Unlocking Cornish Potential Graduate Placements: Nominees Announced for UCP Celebration Event

Eighteen Cornish graduates are celebrating after being nominated for an award at the UCP Celebration Event. Held every nine months, the prestigious awards recognises the huge impact graduates have had in helping Cornish businesses to grow. The event on November 2nd at the Keay Theatre in St Austell will also congratulate the 80 graduates who have recently completed a UCP graduate placement. UCP is a Combined Universities in Cornwall programme, managed by Cornwall College and receives ESF (European Social Fund) Convergence investment. UCP graduates undertake projects which are key to a company's growth and progression, supported by a UCP Business Development Manager (BDM) and an extensive training and development fund. The projects' central focus is on business growth which is addressed in all of the UCP support and evidenced in the 18 shortlisted graduate projects across seven categories.

 

Contribution to Future Growth:

Ben Bosworth, PBWC Architects

Kylie Goodridge, The Scarlet Hotel & Spa

Lauren Williams, Fourth Element

Best Use of ICT:

Steve Bell, Schoolscapes

Ben Longden, Sea.

Dan Netherton, Jarrang

 

Contribution to Business Improvement:

William Harris, Cornish Crabbers LLP

Benjamin Milby, The Seafood Restaurant

Phil Merrifield, Sea.

Contribution to Environmental Sustainability:

Winner: Joss Hawkins, Pall (Newquay)

Excellence in Project Management:

Isla Newcombe, Cornwall Council

Daniele Cole, Excess Energy Communications

Emma Avery, Uzma Bozai

Best Marketing Strategy:

Abby Keverne, Tregothnan

Logan Mather, Newquay Business Improvement District (BID)

Individual Achievement Award:

Stephanie Newbury, DataBasics Hospitality Systems

Charlotte Cade, Community Energy Plus

Ellie Garland, Watergate Bay Hotel/Fifteen Cornwall

The nominated graduates have all excelled in particular and have completed outstanding projects. Notable successes include: Two graduates at two different companies, designed and launched clothing ranges in brand new markets for the business; one graduate increased sales by 220%; another delivered a brand new company website in less than four weeks; and one innovative project helped a company overhaul its manufacturing techniques to save time and improve health and safety.

Common to all the nominees was the belief from their company sponsor that they brought in fresh, innovative and competent ways of solving business challenges and supporting growth. Rachael Gaunt from PBWC Architects is impressed with the investment UCP makes towards the graduates professional development and training which has been "transformational" for their graduate Ben Bosworth as well as the company:

We now have a clear plan for sustainable growth spanning all aspects of our architectural practice. With support from UCP, our graduate Ben Bosworth has given our company a new level of confidence and knowledge around low carbon design and construction, giving us expertise that is recognised at a national level. We now plan to create 3 new direct jobs with a further 10 indirect jobs in the pipeline. We will also be moving to a fabulous new studio. The work of Ben and UCP has played a vital part in our transformation and new strategic direction.

Also being presented at the event is The Best Placement Award for another UCP Programme run by University College Falmouth – Postgraduate Placements Cornwall. The nominees are Jessica Whiting who did a project at St Aubyn Estates, Tim Hendry who did a project at Community Energy Plus and both Catherine Feltham and Emma Fry who completed projects with Penwith Community Development.

The event brings together over 150 graduates and companies plus businesses, organisations and mentors involved with UCP. Mark Yeoman is Head of ESF Convergence Communications and is looking forward to celebrating the graduate's success and innovation:

It is great to see ESF Convergence helping build the CVs of graduates through business focused projects geared to furthering the economic success of our local businesses. This UCP event gives us all the opportunity to celebrate both the successful personal journeys that the individuals have taken and the real impact on business bottom line.

The eight deserving winners will each be presented with a bespoke, hand-crafted trophy designed and constructed by UCF 3D Design graduate David Forsyth:

It's been a lot of hard work producing the awards from initial concept to manufacture but I've learnt many new skills in the process using the impressive technological equipment provided at UCF.