This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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STEP reaches 18th anniversary
31/03/2004
The Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP) kicked off it's 18th year today at Shell's Fife HQ in Aberdour.
The Programme was created by Shell UK in 1986 to bring together small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which have a particular need for skilled help, with undergraduate students possessing suitable skills.
A briefing session was attended by representatives from Shell UK, the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise, and agents from all over Scotland who will be responsible for delivering STEP at local level.
Lewis Macdonald, Deputy Enterprise Minister, said:
"STEP plays a valuable role in strengthening industry/education links. STEP is an ideal vehicle by which we can present our young talent with the challenge of solving real business problems, with current commercial experience and with tradeable skills, all of which are becoming critical to building successful careers in an increasingly entrepreneurial market place.
"STEP is a good example of encouraging academia to be more aware of the needs of small enterprises and can be a method for SMEs to benefit from the latest skills and knowledge available. Significantly, STEP also places graduates in many businesses which would not otherwise interact with universities or even consider graduates.
"I believe that businesses are changing and in participating in STEP, with its inherent ease of access, I believe that constructive collaboration between the business community and universities will continue to grow.
"I sincerely hope that more and more of our Small and Medium sized businesses in Scotland will buy-in to the real benefits which they can secure from working with bright, young enterprising graduates and the wider academic community as a whole".
STEP Scottish Programme Director Tony Simpson said:
"Since it's launch STEP has benefited the Scottish economy by bringing together small businesses and talented undergraduate students to carry out projects that will help the businesses.
"Last year we saw over 200 projects completed from all over the country, and Scottish student Gar-Ling Ng was given the award UK's Most Enterprising Student against competition from across Britain. We aim to build on that success this year.
"Although host companies are required to contribute towards the student's training allowance of £175 per week, STEP minimises any management burden on the host company as STEP carries out all the administrative work. Altogether STEP is a highly efficient and cost-effective scheme, and I advise all small businesses from every market sector to consider it seriously."
STEP can be contacted by telephone at 0870 036 5450 and by e-mail at enquiries@step.org.uk
STEP is sponsored throughout Britain by Shell UK and the Department of Trade and Industry and is supported in Scotland by the Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the European Regional Development Fund and other local partners.
STEP's annual exit survey from 2002 showed:
- 94% of host company managers stated that the STEP project had had a positive impact on their business's future performance
- 65% indicated that the project contributed to the development of existing technologies within their organisation, and 39% said that STEP added new technologies to the work place
- 52% of companies valued their STEP projects up to £1,500, 44% over £1,500, 28% over £5,000 and 11% at over £15,000
- 94% of companies believe the benefits of the scheme either equalled or exceeded the cost of taking part
- As a result of participating in STEP, 97% of companies will provide further opportunities for undergraduates in the future .