Aberdeen University Student Walks Away with Grampian STEP Award

Fiona MacKenzie of Helmsdale, Sutherland, has won the Grampian final of the Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP) award 2004 for her work this summer at the Maritime Rescue Institute. Sponsored by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils, Shell and Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise ), Fiona will now go through to the Scottish STEP final for the £1 000 prize.

Fiona, who is currently studying Maths at Aberdeen University , overcame stiff competition, with fourteen students also competing in the Grampian finals. However, Fiona impressed the panel of judges to make it through to the second heat and go on to win the Grampian finals.

Fiona was assigned to the Maritime Rescue Institute in Stonehaven to develop and implement a quality assurance system, which will have the additional benefit of aiding the Institute in accessing funding opportunities.Fiona was also involved in completing an innovation support application and a funding database to help the charity secure vital funding. She also organised a fundraising ‘Wolfstone’ concert, at present scheduled for late November and managed to persuade a famous Scottish children’s author to write a book and design a character for the Institute.”

Fiona says, “I am delighted to have won the Grampian STEP final. The work I was involved in at the Maritime Rescue Institute was challenging and varied, and will help the Institute secure additional funding and fundraising. Working with the team at the Institute has given me a unique and invaluable insight into the operations of a growing enterprise. I have no doubt that the STEP experience will continue to benefit me long into the future.”

Ann Laing of the Maritime Rescue Institute says, “The work that Fiona has completed during her summer placement with us has been fantastic. Fiona has brought a new way of thinking and some fresh ideas to the Institute, which I’m sure, will support in securing more funding and thereby increase our income. Fiona’s highly motivated and skilled approach to the project has made a great contribution to the development of the company. I would definitely endorse STEP to any company.”

There were three runners up also announced at last night’s ceremony, Duncan Stewart who was assigned to the Printfield Community Project, Emma Walker was placed at Hot Chilli Design and Ryan Watson at Boreas Consultants.

Recent recruits to Enterprise North East Trust, Katy Sutherland and Jilly Cole project managed this years STEP initiative in Grampian. 

Jilly Cole says, “The STEP programme is really a win-win situation for all parties involved, by matching highly skilled undergraduates with small businesses for challenging projects, the students get the chance to experience the real world of work and develop their expertise. The businesses benefit greatly from their innovative ideas and fresh thinking.”

The STEP initiative has been running for the past eighteen years, with over fourteen thousand projects being delivered throughout the UK.

Deirdre Michie, External Affairs Manager at Shell says, “Shell has initiated and developed STEP over the last eighteen years. The programme matches some of the brightest undergraduates with the kind of small firms seeking quality ideas to move them forward. It also allows undergraduates to understand the importance of small firms and can give small firms a fresh new insight to the way it does business. The quality of the work produced by the STEP students has been exceptionally high and we’re sure that they will all go on to achieving more successes.”

Katy adds, “We are delighted that Fiona has won the Grampian finals, her work has obviously made a lasting impression on the Maritime Rescue Institute and we wish her every success in the Scottish finals in London on 30^th September 2004.  Last year, Aberdeen University Master’s student, Gar-Ling Ng won the highly coveted STEP award for ‘Most Enterprising Student’.  This demonstrates the success of the programme in north-east Scotland and the quality of the undergraduates involved and the fantastic support we receive from SMEs throughout the area.”

For further information on the STEP programme or the STEP Awards contact Jilly Cole or Katy Sutherland at Enterprise North East Trust on 01467 672522, or visit www.step.org.uk

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