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Capturing life behind the shop window sees shopping centre shortlisted for national award

A Northumberland shopping centre has been shortlisted for a major national award following its work with a group of local students.

‘Behind the Shop Window’ an educational arts project coordinated by Manor Walks Shopping & Leisure in partnership with Northumberland College has been shortlisted in the BCSC Purple Apple Awards’ Community Relations category.

The project saw 11 HND Photography students from Northumberland College partner with a selection of Manor Walks retailers in autumn 2013 and aimed to offer shoppers a behind-the-scenes insight into life at the county’s largest retail and leisure destination with a series of environmental portraits, which were later exhibited at the Venue in Manor Walks.

‘Behind the Shop Window’ enabled the students to shadow employees working at Manor Walks stores, including Next, Wilko, Boots, Pets at Home, O2, Barclays, Asda, Vue Cinema, Three, Coffee As You Like It and Poundland, as part of their first live project.

Bruno Coppola, general manager at Manor Walks, said: “Set in the heart of the Cramlington community, we were thrilled to welcome local students to the centre as part of such an innovative project that has proven to be integral to their studies.

“We wanted to create a project in partnership with the course tutors, which would put into focus the very people which make Manor Walks such a warm and friendly place to visit. We received a great response to the project from visitors to Manor Walks who were keen to watch our photographers at work and we’re extremely grateful to our retailers who fully embraced this opportunity.

“It is wonderful that the BCSC has recognised the success of ‘Behind the Shop Window’ by shortlisting Manor Walks in the Community Relations category of the annual Purple Apple Awards.”

The BCSC Purple Apple Marketing Awards are the only awards which recognise and reward effective shopping centre marketing within the UK shopping centre sector. The awards showcase new industry standards of innovation, delivery and performance. The winners of the national awards will be announced during the annual awards ceremony in London on Thursday 8th May 2014.

With over 100 retailers including Northumberland’s only multiplex cinema and a great range of family restaurants as well as high street favourites, independent stores and 1,500 free parking spaces, Manor Walks Shopping & Leisure in Cramlington offers a huge amount of choice to suit a range of tastes.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Manor Walks Shopping and Leisure .