Category / Post-award

Introduction to RED – The Research & Enterprise Database

BU research, Post-award, Research Training, RKE development framework

This 30-minute session is aimed at all academics to provide an overview of the Research & Enterprise Database, including how to access the system, the information available to view, budget management via RED, and how to use RED to identify your supporting pre and post award officers.

 

Wednesday 18th October      15.30-16.00      Online session

Tuesday 14th November        15.30-16.00      Online session

Friday 15th December           15.30-16.00      Online session

 

You can find a suitable date and book your space here.

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact Alex Morrison, Post Award Programme Manager RDS morrisona@bournemouth.ac.uk

RED – The Research & Enterprise Database

BU research, Post-award, research staff, RKE development framework, Training

This Online session  is aimed at all academics to provide an overview of the Research & Enterprise Database, including how to access the system, the information available to view, budget management via RED, and how to use RED to identify your supporting pre and post award officers.

 

Wednesday 18th October 15:30-16:00, Online

Introduction to RED – The Research & Enterprise Database online workshop will be repeated on a monthly basis.

You can find a suitable date and book your space here Introduction to RED

 

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact Alex Morrison Post Award Programme Manager morrisona@bournemouth.ac.uk

RKEDF: Research training events coming up in September

BU research, ECR Network, Events, Impact, Post-award, pre-award, research staff, Research Training, RKE development framework

Here are some great RKEDF training events coming up in September

 

Click on the titles to see details and book a place on to upcoming events.

 

New Generation Thinkers 2024 AHRC/BBC Radio 3 Tuesday 5th September 11:00-12:30 Talbot Campus

This is an introduction to the New Generation thinkers, how it works, how to apply and with a mock panel set up.

RKEDF: British Academy Small Grants Workshop Wednesday 6th September 10:00-12:00 Talbot Campus 

BA Small Grants Workshop aimed at all staff with Research Council bids in development. The attendees will have the chance to discuss their proposal with a Research Facilitator and a Funding Development Officer will also be on hand to answer any questions relating to budget and processes.

 Impact Essentials:creating your impact development plan Thursday 7th September 13:00-15:00 Talbot Campus 

For researchers at all stages of the project lifecycle – from formulating research questions and preparing grant applications to developing a potential impact case study.

Introduction to RED – The Research & Enterprise Database Tuesday 12th September 15.30-16.00 Online session

This session is aimed at all academics to provide an overview of the Research & Enterprise Database, including how to access the system, the information available to view, budget management via RED, and how to use RED to identify your supporting pre and post award officers.

Principal Investigation – Post Award for RKE Wednesday, 13th September 14:00-15:00 Talbot Campus

This session is aimed at any researcher who is, who plans to be, a Principal Investigator for an externally funded research or knowledge exchange project.

This session is fully booked but please feel free to book your place on one of the next months’ sessions

Thursday, 19th October 14.00-15.00 Lansdowne Campus
Thursday, 15th November 14.00-15.00 Talbot Campus
Wednesday, 13th December 14.00-15.00 Lansdowne Campus
Wednesday, 10th January 14.00-15.00 Talbot Campus

 

For any queries regarding these workshops, please contact the RKEDF@bournemouth.ac.uk

RED-Research & Enterprise Database

Post-award, research staff, Research Training, RKE development framework

 

This session is aimed at all academics to provide an overview of the Research & Enterprise Database, including how to access the system, the information available to view, budget management via RED, and how to use RED to identify your supporting pre and post award officers.

The first, online session is on Tuesday 12th September, 15:30-16:00 and it will be repeated on a monthly basis.

You can find a suitable date and book your space here Introduction to RED

 

For any queries regarding this workshop, please contact Alex Morrison Post Award Programme Manager morrisona@bournemouth.ac.uk

Spaces still available: “The Way of the Productivity Ninja”

BU research, ECR Network, Events, Post-award, pre-award, Uncategorized

The ThinkProductive Team will be visiting BU next Thursday to deliver a practical, interactive and fun 2 hour online workshop and there’re spaces still available.

They will share with us how to utilize the mindset and tactics of the 9 Characteristics of the Productivity Ninja.

Are you battling information overload? Email deluge? Wrestling with procrastination, interruption or distraction? Constantly feel like you are in reactive, “juggling” and “plate spinning” mode? Find it hard to maintain energy and focus, to properly unplug and switch off, or to make space for what really matters – or for yourself?

