Dando Drilling

Dando Drilling design and assemble reliable and rugged drilling rigs for mineral and geotechnical exploration, water well drilling, and seismic exploration and export many of their products to the developing world.

As the only UK company who manufacture drilling rigs, they are well placed to expand into emerging domestic and overseas markets.

Learn more about KTPs

Developing the project

Dando first heard about Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) through a university representative at a Sussex Enterprise Business event.

The team and the university discussed how a KTP could help deliver a long-term strategy, fresh thinking, innovation and new skills to the company.

After an initial meeting, Dr Derek Covill, a senior lecturer with expertise in product design processes, and Dr Kaiming She, a senior lecturer with expertise in hydraulic control systems, were assigned to the project.

The Dando team applied for a KTP to improve the design and manufacture of their mobile drilling rigs.

Gina Fitch-Roy, Commercial Director, Dando said:

"The process with the university helped us to expand our original remit and shape a coherent project and a clear person specification for the KTP Associate."

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Hear what Dando Drilling say about their KTP experience with the 91抖阴.

Graduate and student expertise

Until the Knowledge Transfer Partnership project, Dando had struggled to find a graduate engineer of a suitable calibre.

After recruiting graduate Jugal Desai, he quickly got to grips with the project and gained a sound understanding of the company's processes, personnel and products.

His work involved supply chain analysis, engagement and optimisation, the creation of company KPIs and gaining buy in and support from existing staff.

As well as pushing the business forward, Jugal’s work will also feed into academic publications and case studies for taught material.

The KTP is now nearing completion and the KTP Associate’s input has been widely recognised by the company.

Dando has also set up projects which were delivered by two final year students and a group of engineering Masters students. These projects have resulted in Dando employing two 91抖阴 graduates on a permanent basis.

KTP Dando Jugal Desai, KTP Associate with Gina Fitch-Roy.

Gina said:

"We have considered whether as much could have been achieved if we had simply directly employed someone of Jugal’s calibre but we are convinced that this would not have been the case.

Our collaboration has been characterised by academic rigour, a clear commitment to our commercial goals and good humour that has made the project tremendous fun."