Top-performing shorthand students rewarded

Two NCTJ students have been rewarded for achieving one hundred per cent accuracy in the NCTJ shorthand exams.

Poppy Bragg from City College Brighton and Hove won the award for 110/120 wpm and Heloise Beaton from Bournemouth University won the award for 100 wpm. Both awards were sponsored by Ryman and consisted of certificates and cheques for £250.

Heloise was presented with her award by NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher at the Shorthand Seminar in Manchester on 20 June. She said: “I am very pleased to have won this award. Shorthand never came naturally to me and it took me a long time to get the outlines and up to speed, it is great to know the hard work paid off! My tutor Karen provided amazing support.”

Karen Ballam, shorthand tutor at Bournemouth University added: “I am very proud of Heloise and delighted she has won this award. She has worked very hard at her shorthand from the early days of learning the theory right through to achieving 100wpm.”

Unfortunately Poppy could not attend the award presentation due to work commitments. After completing her NCTJ Diploma in Journalism she now works as a communications officer for the NSPCC. Prior to this she had worked as a solicitor before deciding to change career direction.

She said:  “I’d like to say thank you to my shorthand teacher Nicki Jones. She was absolutely brilliant and I certainly wouldn’t have got my 110 wpm without her!”

Nicki Jones, shorthand tutor at City College Brighton and Hove said: “Poppy was an outstanding student and the college is delighted that she has gone on to successfully work in the charity sector. City College Brighton and Hove recognises the importance of shorthand for its students and this national award is recognition of that.  I am personally delighted for Poppy.”