BU offers information about design and technology support available to local businesses

22 March 2010

BU hosted a breakfast networking session for around forty local businesses to find out how they can engage with the services and expertise within the School of Design, Engineering and Computing.

Around forty local organisations attended the Business Breakfast event at BU held on 17th March 2010. Companies from a range of industries were welcomed by BU representatives, including key academics from the School of Design, Engineering and Computing (DEC).

The event aimed to provide an open forum for information about the expertise and services available within the School of DEC, with the overarching goal to align the needs of local businesses with the skills and facilities BU can offer in design and technology. This can be achieved through various channels, including the knowledge transfer partnership (KTP), consultancy programmes, student placements, engagement in live undergraduate projects and recruitment/employment opportunities.

Companies were invited to take part in a networking session over breakfast, enabling them to meet other organisations, as well as key people from BU. They were then welcomed by Dean of the School, Professor Jim Roach, in a presentation about the design and technology support available to help businesses achieve their objectives, how to get involved and information about project funding.

Commenting on the success of the event, Professor Roach states “Events like these which bring together Industry and Academia are really important to the University, as it seeks to increase our engagement with Industry and Commerce. A number of excellent contacts have been made that I am sure will lead to future collaborations”.

Many of the companies, who had a variety of different reasons for attending, highlighted the relevance of the event. Tim Sanders, from Discover Dorset Ltd (who is also BU Alumni), has engaged with a KTP programme in the past and recognises the potential value of future partnerships to his business. Reflecting on the event, Tim noted “Technology enables our business, Bournemouth University is on the cusp of technological developments and this event really helps promote the cross-fertilisation of ideas with local companies for mutual benefit”.

Mark Howell from Nutmeg Ethical Communications Consultancy echoes this sentiment, adding that “Nutmeg are keen to intake fresh employees with an innovative and modern approach…and are looking to recruit graduates from a range of skilled backgrounds, who are looking to stay and develop within the Bournemouth area”.