What is Shell Step?

Every year, Shell Step recruits the UK’s brightest and most enterprising undergraduates and matches them with the specific needs of small organisations. By engaging a student for a Shell Step project, companies benefit from fresh ideas and new skills that can result in the development of existing technologies or processes in their businesses.

How does Shell Step work?

Take an issue facing your organisation and turn it into a definable and structured project. From all the Manx undergraduates who have registered, Shell Step will select the most suitable candidate with the profile you need to undertake the project, which you have identified. Projects typically take place over eight weeks in the summer (July & August), but can be shortened or extended to meet project demands, if required.

What projects can be undertaken?

There are virtually no restrictions on the type of project an organisation can choose, but examples include:

• Setting up IT and/or accountancy systems
• Design and implementation of websites
• Marketing plans
• Setting up of systems e.g. ISO 9000, ISO 14001, IIP, H &S etc.
• Design of company literature
• Analysis of production methods
• Environmental audits and follow-up work
• Design of new product concepts

...and more.

Which organisations can take part?

All organisations can experience the benefits of a Shell Step student. However, in order for the student to qualify for the National Competition, companies must:

• have less than 250 employees; and
• not be owned by another company, or be part of a group of companies, having 250 or more employees.

In order for a Shell Step project to be successful it is also necessary to have:

• a set project for an undergraduate to undertake;
• a suitable place for the student to work;
• appropriate supervisory and management arrangements.

Access to Knowledge

Shell Step is designed to help small organisations to develop by kick-starting and managing a project that can be achieved within a realistic timescale and at an affordable price.

• Individual interviews are arranged to help you to select the student you want to undertake your project.
• Contracts, which include Health and Safety issues, are then issued for acceptance by both the organisation and the student.
• Immediately before starting, or at the start of the project, your Shell Step student will attend a pre-project induction day provided by your Shell Step Agency to prepare them for his/her project.
• The local Shell Step Agency will invoice you for the training allowance and then pay your student weekly.
• A review session provided by the Shell Step Agency is carried out midway through the project when all local students are provided with any additional support needed to complete their project.
• At the end of the project, students produce reports of their work and present their achievements to a panel of judges. The winner of the local competition and the host organisation will be invited to attend the high profile Regional and, possibly, National Shell Step finals.

How much will it cost?

Students receive a weekly training allowance of £200 per week, which is free of National Insurance and Income Tax contributions. Therefore, the average cost to your organisation for an undergraduate working full-time on an eight-week project will be £1,600+VAT.

For further information, contact Philip Corlett, Shell Step Programme Manager, at the Department of Trade & Industry on 682396.

How do we apply?

For additional information and to apply on-line, please log onto the Shell Step website at www.shellstep.org.uk.

What happens next?

Once you have applied,

• you will be contacted by your local Shell Step agency, which will discuss your business needs in more detail before agreeing on a feasible project to be undertaken by a Shell Step student.
• Shell Step will then match your requirements and the range of skills and expertise available within the database of registered students.

Rules of the Shell Step programme are subject to change. For the latest information on Shell Step, please contact Shell Step Enterprise on 0870 036 5450 or by e-mail at enquiries@step.org.uk. Supported by Shell UK

Shell Step is a Business Link service managed in the UK by Shell Step Enterprise Ltd under contract to Shell UK and part-funded by the Government’s Small Business Service and DTI.