Teesside University awards Honorary Doctorates to industry leaders

This month, Teesside University will award honorary doctorates to three outstanding individuals who have not only made significant contributions to their fields but have also put Teesside on the global map.

Lee Hutchinson, the founder of gaming giant Double Eleven, and Dean Benson, chief executive of ecommerce powerhouse Visualsoft, will be recognised for their groundbreaking work in gaming and tech. Both are former graduates of Teesside University who have built their hugely successful careers right here in the Tees Valley.

Joining them is esteemed Professor Derek Bell OBE, Chair of the University Hospitals Tees group board, who has made instrumental contributions to healthcare both regionally and nationally and was awarded an OBE in 2018 for services to Unscheduled Care and Quality Improvement.

July marks the start of 17 graduation ceremonies, held over two weeks from Tuesday, 8 July to Wednesday, 16 July, during which 4,000 Teesside University students will celebrate their academic achievements.

Graduates will receive their awards from Teesside University’s Presiding Officers, including Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Paul Croney OBE.

Professor Croney said: “Graduation is always a special highlight of our University’s academic year. We are extremely proud of our students and look forward to seeing each of them celebrate their achievements and share their success with friends and family.

“I am also delighted to be welcoming three inspiring figures from our region who will each receive honorary degrees this year. Our honorary graduates embody the highest standards of achievement and serve as role models for our students. Through ambitious entrepreneurialism and lifelong dedication to improving health care, regionally and nationally, they have between them had a profoundly positive impact on the Tees Valley.

“Their accomplishments inspire our graduates as they prepare to embark on their own career journeys and I am delighted to welcome them into our University community.”

The ceremonies will honour graduates from the School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, School of Health & Life Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, School of Arts & Creative Industries, and Teesside University International Business School, and will take place in the University’s recently opened Digital Life building, with proceedings shown on the big screen in the Campus Heart, as well as in the Students’ Union in the centre of the campus.

Achievement will be celebrated at all levels, from Certificate of Higher Education, through to PhD.

Honorary graduates

Professor Derek Bell OBE – Honorary Doctor of Science - Monday 14 July

Professor Derek Bell has dedicated his life to service in the NHS. And is currently Chair of the University Hospitals Tees group board. He was awarded an OBE in 2018 for his work in the NHS, notably services to Unscheduled Care and Quality Improvement. Accolades through his 40-year career as a medical doctor include being appointed the first professor of acute medicine at Imperial College London where he is still an Emeritus professor. He was also elected as the inaugural president of the Society for Acute Medicine (SAM) in 2000, before being awarded an Honorary Life Fellowship in 2013. Professor Bell has over 220 peer reviewed publications and his research grant awards exceeded £22 million. He has worked as an external advisor to Government in England, Scotland and Ireland as well as internationally.

Lee Hutchinson – Honorary Doctor of Science - Wednesday 16 July

Lee has built his career, from a Teesside University graduate, graduating in 2002 with a first-class degree, to CEO of Double Eleven; an internationally acclaimed video game development firm. His business, which he started from his home in Middlesbrough, before relocating to Teesside University’s Launchpad facility, has grown to be named among the UK’s fastest rising businesses. Double Eleven now employs more than 340 people at bases in Middlesbrough and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and has attracted the attention of some of the biggest tech giants in the world – including Sony with which it developed the LittleBigPlanet game on the Playstation Vita. Prior to setting up his own business, Lee made his mark in the gaming industry working for Rare, Venom Games and Rockstar Leeds. He has worked with global companies such as Microsoft, Sony and Paradox, and has contributed to world renowned games including Minecraft and Fallout.

Dean Benson – Honorary Doctor of Science - Wednesday 16 July

Teesside University graduate Dean has retained close ties with the university since graduating in 1997 and embarking on his journey to develop award eCommerce performance agency Visualsoft. As a Governor and a philanthropic donor, Dean is supporting future students in computer science, and last year won our Long Service Volunteer Award for his outstanding contribution to continual support of student development.

Alongside his role as Chief Executive for Visualsoft, Dean is the founder and ‘techie’, behind Pulse Reviews, and other companies including Goofbid.com, BGI Residential, and Tech Equal – which aims to ensure every primary pupil in Middlesbrough has a least one digital device. Dean is also closely involved in charity collaboration, and through Visualsoft is working with independent Middlesbrough charity High Tide Foundation as part of a programme to improve opportunities for young people aged 11-16

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