STEP Award Winner

Bristol student wins STEP award

[Posted on 03 December 2003]

Daniel has been working on a challenging project arranged through STEP this summer at Avonmouth--based Mathias & Sons. For ten weeks he was assigned to develop the company's first e-commerce system to handle orders via the Internet. Its special feature, one that will significantly increase Mathias's edge over its competitors, is an alarm signal that alerts customers if they overspend at any point during the financial year, enabling them to keep accurate accounts and hit budget. Daniel incorporated existing manual systems along with new software to create this effective new e-commerce system he named 'MUMS'. He researched data with customers and Mathias & Sons’ team members and compiled detailed reports. As a result there has been a significant increase in company efficiency and customer satisfaction, and overall the project is estimated to save Mathias & Sons £15,000 per annum in man hours. Already, as a result of Daniel's new system, Mathias & Sons have been asked by large blue chip companies to submit new business tenders.

Daniel has been working on a challenging project arranged through STEP this summer at Avonmouth--based Mathias & Sons. For ten weeks he was assigned to develop the company's first e-commerce system to handle orders via the Internet. Its special feature, one that will significantly increase Mathias's edge over its competitors, is an alarm signal that alerts customers if they overspend at any point during the financial year, enabling them to keep accurate accounts and hit budget. Daniel incorporated existing manual systems along with new software to create this effective new e-commerce system he named 'MUMS'. He researched data with customers and Mathias & Sons’ team members and compiled detailed reports. As a result there has been a significant increase in company efficiency and customer satisfaction, and overall the project is estimated to save Mathias & Sons £15,000 per annum in man hours. Already, as a result of Daniel's new system, Mathias & Sons have been asked by large blue chip companies to submit new business tenders.

Jason Mathias, Managing Director of Mathias & Sons said of the project: "Dan has been extremely motivated and his expertise and commitment to his project has resulted in significant annual savings for our company. We pride ourselves on the highest levels of customer service and the e-commerce system Dan has developed will ensure that our company ethos will be enhanced further when we now enter the world of e-commerce. I was personally delighted to be present at both the local and regional STEP Finals to see Dan receive will deserved recognition for his achievement in our business."

STEP is a national programme, especially designed to meet the needs of small businesses in the UK. It matches highly skilled undergraduates to SMEs with specific development projects, in order to increase the growth and innovation potential of the businesses. Around 1,400 STEP projects have been organised this year throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, a record number since the programme started in 1986.

Further information about STEP and the STEP Awards are available on www.step.org.uk.