Race equality champion and alumnus Jeremy Crook receives honorary doctorate from the University

The University has conferred an Honorary Doctor of Social Science on Jeremy Crook, recognising his outstanding contribution to race equality, social justice and opportunities for young people over a career spanning more than four decades.

Born in Walsall and raised in a single-parent household by his mother, who was part of the Windrush generation, Jeremy's journey reflects a lifelong commitment to widening opportunity and tackling inequality. After attending further education locally, he enrolled at Wolverhampton Polytechnic in 1984, graduating with a BA (Hons) in Social Science before embarking on a distinguished career dedicated to advancing racial equality across the UK.

On receiving his award, Jeremy said:

“To receive an Honorary Doctorate from the university that helped shape my life is one of the proudest moments of my life. I want to thank the university and everyone that has supported and inspired me especially my family and friends, and all the colleagues and leaders I have worked with over many years.”

Jeremy is Chief Executive Officer of Action for Race Equality (ARE), formerly the Black Training and Enterprise Group, and is believed to be one of the longest-serving leaders of a national Black and minority ethnic-led charity in England. He joined the organisation as a Policy Officer in 1992 and has led its development for more than 30 years, helping it grow and thrive while remaining focused on addressing racial inequality among young people from Black, Asian and Mixed-Heritage backgrounds.

Throughout his career, Jeremy has supported thousands of young people by helping them access education, employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. He developed ARE's flagship mentoring and role-model programme, designed to reduce school exclusions among young Black boys, and has led numerous initiatives aimed at improving employment prospects and life chances for underrepresented communities.

Among his many achievements, Jeremy led the Moving on Up programme, a decade-long initiative exploring barriers to employment faced by young Black men in London, helping more than 600 participants secure quality employment. He has also overseen programmes supporting more than 600 Black and minority ethnic-led voluntary sector organisations through capacity-building and development opportunities.

In 2005, Jeremy helped secure £3.9 million in Treasury funding for the Building Futures Jobs Ecosystem programme, which successfully supported 1,200 unemployed people into work through a collaborative approach to employment support. He also led the development of a National Race Equality Standard for Learning and Skills Councils and training providers, helping organisations improve race equality practices in recruitment, governance, learner support and career progression.

A respected national voice on race equality, Jeremy has worked with successive governments and influenced policy across education, employment and criminal justice. He has held leadership and advisory roles with numerous organisations, including the Home Office’s Strategic Race Board, the Mayor of London's Violence Reduction Unit, His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, and West Ham United Foundation.

Over the course of his career, Jeremy has helped attract more than £20 million into the Black and ethnic minority voluntary sector and has led the delivery of over 60 conferences and seminars focused on addressing racial inequality. As a sought-after keynote speaker, he continues to share his expertise and advocate for greater inclusion, fairness and opportunity across society.

The honorary award recognises Jeremy's exceptional achievements in his field, his contribution to advancing race equality nationally, and his enduring commitment to supporting disadvantaged and underrepresented communities. It also celebrates the success of a proud University of Wolverhampton alumnus whose work continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of young people throughout the country.