Academic expertise aims to bolster Scottish Premiership club’s growth

A landmark partnership, will see academic expertise from a leading Scottish university be used to help strengthen the growth of a Scottish Premiership football club.

Heriot‑Watt University has secured more than £200,000 in funding to deliver the UK’s first ever Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with a professional football club, working alongside Falkirk FC.

The 25‑month project, funded by UKRI through Innovate UK, will bring Heriot‑Watt researchers directly into the day‑to‑day operations of the fan-owned club to strengthen its long‑term financial sustainability and ownership structure.

The project is backed by more than £204,000 in funding, with Innovate UK contributing around £137,000 and Falkirk FC providing the remaining £67,000 as the industry partner, over the 25-month period.

The project will be led by academics from Heriot‑Watt’s Edinburgh Business School and School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society.

Professor Chris Easton, Head of Sport and Exercise Science, said: “Clubs outside the very top tier often face unpredictable income linked to results on the pitch, and while Falkirk’s supporter‑owned model protects its values and community roots, future growth depends on finding new ways to engage fans locally, nationally and internationally.

“By embedding our extensive academic knowledge inside the club, we are helping to build sustainable systems that support competitive performance, financial resilience and strong community values.

“This is about giving a historic Scottish club the tools it needs to compete ethically and effectively in a challenging sporting landscape.”

The KTP will see a dedicated associate recruited by Heriot‑Watt University and embedded full‑time at Falkirk FC to work across the club’s commercial and supporter engagement activity.

Supported by Heriot‑Watt academics, the associate will help embed new capability in data analysis, digital engagement and supporter research, ensuring the expertise developed through the partnership delivers lasting impact.

Jamie Swinney, CEO at Falkirk FC said: “This partnership with Heriot‑Watt University gives us access to expertise we simply could not develop on our own. This is the first example of a KTP within a professional football club, so it represents a unique opportunity to grow and develop the club on the back of a period of significant success.

“Our focus will be to address critical gaps in data analytics, digital engagement and international outreach, drawing on research‑led expertise to help grow our commercial income, through growth in the club’s fanbase, to help us achieve long-term sustainability and success.

“Ultimately, this work will help us better understand our supporters, reach new audiences and build a stronger, more sustainable future for a fan‑owned football club competing at the highest level in Scotland.”

The associate will be supported by a team of industry‑leading academics from Heriot‑Watt University’s Edinburgh Business School and School of Social Sciences, providing expert guidance throughout the project.

This includes Professor Stephen Morrow, a leading authority on football governance and supporter ownership whose work has influenced policy and practice across Scottish football, alongside Dr Andreea Oniga, an expert in digital marketing strategy, data‑driven audience insight and online fan communities, and Dr April Henning, a specialist in sport, society and inclusion focused on broadening participation and strengthening community‑centred sport organisations.

Professor Stephen Morrow added: “Falkirk FC is going through a transformative moment in its history, and our primary goal is to help accelerate this growth off the pitch.

“For any football club to be successful you need a stable ownership structure and a willingness to explore diversification in revenue generation in ways that are consistent with the Club’s values.

“The goals we are setting are ambitious but are well within the club’s grasp and we are confident that through this partnership, we can build a strong and stable financial future while helping to cement its position as a sustainably successful Scottish top flight club.

Professor Angus Laing, Executive Dean of Edinburgh Business School, added: “This partnership reflects our institutional commitment to translating research into practice in ways that matter.

“Working with Falkirk FC, our researchers will help the club achieve sustainable growth while protecting the values of a supporter-owned club. This collaboration shows how universities can play a practical role in strengthening organisations that are vital to their communities and local economies.”

The partnership builds on a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Heriot‑Watt University and Falkirk FC in January 2025, which opened new opportunities for students to engage directly with professional football environments as part of their studies.

Under the agreement, Falkirk FC have access to Heriot‑Watt’s cutting‑edge Sport Science Laboratory facilities, enabling detailed analysis of player performance through advanced exercise testing, movement analysis techniques, and gold‑standard body composition imaging.

In turn, Heriot‑Watt students benefit from real‑world experience in sport and exercise science, applying their learning to practical areas including player conditioning, match performance analysis, and injury prevention within a professional club setting.

Heriot‑Watt continues to strengthen its role in linking academic study with elite sport, showing how its academics and facilities can help players progress into the professional and international game.

Former Heriot‑Watt student Barney Stewart’s rise from university football to Falkirk FC striker and Scotland Under‑21 international highlights the strength of the University’s connection with elite sport.