Our workshops teach a recipe for writing a research-grant application that enables all the different groups of readers that participate in a funding decision to find exactly what they are seeking:-
- The ordinary committee members find a clear statement of the argument that the project deserves funding because it addresses an important question and will make substantial progress. This statement begins the proposal and forms a framework that introduces the elements sought by other groups of readers.
- The presenting committee members find a clear statement of the points that support each part of the case. These statements frame the detail sought by expert readers.
- The expert readers find all the detail that makes the points that support each part of the case.
The recipe draws on my experience of writing successful grant applications, on the skills I learned as a journalist, and on my analysis of thousands of funding decisions in which I participated. The recipe works for all research disciplines; it meets the requirements of all the major research funders in the UK and Europe and can be written either as a unitary ‘Case for Support’ or split into separate ‘Vision’ and ‘Approach’ documents.
We teach the recipe to groups on in on-line, face-to-face and hybrid workshops, and to individuals in coaching sessions, supported by our online course. The best choice between the different kinds of workshop and coaching sessions depends on the number of participants, the desired outcomes, and the budget. The main outcomes we support are:-
- To learn the recipe and why it works?
- To develop the writing skills needed to use the recipe? or
- To write an application using the recipe?
To Learn the Recipe and Why it Works
To learn the recipe and why it works takes a few hours in a half-day face-to face workshop, two hours in zoom online workshop, or a few hours in an on-line self-paced workshop.
- A face-to-face half-day workshop at your premises has the advantage that it brings colleagues together and encourages them to help each other. It costs £1750 for up to 35 participants in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow, and £2500 elsewhere in the UK.
- A zoom workshop is cheaper and has the advantage that people can participate remotely. It costs £650 for up to 35 participants. Extra individual or group sessions can be added to extend and deepen the learning.
- The on-line self-paced workshop costs £10 per person for 24 hours access, £25 for a week, £48 for 14 days, £75 for 28 days and £120 for 56 days. Individuals can sign up for the on-line workshop here and pay with a coupon or credit card. To enquire about block bookings and for bookings that will be paid for by institutions use the the contact form. See Booking Workshops
To develop the writing skills needed to use the recipe
The best way to develop writing skills is to write, and to get feedback. The possibilities for this are:-
– Our face-to-face all-day workshop includes an afternoon of guided writing exercises with feedback from the facilitator, for up to 20 people. The morning session teaches the recipe and its rationale and can be attended by up to 35 people. The all-day workshop also includes a week’s access to the online materials for the 25 attendees, and costs £3000 for up to 25 people.
– Our hybrid online workshop consists of an introductory group zoom session, a homework task writing a set of key sentences, an individual homework feedback session for each participant, 28 days access to the online course for each participant, and a group debrief. It costs £2000 for up to 10 participants. Extra participants, who want to use the online materials and get feedback on their sentences cost £200 each. ’Spectators’, who just attend the group sessions, are free of charge.
– Our online course includes checklists to enable participants to analyse their own sentences. A number of universities buy access to our online workshops as a basis for in-house training sessions that they deliver themselves.
To Write a Grant Application
If you want to write a grant application and learn as you write, I can coach you through the process. In my view, being coached is the best way to develop the skills you need to write grants on your own and to help others learn. You can start being coached at any point in the process, from designing your project to finalising the document for submission. You send me a draft, which can be anything from notes on your project to a full draft application, before the session. During the session we discuss how to get your application to the next stage. Typically there are four stages:-
- deciding what the project will aim to achieve and how,
- drafting a summary of your case for support in the form of a set of PIPPIN key sentences,
- producing the first full draft of the case for support, and
- producing the polished final draft of the case for support.
Most clients need at least one coaching session to get through each stage. After each session I send you a recording of the session and my notes on your draft. Each coaching session gives you 4 weeks access to the online course. Most applicants need about 5 sessions to write an application from scratch.
Coaching costs £500 for a single session or £2000 for a block of 5 sessions.
Booking Workshops
Individuals can sign up for the on-line workshop here and pay with a coupon or credit card or use the contact form to arrange coaching sessions.
Institutions should use the contact form to enquire about arranging a workshop or to enquire about purchasing a coupon for access to the on-line workshop for a group or to arrange coaching.
Workshop Style
This brief trailer gives a flavour of the workshop style.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
20% VAT is added to prices charged to institutions and individuals in the UK.