Leeds Beckett alumni take home Yorkshire Awards

Alumni

06 March 2025

Three Leeds Beckett University (LBU) alumni and honorary doctorate recipients are being recognised for their impact in Yorkshire at the 36th Yorkshire Awards.

The Yorkshire Awards are an annual celebration of individuals and organisations who have a profound impact on the Yorkshire region.

Previous award winners include some of our esteemed honorary graduates and alumni, Patrick Stewart CBE, Kevin Sinfield OBE, Gabby Logan MBE, Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, Kay Mellor OBE and Robert Burrow CBE.

For the 2025 awards, we're extremely proud that three of the awards are being presented to members of the LBU community.

Woman of the Year Award

Melanie Brown not only received an honorary doctorate from LBU in 2024 but also enrolled as a student on the Trauma Informed Care CPD course.

Although most known for her career in the music industry, Melanie is also an avid anti-domestic abuse campaigner, supporting work across the UK and within Yorkshire. On being selected as this year's 'Woman of the Year' at the Yorkshire Awards, Melanie shared: "This is such a huge honour for me because I'm a Yorkshire girl through and through! I was born here, I went to school here, I grew up here, I still have my accent, and I am proud also to say I have my honorary degree from Leeds Beckett University - it's a huge moment!"

Man of the Year Award

After studying BSc (Hons) Economics, at LBU in 1969, Lord-Lieutenant Ed Anderson CBE has dedicated decades of service to the financial sector and has worked towards a better Yorkshire through numerous charity and civic roles within the county. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in Business Administration in 2022.

This year's Yorkshire Awards 'Man of the Year' said: "I am very proud to receive this Award. As Lord-Lieutenant I have particularly tried to shine a light on the amazing work of the voluntary sector across our wonderful County. So I would like to dedicate the Award to the thousands of volunteers who do so much and form the glue that holds society together."

Art & Entertainment Award

Before becoming CEO and Principal of Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Sharon Watson MBE, DL, graduated from LBU with her MA in Performance Works in 2009. Going on to lead an extraordinary career, Sharon returned to LBU to receive her honorary doctorate of Arts in 2019.

Now leading the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, who are to receive the Art & Entertainment Award at this year's Yorkshire Awards, Sharon commented: "On behalf of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, I am deeply honoured to receive the Art & Entertainment Award from the Yorkshire Society. For over 40 years, we have been a cornerstone of dance training, nurturing talent and creativity that spans not only our local and regional communities but extends to national and international stages. This recognition is a testament to the dedication, passion, and hard work of our staff, students, and alumni, and we look forward to the next 40 years of inspiring and shaping the future of contemporary dance."

Everyone at Leeds Beckett University would like to extend our congratulations to this year's award recipients, a truly inspiring collection of people working hard to improve the lives of so many across Yorkshire.