If any of that sounds familiar, we’ve got you some information here!

Thursday 29th June 2023, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm

To book a place on “The Way of the Productivity Ninja” workshop please complete the Booking Form

Here are some great RKEDF training events coming up in July

BU research, ECR Network, Events, nhs, NHS, Post-award, Research Training, RKE development framework, Training

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Here are some great RKEDF training events coming up in July

 

Repurposing Your Unsuccessful Grant Applications 

  • Tuesday, 4 July 09:30-11:00 Online book here

The session is aimed at ECR’s and will cover best practice for repurposing unsuccessful applications for external funding

 

RedCap system training

  • Thursday, 13 July 11:00-16:00 Lansdowne Campus book here

RedCap system training is aimed at HSS academic and researchers conducting clinical research where clinical data is being collected and needs to be stored in a central place during the conduct of the study.

 

Preparing for External Audits – An Academics Perspective

  • Wednesday, 12 July 10:00 – 11:00 Talbot Campus book here
  • Thursday, 13 July 13:00-14:00 Talbot Campus book here

This session is aimed at all academics and researchers wanting to gain a better understanding of their role and responsibilities in preparing their externally funded research projects for external audit.

Budget Management for RKE Projects

  • Wednesday, 12 July 13:00 – 14:00 Talbot Campus book here
  • Thursday 13th July, 10:00 – 11:00 Lansdowne Campus book here

By the end of the session, all academics and researchers will have a good foundation in what funders look for when carrying out audits and how best to prepare proactively over the project period.

 

*If there are any sessions that are already fully booked, please make sure you add your name to the waiting list.

If you have any queries, please get in touch

 

The RKEDF Team

Writing Academy 2023: 3-Day Workshop

BU research, ECR Network, Post-award, pre-award, Research Concordat, Training, writing

This 3-Day workshop covers strategies for academic writing: writing to prompts, targeting a journal/specific criteria, types of prompt for academic writing, ‘snack writing’, goal-setting for writing, motivation, freewriting, generative writing, analysing academic writing, drafting and revising an abstract/summary, constructing a ‘contribution’ argument, using prompts in series, outlining, productive writing behaviours, wellbeing, writing groups, micro-groups and retreats. Many of these can be used in preparing for a concentrated spell of writing at a writing retreat.

This is a practical workshop. The aim of the writing activities in this workshop is to let you try these strategies and consider how/if/where they can fit in your writing practice. We also discuss how they can be used for writing theses, articles and other writing. They also let you start/work on your writing project during the workshop.

The online version of this course involves several short writing activities, all designed to help you develop your paper/chapter/thesis and use productive, healthy writing habits. By signing up to this course you agree to do the writing tasks and to talk about your writing in online small-group discussions, to give and receive feedback on this writing and to discuss your writing plans and goals.

You can find the programme here

 

Workshop Date Time Location
Writing Academy: Day 1 Wednesday, 21st June 2023 10.00 – 16.00 Online
Writing Academy: Day 2 Thursday, 22nd June 2023 08.55 – 16.45 Online
Writing Academy: Day 3 Friday, 23rd June 2023 08.45 – 16.45 Talbot Campus

 

Please note, participants are required to attend all three days of the Writing Academy sessions.

To book a place on this workshop please complete the Booking Form.

 

For any specific queries regarding this workshop please email Pengpeng Hatch: pphatch@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Writing Academy 2023- 3 Day Workshop

BU research, ECR Network, Events, Post-award, pre-award, Research Concordat, Training, writing

Online education Flat isometric vector concept of online education, e-learning, webinar, training academic publishing stock illustrationsThis 3 Day workshop covers strategies for academic writing: writing to prompts, targeting a journal/specific criteria, types of prompt for academic writing, ‘snack writing’, goal-setting for writing, motivation, freewriting, generative writing, analysing academic writing, drafting and revising an abstract/summary, constructing a ‘contribution’ argument, using prompts in series, outlining, productive writing behaviours, wellbeing, writing groups, micro-groups and retreats. Many of these can be used in preparing for a concentrated spell of writing at a writing retreat.

This is a practical workshop. The aim of the writing activities in this workshop is to let you try these strategies and consider how/if/where they can fit in your writing practice. We also discuss how they can be used for writing theses, articles and other writing. They also let you start/work on your writing project during the workshop.

