Kategorie: Company Information

eakin® students takeover Instagram

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eakin student placement roles

Our current placement students took-over the Ulster University (UU) careers Instagram account this week to show what a typical day working at eakin® is like.  At eakin® placement students are an important part of the team and gain invaluable hands on experience in their chosen field, this allowed us to give local students a real feel for our business.

A core value at eakin® is to grow through fair partnerships, providing support for mutual benefit.  One of the ways we do this is through partnering with local universities to offer a placement year for 3rd year students.

The placement students work on real projects, carrying out business critical work that helps the company succeed.  But it isn’t just the company that benefits; the students gain a wide range of experience in their chosen field, giving them a strong advantage when it comes to applying for their first graduate role.

Glen is a student at Ulster University on the Interactive Multimedia course, who is with us for his placement year as our digital marketing assistant. 

“ My job is to help implement the digital marketing strategy. I get to work across a lot of areas including video, social media, design and websites.  The experience I am getting will give me a great portfolio to help kick start my career after graduation.”

This year we have also had a placement student working with us as a Product Development Engineer.  Sinead is studying Biomedical Engineering at Ulster University and is half-way through her placement year.  Sinead has been part of the Research and Development (R&D) team working on several innovation projects.

“I support both the design and mechanical teams, this can be through CAD designing, prototyping, testing etc. But most importantly learning as I go along, picking up invaluable skills that will help me in my studies and my future career.”

We are currently recruiting for our placement students for 2020-21 across four different business areas:

  • Digital marketing assistant
  • Formulation R&D
  • HR assistant
  • Product development R&D

Full details and how to apply are on our vacancies page.

If you missed it, you can watch our Instagram takeover here.

Powered by the sun

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Solar panels on the roof of the eakin factory

Ireland is not famous for its sunshine, but it does exist and eakin® can prove it.

At eakin® the focus is not just on providing great service, quality and innovation.  We want to do that in an ethical and environmentally friendly way, being socially responsible in all that we do.

Back in 2015, eakin® installed 960 solar panels on our factory roof as part of our commitment to reduce the environmental impact of our business.  These solar panels generate just over 2MWs of electricity each year.  To give you an idea of what that looks like, since installation these panels have produced enough energy to power almost 200 homes or charge a Tesla 700 times so it can drive around the world over 8 and a half times!

Some of the energy created goes back to the grid, and the rest we use to meet some of our energy needs.

We have all heard about ‘carbon footprint’ and how important it is to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere.  Some of you may have even planted trees to offset your own carbon footprint, especially when it comes to long haul flights.  The solar panels at eakin® off-set 13 tons each year, the equivalent to 50 one-way flights between London and Sydney.

The solar panels aren’t the only way eakin® are being ‘green’.  By the end of this year, we will have 100% LED lighting across the site, thanks to the work of our environmental committee. Our research and Development team are also looking into ways to further minimise the environmental impact of the business and our products on the world around us.

Still leading the way

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(Professor Carmel Hughes, Head of School, The School of Pharmacy and Tom Eakin)

Founder of Eakin Healthcare Group, Tom Eakin, was among the first to receive a fellowship from the School of Pharmacy at Queen’s University Belfast on 22nd June, 2019.  The School of Pharmacy Fellowship Programme recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

Tom registered as a pharmacist in 1958, having chosen the profession because it was, in his words, ‘hands-on.’  His first job was as a superintendent Pharmacist subsequently led to his appointment as Chief Pharmacist at the Mid-Ulster Hospital, where he caused quite a stir on the maternity ward one lunch time after triggering a small explosion in the dispensary on the floor below.

Having gained experience in both hospital and community settings in Northern Ireland and Canada, Tom moved to Dundonald to manage his own pharmacy in 1960.

During the 1970s, Tom’s interest in formulation, lead him to focus on post-surgical difficulties for patients who had undergone stoma surgery.  This work was prompted by the experience of a family member and the customers he met at the pharmacy.

Showing great determination and focus, four years of experimentation led to the development of a special polymeric film and barrier adhesive that would go on to transform the lives of ostomates across the globe and create a thriving, now international, business.  But Tom’s invention was not limited to use on ostomates; surgeons realised a potential use in the treatment of open wounds, and he was asked to help with a seriously ill patient in the Belfast City Hospital which led to a new approach and the development of the Eakin Wound Pouches™.

TG Eakin Ltd now exports to 26 countries and continues to focus on innovation through its research and development department.  Tom is still very much involved and is often seen in the lab working on new formulations and design projects when he not attending a “course” (with a ball and club).

He continues to encourage and support the research undertaken at the Queen’s University School of Pharmacy through the annual         TG Eakin Prize for Distinction in Medicinal Substances, inspiring the next generation of pharmacy greats.

Additional images:

(Alongisde family, Mr Eakin had a team of supporters from eakin™ in the audence to celebrate his achievement. Pictured L-R Rebecca, Ben, Hannah and Grace)
(Mr and Mrs Eakin at the presentation)
(Mr and Mrs Eakin at the presentation)

It’s easy to apply an eakin Cohesive® seal

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picture of eakin cohesive seals

An eakin Cohesive® seal provides a solution for leaks and sore red skin. Here’s a step by step guide for application.

Leaks and skin irritation are common problems faced by ostomate.  The eakin Cohesive® seal provides superior protection to help stop leaks and prevent sore skin around your stoma.

