MEGS-KTResearch Project

Dr Paul RowleyDr Andrea Wheeler

Dr Mandy KingMirna Ayoubi

Introduction about myself

I have just completed my second year at Loughborough University studying Architectural Engineering and Design Management, a course held by the civil and building school

I was chosen to be part of the research project team for MEGS-KT through ‘Ensure’ for ten weeks over the 2012 summer period

Who are MEGS?

The Midlands Energy Graduate School (MEGS) is a collaboration between the University of Birmingham, Loughborough University and the University of Nottingham combining their capabilities for energy related research and teaching. MEGS will help meet the growing demand in the UK for more highly trained low carbon technologies researchers. MEGS will achieve this through enhancing the postgraduate training programme for energy researchers by delivering a mix of both specialist knowledge and multidisciplinary training

What is MEGS-KT?

When I first saw all these abbreviations I was a bit confused too. Megs-KT stands for the midlands energy graduate school knowledge transfer project. We are trying to develop a platform where knowledge can be transferred between small and medium enterprises and professionals, students and graduates in the built environment.

Who are the small and medium enterprises or (SMEs)?

So that we could start contacting the correct companies, we needed to define what we meant by SMEs…

We came to a decision to use the definition provided by the EU law:

Restricting the Definition This was still an extensive definition for us to be

working with so we needed to filter it stillGeographically: They were restricted by only including those that either were based or worked for the East Midlands

Sectorally: They were to be restricted to those small companies that work in the domestic sector not the commercial sector

They were then also narrowed down to those companies that are related to the energy division.

Generating energy

Supplying or installing renewable

energy

So I created a flow chart…Are they

in the East

Midlands?

• Is their company based in any of the following areas: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire?

• If not, are most of their jobs/projects in the followign areas: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire?

Are they

in the energ

y sector

?

• Do they supply/install renewable technologies?• Do they generate renewable technologies?

Are they

in the domestic

sector?

• Are most of their jobs/projects for domestic buildings?• Are they related to the built environment?

Are they an

SME?

• Is their company made up of less than 250 people?• Do they make a turnover of less than 50 million euros P.A ?

..and used this to contact the SMEs

Methodology

1. We firstly conducted a literature review on the research that has already been made on this topic. The taxonomy and ontology of professions in the supply chain were studied. Many reports discussed the roles of SMEs in the industry but not many analysed the roles of professions in the built environment…and that is what we were looking for.

Methodology

2.We then tried to create a database of contacts that matched the criteria we were looking for by researching appropriate companies and networking at local events

Methodology

3. We then produced a questionnaire which analysed the company’s needs, difficulties it may be facing, the roles and responsibilities of the interviewee and the online documents they accessed most for their companies needs.This information would give us a general idea of how the company interacted in the supply chain and any gaps they may have in their knowledge

Methodology

4. We then started holding interviews with those who had agreed for us to contact them further about the project in the questionnaire. These were all transcribed and documented. We even work shadowed some companies and video taped them in action.

Methodology

5. Our next step is to hold workshops with the community we have created, and allow them to input their thoughts and opinions into our final platform and allow them to create a solution for their needs

Methodology

6. The last step will be to engage the community and obtain their feedback on the final output of the project (which will be in the form of a website).This website will hopefully be used by the community we have created and other interested SMEs, students or freelance builders looking for more information on renewable energies in the domestic sector.

Thank you for listening