News

Student saves firm £180,000

(6 October 2005)

Durham Engineering student, Craig Tottey, will save a local firm around £180,000 annually after completing an eight-week STEP programme.

Whilst on his placement with Eden Farm Ltd in Peterlee, Craig completed a project looking at the routing of the company’s vehicles and assessed the system. He then made detailed recommendations including whether to buy or lease vehicles and the transfer of business from one depot to another.

A student from Oxford University also completed the STEP programme at Eden Farm, the Director said: “The students have both put a massive amount of effort into their projects and were very focused. We have implemented some of the recommendations already and there has been an immediate impact. Implementing all of them will save us more than £250 million annually."

Craig’s project has also won him the title of County Durham STEP Most Enterprising Student 2005 after he impressed judges with his presentation. He is attending the regional final in Leeds this week, with the chance of a place in the national final.

Source: Northern Echo 4 October 2005