The DInCs programme provides a small team of Loughborough’s Doctoral Researchers with one day a week of real-world experience in business consultancy. The programme, originally piloted in 2021 by the Doctoral College and LUinc, will be delivered and funded by the new Loughborough University Research Academy (LURA) in 2026.
Since its inception, the DInCs programme has trained 28 researchers across the nine schools of the University to become consultants for 15 SMEs based in LUinc. Companies received this support from DInCs for free to solve their business problems. Doctoral researchers are paid for their work through the programme.
The fledgling consulting team will meet at an induction day in March, bringing together their unique skills and experiences. Over the course of the programme, consultants will collaborate on several consultancy projects to support businesses with their innovation goals.
The DInCs programme makes a meaningful impact for businesses by:
- informing companies on new materials, technologies and pathways for their products and services
- improving customer offerings by proposing new product ideas
- contributing towards wider market insights and discoveries
- supporting marketing strategies and product launches
- aid with securing investments, creating jobs and streamlining processes to increase revenue
A doctoral researcher described the programme’s approach as “innovation for meaningful change”, and found their expertise was utilised in new and meaningful ways. They were able to build their employability skills and workplace confidence through applying and adapting their skills for business needs.
Imoleayomide Ajayi, a consultant from the 2024 cohort, said: “The programme sharpened my strategic thinking, improved my teamwork skills, strengthened my ability to translate complex data into actionable insights, and prepared me to lead innovation in both academic and industry settings.”
Alumni consultant Petra Salaric went on to set up her own consultancy company, successfully delivering her work with national and international clients. Read the full story here.
Founder of Moti Me Ltd, Katie Michaels, who worked with the DInCs team in 2024 said: “As a solo founder, having a fresh group of minds explore the business from new angles helped me to see things I might have otherwise missed. The work supported us in preparing Moti Me for mass manufacture and bringing it closer to market readiness.”
Currently, applications to join the Doctoral Innovation Consultants Programme are due to open in January 2026 on the job vacancies site.
If you have any questions about the programme, get in touch with Dr Monalie Bandulasena m.v.bandulasena@lboro.ac.uk.