2005 Shell Step Winner for Sussex
The Sussex Innovation Centre (SInC) - a placement centre for the Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (Step) – held its local finals on 19th August and is proud to announce that one of its students will be going through to the London and South East Regional finals on 14th September at the Shell Centre, Waterloo, having beaten 21 other students today.
Step is a UK-wide initiative that, each year, creates around 1,400 eight-week summer work placements for students with SMEs across the country. The host firm benefits from additional resource and expertise, while the student receives hands-on experience and the opportunity to implement knowledge gained at university.
1st Place – Katherine Osemen studying electrical & electronic engineering with a modern language at Nottingham University completed a brilliant project for Cash Bases in Newhaven where she investigated alternative devices available, designed and built a basic prototype cash drawer mechanism. The proposed lay flat and flip lid mechanism would save £54,600 and £433,550 per year respectively, this is a total annual saving of £488,150 or 39.3%.
2nd Place – Diane McInerney studying product design at Brighton University completed a project for Welland Medical, based in Crawley, requiring the design opening/closing mechanism for ostomy bags which she carried out very successfully, resulting in the possibility of further growth for an already successful product where a 30% growth in sales would yield more than £100,000 in sales revenue.
Both the above students were generously sponsored by SEEDA as part of a pilot programme whereby Sussex was allocated 10 placements requiring high growth/innovative projects.
3rd Place – Charlotte Madden studying cultural and historical studies at Brighton University completed a marketing project with Brainjuicer based in Shoreham.
Update news
Since winning the local final, Kate went on to win the Regional Final on the 14 September.
Kate added: "I am thrilled to have come this far in a nationally-recognised competition. My experience at Cash Bases this summer has not only helped me understand how to practically apply my skills in a business environment, it has increased my confidence in my own abilities which I know will stand me in good stead for the future."
Paul Hudson, a senior design engineer at Cash Bases, added: "Kate fully deserves this accolade and we are fantastically proud of what she has achieved. Innovation and fresh thinking are at the core of our business and Kate highlighted just how important this is in the eight weeks she was here. Quite apart from the impressive cost savings inherent in her solutions, the energy, enthusiasm and different way of approaching the project helped invigorate everyone who worked with her."
Patsie Sutcliffe (The Shell Step Manager for Sussex) is based at SInC and has responsibility for placing students in the Sussex region: “I have been running the Step programme in this area for over 14 years, placing around 50 students each year with exceptional results. This scheme is invaluable in helping to foster innovation in the UK. It is particularly helpful to firms which may have projects on the back burner, or lack the necessary manpower or technology to see an idea through to fruition.
For more information on SInC or the Step programme please contact Patsie Sutcliffe on 01273 704404, or patsie@sinc.co.uk.
