APRIL 2009 futures
11futures IN THE WORKPLACE
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Avoiding the crunch Consultancy
launches
internships
Keswick we have a problem �
but the end result is a success
MIKEY
KELK
NDA Nuclear Graduate
A
WEST Cumbrian consultancy
business has launched an intern
programme for local students.
Westlakes Scientific Consulting, will give
five students the chance to work with
professional consultants and scientists as
part of a 10-week placement.
The successful applicants will work on
research studies related to environmental
restoration projects and the Energy Coast.
The summer internship, run in
conjunction with Westlakes Research
Institute, is in its 10th year and has seen
former students go on to work with
commercial businesses, government
departments and the nuclear industry.
The firm, based at Westlakes Science and
Technology Park, provides environmental
consulting and health research services to
public and private sector companies, both
in the UK and internationally.
Steve Bradley, chief executive of
Westlakes Scientific Consulting, said: "This
is an excellent opportunity for local
students to work on real life projects with
industry professionals in environmental
science, genetics, marketing and human
resource departments.
"We're ideally recruiting students in their
second year of university based on their
wider experience."
Applications are now being received and
the closing date is Thursday March 12.
Short-listing will take place in April.
To apply, call 01946 514000 for an
application form or email
reception@Westlakes.ac.uk.
T
WO Cumbrian
businesswomen are holding a
workshop next month to help
companies survive the credit
crunch.
Marketing consultant Tracey
Errington, who has offices in Penrith and
Cockermouth, and search engine
optimiser Sabina Hine, of Kendal, have
teamed up to help businesses market their
brand. The workshop takes place at
CREA's Redhills offices, Penrith, on
Wednesday, April 1.
Tracey said: "The workshop will take a
serious look at how businesses can make
the most of their marketing during the
current economic climate.
"Local businesses are definitely looking
for cost-effective measures to build brands
for the future by focusing on closer
customer segmentation and ways to
achieve increased media awareness."
The seminar will advise people how to
use the media to promote businesses and
what affect the internet can have on
advertising the business.
Sabina said: "Making the most of your
web potential is one of the most
cost-effective ways to improve website
visibility and awareness.
I
T'S been a busy month in West Cumbria.
Our new nuclear graduate website has
gone live, there's been an economic
summit, and lots of other deadlines, but
it's also been really fun.
And that's because I've been doing a lot
of Footprints work.
You might not know but all the
nucleargraduates must put 10% of their
time into corporate social responsibility
work, which works out at about 70 hours
for each graduate per six-month
secondment. Now I know, someone actually
asked me if I was avoiding jail, that it
sounds a bit like a community service order
but, honestly, it really isn't. For a start I
don't have to wear an orange suit!
It's actually an enjoyable and practical
experience. I see it as a weekly challenge
that tests what I'm learning from work. It is
also a massive contribution. There are 22
nucleargraduates. That means over the
course of the programme we will have
contributed a minimum of 6,000 hours to
local communities, businesses and charities.
We have a lot of potential to do good
stuff all around the country.
Most of us, including myself, have been
working as Science and Engineering
Ambassadors in schools for STEMNet. The
scheme aims to the address the problem
concerning the lack of science, technology,
engineering and mathematics students.
Last month the challenge I was working
on really took off.
I've been helping to run a weekly club at
Keswick Science College. The plan was to
get a group of Year 11 students involved
with a national model rocketry
competition. Each team must design a
rocket that can carry an egg to 750m and
land, with it intact, in egg-xactly 45
seconds.
We worked out designs, figured out
what parts do what and estimated flight
paths. All very well and good but when
you're walking up to the school knowing
that today is a launch day, things are
obviously a little bit more exciting.
The first launch of the month saw a
rocket reach the dizzy heights of 900ft; it
then got caught up in a gust of wind and
ended up parachuting down into a tree.
Unfortunately and despite all the fun, it
looks like our foray into rocketry is over.
Still it's not all a loss. I'm sure everyone's
had fun taking part and I know they've
learnt something.
A big thanks to everyone at Keswick
Science College, STEM Net, Footprints and
the UKAYRoc. It's been a great few months,
and I hope we'll be able to run it next year
as well.
To read more exciting stories about
nucleargraduates and their work in the
community visit the website
www.nuclearfootprints.com
"The workshop will work well for those
in the process of planning a website as
well as those who want to improve the
ranking of their existing site.
"It is often difficult to know if your web
designer has optimised your site
sufficiently � or what else they can do to
improve your position.
"People leaving this workshop will be
well armed to develop a better page
position on search engines."
The workshop costs �75 and runs from
9am until 12.30pm.
For more information about the
workshop contact Tracey on 01768895964
or Sabina on 07886 112378.
DUO SHOW
WHAT YOU
CAN DO
SURVIVAL
TIPS: Tracey
Errington and
Sabina Hine
are running a
workshop on
how to get
your business
through the
credit crunch

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