02.08.2005
John Veness, Managing Director of HMD, a major East Sussex employer, told local companies at the Engineer Your Business forum, how working with the University of Brighton has saved the company £20,000. HMD used the university and its partners to create complex parts, with the end result of shorter production times.
Dr Mark Jones, Head of the School of Engineering said: "Collaborating with the university and exchanging knowledge and experience leads to real benefits at relatively low cost and risk to business. The message that we give to companies is that they can collaborate with the university at all levels, ranging from student placements and projects to full research programmes and companies can often benefit from government incentives."
The Engineer Your Business forum is a product of successful local partnership, between Eastbourne Enterprise Hub, Eastbourne Borough Council, SEEDA and University of Brighton and took place at the university's Eastbourne campus. Ray Wynne, Director of the Hub, and Steven Goss Turner, who has the dual role of Chairman of Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce and deputy Head of School of Service Management, led the event. Steve gave a clear picture of the wide level of activities by the university in Eastbourne.
Russell Cosham, Manager with Anaylsis Engineering commented: "The research that you can do with universities far outstretches what you are able to do on your own in the workplace."
Richard Morris, from the School of Engineering, outlined the latest developments in product design innovation. The University of Brighton carries the 'Centre of Excellence' banner for design and creativity – a coveted prize that demonstrates a unique design methodology. The university has also set up the Creative Design Group which specifically works with industry to meet its needs.
David White, Business Development Manager at the university, explained the benefits of the Rapid Product Development Knowledge Exchange programme. This government funded initiative uses expertise from the Universities of Brighton, Buckingham/Chiltern and Portsmouth to rapidly design, prototype and manufacture products and this service is available to all local businesses.
The attendees were given the opportunity to look at the Chelsea School's specialist facilities which included the environmental chamber, motion study analysis equipment, and a presentation on 'Design & Creativity'.
Local businessman, Tim Cobb said "Finding time to take a half day out of the office can be a challenge, but for the 40 businessmen and women who journeyed to the Eastbourne campus of the University of Brighton, it was a worthwhile challenge. Despite having lived in Eastbourne most of my life, I still had little understanding of life at the university."
For more
details on how you can work with the University of Brighton please
call Anjuu Trevedi – Business Development Manager on 01273 643222
or a.trevedi@brighton.ac.uk
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton,
01273 643022
