Expert Solutions for Business
Beckton Dickinson
Overview: Beckton Dickinson is a
leading global medical technology
company with offices in Plymouth
and other locations around the UK
The business background
Beckton Dickinson (BD) is a leading global medical
technology company and its Plymouth facility produces
Fast Facts
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Dickinson sought to reduce its Plymouth
a broad range of products used in blood collection tubes
Facility’s energy usage.
and BD Vacutainer® tubes for haematology,
coagulation and special chemistries. This plant supplies
markets both across Europe and around the world.
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BD set up a Knowledge Transfer Partnership
with the University of Plymouth. It appointed a
graduate who monitored the company’s energy
BD sought help from the University of Plymouth to
usage and engaged the staff in activities aimed
address its goal of reducing energy usage. A two year
at reducing carbon emissions.
Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) was set up,
appointing Chemical Engineering graduate Eva Espanol
Medical technology company, Beckton
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As a result, BD reduced its CO2 emissions by
Uson as an Energy Engineer with the support of
3,218 tonnes and saved £870,000. The
university experts Dr Murray Bell and Mr Robert Allen.
company also won the 2007 DEBI Low Carbon
Business Award.
Achievements & outcomes
The partnership aimed to implement significant energy
savings throughout the company’s processes. Eva
undertook an initial review of existing environmental
energy-saving initiatives and an Energy Policy and
Knowledge Transfer
Partnerships (KTP)
Resource Efficiency Team was established.
After implementing immediate actions, such as the
replacement of lighting, a compressed air audit and leak
fixing, Eva tackled more substantial issues. She did this
by monitoring utilities consumption and then focused on
engaging staff with activities such as running energy
efficiency briefing sessions, managing a staff suggestion
competition and delivering an energy awareness day.
Tangible business benefits
The identification and implementation of energy saving
initiatives for improving the manufacturing process
resulted in the facility reducing its energy consumption
KTP is a three-way project between a recent
graduate, a business and a university or college for
work on a specific project
Benefits to the Business
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Innovative solutions to help your business grow
Increased competitive advantage and
profitability
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Access to highly qualified people to spearhead
new projects
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Access to experts who can help take your
business forward
by 18% and water by 13% despite production levels
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increasing. This meant a reduction of 3,218 tonnes of
Benefits to the Graduate
CO2 emissions, equivalent to the emissions of 550
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average households, with a cost saving of £870,000.
Thanks to the KTP, the plant in Plymouth was honoured
with the 2007 Low Carbon Business Award from the
Devon Environmental Business Initiative (DEBI). The
judges were impressed with the commitment of BD staff
and the culture change that was achieved throughout
the organisation toward sustainability.
Improved performance and business operations
Allows you to launch your career from the right
platform
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Gives a chance to apply your degree to your job
Training opportunities provided
Mentoring support offered
Ownership of your project
Expert Solutions for Business
The viable solution for
business & higher education
The business perspective
“Having a dedicated Energy Engineer
through our KTP collaboration with the
University of Plymouth has been
tremendously beneficial to BD and has
resulted in a cost saving of more than
£870,000 and a reduction in CO2
emissions of 3,218 tonnes. Investing in
The graduate perspective
“My experience with KTP has been very
rewarding. It has provided me with the
opportunity to increase my technical
knowledge and expertise as a professional
Energy Engineer, as well as acquire skills
in management and leadership.”
Eva Espanol Uson, KTP Associate
energy-saving actions is important to BD.”
The university perspective
David Slade, Facilities Engineering
Supervisor, Becton Dickinson
“Eva’s performance continues to be
exemplary. She demonstrates initiative
and commitment in all that she
undertakes. Eva has delivered excellent
results for BD, which in turn has
continued to support the University of
Plymouth student programmes with some
real benefits relating to research
activities.”
Dr Murray Bell, University of Plymouth
Explore
Connect
Grow
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships and Expert South West
KTP is a UK-wide programme enabling businesses to
As well as KTP, the online Expert South West Service
improve their competitiveness and productivity
showcases a variety of other ways to work with the
through accessing knowledge, technology or skills
Universities of South West England including training
from the UK’s universities, colleges and research and
and development, research, consultancy, networking,
technology organisations.
recruitment, support for start-up businesses and use
The knowledge sought is embedded into the business
through a project or projects undertaken by a recently
qualified person recruited for the purpose to work in
the business.
KTP is run and managed on behalf of 17 governmentfunding organisations by the Technology Strategy
Board.
of a range of resources and facilities.
The next step
For more information on KTP visit
www.ktponline.org.uk. To find out about other services
and facilities offered by the South West Universities
visit www.expertsouthwest.com.