NEWS | Round-up
Bucks Uni scraps kitchen design degree
“While I regret the closure of the kitchen design course at Bucks New University, there is still hope for formal kitchen design education,” he said. “The Kitchen Education Trust (TKET), of which I am co-chair with Craig Matson [MD Roundhouse], has been working hard to finalise a new apprenticeship degree. For those of us who gave our enthusiasm, time and energy, often without pay, the demise of the course at Bucks New University is nonetheless disappointing and wasteful. “The success of approximately 130 students who completed the course has been acknowledged with some extraordinarily supportive official feedback. The residential weekends were especially valued as a forum for learning, for discussion of contemporary issues and for industry figures to meet students and each other. The course’s substantial academic and design content has served to justify kitchen design as a degree subject.
THE INDUSTRY’S hopes for a formal quali- fication pathway through education have been dealt a major blow as Buckinghamshire New University confirmed it has dropped the Foundation Degree in Kitchen Design from its courses for the 2022/2023 academic year. In a statement, a spokesperson for the university said: “Following a review of our course portfolio, we are not offering the Foundation Degree in Kitchen Design for the 2022/23 academic year. The studies of those who have previously
enrolled on this
programme are unaffected, and we remain committed to providing these students with the best learning and teaching experience for the duration of their degrees.”
Course leader Jayne Hall Cunnick added: “The decision to close the course is very sad and the amazing academic team along with our wealth of industry supporters, such as Symphony Group, Quooker, the KBSA and many others, have committed to sticking with us throughout, prioritising the students for the remainder of their studies.” At the time of publication, kbbreview was unable to get confirmation on the exact number of students who remain on the course.
The three-year course – the first of its kind in the UK – was launched in 2014 by the now defunct KBB
National Training Group (NTG) with support from leading industry figures, including designer Johnny Grey and Craig Matson, Roundhouse MD and chairman of The Kitchen Education Trust (TKET). Over the past eight years the degree had also garnered support from some of the industry’s leading brands, including Quooker, AEG, Blanco, Blum, BSH, CDUK, Cosentino, Egger, Franke, Häfele, Miele, Rotpunkt and Symphony.
The founders even received the Special Achievement Award at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2015 for their efforts in trying to raise industry standards. Although unconfirmed, it is thought that the failure of the course, which was hailed as an industry milestone, was down to a number of factors, including the pandemic, a lack of interest and support from retailers and designers, and a change of direction for Craig Matson and TKET – which has a renewed focus on apprenticeships – and Johnny Grey, who were deemed as some of the driving forces behind industry support for the course. Speaking to kbbreview, Johnny Grey – one of the course founders – also spoke of his disappointment about the cancellation of the course but revealed why all may not be lost for the industry in terms of more formalised qualifications in the future.
“As we move ahead towards new apprenticeship degrees, TKET is actively supporting this process. On its behalf, I would like to thank the industry sponsors who have made it possible. They are Blum, Miele, Franke, Quooker, BSH, Hettich, Blanco, CDUK, Cosentino, Egger, Franke. These are companies that see the value of education in making kitchens happier, more effective and healthy places in which to eat, share and live together.” The news of the course’s demise comes less than
a year after it was confirmed that students on the Foundation Degree (FdA) in Kitchen Design could take on an extra year to obtain a full BA degree, starting with the 2022/23 academic year. One of the current second-year students, Lucy
Heaney, a designer at Woodbridge Interiors in Suffolk – who is sponsored by Blanco – confirmed that she will finish the course, but aired her disappointment that she will miss out on the opportunity to do the BA Hons top-up year.
“I’ve just finished my second year of the course – with two As and a B – and will be going into my third year this September,” she said. “Fortunately, the cancellation [of the course] does not affect any of my studies as Buckinghamshire New University are fully committed to continuing the support of all students currently enrolled on the course and we will all finish with the Foundation Degree qualification. “I’m really disappointed I won’t get the opportunity to do the top-up year and graduate with a BA Hons in kitchen design though. Our course leader has worked incredibly hard to get the top-up year approved, so that we all had the option to finish with a full degree.”
Whirlpool UK announces new managing director
WHIRLPOOL UK, the company behind the Whirlpool, Hotpoint and Indesit
brands, has
announced the appointment of Lena Henry as the new managing director for the UK and Ireland. Taking over from former MD Andrzej
Tuleja, the appointment of Henry is the first time a female has led the appliance brand in the UK and Ireland. Henry has expertise in leading complex business initiatives across a multitude of markets, both mature and emerging. Beginning her career at McKinsey and Company, a global management consultancy firm, Henry advised several internationally recog- nised businesses on commercial and operational matters across a variety of
6
product categories, with a focus on consumer and retail industries. Henry then joined Essilor, the French- based international ophthalmic optics company, where she worked her way up to her most recent role as managing director of Essilor France. During her time at Essilor, Henry oversaw corporate strategy and greenfield e-commerce launches globally.
Combining her knowledge across a variety of markets with experience across both consultancy and client- focused roles, Henry also brings a strong educational background to her new role at Whirlpool UK. In addition to receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and structural engineering and mechanics of
materials, Henry has an MBA in business administration from Harvard Business School.
Commenting on her new role, Henry said: “I’m incredibly proud to be embarking
on and extending my
career with Whirlpool UK – a company with an extremely strong heritage and an excellent portfolio of brands that are recognised across the world. “My experience will enable me to build upon the tremendous work that the team is already undertaking, while furthering our commitment to consistently delivering outstanding customer care, as well as innovative new products that use resources sustainably. It’s a very exciting time ahead for Whirlpool UK and I look
forward to leading the
company’s plans for growth and continued success.” Whirlpool’s appointment of Henry follows that of Steph Ferreira as head of brand and digital, UK and Ireland.
· August 2022
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
