#UniForReading: Two national awards for local business partnerships

Top prize for partnership which sees half of UK’s GPs receive professional development training online

Local businesses have benefitted from two award-winning partnerships with the University of Reading.

At the 2021 Knowledge Transfer Partnership Awards, two Reading-based firms working with the University of Reading took home prizes in recognition of the collaborative efforts to connect research and businesses together.

Work between the University of Reading and local business Red Whale, which provides ongoing professional development for doctors took the top prize for the best knowledge transfer partnership, which the KTP Awards recognise for:

“The most outstanding overall partnership; the KTP which has brought the most significant benefits to all three participants, and which best exemplifies innovation through collaboration.”

The partnership, which ran for two years and saw KTP Associate Dr Blessing Mbipom (pictured, left) support Red Whale as they provide medical CPD (continuing professional development) for half of the UK’s GPs, to develop their training across digital platforms.

Dr Blessing Mbipom said:

“I am grateful and honoured to win this award with the brilliant teams from the company, Red Whale and the knowledge base, University of Reading. This award recognises the impact made from the excellent collaboration between academia and industry. I am grateful for the mentorship and guidance provided through the Knowledge Transfer Network in supporting us to deliver an outstanding project.”

Pearls of wisdom 

During 2020, Dr Mbipom supported Red Whale to adapt their services as the Covid-19 hit traditional training provision. As NHS frontline staff work under incredible pressure to care for those infected with the Coronavirus, Red Whale began providing free online resources and updates known as ‘Pearls’. As well as covering many other medical topics, Pearls deliver vital information and up-to-date procedural advice from Government on the virus enabling GPs to provide patients with the best care.

Professor Rachel McCrindle from the University of Reading who together with Professor Richard Mitchell and Dr Yota Dimitriadi formed the team advising Red Whale said:

“We are very proud of the part we have played in the transformation of Red Whale’s business. Seeing how the project contributed to Red Whale’s fantastic support for frontline NHS staff during the Coronavirus pandemic was also hugely motivating and highlights the benefits of industry and University collaboration. Winning the Best of the Best KTP award is the icing on the cake! “

Martin Haley, CEO at Red Whale said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled that the hard work of the project team and the wider Red Whale team has been recognised in achieving such a successful business transition.”

Supporting people to invest

A behavioural economist who has been working alongside a Reading-based fintech company to help financial advisers better understand their clients has been named a Future Leader at the KTP Awards.

Dr Louis Williams, a KTP Associate at the University of Reading won a prestigious Future Leader award, for his work understanding the link between resilience and investment decision making.

Dr Louis Williams (pictured, right), who as a result of his role as KTP associate is Head of Psychology and Behavioural Insights at Dynamic Planner said:

“I feel very honoured to receive the KTP future leader award. It confirms the success of the KTP project, and my role as an associate. Having an experience where you can gain insight into an industry, gives you an edge over many academics at an early stage in your career.”

Dr Susan Matos, Director of the Knowledge Transfer Centre at the University of Reading said:

“We are delighted to see that our work supporting local firms to thrive and make a positive difference has been rewarded in this year’s KTP awards. It’s more important than ever to be helping businesses to access and engage with academic innovation, and our recipients of the awards showcase how broad the scope for that work can be.”

Find out more about how the University of Reading supports businesses to engage with research and help their firms grow:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/ktc/