Pennine Telecom are a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) based in Greater Manchester, UK. Pennine Telecom began their partnership with Salford University over 10 years ago, supporting the Annual Family Telecoms Exhibition and more recently by producing a product demonstration video for Yealink UK, it was during the production of the video that Pennine Telecom realised how their partnership with the university could flourish even further.
Discussions regarding the Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) took place in relation to creating a digital cross-channel marketing strategy, concentrating on a seamless approach to the client through all available channels. I was appointed as a KTP Associate, and started in June 2013 and have loved every working day since!
So, how has the Knowledge Transfer Partnership helped Pennine Telecom so far?
SME success so far
Since my appointment, I have established an in house digital steering committee, undertaken a company customer journey map and have also worked with the sales team to understand the sales process and establish opportunities for development.
I have also made the most of the opportunities offered to me by the KTP project and enrolled on the MSc Marketing programme at the University of Salford.
Since the project has started, Pennine’s social media channels have grown and they have also embraced in-house email marketing.
Project milestones – knowledge transfer
A milestone in the partnership’s journey so far was the digital media education seminars held in-house for all Pennine staff. This was curated with the help of my company supervisor and three academics from the University of Salford, Marie Griffiths – a Reader from the Salford Business school, Tahir Rashid – a senior lecturer in Marketing and Wilfred Darlington – former BBC employee who now lectures in Television and Film. The seminars were well received by staff and this up skilling of staff is set to continue throughout the project.
KTP Team with Chuka Umunna, the Shadow Business Secretary at Pennine House.
Another achievement for the KTP project team was getting to meet Chuka Umunna, the Shadow Business Secretary at Pennine House, September 2014. Mr Umunna praised the partnership as well as Pennine’s other development programmes.
Pennine’s benefits
The partnership are now over 12 months in to the project, and whilst most of this time has been focussed on researching current work processes, new methods and technology, some new practices have already been embraced as Company Supervisor and Marketing Manager Belinda McGee explains.
“In addition to the research stage of the KTP programme, Pennine have benefited from some quick wins already. We have a new digital sign in package in reception so visitors no longer sign into a traditional visitor book, instead they enter their details into an iPad in reception and the app emails the member of staff to advise them their visitor is in reception.
We are also trialling e-signature software for contracts, as you can imagine a lot of the services we offer are contractual so automating the process of issuing contracts to customers for them to sign electronically makes it quicker and easier for them. It also speeds up our processes internally, eliminating the need for staff to chase customers for signed contracts as once the contract is electronically signed, a copy is emailed to our contracts team.
There’s a lot more for us to learn and benefit from as the final year focusses on implementation rather than research, so it’s going to be an exciting time for us. I’d recommend businesses to consider the KTP Programme, it’s a win win scenario for all parties involved, the KTP Associate, the company and the University.”
Academic viewpoints
Dr Marie Griffiths, Reader from the Salford Business school and KTP Academic mentor said at
“Pennine Telecom, there is a tenacity of wanting to be ‘best in class’, of wanting to be followed and not following their competitors and this is why they got into a KTP with Salford Business School; to transfer knowledge and skills.”
When discussing the partnership she stated…
“KTPs are a mutual partnership, Salford Business School have an expertise regarding digital business and Pennine Telecom are an innovative, pioneering SME, that have decades of business expertise, we are learning from each other.”
Want to learn more about KTP Programmes?
If you’re interested in how a KTP programme could help your organisation, please feel free to contact Salford’s KTP office for more information. If you are looking to be an associate like Fianna, please take a look at the KTP vacancies here or if you would like to discus what it’s like to be a KTP, feel free to e-mail Fianna.
To keep up with what is going on at Pennine Telecom, Salford Business School or the Salford KTP office check out their Twitter feeds.