Honour for former University Chairman of Governors

John Sharples received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Education on Wednesday, September 8 2010.

The award was presented in recognition of Mr Sharples’ enormous contribution to the mission of the University of Wolverhampton.

Mr Sharples said: “I am thrilled to receive this honour from the University. It has been a privilege to have been associated with the University of Wolverhampton which has contributed so much to the city and region's economy, business and public services as well as, of course, the many students whose lives it has helped transform.”

John Sharples was appointed a Governor of the University of Wolverhampton in 1996, becoming Chairman of the Board of Governors in 2003 until stepping down as a Governor in 2009.

A Chartered Civil Engineer, John joined Tarmac plc after graduating from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology and was Managing Director of Tarmac’s UK building contractor and property development businesses for five years before his appointment to the board of Carillion plc in 1999. He was a director of many associate companies and held board responsibility for staff development and marketing.

During his career, John served on the construction industry’s employer representational bodies including the national council of the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors where he was a member of the Wages and Industrial Committee and the Employers’ Conciliation Board. He was also a Director of the influential Reading Construction Forum for several years.

As a University Governor, John chaired the University’s Estates Strategy Committee throughout the institution’s major programme of new and refurbished building development and was a member of the board of University of Wolverhampton Science Park, a joint venture with Wolverhampton City Council which successfully promotes new business activity throughout the region.

A Governor of a school in Worcestershire, John is also a Non-Executive Director on the board of the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital Trust.

He is married with two grown up children.

ENDS

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736