Queen's University Management School

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A Queen’s University student has fought off competition from across the country to be named UK Intern of the Year by leading business and financial adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP.

Samantha Rogers, from Limavady, and a final year accounting student at Queen’s, fought off competition from 72 other penultimate year university students from across the UK to win the award.

Samantha, who completed a six week internship in the Belfast branch, was shortlisted as a regional finalist and was named the winner after delivering a stand out final presentation.

Speaking about her win Samantha said: "I am delighted to have won the intern of the year award - it is such an honour and I am very grateful to Grant Thornton. As President of the Accountancy Society at Queen’s and final year student I appreciate the importance of internships such as these and I am thankful to Queen’s for the opportunities afforded to me so far."

Mrs Danielle McConville, Lecturer in Accounting at Queen’s University Management School said: “Queen’s is committed to providing our students with much more than a degree. We encourage our students to take placements and summer internships so that they are workplace-ready when they graduate and liaise closely with employers to ensure such opportunities are available.  Samantha is a shining example of the benefits of such internships and reflects Queen’s commitment to employability.”

Samantha’s internship manager at Grant Thornton, Padraic Little, said: "We have undoubtedly secured a really enthusiastic and driven trainee for the future here in Belfast. Samantha had a model internship with us, and we're extremely proud that she takes such a positive view of our firm back to her Queen’s University peers."

Partner and National Leadership Board member at Grant Thornton, Sacha Romanovitch, who judged the presentations, said: "The Summer Intern programme plays an important role in taking early opportunities to engage with and attract future employees. Interns get the chance to see what it’s like working with us, and we in turn get to find out if they are a good fit for our organisation. Last year, more than 80 per cent of our interns went on to become trainees with the firm – probably one of the reasons we were recently voted 'top placement and internship employer' by RateMyPlacement.co.uk. Grant Thornton is rated no.1 company on the site for under-graduate placements.”

Samantha will continue her final year of study at Queen’s University before joining the Belfast office within the audit department.

Ends

Media inquiries to Claire O’Callaghan, Queen’s University Communications Office, Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5391 email: c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk

Notes to Editors:

·         Samantha Rogers is available for interview.  Interview bids to Claire O’Callaghan Queen’s University Communications Office, Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5391 email: c.ocallaghan@qub.ac.uk

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