Careers recognise the hard work students, staff, alumni, employers and voluntary organisations make to enhance employability and increase the work-related skills amongst our students and graduates. The annual Careers Awards evening is our opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate this hard work and present awards to those who have made a valuable contribution to Careers at Edge Hill University.
Do you love your part-time job or voluntary role? Does your placement manager provide you with great support and on-going training? Have you taken the first steps into your future career and gone above and beyond in your graduate role? If so, you can get involved to make our 2024 Careers Awards evening bigger and better! Simply submit your nominations and get involved!
The Careers Awards are back for 2024!
Nominations open Monday 20 November for the careers event of the Year – the Careers Awards Evening. Now is your chance to shine a spotlight on the outstanding contributors to Careers within our university and those we work closely with!
Join Careers in celebrating the hard work students, alumni, staff, the Edge Hill Student Union, employers and voluntary organisations make to improve employability and increase the work-related skills amongst our students and graduates. This is your chance to get your nominations in and celebrate your winners!
Our Careers Awards are open to students, alumni, staff, the Edge Hill Student Union, employers and voluntary organisations and there’s a range of awards to get involved in!
Due to overwhelming interest, we have decided to extend the nominations! The new deadline for nominations is 11.59pm Sunday 28 January 2024. Let’s make the Careers Awards Evening truly exceptional!
For our 2024 Careers Awards, there are 15 different categories to recognise the contributions made to employability, recognising our students, alumni, staff, the Edge Hill Student Union, external employers and voluntary organisations.
See each category below for information on who can make nominations and the criteria we are looking for in the nominations.
Individual and Student Team Awards
Student Employee of the Year (Individual)
This award is to recognise individual students who have successfully balanced their academic studies with part-time employment, either on campus or with an external employer.
Please note: students are not able to nominate themselves for this award. Nominations must be made by a nominator on behalf of the student.
Nomination criteria:
Exceptional work ethic (balancing work and academic commitments)
Development of transferable skills
Impact and contribution of student
Time management and adaptability
Student Employee of the Year (Team)
This award is to recognise a student team who have successfully balanced their academic studies with part-time employment, either on campus or with an external employer.
Please note: students are not able to nominate themselves for this award. Nominations must be made by a nominator on behalf of the students.
Nomination criteria:
Exceptional work ethic (balancing work and academic commitments)
Development of transferable skills
Impact and contribution of student
Time management and adaptability
Graduate Employee of the Year
This award is to recognise graduates who have taken the leap into their professional journey, securing a highly skilled paid role following graduation and showcasing remarkable potential within their chosen industry.
Please note: graduates are not able to nominate themselves for this award. Nominations must be made by a nominator on behalf of the graduate.
Record of positive results and achievements in the workplace
Impact of the graduate on the organisation
Student Volunteer of the Year (Individual)
Student Volunteer of the Year (Individual)
This award is to recognise individual students who have demonstrated remarkable commitment and gone above and beyond as a volunteer, either on campus or for an external voluntary organisation during their studies.
Nomination criteria:
Dedication and commitment to volunteering
Evidence of community impact and positive contributions
Skills growth and personal development
Leadership and initiative of the student
Student Volunteer of the Year (Team)
Student Volunteer Team of the Year (Team)
This award is to recognise a student volunteering team who have demonstrated remarkable commitment and gone above and beyond as a volunteer, either on campus or for an external voluntary organisation during their studies.
Nomination criteria:
Dedication and commitment to volunteering
Evidence of community impact and positive contributions
Skills growth and personal development
Leadership and initiative of the student
Sandwich Placement Student of the Year
This award is to recognise students who have demonstrated extraordinary motivation and determination by successfully securing and displaying outstanding performance within a sandwich placement during 2022-23.
Nomination criteria:
Placement acquisition and preparation (proactive approach and efforts made by the student in securing the placement, along with preparing for the experience, showcasing initiative and preparation skills)
Exceptional work ethic
Adaptability and problem-solving (student showcasing adaptability, problem-solving skills, and resilience in navigating challenges within the placement setting)
Development of transferable skills
Work-Related Learning Student of the Year
This award is to recognise individual students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment, achievement, and growth through work-related learning experiences and knowledge gained in real-life workplace settings.
To be nominated for this award you will have undertaken a form of work-related learning (e.g. a short-term placement, self-sourced or mandatory, or a live brief/project, either for an EHU department or an external organisation).
Please note: this award is open to students across all faculties and departments.
