23.11.05
Graduate boosts print business
One of the South West's largest print firms is reaping
the benefits of a scheme to employ graduates to improve business.
In November 2004 Jane Opie, a graduate of Plymouth University,
was employed by Penryn-based Century Litho under the Unlocking
Cornish Potential (UCP) scheme. UCP has received Objective
One European Social Fund (ESF) investment to place graduates
with businesses, subsidise wages and provide an expert mentor
for up to 15 months. UCP is part of the Combined Universities
in Cornwall initiative and is run by Cornwall College.
Jane's year contract ended on November 8th and she
has been retained by Century Litho as their 'Commercial
Manager'. "It is brilliant that we have actually
got a scheme like Unlocking Cornish Potential down here,"
said Redruth-born Jane. "If it wasn't for
UCP I would not have had this opportunity. I love Cornwall
and the lifestyle but would decide to move away if I felt
I was not progressing in my career."
Jane has become involved in a wide variety of tasks at Century
Litho, which has about 100 employees and recently invested
£1 million in a state-of-the-art printing press. Supported
by mentor Raoul Humphreys, development director at Cornwall
College, she initially became involved in estimating and production.
She also became involved in recruitment and now has the
responsibility of drawing up shift schedules and leading the
daily production meetings. Having carried out a post graduate
course in marketing she drew up a plan for Century Litho which
has already resulted in television and newspaper coverage
and www.centuryprint.com being revamped.
Jane has now started a one year print management course
run by Loughborough University. The post graduate course,
which is partly paid for by UCP and by Century Litho, involves
Jane attending Loughborough every two months and the remainder
of the work will be carried out from Cornwall.
Century Litho managers have been so impressed by Jane and
the UCP scheme that they have also taken on a second graduate
under UCP, David Tedray. David Tayler, managing director of
Century Litho, said: "We are delighted with the
progress Jane has made during her time with us and by the
fact that she has been able to contribute from such an early
stage in that progression. We would certainly be pleased to
consider additional applicants in the future."
Allyson Glover, UCP spokesperson, added: "Century
Litho has gained real value from employing a graduate in their
business and Jane has had a great development opportunity
and been given a good deal of responsibility early on in her
career. There are now 92 businesses in Cornwall who have participated
in the UCP programme and 124 graduates employed."
For further information please contact Clare Morgan of the
Objective One Communications Team on 01872 223439 or email:
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk.
The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the
Isles of Scilly has invested in the Unlocking Cornish Potential
project through the European Social Fund (ESF).
Editor's notes:
Century was founded in a Truro basement in 1975 with a small
single colour press and a staff of only two. Now one of the
largest employers in the area with more than 100 staff, the
company produces a wide range of printed products from simple
letterheads and business cards to high volume direct mail
catalogues and complex bespoke brochures, with more than 200
clients in the tourism industry alone each year.
Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP): UCP programmes place
graduates with small and medium sized businesses in Cornwall
and can last between six and 15 months. Investment in UCP
through Objective One means that participating businesses
receive 30% of the cost of taking on their graduate for the
duration of the project. Graduates and their employers also
receive support from an independent mentor, 70% of previous
UCP graduates have been offered a permanent position with
their host company at the end of the project. UCP was the
first project launched by the Combined Universities in Cornwall
(CUC) initiative to offer direct business support. It is managed
by Cornwall College.
The Combined Universities in Cornwall is a partnership that
combines the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, University
College Falmouth, The Open University, The College of St Mark
& St John, and the Peninsula Medical School, with Cornwall's
Further Education colleges - Cornwall College, Truro College
and Penwith College. The CUC initiative has been invested
in by the Objective One Programme, the South West Regional
Development Agency, Cornwall County Council and the Higher
Education Funding Council for England.
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
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