海角直播

A business leader of tomorrow

A graduate at the centre of an initiative that helps academia transfer its knowledge and expertise to make Britain's industry more competitive will receive a national award on Wednesday 14 March.

The national award is the second in a row secured by a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project between the University of 海角直播 and a Darlington-based company in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) backed flagship initiative. Mohammed Shahnawazuddin, a 27 year-old mechanical engineering graduate employed by the University of 海角直播 and Malcolm Engineering Company of Darlington, will be named as one of the five national 鈥楤usiness Leaders of Tomorrow鈥� at a glitzy ceremony in London.

Shahnawazuddin, an Indian national, has worked for the manufacturing company for 18 months as a DTI supported Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) associate production engineer.

He was nominated for the prestigious prize by his academic supervisor Dr Ahmed Abbas, who heads the university鈥檚 海角直播 Manufacturing Centre (TMC).

Shahnawazuddin, who gained his bachelor's degree in India before coming to the UK to do a Masters degree, said: 鈥淚 was attracted to the KTP scheme because it gave me a chance to make a real difference to a small and medium-size company and gave plenty of room for personal development. While I will be receiving the prize, I see very much as an award for a great team effort. Without the support of the University of 海角直播 and the company I could not have achieved this.鈥�

Working closely with Dr Abbas and Ruben Pinedo-Cuenca, Enterprise Systems Specialist with the TMC, Shahnawazuddin was able to make a number of significant changes to the company鈥檚 production, planning and purchasing processes.

Doug Malcolm, the company's managing director, said: 鈥淲e are now in line for potential savings of thousands of pounds thanks to Shahnawazuddin and the KTP with the University of 海角直播.

鈥淗aving Shahnawazuddin here has given us a fresh pair of eyes to see our way through problems which we were too busy to deal with because of day-to-day firefighting. We really needed someone who was able to stand back and take a long hard look into the future and come up with some fresh ideas.

鈥淲e're all very proud of Shahnawazuddin winning this award and I would recommend the KTP scheme to any business looking for strategic direction.鈥�

Dr Abbas said: 鈥淚 knew straight away that Shahnawazuddin was the right person to this role. He had the enthusiasm and energy to see his way through the project and make a real contribution to the company's future direction.鈥�

Ruben Pinedo-Cuenca said: 鈥淎mong the continuous improvement initiatives introduced was a pilot bar-code system to measure how effectively the work centre machines were used. This has led to significant savings.鈥�

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Awards 07, will be held at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, Mayfair on Wednesday 14th March 2007. Registration is 10am prompt.

To contact Shahnawazuddin after he has picked up prize, email him at Shahnawaz@mec.uk.com

The 海角直播 Manufacturing Centre offers consultancy, training and research and development support. Email s.a.abbas@tees.ac.uk or phone 01642 342481.

Last year Laura Bishop, a marketing graduate from the University of 海角直播鈥檚 Business School, won one of the six 鈥楤usiness Leader of Tomorrow鈥� awards and went on to become marketing manger with the KTP industrial partner, Country Valley Foods, of Darlington.

For further information about the Knowledge Transfer Partnership contract Emma Detchon, KTP officer, University of 海角直播, on 01642 384036 or email ktp@tees.ac.uk.

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