KDC Alumni Event at the RNLI College

Last week, KDC Projects held our first ever Alumni Event. Our Alumni events are made to bring together current staff, former colleagues and long-time friends of the business. The aim was simple: to reconnect, reflect, and enjoy some time together away from the day-to-day.

We chose the RNLI College in Poole as our venue. It was a fitting setting for what turned out to be a really enjoyable evening.

A Closer Look at Lifesaving Engineering

Before the evening’s food and drinks, we were lucky enough to be given a guided tour of the RNLI’s production facilities, including a chance to see lifeboats at various stages of their build. From the initial production timelines to the final fit-out, the tour gave a fascinating behind-the-scenes view of the process.

Thank you to Steve Porter for taking the time to show us around, and to John Deas for helping bring the whole visit together.

Sharing Ideas and Insight

We also had the pleasure of hearing from Abigail Batley, a Lecturer in Engineering Design and PhD Researcher, who shared her work with the RNLI on how additive manufacturing could help positively disrupt and strengthen their supply chain. Her talk offered an inspiring look at where engineering research meets real-world impact — and prompted some good conversations among the group afterwards.

A Great Evening All Round

The event had a relaxed and welcoming feel throughout. It was a chance to catch up with familiar faces, share a few stories, and welcome back people who’ve been part of KDC’s journey over the years.

Bringing people together like this reminds us just how many great individuals have contributed to the company and how valuable those connections remain, even after people have moved on to other roles or industries.