Consultancy work

Consultancy activity is defined as the provision of expert advice or services to external clients undertaken by Professors and other staff in the Education and Research job family through a contract for payment. It does not normally include external examining, refereeing and guest lecturing at other Higher and Further Education institutions.

The University encourages Professors and other staff in the Education and Research job family to be involved in consultancy in order to contribute to the University’s mission of transferring knowledge, developing business and community relations and increasing income from nonregulated sources. Consultancy can also help to develop research collaborations and maintain longer-term relationships with funders.

There are two principal types of consultancy: ‘Institutional Consultancy’, ie undertaken as part of or supporting the work of the College; and ‘Independent Consultancy’, ie undertaken with no reference to the facilities, expertise, time or reputation of the University. All consultancy activity must be fully disclosed to the College.

The purpose of these Regulations is to ensure that:

• consultancy is undertaken on a professional, business basis;
• to protect the commercial interests of the University; and
• to ensure that potential conflicts of interest are avoided.

Institutional consultancy

Unless otherwise expressly agreed under the Independent Consultancy section below, all consultancy must be managed in accordance with procedures approved by the University*.

By express agreement with the College Dean and taking account of guidance issued by the University**, staff in the Education and Research job family may be able to receive additional remuneration in the form of an honorarium paid through the University payroll for engaging in institutional consultancy.

Independent consultancy

The University permits Professors and other staff in the Education and Research job family to engage in independent consultancy for up to 10 days per annum (pro-rata for part-time staff). Members of staff are required to disclose independent consultancy to their College Dean in accordance with procedures specified by the University. College Deans will take account of guidance by the University** in determining whether to permit such independent consultancy.

Following consultation with the Director of Human Resources, exceptionally a College Dean may agree that a member of staff has permission to undertake more than the 10 days of outside work referred to in the paragraph above. Any such agreement should be recorded in writing.

Staff undertaking independent consultancy may make their own arrangements for managing the work or they can take advantage of consultancy management services offered by Exeter Enterprises Ltd. Working through Exeter Enterprises Ltd will reduce the disclosure burden on academic staff***.