Meet your skillVM winners

Retail’s most recognisable face, Mary Portas, was on hand to crown the  skillVM 2010 champions this week at the grand final in London’s Olympia.

In a hugely competitive and close-run event, the results were:

GOLD - Lesley Armstrong and Cora Kavanagh - Hugh Baird College, Merseyside
SILVER - Chi Ho Lai and Sze Ho Wu - London College of Fashion
BRONZE - Polly Crane and Hannah Cook – University of Glamorgan, Cardiff

GOLD - Lauren Corless and Danielle Cockroft – John Lewis, Trafford, Manchester
SILVER - Adele Marshall and Lisa Ward – IKEA, Belfast
BRONZE - Christine Russell and Gillian Bennett – John Lewis, Glasgow

Student gold medallist Lesley said: “I feel great, happy and overwhelmed and surprised. All the other four were really good and it must have been hard for the judges to choose as they were all really good. I am so proud of this achievement and it will give me the best foundations to build a successful career in the future.”

Cora added: “The skillVM experience has been eventful, hard work and fun. Keeping to a time limit and working professionally has made me want to do it even more. It’s amazing to be recognised for the creativity of our window display and to know I can achieve something great.”

Retailer gold medallist Lauren, said: “I can’t stop shaking. I’m absolutely over the moon. We’ve worked so hard and all the other competitors were absolutely brilliant. It was great to come here and do the installation and see our window come to life. If you genuinely feel so passionate about something then it makes a difference. We are so passionate about our jobs, we love the company we work for, and this prize is a fantastic bonus.

Danielle added: “This is absolutely amazing. I am so proud and feel all our hard work has paid off. It has been fantastic to be given the chance to show off our talent and ideas. We have loved every minute of it.”

Head judge Alan Westcott added: “Competition is good, it’s what retailers do every day of the week. skillVM is a mini version of the high street all brought into one arena so people can see what’s taking place. The presentations this year from both the students and retailers have exceeded our expectations – it’s just awe-inspiring. We have had so many people talking to us at the event, including some big name retailers wanting to know how they can get involved and whether skillVM will carry on next year – the answer to that is yes it will.