Local entrepreneur recognised for generous charitable support

The University of Wolverhampton has recognised a local entrepreneur for his generous support of multiple charitable projects. 

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

Walter Gleeson, who has a background in retail and IT, and has lived in Shropshire for over 30 years, has been awarded a Doctor of Business Administration. 

He is a serial entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist who co-founded musicMagpie with Steve Oliver in 2008, the online website & app selling CDs, DVDs, PC games and tech products. Now one of the largest international distributors of pre-owned mobile phones, laptops & tablets across the Amazon and eBay platforms, Walter wrote the algorithm and code that musicMagpie uses to ascertain the value of items being sold. 

He is also a generous philanthropist who has supported multiple charitable projects including a substantial £220k+ sponsorship for a new Praga R1 racing car and branded infrastructure for the University of Wolverhampton Race Team (UWR) in the School of Engineering. 

Walter set up Highclear Investments in mid-2021 as a private commercial vehicle to invest in business opportunities within the Midlands & Shropshire regions and across the UK as well as to support various philanthropic causes. He is also a director and shareholder in AFC Telford United football club.    

His driving ambition is to encourage more young people to study STEM subjects and enter engineering careers such as motorsport, especially women and those from diverse ethnic backgrounds.   

Walter said: “As we face ever-more challenging global issues and goals needing humankind to fix in the coming decades, it has become an enduring passion of mine throughout my career in technology to help attract far more young people to study STEM subjects and pursue an engineering career path, especially women and those from an ethnically diverse background. If we are to find answers to the huge challenges our world faces this means that as many young people as possible should be encouraged to engineer solutions. Theirs and all our futures depends on all their engineering successes yet to come. 

“So to be recognised for this passion by the University of Wolverhampton who have bestowed upon me this incredible honour leaves me feeling extremely grateful and very humbled indeed. I want to thank them, and also everybody who has helped and supported me over the years to realise this ambition. And last but not least, thank you to my amazing family who have made my efforts & hard work all worthwhile.” 

The University’s graduation ceremonies are taking place at University of Wolverhampton The Halls from Friday 6 September to Friday 13 September 2024.  

To find out more about graduate success, check out the Every Story Has a Start web page which showcases our exceptional alumni across the globe doing incredible things. High achievers from the worlds of literature, business, sport, film and the arts feature, sharing how their lives and careers have developed since their days studying with us.      

After graduation, graduates become members of the Alumni Association and are encouraged to keep in touch, to take advantage of a wide range of benefits and support on offer, including a discount for postgraduate study.      

To learn more about the University’s Alumni Association please visit here, where graduates can also update their details with the Association.    

The Clearing hotline number is 01902 323 232 for anyone looking for courses starting in September and to find out more about our Open Days, visit our website.   

ENDS