SCOTLAND’S smaller engineering companies can start tapping into the expertise of hundreds of students seeking placements thanks to a website launched by a 22-year-old from Strathclyde University.
Ross Pert set up Enginterns.com to match interns to vacancies at large firms including BP, ExxonMobil and Jaguar Land Rover and is now rolling it out to smaller companies.
His own positive experiences of summer work persuaded the mechanical engineering and financial management student of the need for a one-stop shop for students wanting information on companies.
He said internship programmes such as those run by multinationals benefit both students and businesses, but smaller firms struggle to advertise themselves to universities.
He said: “We want SMEs to be able to access the student population.”
His scheme has been welcomed by trade body Scottish Engineering and the Federation of Small Businesses.
Bryan Buchan, chief executive of Scottish Engineering, said Enginterns deserved the support of engineering companies throughout Scotland.
“Ross has identified the need for more SMEs to sign up to the project and I would support him in that,” he said. “In the past, there have been a number of schemes trying to match up engineering students with companies to allow the students to gain much-needed work experience, but this latest method has the benefit of being able to reach a much wider audience through internet technology.”
