University of Glamorgan student 18 year-old Sam Squires from Swansea has been named as this year’s winner of the University’s Michael Moran Scholarship, which has been established by family and friends of the popular local businessman.
The Scholarship, worth almost £4000 to a University of Glamorgan student each year, has been set up in memory of Michael Moran who spent his career in the food industry and was a champion of the Welsh food producer.
It is being sponsored by companies and individuals from within the food sector in Wales and also by the major Multiples who Michael was most associated with. The aim of the Scholarship is to offer financial support, mentoring and work experience to talented, local people throughout their studies.
This year’s recipient Sam is a first year Business Excellence student, specialising in marketing, at Glamorgan and is delighted to have been awarded the valuable prize.
The former Cefn Hengoed School pupil commented, “I applied for the scholarship because I know that it will give me a unique opportunity to learn from the mentors. I hope that the experience that I will gain over the coming years will give me the edge when it comes to looking for employment in the future. I feel unbelievably proud to have won the scholarship.
“Following my degree course I hope to go onto postgraduate study and then go straight into the advertising industry. I am ambitious and want to gain a good amount of experience working in a large organisation so that ultimately I can start my own marketing consultancy.”
Gwyn Thomas of INSIGHT, together with Brian Jones, of Castell Howell Foods Ltd, both close friends and former colleagues of Michael set up the Scholarship to celebrate Michael’s contribution to the promotion of the food industry in Wales.
Mr Thomas commented, “Michael was immensely proud of the fine education, marketing and sales oriented training he received during his early days with the Nestle Company at their Rashleigh School. He would have been very proud to support local students through a similar education and apprenticeship at his local Business School at the University of Glamorgan.
“The Michael Moran Scholarship has funding available to ensure that selected students enjoy the very best that education can offer; thus taking Business Excellence on into their working life, for the good of Welsh business and Welsh life in general.”
Those applying for the Scholarship must be intending to undertake a work placement with a Welsh Company during their course and must intend to use the course outputs to better the Welsh economy.
During his career, Michael was particularly proud to support the Welsh National Rugby team and his good friend Martyn Williams was delighted to support the scholarship and was on hand to present Sam with his award.
Martyn commented, “Mike was a true professional and a good friend and as such I am proud to be presenting Sam with this scholarship. Mike was enthusiastic about the power of education and I am sure that he would have been delighted that Sam is such a worthy winner of this award in his name.”
Lesley Long, Business Excellence Scheme Leader, commented, “We are delighted to be able to work with the Michael Moran Scholarship to give Sam, and future winners, the chance to gain both the academic education and relevant work experience. A major focus of the Glamorgan Business School is employability, through successful links such as these and through the work of our Employability Unit. Opportunities like this for our students, which enable them to reach the highest of goals, are something we thoroughly believe in.”
Last year’s recipient, Chris Last, continues to be supported by the Scholarship. Of his first year Chris commented “I’ve benefitted greatly from the Scholarship to date. Through the guidance and mentorship from Gwyn Thomas, I’ve met a number of key players in the Welsh Food Industry, and been exposed to scenarios which I otherwise would not have encountered. I’ve also gained invaluable experience from the placement opportunities provided me by Castell Howell Foods Ltd.”
