Interface

Please name the main purpose of your business.
Based regionally throughout Scotland, Interface works with organisations of all sizes, in all sectors, to match them to Scotland’s world-leading academic expertise, to help with their growth ambitions. Our primary aim is to encourage individuals, community groups, businesses & social enterprises in Scotland, to work with a university partner to drive innovation and encourage creativity, turning knowledge and ideas into value for society.

With connections into all Scottish universities, research institutes and colleges, Interface has an established and efficient process that will save time and money in identifying and accessing academic expertise, research, technologies, specialist facilities and funding.

Our free and impartial service has helped thousands of organisations become more competitive, enabling them to increase their profits, reach new markets and ultimately become more sustainable. We are on hand to support and guide you through the process of being matched with an academic partner (which includes the option of working with students). We help scope up your project to define your need, and we can help source funding options which can offset project costs too.

What are the benefits to operating in Moray?
Moray is an expansive area with a varied and diverse range of businesses and organisations that strive to be resilient, innovative and collaborative in order to contribute to the local and national economy. From local development trusts to small family run businesses, SMEs and large companies, each and every project need is different and the passion to diversify and succeed never fails to impress me.

How do you connect to your local customers?
As the main Interface contact for Moray, I’m eager to connect with local businesses and organisations who have innovative ideas and projects they wish to progress. Existing customers often pass on my details, we receive referrals from Moray Chamber, Business Gateway and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and I meet new customers at local events and conferences. Being based in Nairn, I can arrange to speak with customers in whichever way is more suitable for them, whether that’s face-to-face at their premises or online.

Why are you part of Moray Chamber of Commerce?
It’s invaluable in making local connections. Moray Chamber’s desire to help businesses thrive runs closely in parallel with our own hopes and aims for the region.

What are you most proud of?
Helping organisations to establish connections and gain assistance from academic teams, especially when they may not have realised this was a form of support available to them. It gives me such a sense of pride and satisfaction.

Since 2018, as a direct result of Interface facilitated projects, there were 457 new/improved products, 342 new/improved processes and 293 new/improved services, and 720 jobs were created or safeguarded. 39% of organisations continued to work with their academic partner after their initial project too, so it’s very much a collaborative journey that we help to establish.

Finally, name one misconception that people have about your business.
I have two!

1) that we are just about funding when we can help with so much more.

2) that we only help with digital or technology-based projects. Projects can include Strategic Marketing; Food & Drink expertise; Chemistry; Health Sciences; Heritage & Culture – anything really!

Interface enables business-academic collaborations for economic and societal benefit. Established in 2005, Interface is a central hub connecting organisations from a wide variety of national and international industries to all of Scotland’s universities, research institutes and colleges.

Interface also facilitates clusters of businesses and academics working together to tackle industry sector challenges leading to transformational outcomes and impacts.

The free and impartial service has helped thousands of organisations to become more competitive enabling them to increase their profits, maximise their export potential and ultimately become more sustainable.

For more information visit www.interface-online.org.uk