EVERY YEAR ACCOUNTING & FINANCE STUDENTS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD.

This unique programme is funded by the Henry Smith Charity, which was set up to support young people in achieving their career ambitions and was introduced to Durham Sixth Form Centre by Accounting and Financial Studies teacher Mrs McArdle. The award, now supported by Dr Fiona Hill in collaboration with The Henry Smith Trust, has gone from strength to strength, with this being the 9th year an event has been held.

This year’s finalists, Calum O’Dwyer, Jacob Moran, Adam Orr, Beth Whitehead and Luke Gledhill (pictured with Mr David Holloway and Mr Ian McKenzie from the Board of Trustees) presented their submissions to a panel of judges including representatives from the board of trustees. 

Students were asked to design and develop an innovative learning resource (which they presented digitally to the panel of judges) to help themselves and others to better understand some of the more complex aspects of personal finance & accounting. The award places a clear focus on developing employability skills such as strong and effective communication, problem solving and time management plus an opportunity to demonstrate creative flair and subject expertise.  

The quality of the submissions was excellent once again, with the judges commenting that any finalist could have won. Congratulations to all the finalists and to Calum O’Dwyer, Jacob Moran and Adam Orr, for winning the 2023 Dr Fiona Hill Award for Accounting and Finance for their innovative personal finance tool, designed to improve the financial literacy of its users.