Heriot-Watt University

South of Scotland Business Solutions Meeting 28 November 2012

School of Textiles and Design Focus: Design, Technology and Production

Why SoSBuS?

• School of Textiles and Design focus on an Industry

Engagement Strategy – 2010 onwards

• Opportunity to consolidate existing activity

• SoSBuS built on strong individual links

• Business interventions and development of an

industry network

The Opportunity for HWU

• To better understand the Scottish Borders

• To assess the landscape of the Textiles Sector

• To get an ‘inside’ perspective giving an up to date

picture of micro/SME activity

• To focus on industry needs (traditional and new)

• To fund business and industry focused activity

Key Outputs

• SoT&D positioned to advise micro and small

businesses

• Provided real differences in productivity and revenue

• Support employment opportunities

• Identify real and tangible needs within the Textiles

and Fashion Sector

Industry SBC Showcase

June 2012

SoSBuS: Industry and Education

• The project allowed Micro/SME business to access

expertise and resources

• Normally not affordable in the day-to-day business

• Staff development and updating of industry and business

knowledge

• Distribute skills utilisation in Design, Technology and

Production

HWU Legacy

• SoT&D assessed the quality of knowledge transfer/

exchange mechanisms

• Significantly improved efficiency and quality of our

delivery and industry interface

• Opportunity to develop on-going commercial

relationships with ‘SoSBuS’ companies

• Knowledge transfer/ exchange and business

development

Longer View

• Continue to be addressed through School of Textiles

and Design/ S.I.D (Scottish Innovation in Design)

• SoSBuS created an evidence base

• Provides a case to promote

• Further funding for evolved SoSBuS model?

New Networks/ Partnerships

•Scottish Academy of

Fashion (SAF)

•Industry Showcase/s

•Innovation in Fashion and

Textiles for Scotland (SIFT)

•Publication of research,

knowledge exchange and

business interventions

Q&A Professor Alison Harley, Head of School, Textiles and Design,

A.J.Harley@hw.ac.uk

Jim McVee Business Development Manager, Textiles and Design J.McVee@hw.ac.uk