03.08.2007
Retail marketing graduate Filip Jicinsky (pictured here at his graduation this July), is swapping theory for practice having successfully fought off competition for a coveted position at the head office of Rick Stein, in Padstow, Cornwall.
Rick Stein is somewhat misleadingly labelled a 'Celebrity Chef', in fact he runs four restaurants, a delicatessen, a patisserie, a seafood cookery school and a 33 bedroom hotel.
Filip was first introduced to one of the country's top chefs through the university's Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) which brings together successful partnerships between a company, university and a graduate. Filip hopes to use his knowledge of retail marketing to advise on the future strategic planning of the business.
"I'm working together with my university supervisors in order to increase the overall efficiency of the company," says Filip. "I'll be looking at different aspects of the company procedures as well as working on improvements which can be made."
Originally from the Czech Republic, it was the modern learning environment at the university which helped make Filip's final decision to study at the university: "The lecturers treat you as individuals and give you all the support needed especially during the first year."
"When I was offered my job at Rick Stein it made me realise just how much of a good choice I had made with this course!"
The KTP scheme, funded by central government, allows businesses and the university with to benefit from each other's expertise. Each company is provided with a highly qualified graduate to work as part of their company for two years. In return each graduate has the opportunity to develop their portfolio of technical and business skills with the expertise of university professors, senior lecturers and researchers.
For more information about the KTP visit www.brighton.ac.uk/ktp or call 01273 642305.
Contact: Marketing and Communications, University of Brighton, 01273 643022
