A typology of secondments
A funded secondment refers to a temporary transfer of an employee from their usual position to a new role, typically within a different organization or department, where the costs of the employee's salary and associated expenses are fully or partially covered by a third party or grant.
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Temporary Transfer:
Employees are assigned to a new role for a specific period, after which they return to their original position.
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Funding Source:
Funding may come from various sources, including grants, partner organizations, or the parent organization.
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Salary and Expenses:
The funding typically covers the employee's salary, benefits, and other related expenses, like travel or accommodation, as needed.
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Seconding and Hosting Organizations:
The employee's home organization (the "seconding organization") temporarily releases them, while the new organization where they are working (the "hosting organization") benefits from their skills and expertise.
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Benefits:
Secondments offer various advantages, such as skill development, networking opportunities, and exposure to new industries or work environments.
- Academic Research Secondments: Researchers can be seconded from universities to industry or government to work on collaborative projects.
- Professional Development Secondments: Employees can be seconded to gain new skills or experience in a different department or organization.
- Global Secondment Programs: Organizations may send employees abroad to work in different countries.
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Grants and Research Funding:
Organizations like the Wellcome Trust offer funding for secondment fellowships, particularly in the humanities and social sciences.
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Industry Partnerships:
Secondments are often funded by collaborations between universities and industry, with both parties contributing financially.
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Internal Funding:
Some organizations may have internal programs that fund secondments within the company, either to promote internal mobility or to address skills gaps.
