Taabish is a Commercialisation Manager for Duku as part of our Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Duku and UWE Bristol. A KTP is a UK-wide, 3-way partnership between a business, a university and talented graduate, and aims to help businesses improve competitiveness and productivity, whilst also boosting the career prospects of the graduate.
Duku is an innovative and entrepreneurial engineering design consultancy that take client ideas and develop them into full marketable designs. They have recently added an in-house EV charging technology division, developing new and unique electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, which has considerable potential as the only fully-accessible charging tech available, which conforms to the new BSI standard for accessible EV charging products.
The project aim is to embed a full commercialisation capability within the business and to exploit innovative in-house designed products. This will enable Duku to directly market their own products and offer a full-service idea-to-market capability for new and existing design consultancy clients.
The KTP team caught up with Taabish to hear about their experiences of the KTP so far:
What attracted you to the position?
There are a few reasons why I was drawn to this role. First, it offered the opportunity to develop the commercialisation strategy for a product within the UK’s sophisticated automotive sector, which has been a medium-term career goal of mine. The second is the unique nature of the role. Being a management KTP, the role has allowed me to upskill as an industry consultant while collaborating with an academic institution like UWE Bristol. This partnership provided an added layer of research-driven insight and strategy formulation. Thirdly – working with Duku, a company innovating in the EV charging space and enabling users from all walks of life to access electric vehicles, also gives me a sense of purpose – knowing that my commercialisation efforts have a direct, positive impact on both the community and the planet.
What are you most looking forward to?
Six months into the KTP, we are transitioning from the planning into the action phase, which is something I’m particularly excited about. I’m looking forward to collaborating with industry leaders, academic researchers, and automotive OEMs to further advance our accessible charging solution. The goal is to make Duku’s products the gold standard for EV charging infrastructure while cementing our position as a thought leader in the space. The chance to see this project evolve from strategy formulation to commercial success is something I look most forward to.
How is the partnership between UWE Bristol and the company working?
The partnership between UWE and Duku has been highly synergistic. The academic team at UWE brings a strong research foundation, combining both academic and industry perspectives, which has accelerated the strategy development process. This collaboration has also created a feedback loop that allows for continuous validation of my deliverables, making the entire process more dynamic, accurate, and responsive. This partnership has also opened new doors for Duku, offering potential collaborations and expanding our contacts in areas such as accessibility and sustainability in EV infrastructure.
What are the major benefits/support available from UWE Bristol ?
The major benefits for me personally have been access to UWE’s resources, research capabilities, and academic expertise. Positioned in the middle, I bridge the gap between academia and industry, benefiting from both perspectives. This has allowed me to develop a holistic commercialisation strategy that considers both academic rigor and practical, real-world insights. Beyond the scope of the project, this experience has been transformative. Having recently completed my MBA, I am transitioning from execution roles to more strategic, planning-focused positions. The variety of perspectives I’ve been exposed to through this partnership is helping me upskill rapidly, and I’m confident I’ll emerge a more capable professional by the end of this KTP project.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I enjoy most about my role is the tangible impact my work has on Duku’s overall strategy. Taking complex data, reports, and insights and distilling them into actionable strategies is something I find highly fulfilling. Being in a management KTP role, I frequently get the opportunity to engage in activities like design thinking, competitive analysis, branding, marketing, and even sales leadership. These are skills that will serve me well throughout my career, and the diversity of the work keeps me constantly challenged and engaged.
Find out more about KTPs at UWE Bristol.