Cressall celebrates as Shell Steps student wins national award

~Chris Haigh wins the final of national award scheme thanks to money saving work at Leicester based resistor firm ~

A student on work placement at Leicester based manufacturer Cressall Resistors has won the final off the prestigious national Shell STEP award scheme for his work at the firm. The student, Chris Haigh, developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a number of shop floor projects, including one which has resulted in a £500K contract being retained. Chris was chosen as overall winner at an awards ceremony in London on October 21.

Shell STEP places talented students, who can be studying for any type of degree, with host businesses to develop and progress a key project within their organisation. Placements can happen during the summer holidays, at other holiday periods or on a part time basis during term time. The awards scheme is judged on a local basis first, then regionally and finally nationally.

Chris has recently completed a degree in Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Warwick and is now studying for a master’s degree in Project Management. Born in Thurmaston, Leicester, he hopes to become a management consultant or project manager within a manufacturing business.

Chris produced SOPs for a range of machines and processes, all with objective of improving quality and ease of training. It is believed that the work he did has saved £6,400 per month, in addition to the retention of the £500K contract.

Furthermore, he has developed spreadsheets that have helped reduce stock levels of some key components by 45%, improving the use of space in the factory and helping avoid cash flow issues. Finally, Chris developed a video based SOP for Telema SpA, Cressall Resistor’s Italian parent company, meaning that they are now able to use a machine that had previously been dormant.

“Cressall was the first company that interviewed me as part of the Shell STEP programme,” said Chris. “I was particularly interested in the lean manufacturing element of what they do there. I think the placement has helped me massively. I was intrigued to work for a company in the manufacturing sector because that’s where my educational background is. But, everything I have done during my degree has been theory based and I was surprised how far away from real life the theory was. I have also picked up other things that you only find out about from experience, such as time management and professionalism.”

Andrew Eddy, Director of Shell UK said: “Shell Step gives students relevant and meaningful work experience by carefully placing them in small businesses that match their interests. Chris has clearly thrived in the working environment and gained new skills. Chris’s project has had a tangible impact on Cressall Resistors’ bottom line showing how companies can benefit from such raw talent. Chris is a deserving winner of this year's award and I wish him every success in the future.”

Leila Bahaijoub, of Shell Lubricants and Shell Step judge said: “Chris impressed the judges with his absolute commitment to the project from start to finish. He looked beyond the brief and went outside of his comfort zone, identifying further areas for improvement and consequently delivered great benefits to his host business. In doing so he demonstrated his excellent project and people management skills.”

“We’re all really pleased Chris has done so well,” enthused Peter Duncan, Managing Director of Cressall Resistors. “I think it’s testament to his character and potential that he could do such a lot for us in such a short time. We all wish him every success in his chosen career.”

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Editor’s note: The judges at the national awards were Leila Bahaijoub, Global Implementation Manager of Shell Lubricants; Simon Reichwald, Director of Bright Futures; Adeline Izerin, of Smart Grads and Ian Whiteside, Shell Step UK Winner 2007. 614 students took part in the Shell Step scheme, which ran between July and September 2008.

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For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 2733633
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. On February 28, 2006 Telema SpA of Italy bought the company through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies.

Ref: CRE059/10/08