Reading, Berkshire – Sophie Lupton, a technology graduate with Virgin Media O2 has scooped three prestigious awards following her outstanding contributions to the telecoms industry after being crowned Institute of Telecommunication Professionals (ITP) Graduate of the Year, SCTE’s ‘Rising Star’ and Virgin Media O2 Graduate of the Year.
Growing up in West Berkshire, Sophie attended Reading Blue Coat School and completed her Biomedical Engineering degree at the University of Reading which included an internship with Virgin Media O2. After rejoining as a technology graduate, she quickly made a significant impact.
Colleagues and judges praised Sophie for her proactive approach at work and commitment to personal and professional growth. As President of the Future Careers Committee, she represented over 400 graduates, interns, and apprentices within the company. Under her leadership, the committee achieved an impressive 94% rating for providing value to the community, reflecting her commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and success amongst her peers.
Sophie also played a pivotal role in the VMO2 Women’s Network, organising events to empower women in technology. Her dedication to promoting STEM careers is reflected in her involvement with the Step-Up programme, which encourages women from diverse backgrounds to explore tech opportunities.
In her day job, Sophie excelled in data analytics and quickly took on work and responsibilities usually reserved for more experienced colleagues. Notably, she led the development of a new reporting tool that automated and streamlined the engineering auditing process for Virgin Media O2 customers.
Reflecting on her achievements, Sophie said: “I am truly overwhelmed and incredibly grateful, not just for the nominations but for the experience of winning, which felt very surreal! I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by remarkable people throughout my time at Virgin Media O2, and their kindness and support have meant the world to me. I owe this achievement to them.”
Karen Handley, Head of Future Careers at Virgin Media O2, said: “As a leading early careers employer, it’s fantastic to see an exceptional graduate like Sophie receive external recognition for her work. Her willingness to embrace challenges and inspire others is evident and these awards are just the start of a very bright future.”
Also at the ITP awards, Virgin Media O2’s Mark Rotheram won Mentor of the Year and Dan Goodenough took home the Outstanding Contribution to an Individual’s Development category, highlighting the company’s commitment to early career opportunities.
More information on available roles and how to apply, visit the Virgin Media O2 Future Careers page.
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