Learning together

Apr 16 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

A COMPANY is aiming to ensure that knowledge is power when it comes to business after agreeing a pioneering link-up with Darlington College.

The college has become the first in the Tees Valley to secure Government funding for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme, which sees the worlds of education and business combine to boost local industry.

The scheme will involve Liverpool University graduate Sonal Sarvaiya being employed by the college, but working full-time on a marketing project for Middlesbrough-based food wholesalers Direct Line Supplies (DLS).

Sonal was student of the year at Chennai University, in Madras, India, in 2005, before coming to the UK.

She is now working on a year-long assignment aimed at improving marketing for DLS, based at the Cannon Park industrial estate.

Darlington College tutor Philip Knowles will also offer the firm the benefit of his marketing expertise.

DLS completed a KTP in another area of business last year.

Dr Keith Wilson, director of higher education at the college, said: “We’re extremely proud to be the first college in the Tees Valley to have won a KTP.

“The scheme really is a win-win situation for everybody involved, helping businesses improve their profitability and giving us at the college the chance to build new relationships within local industries.”

Sonal said: “The KTP initiative is very exciting. I’m looking forward to the challenge and having this opportunity to put my knowledge of marketing into practice.”

Abbas Salahshouri, of DLS, said: “We’re delighted to be part of the KTP scheme once again and we’re sure Sonal will help to improve the way we market the business.”