Iceland boss and leading entrepreneur receives honorary award
Fri, 17 Jul 2015 09:16:00 BST
Malcolm Walker grew up in nearby Grange Moor and is founder and CEO of retail giant Iceland
ONE of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs has received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Huddersfield. But in his inspirational and humorous acceptance speech, he said that he was a graduate of the University of Woolworths!
Malcolm Walker – who grew up in Grange Moor, near Huddersfield – is the founder and CEO of the highly successful Iceland chain. He began the business as a sideline in 1970, with capital of just £30, while he was still a trainee manager at Woolworths.
Mr Walker said he was delighted to receive an honorary award from his hometown university, which he received for “outstanding services to the world of commerce and entrepreneurship, together with his philanthropic work”.
“Huddersfield was where I began my career as a dance promoter – when I should have been working hard at school!”
The Honorary Doctorate of the University was conferred on Mr Walker by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, Professor Bob Cryan. It was during one of the 31 ceremonies taking place during graduation week, and students of the University’s Business School were receiving their awards.
Mr Walker received an introductory oration from the Dean of the Business School, Professor Chris Cowton. When he responded, the self-made retail magnate joked that: “There are two ways to get a degree. One is to work hard at school, so that you get to university, and then work hard to get good grades.
“The other path is to fail at school, never go to university, get a career and then wait 45 years until they give you a degree!”
Mr Walker also had words of advice to the business graduates. He urged them to learn the lessons of failure, to believe in themselves and never, ever give up.
Professor Cryan praised Mr Walker’s “truly inspirational” speech.
“What a journey he has been on, since starting up with capital of just £30. There is a clear message for all our business graduates. And I myself realised a long time ago that if you don’t believe in yourself, then why should anybody else believe in you?”
