28.04.2006
Specialist wheelchair accessible vehicle converter, Constables Mobility of Westham near Eastbourne, has just been awarded a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Grant from the DTI to fund new product development in collaboration with the University of Brighton. It is believed that this is the first grant to be awarded to an engineering company within East Sussex that specialises in products for the disabled market sector.
Left to right: Tim Katz principal lecturer in design at University of Brighton, Gary Eastes Customer Services Manager at Constables Mobility, David Constable Managing Director at Constables Mobility, Ross O'Shea KTP Associate, Dr Mark Jones Head of School of Engineering University of Brighton.
The DTI grant will be used to fund a top class graduate to provide the skills and expertise required to enable Constables to develop new engineering solutions that can give wheelchair users even greater freedom in their vehicle mobility. At the same time the grant will also give the company access to the University of Brighton's resources in terms of market research and other valuable consultancy services.
The successful bid for this government funding was put together by the Head of the School of Engineering at University of Brighton, Dr Mark Jones. Commenting on the award of this grant he said "Collaborating with the university and exchanging knowledge and experience leads to measurable benefits for businesses that offers them low risk and low cost. By working alongside companies such as Constables Mobility, we can give them access to the expertise and facilities that would normally be out of their reach and in so doing help them to push their innovation and competitive advantage to new levels. The university also gains from these partnerships as they offer our staff and students challenging issues to resolve which help to keep us up to date with the problems faced by the commercial sector".
Constables Mobility's owner and managing director David Constable said, "We are delighted to be working with the University of Brighton to help us develop new products that can address our customers' changing mobility requirements. As a small engineering company we lack the resources and expertise to develop the 'next generation' of mobility products, but with the university's help we can work together to find new solutions that will give us a valuable market edge in a very competitive industry. This process will not only help to secure our company's future, but also that of our employees and their families".
For more than 20 years Constables Mobility has been designing and converting vehicles for wheelchair users and, as such, provides mobility solutions that enable users to sit in the front, or travel at the rear, or drive from their wheelchair. The company's flagship product, the Carchair system, which converts from an all purpose wheelchair into a car front seat, has enabled users to gain access to a selected range of standard production hatchback saloon cars and MPVs without having to transfer from their wheelchair. Since its inception during the early 1980s it has won major acclaim from thousands of wheelchair users who have been able to enjoy freedom in their mobility thanks to this innovative wheelchair system.
For further product information contact: Constables Ltd, Mountney Bridge Business Park, Westham, Pevensey, East Sussex, BN24 5NJ. Head Office tel: 01323 767574. Scottish Office:01738 850 777. web: www.constablesmobility.com email: info@constablesmobility.com
Press release issue on behalf of Constables Mobility by Jayne Ayers PR & Marketing Services, PO Box 52, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 3UH. Contact: Jayne Ayers Tel: 01323 832752 Fax: 01323 833287 Email:prjayneayers@aol.com
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
