A BUSINESS competition won by a Powick student last year is looking for local firms to take part.

The Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP) places talented undergraduates with small or medium-sized businesses to help them with challenging work projects.

Last year, Richard MacDowell, from Powick, was named the West Midlands' most enterprising student in the programme after using his technical skills to help a Worcester firm develop new technology.

Mr MacDowell, who studies chemical engineering at Birmingham University, was placed with Caldo Environmental Engineering, which supplies filters for furnaces and incinerators.

He was asked to solve a problem which Caldo had come up against in manufacturing a particular type of filter. Using his university knowledge and technical skills, Mr MacDowell found a way of welding the stainless-steel filter without damaging the delicate filter medium.

He said: "The project combined chemical engineering theory with the hands-on technical work that I love. It was great to gain experience within industry. You can have as much academic knowledge as you like, but it isn't the same as real work experience.

"Not only will it stand me in good stead when I start job-hunting, but I think it will help me do a good job too."

Caldo's MD, Chris Withers, said: "He has made a significant contribution to our company and his work has been excellent."

Any firm wanting a STEP student should contact www.step. org.uk or phone 0870 036 5450. The deadline is Friday, June 13.