Bath-headquartered specialist engineering consultancy Tensys, which has worked on more than 2,000 lightweight structures worldwide including Wimbledon’s Centre Court, is embarking on a new period of expansion supported by the University of Bath.
The firm has been awarded a grant under a programme run by Innovate UK to help develop its in-house software suite, allowing it to enter new markets.
Tensys offers design, analysis services and modelling of thin visco-elastic films and foils in the fields of architecture, art and aerospace such as tension and pneumatic structures, zoo aviaries and cable-supported façade systems from its offices in Bath and Melbourne, Australia.
Projects have included working on the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel in Dubai and Durban Staidium in South Africa as well as Centre Court at Wimbledon.
University experts will now work alongside the firm in a 30-month programme to expand and modernise its business-critical software suite, allowing Tensys to extend its specialist structural analysis services and knowledge.
A new associate will be taken on to lead the re-development from the Tensys office, with extensive, expert supervision and support from Dr Paul Shepherd from the university’s Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering and Dr Tom Haines from its Department of Computer Science.
Dr Shepherd said: “This is an exciting collaboration for both the university and for the company. Tensys has cutting-edge in-house software that provides a huge competitive advantage. But it has been developed on a project-by-project basis over many years, and there are now some new opportunities provided by the latest technology that it could use to its advantage.”
He said the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) grant from Innovate UK was the perfect solution. It will provide leveraged funding to develop a new platform from the ground up, keeping the company’s existing innovation, but using the university’s knowledge of the latest research and development, to ensure it is future-proof and can provide real innovation to Tensys clients.
Tensys director Adam Bown added: “Tensys is thrilled to have been awarded this grant, but also excited to have the backing and support of a renowned academic institution such as the University of Bath.
“This award will hopefully herald a new era for Tensys, not only allowing the company to expand its current capabilities into new and exciting areas, but also to enhance the services that Tensys is able to offer.”
The University of Bath, under its enterprise and Entrepreneurship programme, offers a range of development and collaboration opportunities including support for start-ups, consultancy, access to expert research networks, and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.
Innovate UK’s KTP programme aims to stimulate innovation by providing industry-based training and development of talented university graduates, including postgraduates.
Around 70% of associates are offered a post with the company on a permanent basis, following project completion.
Companies are eligible for a grant of up to 67% as an SME or up to 50% for a larger organisation.
