Jay Blades MBE invested as University's inaugural Chancellor and receives honorary doctorate

TV presenter Jay Blades has taken up his role as Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University.

Jay Blades MBE will become the first ever Chancellor of Buckinghamshire New University (BNU), where he was a student before launching a career which has seen him go onto become an award winning BBC presenter, the nation's favourite furniture up-cycler, host his own television shows, receive an MBE for his Services to Craft, give back to communities across the UK and become an ambassador for The Prince's Foundation and Heritage Crafts.

Jay will also receive an Honorary Doctorate from BNU for his community work supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and his significant contribution to furniture-making and crafts.

After leaving school at 15 with no qualifications, Jay got back on track by studying for a degree in criminology and philosophy at BNU (from 2001) where his dyslexia was both identified and supported by the University with tailored digital learning support.

Jay Blades MBE, Chancellor of BNU said: "BNU is woven into my history and DNA and so being at the University always feels like coming home. It's like a big family where everyone's working together to make sure people are looked after and they take great pride in each other's achievements. Once I arrived at BNU, things totally changed for me for the better because I had a purpose and focus. The University supported my studies and gave me the confidence and self-belief to kickstart my life and career.

"BNU creates community champions, and that's what they did for me because I started my first charity back then. When I got my degree it created a power in me that was just unbelievable, and it hasn't stopped. So to become the first Chancellor for a University that's shaped the person I am today, and on top of that to receive an honorary doctorate, is a real wow moment. And I know that together BNU and I are going to achieve amazing things."

"I made life-long friends from lots of different courses at BNU and today some of them are working with the biggest companies in the world. It all started at BNU and I'm really excited to see what current students go on to achieve."

BNU and Jay Blades are already working together on new furniture-related courses and facilities, as part of a £15.9m programme to develop the University's High Wycombe Campus, and create legacy projects to provide opportunities and benefits for both its students and local communities.