Students and employers participating in the STEP programme, run by the Knowledge Dock at the University of East London (UEL), gathered to have their projects judged at the East London area final and awards ceremony held at UEL's Docklands campus on the evening of Thursday 2nd September.

Presenting the awards, Professor Alan Sibbald, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of East London, said: "STEP demonstrates the immediate and direct contribution talented young people can make to the development of these businesses. Small and medium-sized companies are recognised as the drivers of the national economy, and we are proud to be involved in this programme, which offers many benefits to both students and host organisations - so congratulations to you all!"

Gareth Lewis, STEP programme manager at the Knowledge Dock, said: "It is incredible what you have achieved in the past eight weeks and I know everyone says this, but it was genuinely very difficult to pick the winners from a range of exciting projects which have been of generally excellent standard."

The £500 first prize for Most Enterprising Student, presented by the London Stock Exchange, was awarded to Sam Giles, of Rayleigh in Essex. Sam, who is studying for his degree in Computer Aided Product Design at Nottingham Trent University, completed a project to create an office screen system using enviromentally 'safe' materials with Blueline Office Furniture Ltd of Thames Road, Barking.

The runner-up prize for most enterprising student, £200 sponsored by Knowledge Dock, was won by Chris Barned of Tuam Rd, Plumstead, who is studying for a Business Management degree at the University of Essex. Chris completed a project to coordinate the supply of marketing materials and to raise awareness of company's new web site for Paramount 26 Ltd of Thames Road, Barking.

The winner and runner-up now go forward to the regional finals held at Shell's London headquarters on Thursday 9th September.

Best Report prize of £100 sponsored by Newton Equipment Ltd was won by Sophie Robins of St Margarets Road, Wanstead, studying History at the University of East Anglia, who completed a project on 'impact analysis of training support' for Gateway to Industry based at the CEME Campus on Marsh Way, Rainham.

The Best Presentation prize of £100, sponsored by Saul D Harrison & Sons Plc, was won by Joseph McNair of Doddinghurst Road, Brentwood, Essex, who is studying Law at the University of Warwick, and implemented a public relations project for London Excellence Ltd.

Placement experience leads to job offer

Satsuma Consultancy Ltd, an award-winning marketing, regeneration and business consultancy, took on UEL Business Economics student John Doherty of Longbridge Road, Barking, to undertake the marketing of a block of business planning workshops this summer, as part of the Start Right programme, a two-year business support project jointly-funded by the Satsuma Consultancy and Access to Excellence (SRB6).

Godwin Ohajah, Managing Director of the Satsuma Consultancy, based in St Luke's Church in Canning Town, said: "The STEP programme is a great way for local business to work with a university and also give a young person the invaluable work experience they'll need to help them get a job when they finish their course."

John was involved in the development of the marketing and publicity plan and he played a very important and practical role in helping us exceed our targets for this project. We threw John in at the deep end but it worked out very well, and as a result we have offered him a job to continue the work."

Wale Akin of Monega Road, Forest Gate, who is studying for his degree in E-commerce at UEL, completed the creation of a website for GK Partners Ltd in Greenwich. Mr Akin, who is planning to launch his own e-commerce business, said: "It was the first time I have designed a site for a small business and it has been an interesting project and good experience."

The students worked full-time throughout July and August 2004 with companies and community organisations including Zenon Consulting, World Infocomms Ltd, Newton Equipment Ltd, and the Chinese in Britain Forum.

The Knowledge Dock at UEL, which works with several hundred local businesses across the region, was named Best New Agency at the national STEP awards sponsored by Shell in October 2003. For full details of STEP in East London, contact Gareth Lewis on 0208 223 3321.