Students make the Step into workplace

Published on Thursday 21 April 2005 13:59

SCOTTISH businesses are set to benefit this summer from an influx of some of the brightest students into the working environment.

Each spring sees the launch of the Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (Step), which teams up undergraduates with businesses. The idea is to provide work experience for the students and to give companies help with specific commercial needs.

"We want to provide opportunities for students to get experience in a workplace," says Nicolette Glashan, the Step project manager in Edinburgh. "It will be beneficial to them to put the work experience they have gained on their CVs."

The idea of Step is to place undergraduates in small and medium-size companies and community organisations to undertake a specific business or technical project driven by the needs of the host business.

But it will also enable the companies to develop their business through the temporary recruitment of some of Scotland’s brightest student minds.

Ms Glashan says a company could take on a postgraduate with a marketing specialism to look at the takers for a new product that the owner might have been mulling over, or possibly take on a computer whizz kid to bring a website up to scratch. As an added bonus, the temporary position could lead to identifying a future key employee for the firm.

The programme aims to communicate to managers of small firms the huge impact an undergraduate can have on their business while encouraging students to consider starting a career within the vibrant small business sector.

Over the last 18 years, Step has delivered in excess of 20,000 projects within small businesses throughout the UK.

Edinburgh-based independent software development company Intrelate wanted to rework its website and marketing materials with a new brand logo.

Undergraduate Lynsey Thornton was placed with the company and, as a direct result of the work being completed, Intrelate now has a new website and produces CD-Rom sales presentations, which have greatly enhanced its sales process. The project was so successful that Intrelate continues to employ Ms Thornton on a part-time basis while she completes her studies.

In Edinburgh, the programme is supported by Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh & Lothian, Edinburgh University and Shell UK and managed by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. Each year, it offers students placements across the summer vacation to growing companies.

From the companies’ point of view, they are able to achieve a cost-effective solution for their problems. "They are obtaining a cheap consultant," says Ms Glashan. "The students bring in the latest techniques to try out in the workplace. There are fresh ideas and new skills."

Ron Hewitt, chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, is keen for businesses in the Capital to take advantage of undergraduate placements. "Our future economic prosperity will be determined by the level of education of our future leaders, whose skills, knowledge and brain power will provide us with the competitive advantage," he says.

STEP, Mr Hewitt adds, provides an opportunity to help develop the brightest graduates and to make sure they understand the dynamics and demands of competing in today’s market.

Ms Glashan says Step students have helped thousands of companies by setting up IT systems, writing marketing plans, researching the feasibility of a new product or service, creating websites and e-commerce facilities, designing and creating company literature, researching export opportunities and automating accounts procedures.

Summer placements for 2005 are due to start on July 4 for eight weeks. To take on a student will cost businesses 125 a week, which is passed on to the students as a weekly training expense.

According to Ms Glashan, there is a target of placing 30 students this year, but it is hoped that more will be found suitable positions. "Last year, more than 300 students applied," she says. "We encourage them to look outside Edinburgh city, at areas such as the Forth Valley and the Borders."