Placement Student of the Year
We’re proud of our track record for graduate employability. Surrey has a long history of supporting year-long placements as part of the student experience, with a heritage going back to its founding roots as the Battersea Institute of Technology.
Each year we recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our students during their placement year in industry.
Professional Training Placement Year
The Professional Training Placement Year (PTY) provides the opportunity for our students to spend 12 months working in the industry, commerce, the public sector, or in charities. It gives them an insight into their subject and career potential and early access to professional experience. It can be invaluable in developing work-based skills and helping them secure a graduate career.
Each year we recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our students during their placement year in the industry. Returning students can nominate themselves or, peer nominations for the Sustainability, Trailblazer, Inclusivity and Resilience Awards, and directors of employability/senior placement tutors nominate students for the Faculty Awards. Students’ experiences while on placement are not only remarkable but have significant real-life impacts.
Each winner receives a prize, and certificate for use on their CV and LinkedIn profiles, and the award will be shown on the student’s final transcript when graduating.
Students currently on placement and returning to their final year, will be contacted via email (by the PT Award Team) advising when the Professional Training Award 2025 applications open in October 2024.
Sustainability Award winner
The nominee should have made a significant contribution to the organisation’s sustainability whilst on placement. This could be in the form of environmental sustainability or social sustainability.
We’re pleased to announce that the winner for this award is Economics student Alexander Marks. Alex was a Banking and Capital Markets Account Executive and Ernst and Young.
Alexander Marks
We asked Alex why students should take a Professional Training Year?
There are many reasons as to why you should partake in a placement. Firstly, it's a brilliant way to get a head start on other graduates through invaluable skills learnt and connections made with colleagues. For me, after 18 years of learning, it has also been a nice way to ease into the working world as you start to understand how life will work after education, allowing me to pick up new habits to fully utilise my time at university.
Trailblazer Award winner
The nominee should have done something whilst on placement to identify and/or implement a new innovative change that positively affected their organisation and/or community.
We’re pleased to announce that the winner for this award is Biomedical Engineering student Heather Dixon. Heather was a Student Technologist at Abbot Diabetes Care.
We asked Heather why students should take a Professional Training Year?
Heather Dixon
"I strongly encourage students to consider a placement training year as this allows the opportunity to gain understanding of where your field of study can take you and help identify where your strengths and interests lie within the workplace, contributing to your future career plans. My year in industry equipped me with solid experience and allowed me to develop confidence in the workplace, further my transferable skills, and provided a platform to display my core competencies. A placement forms the foundation of your networking and industry connections, so take every opportunity you can and make the most of it!."
Resilience Award winner
The nominee should have completed their placement year despite facing difficult circumstances these could be personal, professional, or both
We’re pleased to announce that the winner for this award is Law student Jodie-Lee Boyle. Jodie was the Shipping Coordinator for the International Law Book Facility
Jodie-Lee Boyle
We asked Jodie-Lee why students should take a Professional Training Year?
"A placement is a wonderful experience which enables your confidence and determination for success to flourish. The experience helps foster professional growth. You will walk away from your placement understanding that within every profession there are mistakes and continuous opportunities for learning. The world post-University feels less intimidating as you have built a foundational set of skills to continue positive development wherever you may go. A placement is an opportunity to apply not only your academic abilities, but your individual characteristics that make you unique. It is a way to demonstrate to yourself how capable you truly are."
Inclusivity Award winners
The nominee should have made a significant impact on equality, diversity, and inclusion in their placement year, where they have helped influence the culture of the organisation they worked with or implemented something new to meet diverse customer needs.
We’re pleased to announce that the winners for this award are Economics and Finance student Asim Ahmed and Business Management (Marketing) student Baseer Hussain.
Asim was the Surf Global Assistant Brand Manager at Unilever whilst Baseer was a Digital Executive at Volkswagen.
Asim Ahmed
We asked Asim why students should take a Professional Training Year?
A Professional Training Year provides a valuable opportunity to explore a career without long-term commitment. Specifically designed for students, it offers exposure to real-life projects and valuable learning experiences. You'll be surrounded by professionals, often working with industry leaders who understand your role. Everyone is eager to help or catch up over coffee, knowing why you're there. Opportunities like this are rare, and while a year might seem long, it's an invaluable chance to gain hands-on experience you won't find elsewhere. Take advantage of it – you won't regret it!
Baseer Hussain
We asked Baseer why students should take a Professional Training Year?
I wholeheartedly encourage students to consider a placement year. The career development, personal growth, and real-world experience you gain are unmatched. From honing your interview skills to mastering stakeholder management, your learning journey will be transformative. Don't hesitate to test the waters with different roles – this is your chance to discover your passions and explore various paths within a company. Embrace the supportive environment where you're valued and included as a team member, not just an intern. Bring your whole self to work, your unique personality and background will help you differentiate from the crowd. It's the perfect opportunity to build connections and grow your network. My Volkswagen placement year was a proud decision, and it could be for you too."
Faculty winners 2024
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
The student could have made a significant contribution to raising the profile of their subject area whilst on placement, or could have made outstanding contributions to their own development as a professional through their Professional Training Year.
We’re pleased to announce that the winner for this award is International Event Management student Annika Zahn. Annika was the Assistant Event Manager at Olympic Parc Munich and Assistant Project Manager with Team Legends at FC Bayern Munich.
Annika Zahn
We asked Annika why students should take a Professional Training Year?
"I encourage everyone to go on placement to truly experience their industries from an inside perspective and discover the various facades and potential avenues you are interested in pursuing further after your graduation! Additionally, my placement gave me reassurance and confidence to leave university and excited me for starting my next chapter!."
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
The student could have made a significant contribution to raising the profile of their subject area whilst on placement, or could have made outstanding contributions to their own development as a professional through their Professional Training Year.
We’re pleased to announce that the winner for this award is Civil Engineering student Ben Tipping. Ben spent the year as a Trainee Engineer at BAM Nuttall.
Ben Tipping
We asked Ben why students should take a Professional Training Year?
“A Professional Training Year is a fantastic opportunity to not only solidify theoretical knowledge from previous years but understand its real-world application. Students also gain valuable workplace experience that places you a few steps ahead early on in your career, particularly on the route to engineering chartership, plus they can connect with highly knowledgeable professionals from industry. I was able to go beyond my comfort zone at London Victoria and return to University a much more confident and well-rounded engineer.”
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
The student could have made a significant contribution to raising the profile of their subject area whilst on placement, or could have made outstanding contributions to their own development as a professional through their Professional Training Year.
We’re pleased to announce that the winners for this award was Psychology student Jemima Hayward-Bikha. Jemima completed an Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention Tutor (promoted to Senior Tutor).
Jemima Hayward-Bikha
We asked Jemima why students should take a Professional Training Year?
“I chose to do a Professional Training Year (PTY) to gain professional experience and generalise theoretical learning from my degree to an applied setting. A PTY enables experience in teamwork with colleagues and collaboration with other professionals. I had the opportunity to work independently with clients, with full responsibility to deliver intervention on a daily basis as a member of staff. I was involved in data collection and analysis for client progress and research projects. A PTY informs career choices and enhances employability within the placement organisation and the wider field. My PTY led to a promotion and permanent position."