Knowledge Transfer Partnerships
Accelerate your career with a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) offer an exciting opportunity for graduates to lead strategic projects and make a real impact in industry.
These unique three-way collaborations connect forward-thinking businesses, leading UK universities like Nottingham, and talented graduates – known as KTP Associates – to deliver high-impact initiatives that tackle real-world challenges.
Part-funded by Innovate UK, KTPs are a nationally available programme open to graduates from all disciplines. As a KTP Associate, you’ll be at the heart of a strategic project, applying academic knowledge in a commercial setting.
Employed by the University of Nottingham but based within the partner business, you’ll benefit from the best of both worlds: a fast-paced industry environment with academic support throughout.
What's in it for you?
- A competitive salary, typically estimated, between £30,000–£40,000 per year.
- High-profile, career-accelerating experience with leadership responsibility from day one.
- A structured, supported transition from university into industry.
- Dedicated time (10%) for personal and professional development.
- A generous training and development package, including a £2,000 annual budget.
- Access to university training courses at no cost.
- Join a national network of around 850 KTP Associates each year.
Projects typically last between 12 months and three years and are designed collaboratively to address a specific business challenge. As an Associate, you’ll be instrumental in embedding knowledge and innovation, supported by both academic and business mentors.
Current KTP vacancies
Contact the KTP team at the university
Hear from our KTP Associates
From improving highway maintenance with cutting-edge software, to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, or deepening understanding of botanical interactions in artisan gin – KTP projects span a wide range of sectors and specialisms.
Whatever your background, there’s a KTP opportunity that could match your interests and expertise.
Victoria’s KTP Associate journey
Watch as Victoria Howard shares her transition from academia to industry, revealing what inspired her to become a KTP Associate. Discover how the partnership is not only shaping her career, but also influencing how Nottingham law firm Browne Jacobson approaches equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Leo’s KTP Associate journey
Discover how KTP Associate Leonardo Rodrigues accelerated his career through a groundbreaking project with XAIS-PTS and the University of Nottingham’s Faculty of Engineering. Learn how their collaboration led to the development of an innovative software tool that's transforming the future of highway maintenance.
Read our latest KTP Associate Q and As
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