The online version of this course involves several short writing activities, all designed to help you develop your paper/chapter/thesis and use productive, healthy writing habits. By signing up to this course you agree to do the writing tasks and to talk about your writing in online small-group discussions, to give and receive feedback on this writing and to discuss your writing plans and goals.

You can find the programme here

 

Workshop Date Time Location
Writing Academy: Day 1 Wednesday, 21st June 2023 10.00 – 16.00 Online
Writing Academy: Day 2 Thursday, 22nd June 2023 08.55 – 16.45 Online
Writing Academy: Day 3 Friday, 23rd June 2023 08.45 – 16.45 Talbot Campus

 

Please note, participants are required to attend all three days of the Writing Academy sessions.

To book a place on this workshop please complete the Booking Form.

 

For any specific queries regarding this workshop please email Pengpeng Hatch: pphatch@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Need some help from post-award services urgent? Read on to find out how…

BU research, Post-award

RKE post award support: getting urgent assistance and raising concerns

RDS supports BU researchers to deliver externally funded research and knowledge exchange projects once awarded (known as post award services). This includes the day-to-day financial administration of projects (including providing travel codes) and ensuring that the core tasks required of the University in order to claim the grant income are completed. This includes: 

  • Ensuring RKE grant/funding agreements are in place 
  • Ensuring RKE financial reporting is completed 
  • Enabling financial audits of RKE projects 
  • Ensuring formal RKE project modifications take place (e.g. via JeS) 
  • Ensuring RKE project cost claims/invoicing take place  
  • Closing down RKE projects 
  • Completing financial forecasting of RKE cash-flow and income.  

Post-award services works in partnership with all RDS teams, Faculties and Professional Services to enable the progression of externally funded RKE projects. Much of the support researchers need to effectively deliver externally funded projects lies outside of post-award services in RDS; however, the team will sign-post to relevant colleagues as appropriate.  

A reminder: As a service, we currently have five officers and two administrators who support c.400 live projects. Our colleagues are working very hard to provide the service that you need. However, over the past five years, the complexity of internal and external processes has increased, which has placed considerable additional pressure on the team.   

We are aware that, currently, there are challenges to providing an optimal service on a consistent basis, which can be frustrating and disappointing to colleagues undertaking the challenging task of delivering research and knowledge exchange projects.  

In response to feedback, we are addressing the gap in service in collaboration with the Transformation Team to streamline processes/creating efficiencies and by moving resource from elsewhere in RDS to provide additional staffing.  

Whilst we work across the institution to secure the delivery of an improved service, we are grateful to colleagues who interact with our administrators and officers within the team with respect and kindness.  

An urgent query? 

The volume of emails received on a daily basis by our seven members of staff is currently at such a high level that it is not always possible to respond as quickly as we would like. We understand that this can be concerning, so please be advised of the alternative mechanisms to get a response. 

Contact your administrator or project delivery officer: 

  • For your day-to-day administration requests, please submit these via the admin enquiry tool: https://bit.ly/RDSAdmin. This allows us to monitor the requests that are being submitted and ensure they are being progressed.  
  • Email isn’t always a great communication tool; so we recommend scheduling quarterly review meetings with your project delivery officer and giving colleagues a quick call on MS Teams to discuss any issues arising. You can find out who does what and our alternative contact details here on the Research Blog. If you are unsure who your post award officer is, then please see our guide on SharePoint.

Contact a manager: 

  • If you need urgent assistance, you are welcome to contact Rebecca Edwards, Senior RDS Manager, directly. She oversees post-award services and is part of the RDS Executive.  You can contact Rebecca via redwards@bournemouth.ac.uk / Microsoft Teams or by calling 01202 961538.  
  • The two managers within the post-award team are as follows:  
  • Alex Morrison, Post-Award Programme Manager. Alex line manages the Project Delivery Officers. Alex is available Monday to Thursday. You can call Alex on MS Teams.  
  • Gary Cowen, Finance and Systems Facilitator. Gary line manages the Project Administrators within the team. Gary is available Tuesday to Friday. You can call Gary on MS Teams.  

Attend a drop-in session 

  • Each Thursday morning, the post-award service team offer a drop-in service for any queries that you may have. You can join the session on teams via this link or email Rebecca Edwards for a diary invitation.  

