Konica Minolta and Prince’s Trust celebrate success

Konica Minolta Business Solutions (UK), a patron of the Prince’s Trust, presented the ‘Young Ambassador of the Year Award’ at the 9th annual Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success Awards 2012, East of England round, held recently in Cambridge.

The awards are a two-stage process comprising of 11 regional awards events and a final national event later in the year.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from Konica Minolta’s leadership team along with 400 other guests including the finalists, their families and businesses from across east England.

Konica Minolta managing director Neil Dingley was proud to present the Young Ambassador of the Year award to winner Samantha Jones from Cromer, saying: ‘It was encouraging to see the wealth of young people in the east of England who have worked hard with the help of the Prince’s trust to successfully achieve their goals, and Samantha’s story was truly inspiring.’

Jones, 25, took part in The Trust's ‘Get Into’ scheme now works as a recruitment administrator within the National Health Service (NHS). When diagnosed with diabetes at 17, Jones’s hopes of joining the RAF were dashed. However, she was inspired during her visits to hospital, witnessing the dedication and professionalism of NHS staff.

An opportunity arose with The Prince’s Trust to secure a place in its Facilities Management program, a scheme providing young people with training and experience in the facilities management sector; here she gained qualifications in literacy and numeracy, as well as securing a successful apprenticeship with the NHS, which saw her nominated for Apprentice of the Year.

She commented: ‘I want to contribute to the work of the Prince’s Trust. They gave me my life back and I want everyone to know about it. I am really looking forward to the future.’

Finalists for the award were Shaun Buckman and Ryan Coomber.

The Konica Minolta Young Ambassador of the Year Award commends the work of Prince’s Trust Young Ambassadors and the way they inspire other young people to turn their lives around.

Neil Dingley continued: ‘The Young Ambassador of the Year Award holds specific significance for us; it supports our ethos of providing Konica Minolta colleagues with room to develop their natural talent and creativity. Our primary source of success is down to investing in our people, having colleagues with the ability to leave but the desire to stay.’

Click here for more about Konica Minolta on L&L.com.