A Fashion Business and Marketing student at the University of Winchester was centre stage at a prestigious business award ceremony after working behind the scenes to make a charity fashion event a success.
Lauren Watson won the Rising Star award at the first Maven Awards held at the city’s Theatre Royal.
The awards were organised by Maven, a co-working space for female entrepreneurs based in Winchester. In addition to office space Maven offers its members networking events and marketing support.
Lauren and fellow Fashion Business and Marketing student Rachel Stenning were shortlisted for the award after volunteering to help run the Charity Shop Chic Fashion Show in October at the Hotel du Vin.
The event, part of the city’s fashion week, showcased the offerings from the city’s charity stores and raised more than £1,500 which was shared between Dogs Trust, Oxfam, Naomi House Hospice and the British Heart Foundation.
The pair were nominated by the show’s main organiser Sarah Sullivan, a personal stylist who runs Solutions by Sarah.
Lauren switched to Fashion Business and Marketing after a year studying Law at Winchester.
“I’ve always been interested in fashion and enjoyed studying business at A-level, so this combines the two perfectly – the course has been brilliant. I know I made the right choice to change,” said Lauren.
The 21-year-old from Kenilworth in Warwickshire said she would love to become a fashion event organiser after graduating.
In addition to her studies Lauren is secretary of the University cheerleading team, Winchester Spirits, which involves running the team’s social media platforms and designing their uniforms.
Natalie Hamer, founder of Maven who also helped organise Charity Shop Chic, said: “Lauren was an extremely worthy winner, she worked so hard with one of our members on a fashion event, she is dedicated, vivacious and hard working.”
Marina Brkljac, Programme Leader and Lecturer in Fashion and Marketing said: “We are incredibly proud of Lauren for her dedication and achievements. This recognition is a testament to the talent and hard work of our students, who consistently go above and beyond both in and out of the classroom.
“At BA (Hons) Fashion Business and Marketing Winchester, we're not just about education; we're about fostering a community of trailblazers and future leaders in the fashion industry. Our partnership with local businesses and individuals in Winchester has been invaluable in providing our students with real-world experience and opportunities to shine. We are grateful for the ongoing support and collaboration that helps make these success stories possible.”
Pictured: Lauren (left) receives her Maven Rising Star Award from category sponsor Louise Crockett 9centre) of the Perfect Assistant and Maven founder, Natalie Hamer.