Bradford College

Business & Law Awards 09

Local and national businesses joined Bradford College to celebrate the success of top achievers at the annual Bradford School of Business & Law Awards Ceremony.

The Awards Ceremony recognises the academic and personal success of Business, Law, Computing and International students.  Sponsored prizes with a total value of over £3,700 were presented by Michele Sutton, O.B.E, Principal and Chief Executive of Bradford College.  Michele was joined by representatives from event sponsors including: Arnold Laver, The Bank of Scotland, Bradford Council, Custom Fittings and Turner & Townsend.

Michele Sutton, O.B.E, was delighted to open the Business & Law Awards Evening. In part of her address, Michele said: “We’re here this evening to recognise the academic and personal achievements of you - our award winners. You have made a positive contribution to the College – the city and beyond.  We are proud of each and every one of you.”

Prize winners and sponsors heard an address from guest speaker Judith Atkinson, Programme Manager for Housing, Health & Environment at Bradford Trident. Judith is a key figure in the regeneration of Little Horton, Bradford. She is also a former student of the Bradford School of Business & Law, having completed her Diploma in Management Studies in 2000. Speaking at the event Judith said:  “I’d like to congratulations everyone here this evening for their great achievements.  Having recently completed a MSc in Strategic Management I know what studying is like. It is 10% inspiration and 90% hard work.” Judith is no stranger to success having received the Award for Outstanding Personal Achievement and the West Yorkshire Branch of the Institute of Management – Bob Turner Award for Personal Achievement.

Speaking at the Awards Evening, Michele Sutton, O.B.E, said: “Bradford College continues to provide high quality training in Business, Computing and Law.  In doing so, we help our students to achieve their personal career aspirations while providing motivated, capable and skilled managers who are critical to the future regeneration of the Bradford economy.”

Michele continued:  “It’s always a delight to celebrate with our students - and it’s a particularly wonderful event this evening, because in the midst of recession we have 17 sponsors who have awarded prizes to some of our most gifted and talented students.  I think the real impact of tonight on our students is that they know they have to keep going, if they haven’t got a job now, one will come along.  They need to maintain their skills and develop them to truly engage with employers in the area.  This will mean that we know they are going to do extremely well in the future and become ambassadors for the College and Bradford.”

Law Programme Manager, Darran Chapple, commenting on the academic success of the award winners said. “We’re very proud of our students – and their great achievements.”

Darran continued:  “It’s great to see the College coming together with so many external organisations and sponsors.  It provides the opportunity for our students to showcase their abilities, demonstrating to these external organisations what we have on offer at Bradford College.”

Expressing their delight at attending the memorable evening, our students said...

Arfat Shahzadi scooped the Turner & Townsend £100 Prize for Best Personal Achievement on BSc (Hons) Business Computing Solutions.  Arfat was delighted to have won and said: “I’m very excited to be here this evening to accept my award.  I didn’t expect to win – I’m so happy!”

The winner of the Phoenix Computers Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement went to Paul Fisher.  Director of Phoenix Computers, Jonathan Parish attended the presentation ceremony to present Paul with his prize of a Notebook laptop.  Paul expressed his delight at attending the ceremony saying:  “I feel very happy and proud! It’s also a very proud moment for my parents who are here with me this evening.” 

When asked why he was nominated for the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, Paul replied:  “I think it was the grades I got, they were all distinctions.”

The winner of the Naylor Wintersgill Prize for the Best Overall Student in Final Year Accountancy Exams went to Judith Fregene.  Explaining how she felt about receiving the award, Judith said: “I’m really excited and happy! It’s something that I never expected to be nominated for.”

Judith added: “I just want to say it’s a credit to all my lecturers; they’ve given me the motivation to succeed.”

28 year old mother of five, Ayesha Akbar was delighted to have won the Leeds Metropolitan University Prize for the Best Overall Contribution to H.E. Law, along with her fellow student Zafar Ali.   When asked how Ayesha managed to juggle College life with the commitments of bringing up a family, Ayesha replied:  “It’s down to time management, having a routine and a slot for everything.”

When asked if Ayesha’s children were the motivating factor behind her determination to carve out a successful career, she remarked:  “Yes, most definitely!  Children give you a goal in life.”  Ayesha continued: “They’re really, really excited for me.  I’m a role model for them now. Its also motivated them to try harder at school as well.”  Ayesha added: “The sky’s the limit – if I can do it - anyone can do it!”

