Inaugural award for exceptional academic and business potential goes to Tamara Beach
Award part of efforts to develop the financial sector in Wales
Tamara Beach, a second year undergraduate student in Accounting and Finance at Cardiff Business School, is the proud recipient of the first ever Vauxhall Finance Award of Excellence, from automotive finance company GMAC UK plc.
Tamara, a student from Truro, will receive an annual bursary of £1,000 for the two remaining years of her degree with Cardiff Business School. She will also have the opportunity to undertake a placement with GMAC.
The newly-created Vauxhall Finance Award of Excellence seeks to recognise exceptional academic and business potential. The scholarship will be awarded annually based on first year exam performance and a brief question-based assessment.
On receiving the award, Tamara said: “Receiving the Vauxhall Finance Award of Excellence is a huge honour, and I couldn’t believe it when I first found out I had won the competition! I am really looking forward to finding out more about GMAC and can’t wait to experience working life there in a future placement.”
“As one of the largest financial services companies in Cardiff, we have a keen interest in helping retain and develop skilled talent in the region. Supporting these scholarships of highly regarded Cardiff Business School represents a perfect collaboration between business and education to further develop the financial sector in Wales”, said Ed Paulat, managing director of GMAC UK.
Professor Roy Chandler, Professor in Accounting at Cardiff Business School, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our undergraduate students to gain important work experience in a well-regarded company, and secure a grant to help with the costs of a university education. Having strong partners like GMAC is a big benefit for our region and for our university.”
GMAC is keen to see the South Wales region boost its financial professional services capabilities. As a key part of the expanding financial business community in Cardiff, the company has established excellent relationships with universities and colleges. The Vauxhall Finance Award of Excellence represents a new ongoing relationship, which will sit alongside GMAC’s other HR initiatives like the participation in the Welsh Financial Graduate Programme and the International Accelerated Development Programme, a GM Financial global trainee programme to develop future managers internally.
