innovation and the challenge of developing an operation in an emergent context. He/she will need to understand and shape both the external policy environment and the internal, University environment so that the Division anticipates opportunities for growth, and develops processes that allows it to operate in a ‘smart’ and efficient way alongside the more traditional research provision of the University.

The appointee will be expected to have substantial, relevant experience of the private sector but could have a private or public sector background. A deep understanding of the needs of both sectors in relation to organisational success, innovation and productivity will be required.

He/she must command credibility and respect at the highest levels in client companies, excel at client management, and be able to develop long-term, multi-touch collaborations for example by working with other senior staff in the University to achieve synergies between the applied research, knowledge transfer and training agendas for clients.

The ability to pitch for new business, negotiate and close deals will clearly be important in achieving the growth of the Division and taking it forward into a separate company. The appointee must therefore be able to contribute appropriately to securing new contracts.

As the leader of a team of experienced professionals, the appointee will exhibit good communication and mentoring skills, develop a supportive, creative and enterprising culture where the staff can develop their capabilities and experiences, and are encouraged to seek and secure opportunities to develop the business actively themselves. The use of advanced communication technologies to support the work of the team as well as regular face-to-face meetings and team building events will be required. High standards of delivery to clients will be essential, and the Director will need to set and monitor the achievement of appropriate standards across the Division’s activities.

Evidence of successful budget setting/monitoring, and strong financial management, will be required.

A more detailed list of required attributes follows.

]]> http://www.harveynash.com/uk/microsites/coventryuniversity/2008/02/director_of_commercial_develop.html http://www.harveynash.com/uk/microsites/coventryuniversity/2008/02/director_of_commercial_develop.html Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:08:19 +0000 Managing Director CUTS Ltd

• Employed by Coventry University
• Package of up to c. £100,000 including bonus
• Final salary pension scheme
• 35 days holiday

Director of Commercial Development Services Division

• Employed by Coventry University
• Package of up to c. £85,000 including bonus
• Final salary pension scheme
• 35 days holiday

Working at CUE Ltd and CUTS Ltd

The University has created the impressive 20-acre Coventry University Technology Park. The Park is home to the University's 'TechnoCentre', a unique complex that offers a focus for training, conferences and business opportunities. Located nearby are the Enterprise Centre, Design Centre and Innovation Village housing many small and medium-sized enterprises as well as the Institutes (Health Design Technology Institute; Creative Enterprise Institute; Serious Games Institute and the Futures Institute).

The convenient City-centre location has excellent access to the region's road and rail networks and Coventry's extensive shops and lively restaurants and bars.

For further information on the City of Coventry click here and on the surrounding area click here

Benefits and personal development

Complementing the excellent working environment is the commitment to providing employees with the very best opportunities for both career and personal development. The University Group offers a wide choice of development and training courses to all staff as well as generous holiday allowances, final salary pensions and flexible working.

In addition, employees can receive discounted membership to the University's £4m Sport and Recreation Centre, which has an air-conditioned health and fitness suite, a four-court hall, a two-court hall and a dance studio. The University runs a nursery for the pre-school children of its staff and mature students, as well as offering a nursery voucher scheme. It also operates a discount scheme on a range of retail outlets and consumer services, travel-to-work and insurance.

• A full CV


• A covering letter indicating how you meet the selection criteria with current salary/remuneration package.


• Contact details for three referees (who will not be contacted without your permission).


• A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form.
  Please click here to download the form in Word format

By email to: gps@harveynash.com quoting the appropriate reference number copied to imogen.wilde@harveynash.com

MANAGING DIRECTOR CUTS: Ref: 3533

DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES: 3534

Or by post to:
Attention:
Imogen Wilde - Director
GPS
Harvey Nash plc
13 Bruton Street
London W1J 6QA

Key Milestones

Closing date 29th February

Visits to the University for shortlisted candidates:

MD CUTS Ltd: w/c 21st April

Director of Commercial Development Services: w/c 21st April

Final interviews:

MD CUTS Ltd: 28th/29th April

Director of Commercial Development Services: 7th/8th May