10.09.08
Akers graduate employees celebrate qualification
 Two graduates who were supported under the Objective One Unlocking Cornish Potential project are celebrating qualifying in intellectual property law.
Sarah Irish and Christian Ziar were both employed by NJ Akers and Co under Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP). A Combined Universities in Cornwall project that received Objective One ESF (European Social Fund) investment and was run by Cornwall College, UCP placed graduates with businesses and offered support for up to one year.
The pair were both retained by Managing Director Noel Akers once their UCP placement had finished and have now passed the Post Graduate Certificate in Intellectual Property Law. This is a significant qualification in intellectual property (IP) law and adds to their existing qualifications and experience.
Mr Akers is one of Europe's leading practitioners of IP law and the company, established in 2003, specialises in patents, trade marks and designs for new technology and innovations.
He said: “For both Sarah and Christian to pass and to pass as well as they did is great. The course has been very challenging and has been a lot of extra work for them and I am really impressed by what they have achieved.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership Office, said: “This is part of the story of the rapidly evolving more knowledge based economy here in Cornwall. Knowledge is a globally tradable business asset. Cornish businesses are developing new streams of knowledge which need to be protected through intellectual property rights to safeguard and maximise their value for the originating business. As we develop more innovative knowledge traders we will also need to grow the right legal and professional support for them, which is itself an important business opportunity. It's a win-win business opportunity.”
Allyson Glover, Unlocking Cornish Potential project manager, said: “Both Christian and Sarah's UCP projects accelerated the growth of NJ Akers. This is a fantastic example of the longer term impact of employing graduates. I'm delighted that Sarah and Christian are progressing with their professional qualifications, with the growth of more knowledge intensive businesses Cornwall is going to need more Intellectual Property practitioners.”
Since moving to Cornwall in 2005, NJ Akers & Co, has expanded from two (Mr Akers and Mr Ziar) to four staff and, more importantly, more than tripled its client base. As well as overseas clients from the Far East and USA the company works closely with the University of Plymouth and also with graduates from the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC).
“Graduates are consistently coming out of the CUC with good business innovations,” said Mr Akers. “We are also working with the NHS and there are many innovations coming out of the various hospitals in the South West region.” Members of NJ Akers & Co also regularly publish articles and provide reports on leading court judgements to a number of publications. Mr Akers and other members of the firm are also active in attending conferences to lecture on intellectual property.
For further information please contact Clare Morgan, Media Relations Manager for the Partnership Office on tel: 01872 223439 /07973 813647 or email: cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk.
The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). Unlocking Cornish Potential is run by Cornwall College, a partner of the CUC.
Editor's notes:
The Unlocking Cornish Potential project placed 234 graduates with businesses for 12 month placements in Cornwall between 2004 and 2008.
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
The Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
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