Why It Matters

VFD Pro’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Walker, explains:

“The alarming rate of business failures in the UK must be addressed. We firmly believe this KTP will help arm business owners and their advisers with the financial guidance necessary to navigate the turbulent waters of business ownership. What makes this project truly unique is the academic rigour and expertise the University of Southampton brings. This collaboration ensures the enhanced quality and reliability of the final product, something that would not be achievable in any other business environment.”

Dr Melissa Baba, Senior Research Fellow at USBS, adds:

“This project represents a great opportunity for research to add real-world value. We will combine our expertise in FinTech and AI to create a novel platform that empowers business owners to make better decisions and reduce business failure.”

Academic Rigour Ensures Quality

One of the unique strengths of this KTP is the academic rigour underpinning the development process. The University of Southampton Business School will apply research-led methodologies, robust testing frameworks, and evidence-based design principles to ensure the platform is not only innovative but also reliable, accurate, and scalable. This approach guarantees that the final product will meet the highest standards of quality and integrity, delivering actionable insights that SMEs can trust.

What is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership?

KTP is one of the UK’s longest-running innovation programmes, celebrating its 50th year. Delivered by Innovate UK, it is part-government-funded and designed to help businesses innovate and grow by linking them with academic expertise. Through a KTP, businesses gain access to cutting-edge research, specialist knowledge, and a dedicated associate who works within the company to deliver the project.

This structured collaboration ensures that knowledge is not only transferred but embedded within the business, creating lasting capability. Unlike consultancy, which provides solutions without capacity-building, KTPs focus on sustainable innovation and skills development. For VFD Pro, this means building in-house AI expertise to maintain and evolve the platform beyond the life of the project.

Economic and Societal Impact

SMEs account for the vast majority of UK businesses and play a critical role in employment and economic growth. By improving financial resilience and reducing failure rates, this project will strengthen local economies and supply chains. It also supports broader sustainability and innovation objectives by promoting responsible resource use and enabling businesses to thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

Commercial Opportunity

VFD Pro’s platform has already demonstrated strong demand among SMEs and accounting professionals. This project will enable VFD to expand its reach across multiple markets, delivering a scalable solution that bridges the gap between financial data and actionable insights. The enhanced capabilities will position VFD as a leader in automated financial advisory services, creating significant growth opportunities both in the UK and internationally.

Looking to the Future

The partnership will not only deliver a transformative product but also embed AI expertise within VFD Pro, ensuring sustainable innovation beyond the project. This initiative positions VFD as a leader in automated financial advisory for SMEs, reducing barriers to proactive financial guidance and driving long-term economic resilience.

For more information on how a KTP with the University of Southampton could benefit your business, please contact Business@soton.ac.uk.