Contract research and consultancy
Support for business challenges, decisions and change
Whether you need expert advice or detailed analysis, we can work with your business to understand challenges, assess options and support decisions.
We connect businesses with academic experts to provide practical advice and in-depth analysis, supporting everything from operational improvement to new product development and digital change.
We offer two distinct ways of working, depending on what you need:
Consultancy
Giving you expert advice based on existing knowledge
Contract research
Creating new knowledge and intellectual property to deliver the evidence behind your decisions
We work with organisations of all sizes - from start-ups to global enterprises and public sector bodies, offering tailored support that drives performance and sparks innovation.
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Contract research
Independent, evidence-led research and analysis to support key business decisions.
Contract research is used when you need evidence to answer a specific question before committing time, budget or resources. These are often short, focused projects designed to assess options, test assumptions and provide a clear basis for decision making.
Typical outputs include feasibility studies, modelling, lifecycle analysis and regulatory assessments - all grounded in data and technical insight. Any new intellectual property created belongs to the company to protect and commercialise.
Businesses often use contract research when they need to:
Understand the impact of a potential change before implementing it
Compare different technologies, materials or approaches
Assess exposure to regulation or compliance requirements
Build a stronger case for internal investment decisions
Validate assumptions with independent evidence
R&D tax credits
Many contract research projects may qualify as R&D activity, depending on the nature of the work and the challenges being addressed.
This means there may be an opportunity to recover a portion of the cost through R&D tax relief, particularly where projects involve technical uncertainty, testing or development.
While eligibility depends on your specific circumstances, we can help ensure the work is structured in a way that supports a strong claim, alongside any specialist advice you may already be receiving.
Learn more about R&D tax credits.
How the process works
Discuss your challenge:
we start with the question you need to answer, the decision you need to make and the context around it.
Define the scope:
we shape a focused project with the right academic expert, technical input and clear outputs.
Conduct the research and analysis:
we carry out the modelling, testing, evaluation or assessment needed to answer the question properly.
Deliver evidence and recommendations:
you receive practical outputs that can support internal decision making, investment planning and next steps.
Need clearer evidence before making a decision?
Get in touch with our dedicated team.
Intellectual property
For many businesses, protecting intellectual property is a key consideration when working with external partners.
In most contract research projects, the outputs and any resulting intellectual property (IP) can be structured so that your organisation retains ownership. This gives you the freedom to act on the findings, develop new products or processes and move forward without restriction.
If IP is an important factor for your organisation, we can work with you to agree an approach that aligns with your commercial goals from the outset.
Consultancy
Expert advice to help you move forward and deliver real-world impact.
Consultancy is best suited to situations where you need experienced input, direction or specialist knowledge to guide your approach.
We work with businesses to:
Review current operations or processes
Identify opportunities for improvement
Respond to regulatory or market changes
Shape strategy or implementation plans
This is typically advice-led, drawing on academic expertise and industry experience to help you move forward in a practical way. Our partnerships are driven by the need to solve problems, unlock growth and accelerate innovation for businesses.
Are you working through a challenge and looking for a fresh perspective?
Speak to our team.
Explore our latest insights
Our impact
We work with organisations of all sizes, from SMEs and scale-ups through to large corporates, as well as local authorities, public sector bodies and third-sector organisations. Whether you're improving manufacturing processes, scaling a new technology or delivering public sector outcomes, our consultancy and contract research services support you to understand your options, test approaches and move forward in a practical way. Explore how we've helped a range of businesses through our partnerships.
Our team
We're made up of a diverse range of business specialists and academic experts, working together to support projects across different sectors and challenges, including manufacturing, energy, construction, food and digital industries. Our team brings together expertise across areas ranging from lifecycle analysis, techno-economic modelling, decarbonisation and process optimisation to digital innovation and product development, helping businesses understand what works in practice, not just in theory.
Professor Dawid Hanak
Professor of Decarbonisation
Dawid is an expert in energy systems and decarbonisation, supporting businesses to evaluate technologies and make informed decisions using lifecycle and techno-economic analysis. His numerous research and commercial projects showcase his commitment to driving innovation and sustainability in process engineering, earning him prestigious awards in the field.
Dr Ellis Marshall
Business Partnership Manager - Net Zero
Ellis supports collaboration between academia and industry within the Net Zero sector, helping businesses accelerate innovation and growth through research and technology development. His expertise spans carbon capture, hydrogen, circular economy, smart energy and sustainable materials, combining technical and commercial knowledge to support business innovation.
Dr Ruben Pinedo-Cuenca
Business Partnership Manager - Advanced Manufacturing
Ruben supports collaboration between academia and industry, helping businesses adopt innovation in Advanced Manufacturing. His expertise includes Industry 4.0, additive manufacturing, robotics, computational engineering, decarbonisation and digital transformation, supporting companies to implement advanced technologies and develop innovation partnerships.
Mikey Thompson
Business Partnership Manager - Professional Sector
Mikey develops partnerships with local government, policymakers and industry across the Tees Valley and the UK. He supports organisations within the professional services sector through leadership and management development, including CPD, workshops, apprenticeships, commercialisation and research-funded partnerships.
Dave Spencer
Business Partnership Manager - Digital & Construction
Dave supports businesses across the digital and construction sectors, helping them identify innovation opportunities and access the right support. With experience across training, software and construction, he works closely with organisations to explore how digital technologies can drive business growth and sustainability.
Dr Emma Barron
Business Partnership Manager - Health & Life Sciences
Emma supports collaboration between academia and industry within the biosciences and bioeconomy sector, primarily through the National Horizons Centre. With extensive experience in Health and Life Sciences, she helps businesses access support through collaborative research, consultancy and continuing professional development
Have a business challenge or key decision you're working through? Let's talk.
We'll connect you with the right person to talk through your challenge and what support might look like, whether that's through consultancy to guide your approach, or contract research to answer the questions behind your decisions.