Students Selected for Life Changing Bursary

Two Walsall College HNC Business students are being given life changing support on their journey to success, after being selected to receive a new bursary from The Midcounties Co-operative.

Amanda Smith and Priya Kaur have both won the grant, which will provide funding for their HNC Business courses.

This exciting new bursary has been created by The Midcounties Co-operative and initiated by its Chief Executive Ben Reid, in order to give gifted Walsall College students the opportunity to advance their skills and career prospects with a higher education course. Along with financial support, the students will also have opportunities to expand their business skills and experience with work placements.

Successful student Amanda Smith said: “I am extremely excited about this bursary. It will be a great help to me as I am a single parent and this support will help me to complete my higher education courses at Walsall College. I then want to top up to degree level at university and eventually plan to get into management”.

Fellow student, Priya Kaur added: “I chose to study HNC Business as I wanted to gain a full understanding of the business world. The bursary will make a real difference to me and my family; I am so thankful to The Midcounties Co-operative for giving me this opportunity to progress my education further. After completing HNC and HND Business, I plan to top up to a degree at university and would like to run my own business in the future”.

Walsall College Business Lecturer, Hubert Moses commented: “Amanda and Priya have been selected to receive this bursary as they have got the drive and determination to succeed. I strongly believe that by gaining higher education qualifications, these talented students will be in a position to benefit society in the future and The Midcounties Co-operative bursary will help them achieve this. By studying higher education courses, students are setting themselves up to achieve a career, rather than just a job”.

Mari Frost, Head of HR Operations at The Midcounties Co-operative said: “The bursary has been created to give students with an exceptional talent for business, the opportunity to study higher education at Walsall College and achieve their ambitions, regardless of their financial circumstances.

“The Midcounties Co-operative is committed to providing our staff with excellent learning and development opportunities, and as a community based retailer, it is fantastic if we can get out into the community and open up opportunities for even more people.”