Tough win at Shropshire Business Awards

Knowledge Transfer Partnership company Tough Furniture Ltd is celebrating after winning the Technology, Enterprise and Innovation Award at the Shropshire Business Awards.

Craven Arms based Tough Furniture was one of three finalists in their category and won against stiff competition.

The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) team at the University of Wolverhampton is currently working with Tough Furniture on a two year Classic KTP. The KTP scheme is a UK-wide programme enabling organisations to improve their competitiveness, productivity and performance through a partnership with an academic institution.

Rob Cooksey from the University’s School of Art & Design, is mentoring Rhys Thomas, a product design graduate, as part of the KTP, which has enabled the company to have access to University facilities such as rapid prototyping.

David Vesty, Managing Director, said: “The recognition of winning an award for Technology, Innovation and Enterprise is a real boost for the company. What we are able to achieve in a competitive marketplace is being greatly assisted and accelerated by the graduate and professional skills and resources made available to us from the University through the KTP scheme.”

Business Development Manager, Nigel Jordan said: “We are absolutely delighted that Tough have won such a prestigious award and that we have contributed towards their success. This KTP is the School of Art & Design's third programme with a furniture manufacturer and is testimony to the applied research expertise and Associate mentoring by Rob Cooksey and Dave Henley from the school's product design division."

The awards took place on Friday June 4 at the Telford International Centre. To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Shropshire Business Awards, the ceremony was the biggest ever held in the county with over 900 attendees. Special guest speaker was Lord Digby Jones.

Diana Thompson, Business Director at the University’s e-Innovation Centre, was judge for the Star Idea award.

She said: "I have been involved with Star Idea Dragons Den for the past three years - the University of Wolverhampton always supports entrepreneurial activities."

For further information on KTP please call: 0800 068 5023 or email: wmktp@wlv.ac.uk.

ENDS

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