Is there a project your business needs to carry out, but no one to do it? Could you give a student valuable work experience? If the answer's yes to both of these questions, you may be interested in becoming involved in STEP.
STEP, or the Shell Technology Enterprise Programme to give it its correct title, was set up in 1987 by Shell to help small and medium sized businesses develop their potential with the help of undergraduates.
The programme is managed in South Lanarkshire by Hamish Primrose of Hamilton Enterprise Development Company on behalf of sponsors Lanarkshire Development Agency and the Bank of Scotland.
He said: "Many SMEs are often too busy concentrating on the task of building their business to deal with other issues that are important, but are unable to compete due to lack of resources, manpower or funding. We will match a student to your company for the specific purpose of carrying out that task. It could be an IT project, marketing, energy management or waste reduction."
How does it work? The student will come and work on a specific project for your company for eight weeks from July and be paid £140 per week, 50% of which will be met by Hamilton Enterprise Development Company (HEDC). In return, your business will benefit from the skills of a bright and enthusiastic individual whose will be carrying out a project of your choice.
Who is eligible? There are no major restrictions on the eligibility of companies. You must: have a project the student can complete within the eight weeks operate as an independent business with a staff of less than 200 be able to commit the necessary resources to supervise the project and provide the student with an insight into business.
Students will be in their second or penultimate year with suitable academic experience and be under 25-years-old. You will be provided with the details of several students and will have the final choice over which one you would like to give a placement.
Prior to starting their placements, students will be given induction training by HEDC, which will also monitor them throughout the eight weeks in association with the other enterprise agencies throughout South Lanarkshire. At the end of the training, the students will produce a written report and short presentation on the results of their project.
Hamish said: "The programme has been highly successful in South Lanarkshire. This year, we had 27 students in placements throughout the area. The scheme offers them a chance of valuable work experience while the firms benefit from having their project carried out.
"Companies needn't worry about being caught up in paperwork. We will take care of all the administration and training."
For more information, contact Hamish on 01698 429425.