Craig Harvey and Kenneth Boyd 2002
Craig Harvey and Kenneth
Boyd both graduated from St. Andrews in 2002. They spent four happy
years here studying maths and physics and decided to take their
interest in science further by spinning out a company from the University
called FifeX. The company designs and manufactures high impact,
interactive, hands-on, scientific exhibits.
Although aiming primarily at science centres, the company is also
looking to sell its service to other markets including: technology
businesses, schools, education, museums and visitor attractions.
With the backing of the University and a plethora of innovative
ideas being developed in the Photonics Innovation Centre, FifeX
aims to become the UK’s leading supplier of novel, interactive
hands-on exhibits.
In 2004,
the business really started taking off. Amongst other projects,
FifeX exhibited at the Royal Society Summer Exhibition. Craig and
Ken won the ‘Fife Regional Award’ and the ‘Best
Business Demonstrating Sustainability’ at the national finals
of the Shell Livewire Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and
added to that later on with the regional award and a national award
in the PSYBT / Royal Bank of Scotland Business Awards. They are
both very grateful for the help they have received from the University
of St. Andrews.
Ken Says:
St. Andrews is a brilliant place and physics is clearly one of the
best departments – it is really the University that we must
thank for being in the position that we are.
In terms of location, St. Andrews is great. I come from Kirkintilloch,
just north of Glasgow and its only a short drive back home –
in fact, St. Andrews is really very close to all the major cities
in Scotland.
If you are thinking about coming, I would suggest visiting our wee
town to have a look – you will be left with no option but
to pack your bags and come! For many, the town will be a new experience,
especially those that come from cities. Bearing in mind the size
of the place, it is inevitable that you will know most people around
and this creates a fantastic atmosphere and an experience that you
will never forget. The town is full of interesting people and interesting
things, together with a fantastic setting. The student population
in St. Andrews always amaze me with their array of interests –
as a result there are many great groups and societies and everyone
gets a chance to do and learn new things.
Physics is a great subject and a degree in it will do you a huge
service for the rest of your life. With universities producing more
graduates and jobs becoming harder to find, a physics degree will
always show an employer what you are really made of. As well as
learning from some of the world’s leading scientists, the
course here offers you the chance to be very enterprising and do
some different things, something that will set you in a great position
for the rest of your life.
If I could choose again, I would still come back here, and I really
recommend you do too!
Craig Says:
Born and brought up in South Wales meant that coming to St Andrews
was a big step for me, but one that I can safely say now, was worth
taking. In so many ways, the time I spent at St. Andrews really
set me up for running a company like FifeX. Like Ken said, it is
the Physics (and maths) department that we have to thank for being
in the position that we are. Right through my degree I felt a part
of the department which some of my friends missed out on in other
places. A degree should be so much more than just passing exams
and at St. Andrews, a physics degree really is, it opens so many
doors for your future. The biggest problem is choosing which door
to go through.
If you are having doubts about coming here, just come and see it.
Apart from being one of the UK’s top universities, the weather
is generally good, there are loads of golf courses, bucket loads
of pubs, awesome beaches and most importantly good looking lasses!
If you are interested in finding more out about the company we run
go to www.fifex.co.uk
First posted BDS 5.11.04