Looking at the people who keep the wheels of commerce turning on the Island;
features, profiles, achievements and stories with a human dimension.
PRIZE WINNERS ANNOUNCED
AT 2019 STEP PROGRAMME FINAL
Thirty-two undergraduate Manx students showcased their completed projects in the
Department for Enterprise’s 2019 STEP Programme Final, held at the iMuseum in Douglas
recently. The Programme, which is sponsored by IQ–EQ Isle of Man Ltd, matches students
with local organisations to complete project placements over the summer holidays.
T his year’s ‘Most Enterprising Student’
was awarded to James McGhee who
completed a project on the medicinal
cannabis and industrial hemp industry with
Business Isle of Man, and Sasha Thomas at Isle
of Man Constabulary was runner up. Samantha
Titterton was awarded ‘Best Presentation’ and
Maebh Worthing came second in this category.
The judges also awarded Molly Hepburn
and Sophie Elliott commendations for their
performance. Lawrie Hooper MHK and Minister for
Enterprise, Laurence Skelly MHK, welcomed
the students at the event and presented them
with their awards. Minister Skelly commented:
‘Congratulations to all students who completed
the 2019 STEP Programme. The final event
was a fantastic celebration of the student’s
achievements and showcased the young
talent we have here in the Isle of Man. The
high calibre of work the students produced has
already offered local organisations tremendous
benefit and will help shape their future
practices. ‘The programme also offers Manx
undergraduates valuable project-based
work experience, and opens the door to job
opportunities available to students here in the
Isle of Man, encouraging those who studied off-
island to return after graduating. With the newly
introduced National Insurance Holiday Scheme,
the Isle of Man is an even more attractive place
for graduates to begin their careers.’
The guest judges were Gail Yeowell, Managing
Director of Smart HR Solutions Limited, and Bill
Mummery, Celton Manx Limited and Director
of the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce. As
well as presenting their work to the audience
at the final, students were assessed on their
report-writing skills and feedback from their host
organisation on how they performed during the
8-12 week placement.
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Bill Mummery, one of the 2019 judges,
commented: ‘The breadth and depth of this
year’s submissions from participating students
has been particularly excellent. I’d like to
congratulate the prize winners and all students
that took part.’
Gail Yeowell, the second judge, also
commented: ‘It was a pleasure to be a judge
in this year’s STEP Programme. The breadth of
projects that the students were involved with
was really good to see, as well as the various
industries covered. It was inspiring to see such
great emerging talent progressing with projects
that will be very value-adding to the host
organisations. ‘It was diffi cult to judge due to the high
standard of project reports and presentations.
Congratulations to the winners of the six
individual prizes today, to the all the students for
their hard work, and to the host organisations
for providing valuable work-based development
opportunities. Thanks also to the Department
for Enterprise for continuing to offer this
excellent programme, and the sponsors for their
support.’ Student applications for the 2020 STEP
Programme will open in December 2019.
Students must be in their second year of a three
year degree course, or the second or third year
of a four year degree course to take part.
Host organisations wishing to learn more about
the STEP Programme, or wanting to register
early interest for the 2020 Programme, are
encouraged to email
[email protected]
For more information on the Department’s STEP
Programme, please visit www.dfe.im/step