Starting procedures: Research Council & Innovate UK

(AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC, STFC)

Start Certificate

• Each project is given a starting window (usually 3 months but it can vary) to start the project
• Where Lboro it the lead University,we must submit a start certificate within 42 days of the latest start date.
• If the certificate is not submitted within this period the funding will be lost

Starting expenditure

• To start the project we need to specify the expenditure the project will start with.
• If there is a RA (Research Assistant) costed to the project for the whole time, the project must start with these costs
• If the RA is only employed for part of the project, we can start the project with any other expenditure except Estates costs. The project can then proceed.

Kick-off meeting

• Each project usually begins with a kick-off meeting for PI’s and Partners
• At the meeting, the start date is usually confirmed along with reporting dates
• EPSRC sponsored projects through Innovate still require a Start Certificate to be submitted through the Je-S system

Forecasting

• The PI must prepare a forecast spreadsheet, which should be emailed to the Research Finance team. The first forecast is completed by the PI with the Research Grants and Contracts team and thereafter is managed by the PI with the Research Finance team