A national property award is in sight for two students from Plymouth University who have each won a top regional prize in the Women in Property Student Awards, run by the Association of Women in Property (WiP).
Because the South West covers such a wide geographical spread, populated with many Universities, WiP awards two top prizes over two judging days. The winners competed against 18 other regional finalists, studying built environment degree courses but ultimately it was the Plymouth University students who triumphed. They are:
Caitlin Mitchell, studying Civil and Coastal Engineering
Sarah Paxton, studying Architecture
The girls have just completed their second year at Plymouth University before taking up summer work placements with Aecom in Belfast & Dyer Group in Cheltenham. They were each nominated by their lecturers. Ed Ellis, Caitlin’s lecturer, said “Caitlin is an extremely focused, capable student , always joyful, always impresses and a great Student Representative.”
Rachel Bell, Chairman of the WiP South West branch said, “These Awards seek out the most talented students studying built environment courses, which can include planning to surveying, architecture to engineering, project management to property finance, so a broad spectrum of disciplines.
“We aim to raise the bar, by challenging the students to really evaluate their subject, how they hope to progress towards a career and help them develop the skills they will need along the way. All this year’s finalists have done really well and our congratulations go to Caitlin and Sarah. We wish them the very best for the national final.”
WiP is grateful to national sponsors Bouygues, Cushman & Wakefield and Linden Homes, regional sponsors Pinnacle Consulting, Stride Treglown & Willmot Dixon, and to the judging panel:
Rachel Bell(Stride Treglown)
Laura Stamboulieh(Cushman & Wakefield)
Sue Schofield(Linden Homes Western)
Emma Wiltshire(Bouygues UK)
Gary Jemmett(WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff)
Julie King(Willmott Dixon)
Paul Nix(Bouygues)
Sarah Lee (Stride Treglown)
Sarah France-Williams(Linden Homes)
Laura Stamboulieh said, “This is my fourth year as a Judge and, yet again, I was hugely impressed with the confidence expressed by these talented young women. It was such a difficult decision to choose ‘winners’ when all of the candidates were of such high calibre. Ultimately, it was the expression of ‘passion for the industry’ that influenced the final decision. The students should all be very proud of their achievements however.”
Rachel Bell said, “Stride Treglown is pleased to be able to support the next generation of professionals coming into the construction industry. We have seen first-hand that these students are of the highest standard (Hollie Deverell 2011 past winner worked at Stride Treglown for two years after graduating) and Stride Treglown judges Sarah Lee and myself were both inspired by the confidence and ingenuity each student bought to their interview. We wish all the nominated students the very best in their future careers.”
Alongside Caitlin and Sarah, the following students reached the regional final: Jagoda Krukar – Plymouth University, Construction Management.
Melissa Ruckert- Bath university, Civil and Architectural engineering.
Sarah Paxton– Plymouth University, BA (hons) Architecture.
Skye Carter – Exeter University, Civil and Environmental Engineering with Industrial Experience.
Katrina Shannan – Plymouth University, Architectural technology and the Environment.
Rebecca Miller – Bath University, Civil Engineering .
Fiona Tan – Bristol University, Civil Engineering
Catlin Mitchell – Plymouth University, Civil and Coastal Engineering
Natalie Gillard – UWE,Interior Architecture
Alice Stephens – UWE,Real Estate
Alice Haigh– Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, Rural Land Management
Olivia Perry – UWE, Urban Planning/Master of Planning
Anastasia Angeli – UWE, Architecture and Planning
Patricia Dula – UWE, Architectural Technology and Design
Grace Reed – Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, Real Estate
Naomi Pulfer - UWE, Property Development and Planning
Poppy Bruten – UWE, Architecture and Environmental Engineering
Caitlin and Sarah each win £300 and a trophy. They will represent the South West region at the national Best of Best final and black tie Awards Dinner, which will be held on 20th September at Claridge’s in London, when they compete against 11 other students from across the UK.