Archive for the ‘Associate Posts’ Category

A Creative KTP Associate?

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Here I am, in the middle of week thirteen of my KTP project – I can’t really believe it’s been that long already! I won’t lie to you – it has been a hectic thirteen weeks, and in some ways it feels like I’m back at square one with the project due to the challenges we are facing. But I suppose that is the nature of the beast, and since all this project management malarkey is new to me, I’m just going to have to keep trying to get things right and see what happens! Unfortunately I’m not a scientist, I have always been a creative type, but do have the support of other people in the company to work out the scientific problems that have occurred during the project.

I have to say – I was surprised to find a KTP aimed at a more creative candidate. I had been aware of graduate schemes but I had always presumed that they were aimed more at science or business graduates – it is refreshing to know this isn’t the case. Being a creative, I see how much it is overlooked by so many businesses, and how rare it is to find really good design in niche markets such as the ones Dycem are involved in. Branding and design is so important, particularly for new products, and this is something I have been tackling during my KTP, developing logos, packaging and branding for the new product that the project is working on. I think it’s a step in the right direction for my company to have requested a KTP who will set up an in-house design capability, as out-sourcing design can be costly – and more often than not, the business will have very little control over the work they are paying for.

My main priority at the moment is getting the new product right, but once we have ironed out all the problems with print media compatibility, I look forward to doing much more design work, and eventually taking over everything that would normally be sent out of house. One thing I have noticed about KTP projects is that they tend to have much more longevity than first meets the eye. There are always ways to expand on the project, and usually there are mini projects within the overall project.

This conveniently brings me on to the Diploma, for which we all must complete a ‘mini project’. I have not narrowed mine down yet – I will need to sit down with my supervisor and discuss the options before I go on my first residential module – in Edinburgh in two weeks’ time. I am looking forward to meeting more Associates and learning from their experiences within their own projects. I think it’s a great way to network, and because KTP is so unique, it will be helpful to have the opportunity to relate with people in a similarly unique situation!

I will let you know how I am getting on with my mini-project preparation in my next post…

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New Blogger!

Friday, June 26th, 2009

I would like a semi-rigid, 200 micron eco-solvent inkjet printable vinyl, on a kraft liner, with a permanent acrylic adhesive with an initial tack of at least 50n/25mm. Is that too much to ask?! Clearly it is, because I am struggling to find these characteristics together in one vinyl product. This is one of the main challenges I have faced in the first eleven weeks of my KTP project- and what a scary/exciting/challenging nine weeks it has been! But this is exactly what I was looking for when I sent off my application for ‘KTP Digital Print Associate’ with University of the West of England and Dycem.

I was a recent graduate, I was working at Oxford University Press in Pre-press Design, I learned a lot during my time there- but I was looking for an opportunity to develop and be challenged. I think that sums KTP up in my mind- it’s an opportunity for recent graduates who don’t just want be swallowed up into the day-to-day, 9-5 monotony of the professional world, but who want to love what they do, be developed, be challenged, get excited, and get industry experience whilst being paid and obtaining qualifications.

‘Where’s the catch?’ I’m sure you’re wondering. I can assure you- you won’t find one. I read the job description ten times over, and I couldn’t so much as find an undertone of a downside. So if you find yourself clock-watching throughout your working day, if you want to make a difference and be valued by the company you work for, be engaged and excited by the work you do, then a KTP might just be the job for you…

In my next post I will write a bit more about the trials and tribulations of my first three months as a KTP Associate, and hopefully give a bit of an insight into what you can expect from the scheme.

Over and out!

Alison

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Episode 2: KTP Residential Modules

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008

As I mentioned last week, I want to spend some time talking about the residential modules as they play such a key part in the KTP experience and are the major source of training. They are also fun and interesting.

There are 3 one week modules all in the same place and with the same people, this means that you are able to network and make a lot of friends. The group of associates who I am on my residential courses with are in constant communication with each other, whether for advice or just a chat; we have each others phone numbers, we email each other on an almost daily basis and we have a private facebook group where we can leave comments, photos and videos from the modules.

The courses themselves cover all the basics of business that you need to manage your project, and the way in which they are delivered varies hugely. There are classroom ‘lessons’ which go over the basics, and then group activities which help to demonstrate the lessons. These tasks give you a safe environment in which to practice the skills you have learnt. You are around friends and so you don’t mind if you get it wrong, as you know that when you go back to the office you will know what to do and will get it right. Most of all, the tasks are all different, good fun and in some cases a chance to make a scene of yourself as the following photo proves. This is what happened when our group was asked to film a 5 minute advert, and we required 2 housewives:

Ladies who lunch!

Ladies who lunch!

Even now I’m having trouble sleeping at night.

The best way to describe what the modules are all about is to give you a brief overview of the last module I attended back in September. Due to commitments the only dates I could attend were in Edinburgh, which is a bit of a journey from Cornwall but thanks to the miracles of modern transport, I was there in a little over 2 hours.

Having packed the night before, I sit waiting for my hire car to turn up. A 2 month old Vauxhall Vectra is parked outside my house and the keys are posted through the letterbox, I tell you this working life has its perks!

A quick car journey, short flight and a bus ride later and I’m back at the Queensferry Hotel ready to begin another KTP training module. Sunday night is spent catching up with the other associates, who are more like old friends than colleagues having already spent an intense training week together back in June.

The next morning we are back in the classroom after a full English breakfast. If there is one thing this hotel excels in; it’s food! A fry up in the morning, a full cooked meal for lunch and a 3 course meal in the evening every day. That’s without the cake or scones which are served mid morning and mid afternoon with tea and coffee. We all have to go on food detox for a month after every module!!