Escalating concerns  

  • On occasion, our service users may need to formally raise concerns about the service that they have received. If you wish to formalise your concerns, you are kindly advised to follow the steps below:  
  • Email Rebecca Edwards, Senior RDS Manager via redwards@bournemouth.ac.uk 
    • Within this email, please detail:  
      • Which RKE project(s)  
      • The nature of the concern  
      • How time critical resolution is (for example, if there is an urgent deadline) 
      • Any outcomes you are looking for as a result of your escalation  
      • Any evidence / relevant background information pertinent to your concern.    
  • On receipt of your formal concern, we will listen, resolve and log. We will handle your concerns sensitively and ask if there if there are any aspects you wish to remain confidential, that you highlight this.  
  • Our formal concern log is used to inform our programme of transformation. Where your concern is outside of RDS’ control, we will bring it to the attention of the relevant area of the University.  
  • If you do not believe your formal concern has been satisfactorily addressed, the next point of escalation is to Julie Northam, Head of RDS/part of the University Leadership Team.  

Equality Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) toolkit – NIHR webinar

BU research, BU2025, Events, Impact, NHS, Post-award, pre-award, Research Integritiy, Research Training

  

Dear colleagues

– Are you an NIHR funded researcher?
– Are you planning to submit a grant application to NIHR?

NIHR Research Design Service East Midlands are hosting a webinar introducing the new EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity) toolkit and is a valuable starting point for researchers seeking to develop more inclusive research proposals.

The NIHR Research Design Service (RDS) has developed an EDI toolkit to support researchers to consider and embed EDI at each stage of their research project, from inception through to dissemination, implementation and impact.

The 90 minute webinar is on 30th March 2022 at 13.30.

More information and link to book here.

Your local branch of the NIHR RDS (Research Design Service) is based within the BU Clinical Research Unit (BUCRU)

We can help with your application. We advise on all aspects of developing an application and can review application drafts as well as put them to a mock funding panel (run by RDS South West) known as Project Review Committee, which is a fantastic opportunity for researchers to obtain a critical review of a proposed grant application before this is sent to a funding body.

Contact us as early as possible to benefit fully from the advice

Feel free to call us on 01202 961939 or send us an email.

Filling the gap: an ACORN funded project

Awarded & submitted bids, BU research, ECR Network, Impact, Post-award, Postgraduate Research, pre-award, Research news, RKE development framework

Back in May 2021, Kimberley Davies (inset ) and Sarah Elliott submitted a bid to BU’s ACORN internal fund, which is focussed on supporting the career development for Early Career Researchers.

The bid was entitled

“Filling the Gap: Investigating past and present socio-ecological resilience to aid future sustainability in the Poole Harbour Catchment”.

Their ACORN project proposal was designed as a steppingstone towards a future UKRI grant application. Kim and Sarah’s project, which would bring together decades of archaeological and ecological research in the Poole Harbour Catchment area, to develop scenarios of future resilience in coastal regions in light of potential large-scale environmental change, is aimed at the AHRC ECR grant.

Broadly the project aimed to characterise key events from the last ~10,000 years in the Poole Harbour area, e.g. sea level rise or agricultural intensification, and evaluate their socio-ecological impacts using historical profiling and theoretical models. The pilot study would also investigate the applicability of using palaeoecological ‘proxies’ and geoarchaeological markers in the sediment horizons to understand the impact of large scale events. This is critical in order to develop a plausible framework for future research, including defining appropriate sampling locations and relevant environmental proxies to signify key changes.

Kim and Sarah had written an excellent application and had complied with all the requirements of the application process.

Sarah commented ‘The application process for the ACORN grant, whilst resembling a small UKRI grant, was straightforward to assemble and submit. The ACORN team provided support with to help those who are unsure about the grant application process. The grant is really beneficial for anyone who wants to test ideas or generate preliminary data as often proof of concept is critical to the success of larger grants but can be difficult to obtain.’

Kim and Sarah were awarded funding and the project was successfully delivered within the time frame for the grant. Like most projects, it wasn’t plain sailing, but all the key aims were achieved and they are now actively working towards the submission of the full UKRI grant.

Kim stated that ‘The provision of a small sum of money has allowed us to generate pilot data that we are using as part of our larger bid. As two ECRs the ACORN grant allowed us to work closely together to develop this project idea as project leads, which is often difficult to do as part of other grants. We are now working together on the larger UKRI bid which makes this part less daunting and more achievable within a specific timeframe.’

