Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) had lots to celebrate when staff and students gathered for the annual Placement Student Awards.

Designed to celebrate the year of placement within industry that many students take as part of their LUMS studies, the event sees students put forward their own nominations that capture and articulate their success and achievements. This year an additional prize was awarded with nominations taken from line managers. Each of the winners received a £50 Amazon voucher and certificate.

Prizes across seven categories were awarded to:

Line Manager Nominated Award: Morgan Gray BSc Hons Economics and Finance (Industry), who completed his placement year as an Infrastructure PE Intern at AXA Investment Managers. This award recognised Morgan going above and beyond in his role – demonstrating professionalism, initiative, and a strong work ethic

Above and Beyond Award: Reece Griffiths BSc Hons Management, Politics and International Relations (Industry), Project Manager Government Sector at Mace. Reece was recognised for going out of their way to achieve more than was expected of them during their placement year

Global Mindset Award: Anadil Sheik BSc Hons Economics (Industry), Global Paid Media Intern at EY Global. This category asked students to showcase how they brought, developed or experienced a global or international perspective during their placement year

Impact on Business Award: Summer Bennett BSc Hons Management, Politics and International Relations (Industry), Business Improvement Industrial Placement at GSK. This award recognises of a significant contribution to the organisation’s functioning and business needs

Personal Development Award: Amelie Pardoe BSc Hons Business Management (Industry), Customer Experience Undergraduate at Volkswagen Financial Services. This award asks students to showcase new skills, confidence and connections established during their placement and the impact of these moving forward

Resilience Award: Tarun Goenka BSc Hons Management and Information Technology (Industry), IPA Benefits Analyst at Intel Corporation. This category recognises a student who managed to complete their placement despite facing difficult circumstances. These could be personal or professional challenges

Sustainability Award: Rithik Kumar, BSc Hons Business Management (Industry), Data Analysis and Business Improvement at Diamond Electronics. This category recognised a student’s significant contribution to the organisation’s sustainability whilst on placement, in the form of environmental sustainability or social sustainability.

Rory Daly, Head of Careers at Lancaster University Management School was one of the judges and opened the awards ceremony. He said: “This annual event is a perfect moment for students to come together and celebrate what they have achieved during their placement year.

“The quality of this year’s submissions was fantastic, and reading about our students’ success, increased confidence and skills boost has been inspiring.

“Placement years are integral to many of our LUMS courses, providing our students with a taste of the real-world of business they learn about in their studies. They significantly increase students’ employability and open doors to professional networks and relationships that can set future careers on the right path. This year, colleagues from Airbus and Diamond Electronics attended the awards to celebrate with us, alongside many staff and students who were there to support their friends. I’d like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to all!”

Five other students who were shortlisted for the Line Manager Nominated Award were recognised and commended at the event. They were: Archie Swain, BSc Hons Business Management (Entrepreneurship) (Industry), Lean Business Management Internship at Airbus; David Jones, BSc Hons Business Analytics (Industry), Sales Analyst at Adobe; Rithik Kumar, BSc Hons Business Management (Industry), Data Analysis and Business Improvement at Diamond Electronics; Sally Chang, BSc Hons Business Management (Industry), Procurement Intern at Sports City International Inc; and Will Holt, BSc Hons Business Management (Industry), Digital Support Analyst at Mercedes Benz Financial Services.

To find out more about LUMS placements, or speak to the Careers team, visit: LUMS placements - Lancaster University or email lumsplacements@lancaster.ac.uk