Student Consulting Project with QSA Partners and DPS Designs

Sep 5, 2024 | Opinion

Introduction

This is a guest blog post by Vicky Zhao & Della Sabrina, two students studying business management at Oxford Brookes Business School. Over the Summer, Vicky and Della completed a student consulting project in partnership with DPS Designs and QSA Partners.

QSA and DPS were delighted to work with Vicky and Della – who proved that the right talent matched with an innovative business can create compelling circular business models very quickly! Over to Vicky & Della…

Student Consulting Project with QSA Partners and DPS Designs

As part of an invaluable learning opportunity offered by Brookes Business School, our student team recently completed an exciting consulting project with DPS, a company specializing in chocolate moulds and equipment. The project was significantly enhanced by the support of QSA Partners, who brought their extensive experience in circular business model projects to the table.

Our Journey

Our journey began with intensive research into the chocolate mould production process, combining online meetings, industry studies, and on-site visits to DPS. We gained crucial insights, particularly into the creation of hollow chocolate figures. Under the guidance of QSA Partners, we explored opportunities to improve efficiency and sustainability in chocolate production. Initially, we developed five propositions centered around circular economy principles. After thorough feasibility discussions, we ultimately focused on a frame rental model as the most promising approach.

The Rental Service

This rental service, targeted at artisan chocolatiers and small-scale producers, would allow access to high-quality frames without the burden of substantial investment. With QSA Partners’ guidance, we developed a financial model demonstrating the potential profitability. We also proposed implementation strategies, including offering complete rental packages to ease adoption.

Lessons Learned

Throughout the project, we gained valuable lessons in circular economy applications, business innovation, and customer-centric consulting. This experience not only broadened our understanding of circular business models beyond sustainability but also deepened our appreciation for the intricate processes behind the chocolate moulds industry.

Gratitude and Reflection

We’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute to DPS’s growth strategy. Special thanks go to Gerrard from QSA Partners for sharing expertise in circular business models and expanding our perspectives, and to Fanzi from DPS, whose guidance was instrumental in shaping our approach.

As we reflect on this project, we’re excited about the potential impact of our recommendations. We look forward to seeing how these ideas might drive sustainable innovation in the chocolate industry, demonstrating that circular business models can create both environmental and economic value.

Fanzi of DPS said “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Della and Vicky on this project. They immersed themselves in the project and were quick to pick up the complex elements and processes involved in chocolate making. They understood our customers’ needs, up on which they were able to build the practical circular economy solutions for us. I want to thank Gerrard too who has shared so much of his extensive experience and knowledge in developing circular economy models for businesses. I can’t wait to roll these out to our extensive customer base and saving the planet one step at a time!”

 

Gerrard Fisher said “Della and Vicky were keen to learn circular business model concepts and showed a great approach to the project – asking insightful questions and carrying out thorough research on the industry and competitive offers. It’s a testimony to their work that DPS can actually start trialling some circular business models straight away. I’ve been hugely impressed with their ability to draw together this work in such a short project.”

Jennifer Decker

I enable businesses to reduce their business and product impacts from setting out a sustainability strategy to supporting the delivery of circular business models. Businesses I have supported include High Speed 1 Ltd, Cotton Incorporated, Argent, Heathrow Expansion, Northern Trust Bank, EDF New Nuclear Build, EY, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence.

I specialise on working within an organisation which has included my tenure as sustainability specialist at EDF New Nuclear Build and at WRAP developing their Textiles 2030 agreement and produced their 2030 circular textiles pathway working with the major retailers, reuse & recycling businesses and charities.

Prior to QSA, I was an associate director at Mace Group where I enabled built environment clients to deliver their carbon reduction programmes and sustainable construction strategies by setting measurable KPIs and targets; creating tools to monitor; embed performance standards in procurement and communication.

Previously, I led the Sustainable Clothing Action Plan at WRAP setting the 2020 targets, strategy and implementation for the UK clothing industry.

Kristina Bull

I led our project with Laudes Foundation and ReLondon on the Circular Fashion Fast Forward project that saw us develop circular models with adidas; FW and Farfetch as well as lay the foundations for Ted Baker’s work in this area.

I am leading the development of a fibre specific recycling programme within Europe which will be launched in early 2022.

I am an apparel durability expert with track record of change implementation at Whistles, ASOS, COS and worked with WRAP and John Lewis to produce a durability and quality guide for brands.

I have advised low carbon, resource efficiency and sustainability strategy development at Heathrow and High Speed 1 Ltd, and continue to lead the support work for HS1 through to their participation at COP26 in November 2021.

Before QSA at WRAP I delivered the market engagement and recruitment drive for the WRAP Halving Waste to Landfill agreement in the built environment sector.

Gerrard Fisher

I have a strong track record in sustainability with a wide range of clients. My original background is in process and chemical engineering so I’ve been in to process and resource efficiency since graduating a long time ago!

I’ve supported circular business model transformation in companies such as adidas, Argos, ASOS, B&Q (Kingfisher), FARFETCH, FW, Samsung, MuJo Fitness and more: I led a team that created WRAP’s original circular business model project called REBus.

I have extensive experience working with electrical and electronic products, and I worked with many major global brands on improving design for durabiltiy and repairabilitly. Examples of projects I led include:

  • Groundbreaking research into the nature of mercury hazards in flat-panel TVs (leading to industry voluntary labelling)
  • Creation of design guides for retail buyers so they could improve the durability (and reduce warranty costs) of their own-brand products.
  • Delivery of communication campaigns that increased e-waste recycling collections by over 40% in target areas.

Through my past work at WRAP and beyond, I’ve also advised a range of governmental and NGO organisations on resource efficiency, ecodesign and circular economy including Defra, BEIS, Zero Waste Scotland, ReLondon and Oxfordshire County Council. I provide technical advisory and independent expert advice to UKRI, the European Commission, the US Government’s Department of Energy.

I get a kick out of helping businesses understand and meet their customers’ needs better - whether that’s through better business models, better product design or better communication and transparency.

This has also led me to take an interest in privacy and data management - which can be a big barrier to people reusing and recycling some of their old electrical stuff. As a result, I set up a business called Astrid to provide cost-effective privacy advice to small businesses so they can better protect their customer information.

Mark Hodgson

I specialise in the innovation and proposition development of new customer orientated, commercially driven circular and sharing business models to market. I have a particular experience of working on circular models with sectors that are impacted by the change in lifestyles, consumption, digital mobility, electric infrastructure and NetZero, have on place. Examples range from retail; IKEA, adidas, B&Q, ASOS, FarFetch, developers and OEM’s; Landsec & Samsung, mobility; Riversimple, HS1 & Co Cars and authorities; Oxford County Council and Exeter Velocities/Exeter City Council. Across all of these, I have helped deliver the propositions, services, operations and infrastructure to enable deployment.

As a founder and ex-director of a multi-modal shared e-mobility provider of EV cars, e-bikes and e-cargo bikes, I have first-hand experience of the impact and change these business models can have on people and place, through working with clients, local authorities and housing developers.

I understand what processes and techniques to apply, how to encourage growth and change mindsets, and how to build a customer-focused, commercially viable business model that delivers circular and environmental benefits. My background is business development, technology and markets having worked for international companies to local SMEs. I've worked in a wide range of projects from global business propositions, sales as a service, sharing and circular business models, ‘low carbon’ LEP economic strategies, climate change adaptation, renewable energy, clean tech sector development and public sector partnerships to technical research, international development and project delivery management.

Being a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and geographer at heart I've worked on sustainable development projects and film productions in locations in Africa, Asia and Europe.