DEGREE students at the University of Bolton are ready for work.

A bumper class of students 'graduated' from the Bolton Award programme after logging a total of 6,900 hours of employability experience.

Forty students from the university were presented with their certificates from Bill Webster, assistant vice chancellor (development) at the ceremony.

The Bolton Award is an employability and enterprise programme for all undergraduate and postgraduate students which has been designed to enable them to benefit from work experience, skills development, and a range of enrichment activities.

The programme requires students to take part in a minimum of 35 hours of employability activities including careers advice, work experience, skills workshops, and enrichment activities.

And the students who completed this year’s award averaged four times the minimum requirement, demonstrating their engagement and passion for the programme.

Students have volunteered at the Samaritans, Greater Manchester West Mental Health Trust, Simeon Centre Counselling Service and the Great Western Hospital.

Bolton Award Project Officer Emma Donohue said: "The commitment and dedication shown by the students engaged in the programme is inspiring.

"It has been an absolute privilege to work on the Bolton Award and it is great to see it growing from strength to strength.

"Having only been in this post a couple of months, I am amazed at how the whole university has got behind the project.

"The support from the Bolton Award Champions, the students’ union and all university staff has ensured that more and more students are using the careers service and thinking about employability early on in their courses."

Postgraduate PGCE student Emma Moorcroft said: "The Bolton Award has helped me to develop a good relationship with my university peers as we meet outside of the classroom to attend professional events and training courses together which has helped us to form a strong relationship of support."

Suzanne Rogerson, a third year psychology student, said: "I would definitely recommend other students embark on the Bolton Award, as I have found it very enjoyable and worthwhile, and I believe it will make a difference when it comes to finding employment when I graduate, and future success whilst studying postgraduate level."