KTPs give graduate careers a highflying start

We have increased the number of KTP projects we actively manage and deliver – as well as their diversity and range. Our active project portfolio now extends across seven out of our nine schools, and we work with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and larger businesses in the Leeds City Region, and across the UK.

KTP is one of the biggest career platforms for talented graduates in the UK – to date there have been over 12,000 KTPs in almost every industry sector and in companies of all sizes, with each one being ‘owned’ by a graduate KTP associate. There are more than 300 job opportunities every year for graduates to lead a KTP.

The role of a KTP associate lies at the heart of our KTP programme. They deliver the project successfully, each bringing different experience, skills, personality and ambition to their project. We are consistently impressed by the results and impact they bring to their project, the business and academic team they work with.

As well as a competitive salary, each KTP associate receives £2k per year to spend on their own bespoke training and development. You just don’t get that opportunity with any other graduate job.

KTP not only develops the KTP associate: KTP is a successful vehicle to bring new thinking, ideas, and expertise to the businesses. The average project length of two years allows a business time to absorb and embed the skills that an associate brings, underpinned by the crucial part the academic team will play, by bringing their support to the project.

After the 2 - 3 year project is complete, the KTP associate will sometimes stay with the organisation (around 70% are offered that option). Whatever they choose as their next step, they leave with highly credible, commercial project management experience and have often been instrumental in delivering innovative, multi-layered solutions which create commercial impact.

So, it is especially pleasing to showcase how our very own LBU graduates are pivoting the academic expertise and learning they have developed through their studies.

James Fenwick graduated with a BSc (Hons) Games Design degree from Leeds Beckett in 2016 and led a Leeds Beckett KTP as an Associate on a project with Leeds property developers, Citu – creating a virtual reality show home experience for customers. Following the KTP, James was appointed as Citu’s Virtual Reality Experience Manager. He is now Serious Games Lead at the Centre of Excellence in Terrorism Resilience, Intelligence and Organised Crime Research (CENTRIC) at Sheffield Hallam University.

James said: “I did my placement year at the University’s App Studio, which provided the opportunity to develop a new set of skills – in particular working with clients, assessing their needs and mapping how to deliver them. It gave me project management and technical skills, as well as confidence in my own abilities. In hindsight, I realise how much the degree prepared me for both the KTP and everything that’s followed.

“It’s unbelievable how many development opportunities I had in the two-year period. My first trip to California for a conference provided so many opportunities to understand where technology and industries where heading – and also provided a significant injection of inspiration which I’d bring back to my work.

“During the KTP the academics really shone – through them I had access to a wealth of knowledge and experience to help me when I needed it. They helped push my education further forward through one-to-one sessions, additional courses and support to undertake a Masters by Research.

“During the pandemic, I saw a job advert at CENTRIC which sounded similar to the KTP – but working with academic, industry and law enforcement partners across Europe. It sounded daunting, but I knew the KTP had prepared me for the challenge. I find it difficult to imagine being in my position now without the KTP – it’s opened doors and shown me there are whole other industries that can benefit from the knowledge I have gained.”

James King

James King was recruited as a KTP Associate in 2023, and is Strategic Marketing and Business Growth Manager at Sniffers Pet Care, a small agile SME based in Halifax, who are looking to build on recent significant growth. James completed his BA (Hons) in Marketing with Advertising Management and MSc Marketing and Digital Strategy at LBU, graduating in 2021 and 2022.

James said: “I am gaining lots of skills for the next step in my career, thanks to the project and the significant personal development budget. Two residential training courses have taught me essential skills in project and people management, finance, creativity, and navigating change management. I have also attended conferences and webinars focusing on sustainability in marketing, emerging digital trends, and the integration of generative AI in marketing strategies – bringing these skills directly into the project."

“I am supported by two academics from Leeds Beckett University – a great resource which has helped with building out strategies and establishing processes; and they have been a useful sounding board as our new NAW brand continues to establish itself in the market.

“Attending Crufts in March was a buzz getting to work on the NAW stand.  I met lots of new and returning customers, and it was great to see the recognition and enthusiasm for the NAW brand. It was reassuring to see that what we have been working on was resonating with our customers and it became clear that the impact of NAW extends beyond the products and that the brand was now coming to life.

“During my courses at LBU, we used live case studies from real world businesses as part of our assignments. I am keen to support this industry-relevant teaching at the University and am now working with Leeds Business School to use Sniffers Pet Care and the NAW brand as a live case study for marketing students.”

Liam Wraith

Liam Wraith began his KTP Associate role as Marketing and Business Change Manager at Kingfisher (Lubrication) Limited in Leeds straight after graduating with a First Class degree in BA (Hons) Marketing Management from Leeds Beckett in July 2023.

Liam said: “The launch of Kingfisher's new website has been the highlight of my KTP project to date. The launch of a new website had been something in the pipeline for quite a while but lacked a dedicated person to push the launch. Website development and SEO (search engine optimisation) are skills which I possess but was keen to develop. To have the opportunity to push a big milestone over the line for the business in the early stages of the project helped me recognise the true value of a KTP and was immensely valuable to my personal development.

“The KTP has given me valuable management experience which is often rare to achieve so early in your career. Gaining this experience just less than 12 months after graduating I hope will prove advantageous in my career progression at the end of the KTP project and in the future.

“I am glad that I chose to do a KTP. The opportunity to make a real impact at a business at such an early stage of your career is too good of an opportunity to turn down.”

If you would like to find out more about our current and upcoming KTP opportunities, or want to know more about what an associate role involves, please get in touch with the team.