Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
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Leeds Beckett sweep the board at Yorkshire PA Awards
The first ever Yorkshire PA of the Year Awards Dinner were held at The Pavilion, Leeds United, organised by The PA Hub, a Yorkshire based membership network for PAs across the region.
Over 250 guests, including legendary Leeds United players Peter Lorimer and Leeds Beckett honorary degree recipient Eddie Gray, as well as Emmerdale cast members including Chris Chittell and Matthew Wolfenden, were in attendance at the inaugural black tie dinner, which recognised the best in the business across 11 award categories.
Our CMT PA team were named ‘Yorkshire’s Best Team of PAs’, Carnegie PA Linda Hepworth won ‘PA Contribution to the Community’ whilst Sarah Hough was named ‘Best PA Newcomer’. Leeds Beckett University then triumphed in the ‘Employer of the Year’ category.
Wow @leedsbeckett did amazingly @thepahub awards#YPA15.Best team of PA'S, Best Employer,Best Community PA, Best New comer.We're so chuffed
— Victoria Pearce (@viccpearce) July 3, 2015
Professor Susan Price, Vice Chancellor at Leeds Beckett University said: "Congratulations to all our winners at last night’s Yorkshire PA of the Year awards. I know personally that I couldn’t operate on a daily basis without their dedication and commitment and the same is true for the whole management team, so this recognition is a well earned testament to all their hard work.”
The evening was hosted by Harry Gration, and international training company, Pitman Training, were the headline sponsor.
Marion Lowrence, Director of the PA Hub says: "The awards are a fantastic way to recognise assistants for the amazing job they do and the support they provide to their companies every day. Winning an award will give them the confidence and self-assurance they need to excel further in their role as well as allow them to stand up and be in the spotlight."
Other regional businesses at the awards included Virgin Trains East Coast, first direct arena, Malmaison Leeds, Radisson Blu and Clayton Hotels (formerly Bewleys Hotel).
The guest speaker slot was filled by former World Cup referee Howard Webb. In 2010 Howard became the first person to referee both the UEFA Champions League Final and the World Cup Final in the same year. In 2014, Howard delivered a guest lecture at Leeds Beckett University as part of the Carnegie Conversations guest lecture series.
The Yorkshire PA of the Year Awards judging panel is made up of four highly experienced professionals in the PA industry including Victoria Darragh, Executive Assistant to the Group HR Director and Group Technology Director for Hays Specialist Recruitment, Katie McEwan, Executive Assistant to Jacqueline Gold, CEO of Ann Summers, Jamila Juma-Ware, Marketing Manager at Pitman Training and Christopher Juliff, Private Secretary to Earl Howe, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (House of Lords).
Katie McEwan, Executive Assistant to Jacqueline Gold, CEO of Ann Summers said: ‘It’s a great privilege to have been invited to sit on the judging panel for these fantastic awards. Still too often PAs do not get the recognition they deserve, and I think that awards on a regional level provide a really important service. There is so much talent in the Yorkshire region; the awards are an opportunity to showcase the true stars of the industry.’
Congratulations @leedsbeckett Linda Hepworth #YPA15 #winner of #PA Contribution to the #Community pic.twitter.com/4tXxzgFXgq
— Marion (@thepahub) July 2, 2015