Kent and Medway firms could miss out on valuable help this summer if they fail to tap into a student "matchmaking" scheme.

For 23 years, Shell Step work placements have enabled small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to put talented students on special projects they might otherwise not be able to afford.

Some 23,000 students have been placed in SMEs since the scheme began in 1986. It matches students to the needs of SMEs over an eight-week period.

Estimates suggest that in 2008, 48 per cent of STEP students added more than £5,000 worth of value to their host business, while 17 per cent added more than £30,000.

This year’s pool of talent includes graduates and undergraduates from a wide range of backgrounds including marketing, product design, engineering, business studies and IT.

Placements are individually tailored to SME needs and student skills and career ambitions. The chance to generate results for their host business can give them an edge when applying for jobs in a tough employment market.

James Smith, chairman of Shell UK, said: "Shell Step has been boosting businesses' bottom lines and students’ employment prospect for the last 23 years. I hope SMEs which may find themselves stretched in the current economic climate will step forward and sign up."

Placements are arranged across the county and the UK through a network of local partners in universities, Enterprise Agencies and Business Links.

The CBI and Universities UK's recent report 'Future fit: Preparing graduates for the world of work" endorsed Step as a programme that can help students develop employability skills.

The deadline for signing up is July 6.