Two university students have been engaged by locally-based manufacturing company DLP Limited to help it complete specific projects within the areas of retail packaging and IT.
Sabrina Ruston and David Walsh, both 21, have joined the market leaders in accessible bathing and kitchen solutions on two month placements under the STEP programme. This high profile scheme has been operating successfully in the Island for the past 15 years under the auspices of the Department of Economic Development and recruits the brightest undergraduates to undertake projects matched to the specific needs of individual businesses.
Said DLP Group Finance Director Tim Baker: ‘I don’t think there are many local companies which offer placements to not one but two young people and can offer the type of experience that we can. However, we feel it is essential to provide these opportunities and as far as Sabrina and David are concerned it will look good on their CVs and give them an edge when they apply for jobs after finishing university.
‘We identified two elements of our business operation which fitted with the objectives of the STEP scheme and after scoping out the projects contacted the Department who matched the individual students to our particular needs. In this way DLP can access fresh ideas and new skills that can have a positive impact on our business performance.’
David, from Colby, has completed the second year of a degree in Advertising and Brand Management at Manchester Metropolitan University. A former pupil of Castle Rushen High School, his assignment involves introducing retail packaging for a selection of DLP’s product range aimed at the continent.
Group Operations Director Bruce Lockton explained: ‘We identified an opportunity in Europe to produce our existing products in retail packaging to be sold in outlets throughout France and Germany. This is a massive opening as some 200 retail outlets have already expressed an interest in taking our products.’
‘We had the product but we didn’t have the right packaging so a team was put together to make out a business case and take it forward. We had a brief from our marketing colleagues in the international team and this is where David comes in. He is working alongside engineering colleagues to design the packaging for Europe and then will be involved implementing the designs in conjunction with our suppliers, right through to seeing the end product produced.’
‘Even more significantly this may possibly have an application for the UK market as well.’
To date, DLP’s products, which are marketed under the AKW brand, have been distributed mainly in the public sector, such as local authorities, and have gone direct to the contractors. However, the market has become fragmented with more elderly residents having to provide for themselves, and solve adaptation issues, as less public funding is now available. Consequently, more of the merchandise will need to go direct to consumers and therefore the company has to adapt its marketing strategy.
Like David, Sabrina – who was educated at Ramsey Grammar School - has just completed the second year of her degree course. She is studying International Relations at the University of Birmingham and previously spent a year with Barclays Wealth Management. Her role is to help with the implementation process in connection with DLP’s investment in a new IT system.
Mr. Baker added: ‘The background to this is that about seven years ago we put in a system which goes right across our business. This is now quite dated and we needed to modernise it with a new version fitting better to the needs of our business which has developed massively during this period. Additionally, technology has moved on so quickly in that time that you can do things quicker and be more flexible with a more up-to-date system. Sabrina is coming in to help with the final stage of implementation which involves testing and training.’
Further demonstrating its commitment to providing opportunities for the Island’s young people, DLP is also heavily involved in the Government’s scheme to assist those not in employment, education or training – the so-called NEETS. It is now on its third youth placement and there is the possibility of the individuals being offered an apprenticeship at the end of an, initial, three month period under the scheme.
* DLP is the market leader in the provision of showering, daily living and kitchen solutions for people with mobility needs. It has operated from the Island for over 20 years and is based at Snugborough in Union Mills, where it employs around 70 staff.
