Students’ software boosts company efficiency

THREE students studying HND in Computing at Warrington Collegiate University Centre have impressed the team at One Cost Limited, with their bespoke software application designed to increase efficiency.
The project which came about due to the close working relationship Warrington Collegiate has developed with One Cost limited, Purchasing & Cost Management Specialists, was to provide live briefs for students giving them real work and industry experience.
Established in 2004, the Warrington based company works closely with hospitality businesses to reduce costs and increase profitability through their unique data analysis.
Richard Murcott, Director at One Cost explains, “The One Cost concept uses the collective purchasing of many to drive down the price of products for individual businesses, however, it is the ongoing management of the purchasing information which gives our clients visibility of what and how they buy and the price they pay which gives them better control of their business.”
HND Computing students Zsolt Borsos , Carl Gamble and Alistair Wheatley worked with Director Richard Murcott to build a database to help One Cost speed up the process of creating cost comparisons; a system which enables the business to compare prices from various sources whilst at the same time taking into consideration weight and pack size – not an easy task.
Heather said, “As well as enhancing the student learning experience, a real time ‘commercial work experience’ provides a real boost to a student CV. It allows them to demonstrate a considerable range of skills including problem solving, time management, working to a brief and presentation skills. These ‘softer skills’ are as much in demand by employers as a top class qualification as they show just what the student is capable in the workplace.”
Zsolt and Carl, who are both progressing on to do the final year of a BSc (Hons) Computing Science at the University of Chester were delighted to put classroom theory into practice.
Zsolt, from Penketh, added, “ It was an amazing experience to be able to work collaboratively with One cost to solve a complex problem, advancing both my technical and increasing my employment prospects on graduation.”
Carl, from Orford, said, “The project gave me an opportunity to relate to academic knowledge acquired in classes to real-world problems. It was great to feel that the software we developed had been able to make a significant contribution, in terms of speed and efficiency and ultimately productivity for both the company and its customers”
Richard was so impressed with the students that he will be offering further live briefs for students studying the HND in Computing at Warrington Collegiate.
Richard says, “The students took on the challenge, seizing the project with a real passion, and delivered beyond what was asked of them. They not only produced a working database, but a system which has given us a flexibility in the way that we view and manipulate data. The high calibre of the students, their work ethic and the support given by the staff at the college was equally impressive and I look forward to working with Warrington Collegiate in the future.”
Picture: Richard Murcott (centre) with students Zsotl Borsos and Carl Gamble