Challenge

Aspect (A Social sciences Platform for Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and Transformation) is a network for organisations that want to make the most of social sciences research commercial and business opportunities. At the end of 2018, the Aspect lead Institution contracted us to support their programme management to meet its aims to:

• Raise the profile and significance of commercialising social sciences research;
• Build engagement between academics, business and industry;
• Inspire and encourage social sciences commercialisation;
• Grow capacity & expertise in social sciences research commercialisation; and
• Develop, share and exchange knowledge and good practice.

We worked together with Aspect to build the programme's membership, from initial conversations with potential members, to co-developing a network membership model, to supporting new members, and engaging with practice and funded project communities. We helped Aspect co-develop good practice toolkit materials to support university Knowledge Exchange teams and researchers professional services, often ECRs, who are increasingly commercialising social sciences.

Bringing Aspect's marketing team together with our own, we co-developed the website and supported communications throughout the programme.