LOCAL businesses could be missing out on opportunities by not engaging with university students and utilising their talents.

That is according to Basingstoke-headquartered computer manufacturer Centerprise International, which has taken on five sandwich course students.

Four of the students from Leicester, Guildford and Southampton universities are spending a year from their studies at Centerprise International, with another working at the company’s subsidiary firm Adam Continuity – both of which are based at Hampshire International Business Park in Chineham.

Centerprise International group chief executive officer Garry Stevens said: “We’ve found our students to be very bright people who often challenge what we do, and we find a lot of value in that.

“We’d like to encourage other businesses to take on sandwich students as it’s good for the individuals, and it’s good for the company because, after all, we get our fair share of benefit out of this too.

“Out of 20 applicants this year, we picked five who we thought would best fit the projects we identified to be completed by students over the year, and they are doing a great job.

“We’ve taken on sandwich students for a number of years and we’re already drawing up plans for particular roles and projects we want done next year.”

Gary said that the company’s chairman Rafi Razzak fully supports the initiative. “He very much adopts a mother hen approach with these guys and puts a lot of support around them, and he feels that he is also putting something back into the community,” said Garry.

Philip Caulfield, managing director of Adam Continuity, which specialises in business continuity and disaster recovery services, describes taking on sandwich students as a “win win situation.”

He said: “The students benefit just as much as we do. I think the year’s experience they get is invaluable, showing them a more rounded side of business.

“What we try and do is show them different parts of the group, from operations, production, marketing and sales and finance.”

Working at Adam Continuity is Craig Harryman, 20, originally from Reading, who is studying business management at The University of Surrey.

Delighted with Craig’s contribution, Philip said: “Craig has done some really good work – he’s done work I wouldn’t have been able to find the resource to do within our company. It’s analytical work that we can then make decisions on.”

Impressed with what he has seen at Adam Continuity, Craig said he has enjoyed going around the different departments of the business, and has found everyone has been very friendly and supportive.

“I’m here to gain experience. Obviously, with the current economic climate it can be difficult to find placements and this year we have seen a lot less students at my university get one.

“This is going to be very beneficial to me in the long run, giving me that extra experience which will hopefully help me get a job at the end of my course.

“When you are doing different modules at university, you get a feel of what you want to get into, but it’s not actually until you do it for a job that you know what itwill be like.”