What can a university do for your company?

This year's Office Team survey showed that many of you are now involved in key decisions. It's clear that your bosses are frequently turning to you for more and more help, advice, and key information that will put your company ahead of the rest and give it a competitive advantage. Are you making full use of all the resources around you? For example, did you know that your [local] university may be able to help you and your organisation in a number of ways?

So take action!

1. Be informed
2. Be pro-active
3. Boost your company's skill base
4. Bolster your company's competitive edge
5. Better your company's profile
6. Bridge your company's recruitment needs

Along with many other bodies and groups, Regional Development Agencies and Learning and Skills Councils have been making huge efforts to ensure that universities work more closely with local employers.

So what products and services can a university offer your company? Here are some examples:

1. Consultancy services
2. Product testing and clinical trials
3. Offer lab facilities
4. Provide research undertaken by the university
5. Enable you to use science parks and innovation centres
6. Sell services in event management and conferences to you
7. Help with recruiting a graduate, either for a permanent job or on a short term basis
8. Send a student to you on work experience
9. Provide a summer student to help with a project
10. Develop training programmes for your employees through flexible learning packages, so that it's easy for you to study while working
11. Develop in-house training programmes, possibly with professional qualifications which contribute to a degree courses
12. Short courses for business and industry, tailor made to suit the needs of your company and staff

When was the last time you checked out to see what your local university could do for you or your company?

If you're at the cutting edge of making decisions in your organisations (and research tells us that more and more of you are), why not see what you local university has to offer? Check out your local university's web site. Most universities have web pages geared towards business and organisations with contact points and details on what sorts of services the institution provides. You could also visit the pages for the department most relevant to the sector your company is based in; it will have details of links with industry and business. Go on!

You can also find more information on these pages:

• www.ufiltd.co.uk established by the government to create the concept of a "university for industry". Its mission is to use e-learning to boost the employability of individuals and the productivity and competitiveness of organisations.
• Higher Education and Research Opportunities at www.hero.ac.uk which has lots of info and links to research bodies and groups in the UK, funding initiatives and research contacts.
• Association of Graduate Recruiters at www.agr.org.uk
• Prospects, a huge resource for graduates or those thinking of going to university, at www.prospects.ac.uk Also contains useful information for employers.
• www.step.org.uk for information on taking a graduate on a short term placement which is highly relevant to your company and their degree.
• Year in Industry, enabling you to take on a student for one year. Visit www.ufi.com for more details