Why? – My beliefs

Quality = meeting customer expectations.
Value = quality/cost.
Good new product development from strategic marketing brings good value, profitably.
The 2 most important aspects of a product offering development are:
1. Research & understanding of consumer needs (marketing)
2. The translation of requirements into solutions (product development)

Delivery of true value into the supply chain or to the end user is my priority. Control of detail in the marketing or the NPD function in my opinion is where the success of a product offering lies. It is in these 2 functions that I have most interest.

I also believe in ethical business. Consumerism is not in itself unhealthy, but product offerings and the impact of those offerings should bring more positive effects at individual, society and global levels. Business should go further than setting an ethical approach to its activities. It should take responsibility for its place in society and stand as a moral leader for furthering of social good.

Always at my best when learning. I believe in the benefits of 5 aspects of well-being identified by the NEF: Connect, be active, take note, keep learning, give.

How? - What I did

I previously ran successful new product development projects for domestic appliance brands after starting as a product and engineering designer. My NPD function put customer requirements first, spanning across all departments in cross-functional teams to hit marketing objectives. My roles have demanded technical, creative and practical approaches to design, engineering and production. My experience has been built on the grounding of my engineering product design degree.

My recent NPD roles took me to international production facilities and involved me in multi-national collaborations, but these roles took me further away from the detail where I was most suited.

After a break travelling the world, returning to the UK and building a home, my wife and I have settled near the Peterborough area. From here I have been looking for NPD or engineering design roles to get closer to the detail of my earlier jobs.

While not employed full-time, I have become very active and busy at an organisational level with several local charities and events. I have also used the opportunity to further my understanding of marketing via CIM at the CMC and to pursue training in my interest of web development at Peterborough Regional College. All these skills have been utilised in voluntary roles for projects including the East Anglian wide Greater Fens Museum partnership and locally for my village heritage museum and others as a marketer, project team member and events coordinator.

Oh, and I grow exceedingly good vegetables!