The Lancaster Award prepares students for the job market by ensuring they develop the skills employers want, whether through work experience, volunteering or social activities.

The Chancellor, Sir Christian Bonington, led the ceremony at the Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts.

The guest speaker was Professor Bill Payne, Vice President, for CRM and Industries, Global Process Services who said: “The Lancaster Awards are a hugely influential differentiator for your students as they migrate towards a working life. It helps us as employers see them in a different light and helps them put their skills in a much more interesting context.”

The certificate is in recognition of the students’ extracurricular achievements  which  includes community volunteering work in Lancaster and the local area.

Sir Christian said: “The variety of your activities has particularly impressed me.  We have students here today whose work experience ranges from co-founding an indoor amusement centre in India, being a member of the Alumni fundraising team for the University and working as a care assistant in a stroke and dementia nursing home.”

Organised by Careers, the Award requires students to complete a skills audit and job application before appearing before a mock job interview panel of an employer and careers advisor.

Mark Diggle Head of Careers said: “We are delighted to see so many students achieve the award this year; the variety of experience and commitment to extracurricular activities shown by each student is to be commended and the skills they have learnt and demonstrated will pave their way to a successful future.”

Professor Amanda Chetwynd, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Colleges and the Student Experience said: “The Lancaster Award is nationally recognised for its achievements in enhancing student employability and it is very pleasing to see increasing numbers of students undertaking the award, with over a thousand students enrolled on the award this year.”