A STUDENT from Thirsk has won a national award for her work to help other students set up businesses.

Rachel Everett, 24, who studies at Lancaster University, was presented with the Above and Beyond award by the National Association of Student Employment Services at a ceremony in London.

She also works as a part-time project assistant on the university’s Enterprise Champion project, which supports entrepreneurial students to start their own companies.

And it was her work on that project, as well as her on-going commitment to the Barnardo’s Society, that saw Rachel win the award.

Enterprise Champion project manager Simon Harrison said: “Rachel is a dream to work with. More often than not she second-guesses my requests, exceeds expectations and works near miracles. A more fitting winner of this award I cannot imagine.”

He added: “Clearly Rachel is very capable and industrious, but throughout this time she has continued to contribute to the Barnado’s Society activities and consistently won the hearts and stomachs of the department with her home-baked goodies.

“Although she frequently works until late in the evenings, she is always in bright and early in the morning, unflappably positive, and lends buoyancy to the team during our most stressful periods.”