Alastair Salvesen, a well-known figure in the United Kingdom’s frozen seafood business recognised as a distinguished person with major influence in relevant subject areas, has been presented an Honorary Degree from the business school Cranfield University.
The recipient was originally awarded an Honorary Degree in advanced engineering before going on to gain an MBA in 1966, prior to Cranfield College becoming a university. He was later made a CBE for his work in the seafood industry and for his extensive activities in support of education and charities in Britain.
Salvesen is the chairman of Lanarkshire-based Dawnfresh Seafoods, a UK grower and processor of rainbow trout, and of RR Spink and Sons. This Arbroath company holds a Royal Warrant as fishmongers to The Queen. He is a past president of the Royal and Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland and of the British Frozen Food Federation, and also acted for a number of years as chairman of the Shellfish Association of Great Britain.
Directorships of the Edinburgh New Town Cookery School and Dovecot Studio, a contemporary tapestry business, are among other interests. Furthermore, he has served for a number of years on the board of Richmond Foods.
A long term commitment to the training and development of people of all ages is evidenced by Salvesen’s membership in the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board and past governorships of the Fettes College, where he served for more than 20 years, and both the Compass and Donaldson’s schools, along with his trusteeship of the Fet-Lor Youth Club.
His other interests include the Salvesen Mindroom Centre and the Scottish Apprentice Advisory Board.
Welcoming the award, Salvesen remarked: “I am honoured to be one of the early MBA graduates at Cranfield to be awarded a doctorate. Cranfield, now a university, continues to be regarded as one of the top business schools in the world.”
Situated about 50 miles northwest of London, Cranfield was founded as the College of Aeronautics in 1946. It gained degree-awarding powers as the Cranfield Institute of Technology in 1969, and became a university in its own right under its current name in 1993.
