University News Last updated 10 March 2009
Birmingham City University is celebrating the work of its Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Associate Lynne Murray who secured a prestigious Business Leader of Tomorrow title - being only one of six KTP associates nationwide to be given the accolade at a national award ceremony held last week.
Lynne was presented with her award by Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board.
She was congratulated for the business leadership skills she demonstrated whilst working on an ambitious KTP programme with London based jewellery retailer Holts Lapidary formally R. Holt & Co. Ltd, and was nominated by her supervisors Zoe Youngman, designer at the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre (JIIC) at Birmingham City University, and Jack Mayer from H3D.
Holts Lapidary, who are based in Hatton Garden, create custom jewellery using fine gemstones for its customers, who are both manufacturing jewellers producing bespoke designs and the general public. They needed to be able to increase sales of gemstones and respond faster to their customers needs in a very competitive market-place, by providing them with the capability to trial jewellery designs without the cost of producing prototypes.
The company turned to expertise within the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre (JIIC), a part of the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD) for assistance. The company needed to develop the application of Computer-Aided Designs (CAD) based around their existing product to augmented reality technology.
Lead academic Gay Penfold, manager of the JIIC said: "Lynne has exceeded expectations on the programme; her drive, vision and enthusiasm has developed and delivered a visualisation system which will allow customers to view a virtual design on their own body in real time 3D both in store and online. A new company, "Holition" was forged to bring this product to market. Lynne, was employed as a KTP Associate by Birmingham City University whilst delivering the programme, but is now Head of Design within the company that she set up."
KTP began in 2006 and is a Government funded scheme designed to help a business grow and develop by accessing the wealth of knowledge and expertise available in UK universities.
Congratulating the six KTP winners at the award ceremony, Jonathan Kestenbaum stated: "The Knowledge Transfer Partnerships is a great success and will continue to grow as businesses increasingly recognise the value of tapping into the skills and knowledge that exist within the UK's academic institutions. Businesses and universities need to continue to work together to ensure that innovation blossoms throughout the UK and secures our economic future".
Photo: Lynne Murray receives her award from Graham Spittle, Chairman of the Technology Strategy Board and IBM's Vice President of Software for UK, Ireland and South Africa
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