Nominated KTP Advisers try to ensure that KTP Partnerships make progress towards agreed Partnership objectives and report to the KTP Programme Manager after each Local Management Committee (LMC) meeting. They advise on the implementation of KTP training and development policy and give support to Associates, especially with regard to their professional development.
KTP Advisers can be particularly useful in ensuring that the lines of communication between all members of the project team are working properly. They advise on the rules and procedures relevant to KTP and the conditions governing continual payment of the Government grant for a KTP Programme. They provide access to Innovate UKs, corporate experience and encourage best practice in knowledge transfer to optimise benefits for all participants.
The Partners should be encouraged to seek advice from Advisers, as appropriate, at any time throughout the project.
2. Associate Mentoring
The Adviser will usually meet the Associate(s) immediately prior to or after each LMC meeting for mentoring and coaching purposes, and to provide support to the Associate.
3. LMC meetings
The LMC should follow the format recommended in the Management Handbook for Supervisors, including reserved business.
LMCs should:
· Encourage all reports to be made in a timely manner and with a format and content appropriate to the meeting.
· Review the project management arrangements being used by the team, consider their effectiveness and agree any changes.
· Discuss progress towards the target objectives in detail. It is likely that some variation is required. This may be due to unforeseen problems, technical difficulties or opportunities such as emerging trends within the industry. The Adviser will facilitate the discussion including a risk assessment on any proposal, achievable targets, resource implications and commonality of understanding.
· Agree the work plan for the next three months.
· Allocate the necessary resources to the project team including agreement to any training needs and the involvement of additional specialist input.
· Encourage the Associate to take ownership of the project.
· Explore possibilities to widen the collaboration, such as student projects.
· Encourage ambitious but realistic targets.
· Encourage a wide participation in KTP activities.
· Encourage best practice.
