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Business

Ed Anderson CBE awarded Honorary Doctorate by Leeds Beckett University

11 July 2022

Ed Anderson CBE, the current Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Leeds Beckett University for his service to the city of Leeds.

Image of Ed Anderson at Graduation — Ed Anderson CBE

The Leeds Beckett University graduate is a former President and Chairman of Leeds Chamber of Commerce and was High Sheriff of West Yorkshire in 2015-16. He became a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire in 2016 and was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire on 1st September 2018.

Ed Anderson CBE said: “I feel incredibly honoured to be awarded an honorary degree from my alma mater, Leeds Beckett University. I am indebted to the staff and my fellow students for a very happy four years from 1969 to 1973 at what was then Leeds Polytechnic. I enjoyed the city of Leeds so much that I have lived here ever since.”

The duties of the Lord-Lieutenant include arranging visits by members of the Royal family and escorting Royal visitors. They also ensure that The Queen's Private Office is kept informed about local issues relating to their area, particularly when a Royal visit is being planned.

Ed has been a keen advocate for all aspects of West Yorkshire life since settling in the county in 1969. His aims for the Lieutenancy are for it to be inclusive, reaching out to communities throughout the county; and shining a light on all that is excellent in West Yorkshire, especially through promoting the Queen’s Award for Enterprise and the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, as well as encouraging nominations for Honours.

In 2020 he was appointed Commander of the Order of St John. The order promotes physical, mental and spiritual health and resilience in more than 35 countries. In the New Year Honours 2022, he was awarded the CBE for services to the finance sector and to public life in Yorkshire.

Professor Peter Slee, Leeds Beckett University Vice Chancellor said: “Ed Anderson CBE is a fantastic advocate and West Yorkshire in his role as Lord-Lieutenant. He has tirelessly supported charitable causes and his career has covered a period of economic development for Leeds.

“We’re proud to see one of our alumni make such an impact on the region and I’m delighted the university is recognising this dedicated service.”

Ed enjoyed an executive career in local government and airport management. His last job in local government came in 1990 to 1997 when he was a member of the senior management team at Leeds City Council with responsibility for five departments.

His final executive role in airport management was as chief executive of Leeds Bradford Airport for ten years until 2007. During this time, the airport nearly trebled in size and the new low-cost airline, Jet2.com, established its first base at Leeds Bradford.

Ed has sat on numerous boards as a non-executive director, most notably chairing the board of the Yorkshire Building Society for eight years, through the financial crisis, until 2015. He is a former Chairman of Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, a former non-executive director of Kelda Group plc, and is currently Chairman of National Savings & Investments (NS&I).

Ed has been involved with several local charities over the years, including being a trustee of St Gemma’s Hospice for 11 years. Current positions held with local charities include Patron of Bradford Courts Chaplaincy Service and Leeds Community Foundation.

The Honorary Doctorate was granted on Friday 22 July as part of the university’s 2022 Graduation ceremonies in the first direct arena in Leeds.

Honorary Graduate 2022 Ed Anderson CBE, Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire

My name is Ed Anderson, and I have the honour and the privilege of being the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire. I came to Leeds in 1969 to what was then Leeds polytechnic, now part of Leeds Beckett University, and I basically fell in love with the city. I’ve nothing but praise for the teachers on that course. Without exception, they were absolutely brilliant. I was lucky enough to be elected president of the Students’ Union and I learned so much in that time. It's just the most extraordinary experience.

I ended up being on the senior management team at Leeds City Council for seven years, but I also had a career in airports. I had 10 years running Leeds Bradford Airport up to 2007. It was a very exciting time. Every day was different and the size of the airport, in terms of the number of destinations that people were able to fly to trebled during that time. And we attracted Jet2, to set up their base and their home at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Towards the end of my time the airport was sold. Leeds Council was one of the major shareholders and they invested in the Leeds Arena where we are today. So whenever I go to an event at the Leeds Arena or on this day, when I'm here to receive my honorary degree, I always think, well, maybe this wouldn't be here if that money hadn't been generated from the sale.

I was appointed by the previous Lord Lieutenant to be a deputy in 2016 and then in 2018, it culminated in a recommendation by the Prime Minister to the Queen to appoint me as Lord Lieutenant. Lord Lieutenant is a position which goes back to the reign of Henry VIII. It was very much a military appointment in those days, and hence the military uniform. The duties of a Lord Lieutenant to be the Queen's representative in the county and obviously to uphold the dignity of that position and to represent the monarch at events.

I do feel really honoured to be receiving an honorary degree. I worked with someone called Victor Watson who is an honorary graduate of this university, and he encouraged me, actually when I was working at the airport, to apply for non-executive positions and he was someone who I really looked up to. He was a remarkable person, and I feel incredibly proud actually to be receiving an honorary degree when he and others have had that honour in the past.

It's a sort of culmination of some 52 years since I first arrived in Leeds. I'm so indebted to all the people who made those early years in Leeds so enjoyable, but also, you know that I learnt so much at that time, so to now come back and receive an honorary degree, it's just a fantastic honour and privilege.