GWP, Cricklade-based specialist packaging group, has appointed two designers to its in-house structural design team, enabling it to offer further product and packaging design capabilities.
Ryan Perrington joins as a packaging designer and Tom Wilkie as a trainee product designer.
GWP, along with other firms in the industry, has been hit by a decline in specialised packaging-related design courses over the past decade. The knock-on effect of which means there has been a reduction in the number of people with the skills and knowledge needed by GWP.
Ryan’s background in retail and point-of-sale design has equipped him with the necessary skills and he will be designing and developing existing corrugated and Correx packaging.
Tom will be working across the GWP group and will be enabling the team to develop new and innovative packaging designs.
Although this is Tom’s first packaging-specific role since graduating from the University of Portsmouth with a degree in product design and engineering, his experience in working with similar software, enthusiasm and aptitude for design highlighted him as having the potential to fulfil a key role in the design team.
GWP group chief executive David Pedley said: “Ryan’s experience will complement the existing strong structural design team at GWP and bring an added dimension of expertise.
“With Tom’s skills we will be able to expand our offering and create new solutions to meet the evolving needs and specifications of our clients. He will also support the team in turning their ideas into reality and so develop our range and capabilities.”
GWP, which also has a base in Salisbury, designs and makes specialist protective packaging products for local, regional and international companies.
Last year it launched a new division to meet increasing demand for specialist Correx packaging – a lightweight-but-durable ‘corrugated’ polypropylene sheet material.
It employs 100 staff across its five divisions – GWP Packaging, GWP Protective, GWP Correx, GWP Conductive and GWP Coatings.
Pictured, from left: Ryan Perrington and Tom Wilkie
