Outcomes reported by students who participated in the 1994 Shell Technology Enterprise Programme

Policy-makers have supported initiatives that enhance the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They have also encouraged more students to seek jobs in SMEs. This study assessed the contribution of the 1994 Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP), which subsidized the employment of students in SMEs in the UK. A key issue is whether STEP students participating in the programme reported significantly superior benefits than students who had never participated in the programme (i.e. non-STEP students). Outcomes associated with the programme were assessed over a 36-month period between 1994 and 1997. The programme had no significant impact on the ability students to have obtained full-time jobs. Similarly, the programme was not found to be significantly associated with the ability of graduates to have obtained full-time jobs in small private firms. Both STEP and non-STEP students reported in 1997 less positive attitudes towards self-employment or starting their own business. However, STEP students expressed a significantly more positive attitude than non-STEP students towards self-employment or starting their own business. Conclusions and implications for policy-makers and practitioners are detailed.