BCD Meetings & Events has partnered with the MPI UK &
Ireland chapter on the Vanessa Cotton Scholarship. This collaboration will provide
UK-based students with a unique opportunity to embark on an 18-month internship,
starting in autumn 2024, to gain experience in the meetings and events
industry.
“We are thrilled to join forces with MPI UK & Ireland chapter and welcome the next Vanessa Cotton Scholarship recipient into the BCD
M&E community,” said Nathalie Paxton, BCD M&E account manager and MPI UK & Ireland board member. “This partnership reflects our collective commitment to
nurturing new talent in the meetings & events space, ensuring a vibrant
future for our industry. We’re excited to work with someone
eager to immerse themselves in every part of our business and look forward to
receiving their fresh perspective.”
Originally
established in 2011, The Vanessa Cotton Scholarship was reintroduced in 2024.
It aims to nurture and support the next generation of talent by offering
hands-on training, mentorship and exposure to a wide range of industry
professionals.
"We are
thrilled to announce the continuation of the MPI UK & Ireland Vanessa
Cotton Scholarship,” said Brian Hand, president-elect of the MPI UK and Ireland chapter. “In honour of Vanessa Cotton's significant contributions to our
industry, we are proud to present this internship opportunity bearing her name.
Our collaboration with BCD Meetings & Events will offer the winner of the
scholarship a great opportunity to learn and thrive in a global event
management agency.”
The Vanessa Cotton Scholarship was created in 2011, by MPI UK & Ireland in honour of UK event industry veteran Vanessa Cotton. Vanessa was a champion of young meeting professionals. She had a long and distinguished career in the UK meetings & events industry and passed away in 2010 after a battle with cancer. Each year the scholarship is open to final year students, who will complete an event management or meetings industry-related degree/diploma in the UK or Ireland.
The recipient will
gain in-depth industry exposure during the 18-month internship by working under leading BCD M&E professionals across meetings management,
venue search, accommodation and delegation services as well as its event design
agency, The Collective. The internship will also offer
global perspective as it will be directly involved in the execution of international
events including visiting various destinations.
MPI’s Future Leader
initiative and BCD M&E’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion are
at the forefront of this partnership, recognising accessibility as a necessary
factor in building the best talent for the future. The opportunity is not only
open to university students, but to college and diploma graduates as well.
Students are
invited to apply to the scholarship through this link.
