The achievements of 70 students were celebrated at an event at Energus, Lillyhall, to mark the conclusion of this year's Dream Placement project.

About 200 people, including students, parents, teachers and representatives of companies involved in the scheme attended the event.

Students gave presentations detailing what they had learned about the leadership and businesses of Cumbria, and their future career opportunities, through the project.

Each of the students involved gave up their half term holiday last month to take on a placement with a Cumbrian employer.

Keswick School pupil Ellie McMinn spent the week at Nugen. She said: "Every single member of the team at Nugen was possessed by a kind of passion and a determination to get to a goal. That’s not the sort of thing that you can get from a book.

"It has definitely given me increased determination to get into project management.

"I hope that Dream Placement continues and more young people get the opportunity to do it, because the placements are so, so useful."

Jasper Lithgow, of Whitehaven's St Benedict’s Catholic High School, said: "Our understanding of leadership skills was developed by Dream Placement and the discussions we had with people like GlaxoSmithKline site director Phil Wilson who told us about his leadership style.

"It was great just to be able to talk one-to-one with someone in such a high position within that organisation.

"My experience at GSK was sensational and it convinced me that I want a career in the pharmaceutical industry, science-focused with problem solving and team working."

Dream Placement is run by the Centre for Leadership Performance.