Recognition for University of York Careers

Posted on Monday 21 March 2016

Shortlisted under the ‘Duke of York’s Entrepreneurial University’ category at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards, Careers was recognised for the comprehensive package of support offered to student entrepreneurs and research based start-ups.

Combining training, access to networks and funding as well as physical workspace and competitions, the University has supported innovative new businesses like recent Dragon’s Den contestants Oppo Ice cream.

In February, a member of the team was also shortlisted in the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Work Experience’ category at the NUE Awards.

Sarah Leith, Volunteering Project Officer, was nominated for her outstanding work on the @Work programme that offers project-based experience to teams of students from the arts, humanities and social sciences.

@Work annually designs and delivers over 30 tangible projects for organisations in the charitable and community sectors in and around York. Sarah Leith is responsible for managing this process, and was commended for the sheer range of imaginative projects offered.

Past projects include: assembling a radio show about York’s war time role; enhancing the experience of an art gallery for blind and partially sighted people and developing a report on the future of independent book shops based on in-depth interviews in the sector.

Andrew Ferguson, Assistant Director in Business, Community and Enterprise in Careers, said: “So many York students are creative, innovative and entrepreneurial that it is great to see the work we do to showcase these skills getting national recognition."