Partner Article

North East students take a step in the right direction

A record number of students from universities across the region are boosting their career prospects working with local SMEs this summer. 80 students have dedicated eight weeks of their summer holiday to take part in the Shell Step Programme, managed by business support organisation Entrust.

The paid work experience placements give students an excellent opportunity to get to grips with the world of work and make a real impact in a local business by undertaking projects that range from developing marketing strategies to scientific research. By matching a student’s skills with a company’s goals, the Shell Step Programme is an initiative that is mutually beneficial to both parties.

Lisa Blackie, Entrust’s Shell Step Co-ordinator, said: “We are delighted that a record number of students want to get involved in real work-based projects that will benefit both the companies and the students themselves. It’s a win-win situation. Undergraduates bring new skills and focused enthusiasm. They can give their full attention to a specific business project that firms might not otherwise have the time or resources to tackle in-house.”

On the induction day hosted by Entrust, the students learned a range of skills from project management to problem solving to help them hit the ground running. Each student is allocated a mentor who will guide them through the process and prepare them for the competition stage of the programme.

Students have to submit a 1,500 word report on their experience and deliver a seven minute presentation on how they have benefited from the placement. Two successful entrants will be selected to go forward and join the regional competition, with the winner going on to the national final where the successful candidate will be named the UK’s most enterprising student.

For further information on the Shell Step Programme contact Lisa Blackie at Entrust on 0191 244 4000.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .