Ian Blakemore

I am a Knowledge Transfer Adviser based in North Yorkshire. As an Adviser, I spend most of my time supporting the transfer of knowledge from academia into business via Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) programme. Jointly funded by industry and government, projects support graduates working with university academics, leading to step-changes in culture and performance.

With a portfolio of around 30 projects / £5.5M value, I work closely with people at all levels in Universities and companies to develop and support applications, and then take a non-executive role to support and challenge project teams to ensure they deliver. I work with companies in North Yorkshire and the North East, in any sector, and am lead contact for Durham, Leeds, Newcastle, York and York St. John Universities, and CPI.

I have a degree in Microbiology from the University of Dundee, and prior to working as an Adviser held a variety of roles, mostly in the food and drink supply chain. This includes delivering large technology transfer programmes for devolved government agencies to support the food and drink sector, and also manufacturing, commercial, technical, support and consultancy roles for large and small businesses, research providers and universities, and a period of self-employment as a consultant. I was also a Director of the Food Processing Faraday, a forerunner of KTNs.

I have experience of wider strategic and governance roles, including time as a School Governor for a multi academy trust and a Town Councillor from 2015 to 2020. I am a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST), in part in recognition for work done on Spinning Disc reactor technology with University of Leeds, and was an IFST Board Trustee from 2017 to 2022, chairing the Finance Committee, responsible for strategic support to the board on financial matters for the Institute, including investments, risk and governance, and liaison with investment managers and accounting professionals. I was also board sponsor for the Digital Project, a complete overhaul of digital ways of working and infrastructure across IFST.