Teesside University honours for a trio of esteemed business leaders

A pioneering games developer, an innovative tech entrepreneur, and a healthcare leader were honoured alongside thousands of students during Teesside University’s academic awards this month.

A total of 17 graduation ceremonies were held at Teesside University, from Tuesday, 8 July to Wednesday, 16 July, when 4,000 students celebrated their academic achievements.

This year, graduation ceremonies took place in the newly-opened £40m Digital Life building, a state-of-the-art facility which will transform digital and technology education in the Tees Valley and beyond by enabling future generations of students to succeed and thrive in the industries of tomorrow, including digital media, AI, robotics, and games design.

During the ceremonies, honorary degrees were bestowed on Lee Hutchinson, founder of global gaming giant Double Eleven, and Dean Benson, chief executive of ecommerce powerhouse Visualsoft.

Both are Teesside University graduates and recognised for their groundbreaking work in gaming and tech, having founded and developed their own hugely successful businesses in the region.

Also honoured as an honorary graduate was Professor Derek Bell OBE, chair of the University Hospitals Tees group board. Professor Bell, who has made instrumental contributions to healthcare both regionally and nationally, was awarded an OBE in 2018 for services to Unscheduled Care and Quality Improvement.

Professor Bell said: “It’s a great privilege to be honoured in this way. The University’s buildings and facilities for students are just exceptional, and I can see how that attracts students from all over the world.

“Teesside University’s reputation continues to go up and up. The opportunities are fantastic, along with the opportunity to take the different skills that people have learned at the University out into the wider world.

“As I walk across the stage I will be thinking about what an honour it is, but also thinking about the speech I’ll be making, celebrating the importance of the University within the local region, particularly in relation to health science training, but also looking to the future. Hopefully Teesside University will get a new medical school, which I think will be a great boost to the local economy.”

Lee Hutchinson said: “Teesside has a special place in my heart because it was the place that gave me my degree. It feels really good to be recognised for the work I’ve done in the community.

“Teesside as a university is really helped by listening to the actual people around it and tailoring their courses to fit exactly with what the actual industry wants. Having all kinds of digital industry degrees is massively beneficial for us.”

Speaking during the ceremony where he was awarded his honour, Lee added: “Thank you, Teesside University, for giving me opportunity and for investing in futures that don’t yet exist. Together, let’s continue to put Middlesbrough, the North East, and our University on the global map of creativity and impact.”

Dean Benson said: “The feeling I get from receiving this award is one of inspiration. I want to be there for other people and help people related to Teesside to flourish and perhaps be a role model for other people.

“Teesside University stands for excellence and an amazing education. I’ve dealt with the University all through my life, studying at the University, work placement from school at the University, right the way through to being a Governor at the University and now today with the honorary doctorate, it’s an absolute pleasure.

“Teesside University holds a massive role within the region, it stands for everything that everyone strives and works for; its morals, its ethics, its education. What people come out with from the University is a future.

“The Digital Life building is absolutely phenomenal. It’s one of the examples of how the University has innovated. It’s set the vision, it delivered the vision.”

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