Cassie's grand designs transform marketing for company
Location: Falmouth, Cornwall
ESF Funding: Convergence
ESF Target Group: Higher Education and Skills
Falmouth-based Research Instruments (RI) is one of only a handful of companies worldwide that develops and supplies IVF equipment. The company's continued success is in part due to support from Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP), a graduate placement scheme which receives ESF (European Social Fund) Convergence investment. The company has now employed 11 UCP graduates and is about to expand into a second building kitted out with state of the art equipment.
UPC is a Combined Universities in Cornwall scheme run via Cornwall College, which places graduates with businesses in Cornwall and offers support including valuable expert mentoring for up to one year. RI's latest employee to complete the UCP scheme is Cassie Lawrence, a University College Falmouth Graphic Design graduate who has helped to transform the company's marketing, launch new products and deliver a total rebrand. Cassie has now been employed permanently as the company's Marketing & Design Executive.
Bill Brown, RI Managing Director, said, "Prior to December 2010 – when we took on Cassie - I did all the marketing in the company and this has meant a massive change. This has freed up my time and has also meant that much more marketing material has been produced. In this particular area, Cassie's graphic design skills have been invaluable and we no longer have to outsource that particular skill.
"Our marketing skills are now at the same level as our main competitor - that is four times our size, which has helped contribute to a 25% year on year increase in turnover, even during the recession.
"RI is a big fan of the UCP scheme. It allows us to develop new ideas that we would otherwise have restricted time for. The scheme depends on being able to let go and give the graduate a real project that they get stuck into. We always look to hire graduates better than we are so that they can deliver performance enhancements to the organisation."
Cassie said, "I had originally heard about UCP when studying A levels at Cornwall College and thought the scheme was perfect for Cornish graduates who are often forced to move further afield in order to achieve a successful career. After graduating from UCF, I found myself in this predicament, commuting to Plymouth to work in a design & marketing role. Through UCP, I have played a key part in the marketing of an innovative global company, in the same town as I studied my degree. Working at RI has increased my confidence, widened my business knowledge and improved my marketing skills. It has also enabled me to purchase my first home in Cornwall. I'm very grateful to UCP for allowing me the opportunity to build my career, network with other passionate young business people and gain new skills and qualifications – the support has been fantastic. I can't recommend UCP enough and feel privileged to have been able to achieve so much in my placement, and to continue in my new role at RI."
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said, "Research Instruments has combined innovation, fresh graduate knowledge and Convergence business support to produce long term growth. In Cassie's case the UCP support has expanded her skills and meant that she has a quality job with a good enough wage to achieve her aim of putting down roots in Cornwall."
Cassie was taken on as Marketing Coordinator and has been retained now her UCP time has finished and promoted to Marketing & Design Executive. Recruitment is underway to expand the marketing team.