Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Small Business Minister Nigel Griffiths and James Smith, chairman of Shell UK, presented the award to Ruth Puddick and Miranda Bishop of St John’s in recognition of its success in increasing student placements, raising the profile of STEP among hi-tech companies and its tireless work on the international stage.

The STEP programme is a UK-wide initiative offering penultimate-year undergraduates project-based work during the summer within SMEs and community organisations.

The programme enables students to work on a specific project to solve a business problem, develop invaluable personal and technical skills and forge successful careers.

St John’s also runs the STEP International Scheme and this year sent students to seek technology transfer opportunities in Germany, Estonia, Slovenia and Finland.

Since this programme started in 1999, St John’s has sent nearly 50 students to 18 countries in mainland Europe and several have found technology transfer opportunities which have led to the signing of technology agreements.

Stephen Hampson, chief executive of Business Link for Cambridgeshire said: “Ruth Puddick and Miranda Bishop, who manage the STEP Agency at St John’s, provide highly professional and effective support for the programme and this has been reflected by its success in obtaining such a high participation rate, which is of benefit to the businesses of the region.

“Their good practice, innovation and expertise will serve as an example for the rest of the country.”