Implementing new technology and embedding change to support Riverside Greetings to grow and thrive

Hi Dan, What was your career experience before starting the KTP?

In 2022 I graduated from Aston University with an MBA, having accumulated valuable experience working on strategic and management projects, and having worked as the Head of Finance for a not-for-profit organisation.

After my MBA completed, I wanted to continue to develop, and be involved in, impactful change within an organisation.

What attracted you to the role of KTP associate?

The job description for the role interested me the most – I saw an opportunity to work towards my career interests in an environment with which I was familiar. On researching more deeply the role of a KTP associate, I realised it was more complex and that I could be part of a collaboration between Leeds Beckett University and Riverside.

The opportunity to lean on and learn from different perspectives and experiences played a big part in attracting me to apply for the role.

Can you explain a bit about the Riverside project and your achievements?

Riverside Greetings distribute greetings cards into a vast UK network of convenience stores. The KTP successfully piloted ground-breaking use of RFID technology within greetings cards in the convenience store sector. The data analytics from this technology was able to give Riverside real-time business performance data, by location, by card design and support them to optimise their product range, service and ultimately their value proposition. The project also accelerated new growth opportunities by increasing the number and value of new business clients in their category.

The challenge for Riverside prior to the KTP was a lack of real-time business performance data, impacting the efficiency and productivity of the entire business operational process. The project aimed to create a sustainable platform for growth by developing better data management within the business. This would facilitate tighter stock control, understanding what designs sold at store level, and enable Riverside to anticipate and meet the needs of their clients more quickly.

We managed to achieve all the primary listed objectives, with the RFID technology having a successful field pilot, with a full implementation plan created for full rollout. The marketing and branding strategy was created, and Riverside had change embedded within the business structure to thrive in the new technological environment.

However, there were secondary objectives which were achieved throughout. Commercially, we submitted a pending patent application and secured key strategic partnerships for Riverside to help them continue to grow operationally. A personal objective was the submission and acceptance of an academic paper to the Mediterranean Embedded Computing Resources (MECO) conference in Montenegro. At the end of the project, I had the opportunity to present my paper in Montenegro alongside my academic supervisor Dr Akbar Sheikh-Akbari, something which I am incredibly proud of.

What development opportunities did you take up as part of the KTP?

I used my development budget to support the project as well as to develop my own skillset further. I wanted to address areas where I thought I could optimise my own development and learning, and this included: an online Excel course, an in-person Agile Project Management course, and a Level 6 Professional Marketing diploma.

I was also able to travel to Montenegro and attend the MECO24 conference – Mediterranean Embedded Computing Resources – where I presented the paper I had co-authored with the rest of the project team.

The conference was a fantastic opportunity and experience, and something which I would recommend striving for, for other associates. A key takeaway was the networking and the relationships which were built during the conference. I learned so much about the different fields and expertise represented at the conference, with attendees from around the world.

What have been some of the highlights of the KTP?

There have been many highlights over the two years of the project. To try and summarise, I’ll split them into three parts:

1. Commercial/Riverside Highlight – The overall success of the project and seeing its impact on Riverside was the overarching highlight. The combination of achievements, learning and people have provided a brilliant experience. I have learnt so much more than I initially thought, and this is due to how the project developed and evolved and learning from people at the top of their field academically and commercially.
2. Personal Highlight – The conference was an amazing experience: it was my first experience of a professional, global conference and it was my first time in Montenegro.
3. Leeds Beckett Highlight – During the project, I was presented with, and took advantage of, opportunities to develop my presentation skills. I asked my academic team for opportunities to present about the KTP project, or about any other topic on which I could contribute. I delivered lectures on the Business in Action module to business school undergraduates at Leeds Beckett, and delivered an RFID lecture to MSc Engineering students. These experiences have grown my confidence - something which I can take forward in my career.

And any challenges?

I was fortunate in that there were very few challenges during the project. There were aspects which arose due to progression and slight changes in direction within the project which sometimes caused delays or changes in approach, but these additional elements directly increased the outputs and value of the project.

For example, Riverside saw benefit in securing intellectual property from the RFID system being developed. This was not a part of the initial workplan, but as agreed by the whole project team, was an important thing to pursue. Time was taken to understand and learn as much as possible about the patent application process, which was lengthy, and we needed to secure the Intellectual property. However, the patent application was submitted, and the benefits of the deviation were worthwhile.

What support did you receive from the KTP team and academics?

Rosi Newman, a KTP manager at Leeds Beckett, was my direct manager and she provided the exact amount of guidance needed. She was always there to discuss ideas or any small challenges and ensured I stayed on track throughout the project. The wider KTP team provided fantastic support throughout and supported me with the administrative and support processes – part of my KTP associate role. We built a great professional, but informal relationship, and I felt they got to know me as a person, not just a KTP associate.

The academic team also were a fantastic group of people, with a wide range of knowledge and experience to learn from and work with. Each academic had different knowledge and expertise and supported me in a different way. They were not overbearing and let me manage the project independently, inputting guidance and ideas along the way. They supported the knowledge transfer back into Riverside through delivering sessions, assisting in external stakeholder meetings and providing direction and advice whenever relevant.

They also supported me greatly on a personal level and provided opportunities to develop my own skillset, as previously mentioned.

What are you planning to do next?

I am unsure! I want to continue the skills and learning that the KTP project gave me. The last two years have opened my eyes commercially and I have new confidence in my skills to manage businesses through change and transformation. I am also much more aware of the scale of innovation currently occurring commercially in the UK. I want to be in a role and company which will facilitate the future for business.