Nomination criteria:
Dedication and commitment to work-related learning experiences
Exceptional work ethic
Development of transferable skills
Leadership and initiative of the student
Alumni of the Year
This award is to recognise EHU Alumni who, within the last 3 years, have made an outstanding contribution to their community and/or have gone on to do something extra special following their graduation, within the last 3 years.
Nomination criteria:
Evidence of the positive contribution to the community or industry
Continuous engagement with the university
Positive influence or inspiration (evidence of the ability to positively influence or inspire others through actions, whether professional, within their community or current EHU students)
Professional or personal achievements (outstanding professional or personal achievements accomplished by the alumni following graduation)
SU Contributor of the Year
This award is to recognise the outstanding commitment of either an individual (EHU student or EHSU staff member) or an organisation as an SU Contributor that has significantly contributed to careers and employability activities over the last 12 months.
Please note: this category is reserved for EHSU staff to vote exclusively.
Nomination criteria:
Leadership and advocacy (leadership, advocacy, and active involvement in initiatives or projects related to careers)
Positive impact on student experience and development
Long-term vision and sustainability (commitment to sustained impact and a long-term vision for further development and improvement of career and employability activities)
Engagement and promotion and collaboration across departments and the wider university (proactive engagement or promotion of careers and employability activities within the university, and across university departments, encouraging participation and awareness)
Organisation Awards
Student Employer of the Year
This award is to recognise those committed to providing paid part-time opportunities for students, enabling them to gain and develop crucial employability skills, either on campus or external employers.
This award is to recognise graduate employers that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the potential and emerging talents of our graduates and have invested in their future by providing a highly skilled paid graduate role.
Nomination criteria:
Commitment to graduate development opportunities
Managerial support and mentorship
Career pathways and advancement (employer showcasing advancement opportunities and potential for growth within the organisation, supporting the long-term success of graduates)
This award is to recognise voluntary organisations that have provided exceptional opportunities for our students to display their commitment and make meaningful contributions to their local community through volunteering.
Nomination criteria:
Community impact and involvement
Volunteer support and development to volunteers
Recognition of student efforts (providing support and recognition to students actively participating in volunteering activities, encouraging and appreciating efforts and contributions)
Impact of voluntary organisation on student development
Sandwich Placement Provider of the Year
This award is to recognise external organisations that have offered students the invaluable opportunity to acquire specialist skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience through a sandwich placement during 2022-23.
Nomination criteria:
Quality of placements
Support for professional development and skill enhancement
Impact on the nominator/student(s)
Industry relevance (placements that closely align with the academic curriculum and industry standards, providing students with practical, relevant experience that directly complements their studies)
Work-Related Learning Organisation of the Year
This award is to recognise organisations that have demonstrated excellence in providing outstanding work-related learning opportunities and experiences for students, enhancing their skill development, in preparation for successful careers.
Nomination criteria:
Variety and quality of work-related experiences provided
Support for professional development and skill enhancement
Positive student experiences and feedback
Engagement, promotion and collaboration of work-related learning experiences within EHU
Best Department for Employability, including Employability Lead of the Year
This award is to recognise the EHU Department that excels in providing exceptional employability activities and work-related learning experiences that significantly enhance students’ employability.
Nomination criteria:
Support provided by the department for students
Innovative employability initiatives (unique and effective sessions and workshops to enhance student employability)
Continuous improvement and adaptability (adapting in response to the changing market, ensuring the employability activities are relevant and aligned with industry)
Partnerships and engagement (strong partnerships and engagement with industry professionals and organisations, providing students with a variety of experiences)
The specific nomination criteria for each individual category is listed within the awards categories information tab. Below we have provided some general criteria and what we are looking for to help you write your nominations.
1
Address the nomination category criteria
Just like a job application, it’s important to review the nomination category criteria and ensure that each point is addressed fully in your nomination submission.
2
Demonstrate the impact made by the nominee(s)
Whether you are nominating an individual, a group of students, a department, an organisation or employer, ensure you demonstrate the impact the nominee(s) has made and why this has led to you nominating them for the award.
3
Consider the graduate attributes
We have 21 graduate attributes which are skills highly valued by employers. We encourage students to develop and enhance these key skills during their time at Edge Hill.
If you are nominating an organisation, employer or a department, consider how they engage with the graduate attributes and have enabled you as the nominator to enhance these.
4
Use clear evidence and examples to back up your points
We are looking for clear examples and evidence to back up statements provided. For example, provide an explanation, and where possible, evidence of the impact made by the nominee(s).
Edge Hill Careers welcome nominations from students and graduates from all programmes, including part-time and international students, our valued staff members, including those from the Edge Hill Student Union, as well as the external employers and charity organisations we work closely with. We encourage everyone to get involved.
