LJMU business partnership rated outstanding

A partnership between LJMU and a major civil engineering firm has been independently rated as outstanding after transforming its business model, generating growth and making progress towards net zero.

Liverpool Business School and FCE Projects Ltd worked together on a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to analyse the firm’s processes and introduce innovative new ways of working.

FCE Projects Ltd provides civil engineering services on power distribution networks across North West England and North Wales. Its vision is to be an innovation leader in the construction industry, creating dozens of new jobs and aiming to become a net zero business by 2030.

Significant enhancements

The partnership with LJMU’s Liverpool Business School has delivered a series of significant enhancements:

• Implementation of an ISO-accredited integrated management system, incorporating horizon-scanning and a new digital infrastructure
• Successful digitisation of operational processes across the company, utilising dashboards for data-driven decision-making
• Achieving a 20% increase in profitability and a remarkable 60% growth in client contracts
• Appointment of a Digital & Technology Solutions Degree Apprentice to support ongoing development
• Enhanced organisational resilience, enabling effective response to disruptions in the marketplace.

Outstanding partnership

External assessors have graded the partnership as outstanding, placing it among the top 15% of KTPs in the UK.

Mick Card, Knowledge Transfer Advisor for Innovate UK, said: “Management KTPs are difficult to get right. This one succeeded through establishing open clear agile relationships, visibility and early wins to grow confidence.”

Professor David Bryde, Director of Research and Innovation at Liverpool Business School, said: “We’re delighted to receive this outstanding independent endorsement of the work we have done in partnership with FCE Projects Ltd.

“Working together, we identified new management processes and digital technologies that transformed the organisational resilience, delivered growth and made progress on its ambition to reach net zero by 2030.

“Liverpool Business School is committed to working with businesses across the Liverpool City Region and beyond, using our expertise in innovation and creativity to help them achieve their goals and deliver societal, environmental and economic impact.”

Developing collaboration

The partners have further developed their collaboration, launching the Future Leaders Group Development Programme, designed and implemented by Dr Natalie Marguet, to nurture leadership skills, foster creative problem-solving and address critical business challenges.

FCE Projects Ltd director Tim Whitehill is now a visiting research fellow at LJMU, while KTP Associate Lewis Gerrard has continued to work with the company.