Businesses and organisations are being encouraged to support the next generation of island workers.

Now is the time for enterprises willing to take part in this year’s STEP programme to sign up and offer valuable support and work experience to local students.

The programme allows participants to take on a work-based project with their host organisation over the course of their summer holidays.

Lawrie Hooper, MHK, who has responsibility for the STEP project said: ’The STEP Programme has proven to be hugely successful for both the business and students over the past decade.

’The experience gained from this project is invaluable to undergraduates looking to put their studies into practice and it has also proved extremely helpful for local businesses who have benefited from the help and results of the projects carried out.’

The scheme is sponsored by Standard Bank and has seen 260 work-based projects over the course of the past 10 years.

Previous work-placements have included positions within a variety of local businesses and government departments with past projects including creative, manufacturing, marketing and quality assurance.

The 2016 Award for Most Enterprising Student went to Niamh Matthews, whose project explored the provenance, marketing and branding of Isle of Man produce. Niamh’s logo design has also recently been used for the creation of an Isle of Man Provenance label.

Chris Till, of Standard Bank, said his organisation was proud to be sponsoring the STEP Programme again in 2017.

’Our involvement over the past few years has been hugely beneficial to both Standard Bank and the undergraduates who have taken part, and I’m sure other organisations involved in the programme would agree that the students bring much more than just their hard work and enthusiasm to the company throughout the summer holidays,’ he said.

Applications to become a host business for 2017 close on June 30 and student applications for the scheme close Friday.

To find out more about being a host business for the STEP programme, contact long standing supporter, Ian Moncrief-Scott, who is co-ordinating this year’s scheme, by telephoning 664883 or emailing [email protected]