For individual researchers
Make the right funding decisions before you write a word
Much of a bid’s fate is decided before the writing starts: which call, with whom, and when. We help researchers in every discipline choose the right calls, plan their funding, and build the new partnerships that larger, ambitious calls demand.
Why work with us
Advice grounded in how funders actually decide
Decisions before drafts
Once a bid is competent, panel judgement and luck play a large part. The choices you control come earlier: the right call, the right team, the right time. That is where we focus.
Official sources only
Every rule we advise on is checked against the funder’s own documents, and partner maps are built from public award data. You can verify everything we tell you.
Skills you keep
We explain the reasoning behind every recommendation, so you can make the next funding decision yourself.
Services
What we offer
Funding strategy session
One-to-one advice built on experience of how funders and panels decide: which calls are worth your time, which to skip, and the order to apply in.
What you get
- Your shortlisted calls assessed for fit, eligibility and competitiveness, with a go, no-go or not-yet on each
- UK and EU schemes matched to your career stage and track record
- A written 12-month funding plan
Collaborator and partner mapping
For larger and collaborative calls: find out who leads funded work in your area, and plan how to join or build the right team. See a sample map.
What you get
- A map of funded leaders, teams and projects in your field, from public award data
- The schemes and partnerships they use, and where you could fit
- An approach plan: who to contact, how, and what to offer
Pivot strategy
After a rejection, decide where to go next and how much to change. We read your previous application and reviewer feedback, then assess what to keep, reframe or rewrite.
What you get
- Next-call choice, checked against eligibility and resubmission rules
- A section-by-section pivot plan, built with Pivot Lens: keep, reframe, rewrite or cut
Interview coaching
Shortlisted for a fellowship or large grant? Prepare for the panel, where your vision and track record are evaluated as much as your project.
What you get
- Likely panel questions for your scheme
- A recorded mock interview
- Written feedback on your answers
Workshops and small groups
Practical sessions for small groups of researchers, run online or in person.
What you get
- Choosing calls and planning a funding year
- Building your first large collaborative bid
- Understanding how funders assess and decide
How it works
A clear process and a fixed quote before we start
Every project is different, so we quote individually. After a free 20-minute introductory call, we send you a written quote with one fixed fee and an agreed delivery date. Nothing starts until you accept it.
What shapes your quote
- The service and the depth of support you need
- The number of funders and schemes involved
- How broad your field is, for partner mapping
- Your deadline: urgent work may carry a priority fee, shown in your quote
Step by step
- Book a free 20-minute introductory call.
- We agree what you need, the scope and the timeline.
- You receive a written quote with one fixed fee and a delivery date.
- Accept the quote; we charge a 30% deposit within 3 days, and work starts once it is paid.
- We charge the remaining 70% when the work is finished.
Reduced rates are available for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and early-career fellows paying personally. We do not charge success fees. See our terms for payment and cancellation.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you review or write draft proposals?
We do not edit or write proposals. Our work comes before writing: which call, which team, and when. The one exception is pivot strategy, where we read your previous application to judge how much needs to change. You, your colleagues and your research office do the rewriting.
Will you introduce me to collaborators?
We do not broker introductions. We map who leads funded work in your area using public award data, such as UKRI’s Gateway to Research and the EU’s CORDIS database, and help you plan how to approach them yourself.
Do I need to share confidential material?
Only for pivot strategy, where we need your previous application and reviewer feedback. We both sign a confidentiality agreement before you send them. Other services need only your CV, your research interests and the calls you are considering. See how we protect your work.
Should I tell my research office?
Yes. Your institution has its own internal deadlines, selection processes and approvals, and those still apply. We work alongside your research office, never instead of it.
Can you guarantee my application will be funded?
No one honestly can. Decisions are made by funders and their reviewers, and success rates for many schemes are low. We help you put your effort where your chances are best.
How far ahead should I get in touch?
For funding strategy and partner mapping, 3–6 months before the call deadline is ideal, because building a team takes time. Pivot strategy works best soon after you receive the decision and reviewer feedback.
Which funders and disciplines do you cover?
All disciplines. We advise on the main UK funders, including UKRI, the national academies, Leverhulme, Wellcome and NIHR, and on EU schemes including the ERC, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Horizon Europe.
Can my department pay the invoice?
Yes. We can invoice your institution and work with purchase orders. The early-career rate applies only when you are paying personally.
