A Derbyshire hotel venue has been voted Employer of the Year at a special award ceremony organised by the University of Derby.

Birchover Hotel Apartments, which have 70 luxury one and two bedroomed apartments in Allestree and Darley Abbey, were presented with the award at the University's annual Career Development Centre Awards Evening, which celebrates the achievements of its students and business partners.

The evening provides the University with an opportunity to recognise the achievements of students who have participated in some of its initiatives over the past 12 months - from volunteering and the University of Derby Award to the Employer Mentoring scheme, Flux 2011 or working through the Student Employment Agency. 

Birchover Hotel Apartments regularly recruits staff from the Student Employment Agency, which places students in a variety of part-time and temporary posts with local companies.

Six of the company's staff are currently studying at the University of Derby, where they gain a wide range of experience, which will prove vital when they enter the job market.

Certificates were presented to all participants and special prizes were also given to those who had shown huge commitment.

Nearly 150 people attended the event including students and their guests, staff, tutors, voluntary sector organisations and employers. 

The certificates were presented by Liz Barnes, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Kate Wigglesworth, Group Training Manager in East Midlands Region at Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Celia Beizsley, Assistant Registrar said: 

"It was a pleasure to host the evening and see the students, their families and our partner organisations receive due recognition for the extra effort they all make to achieve these awards."

Commenting on the award, Carl Bridge, general manager of Birchover Hotel Apartments, added:

"We provide an excellent environment for students to gain important work place experience and have staff who have been recruited from the University's Student Employment Agency working in every department - from client liaison to housekeeping.

"We look forward to working more closely with the Agency in the future."

Birchover Hotel Apartments has a close working relationship with the University and has recently announced that it is set to work alongside the University to help promote the University's Team Derby in the Community (TDitC), which will deliver sports programmes to schools throughout the region. 

It also offers exclusive discounts to parents visiting children studying at the University and to all other University visitors.

Set in the heart of Derby, Birchover Hotel Apartments were established more than 20 years ago and provides luxurious accommodation and a dedicated service for business travellers and tourists alike.

Each apartment features a lounge, dining area and fully-equipped kitchen with crockery, cutlery, pans and glassware. Each bedroom has its own en-suite bathroom and many suites have their own sauna.