Physics Employers & Enterprise
Enterprise is the name Salford University gives to our Engagement with Employers in Industry and in other Sectors.
Careers Focus in Physics Teaching
In addition to student placements, Salford Physics has arranged further novel ways to bring our students into direct contact with prospective employers. These new activities are driven by our vision of introducing features of real world careers, employment and the employers themselves into the undergraduate degree programmes. We have embellished our first year physics teaching with employer-related topics that focus the goals and motivations of our students. These new additional components are unique to Salford Physics and will no doubt be of benefit both to our students (in their pursuit of good careers), and also to potential employers (who are constantly searching for world-wise and motivated physics students).
Real World Research & Enterprise
At Salford, Physics research includes Internationally-Excellent Fundamental and Theoretical Academic Works. The backbone of our engagement with employers arises from the strong reputation Salford also has for leading real world research. We have a long tradition of professional enterprise activities undertaken by our Physics staff.
Examples of Applied Research and Physics Enterprise
- Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) with the Medical Research Council
- Diffraction & LIBS Applications in Archaeology with the Blackden Trust, Cheshire
- Thin Hard Coatings Applications with Hardide Coatings Ltd, Oxfordshire
- Ongoing projects in New Materials and Processes with Technical Fibre Products Ltd, Cumbria
- Continuing Professional Development activities in Vacuum Technologies with Daresbury
- Plasma Air Purification Technologies with Plasma Clean Limited, Cheshire
- Photovoltaic Materials Developments (e.g. CuInSe2 magnetron spluttering)
- Development of Activated Carbons for Hydrogen Adsorption with Chemviron Carbon Ltd. Wigan
- Exploitation of HIDEN Intelligent Gravimetric Analysers (originally developed at Salford) with HIDEN Isochema, Warrington
- Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) Technologies, as collaborations on CVD design and Materials Development
- Organisation of Exhibition Conferences with Daresbury
- Flexible Production Technologies and Equipment based on Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Processing for 3D Nano Structured Surfaces (N2P). An EU Integrated Project with multiple partners including EADS, Nuon, and a number of companies involved in photovoltaic developments
- Development of Hydrogen Storage for use with Hydrogen Fuel Cells (NESSHy). An EU Integrated FP6 Project that involves a number of industrial collaborators including Daimler
Organisation of Enterprise
- A significant amount of Physics staff engage with employers through our Commercial Enterprise Unit (CEU). This Unit has a range of specialist staff that are able to assess and identify how we can help businesses. Enterprise staff then work in partnership with employers to develop the most appropriate solutions. Their wide range of activities include finding suitable expertise, acting as a conduit for courses, and advising on student placements. They coordinate a number of specialist clusters of expertise concerning: water, energy, waste, acoustics, engineering design, and the environment.
- We also have a dedicated technical suite within Salford Analytical Services (SAS). SAS offers efficient and responsive solutions to instrumentation requirements. Run by Senior Technical Consultant Managers, with over 45 years industrial experience between them, SAS has an excellent and comprehensive collection of key analytical instruments. Their core analytical techniques include Microscopy, Spectroscopy, and X-Ray Diffraction.
- The University of Salford also has a dedicated Business Services Team (BST) whose roles include: delivering projects for the public sector, developing skills and expertise in employment, helping to create new products and services, and developing and sustaining long-term partnerships between various sectors and the University.
Each of the above Service Centres are keen to receive enquiries from professionals for further information. Contact is invited from individuals, entrepreneurs, private businesses, new-start companies, public or voluntary sector organisations, and from social enterprises. Our Service Centres are very open to discussion of the benefits of Salford's enterprise and business support strands, and the engagement opportunities that we have to offer.
