New look for MK Associates
A Cornish marketing company has recently launched a new look website which aims to offer marketing expertise to local businesses. The website redesign is just one part of a new marketing plan which Steve Dustow has developed and implemented. Steve has been employed at MK Associates through the Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP) Scheme as a Business Development Graduate. The website redesign is part of a series of changes the company has undergone with the assistance of Steve Dustow.
UCP is a Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) partnership project, managed by Cornwall College. This Objective One funded project aims to improve the growth potential of Cornish businesses through graduate placements. The programme also subsidises up to 30% of an average salary of around £1200 per month. This financial support is designed to help local companies take the step of employing a high calibre graduate such as Steve.
Having recently completed a degree in Business Management and European Studies at the University of Exeter, Steve returned to Cornwall to seek employment. 'Unlocking Cornish Potential gives Cornish graduates a real chance of good employment in Cornwall. I have gained so much experience in just my first year and I really feel that I have taken my first steps to a great career in the county.'
The new MK Associates website which can be found at www.mk-associates.co.uk was one of Steve's first big projects in his new job and with the assistance of his mentor Toby Parkin of uknetweb and his Managing Director Malcolm Castelow he was able to see the project through to a successful conclusion. 'This is the first complete website redesign that I have undertaken and I am really pleased with the results. It has been a steep learning curve for me but the UCP project gives you access to an enormous skills base, I have had a lot of support which is fantastic.'
Steve has an incredibly varied role which requires a competent, self motivated graduate. He has assisted in increasing the turnover of the business, project -managing some of the company's smaller clients and the redesign of the corporate literature. 'Smaller firms can often be put off by the words 'consultants' or 'marketing experts' and think that what we offer isn't relevant to them. For most businesses this is not the case - we have something to help the turnover of every business, irrelevant of size.' Steve said.
One of Steve's other large projects was to create a Business plan alongside Tom Kay from Finisterre; a Cornish company selling technical surf wear. Based in St Agnes near Truro they are a relatively new company who felt that the creation of a sound business plan would ensure a solid future for them. Finisterre has gone from strength to strength and is now employing an Unlocking Cornish Potential Graduate of their own.
Steve has now completed his year long placement with MK Associates and has been offered a full time position with the company.
MK Associates - www.mk-associates.co.uk
Finisterre - www.finisterreuk.com