Experts from the University’s School of Jewellery have embarked on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) to help bring about the digital transformation of Firmin and Sons – a traditional manufacturer of buttons, badges, medals, regalia and ceremonial armour, based in the Jewellery Quarter.
The company’s USP is based on its UK manufacture and heritage, but it has ambitions to wed modern digital technologies to its traditional artisan craft skills, to streamline the design to manufacture process while maintaining their traditional craft skills and quality standards. By leveraging computer-aided design and digital manufacturing technologies, the aim is to get products to customers in days, rather than months.
The two-year project will include a School of Jewellery alumnus (KTP Associate) who will work in collaboration with academics from BCU to apply knowledge and technical innovation to the company’s processes.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is a UK-wide programme that has been helping businesses for the past 40 years to improve their competitiveness and productivity through the better use of knowledge, technology and skills that reside within the UK Knowledge Base. In a KTP, the University employs a graduate or postgraduate (the Associate) to work on site with the company, jointly supervised by company and university staff.
Interested in finding out more about Knowledge transfer Partnerships at BCU? Visit our BCU Advantage website or contact us.