Steve Pendrill Photography is a small business based in Lancaster focussing on commercial, wedding, portrait and event photography. The business was established as a full-time enterprise in 2009 following the redundancy of it’s owner Steve Pendrill after a twenty-five year career as a local press photographer.
‘As a sole trader, I quickly found that I didn’t have the time or financial resources to invest in effective market research. Whilst the domestic side of the business was growing well and was relatively easy to research, I was conscious that I lacked knowledge about my local commercial competitors’.
As a partner in the ERDF funded Unite with Business the University of Salford has brought together a local SME, Top Water Lures, together with a recent Salford graduate from the BA Graphic Design course.
In this short film Nick Roberts of Top Water Lures explains the business needs that prompted him to approach the Unite with Business project,showcases the products Wayne Marsden was able to produce and the benefit it has offered to both the business and the graduate.
I am a graduate from the University of Sheffield, in Landscape Architecture. I started the Unite with Business scheme in March 2011 with Sunderland Peacock Architects, in Clitheroe, Lancashire. Unite gave me the chance to get my foot in the door and show off the skills I gained at University. After my initial four weeks the business offered me some contract work - this provided some great real life examples for my final year studies and portfolio. I finished working there in September 2011, to go back to University for one more year, and I potentially have a position there when I finish next summer.
I’ve developed my skills in a range of areas relevant to my course including: detail landscape design, conceptual design, organisation of planning applications, report writing, delivery of presentations and high quality graphic design. Possibly best of all is the range of professionals I’ve met, learnt from and will have as ongoing contacts if I work in the region.
Graduate Intern helps to rebrand North-West Business
The Honeybell Soap Company was founded by Jenny Gould in September 2010. Jenny wanted to produce her own range of handmade natural soaps and toiletries. Based in their own workshops just outside Bury, Lancashire, they make all their soaps and toiletries by hand using only natural organic or sustainable oils wherever possible. The company have recently experienced a massive surge of interest in their products, but Jenny felt her company logo, branding and packaging no longer met her sophisticated corporate image or increasing client base. As a result, in March 2011, Jenny approached the University of Bolton to help re-design the company logo, brochures, and packaging to assist the company progress to the next level.
Many businesses have already benefited from the skills, up-to-date knowledge and enthusiasm a university graduate brings to a small organisation. Whether you are looking for help re vamping your website
