A student from Coulsdon has been recognised as the Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Student of the Year 2017 at a national awards ceremony.

The BTEC Awards were held on July 7 at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London after a lunch reception in Parliament with MPs.

Laura Smith is a student at Coulsdon Sixth Form College after arriving from Stanley Park High School in Carshalton.

MP for Carshalton and Wallington, Tom Brake, will present Laura with a certificate on October 5 at Coulsdon College.

After winning the award, she said: "I was really surprised to win and didn’t expect to get this far. I knew I wanted to go to Coulsdon College because it offered the courses in Travel & Tourism which I couldn’t do at school.

“I try and work hard at College and this has been great recognition of all the hard work I have put in during my course.

Pearson's BTEC aims to equip students with skills to progress to higher education or go straight into employment.

Almost a quarter of university entrants have now taken at least one BTEC.

Rod Bristow, Pearson's President in the UK, said: “The fantastic winners being celebrating at today’s award ceremony exemplify the dedicated students across the country who have been helped to make progress in their lives and careers through BTEC and I am delighted to congratulate them on their well-earned success.”

Laura has ambitions to continue her career in the travel industry.

She took a mix and match programme of A Level sociology and the BTEC’s Travel & Tourism and Law course at Coulsdon College this year.

Her teacher, Donna Hollick, nominated Laura for the award.

Laura said: “The support and resources I’ve received from the College and my teacher Donna Hollick, has been brilliant, especially the College’s link with the No1 Lounge at Gatwick Airport, where I’m now employed.

“I’m looking forward to continuing my career in travel once I leave the College this summer."