Skillfluence Sessions, June 2026: Accelerating Impact through Industry Engagement

Universities face significant challenges including financial sustainability, graduate employability demands, and increasing pressure to demonstrate socio-economic impact. External collaborations offer solutions by diversifying income, enhancing student experience, and creating impact pathways. So how do you move more researchers from intention to action when it comes to industry engagement? In this interactive session, we will explore the common challenges we've seen from working with over 100 universities and research centres across the UK and Europe. And share practical ways to support researchers with taking the first steps, build sustainable pipelines, and increase participation. In this interactive webinar, led by Skillfluence's Head of Programmes and Training, Marie Ranson, we will share insights gathered from more than a decade of supporting researchers and professional services teams across the UK higher education sector. We will cover: Key industry engagement challenges facing researchers and institutions in 2026 Common barriers that prevent engagement opportunities from progressing Lessons learned from supporting researchers across the UK higher education sector The role of professional services teams in supporting engagement activity Practical skills and tools that help researchers engage more effectively with industry Approaches you can take back and apply within your institution