University Announces Honorary Graduates
15 October 2010
Chef and restaurateur, Sat Bains who will receive an Honorary Award on December 4
I am absolutely delighted to have been recognised by the University in this way.
”Sat Bains
Professor Mike Wright from the University of Nottingham's Business School who will also receive an Honorary Award
A Michelin starred chef and a renowned business guru will receive Honorary awards from the University of Derby Buxton at its Annual Awards Ceremony.
Chef Sat Bains will receive the Honorary award of Doctor of Professional Practice (HonDPr) and Mike Wright, Professor of Financial Studies at the University of Nottingham's Business School, will receive an Honorary award of Doctor of the University (Hon DUniv) at the graduation ceremony, which takes place in the Campus's iconic Devonshire Dome on December 4.
Chef and restaurateur, Sat Bains was born in Derby and moved to Nottingham when he was 21. After passing his City and Guilds qualification, he was chosen to be part of a team that opened the first of Raymond Blanc's brasseries. A spell at L'Escargot in London followed, as well as a stint as head chef back in Nottingham. In 1999 he won the Roux Scholarship, which gave him the chance to work at a three Michelin-starred restaurant in the south of France.
He opened 'Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms' in Nottingham in 2002 and was awarded a Michelin star the following year. Since then the restaurant has received numerous awards and accolades, including five AA Rosettes - the only restaurant in the 2009/2010 awards to have achieved this.
Sat Bains is recognised for his innovative style of cooking, demonstrated when he was one of the winners on BBC Great British Menu in 2007. Proud of his Midlands roots, he has long championed the use of local suppliers and selected artisan producers, ensuring the place of the East Midlands on the gastronomic stage on both a national and international level. In 2009, he was voted 'Chef's Chef of the Year' by his peer group, comprising the most important chefs in the country.
On hearing that he will become an honorary graduate of the University of Derby Buxton, Sat Bains said: "I am absolutely delighted to have been recognised by the University in this way. It is such an honour and all the more significant that it should come from the University in my hometown. I'm really looking forward to the ceremony and meeting my 'fellow' graduates on the day."
The second Honorary award will be given to Mike Wright, Professor of Financial Studies at the University of Nottingham's Business School, who was born in Fairfield, Buxton and grew up in nearby Chapel-en-le-Frith.
While in the sixth form at Chapel-en-le-Frith's New Mills Grammar School, Mike recalls that he read an article in the District Bank Review, and decided that research and writing was what he wanted to do. This decision paid off and Mike has had a remarkable academic career in the field of entrepreneurial management buy-outs, venture capital, corporate governance in emerging markets and technology transfer.
He has authored or edited 54 books and some 326 of his academic papers have been published. He is cited over 12,000 times on Google Scholar and was ranked first worldwide for publications in entrepreneurship from 1995 to 2006 by a paper presented at the 2009 Academy of Management Conference.
He has held many national and international editorial positions and he currently holds visiting professorships at Erasmus University, University of Siena, Imperial College, E M Lyon and the University of Ghent.
Professor Mike Wright said: "I am delighted to be offered this award. Having lived in Derbyshire virtually all my life I am both proud and humble to receive this recognition."
Dr Peter Dewhurst, Dean of the University of Derby Buxton, said: "We look forward to receiving both Professor Wright and Sat Bains in December. We want them to become part of the University as they both have links to the area, and are inspirational to the young people who study on our Hospitality and Catering and Business courses."
The conferment of Honorary awards is fundamentally about the formal recognition of individuals whose activities and achievements the University of Derby wishes to honour. The awards are decided upon by the University of Derby's Honorary Awards Committee.
For more information please contact Press & PR Officer Joanna Colburn on 01332 593004 or 07775 036988, or email j.colburn@derby.ac.uk
