Consultancy is the supply of external services by academics or faculties for payment. Services relate to the provision of expertise or use of University facilities along with academic expertise that is not 'new' or novel. It would therefore not result in IPR and would not be designated as 'research'.

Faculty Role and Responsibility

• All consultancy must be discussed with the relevant Head of Department and approved by the faculty;
• All consultancy undertaken by academics is at the discretion of the Head of Department or Dean of Faculty;
• Faculty Business Managers provide guidance on suitability and engagement for consultancy work, 
• Costing advice is provided by the central Finance Team (Consultancy & Expert Services) Finance) or Expert Services (Enterprise Support);
• Responsibility for invoicing the client, collecting fees and benefit sharing (where applicable) lies with the central Finance Department.

Application Process

• The academic to discuss the intended work to be provided with their Head of Department;
• The academic to complete an internal 'approval' form with brief details of the client, scope of work to be completed, and the timescale envisaged;
• The academic to liaise with faculty finance to discuss/agree costing and finalise the approval form . There are standard costing guides based on daily rates and an overhead;
• The academic to complete the form and email it to faculty finance for obtaining faculty approvals.
• Download: Consultancy & Expert Services - Guidelines for Staff and Faculties
• Download: Approval Form - Consultancy
• Download: Approval Form - Expert Services

Approval Process

• Faculty finance will email the form, fully approved by the faculty, to Research & Enterprise Support (RES);
• RES will complete due diligence checks, including company credit checks, review of insurance cover etc;
• RES will provide standard Terms & Conditions or arrange contracting where needed;
• RES will email the approval form back to faculty finance for raising a 'Letter of Offer' to be sent to the client confirming the work, cost and invoicing arrangements;
• RES endeavours to complete the approval process (subject to any contracting requirements) within 48 hours.

Support from RES

• Advise on process and costing;
• Carry out due diligence checks;
• Arrange any necessary contracting and negotiate direct with the client;
• Register the work on an internal database, and collect metrics for HEFCE reporting purposes;
• Provide guidance and assistance at all stages of work.

For advice please contact:

Sarah Dixon
Assistant Consultancy Officer
Tel: +44 (0)1483 683738 
Email: expertservices@surrey.ac.uk