Chamber of Commerce chief awarded honorary degree
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive, Jimmy Chestnutt, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Business from Southampton Solent University today (Tuesday 19 November), in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the city of Southampton.
Director General of the Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jimmy Chestnutt has also been appointed as the Chief Executive for Hampshire Chamber of Commerce.
In 2005, Jimmy joined the Chamber having spent the previous 11 years with Associated British Ports, as the Deputy Port Manager and Harbour Master for the Port of Southampton. In 1996 he was appointed Marine Advisor to the ABP Harbour Authority and Board.
He has been a major influence in the city for some twenty years and, for the last eight of those, has played a key role in business support and development within the City.
Jimmy has presided over the move from a Southampton Chamber of Commerce to one which is now Hampshire‑wide. Committed to innovative partnership working, he has been instrumental in a number of pioneering projects with Southampton Solent University. Most recently an internship scheme with the university’s ‘Solent Creatives’ and a project to explore and promote opportunities for the creative industries and associated business services to SMEs.
He is the Co-founder and Chairman of Future Solent and the Co-founder of the Hampshire and Island Business Alliance (HIBA) - the UK’s first county-based alliance of all the major business support groups – which aims to work together to simplify and reduce the costs of support for businesses in Hampshire.
Jimmy also created the Hampshire Asian Network - a group tasked with building commercial links and networks with the Asian business community.
He became a Justice of the Peace in 1995 and is a marine advisor to companies operating in the offshore wind farm industry.
On receiving his honorary degree, Jimmy Chestnutt said: “I’m very proud to accept this honorary Doctor of Business from Southampton Solent University. In my work with Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, it’s been a privilege and a pleasure to work so closely with this university and its students."
Jimmy added, “Southampton Solent University has gained a reputation of understanding business, knowing what it wants and needs. Employers don’t employ degrees, a degree gets you noticed, but it won’t get you the job alone – employers employ people and Solent prepares its graduates with industry-focused skills to enrich businesses."
The university awards honorary degrees to academics and professionals who have made an outstanding contribution in their field of expertise during its annual graduation ceremonies which take place at Southampton Guildhall from 18-22 November 2013.
More than 2500 students are graduating from Southampton Solent University with degrees and professional qualifications in subject areas ranging from journalism to sport science, fashion to yacht-design, and business management to TV and film production.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8031 9079 or press.office@solent.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University offers more than 23,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. The university was awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning. Solent was voted one of the most creative universities in the UK in a Which? University 2013 poll of students.
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