A dedicated Cornish graduate looking to enhance his business career in Cornwall has found the perfect placement with OfficeSMART through the ESF (European Social Fund) Convergence supported Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP) scheme. A Combined Universities in Cornwall scheme, UCP places graduates with businesses in Cornwall for up to one year and offers support including mentoring from experts in their fields.
Shiraz Jiwa, from St Austell, is taking the office supplies industry by storm and aims to make Redruth-based OfficeSMART the number one office supplier in the private, public and third sectors and triple its turnover.
In a matter of only a few weeks Shiraz has re-branded and launched two new websites and got to grips with the marketing plan of the business. He also hopes to grow the business and triple turn-over. Through UCP and with the help of his Business Development Manager Olivia Khadka, his outline goals are to work on the search-engine optimisation of the OfficeSMART brand and to improve project management as well as any other areas identified during his placement.
Shiraz graduated from the School of Business & Economics at Exeter University in 2000 after which he returned to Cornwall and launched a hugely successful website. On hearing about UCP through a business contact, Shiraz spent some time looking for the best opportunity that would allow him to learn new skills and transfer and develop his existing expertise.
He said, “There is no better place to live than Cornwall and there are such great opportunities here. When you have lived in Cornwall and are looking to start or further a career, you now don’t have to go away to pursue your goals.”
Unlocking Cornish Potential, Convergence and other organisations will fully support you to fulfil your ambitions in Cornwall and input into the local economy.
“What has been achievable for me is to be able to stay in such a fantastic area where there is such a range of businesses. OfficeSMART in partnership with Unlocking Cornish Potential are enabling me to be the person who I want to be.”
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said: “Such enthusiasm for business and passion for Cornwall brought together by the UCP scheme will of course benefit Shiraz and Office Smart. Alongside this, the ‘Keeping Business Local’ ethos means the wider community and Cornwall as a whole stand to gain from this union.”
Shiraz; along with OfficeSMART Managing Director Barry Wilkinson is passionate about building and supporting the local economy and with the company’s current ‘Keeping Business Local’ slogan, it’s clearly important to the team. As is the company’s environmental policy which aims to minimise material and energy waste, promote the use of recyclable and renewable resources, reduce or limit pollutants and continue to train employees on environmental issues. Not to mention the addition of an energy efficient smart car to the fleet of business vehicles and the range of measures offered to customers; printer cartridge recycling, green office solutions and waste reduction.
Mr Wilkinson said, “OfficeSMART are a Cornish business dedicated to helping other Cornish businesses. Since joining, Shiraz has been off to a flying start, project managing his tasks and priorities excellently, networking effectively, and the marketing strategy he has drawn up has already started to realise benefits for us. The whole team here at OfficeSMART are glad to have him on board, and after his recent marriage it’s very positive times for both him and us. ”
Olivia Khadka, Unlocking Cornish Potential Business Development Manager said: “We are delighted to be supporting the growth of Office Smart. They are a fantastic Cornish company, dedicated to improving and developing the local economy. We are pleased to have found Shiraz a placement so well suited to his previous experience and future ambition. Shiraz is working incredibly hard and is already well on the way to achieving impressive results.”
Office SMART are continuing to strengthen its’ position as the only Cornwall-based business for office supplies and interiors by launching two new websites in June: http://www.officesmartinteriors.co.uk and http://www.officesmart.co.uk .
Office SMART is working with Unlocking Cornish Potential candidate Shiraz Jiwa to grow the Office Interiors division. For more information about the company, visit www.officesmart.co.uk / www.officesmartinteriors.co.uk .
Office SMART has been trading since 1987 and is a family-owned and operated business. The company has an 'ethos' of delivering the best-value prices, but also providing great quality of service and reliability.