To submit your nominations, follow the links below to the two nominations forms. As part of your nomination, you will have to submit details on who you are nominating and answer one question, why are you nominating your choice, in no more than 300 words.
To nominate an Individual or a Team for one of the following awards:
Student Employee of the Year (Individual or Team)
Graduate Employee of the Year
Student Volunteer of the Year (Individual or Team)
Edge Hill Careers welcomes nominations from students and graduates from all programmes, including part-time and international students, our valued staff members, including those from the Edge Hill Students’ Union, as well as the external employers and voluntary organisations we work closely with. We encourage everyone to get involved!
The only exception is the SU Contributor of the Year category which is reserved for EHSU staff to vote for exclusively.
How do I nominate someone for the Careers Awards?
To submit your nominations, you should follow the links to the two nominations forms below. As part of your nomination, you will have to submit details on who you are nominating and answer one question, why you are nominating your choice in no more than 300 words.
The specific nomination criteria for each individual category is listed within the Awards Categories information. General criteria can be found in the nomination criteria tab.
To nominate your picks, please use the following links to the awards forms and follow the instructions provided.
To be eligible for nomination, activities and achievements must have taken place within the last 12 months from the opening of the nomination period (November 20th to January 28th). This ensures that all nominations reflect recent contributions and accomplishments within our university community.
The only exception to this is for the Alumni of the Year award in which the activities and achievements must have taken place within the last 3 years following graduation.
Where can I find the nomination criteria?
The specific nomination criteria for each individual category is listed within the Awards Categories information.
General criteria and what we are looking for in nomination submissions can be found in the nomination criteria tab.
Can I nominate myself?
Yes, self-nominations can be made for most award categories. The only award categories we do not allow self-nominations to be made are:
Student Employee of the Year (Individual)
Student Employee Team of the Year (Team)
Graduate Employee of the Year
Nominations for these awards must be made by a nominator on behalf of the student(s) or graduate.
How many nominations can I submit?
There is no limit to the number of individuals, external companies or voluntary organisations you can nominate.
Will you accept late nominations?
Late nominations will not be considered. However, due to overwhelming interest, we have decided to extend the nomination deadline. All submissions must be made by 11.59pm Sunday 28 January 2024 to be included.
Will the nominee(s) know that I personally nominated them?
All nominees will be emailed once nominations close. We reserves the right to disclose the identity of the nominator to the nominee.
Will nominees/nominators be informed of the outcome?
Yes, all nominees will be informed of the result of their nomination, successful or unsuccessful, in March 2024 after the judging process has concluded.
Where can I find a timeline for the 2024 Careers Awards?
Monday 20 November – Nominations open
Sunday 28 January 2024 – Nominations close
February 2024 – Shortlisting of nominations
March 2024 – Shortlisted nominees contacted
Wednesday 15 May 2024 – Careers Awards Evening
Who sits on the Careers Awards panel?
Nominations are shortlisted by members of the Careers Team in the first instance. A second round of shortlisting then takes place to make the final decision on the outcomes with additional members of the Careers Team, including senior managers, as well as senior members of staff from across the University.
Who should I contact if I have questions about the nomination forms, the selection process or the Awards Evening?
“I felt so grateful to be shortlisted for Sandwich Placement Student of the Year, and the awards evening was incredible! After I received my award, I had the opportunity to have professional photos taken and speak to my fellow winners and runners-up. It was lovely to hear about what everyone had achieved and be inspired by each of the award speeches. Throughout my placement at Gymshark, I have had countless opportunities to demonstrate what I have learnt at university, and I am so grateful to be recognised for my success by the Edge Hill Careers Team.”
Student Élise Westbury-Jones
Sandwich Placement of the Year Winner
“We were delighted to have been nominated, and win, the best Department for Employability (including Employability Lead) Award. This success reflects the considerable hard work all colleagues in the Department of Sport and Physical Activity have invested in enhancing our graduate employability work, especially with the support of the Careers Team. The increasing proportion of our students who go on to secure graduate employment after 15 months of being awarded their degree is testimony to the impact this work has had on students’ outcomes, and to the embedded nature of our employability and careers provision across all levels of study. We would like to thank all colleagues in the Careers Team for their support, and we look forward to working together in the future.”
Professor Andy Smith, Sport and Physical Activity
Best Department for Employability including Employability Lead of the Year Winner
Careers Awards Winners & Runners-up 2023
Take a look at the 2023 award categories and our winners and runners-up below.