Prize winner Laura Rawcliffe scooped the Sweet & Maxwell Group Prize for the Best Performance in English Legal Process. Laura was presented with a £75 book token by Law Programme Manager, Darran Chapple.  Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Laura said: “I’m a little bit nervous, but I’m proud to be here tonight.  I’m a single parent and work full-time during the day.  I’ve done the course as an evening class so its been quite hard at times but I’m glad that I’ve persevered. I feel quite proud.” 

Laura explained: “I wanted a fresh start, so I moved up here from Weston-Super-Mare near Bristol in September and started the course straight away.  When I started my new life I didn’t have a permanent home, which meant I had to keep going backwards and forwards between my mum’s to my sister’s house.  It was quite difficult in the beginning, but being here tonight makes it all the more worthwhile.”

Laura added:  “Because I enrolled on a part time course all the classes have been really small, so you get to know the tutors and everyone quite well.  Everyone has been really supportive.”

Award winner Kayleigh Swain won the Sweet & Maxwell Group Prize for the Best Performance in Law of Tort. Speaking at the event Kayleigh said:  “It’s fantastic – it’s really nice to be given some appreciation for my hard work during the year.”

Kayleigh fiancé, James attended the Awards Ceremony, expressing his delight at her great achievement, he said: “I’m very proud of her!  She’s put in a lot of hard work, but its all been worth it.”

Kayleigh added: “James, my fiancé has been very supportive during my studies.”

Winner of an ICLR Mooting Competition Prize, Zanele Nyoni received a year’s subscription to the print version of the Weekly Law Reports. No stranger to success, hardworking Zanele won three awards last year and is also this year’s winner of the African Academic Achievement Award. 

When asked how it felt to be recognised for her achievement, Zanele replied:  “It’s nice to be acknowledged.  I’m really happy to be here tonight with the friends that I’ve made on the course.    Zanele’s fiancé and mother attended the Awards Ceremony to see her collect her award.  With great happiness, Zanele’s mother said: “I’m very proud of her.  She’s a very hard working girl.  She reads until all hours – she really deserves to get this prize.”

Zanele’s fiancé, Stephen Lynch added: “It’s really good to be here tonight. This Awards Evening is like a celebration of all her hard work, dedication and the long hours that she’s put in.  I feel very proud of her and I’m fully committed to supporting her with her education and where she wants to go.  I don’t know anyone who works so hard and pushes themselves to get the marks that she’s achieved!”

The winner of the Oxford University Press Prize for the Best Performance in LLB2 Legal Skills went to Michelle Sharkey.  Remarking on her great achievement, Michelle said: “I feel that I’ve really come on and strived to succeed in the last two years.  I’ve had lots of support from the tutors, my friends and family.”

Michelle’s sister, Janine, attended the ceremony to see her collect her award, with great happiness she said:  “I’m very, very proud of my sister.  She’s come a long way.  She’s never done A levels or anything and she’s over achieved in everything… I’m delighted for her!”

Michelle explained: “I did GCSEs when I was 16.  After that I was out of education for about nine years. I came in as a mature student. I work part-time, which means there are lots of late nights studying… sometimes I don’t even get any sleep.”

When asked what inspired Michelle to pursue a career in Law, Michelle replied: “It was actually my mum.  She came here and did a Law Degree before me.  I used to sit down and read her books and think I can do this.” Michelle said: "Kayleigh Swain and I got the highest ever awarded marks at Bradford College for an Equity and Trust assignment.”  

Michelle added: “Anyone can do it. If you feel like you want to achieve something then just go ahead and do it!”

Kayleigh remarked:  “We’ve worked really hard over the last three years and in the final year it really started to come together with us getting the best marks.  I’m looking forward to the future now. I want to be a Barrister; Michelle’s going on to do her LPC.  Its been a really good experience at Bradford College - its been great!”

John McGee studied for a Diploma in Management Studies and is the winner of the Peter Noble Award for the highest marks on the DMS programme. John explained “It’s quite an interesting story really.  The very first result I got I was actually bottom of the class.  To work my way up from the bottom and finish top is quite an achievement.”  John modestly said:  “Although I was a little bit lucky; there was a Finance module in there and I had some Finance experience which I’m sure helped my marks along the way.” John added: “I feel very honoured to be nominated for this award.” 

John’s wife, children and parents were all invited to share in his success – and attended the ceremony to see him collect his award. 

The winner of the McDonald Award for the Most Significant Contribution on the DMS Programme  went to Mark Justin Booth.  Mark was nominated by his fellow students who hold him in high regard.  “I’m really honoured and surprised to get this award – I’d like to thank all the people that voted for me.”

John McGee added “He’s a top man – and deserves the award!”