Leeds Met wins MPI Young Achievers Award

A team from Leeds Metropolitan University has been crowned the winner of the MPI UK and Ireland Chapter 2012 Young Achievers Award.
 
Hosted at the Barbican and supported by the Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau (SCIB), the annual competition was attended by around 100 meeting industry professionals.
 
Now in its third year, the event saw five teams each represent a Swiss destination and go head-to-head in a live bid presentation based on a real-life agency event brief. As a qualification process for the Young Achievers Award, nine universities were asked to prepare a video that answered two questions: Why you have chosen a career in the meetings industry and How can MPI help you achieve your career goals?
 
From this five teams were chosen to go forward to the final: Dublin Institute of Technology, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Surrey, University of Westminster and Leeds Metropolitan University.
 
The Leeds Metropolitan University team, made up of Annie Metcalfe, Steven Wade and Judith Robinson, came out on top following their bid from the city of Montreux. The winning team not only walked away with a Swiss Cow Trophy but a trip to Montreux.
 
“I think it is impressive that the teams put together their presentations in a week and they should be congratulated for their hard work,” says Manager UK and Ireland for the SCIB, Claudio Zemp.
 
The award was created in 2010 to discover and recognise new talent, and gives students the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of key industry figures.
 
The teams were judged by a panel of five senior meetings industry professionals, led by Paul Cook (Planet Planit) as well as Amanda Edgecumbe (Powwow), John Denham (Vantage Point), Richard Parker (Zibrant) and Chris Clarke (P&MM).
 
“The platform that the SCIB, MPI and associated partners provides with the Young Achievers Award is an invaluable source of networking and provides unrivalled reach to a wide audience of industry professionals,” Parker says. “I love being involved as a judge, it’s a privilege and annual reminder of what a great industry we belong to.”
 
Samme Allen, MPI UK and Ireland Chapter President, adds: “All those in attendance were rewarded with a glimpse into the future of the industry. The competition was closely fought but the presentation by Leeds Metropolitan University showed a deep understanding of the brief which allowed them to give a confident presentation to the judges.”
 
Click here to see the gallery from the event.
 
Any conference-related news? Email sarah@mashmedia.net