Record number of summer student placements in local businesses arranged by University of Exeter

The University of Exeter, which manages the scheme in the South West, matches students with business partners and also provides training and support.

Jane Gill, Employer Liaison Officer at the University commented ‘The Shell Step programme is a fantastic way for students to put their studies into practise. Local businesses also benefit hugely from being able to complete projects that have often been difficult to resource in any other way.’

Shell Step 2008: case studies

Chloe Bines working for ReZolve Kernow Group, Bodmin, Cornwall

ReZolve Kernow is a not for profit organisation set up in 1997 to develop innovative projects that contribute to sustainability by reducing, reusing and recycling Cornwall’s waste.

In her second year of a BSc in Renewable Energy at the University of Exeter, Chloe Bines was an obvious choice to take up a 12 week placement with the organisation.

Chloe has been placed with the project ‘Envision’ and has already started some exciting tasks; calculating the carbon footprints of two local businesses, The Green Glass Company and Leap Media.

She is also busy learning how to best advise small, local companies on how to save money by becoming more energy efficient and to effectively minimize their waste.

Four weeks into her placement Chloe said ‘There has definitely been a two way flow of information. I have learnt an incredible amount already but I have also been able to use knowledge gained from my degree to help me with my project work. Being on the programme has also given me loads of confidence and opened my eyes to the range of possibilities available to me when I graduate.’

James Peard working for Puffins of Exeter

Puffins of Exeter is a private company, established in 1990.Initially opening one nursery, the company now operates eight nurseries and two after school clubs. Puffins currently offer care & education for children from over 650 different families each week throughout Devon and Torbay and employ over 180 staff. Having successfully been accredited by Cache in 1997, Puffins also offers training for NVQ level 2 and 3 in early years care and education, as well as assessor and key skills training.

James Peard, in his second year of a BSc degree in Games Technology at the University of the West of England, has been drafted in to work on a really innovative project for the training team at Puffins. He has been tasked with creating a virtual learning environment in which the NVQ students can reinforce what they’ve learnt in the classroom with an on-line, interactive and enjoyable set of exercises and games. Talking about his first four weeks James said ‘Obviously my degree has really helped me so far as I’ve mainly been designing the games aspect of the project. I’ll be moving into more web development later on and this will be a steep learning curve for me, but something I’m really looking forward to. It’s great to be given the opportunity to create something completely new for the company.’

Kyle Laskey working for Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau

Nothing could be further from a degree in Electronics with Space Science and Technology than breaking new ground with the Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau – and that’s exactly what Kyle Laskey was looking for. With a year of studying left at the University of Bath, Kyle’s future ambitions are to go on to do an MBA, preferably at an American University. He therefore wanted some all-round business experience and the project offered by the CAB suited his needs perfectly. Now in his fourth week, Kyle has been required to undertake feasibility studies, research, market reviews and marketing assignments, all of which he has thoroughly enjoyed. Commenting on the best part of the Shell Step programme for him, personally Kyle said ‘I’ve really been able to throw myself in at the deep end, knowing this was only an eight week project. As a result, I have genuinely challenged myself and learnt so much because of that. The CAB have provided me with great support and lots of encouragement to be creative and free thinking. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the project so far.’

For more information on Shell Step, please visit www.shellstep.org.uk