Clare crowned as top young professional

May 25 2007 Birmingham Post

Birmingham Young Professional of the Year is Clare Edwards of the Learning & Skills Council.

Her success was announced last night at the city's annual business Oscars organised by Birmingham Future.

It marks the first time that the overall winner has hailed from the recruitment and training sector, the category she also topped.

Ms Edwards, aged 33, works as a music co-ordinator and is Birmingham born and bred. She takes over the baton from Ruth Ward, of Neon Communications, who last year became the second woman in the awards' seven year history to be crowned BYPY.

Trevor Foster, managing director of banking for Kaupthing Singer Freidlander and, chairman of the awards' judging panel, said: "In the end the judges were unanimous that Clare should be the overall BYPY winner. She has a disarming yet straightforward style and possesses that 'can do will do' spirit we all need if one is to be truly successful.

"There is a lot of talk amongst Birmingham Future members of having the right work life balance. Clare is a fantastic example of what can be done. She is bringing up two daughters, is chairman of governors at her local school, is making a real difference in her role at the LSC and says it's really important to 'have a life'."

The communications category was taken by Robert Woodford, head of marketing and communications at Andrew Farr Associates, while Charlotte Wright, an investment manager at Brewin Dolphin, walked away with the financial prize.

Nick Dawson, a solicitor at Cobbetts, came top in the legal category and Tony Gale, senior project manager at MACE, won property and construction.

The entrepreneurial award went to Nicola Fleet-Milne, managing director of Fleet Milne residential.

Joy Stefanicki, chairman of the BYPY team and marketing director designate at Crosby Lend Lease, said: "We had an incredible volume of entries this year, all of which were of a very high calibre.

"Every one of our 18 finalists is a shining role model in their chosen profession and we will be following their careers with much interest."