Students at the University of Chester who go above and beyond their studies, to gain additional employability skills during their time at the institution, have been rewarded during a recent celebration ceremony.

The Chester Difference Award (CDA) was established three years ago by the university’s careers and employability team, which was keen to recognise those students and graduates who have developed their employability skills by taking part in a range of activities, such as volunteering, part time work, or being a student ambassador, to name but a few.

There are three levels of award attainment: The Chester Difference Award, The Plus -Award and The Excellence Award.

Each level demonstrates a huge commitment as students balance their studies with a varying amount of hours dedicated to making themselves stand out.

This year, 66 students received a CDA, including eleven who achieved the highest ranking Excellence Award.

There are also a total of 526 students currently participating in the award.

The celebration ceremony took place at the De Gaulle Brasserie at the University’s Queen’s Park Campus. It was co-hosted by comperes Matt Baker and Francis Tucker.

Sue Middleton, Work-Based Learning student; Lisa Rogers, Career Consultant at the University of Chester, Helen Lowe, Graduate Futures Team Administrator at the University; Jo Forsyth, Employer Engagement Co-ordinator at the University; Sally Harding, Graduate Futures Manager at the University; Joanne Leigh, Sales Operation Manager, TalkTalk Business

Speakers included chief executive of Iceland and an honorary graduate of the University of Chester Malcolm Walker CBE,the university’s senior pro-vice-chancellor Dr Chris Haslam and sales operation manager Joanne Leigh and sales co-ordinator Jack Bolton both from TalkTalk Business, which endorses The CDA.

Graduate futures manager at the University of Chester Sally Harding said: “The CDA gives students the recognition they deserve for what they achieve on top of their degree studies. Many of our students work extremely hard and diligently, not only with their studies but also in the way they get involved in other aspects of student life.

“Our mission in creating The CDA was to package all of the efforts of our students, careers and employability and the wider university support network into our own employability award. Congratulations to all our award winners – and thanks go to our speakers too, and to TalkTalk Business, who have endorsed the award from the very beginning.”