ICMA Centre MSc student Richard Hamilton, from Belfast has been awarded a prestigious investment banking prize by the Securities & Investment Institute. The Stephen Cooke Scholarship Programme commemorates the late Stephen Cooke, former senior partner of stockbroking firm, Gerrard Vivian Gray. These scholarships are only available to SII accredited Centres of Excellence, which are an elite group of universities including ourselves, selected by the SII as offering leadership in academic education, focused on financial markets.

Richard (pictured right), who is studying the MSc International Securities, Investment and Banking had to submit an essay to the board, as well as taking part in rigorous interviews in order to win the special award, is delighted with his achievement.

Richard aged 23, said: "I am delighted to say that the SII educational trust has awarded me a significant scholarship in memory of Steven Cooke. The SII has for some years now helped young people in this country to further their ambitions in the financial services industry and has a long standing partnership with the ICMA Centre. This award is a vote of confidence in the academic standards and professional integrity which are upheld by the ICMA Centre and demonstrates the belief the Securities and Investment Institute has in the quality of the MSc in International Securities, Investment and Banking that I am studying at the Centre."

Richard was awarded the £3,000 prize at the SII CPD Seminar: Masters at Work; a perspective on Fund Management. Richard was presented the award by guest speaker Andrew Smithers, founder of Smithers & Co.