1. Developing strategies for funder engagement and influence;
2. Gathering and disseminating funding opportunities and intelligence;
3. Delivering researcher training and creating guidance, templates and resources to aid with the grant writing process;
4. Cross-University working with wider academic communities and professional services to ensure a joined-up approach in developing bids and sharing best practice.

 All aspects of bid development support including:

• advising on funding guidelines and due diligence requirements
• coordinating internal bid processes including demand management, where required
• arranging internal peer review
• helping generate budgets and advising on application finances
• helping secure match funding arrangements, where appropriate
• facilitating pre-award contracts checks where required
• providing guidance for letters of support
• helping submit applications on systems and portals and facilitating approvals
• assisting with external reviewer responses
• interview preparation
• assisting unsuccessful applicants with finding alternative funding routes for their research

CONTACT US EARLY! Please get in touch as soon as you have an idea for a project or have seen a scheme of interest. Bid development timelines can vary from 3-4 weeks to several months, depending on the size and complexity of applications. We manage a large volume of applications throughout the year and early engagement helps us set up the overall application process and prioritise support for bids.

This centrally-based team are responsible for providing specialist application and grant management support for all European and internationally funded projects. They also manage the University’s relationship with the European Commission's Joint Research Centre and Goethe University Frankfurt, and coordinate activities at the University office in Brussels (the Europe Hub).

Key contacts for CoSS: EUSupport@contacts.bham.ac.uk and e.dispersyn-nievergelt@bham.ac.uk 

Following a successful funding application, this central team will provide dedicated support to help set-up research projects. The set-up phase can involve a large number of preparatory steps – including grant acceptance, setting up contracts, ethical approval, other relevant regulatory and governance checks, recruitment, space requirements, equipment procurement, IT provision, risk assessment, etc.

Key contacts for CoSS: cossgrantsetup@contacts.bham.ac.uk

This College team will provide a range of services including:

• Post-award support, including guidance on using Pure and Researchfish, support in keeping track of reporting deadlines and linking researchers with specialist teams and resources across the University.

• Liaison with Contracts on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) applications.