2007 Competition winners page.
What if life was less stressful during exams? What would you do with £1000
worth of vouchers during your exams to make life easier? Hire a cleaner, take taxis,
fill your food cupboards to the brim?
Our first prize winner this year won exactly that kind of exam support in our annual
student competition. Our second prize winners and runners up also walked away with
a combination of luxury spa weekends and supermarket, book and leisure vouchers.
You can read about our winners below.
People have asked us why we we run this competition, the reason is simple. Joining
a major accountancy practice means professional exams and we know how tough it can
be during that time. We take pride in the support that we give our trainees, which
is why we enjoy such high success rates in exams. The competition is a way of sharing
that ethos with you as you choose where to start your career.
If you are considering where to go or what to do, we’d love to talk to you
about why our firm is such a special place to work, with a culture that supports
our people through training and beyond.
NB. For reasons of data protection we cannot give the full names of our winners.
First Prize
Jonathan, studying at Nottingham University
How did you feel when you found out you had first prize?
I was ecstatic! I didn’t realise I had won for some time and when I did I was
amazed that I came first out of so many people and even though I took a while to
claim my prize BDO still gave it to me.
How will you be spending the vouchers and what will you be most looking forward
to – the gym membership or the vouchers?
The vouchers are for ASDA so I’m going to do all my shopping there from now
on. Even though the vouchers are great, I am going to get more of a kick out of
the gym membership.
Would you consider a career at BDO Stoy Hayward?
Actually I read economics as a degree at Nottingham University so a career in BDO
would be exactly what I would be looking for when I graduate. So yes, if they would
have me...
Have you visited the website since you entered?
Yes I have, and I found it very informative.
Joint Second Prize
Ben, studying at Balliol College, Oxford
How did you feel when you found out you had won?
I was really surprised. Firstly I had forgotten I had even entered the competition
as it was quite a few months back. Also, I was sceptical and thought that nobody
actually ever won this sort of competition but I was proved wrong. As well as being
surprised I was obviously really pleased.
What will you be most looking forward to when you visit the Spa? Who are you taking
with you?
The chance to relax after a term of 'hard work' at uni will be nice, so probably
things like saunas where I can just relax. I will probably end up taking one of
my mates.
Would you consider a career at BDO Stoy Hayward?
Yeah, I’ve always thought about heading into a career in finance or business
after I finish my degree. I wasn’t too sure about the availability of graduate
opportunities in this sector but evidently there are a lot of options open and the
chance to work with a big company like BDO Stoy Hayward would obviously be exactly
the sort of thing I was looking for.
Maia, studying at Trinity College, Cambridge
How did you feel when you found out you had won?
Over the moon! The prize will be a perfect treat for me and a friend after a stressful
term – just what we need to relax before finals.
What will you be most looking forward to when you visit the Spa? Who are you taking
with you?
Definitely looking forward to the massages and treatments but also getting away from
work and not feeling too guilty about it! I am taking one of my girlfriends who
also has finals coming up.
Would you consider a career at BDO Stoy Hayward?
Yes definitely, being an economics student it is a career I have looked into and
they have certainly boosted my opinion of them after this!
Have you visited the website since you entered?
Yes, I was impressed with the design and some of the opportunities mentioned, will
certainly be back when I start applying for jobs.
Runners Up
- Will – studying at Leeds
University
- Yewande – studying at London
School of Economics
- Emily – studying at Southampton
- Hong – studying at Cambridge
- Rosie – studying at Reading
- Jane – studying at Oxford
- Hitesh – studying at Loughborough
University
- Madeline – studying at Bristol University