º£½ÇÖ±²¥

Ahead of the field in business communication

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is leading the field in business communication and is a model of best practice.

In 2009-10 º£½ÇÖ±²¥ saw a successful increase in business and community reach out activity and the University is now demonstrating best practice to other higher education institutions on how to use a customer relationship management system to improve the way we work with businesses. º£½ÇÖ±²¥ is hosting a conference on 14 April for professionals on how to get the best out of a customer relationship management tool.

Supported by JISC Universities from all over the UK are attending including Sheffield Hallam, UCLAN, Birmingham City, Manchester Met, University of Plymouth, Newcastle and Durham. The conference is supported by the Joint Information Systems Committee [JISC] which supports universities and colleges in the use of digital technology.

Karen Race, Deputy Director for the Department of Academic Enterprise, says: ‘The CRM system helps us, as a University, to be more responsive to business needs. And businesses to understand the level of service they can expect from us. It helps us to be more streamlined and professional. Using the system has helped us to achieve the Putting the Customer First Standard because it focuses our work around our business customers.’

º£½ÇÖ±²¥ has also produced a specialist toolkit on how to run a marketing campaign using a customer relationship management (CRM) system for use by other universities.

‘Our business engagement is increasing. Our return to HEBCIS (Higher Education Business and Community Interactions Survey) in 2009-10 showed a 36% increase from 2008-09. Using CRM means we can ensure good practice in all our business engagement,’ Karen explains.

The CRM system now holds the details of more than 10,000 businesses and 17,000 business contacts.

For information about the conference please contact Cheryl Percival, Enterprise Project Officer at º£½ÇÖ±²¥, on 01642 384323.

---