Skip to main content
Media centre

Jonathan fits the mould at Omega Plastics

19 September 2013

 

A Teesside University graduate is helping to invigorate the marketing of a leading plastics manufacturer.

Jonathan Galloway is working as a Marketing Officer at Omega Plastics, which specialises in injection moulding and rapid tooling, as part of a nine month Knowledge Exchange Internship (KEI) organised by the University.

Jonathan’s work involves promoting the successes of Omega Plastics which opened a new factory in Hartlepool in May last year to supplement the work done at its head office in Blyth, Northumberland.

His digital-focused marketing strategy is already reaping dividends for the manufacturing firm which has seen an increase in sales.

Omega Plastics designs and makes tools for plastic injection moulding as well as manufacturing components.

It has an impressive list of clients ranging from Unilever, to luxury car brands such as Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin.

Jonathan’s role has been to look at the marketing of the products and the organisation holistically, focusing on areas such the company website, search engine optimisation, pay-per-click advertising and video and social media.

Managing Director Dave Crone said: 'We’re delighted with what Jonathan has achieved.

'As engineers we’re not particularly used to marketing so bringing in someone who can look at things with a fresh pair of eyes is very useful.

'Jonathan has brought us a change of direction in our approach to PR with other companies and our clients.

'To have that change you have got to have a catalyst and Jonathan has been that catalyst.

'This is a long term strategy which will see a fundamental change in how we do business.'

Jonathan, 22, from Durham, studied BA (Hons) Business Management at Teesside University and graduated in 2012.

He said: 'I’d come from a digital background and never worked in this sort of industry before so I was completely out of my comfort zone, but I’ve really enjoyed the challenge.

'We’ve been able to really target the audience. The potential for digital marketing is only just being unlocked.'

KEIs are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and place talented graduates within companies which are looking to solve a particular problem or implement a specific project.

As part of the KEI, Jonathan, who is based at the Hartlepool factory at Queen’s Meadow business park, is also able to access technical support and mentoring from experts at Teesside University.

David Norris, Subject Group Leader in Marketing at Teesside University, added: 'This project has been very much driven by Jonathan.

'When we first started the KEI, the marketing was much more product orientated.

'We’ve tried to move things to being more market-orientated, listening to what the customers want and managing their expectations.'

This project is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, securing £300m investment.

The project will make a major contribution to the ambition of the ERDF Competitive Programme 2007-13 and by increasing the numbers and survival of business start ups in the region and increasing business productivity.


ERDF


 
 
Go to top menu