Projecten

Conducting a Competitive Analysis

Office Groningen | Economics

Company Information

CJ2 offers a wide range of web hosting services and has become one of the largest business hosting providers in the northern region. With an eye towards expansion, CJ2 recently acquired NL Hosting, a hosting company that primarily serves SMEs and self-employed individuals.

Project Description

Since CJ2’s acquisition of NL Hosting, they aim to implement various changes to re-establish NL Hosting as a strong competitor. To determine the best positioning strategy for NL Hosting to differentiate itself from competitors, UniPartners conducted a competitive analysis on both smaller national players and major international dominant entities. The results were validated through the collection of both primary and secondary data, upon which concrete recommendations were formulated.

Company Reference

We have had a very positive experience collaborating with UniPartners Groningen. Clear communication with the project managers ensured smooth interactions, and all commitments were fulfilled. The assigned student was an excellent fit for the project, and all expectations were met or exceeded. The provided advice and documents required no modifications and were directly applicable to our project.

Student Reference

The student consultant is highly appreciative of the UniPartners concept: “Especially for smaller entrepreneurs with tighter budgets but in need of advice or looking to initiate a project, this is fantastic. Simultaneously, as a student, you finally get to put your knowledge to the practical test. There’s something to gain for all parties involved. Overall, I rate my experience and collaboration with UniPartners a 9!”

Maastricht Branch | Society & Environment

Company Information

Discovery Museum brings attention to the significance of knowledge about the Earth, science, technology, and design among a diverse audience. The museum takes an interactive approach to these themes, making it a beloved destination for both the young and old. Through fundraising and grants, Discovery Museum develops new activities and programs, aiming to nurture creative thinkers, doers, and makers of the future. The objective is to enable them to harness their talents, effectively addressing the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

Project Description

To reduce dependence on government support, Discovery Museum aspires to establish a new sustainable income stream. Through a needs assessment, potential partners’ requirements were identified. The project’s goal was to provide Discovery Museum insights into the needs of businesses, aiding them in determining the optimal approach to engage partners. To achieve this, two student consultants engaged in desk research, conducted surveys, and reached out to companies within and beyond the region. The final report received a rating of 8.0.

Company Reference

The collaboration with UniPartners was very pleasant. The execution was pragmatic and swift, relieving me of concerns and the need to monitor the process. Additionally, it’s enjoyable to work with young, enthusiastic individuals who present themselves professionally even at the early stages of their careers.
– Fion Sanders, Fundraising Coordinator, Discovery Museum

Student Reference

During my project with UniPartners, I experienced personal and professional growth across various aspects. I also gained insights into project-based work. I would recommend anyone seeking a new challenge in consultancy to consider taking on a project with UniPartners.
– Laura Janssen, Master’s Student in Healthcare Policy, Innovation, and Management

Nijmegen Branch | Social

Company Information

LinkedLabels consists of five companies: NRG Office, Tech Caps, IT-8 Yor-in, and Yellow Rockets. Each label specializes in recruitment & selection and secondment in a specific field. These labels share expertise in recruitment & selection, secondment, and the Food & Manufacturing industry. Their specialists assist businesses in the Food & Manufacturing industry, ranging from SMEs to multinational corporations. LinkedLabels’ mission is to drive and strengthen organizations forward.

Project Description

UniPartners Nijmegen conducted two research projects for LinkedLabels, contributing to an internal project. The findings of both research projects were presented in the form of research reports.

The first research project involved a market study to gain insights into the Food & Manufacturing market for LinkedLabels. Five distinct themes were developed to comprehensively understand the market: services, location, trends & developments, image, and market analysis. For the market study, two student consultants conducted surveys and interviews with companies operating in the Food & Manufacturing market. The results were subsequently analyzed and presented in an advisory report.

The advisory report provides insights into the five sub-themes within the Food & Manufacturing market. Additionally, it offers practical recommendations for applying the insights gained in practice. These recommendations were formulated by the student consultants based on the research findings.

The second research project was a customer satisfaction survey aimed at understanding customer satisfaction levels for the various labels’ current services provided by LinkedLabels. The survey was structured around six sub-themes: brand awareness/marketing, terms and conditions, service quality, communication/method of contact, reasons for choosing the organization, and areas for improvement/general satisfaction. The student consultant utilized both interviews and surveys to gather insights into customer satisfaction.

The advisory report presents insights into customer satisfaction across the six sub-themes. Alongside satisfaction levels, the report identifies areas for improvement for LinkedLabels. It offers advice on how LinkedLabels can address these improvement areas to enhance customer satisfaction. LinkedLabels expressed that the research provided valuable insights, with the research projects receiving ratings of 7.5 and 8.5!

Quote from the client, Ward Gugelot: “UniPartners is a good and affordable partner that delivers the desired insights.”

lkem
Delft Branch | Technical

Company Informatio

Elkem is one of the largest sustainable producers of various types of silicon, metal alloys, carbon, and microsilica. Founded in Norway in 1904, Elkem’s home base remains there. Elkem’s products are sold worldwide, making international transportation a crucial link in the company’s value chain. To manage the necessary maritime traffic effectively, Elkem has its Maritime Center in the Netherlands.

Project Description

The Maritime Center is responsible, among other things, for connecting carrier offerings to Elkem’s production facilities and customer locations. Carriers can compete for specific transportation tasks through a tender process. Elkem previously used a model to choose the best option from various offers. However, this model left room for human errors. To address this, a student consultant from UniPartners Delft developed software that prevents human errors from occurring.

Company Reference

“UniPartners listened well to our needs and found a good match for us. We had a pleasant collaboration with a student possessing relevant knowledge, who executed the task to our complete satisfaction.” – Ellen Groeneveld, Managing Director.

Amsterdam Branch | Food

Company Information

Bflike specializes in meat and fish substitutes, offering partners exclusive licenses for their technologies and new products on a global scale.

Project Description

Two student consultants collaborated with Bflike. Student Consultant 1 aimed to establish the procedure for international customs clearance of Bflike’s products. This involved investigating cases related to legal requirements in the countries where Bflike intended to export. Additionally, building documentation for documents crucial to exports and optimizing sample procedures – for example, exploring ways to enhance packaging efficiency. Student Consultant 2 focused on expanding the HACCP quality level to BRC. This involved setting up QA, operational and organizational requirements, establishing production traceability, creating a food defense procedure, implementing a complaints procedure, and providing general support for QA tasks.

Company Reference

We are delighted to have collaborated with UniPartners Amsterdam, an organization dedicated to connecting bachelor and master students with companies for project-based collaborations. Through their network, we welcomed two enthusiastic and motivated students from Wageningen University to our team last year. We provided them with temporary project positions, offering them a unique insight into the thriving meat and fish substitutes industry!

Student Reference

It was exciting to see how I could apply my university knowledge in a work environment. This experience helped me understand where my skills are applicable, offering additional motivation to pursue my studies! Furthermore, I could directly apply the practical experience gained in my coursework and master’s thesis. Incredibly valuable!