Swansea University and Laing O'Rourke voted best Welsh Knowledge Transfer PartnershipLaing O’Rourke plc, which has offices in Cardiff, has been able to reduce staff expenditure, improve logistics and develop new waste streams by working with Swansea University on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) – a business focused project designed to drive innovation in the UK by encouraging businesses to tap into the expertise in academic institutions. The success of the project was recognised last month (Thursday 28th January) at the annual KTP Regional Awards ceremony for Wales, held at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea, when it was voted the Best Welsh KTP Partnership 2010. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) in Wales is managed and part sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government and forms part of the Academic Expertise for Business programme. KTP involves a three-way partnership between a graduate, an enterprise of any size and an academic institution. The programme part funds the employment of high calibre graduates or associates to work with companies on specific projects that are vital for their strategic development. Laing O’Rourke formed its three-year partnership with Swansea University back in March 2006 and employed graduates Bin Chen, Akshay Peer and Jonny Williams to develop the company’s Biometrics, Radio Frequency Identification system (RFID) and Waste Management processes. The first project was the development of a time and attendance system to supervise the mobile workforce. A patent for the technology has been applied for and a new spinout company formed to take this forward as a commercial product. The associates also worked alongside Laing O’Rourke engineers to develop a Radio Frequency Identification system (RFID), enabling products to be tracked from manufacture to construction site. From improved logistics, reduced errors and greater integration and automation, the company believes there are significant benefits. Finally, with the help of the KTP, Laing O’Rourke has prevented its plasterboard waste ending up in landfill. Working across all stakeholders within the supply chain a ‘cut to length’ approach was developed providing significant savings annually. This approach is now being extended to other waste streams of the company. According to a Laing O’Rourke spokesman, the partnership achieved far more than what was originally estimated. He says, 'This KTP with Swansea University has identified, mapped and re-engineered three important strands of the Group’s internal operations and ensured that the most efficient use of available technology is being made. It’s not only proving to be a major success internally for the company but also commercially – opening up a whole raft of new markets for us and for that, we are delighted.' As a result of the KTP, all three associates are set to receive their PhD and have agreed to become freelance consultants for Laing O’Rourke plc going forward. Swansea University Vice Chancellor, Richard B Davies, who accepted the award at the event, said of the projects: 'I am both proud and delighted that the work of Swansea University has been recognised by such a prestigious award. Swansea University was founded at the behest of industry in 1920 and we have always been comfortable working closely with industry. This award shows that we have the high-level expertise to help develop an innovative, modern knowledge economy and the commitment to support wealth creation.' Find out more about Swansea University. Content added on 22nd February 2010. |
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