Shell Step success for Teesside student

A place among the region’s brightest and most enterprising undergraduates has been officially earned by Zakir Mahmoud.

The final year BA (Hons) Business Management student has won the North East final of Shell Step 2009.

Shell Step matches undergraduates with a small or medium-sized business and tasks them with responsibility for a key development project at that company during work placement.

Zakir, 20, of Middlesbrough, spent the summer working for engineering company The Whiteley Murphy Group, based in Washington. While there he examined the firm’s current marketing strategy and suggested ways they could grow.

He was also involved in research to identify business competitors’ strengths and weaknesses.

Providing an opportunity to develop Zakir said: ‘The Shell Step programme has given me the opportunity to develop the skills I’ve learned at University and design a strategy which has helped to give the company a solution to their marketing needs.

‘I benefited from real work experience, working to deadlines and liaising with colleagues, which has made me decide my future path when I complete my degree.’

Towards the end of his eight-week placement Zakir had to complete a report and presentation about his time with the company in front of a panel of Shell Step judges.

He added: ‘It was really tough as there was a lot of strong competition from people across the North East, some of them with a lot more business experience than me.

‘I was so surprised to be told that I’d won and I’m really looking forward to going through to the next stage of the competition.

‘Shell Step provides a really good opportunity as it enables students to continue with their degree studies and complete the placement during the summer months. It also enables us to establish really good links with the placement companies.’

Zakir is now hoping to repeat his success in the Northern final of Shell Step 2009, which takes place at Leeds in October.

For details about Shell Step contact Jan Harris at the University Careers Service on 01642 384409 or visit the Shell Step website.

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