Press Releases
A Step ahead for your business
Date: 16 January 2006
Essex Development and Regeneration Agency (ExDRA), in partnership with Business Link, are looking for small and medium sized businesses to come forward and take part in this year’s Shell Step programme.
Every business has a number of objectives they wish to achieve as part of their business plan. However, due to resource constraints on time, knowledge and capacity some objectives are not met.
The Shell Step work placement starts in July 2006 and businesses are asked to allocate a specific project for the student to complete for the company. Projects can range from creating a website, designing new company literature, analysis of production methods, creating a marketing plan or IT systems.
The programme has already had a positive impact on Essex businesses. ClearView Communications, based in Chelmsford, found the programme particularly beneficial. Their student, Timothy Ballard, an Internet Technologies student at the University of Greenwich, completed the development of the company’s website and the success of this work is clear. Paul Main, Managing director at Clearview said, “As a result of Timothy’s work, potential customers now have access to better and more extensive information about the company’s products. The website also includes language translation which makes the company accessible to our new export market. Furthermore, there has been a marked increase in direct sales generated via the website since its launch, so we were very pleased with Timothy’s performance and would recommend Step to others.”
The salary for a Shell Step placement student is £185 per week. Every undergraduate will have completed 2 years of a typical 3-year degree course at a UK university. The cost to companies is £1,730 plus VAT.
Shell Step 2005 saw 44 successful placements within Essex, with some students staying on as part time employees.
· 100% of companies would recommend Shell Step to others
· 100% felt their company benefited from having a Shell Step student
· 90% felt that the benefits where long term to their business goals
· 83% of which were pleased or extremely pleased with the students performance
For more information on Shell Step contact Richard Keenan or Glynis Argue at Basildon Enterprise Centre on 01268 591436, email step.info@exdra.co.uk or visit www.shellstep.org.uk