These photos were taken during the fieldwork in Poole Harbour:

BU colleague Harry Manley joined Sarah and Kim on fieldwork to learn more about the process of palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Sediments were retrieved from as deep as 5m below the surface. Multiple locations are logged in order to establish the best location to take a sediment core from.

During the analysis of the samples back in the lab :

The lab analyses included looking at the geochemistry, organic content, pollen and silica phytolith microscopic plant remains, the magnetic susceptibility, particle size and insects. These analyses helped to understand what has been preserved and what can be looked at in detail in future projects.

The ACORN grant allowed the sediments to be dated and helped to establish that the deepest deposits sampled so far are approximately 5000 years old!

For more information about ACORN funding, see the ACORN intranet page or contact ACORN@bournemouth.ac.uk.

(Photo credits: Kim Davies and Sarah Elliott, Bournemouth University)

 

Michelle Heward; reflections from an ACORN Awardee

Awarded & submitted bids, BU research, ECR Network, Post-award, Postgraduate Research, pre-award, Research news, RKE development framework, Training

How BU ECR ACORN funding has helped my research career

I was awarded BU ECR Acorn funding in 2018 for a study titled ‘Minimising disorientation in care homes: Experiences of care home staff’. The funding enabled me to recruit and manage a student Research Assistant to undertake telephone interviews with care home managers, exploring how they address spatial disorientation and navigation of residents with dementia in such environments.

With guidance and support from my line manager Prof Jan Wiener and colleagues from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, I was able to gain experience of leading the study as Principal Investigator and contributing to the evidence base of current practice by publishing the findings in a journal article.

This experience has proven to be an essential element in building my research profile. It demonstrates my capability to build a multi-disciplinary team and lead a study through the research cycle, from idea to dissemination stage. As such, it has been a catalyst for me to obtain external research funding from the Alzheimer’s Research UK South Coast Network to continue developing my expertise and networks in this area. It has also given me the confidence to take forwards further research interests and ideas with my other line manager Prof Jane Murphy and various internal and external colleagues. I have since applied to funders such as NIHR, EPSRC, and Alzheimer’s Society – with some success and some still awaiting an outcome!

Personally, I feel that the support for ECRs at BU has improved recently with the development of initiatives such as the ECR network, ECR Acorn funding, and training and development courses specifically aiming at ECRS as part of the RKE Development Framework. I have benefited from career planning and development advice and resources from my line managers, those who run the ECR network, the BU MyCareerHub (particularly the networking and Linked in guidance) and having access to health and wellbeing resources such as a coach to discuss career trajectory.

I would encourage all ECRs at BU to take the time to look at what is available and make use of what is appropriate to them. If applying for ECR Acorn funding, start with a small, manageable project and involve more experienced colleagues to ensure you feel supported and able to complete the study.

Horizon Europe – July Update

EU, Post-award, pre-award

Draft of the Annotated Grant Agreement published

The European Commission (EC) has published the draft of the Annotated Grant Agreement, which includes additional explanations for each article of the corporate Model Grant Agreement. It reflects the new corporate structure of the General Model Grant Agreement and equally will be used for all centrally managed EU programmes that have already migrated (or will soon migrate) to the Funding & Tenders Portal.

HEU Work Programme published

EC adopted the main Horizon Europe (HEU) Work Programme for 2021-2022 in mid-June and consequently published the final version on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Consequently, many of the first calls for proposals, worth €14.7 billion, have already opened. There are several updates planned to the Work Programme, in particular in the autumn, to clarify the eligibility conditions for topics that were under discussion in Cluster 4 ‘ Digital, Industry and Space’ where some restrictions to protect the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security apply.

HEU Info Days

Following the recent Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Digital Brokerage Event held by Ideal-ist, the network of National Contact Points for ICT research and the Enterprise Europe Network, the online partnering system remains open to book scheduled and ad hoc meetings until the first call deadlines (21 October 2021). In addition, resources from the European Commission’s Horizon Europe information events are available online: Cluster 1 Health Info Day, Cluster 2 Culture, Creativity & Inclusive Society Info Day, Cluster 5 Climate, Energy & Mobility Info Day and Cluster 6 Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment Info Day.

Swiss participation in HEU

As of 30 July 2021, Switzerland is treated as a non-associated third country in Horizon Europe. Consequently, researchers based in Switzerland are currently only able to participate in a Horizon Europe, the Euratom programme and the Digital Europe Programme proposal as an associated partner from a third country.

