Kurt Allman

As Director of Keele Business School my role is to ensure that the School builds upon its excellent reputation for research informed teaching, industry guided curriculum, and exceptional student learning experience; to make sure the school delivers a leading employability outcome for its undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Over the last decade I have worked with almost 1,000 companies, including some of the region’s most dynamic start-up businesses as part of my role as Director of Knowledge Exchange through the IDEAS collaboration at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Daresbury and Harwell Science Innovation Campuses. These knowledge exchange activities have also resulted in over 2,000 students engaging in consultancy, internship and placement activities - predominantly with SMEs. Engagements have also resulted in significant economic benefits to business, totalling 238 new jobs and £11 million of new revenue.

Prior to commencing my academic career, I undertook a significant amount of consultancy projects for Databank and CRISP consultancy practices. Building upon my PhD research insights, I examined the impact of national and EU legislation on technology deployments across utility infrastructures. These transnational projects, focussing on the EU’s largest industrial nations, as well as new member states, provided new perspectives on the EU’s future legislative and competitive challenges across a number of crucial industrial groups.

I have previously worked at Salford University, Manchester University, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Manchester Institute of Technology (UMIST) and Cranfield University.

RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP

I have significant experience in enterprise development, both in the UK and Europe, principally at some of the UK’s leading universities and international consultancy businesses. Engagement and research interests have particularly focused on technology and science SMEs, and I have secured almost £5 million of research grants from the EPSRC, HEFCE ECIF, HEFCE HEIF (2,3, & 4), ESF and ERDF, as well as European Commission (Enterprise and Information Society Directorates) Funding totalling £3.2 million.

I also have experience of managing pre-incubator space primarily for early stage business support, resulting in over 80 new business formations and numerous spin-ins. As well as this, through previous roles, I have initiated, developed or supported a number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships across the Northwest.

I was an A-level Reform Expert Panel member, and worked closely at improving the quality and relevance of the Business A-level, which is taken by thousands of students annually. I was one of a few select academics that delivered on Rolls Royce’s Excellence Through Project Management Programme (2005-2014), a course designed for their graduate training programme: 1,700 graduate engineers attended the programme during this time.

My teaching promotes applied learning through the use of live company projects and placements, which has won accolade from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (link) and the Department for Business Innovation & Skills. In 2014 I was part of a team that won the Times Higher Education Business School of the Year for delivering a step change in business engagements and an innovative applied curriculum.

I also have extensive experience of international collaborative projects aimed at supporting social cohesion and regional economic development. My areas of interest and expertise are:

• Early stage entrepreneurship and pre-incubation strategies.
• Regional economic policy and indicator development.
• SME engagement and knowledge exchange.
• Organisational capabilities and business model development.