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ONE OF THE LEADING KNOWLEDGE BASE PARTNERS IN THE UK
 
520 GRADUATES EMPLOYED
 
COMPETITIVE SALARIES
 
BEST KNOWLEDGE BASE KTP TEAM

(KTP Best of the Best Awards)

 
22 NATIONAL AWARDS
 
430 PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESSES
 
Over 80% of KTP Associates are offered a permanent position at the end of their project.
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About KTP
A KTP is a mutually beneficial, three-way collaboration between:
  • A graduate or post graduate (known as an Associate)
  • An organisation (a UK-based business of any size, in any sector or a not-for-profit organisation)
  • A university/research institution (Knowledge Base)

A Knowledge Transfer Partnership serves to meet a core strategic need of an organisation to identify and deliver an innovative project that will bring about lasting, transformative change. It is the role of the KTP Associate, to lead the project with full support and supervisory input from the organisation and the Knowledge Base teams.

The KTP Programme has been helping businesses throughout the UK for over 40 years by recruiting suitably qualified graduates to take on a role that bridges academia and business.

KTP is one of the largest graduate recruitment programmes in the UK – to date there have been over 12,000 KTPs in almost every industry sector and companies of all sizes: in micro-sized to large businesses such as Unilever and Rolls Royce.

Queen's has been a leader in the development and delivery of KTPs for almost 30 years, and the KTP programme held in high regard within the University. The programme has been the foundation for many research and teaching successes including 22 National KTP Awards. 

As a KTP Associate you will have the opportunity to apply your academic knowledge to a real life challenge that delivers tactical change within an organisation. A KTP is the perfect launchpad, helping enhance your career prospects by providing you with an opportunity to manage an innovative project central to a business’s strategic development and long term growth. You will have access to a substantial training and development budget and take ownership of a project, with the added support and guidance of Queen’s world class academics.

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How to become a KTP Associate

We work hard with our company partners to identify the right candidate for every job because we know that the chosen KTP Associate is the key to delivering a first class high-impact project.

All KTP posts are open for suitably qualified graduates to apply and, due to the unique nature of each job, there is no ’one size fits all’ set of candidate requirements. The qualification and experience-level required can vary between roles.

Although KTP Associates are employed by the University, they are are based in the partner business, to deliver the KTP project. The recruitment process is carried out jointly and we always try to hold the interviews on the business premises.

KTP jobs are advertised on the main Queen’s University website, usually under ’KTP jobs’, Please closely review the job specification for the role(s) that you are interested in, paying close attention to the essential and desirable criteria for each role. In order to be considered, tailor your CV to the role you are applying for. Note that all applications have to be received through the university’s online application system. 

KTP is a UK wide programme, the collaborations link forward thinking businesses with the UK's world class academic teams to deliver innovative projects led by inspired graduates. See UK Associate jobs and all things KTP here. 

 

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Salary and Other Benefits

As a KTP Associate, your salary will be decided by the company, in line with industry standards and with any other company employees at a similar level.

Don’t forget that, in addition to salary, an Associate on a standard two-year KTP project will have access to over £8,000 for training and travel. Training requirements are agreed with your academic and company supervisors, to ensure that any skills gaps are addressed at an early stage.

Each KTP Associate is also required to attend two one-week training residential modules to develop core people and project management skills that enable you to manage the KTP and get the most from the people and resources around you.

As a member of University staff, you will also have access to staff training courses, library and sports facilities, as well as the option to join the University Pension Scheme.

So, now you know more about KTP, what are you waiting for?

KTP associate - Charlotte
Charlotte Lau, KTP Associate

"KTP is such a dynamic graduate programme and I feel very proud to be KTP Associate at Queen’s University Belfast.

I have learned so much in such a short period of time and every day I am gaining new industry insight. I have made many new connections, found useful management tools and developed skills for future use. This experience has been very insightful, using my academic knowledge to help manage a real life business project with the support of specialist academics and company supervisors, it’s an experience I would definitely recommend to other graduates."

KTP associate Andrew
Andrew Grounds, KTP Associate

“Working with an organisation like Ashton, who are really driven by a social mission, has given me an opportunity to apply some of my previous academic research in areas of social enterprise development, community planning and re-generation.

There have been multiple opportunities for me since starting my KTP, particularly when working on strategic matters across the organisation which has been really empowering. I’ve been working closely with the Senior Management Team on issues which can really have a positive impact, such as identifying new contractual opportunities and actually going beyond the research by preparing bids to potentially win some of these contracts.

This KTP has allowed me to engage with new stakeholders, whether that be government officials or new contractual buyers; it’s been rewarding to work with those individuals and see the benefits and positive impact this will have on Ashton. I would definitely recommend all graduates to apply for a KTP, working on a real life project with support from Queen’s academics has really helped me launch my career”