Profitable partnership between university and business
Posted on 16 January 2009
Oakdale (Contracts) Ltd is based in Catterick, North Yorkshire, and employs 11 people manufacturing garden landscaping products such as decorative paving and walling. Its operation involves importing materials from around the world to turn into products that are then sold by garden centres and building supply firms across the UK.
The York Management School worked with Oakdale for two years examining every part of the business to see if it could work more efficiently. By the time the partnership had finished, the company’s pre-tax profits had risen by 13 per cent and its sales turnover was up by eight per cent.
Changes included alterations to the company’s computer systems, the way materials are sourced and the invention of a greener way of manufacturing its products. A grant was also secured to support the increased use of robotics.
A research assistant from the university who worked full-time with the company as part of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership has now been offered a permanent post.
Dr Kiran Fernandes, from The York Management School, said: "This was a great opportunity for The York Management School to put its expertise into practise and to support a local employer at the same time.
"Working together has led to Oakdale becoming a leaner and more agile business which is now better positioned in the marketplace and offered valuable experience to the university’s staff and students."
The systematic review of the company identified costs worth hundreds of thousands of pounds that could be reduced. Increasing the use of software from open rather than commercial sources alone produced savings of more than £30,000.
The partnership also had environmental benefits as it led to the invention of a new greener method of manufacturing concrete, which is now in the process of being patented.
Michael Jonas, Managing Director of Oakdale (Contracts) Ltd, said: "For the last two years the partnership with The York Management School has given us access to new thinking and enthusiasm about our business which has clearly produced positive results.
"I would urge far more businesses to find out how knowledge transfer partnerships could benefit them."
The partnership started when Business Link referred the business to the University of York’s Research and Enterprise Office. While the formal partnership has recently finished, the changes it brought about are expected to generate further increases in profits over the next three years.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- More information about The York Management School is available at www.york.ac.uk/management.
- The Research and Enterprise Office works to forge partnerships between business, the public sector and the University.
- Oakdale (Contracts) Ltd can be contacted on (01748) 834184.
- The York Management School’s work with Oakdale (Contracts) Ltd was a Knowledge Transfer Partnership. These partnerships are designed to help businesses improve their productivity and competitiveness by taking advantage of the knowledge in academic institutions. They also help universities and colleges ensure their activities are relevant to business. More information is available at www.ktponline.org.uk.
Contact details
Interview
Listen to Dr Kiran Fernandes discuss the Knowledge Transfer Partnership between the University of York and Oakdale (Contracts) Ltd.