A history and humanities KTP with heritage at its heart

The three-year ‘Knowledge Transfer Partnership’ between the University of Huddersfield and Pennine Heritage, in Hebden Bridge, will enable their transition from a small scale, part-time and volunteer-led organisation to a professionally-led and fully staffed ‘Heritage Enterprise’

HERITAGE is to be at the heart of a new ‘Knowledge Transfer Partnership’ that has recently been successful in its bid to receive funding from Innovate UK and it will be the University of Huddersfield’s first-ever history and humanities KTP. 

The project is a three-year collaboration between the University and Pennine Heritage, which is based at the iconic Birchcliffe Centre (pictured above) in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire and will enable their transition from a small scale, part-time and volunteer-led organisation to a professionally-led and fully staffed ‘Heritage Enterprise’. 

The plan is for the Enterprise to become one that is financially robust, actively engaging with commercial, public sector and voluntary partners to promote, celebrate and record the heritage of the South Pennines. 

“We hope that by embarking upon this KTP we will be able to establish a longer-term partnership with local and regional educational and cultural agencies to underpin our aims of recording, researching and ultimately celebrating the cultural and natural heritage of the South Pennines.”

Stephen Boyle, Pennine Heritage Trustee 

The soon to be appointed KTP Associate will be required to establish the long-term partnership, between Pennine Heritage and the University, which will enable ongoing collaboration in public history, historic building conservation, business support, the performing arts, and other fields; thereby allowing them to reach new and more diverse audiences, nationally and internationally. 

Knowledge Transfer Partnerships are part-funded by UK Research and Innovation through Innovate UK. The KTP programme is part of the Government’s Industrial Strategy and aims to help businesses to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK knowledge base. 

A symbiotic relationship 

Dr Rob Ellis, from the University’s Department of History, English, Linguistics and Music will be the KTP’s Academic Lead and says the partnership isn’t just about enabling Pennine Heritage to access the University’s expertise, but that it also allows the University to have access to the wide array of knowledge Pennine Heritage possesses. 

“This will very much be a symbiotic relationship and will provide a multitude of research and learning opportunities for University staff and students,” he said.

Supervising the KTP for Pennine Heritage will be trustees Stephen Boyle and Judith Schofield who are committed to evolving the role established by the Associate beyond the life of the KTP through the continuation of a full-time Heritage Manager post. 

“We hope that by embarking upon this KTP we will be able to establish a longer-term partnership with local and regional educational and cultural agencies to underpin our aims of recording, researching and ultimately celebrating the cultural and natural heritage of the South Pennines,” said Stephen. 

“We would also like to add that we wouldn’t have been able to do this without the help of Business Development Manager Laura Forester-Green from the University who helped us no end with completing the application. She has been an extremely valuable resource,” he said. 

Research and public engagement 

This KTP is an extension of Dr Ellis’ previous research and public engagement projects which include the place of patient voices in the development of policy and practice in heritage and social care settings. 

One such example has been Dr Ellis’ work with New Vic Borderlines where he co-produced exhibitions, a play, and a ‘Bag of Tricks’ resource for mental health and social care practitioners. 

These have since been used in a number of NHS Trusts and by trainee health and social care professionals in Japan which, after a visit in 2019, led to additional kits with Japanese translations being distributed to organisations throughout Osaka and Tokyo during the summer of 2020.