Student Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Gabby Howson-Tax. Gabby works incredibly hard volunteering with the Scouts, from opening and running the first Squirrel Drey in Blackpool, to being the Blackpool District Youth Commissioner, Gabby represents what Scouts is all about, living the values of care, respect, integrity and cooperation, and inspires so many people within the Scouts.
Runner-Up: Emilia McRobie, Uni Boob Team Volunteer.
Voluntary Organisation of the Year
Winner: CoppaFeel! CoppaFeel! are a charity that work to raise awareness of Breast Cancer, and have provided volunteering opportunities that have allowed our students to learn new skills, such as event management and public speaking, grow in confidence, and build a successful team of on campus volunteers.
Sandwich Placement of the Year
Winner: Élise Westbury-Jones. Élise faced strong competition but was successful securing a placement in a dream company, Gymshark. Élise then excelled, working in numerous sections of the Cyber Security team, making a substantial impact in each, as well as undertaking additional professional training, helping cement a career path following graduation.
Runner-Up: Alexander Jay, VMware Sandwich Placement.
Sandwich Placement Provider of the Year
Winner: The Walton Centre. The Walton Centre provide a range of sandwich placement opportunities for Computer Science students, allowing them to gain invaluable knowledge and develop an understanding of real-world technology and gain hands-on experience working on projects, supporting their employability and enhancing their graduate career prospects.
Runner-Up: VMware UK.
Student Employee of the Year
Winner: Eleanor Rowell. Through part-time work, Eleanor has become an integral part of the Student Life and the Widening Access and Participation teams, working on a variety of projects helping support EHU students. Eleanor is passionate about improving the lives of current Edge Hill students and is a prominent ambassador for all things Edge Hill.
Runner-Up: Maisie Gotham, Divine Days Community CIC.
Runner-Up: Rhianna Walton, Springfield Montessori Nursery.
Student Employer of the Year
Winner: The Media Store. Based in Creative Edge, The Media Store has employed students for the last five years and allows Film and Television students to loan equipment necessary for their course and projects. Through The Media Store, students can work flexibly around their studies and develop key skills, including industry essential equipment knowledge.
Runner-Up: Student Life Team.
Graduate Employee of the Year
Winner: Matthew Price. Matthew, a Mental Health Nursing & Social Work (Hons) graduate, was part of the first ever cohort of this course to graduate from EHU and now works for The Priory. Matthew is passionate about improving patient outcomes and has already made a big difference to the hospital.
Runner-Up: Amber Humphries, JBA Consulting.
Runner-Up: Ellis Kindred, Wigan Council.
Graduate Employer of the Year
Joint Winner: D3t. D3t are a games company based in Runcorn that works with Computer Science students to boost their employability and offer careers advice. D3t have been committed to enhancing students’ employability, integral to enriching their experiences, and have participated in activities to develop skills, delivering lectures and live briefs, preparing students for graduate employment.
Joint Winner: Everton in the Community. EitC is a top UK sporting charity that uses sport to motivate, educate and inspire vulnerable and underprivileged people in local communities. Their commitment to career development has enabled students and graduates access to unique and exclusive opportunities to develop skills, experiences and graduate attributes, and secure roles in sport, health, education and wellbeing.
Alumni Award
Winner: Eleanor Groves. Eleanor is a qualified Solicitor at Express Solicitors and an exceptional role model for Law students at EHU. Eleanor continues to work with the department, including holding the role of Alumni President since September 2021 and regularly visits Edge Hill to give taster lectures to students and attend law Advisory Panels, helping the department build strong links with Express Solicitors.
Runner-Up: Tenderfoot Theatre Company.
Runner-Up: Andrew Harrison, Southport Bijou Cinema.
Best Department for Employability including Employability Lead of the Year
Winner: Sport and Physical Activity – Employability Lead: Andy Smith. The Sport and Physical Activity department work collaboratively to deliver a wide range of quality employability activities and work-related learning experiences. This provides students with different opportunities to enhance employability, including working with major organisations such as Everton in the Community and the Tackling the Blues project.
Runner-Up: Early Years Education – Initial Teacher Education and Early Career Teacher Employability Lead: Heidi Winrow.
Runner-Up: Primary and Childhood Education – Strategic Employability Lead: Mark Sutcliffe.
Student Union Contributor of the Year
Winner: Jack Richardson. As Arts & Sciences President for the Students’ Union, Jack has been an outstanding asset and has been dedicated to improving career prospects for students in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences. As part of this, Jack launched a consultation to explore placement and career opportunities, and as a result, has increased careers engagement from Faculty of Arts & Sciences students.
