WiP students of year announced

Two rising stars from the North West were named top property students at annual regional awards held by the Association of Women in Property.

Rebecca Meadowcroft, studying architecture at Liverpool University, won the Liverpool Student Awards title.

Grace Johnson, an environmental management student at Manchester University, took the prize for Manchester.

The students were presented with their awards during a ceremony at B.Hive featuring motivational speaker Jane Kenyon.

Both winners will now represent the North West at the national final which takes place at Claridge's in London on 18 September.

On winning her award Rebecca, said: "I'm ecstatic to be given this award. It was a surprise to be nominated and even more so to win. Just being nominated has been such a confidence boost and great introduction to the industry before I have finished my course."

Grace said: "This has been a great experience and good to meet the other nominees but I'm shocked to actually win the award. I'm really looking forward to the final at Claridge's and the other great opportunities now open to me."

Both students win £300, an opportunity for work experience, free membership to WiP upon graduation and participation in the WiP mentoring program.

Claire Beaumont, chairman of WiP's North West branch and associate partner at Laytons Solicitors, said: "The National Student Awards are now in their sixth year and have become a firm fixture on industry and educational calendars. It is a tough process for the students and our winners will now compete against students from across the UK but I'm confident in the calibre of finalists we are putting forward to represent the North West.

"This year we received our largest number of nominations for the awards to date with seven universities taking part. All 14 finalists were incredibly talented providing a promising glimpse into the future for women the property industry and we plan to continue to support these rising stars as they aim to break into their chosen professions."

The North West judges were Nasira Majid, managing director of PIN Properties; Stewart Grant, partner at architects Pozzoni; Rachel Haugh, partner and director at Ian Simpson Architects; Richard Woodford, partner at HOW Planning; Kat Brown, marketing manager at AEW Architects; Claire Beaumont, associate partner at law firm Laytons; and architect Cathy Stewart.

The 14 regional finalists were: