Knowledge partnerships between the University of Cumbria and a local business are resulting in exciting employment opportunities for local graduates.
26-year-old Dan Strong from Penrith, has landed a role as Director of IT for Keswick based M&K Update, a company providing clinical and medical training for healthcare.
The University of Cumbria IT graduate began working on an 18 month Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme with the company in 2010 after completing his BSc Applied Computing course.
The aim was to create an e-learning platform for their medical courses, supported by the skills and knowledge of Charles Dobson, senior lecturer at the university, which has one campus in Lancaster.
Dan said of the opportunity: “Without the KTP, the job would have been much more difficult and it may not have had a structured approach. This was key to completing the project and achieving results.
“Through the KTP I have also had the chance to do a management and leadership diploma and I am about to start a master’s degree in database administration. The KTP has given me a focus on where my career is heading in the future.”
Ken Russell, Managing Director of M&K Update said: “It has been a great experience working with Dan on this KTP project. He has played a fundamental part in developing an IT platform for the business, and we are pleased to be able to offer him a senior position within the company.
“Working in partnership with the University of Cumbria has grown our business and the KTP has built foundations from which we can build.”
Charles Dobson said: “As a KTP supervisor you get to work with graduates, often fresh out of university. They are full of ideas and enthusiasm and are familiar with being given direction and then working independently. Interacting with such an individual over the course of a KTP is very rewarding and as an academic you get to see a graduate develop into a highly capable, adaptable, well rounded employee”.
Other successful job offers went to Kaz Stuart of Keswick who became the head of research and evaluation at Brathay Trust, and Tom Liversedge, 25, who is now divisional project manager at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust. Kristina Gash, 24, from Carlisle was also employed at Triveristas Ltd as their business systems co-ordinator after successfully launching an electronic resource platform.
Each of the graduates began working for the companies through KTPs initiated by the University of Cumbria.
• KTP opportunities are available to recent graduates and local businesses. For more information contact: 01524 384626 or email enterprise.services@cumbria.ac.uk.