Charity workers are being helped to become more commercially aware by Bradford business academics in a pioneering scheme.

The aim is to help the Foundation social exclusion charity increase its turnover to £14.5 million by 2012 through winning new contracts.

The charity’s staff are involved in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership at Bradford University school of management. Fewer than nine per cent of KTP projects in the UK involve third sector organisations.

Dr Nigel Lockett, director of the school of management’s centre for entrepreneurship and innovation, said: “Many of the disciplines of the commercial world can be used to great effect in social enterprises and charities like Foundation without compromising their core values.

“By the end of the two years we would expect the foundation to be in a better position to show value for money, win more contracts and therefore help more people.”

PhD student Sara Hajnassiri is working with foundation to increase its competitiveness and encourage cultural change among its 340 employees.

Sara, who spent eight years in manufacturing and telecommunications in her native Iran, said: “I’m encouraging them to think about efficiencies and what works for the business. My biggest challenge is changing organisation culture, and helping people to adapt to more flexible work patterns.”

The foundation’s chief executive Steve Woodford helped to found the charity 25 years ago and has seen it double in the last five years.

He said: “A key challenge for us is the considerable change in the way funding is now awarded for the services we offer. “It’s not enough to be the best and well thought of if you’re not competitive and can demonstrate value for money.

“Sara is helping us to embrace the best of the private sector and to rise to the challenge of taking colleagues with us now that we have to be more commercial.

“Bringing in the School of Management’s expertise is stimulating and invaluable.”

The foundation works with socially excluded people in the North, including offenders, homeless people and young people at risk.

It has won new contracts to deliver housing support services for offenders.