A new recipient of an honorary doctorate from Birmingham City University has urged graduates to invest in the city and help remove the poverty threshold for children and young people. Speaking at a graduation ceremony, Paul Cadman - Vice President of charity Acorns Hospice and Visiting Professor at Birmingham City University - highlighted that over 40% of children in the city live below an internationally recognised level of living standards.
Celebrating recent major events and inward investment in the city in his acceptance speech before hundreds of Business, Law and Social Sciences graduates and their families, Professor Cadman added: “This city prior to the pandemic was seeing growth twice the rate of London and four times that of the national average, we will be back to that glory soon enough. We must not lose focus that, while we were being watched by billions - and many hundreds of millions have been invested in the region - one in five workers in Birmingham earn less than the Living Wage.”
The entrepreneur, who also spoke of his battle with schooling at an early age which was followed by an adult diagnosis of dyslexia, went on to say: “Although these figures are challenging, an increasing inflation rate of 15% is expected and the surge in energy costs means tough times ahead, I ask you to strive forwards, making your mark on the world as many who have come from this university have done so in the past. What I ask is that you take the baton from us on this stage and lead the race now for you, your families and this proud City of Birmingham – invest in the city and the next generation can remove the poverty threshold once and for all.”
Professor Cadman was also joined by Paul Faulkner, former CEO of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Aston Villa Football Club and current Chief of Staff and Operations Director of global investment firm RCL. Both of the influential Midland leaders were awarded honorary doctorates from Birmingham City University in recognition of their outstanding achievements to the region.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Sultan Choudhury OBE, Board member and former Chief Executive Officer of Al Rayan Bank - formerly the Islamic Bank of Britain – and current Executive Chairman of Waqfinity, also received an honorary doctorate in recognition of outstanding achievements within the finance sector.
At the ceremony, Paul Faulkner recalled the work he was proud to have achieved while previously working with Birmingham City University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Julian Beer, saying: “We created more job opportunities for graduates and gave business access to some of the brightest and best talent available.
“We then worked hard to ensure that the relationship wasn’t simply transactional, but was rather based on consistent mutual support, respect between [our] institutions and ultimately friendship between individuals. We participated on trade missions together around the world, we hosted the US Ambassador on his only visit to Birmingham and we played a key role in securing the future of HS2 on the balcony of the Curzon Building.”
Over its 2022 graduation ceremonies, Birmingham City University has awarded honorary doctorates to many, including property developer Anthony McCourt, construction expert Ann Bentley, contemporary artist Hurvin Anderson, public health director Dr Justin Varney, and fashion and retail leader Julian Dunkerton.
