Talented students at Liverpool Hope University have earned valuable work placement opportunities with some of Liverpool City Region’s leading employers at the annual Insight to Business Awards.
Now in its eighth year, the event sees Liverpool Hope Business School partner with some of the region’s most influential organisations to provide short-term paid placements to current students and alumni.
Nominated students have the opportunity to apply for one of the roles offered by the Business School’s partners, taking part in a recruitment process which includes CV and interview workshops to help enhance their employability.
The winning students will undertake their placements this summer and Jo Whittingham, Head of Liverpool Hope Business School, was full of praise for everyone who participated in the process.
“The Insight to Business Awards is one of the highlights of our year,” she said at the opening of the event.
“It would not be possible without our industry partners, whose support allows us to offer invaluable real-world experiences to our students while fostering mutually beneficial relationships.
“All of the students should be proud of themselves for making it this far in the process. I hope they continue to harness the power of curiosity, to be ambitious, work hard and be their authentic selves.”
Everton in the Community, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, Lloyds Bank and The Brain Charity were among the 13 companies to offer opportunities as part of this year’s event, which saw 51 students shortlisted for an award.
Eighteen were recognised as winners, with several companies so impressed with the calibre of candidates that they decided to offer more than one placement opportunity.
That was the case for One Peter Four, an organisation development firm based in the North West. Managing Director, Peter Lawrence, was particularly impressed with the levels of professionalism the students brought to the interview process.
“We love the idea of passing on knowledge, behaviour and skills to the next generation, which is what these awards are all about,” he explained.
“What has impressed me is the students’ professionalism and their attention to detail. I have to be absolutely confident that when the winners present to our clients, they represent us well and do well for our clients.
“It will be massive for them on their CV, so it’s a win-win for us and for them.”
Ian Taylor, partner at RSM, a leading international accountancy firm with offices in Liverpool, was equally impressed with the students he encountered.
RSM have partnered with the Business School for the last seven years and Ian says initiatives like the Insight to Business Awards are equally as important for industry as they are for the students.
“Over the last seven years our award has grown so that we now offer a 10-week paid internship,” he said.
“We have seen successes in the past where students have come and worked for us, excelled, and have gone on to do other things in our business or elsewhere.
“It’s massively important that universities provide opportunities like this. We take on 700 graduates each year nationally so having good relationships with universities is paramount to us.
“We see this as a good opportunity to meet students, interview them and then bring them into the business to show them what it’s like to work for a large multinational accountancy firm and to showcase the opportunities they may have in the future.
“It’s our job to promote the role and the career and hopefully that means the graduates that come to us are, in essence, the cream of the crop, because that’s what we’re looking for.”
Among the award winners was third year Business Management student, Zach Sidani, who received the prestigious Jim Keaton Award.
Given in honour of the late Professor James Keaton, who served as Chair of the Business School’s Executive Business Advisory Board, the award recognises the outstanding student within the School each academic year.
Praising both the students’ talent and the University’s partnership with industry, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Claire Ozanne, said: “I’d like to add my congratulations to all the students here this evening – it has been fantastic to hear the wonderful feedback you have all received from our business partners.
“In particular my thanks goes to those businesses which provide such a rich experience for Liverpool Hope students.
“By engaging with us in this way you have also become ambassadors for the values and contribution that this very special University makes.”
Insight to Business Awards 2024 – Winners
MHA - Manva Keshwala & Benjamin Clark
LLS – Daniel Weatherill
RSM - Viktorija Zinyte
Privilege HR - Isabelle Kolmskog & Emily Walden
One Peter Four - James Newell & Siobhan Nicholson
GHOSH Medical Group - Sara Tzili El Hassani Chdiqi
Cowgills - Georgina Hogg-Fraser
Advantage Investment - Grace Wishart
MSB Solicitors - Sadie Aldred & Dagmara Dlugosz
The Brain Charity - Sebastian Lund
Lloyds Bank - Tomasz Junski
Everton in the Community – Alex Weir
Liverpool Chamber of Commerce – Oliver Brown
Jim Keaton Award - Zach Sidani