A student from Ross-shire was yesterday (Wednesday) announced as the most enterprising student in the Highlands and Islands, at the local Shell STEP final in Inverness.

Alana Richards, 21, from Alness was the overall winner receiving £250 for her enterprising idea.  She is a student in her third year at the University of Glasgow studying mechanical engineering.

The runner-up prize went to University of Aberdeen student Jeni MacDonald, 20, from Avoch who got £100. She is currently in her third year studying English.

Both Alana and Jeni have spent the summer at Highland businesses as part of the Shell STEP programme, giving them the chance to take part in a specific project designed to help the business improve its performance. Alana took up her summer placement with Muir of Ord event management business Caledonian Concepts, while Jeni spent her time with the Calman Trust at the Hilton Community Centre in Inverness.

STEP, the Shell Technology Enterprise Programme is a UK-wide student placement scheme backed by Shell UK and administered in the region by local enterprise companies in Inverness, East Highland and Moray.

Some of the students who took part in the programme in the Highlands and Islands are from as far a field as Taiwan, Poland and Spain, but currently studying in the Highlands and Islands. Each year the STEP programme gives students relevant experience of the world of work through eight-week placements run through the summer.

Alana and Jeni have now been entered into the regional awards for Scotland and Northern Ireland which will be held on 26 September at The Hub, Glasgow.

The winners of the regional award will be invited to the UK final on 10 October at The LSO, St Lukes, London with a chance to win £1,000.