1. Working together to promote excellence in Physics SEPnet Employer Engagement Update SEPnet Summer Placement Scheme 2014 Software boot camp for SEPnet students Employer Engagement Officers – role and support Launch of Employer Engagement Programme for PGRs SME networking event at QMUL

2. Working together to promote excellence in Physics SEPnet Summer Placements 2014 72 projects submitted (59 in 2013) 197 students registered (177 in 2013) SEPnet placements increased from 51 to 59 SEPnet partners funding 29 (45 SEPnet funded in 2013) 28 full or part-employer funded (6 in 2013) 5 WP/Excel part-funded 16 new regional employers including 12 SMEs Electronics, photonics, energy, research, science communication, manufacturing, aerospace, defence Expo on 12 November at Royal Academy of Engineering SpIN/IOP placements to be confirmed 28 SEPnet students attending a 2-day software programming bootcamp by Software Carpentry on 25/26 June at UoR to learn about basics of structured programming, version control, unit testing and how to automate tasks.

3. Working together to promote excellence in Physics SEPnet Employer Engagement Update Employer Engagement Officers – role and support Need to ensure understanding this is a SEPnet role to create employer engagement opportunities for UGs and PGRs Line managers not always aware and able to support Do HoDs receive copies of progress report to ensure they know what activities the EEO is involved with? Can HoDs identify a knowledge exchange/industry link buddy for each EEO to ensure opportunities are optimised/attend employer meetings?

4. Working together to promote excellence in Physics Launch of GRADnet Employer Engagement Programme in June: Employers to offer: o Short consultancy projects/placements 2-3 weeks o Short block placements 2-3 months o Site visits, tours and work shadowing o Mentoring for help and advice – one-off or ongoing Projects include: piece of data analysis or feasibility study, software programming, product testing, upgrading a piece of kit, calibrating a new detector, modelling, website development or science communication Longer placements employer funded or part Santander-funded Legal agreement templates being drawn up to cover: IP/use of university equipment/delivery expectations/H&S/remote working Guidelines to include benefits, how to apply, process for suspending studies, case studies, producing a blog

5. Working together to promote excellence in Physics GRADnet Employer Engagement Programme Process: Call for projects/employer engagement opportunities in June Opportunities advertised direct to PGRs, via EEOs and on VRE Online registration set up for employers and PGRs EEOs to help source site visits, mentoring, placements etc for their students to upload on VRE EEOs to support PGRs

6. Working together to promote excellence in Physics GRADnet Employer engagement SME Networking Events: 3 planned for 2014/15: QMUL (Kent, Sussex) - 2 Sept, Herts (OU, RHUL) – March ‘15, Portsmouth (Soton, Surrey) Sept ‘15 Aim to: help PGRs to network with employers from a range of physics- related industries, enable SMEs to meet students and academics to find out about their research and explore ideas for joint working facilitate links between academics and industry to support impact work The evening will include: speed networking to optimise knowledge exchange an industry panel to generate ideas and debate launch of a mentoring scheme to develop employer-student relationships a networking workshop for PGRs at 16.00