As I mentioned earlier, the days are spent as a mixture of lessons and ‘try it yourself’ activities. The lessons are delivered by trainers who are excellent at turning what could be a dull subject into something interesting and there are always real life and often amusing examples thrown in to illustrate the point. The tasks break these lessons up, always provide a laugh at some point and ensure that you are practicing the key points of the lessons; sometimes without even realising it.

The evenings are spent chilling out in the bar, letting information from the day sink in, sat in an associates room watching films and ‘I’m Alan Partridge’ or taking a run across the 4th bridge with one or two of the other associates (a mile and a half each way is no easy task after a few pints!!) We even manage to make it into Edinburgh one night to celebrate an associate’s birthday.

Part of this module involved our company and academic supervisors coming up to watch us give a presentation on the mini-project we carried out within the company. The mini project is something I will devote some time to in the next post, as again it is an important part of the KTP.  This gave our supervisors chance to do some networking as well, and see how some of the other companies are running their projects.  As with everything we do on the courses, there is plenty of feedback given about your performance with the presentations, including a DVD of you speaking to analyse when you have some free time. This ensures that you are always looking to improve on your abilities.

Friday afternoon is then spent saying our goodbyes to everyone, getting ready for the drive, train or flight home and looking forward to December already. And then back to the office on Monday, armed with a whole range of new skills and the confidence to use them in everyday situations. As I have mentioned before, having a chemistry degree and no experience of how a business runs, these courses are invaluable to me and my project. The courses give you all the information you need on topics like: Developing your management style, Managing financial and non-financial resources, Communication and customers, Marketing and Quality management. All things you need to be aware of and have some grounding in if you are going to be successful as a professional in any field.

Next time: As promised I will talk about the mini project. This is your first real chance to prove your worth to the company, get involved with as many departments as possible, get your name known in the company, and produce some ‘real’ results.

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Posted in Associate Posts, Written by Stuart Mills | 2 Comments »

First Post!! (And a little bit about me)

Monday, November 10th, 2008

So my first KTP blog entry, I guess the first thing to do would be to introduce myself and say a few words about what I do. Of course if you already know me (or you are not particularly interested about what I do and just want to find out what KTP is about and what you can get out of it) then by all means skip this bit!!

As you can probably tell from the ‘about me’ section on the right, my name is Stuart and I am an analytical chemist. The little bit regarding my project written there is all I can tell you about what I do within the company due to security and confidentiality reasons. Just picture a mad man in a white coat mixing tubes of chemicals together and trying to make the biggest bang possible, and you pretty much got me in a nut shell. All I’m missing is a hunch backed assistant called Igor but i am actively addressing the problem. (Any applications then please email them to me)

Outside of the office, I live in a small town just south of Plymouth with two friends and try to keep myself as busy as possible. I am in the last stages of applying to become a Special Constable and start my training next year, something I’m really looking forward to. I love music, the louder and rockier the better.  I get out to see bands as often as possible and also play the guitar. I enjoy(?) going to the gym and try to get up there 3 or 4 times a week. (And if I don’t then my girlfriend / personal trainer soon lets me know about it) That about covers me and what I do, but if you want to know anything else then feel free to get in touch.

The way I envisage this blog running is that twice a week I will update you all on what I have been doing with my KTP (generally speaking, not specifics of the project), impart upon you my wisdom and explain what I have got out of the scheme in terms of skills and achievements alongside what I have brought to the company and knowledge base. I will also spend a bit of time talking about the major events of my KTP; training courses, trips abroad etc and how they have helped me develop both inside and outside of the office.

As this is my first post (and as I was on holiday all last week moving into a new house) I will just surmise, bring you up to speed if you will, on the first 6 months of my project. The first month or so was one of the most daunting times of my life other than moving from primary to the big school and starting University. I was thrown into an office of professionals who had years of experience in their fields and so to say I was feeling out of my depth is a bit of an understatement. I spent the first month getting to know the company, the product and finding my way around the project.

After a couple of months I attended the first of the KTP residential courses (I have now done two out of the three of these and they are so important to my survival in a professional and industrial environment that I will talk about them in more detail at a later date.) I have attended training courses on specialist computer programs, been registered for an MPhil degree, and the residentials count towards a degree level diploma in management.

All of these mean that I feel a lot happier in the office, and I have learnt and developed skills that I will be able to take to any job I apply for in the future. I can manage projects and research, I can write reports for managers and the MD, I can speak to customers and suppliers to ask questions or solve their problems, I can handle myself in meetings and can give presentations with confidence. I have a lot more independence and can manage myself without asking for help every 5 minutes. This means that I can get on with the job in hand, knowing that I am doing the right thing and what I produce will end up being a valuable contribution to the team.

I am now a part of the team as opposed to the new boy fresh out of uni.

That’s the first 6 months of my project, at present I am getting really stuck in with finding solutions to the project problem and actively taking on other tasks when the opportunity arises. Next month I am due to attend the last of my KTP residentials and the start of next year will see one of the major project milestones being reached which I will talk about nearer the time.

Next time on KTP Blog: As I mentioned, the residential courses have played a major part in the skills I will take away from my KTP and so I will talk about those in a lot more detail. Having a degree in chemistry, I knew little to nothing about how a business ran or how to manage a project as part of a bigger team and so this training is invaluable. If you are thinking of applying for a KTP but you lack of ‘buisness knowledge’ is putting you off then tune into the next installment to see how the KTP residentials helped me find my feet.

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Posted in Associate Posts, Written by Stuart Mills | No Comments »