Help for students

TEXTILE students at Huddersfield University will benefit from a deal with one of England's oldest business bodies.

The 800-year-old Worshipful Company of Woolmen has agreed to sponsor the textile courses to the tune of £3,600 a year.

The money will enable the university to offer more prizes to outstanding students in textile manufacture and design.

Dr John Pearson, head of the design department, said the Worshipful Company of Woolmen had been associated with the university for about 10 years.

The sponsorship deal will pay for six cash awards and silver medals for outstanding students.

They include the Peter Valpy Millennium Memorial Bursary for the best BSc textile design student involved in marketing, manufacture and promotion.

Mr Valpy was a master of the worshipful company who took a particular interest in the university's textile department.

He died in office.

There are also awards for the best BSc textile design students in technical innovation and design and manufacture of wool products.

Three new awards will go to:

* The best fashion design student producing a final degree collection using wool-based fabrics;

* A UK-based BSc textile design student undertaking work experience abroad;

* A textile graduate from the university now working in the West Yorkshire textile industry.

Dr Pearson said: "Students value these awards very highly.

"An annual ceremony is held to present them in the presence of the current master of the worshipful company."