Oxford Brookes Business School celebrates student placement awards

Oxford Brookes Business School hosted their annual Placement Awards on 7 November at Headington Campus.

The annual event recognises students who undertook an optional final year work placement from across all taught programmes and also a selection of placement employers who provided an invaluable experience. 

The award ceremony is always a special event where students, staff and employers are acknowledged for all their hard work and it remains a celebratory highlight on the Business School calendar. 

This year saw the awards return to campus as an in-person event, complete with TV screens and a red carpet to give students an ‘Academy Award’ type experience.

The event was hosted by the Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of Oxford Brookes Business School, Professor Tim Vorley, the Associate Dean of Student Experience, Lindsay Williams, and the Deputy Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Rob Hayward.

Awards were presented across several categories to students, employers and tutors, providing an opportunity for both students and employers to articulate some of the highlights of the year. 

Professor Tim Vorley commented: “Having the placement awards in person for the first time in three years was a special occasion to celebrate the success of our students and recognise the contributions of those companies hosting placements“.

“We have a vibrant programme of placements at Oxford Brookes Business School that sees students placed all around the world. It is impressive to see how our programme enhances employability and improves work readiness.”

Oxford Brookes Business School students are supported throughout their paid placement by the Work and Voluntary Experience Services (WAVES) team and prepare for their placement through the ‘Skills for Placement Module’ in the second year of their undergraduate degree. 

A huge congratulations to our award recipients:

The Above and Beyond

Runners-up: Ruby Hatch (Business), Saskia Oates (Hospitality/Tourism/Events)

Winners: Luana Dibenedetto, Harriet Cottrell (Business), Ernest Ter-Sarkisov (Hospitality/Tourism/Events)

The Commitment to Customer ​Client or​ Service

Runners-up: Samuel Hougham, Matilda Gardener (Business), 

Winners: Kira Mchawaya (Business), Boytcho Ganev (Hospitality/Tourism/Events)

The Best Team Member

Runners-up: Molly Brenwald (Business),  Marilena Dimitriou (Hospitality/Tourism/Events) 

Winners: Emily Davis (Business), Daniela Kasova (Hospitality/Tourism/Events)

Best Placement Line Manager/Organisation

Runners-up: Line Manager: Samantha Bell (WilliamsonWest), David Shepperd (Hays)

Winners: Line Manager: James Read (Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd), Piero Cicconi (PWC Milan)

Runner-up: Organisation: Jude's Ice Cream

Winners: Organisation: Nobu Hotel London Portman Square, The Dorchester

Outstanding Placement Tutor

Runner-up: Joy Butcher

Winner: Grzegorz Kapuscinski 

Outstanding Placement Student

Joint runners-up: Rufus Stone, Harry Tennant (Business), Megan Ross (Hospitality/Tourism/Events)

Joint winners: Benedetta Cattaneo (Business), Neeraja Dabhole (Hospitality/Tourism/Events)