i10 case study
Date published: 24th March 2004
A Recipe For Success collaborate with the University of Essex
The company:
Ipswich-based company A Recipe for Success (ARFS) is an e-business consultancy. It provides high quality websites, intranets and e-mail marketing campaigns for SME, corporate and government organisations. ARFS was established four years ago and now employs 18 people with a turnover in excess of £500,000.
The business need:
ARFS's unique e-KIS (e-Business Keep It Simple) technology, which enables business to have a single point from which they can manage the delivery of content across different electronic media (for example, kiosks, PCs and even interactive television), needed to be developed further. e-KIS had received a £45,000 DTI SMART award for feasibility work and was starting to have a good uptake with professionals such as BT and the East of England Development Agency when ARFS decided to work with the University of Essex's Department of Computer Science.
The process:
The company began a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP, formerly called TCS) in early 2002 with Stephen Tang, a University of Essex graduate, as its associate. Tang worked on the next generation of ARFS's unique e-KIS while liaising closely with his supervisor, Norbert Voelker, who is a Computer Science lecturer at Essex. This ensured that the latest academic developments could be exploited by ARFS. Additionally, the connection with the University of Essex widened ARFS's business contacts and increased its credibility.
Outcomes:
As a result of the relationship, ARFS is likely to win a major contract with a new client and is playing a key role in the IP City initiative, which links Ipswich with other technology 'hot spots'.
Jeff Hume, Managing Director of ARFS, estimates that the project has cost the company as little as £24,000 over two years, with a half day of supervision per week. He says, 'I can't believe more companies don't run KTP projects. Ours has been a wholly positive experience, which has got better with time. There have been a lot of spin-off benefits, and I wish we had started it sooner. I'm really looking forward to starting the next project with the University of Essex.'
Dr James Callaghan, a Business Development Manager at the University of Essex, adds: 'This has been a really great project both for the company and the university. It gives us great satisfaction to see our expertise and knowledge being transferred into companies in the region and for it to have such a positive impact.'
For more information, contact:
Jeff Hume,
Managing Director
A Recipe for Success
Tel: 01473 409933
Email: jamesc@essex.ac.uk
About i10
i10 is a collaboration of ten universities in the East of England. Through funding, collaboration, facilitation and networking, i10 provides a unique opportunity for businesses to tap into the region's pool of innovation, expertise and assets.
The company:
Ipswich-based company A Recipe for Success (ARFS) is an e-business consultancy. It provides high quality websites, intranets and e-mail marketing campaigns for SME, corporate and government organisations. ARFS was established four years ago and now employs 18 people with a turnover in excess of £500,000.
The business need:
ARFS's unique e-KIS (e-Business Keep It Simple) technology, which enables business to have a single point from which they can manage the delivery of content across different electronic media (for example, kiosks, PCs and even interactive television), needed to be developed further. e-KIS had received a £45,000 DTI SMART award for feasibility work and was starting to have a good uptake with professionals such as BT and the East of England Development Agency when ARFS decided to work with the University of Essex's Department of Computer Science.
The process:
The company began a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP, formerly called TCS) in early 2002 with Stephen Tang, a University of Essex graduate, as its associate. Tang worked on the next generation of ARFS's unique e-KIS while liaising closely with his supervisor, Norbert Voelker, who is a Computer Science lecturer at Essex. This ensured that the latest academic developments could be exploited by ARFS. Additionally, the connection with the University of Essex widened ARFS's business contacts and increased its credibility.
Outcomes:
As a result of the relationship, ARFS is likely to win a major contract with a new client and is playing a key role in the IP City initiative, which links Ipswich with other technology 'hot spots'.
Jeff Hume, Managing Director of ARFS, estimates that the project has cost the company as little as £24,000 over two years, with a half day of supervision per week. He says, 'I can't believe more companies don't run KTP projects. Ours has been a wholly positive experience, which has got better with time. There have been a lot of spin-off benefits, and I wish we had started it sooner. I'm really looking forward to starting the next project with the University of Essex.'
Dr James Callaghan, a Business Development Manager at the University of Essex, adds: 'This has been a really great project both for the company and the university. It gives us great satisfaction to see our expertise and knowledge being transferred into companies in the region and for it to have such a positive impact.'
For more information, contact:
Jeff Hume,
Managing Director
A Recipe for Success
Tel: 01473 409933
Email: jamesc@essex.ac.uk
About i10
i10 is a collaboration of ten universities in the East of England. Through funding, collaboration, facilitation and networking, i10 provides a unique opportunity for businesses to tap into the region's pool of innovation, expertise and assets.
Tel: 0845 8 409933