The skin friendly ingredients in eakin Cohesive® seals means there is little chance of allergies to them.  As eakin Cohesive®​ seals absorb more moisture than any other seal they allow you to get on with your day, leak free.

To make sure the seal does its job, follow this handy step by step guide to apply your seal.

The eakin seal comes in a variety of sizes.  Find the perfect seal for you by requesting a sample today.

For further advice and support visit A Bigger Life, a web-based community for ostomates and their carers.

Confidence for a busy lifestyle

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still image from video promoting eakin slim seals

You need to feel confident when you’ve got a busy lifestyle; to be able to go about your normal routine, visit friends, go to work, travel, without the fear of leaking.

Clare Mee gets that confidence from an eakin Cohesive SLIMS® seal.   Shortly after surgery Clare developed skin irritation, so her stoma nurse recommended an eakin® Cohesive seal.

Absorbent, mouldable and skin friendly, eakin® Cohesive seals are designed to combat common problems such as leakage and skin irritation to prevent sore skin around your stoma.  But don’t just take our word for it- find out what Clare has to say in this video.

If you would like to try an eakin® seal for yourself, you can request a sample.

Clare is a regular blogger on A Bigger Life, a web-based community for ostomates and their carers to connect with each other for support, information and encouragement.  Sign up now at ABiggerLife.com

Eakin.eu gets a new look

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advert for new eakin.eu website

At eakin we don’t believe having a stoma should define you. We believe it’s just a small part of a bigger life. This is something we passionately believe in, which is why we have developed our new eakin.eu website so you can easily search for product solutions or a range of help and advice articles to help you adapt to living with a stoma allowing you to get on with life.

Some of the new and improved features include:

  • Overall design is simplistic helping you get to the information you require in less clicks.
  • Products and advice is solution led to help guide you to the appropriate advice or product.
  • Sample experience is similar to other shopping websites that you will already be familiar with.

Have a browse around and let us know what you think by emailing [email protected] !

 

Introducing: A Bigger Life Community

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advert for abiggerlife.com, a support website for ostomates

We know from experience and what you have been telling us that there’s a growing need for ostomates to be able to connect and share with each other tips, ask for help with pouching techniques or just general advice on living with a stoma.

We have listened! We have developed a new ostomy community on abiggerlife.com to create the opportunity to connect with other ostomates, clinical advisors and share experiences about living with a stoma.

Why join A Bigger Life Community?

• A safe and welcoming space for ostomates, friends, family and caregivers to easily connect with others. People of all ages, with all levels of online experience can use the community to talk about a wide range of topics related to living with a stoma.

• If your waiting on surgery or recovering from surgery, here is a good place to start and get support from others who have been through a similar situation to you. If you’re an experienced ostomate you can share your hints and tips, some of the best advice comes from others who have had the same experience

• Regular live Q&A sessions with our Clinical Advisors offering the opportunity to ask questions about your stoma, lifestyle or emotions.

• Learn about new products and developments in the ostomy world by connecting with others around the globe.

Get involved

You can get involved in the community by clicking on the community link in the navigation on abiggerlife.com or by visiting community.abiggerlife.com. To contribute to the conversations, you will need to register but don’t worry its quick and easy. Once your logged in you can ask questions, share your advice or simply just say hello to the rest of the community.

Help us improve the lives of ostomates worldwide!

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Cartoon Hands with a heart shape on them

We are currently looking for people who have a stoma and are living in Northern Ireland to help us evaluate and trial some of our new and innovative products.

Do you or someone you know have a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy?
Did you know that one of the world’s leading manufacturers of stoma bags, skin care productsand accessories is a Northern Ireland family-owned and operated company based in County Down?

The Eakin Healthcare Group, founded by pharmacist Tom Eakin forty years ago, manufactures and sells stoma care products to 40 countries from the purpose built factory in Comber.

Our Research & Development Department is a team of highly experienced and skilled pharmacists, scientists and product development engineers who are currently working on the next generation of stoma appliances, designed to improve the quality of life for people with a stoma.

We are currently looking for people who have a stoma and are living in Northern Ireland to help us evaluate and trial some of our new and innovative products.

If you, or someone you know, has a colostomy, ileostomy or urostomy and are interested in helping us by providing product feedback, then please contact us by phoning (028) 9187 4810, Mon – Fri 8.30am – 1.30pm, or by emailing [email protected] for more information.

Your help is vital to ensure customer focused product development and the launch of new products to improve the quality of life of ostomates worldwide.

When you contact us, we will be discreet and anything you tell us will remain completely confidential. We will not use your personal information for sales, marketing or any promotions and we will not share your personal information with anyone else.

French nurses visit eakin

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Staff at eakin were delighted to welcome the visitors, who travelled from France to attend an eakin presentation and workshop.

During their visit they also learnt the history of eakin, received more training about our products including our new eakin dot 2-piece and had an opportunity to tour the factory.

Olivier Montels, Development Manager of eakin in France: “It’s important for Health professionals to know more about us, our values and our products to understand fully the commitment of our teams to create and fabricate eakin products. We are even more pleased that this was the first visit of French ET nurses.”

Eakin will also be present at the AFET days – which is the French National Congress of ET nurses – happening in Lyon from the 8th to the 12th of October. 

We thank all our visitors for taking the time to visit us and we look forward to welcoming them again in the future.