X-CITED ‘Confidence in Industry Conversations’ – part of the Industry Connection Programme (ICP)

We are excited to launch our FREE two-day residential ‘Confidence in Industry Conversations’ part of our Industry Connection Programme (ICP)

The two days will include a day of bespoke training for our Research Technical Professionals (RTPs**) from world renowned facilitator – Sawan Khuri – known for providing expert training in industry conversations and professional skills development – followed by a second day when industry partners are invited into the conversations.

Open to RTPs across GW4 (Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff & Exeter), it’s a great opportunity to grow your skills, make new connections and learn more about connecting with business outside of higher education.

This ICP event is aimed at GW4 RTPs who have some experience engaging with industrial colleagues and those with plenty of industrial experience and would like to build their networks. However, it is open to all GW4 RTPs with engineering and physical sciences links.

The Agenda includes:

Day 1:

• Learn the purpose of advertising and promoting your facility to industry

• Discover how to become more visible and gain new contracts

• Interactive work on 'case studies' defining customer needs, idea generation and facility solutions

• Build your knowledge on cross-sector collaboration

Day 2:

• Understand the power of networks

• Interactive work on scenarios between RTPs and industry clients

• Industry partner Business show

• Wrap up and prize giving

What will you get out of this?

• Increase confidence to engage with industry – Further develop the skills and self-assurance to initiate, lead and sustain meaningful conversations with industry partners.

• Gain practical communication tools – Learn how to articulate technical expertise, translate academic capability into industry‑relevant language, and navigate different professional expectations.

• Understand industry perspectives – Gain increased insight into industry drivers, priorities, and decision making—helping RTPs position themselves as valuable collaborators rather than support functions.

• Practise in a supported space – Build the skills you already have during a dedicated training day before putting them into practice with invited industry partners on day two.

• Grow professional networks – Form new connections with RTP peers across GW4 institutions and establish direct relationships with industry contacts.

• Enhance career development – Strengthen transferable skills that support career progression, visibility, and impact—both within academia and beyond.

If you are a GW4 RTP who hasn’t undertaken any industry work in the past, or feel a bit rusty, you might also benefit from our bitesize series coming up in October 2026.