Student Projects

This is an update to advise of fully funded student projects & placements that we have coming up over the next few months.  If you are interested in any of these please email Lorna ASAP as they are extremely popular and can sometimes be oversubscribed. You can access the full list of opportunities here: Student Projects and Placements

Topics include:

• Computer Science: Closes 30^th November. Runs Jan – Apr 2024
  Projects typically involve software development or system configuration as their central activity, with students of project management or design-oriented subjects providing specialist input.
• HR: Closes 31^st October ‘23
  Projects to help an organisation to find a solution to an HR issue or help to prepare for a change on the horizon. Students conduct free research and provide companies with a report including future recommendations.
• Fashion Management: Closes 31^st October ’23. Runs from Jan ‘24
  Previous projects included forecasting trends, researching and a documenting findings. Exploring commercial opportunities. Build influencer banks.
• Financial Risk: Closes 1^st December. Runs from Jun ‘24
  Looking for major quantitative challenges faced by the insurance sector and wider financial services industry.
• Marketing: Closes 30^th November. Runs from Jan ’24 (£250)
  Project type includes market research, developing an innovative marketing strategy, develop a social media campaign etc. These projects are part of an exam process.
• Music Business: Closes 14^th October. Runs from Jan ‘24
  Project types involve working in event/festival management, music conference management, digital marketing and with record labels and arts organisations.
• Visual Communications: Closes 30^th November. Runs Dec ’23 – Jan ‘24
  This course is much more research-led and includes consulting with multiple stakeholders as part of the delivery, so ideally suited to 3rd sector, public sector, or small community-serving organisations. Examples include:  An info pack/toolkit was developed for the fire service, in which they evaluated ideas with young people/ Gardening toolkit for the elderly in care homes, taking account of those with cognitive impairments.
• Business Administration – Ongoing – Funding Optional
  The range of business functions a project can address are diverse and include growth or business development, marketing, operations, strategy and finance. New models or processes can be developed, or solutions presented to strategic or operational issues. The final report will be directed at senior management or director level.

Student Placements

Looking for industry clients that would be happy providing work experience for students whether it be a 2 week internship or a project to last a full semester.  Please note some of these may be paid placements, please check on enquiry.

• Law. Closes 30^th November, placement runs Feb – Apr ’24 (10 weeks)
• Data Lab – AI and Data. All year round
• Computing Placements. Closes 30^th November, placement runs Jan ’24 and Jun ’24 (3month/180hours)
• School of Social & Political Sciences. Closes 6^th November
• Edinburgh Climate Change Institute. Closes 31^st October, runs Nov 2023 – May 2024
• International Tourism & Hospitality Management. Closes Jan ’24. Runs 4 weeks late Mar’24
• Creative & Digital Marketing. Closes 31^st Oct ’23. Runs from 15^th Jan ’23 for 6 or 12 weeks.
• Mechanical Engineering. Closes 30^th December. Runs from Apr ’24 – 6/8 months.
• Biotechnology. Closes 31^st Jan ’24. Runs from May ’24 for 12 weeks.
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Closes 16^th Feb ’24. Runs from Jun – Dec ’24 / 23 weeks.

Funding

– £7.5k Standard Innovation Voucher

These vouchers are to encourage new first-time collaboration between SMEs and a Scottish University or College. There are two types of Standard Innovation Vouchers:

• Product/Process/Service Innovation Voucher
• Workforce Innovation Voucher

– £7.5k Student Placement Innovation Voucher

These are an opportunity to build on existing relationships between SMEs and a Scottish University or College to continue the development of a Standard Innovation Voucher award.

-£20k Advanced Innovation Voucher

The Advanced Innovation Voucher (AIV) fosters enduring partnerships between Scottish organisations and a university or college. We welcome applications from small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), sole traders, social enterprises and third sector organisations. The application deadline is Friday 31st October.

-£10k Inward Investment Catalyst Fund

The Scottish Inward Investment Catalyst Fund (IICF) has been developed by Interface and the Scottish Government to attract and support businesses, not yet located in Scotland but with an interest in developing a presence here. The application deadline is Friday 15th November.

Depending on the nature of your proposed project we can also look at funding external to Interface such as SMART grants, Innovate UK etc.

Events

Perth Coworking day – Codebase Techscaler
Thursday 14^th November
A free coworking day in the Famous Grouse Idea Centre for the tech and business community.
Perth Coworking Day Tickets, Thu, Nov 14, 2024 at 10:30 AM | Eventbrite

Scottish Agritourism Conference 2024
Monday, 18 November
Bringing together the agritourism network from across Scotland. Anyone with an interest in agritourism is very welcome.
Scottish Agritourism Conference 2024 Tickets, Mon 18 Nov 2024 at 09:00 | Eventbrite

Interface’s Impact in Tayside & Forth Valley

The Prebiotic Company

• After turning their health around with prebiotics, three friends, all facing gut health issues, established The Prebiotic Company Ltd and launched, ió fibrewater the UK’s first prebiotic fibre-infused water, in May 2022.
• Prebiotics, specific dietary fibres, and probiotics, beneficial bacteria, play crucial roles in enhancing the gut microbiome and overall health.
• Supported by over 4,000 research papers, prebiotics have been shown to boost the immune system, reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, and improve mood and sleep.
• The collaboration with GCU, brought about by Interface, proved the viability of the core ió fibrewater product, and helped The Prebiotic Company to understand exactly how and what probiotics responded to the core recipe for use in future drinks and food products as they expand.