27.02.06
Blueprint for expansion

Graphic design student Claire Biddick has helped a Cornwall-based business increase its design-oriented turnover by almost 70 percent since starting work there.

The Design Bureau is part of the Quintdown Group, which has offices in Newquay, Truro and Camborne, and is now due to expand with an office move.

Claire, who lives in St Columb Major, graduated from Bath Spa University in Graphic Design in 2004. She was able to return to her home county to work because of Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP), a scheme which places graduates with businesses. A Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative, UCP is run by Cornwall College and has received Objective One investment. The scheme subsidises the graduate's wages for up to one year and also provides a mentor for advice.

Under the UCP scheme Claire began work for the Design Bureau in November 2004. The company specialises in high quality design, printing, and copying for local businesses. Clients include St Michaels Mount, the Royal Cornwall Museum, the Cornish Pig Company and Nanette Martin.

Claire was initially based in the company's Newquay branch undergoing relevant training before her move to Truro in February 2005. Since being in the Truro branch there has been up to a 70% increase in turnover for the design studio. "Unlocking Cornish Potential has been of great benefit to me," said Claire. "I didn't think I would be able to get a job in Cornwall that I was qualified and paid well enough for. I was taken on as a designer but have since done a lot of other training, including asset management, customer services and communications."

This training has helped build Claire's self confidence and has gained her new skills which have enabled Claire to undertake new responsibilities by co-coordinating the Design and Print Studio at the Design Bureau.

The company is soon due to move the office to Lemon Street and is hoping to employ a second graduate in the near future.

John Jay, managing director, said: "We are delighted with how Unlocking Cornish Potential has helped The Quintdown Group; we have had two excellent people through the scheme, Claire Biddick now senior designer at our Truro branch, The Design Bureau and Ffinlo Kilner who has become the managing director of Quintdown Web. We're so impressed that we are now looking to take another candidate for Quintdown Marketing."

Louise Oldham, UCP project officer, said: "This is an excellent example of how UCP can help graduates to return to Cornwall to gain a good career. Supported by a mentor and linking Claire with training to develop her business skills I believe have strongly influenced the Design Bureau Truro branch's success."

For further information please contact Clare Morgan on 01872 223439 or email: cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in Unlocking Cornish Potential through the European Social Fund (ESF).

Editor's notes:

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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