From Dragons’ Den to Derby: BBC star and renowned entrepreneur, Theo Paphitis, becomes University Visiting Professor

High-profile entrepreneur and noted Dragons’ Den star, Theo Paphitis, has been appointed as Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Derby.

This new position will see Theo share his entrepreneurial expertise with students, helping to inspire and mentor the next generation of business leaders.

As part of the role, he will work alongside the University’s Chancellor, Lord Burlington, to lead the Chancellor’s Entrepreneurs Club, an ambitious initiative to drive excellence in entrepreneurial education at Derby.

The club will be open to students across the University who will benefit from local and national expertise as senior, successful business leaders provide students with entrepreneurial expertise and networking opportunities. The aim is to help Derby’s students develop applied skills, gain industry insights, and accelerate their journey from education to enterprise success.

Theo’s appointment was announced today at the opening of the University of Derby’s £75m Cavendish Building, the new state-of-the-art home of Derby International Business School.

The event, which welcomed key stakeholders and industry guests to visit the new building, also featured an ‘In Conversation’ session with Theo, led by the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Keith McLay.

Equally groundbreaking and globally impactful, today the University launched the Institute of Carbonomics, a joint initiative with McDonald's UK & Ireland and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). The groundbreaking research institute will provide McDonald’s with critical insights on how to decarbonise its operations and supply chains, while supporting Intercontinental Exchange to integrate financial market price signals and risk tools that guide decision-making across the economy.

Theo Paphitis, TV Dragon and Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship for the University of Derby, commented:

“I am delighted to join the University of Derby as their Visiting Professor of Entrepreneurship. I will draw on my decades of business experience to support the University’s commitment to putting Entrepreneurship front and centre - encouraging the students of Derby to turn ambition into opportunity.” 

Professor Kathryn Mitchell CBE DL, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Derby, said:

“We are delighted to appoint Theo as a Visiting Professor of the University. He is a highly respected entrepreneur, influential in the business world, known for his remarkable track record of success including Robert Dyas, Boux Avenue and Ryman Stationery.

“At the University of Derby, our focus is on delivering high-quality, learning experiences that prepare our students for the demands of the current and future workplace. We want to ensure that students graduate with the knowledge, skills and passion to go straight into employment and make a difference around the world.

"Insights and learning from Theo will be an invaluable asset to our institution. We are excited about the journey ahead and the positive impact his involvement will have on our student community.”

In 2005, Theo joined the popular BBC TV show Dragons’ Den and spent eight years as an investor on the programme, also returning to the Den for a few episodes in 2020 and 2021. Throughout the series, he invested in many small businesses and helped entrepreneurs develop their businesses in a wide variety of industries from consumer goods to online antique valuations.

Theo’s business empire spans retail, property, finance and consumer goods. Having left school at the age of 16 with no qualifications due to his dyslexia, he began working as a filing clerk in a Lloyds of London brokerage.

In 1984 he started his own business with a friend and has since gone on to revive the fortunes of notable high street names such as Ryman, La Senza, Robert Dyas and many more. In 2011, he launched what has now become the award-winning global lingerie brand Boux Avenue. Theo is also known as a small business champion, through his #SBS Small Business Sunday network, which launched in 2010.

The University of Derby’s new seven-storey Cavendish Building in the city centre aims to connect students and academics with industry to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.

It will offer students hands-on experience and applied learning as well as becoming a go-to hub for organisations locally, nationally and globally.

Find out more about The Cavendish Building