Guernsey Finance has teamed up with leading financial services provider State Street Corporation to offer a unique opportunity for students from the College of Further Education to showcase their work in London.

The work of College of FE student Will Corbet, 19, will be exhibited as an art installation at the promotional agency's annual Funds Forum at a London venue next month. The event typically attracts an audience of some 400 people.

Students have worked with the Guernsey Finance design team and senior figures from State Street Corporation on their own projects, giving them a chance to develop skills, experience working with a client, and learn how to overcome challenges when working to a brief.

The students were tasked with creating a piece of art to either:

  • Encourage attendee interaction at the Funds Forum;
  • Showcase the funds industry;
  • Encourage travel to Guernsey; or
  • Promote feedback of the event.

Will's winning design, which scooped the Client's Choice Award, incorporated an anchor and crab pots and was unveiled at a private exhibition of all entries.

"I thought of a play on words using the anchor, and also thought there was a lot of scope to do something with a nautical theme," he said.

The Best Exhibition Award was presented to Brendan Conway for his Victor Hugo effigy and Admiral James Saumarez perspective piece, while Alex Loveridge won the Most Original Concept Award for his topographical map of Guernsey.

Guernsey Finance Brand & Marketing Manager Dominique Ogier, who has led the project for the promotional agency, said: "This project has been a great opportunity for us to give back to the community, providing the students of the Guernsey College of Further Education to experience real world challenges, as well as be mentored by our design and marketing team.

"We have been really impressed with the enthusiasm the students have brought to the project and with the unique concepts they were able to contribute. It has been a pleasure to work with such passionate young creatives and a privilege to help them develop and grow."

Paul Mundy, head of the Channel Islands at State Street, said: "We are delighted to be sponsoring this initiative at the Guernsey Funds Forum in London. Working with students from the College has been rewarding and provided our team with completely fresh insights into our industry from a segment of the community we typically wouldn't engage with in our day-to-day working lives."

As well as being exhibited at the London event on Thursday 17 May, the overall winner receives a graphic design work experience placement with Guernsey Finance. All participating students were given the chance to take part in soft skills workshops with State Street.

For more information about Guernsey's finance industry please visit www.weareguernsey.com.

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