University figures rewarded for knowledge transfer skills
A professor who has spent more than 27 years giving graduates a successful start to their career, and an associate who has spearheaded an eco-friendly collaboration between university and business have had their skills acknowledged by Vince Cable
The secretary of state for business, innovation and skills was the guest of honour as Professor Graham Cockerham and associate Simon Pykett received prizes at a London awards ceremony dedicated to Knowledge Transfer Partnerships between universities and businesses.
Sheffield Hallam University's Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) associate Simon Pykett lifted the Business Leader of Tomorrow award at the Innovate11 awards, and Professor Cockerham received a special prize for a career at the university that began in 1970.
Simon's accolade was for his work with Penny Hydraulics, based in Clowne, North Derbyshire, in which he led a project to help the company clear storage ponds of nuclear waste in Sellafield.
His work has led to a full-time position with the firm, which he will start in March 2012.
Simon, 25, was appointed project manager in Penny Hydraulics’ newly established nuclear team through its KTP association with Sheffield Hallam, in which recent graduates get the opportunity to work for one to three years with local businesses to develop solutions and manage issues with the support of the university.
Over the past 16 months, Simon has led projects to provide tailor-made lifting applications within the nuclear industry for the likes of Sellafield, Magnox and Research Sites Restoration.
Simon has managed all aspects of the projects, including feasibility studies, design, risk assessment, manufacture, inspection, testing and quality documentation, as well as securing new business for the company and helping to expand its nuclear operations.
He said: "I feel very privileged to be awarded this prize. We’ve certainly achieved a lot over the past 16 months, and I’m excited to see how the nuclear side of Penny Hydraulics is developing, with the help of Sheffield Hallam.
"Holding a position of such responsibility so early on in my career is very rewarding and I have learnt so much in a short period of time. KTP is a fantastic scheme in which recent graduates are given a chance to introduce significant change within a business, and I would certainly recommend the position of KTP Associate to anyone."
Professor Alan Smith, head of business development at Sheffield Hallam, said: "Sheffield Hallam has a terrific track record for excellence in providing Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. Simon has done outstanding work during his time with Penny Hydraulics and we are very pleased and proud that he has been given this prestigious award."
Meanwhile, Professor Cockerham, who took up his current role in 1984, received the Knowledge Transfer Award for Academic Excellence 2011.
The recognition comes after a career in the University's engineering and design department where he has helped Science and Engineering graduates to develop and implement work-based projects with companies across the region and beyond.
Graham's expertise is in the application of computer aided engineering design and the development and application of industrial design methodologies.
One of the Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs) that he has recently worked with, involving Joseph Rhodes of Wakefield, was also a winner at the Innovate awards, winning Best KTP Partnership for the East region.
Graham has been directly involved in developing and working on more than 120 programmes during a 27-year period, of which more than 70% were graded outstanding or excellent, working with companies including Davy McKee, Gripple, Penny Hydraulics, ACS Stainless Steels, Ancon, Rotary Engineering and Aurora Forgings.
Graham said: "As a teacher of engineering it was vital that I and my colleagues were able to maintain professional capability with examples of good practice which also enlivened classes; it was a bonus that this could be achieved within the context of bringing about strategic change within regional and national industrial organisations."
Professor Smith, the head of business development at Sheffield Hallam, said: "Graham has established excellent links with regional companies and, as a result, been influential in kick-starting the careers of generations of Sheffield Hallam graduates.
"His award for academic excellence is richly deserved after a 40-year career where he has remained at the forefront of knowledge transfer across the region."
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