The awards honour the remarkable impact made by students and apprentices during placements, internships, on-campus roles, or apprenticeship training. They shine a spotlight on the collaborative efforts between education and employment that shape real-world change.

Newcastle University Business School proudly had three winners: Samuel Carr, winner of the Placement Student of the Year (Large Business) award; Laura Ritson, winner of the Apprentice of the Year award; and Akash Dahiya, winner of the Intern of the Year award. In addition, staff member Keira Iveson was nominated for Apprentice of the Year.

The categories are employer-nominated and judged by a cross-section of University staff. They celebrated a range of exceptional individuals, culminating in awards presented at a ceremony, which took place this year on Thursday 8 May.

Meet the winners from the Business School

Placement Student of the Year (Large Business)

Winner: Samuel Carr, British Telecoms

Samuel joined British Telecoms (BT) as a Commercial Data Analyst on a placement year as part of his BSc (Hons) Economics and Finance degree. Samuel’s diligent and meticulous review of customer invoices uncovered years of supplier overcharges, a discovery that led to a cost saving for the company and processes being put in place to enable funds to be allocated more efficiently in the future. His work has sharpened the company’s cost management strategy, strengthened supplier relations and helped shape critical mid-term financial planning.

Sam has since been entrusted with ownership of four key supplier contracts and plays a pivotal mentorship role, guiding fellow early-career team members and apprentices.

Following this award, Sam went on to win the Outstanding Contribution to the Workplace Award at the Newcastle University Awards. The awards – where all Contribution to the Workplace Award winners are nominated – are organised jointly by Newcastle University and Newcastle University's Student Union.

’My year with BT has been a transformative experience, both personally and professionally. It has provided me with invaluable insights into working life and helped me better understand where I could see myself within it. Thanks to the experiences I’ve gained and the connections I’ve made, I now have a clearer vision of my desired career path and the steps I may need to take to achieve it.’

Apprentice of the Year

Winner: Laura Ritson, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Three Schools Prevention Research Programme

Laura began her apprenticeship in September 2023. Shortly after starting her apprenticeship, she took on the role of Programme Manager for a £10 million national research programme involving over 20 universities. While managing dual roles due to recruitment delays, she demonstrated resilience and turned the challenge into a valuable learning opportunity.

She has played a pivotal role in shaping national research priorities, managing stakeholder consultations, leading the design and delivery of research funding calls, and fostering an inclusive and ethical programme culture. Her leadership has influenced senior academics, practitioners and public representatives alike, ensuring robust governance and effective communication across the programme.

Colleagues and mentors have praised Laura’s ability to apply her apprenticeship learning in real-time, inspiring those around her with her positivity and reflective practice.

"I was absolutely delighted to win Apprentice of the Year. This past year has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding, and I’m proud to have contributed to such a significant national prevention research programme while developing my knowledge, skills and behaviours through the Level 7 Strategic Leader Apprenticeship. From strategic planning and stakeholder engagement to ethical leadership and reflective practice, I’ve grown in ways I never expected. I’m especially grateful to colleagues in the Business School, my skills coach, line managers, and fellow students for their support. This recognition reflects not only my personal journey, but also the power of social learning in action."

Intern of the Year

Winner: Akash Dahiya, Tyneside and Northumberland Mind

Akash, a student on the MSc Business Analytics degree, completed his internship with Tyneside and Northumberland Mind, developing data pathways, a key area of focus for the charity. His approach fundamentally reshaped how they utilise data, enhancing financial tracking, improving management of volunteering hours, ensuring GDPR compliance, and enabling more targeted and effective fundraising campaigns. 

Far exceeding this, Akash’s work has created the foundation for a framework that can be replicated across different departments, saving time, costs, and driving greater impact. Akash hasn’t just solved a troublesome data challenge, he has provided a pathway for sustainable growth for the charity and enhanced donor relationships.

"Being named Intern of the Year in the Contribution to the Workplace Awards was a huge honour. During my internship with Tyneside and Northumberland Mind, I built data pathways that helped the charity use information better, strengthening financial tracking, visibility of volunteer hours, GDPR compliance, and more targeted fundraising. The experience taught me how to turn analytics into tangible social impact while leading projects and collaborating across teams. I’m incredibly grateful to my mentors at the charity and to Newcastle University for the support and platform. This recognition has deepened my commitment to using data for social good, and I’m excited to carry these lessons into my next roles."

Further recognition with the School

In addition to the winners, there were several other nominations from the Business School, including Business School Colleague, Keira Iveson.

Apprentice of the Year

Nominee: Keira Iveson, Newcastle University Business School

Recognised for her exceptional growth and commitment, Keira was a proud nominee in the Apprentice of the Year category. As an Education Administrator supporting the Business School’s MBA programme, Keira has demonstrated professionalism, resilience, and initiative throughout a challenging year for the HE sector.

Keira has managed demanding administrative tasks, driven communication improvements and fostered stronger engagement between students, staff and external stakeholders. She is also playing a key and proactive part in the newly established MBA Advisory Board.

A celebration of talent, dedication and real-world impact

The Contribution to the Workplace Awards continues to underline the value of partnership between Newcastle University and its wide network of employers. These awards do more than recognise excellence – they spotlight future leaders and innovators who are already making a tangible difference in the workplace.

Fiona Whitehurst, Associate Dean Engagement and Place at Newcastle University Business School, said: “It is a delight to see students and staff from our programmes featuring so strongly in these awards. It is testament to the dedication of our students and our staff to work-based learning. We offer so many opportunities for students to gain work experience during their time with us, and these examples show how mutually beneficial these opportunities are.”