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Industry leader recognised with University honour

19/09/2019

A leading local businessman has been honoured for his services to enterprise in the region by the University of Wolverhampton.

Stewart Towe CBE DL is Group Chairman of Hadley Industries Holding Ltd in Smethwick and Chair of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP),

Stewart, who is also a University of Wolverhampton Pro-Chancellor, received an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration at a graduation ceremony on Thursday, 19 September 2019.

He said: "It is a great honour to be recognised by your local university for services to business and enterprise in the region.  The Black Country is now performing better than national averages in many statistics and it's great to be a part of that improvement."

Stewart Towe trained as an accountant in Birmingham and in 1976 moved into industry as group accountant of Hadley Group. He was appointed to the Main Board in 1978, taking responsibility for the group's commercial and financial development.

He completed the buy-out of the business from the Hadley family in 2006. Hadley have grown from £1m annual turnover in the mid-1970s to exceeding £180m, with manufacturing plants and licensees worldwide.

Stewart is a Pro-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands in 2013, High Sheriff of the West Midlands in 2012, and awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in 2008 for services to industry in the region.

Honorary awards are presented by the University of Wolverhampton to people who have made a significant contribution to their field of expertise. 

The University's graduation ceremonies take place at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, from Thursday, 12 September to Friday, 20 September 2019.

For information about courses to study at the University, visit: www.wlv.ac.uk/clearing

Further information 

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 32 2736 or 01902 518647.

Date Issued: Thursday, 19 September 2019

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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