A Leeds Met graduate is taking it all in his stride after being presented with an award for his dissertation work.

Mark Graham, an MA Urban Design graduate, was awarded the Gillespies Fraser Teal MA Urban Design Award by urban and landscape design consultants Gillespies, for his dissertation on 'Steps Towards a Walkable Manchester: Designing the Walkable City'.

Mark graduated with a degree in Town and Regional Planning in 2006 and joined Halcrow engineering consultancy as a Graduate Planning Consultant. As part of his role Mark was given the opportunity to study part-time for the MA in Urban Design and graduated, once again, from Leeds Met earlier this year.

Since graduating Mark has been given the role of Urban Design and Planning Consultant within Halcrow, providing the northern region with expert urban design and planning advice. Mark has continued his work with key public sector clients such as the Highways Agency and Environment Agency, as well as developing private sector work. He is currently providing design advice to local authorities and transport agencies in the north of England, as well as developing a detailed design brief for large scale flood defences in Cumbria.