Polish Worker Named Top Achiever at Careers Scotland Excellence Awards
A New Scot was named as the country’s most outstanding achiever in the field of careers development at a prestigious awards ceremony last night (November 14).
Polish banker Ilona Borchulska, who moved to Uddingston with her husband and daughter in April last year to search for better job prospects, received two prizes at Careers Scotland’s Excellence Awards.
Ilona was named as the Overall Winner and was also honoured in the Individual Excellence Award (Over 20) category in recognition of the enthusiasm and dedication she has shown to finding a job to suit her skills.
Now in its second year, the Careers Scotland Excellence Awards 2007 publicly recognises excellence in career education and partnership with business, educational and community groups, as well as celebrating the progress of young people and adults who have had support from Careers Scotland.
Winners were announced by broadcaster George Bowie at a prestigious awards ceremony held in the Glasgow Science Centre in front of an audience of more than 250 guests from across the Scottish education, learning and business communities.
There were six awards presented at last night’s event. The winners picked up awards for the following categories:
Career Education Award
- Our Lady & St Patrick's High School, Dumbarton
Business Partnership Award
- The Inn at Lathones, St Andrews
Community Partnership Award
- Glasgow City Council Development & Regeneration Services
Individual Excellence Award (Under 20)
- Shane Ewing
Individual Excellence Award (over 20)
- Ilona Borchulska
Each of the winners, who were nominated for the award by Careers Scotland staff, have demonstrated an impressive dedication to careers guidance.
Ilona, who holds a Masters degree in Economics and a post-graduate degree in Public Relations in her native Poland, picked up the Individual Excellence (Over 20) award for her commitment to finding work after moving to Scotland. She now works as a bilingual customer advisor for Lloyds TSB, putting her language skills to good use.
Ilona said:
"I'm delighted and proud to have won the Individual Excellence Award."
"It has taken hard work and effort to get to get to where I am now, but the support and guidance that Careers Scotland offered at every turn has been invaluable in keeping me motivated to succeed. I'm looking forward to the future and hope to realise all my ambitions."
The Inn at Lathones, a hotel and restaurant in St Andrews, and Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School in Dumbarton, who won in the Business Partnership and Career Education categories, have both worked hard to help young people decide on their future career paths.
Glasgow City Council’s Development & Regeneration Services department picked up an award in the Community Partnership category for its Young Parents Project, which has helped vulnerable young people in the city with information, emotional support, and access to training and skills to help them support their families.
Shane Ewing, winner in the Individual Excellence (Under 20) category, worked tirelessly on his education to ensure himself a place on the University of Abertay’s Games Design course.
Congratulating all the finalists, Danny Logue, Director of Careers Scotland, said:
"All of last night’s finalists are winners. Each and every one of them embody the very qualities that these awards are here to recognise - hard work, enthusiasm and a determination to succeed and overcome barriers."
"Skilled and ambitious individuals and effective partnerships are key to the future success of Scotland’s economy and Careers Scotland is committed to ensuring that education and businesses across Scotland continue to work effectively together to make the best use of the talent and skills of people in Scotland."
Careers Scotland offers a range of career planning and information services to help people of all ages to maximise their career potential. Its aim is to equip people living in Scotland with the skills to make well informed career decisions throughout their lives.
15/11/07