Funding for researchers and innovators based in Switzerland for their participation in collaborative projects will be provided by the Swiss Government for all 2021 calls of Horizon Europe and the Euratom programme. The State Secretariat for Research and Innovation (SERI) has published a financial guarantee on their website.

So, a Swiss partner is eligible to participate in collaborative projects, though the consortia have to make sure that the minimum eligibility criteria, excluding Switzerland, is met for each proposal.

You can find the most recent information on the current status of Switzerland within HEU and relevant materials for researchers on the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation website.

Association to HEU

According to Research Professional, EC has completed its second round of talks on association to Horizon Europe with a group of non-EU countries. Armenia, Georgia, Israel, Moldova, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine have all now completed their second round of talks. The final round of negotiations is expected to take place from the end of August to mid-September, with a target of signing association agreements by the end of 2021.

On 17 June, the EC announced it had given provisional associated access to Horizon Europe to the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Morocco, Norway and the UK.

Negotiations on UK association have already been concluded as part of a broader agreement on trade and other relations with the bloc.

Funding opportunities

As it was announced earlier this week, there will be no funding briefings in August with those returning in September. However, RDS Research Facilitators will continue updating the Major Opportunities pipeline on a weekly basis, so you have access to the latest funding opportunities. The pipeline is available on the I Drive at RDS\Public\Funding Pipeline.

Let me wish you all to enjoy the rest of the summer and do not hesitate to contact me with questions related to EU and international funding.

10 things you need to know about the BU Financial Regulations and RKE

BU research, policy, Post-award, pre-award

Please read the following 10 things you need to know about the BU Financial Regulations in relation to research and knowledge exchange (RKE).

1. The purpose of the BU Financial Regulations is to provide control over university resources, ensuring the resources are being properly applied to achieve the university’s objectives. They provide practical guidance on the university’s policies relating to financial control. All matters concerning finance must be carried out in line with the Financial Regulations.

2. They apply to all of us, irrespective of your grade, role, department that you work in or what type of employment contract you hold.

3. Non-compliance with the regulations is potentially a disciplinary matter. See below for a non-exhaustive list of examples of potential breaches of the Financial Regulations in relation to RKE.

4. They apply to all university activities irrespective of the source of funding. Specific external funding such as research grants are still subject to our Financial Regulations because the funds are awarded to the university and not to an individual member of staff.

5. All bids/applications/quotations to external funders/clients must be costed by RDS and approved via the Activity Proposal Form (APF) process, prior to submission. The approved costs must match those submitted to the funder. If a named sub-contractor is included within the bid/application, this will be subject to BU Procurement procedures (see #7).  No commitment to outside agencies or to incur expenditure can be made without the proper approval being in place.  If a bid commits BU at the time of submission then the Contract Signing Policy & Procedures will need to be followed at bid stage.

6. A contract/agreement/grant offer letter, etc. cannot be signed until it has been reviewed by Legal Services. There are only certain people who can sign documents or agreements/contracts ‘on behalf of the university’. RKE projects cannot start until there is a signed contract in place. See the Financial Authority Limits and the Contract Signing Policy & Procedures.

7. All purchasing must be made in accordance with the BU Procurement Manual. There are thresholds determining when quotations and tendering procedures are required.

8. Principal Investigators are responsible for ensuring their RKE projects do not exceed the funds available/the approved budget. This can be monitored using the Research & Enterprise Database, RED.

9. All purchases must be approved prior to commitment. All purchases must have a purchase order raised prior to the order being placed or the work taking place.

10. Travel and Business Expenses can only be incurred in accordance with the Financial Regulations. The specific rules in are in the BU Business Travel Policy and the Staff & Visitors Expenses Policy.

Examples of potential breaches of BU Financial Regulations, which could lead to further action (such as disciplinary proceedings):

  • Signing a contract that has not undergone legal review and/or without the required approvals in place.
  • Changing the financial figures in an external funding application so they no longer match those approved via the APF process.
  • Starting work on an externally-funded RKE project, before a contract has been signed.
  • Committing to purchases, without prior approval or without having a purchase order.
  • Exceeding the budget available for an RKE project.
  • Spending more on travel, subsistence or accommodation than the rates specified in the Staff & Visitors Expenses Policy, without prior approval.
  • Not adhering to the procurement procedures set out in the BU Procurement Manual.