THE new £19 million offices being built in York by insurance firm Hiscox is set to include features designed by students in the city.

Yesterday nine students from York St John University travelled to London to pitch their ideas in the next stage of the Tomorrow's Workplace design competition.

The design and psychology students presented their design ideas for a product or concept to the Hiscox design team, one of which will ultimately be incorporated into the new Hiscox building which is being built in Hungate.

Alan Millard, chief operating officer at Hiscox UK, said: “We’ve been hugely impressed by the students at every stage of this journey.

"Their enthusiasm, creativity and passion for the project have been inspiring to watch and I can’t wait to see the final concepts.”

Hiscox and York St John University launched the design competition in February with a brief for students to develop a product or environment that can be displayed or utilised in the new Hiscox office building.

The winning design will help improve the working environment and increase productivity, cohesive working and collaboration among the Hiscox team when they move into the new building in 2015.

Warren Fearn, head of Programme in the Faculty of Arts at York St John University, who has coached students through the competition process, said: “The students have all taken the initial feedback on board which they received from the design team in May and have taken every opportunity to improve their concept and practise their pitches. This has been an invaluable process for everyone involved.”

Yesterday students pitched to the design team which includes representatives from architects, Make; Katie Stewart from City of York Council; commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE; consulting engineers, designer and consultants, Arup; the Brand Experience Consultancy; Swiss furniture designer and manufacturer, Vitra; and building services consultants, BDSP.

The students will also be visited by Hiscox’s honorary president Robert Hiscox and managing director of Hiscox UK and Europe, Steve Langan.

The panel will announce the winner at a celebration event in London on June 24.

The winner will receive further professional support to develop their concept, working with Hiscox's design partners to create a finished product that will be incorporated into the new building in York. They will also receive a £2,500 prize.