Urban Synergy, a leading social mobility charity, is excited to announce the nominees for the 2024 Urban Synergy UShine Awards. These prestigious awards recognize individuals and organizations who have made significant contributions to the development and empowerment of young people through mentorship and advocacy.
The nominations for this year’s awards showcase the dedication and commitment of Urban Synergy’s volunteers, mentors, corporate partners, and the young people they have supported. The selection process was challenging, with many exceptional candidates, and narrowing down the finalists was a testament to the impact of everyone involved. It is a true reflection of the strength and dedication of the Urban Synergy community.
“We are proud to see so many inspiring individuals who have volunteered their time and efforts,” said Leila Thomas, CEO & Founder of Urban Synergy. “Each nominee has demonstrated unwavering commitment to helping young people achieve their fullest potential. We would love to invite everyone to our event and truly value each person’s contribution. However, due to limited venue capacity, we are unfortunately unable to extend an invitation to everyone.”
The Urban Synergy UShine Awards celebrate a year of collective generosity and success, with categories recognizing excellence in mentorship, student leadership, and corporate partnerships. The finalists include inspiring teachers, mentors, and mentees who have gone above and beyond to support youth from underrepresented communities in London. The awards ceremony, which will be attended by our Corporate Board drawn from Goldman Sachs, Citi, Dynamic Planner, UK Power Networks, WTW, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), Salesforce, and our main sponsors, will be hosted by Darae Palmer and Urban Synergy Patron, Broadcaster Eddie Nestor MBE.
The nominees for the 2024 UShine Awards are:
Teacher Advocacy:
• Emmanuel Agyemang, Assistant Principal, St Mary’s Campus Christ The King Sixth Form College• Holly Power, Principal, Aquinas Campus Christ The King Sixth Form College• Tazeem Akhtar, KS2 Lead, Hawksmoor Primary School
Star Mentee:
• Kiera, Mentee Alumni & Sales Trainee, Thomson Reuters• Chibi, Mentee Alumni & L6 Apprentice, Finance & Investment, Bloomberg• Nylah, Mentee Alumni & Intern, Thomson Reuters• Samson, Mentee Alumni & Degree Apprentice Civil Engineer, Balfour Beatty
Outstanding Role Model:
• Nicole Onye, Product Delivery Manager, M&G• Bill Schomberg, Chief UK Economics Correspondent, Thomson Reuters• Karen Bell, Sub-Officer, London Fire Brigade• Sharon Blackman OBE, Managing Director, Global Head of Services Legal, Citi
Mentor:
• Awah Tumban Akongbom, Collateral & Liquidity Management, LSEG• Tom Wooldridge, Director, WTW• Lydia Hamill, Fixed Income Index Product Manager, Bloomberg• Michael Dicks, Retired Finance Professional• Laura Frost, Aviva
Work Experience Hero:
• Jacquline Alcindor, Global Diversity & Inclusion Programme Partner, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM)• Sarah Lavender, Head of Studio & Production, Line Producer, ITN• Amelia Grainger, People & Talent Administrator, Dynamic Planner
Paul Lawrence Award:
• Jadon, PwC Management Consultant Apprentice• Zackaria, Cambridge University Graduate• Cairo, Electrical Cable Jointer Apprentice, UK Power Networks (UKPN)
The 2024 UShine Awards will take place in London on November 27th, 2024, in the presence of the nominees and our sponsors, coming together to celebrate this year’s achievements.
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Urban Synergy would like to thank all our sponsors and partners. We are still offering sponsorship packages for the Urban Synergy 2024 UShine Awards. By sponsoring, you can help ensure that the next generation of talent continues to flourish. Sponsorship packages start from £1,000 and provide brand visibility across our event, website, and promotional materials, reaching 4,000 business professionals and Gen Z consumers.
For sponsorship inquiries, please contact us at www.urbansynergy.com/contact-us and visit www.urbansynergy.com for more information.
About Urban Synergy:
Urban Synergy is an award-winning social mobility charity that empowers young people from underrepresented backgrounds to reach their full potential. Through a combination of mentoring, role model seminars, and work experience opportunities, Urban Synergy provides the support and skills necessary for the next generation to thrive in today’s competitive environment. Since its inception, Urban Synergy has positively impacted the lives of thousands of young people, thanks to the dedication of volunteer mentors and corporate partners.
