Evaluation of Profit Through Knowledge Programme: final report for Scottish Enterprise Glasgow

The Profit Through Knowledge (PTK) programme aimed to help companies develop a business opportunity or address a need via a targeted placing of graduates and undergraduates within companies. The programme also aimed to: ensure that the placement activities form an integral part of a company’s wider business strategy; co-ordinate the placements with other types of assistance; and create better partnerships between Glasgow’s Universities and its SMEs. The evaluation aimed to review the programme’s progress made towards the achievements of its aims, objectives and targets.

The methodology consisted of: desk research and analysis; consultations with GO staff and LDO account managers; 3 focus groups of undergraduates; a telephone survey with 15 graduates; face-to-face and telephone interviews with 36 participating companies; and data analysis and interpretation.

A third of companies surveyed are likely to have increased sales as a consequence of programme participation. The programme has met all its targets to date, except the targets for the number of graduate participants secured. Notes that the level of referrals from account managers is declining. Finds a degree of conflict between the account manager approach adopted by LDCs and SEG, and the promotion and delivery of a distinct business development programme like PTK. Suggests there is confusion in the ‘marketplace’ about whether PTK is a graduate placement programme or a business development tool.

Recommends that management should re-engage with organisations which can refer new companies to PTK and implement marketing activity to target non-account managed companies whilst using partner organisations. Advises that PTK should: draw up a clear set of guidelines; ensure consistent marketing messages in promotional communications; monitor the amount of time spent on graduate selection compared to company selection; include the company’s account manager in project specification, project / graduate monitoring and post-project follow-up; provide input from the account manager at monitoring meetings; and make account managers responsible for monitoring programme outputs and impacts.