Ruth studied Environmental Sciences at Lancaster University in the late 1980’s. This was a time when few UK Universities were taking the subject seriously:

“Lancaster saw Environmental Science as a discipline in itself rather than an add-on or marginal science. The environmental movement was taking off and Lancaster understood the need to put scientific rigour behind that movement.”

Ruth stayed on at Lancaster to complete a PhD where she examined trends in pollution in the North Sea. She then started her career developing environmental policy, before moving on to Head of International at the Natural Environment Research Council in 2002.

In 2010 Ruth became Head of Earth Observation at the UK Space Agency working with industry, governments and academics around the world to fund and develop innovative satellite programmes.

In the same year Ruth also became a member of Lancaster University’s governing body, in order to give something back to the institution that set her off on her fascinating career.

“Lancaster University shares my values. It is changing lives, not only through providing a world class education to individuals from all over the world, but also by leading research and producing new knowledge that changes the way we live and work for the better.”

As an 18-year-old, Nicky undertook a secretarial course before securing herself a job as a PA to a senior manager at KPMG.

Whilst working at KPMG, Nicky uncovered a deep love of music and an interest in marketing. She realised that she wanted to work in arts management and so approached a KPMG partner to ask whether the company would sponsor her through university. KPMG agreed and Nicky decided to study Marketing and Independent Studies at Lancaster University.

Proving vital to her career, Nicky joined Nightline in her first week of university; after her second term she was asked to run it.

“Nightline was incredibly important to my career," she says. "There was a lot of responsibility and I learned a great deal about training and marketing. It was also very good socially… most of the friends I have kept from university days were also in Nightline.”

Following this, Nicky became a volunteer Childline Counsellor for five years before becoming a Samaritan in January 2002. She was on the YouthXpress leadership team at Southwark Cathedral between 2007-2017, is the Vice-Chair of the Queen’s Nursing Institute and is an advisor to the Pro-Youth Philharmonia.

Prior to establishing Create, Nicky was the Chief Executive of the Orchestra of St John’s, where she extended the organisation's range of community outreach. She was also a Marketing Executive at KPMG and worked at Manchester Camerata and the City of London Sinfonia.

In 2013 Nicky was recognised as ‘Clarins Most Dynamisante Woman of the Year’; she received the Charity Times ‘Rising CEO Star’ Highly Commended award in 2014. In 2015 she was one of 30 #SocialCEO award winners and in 2017 she was runner-up for the Directory of Social Change ‘Influencer’ award.

Sam wasn’t planning on going to Lancaster, but after accompanying his sister to an open day he decided that this was where he wanted to study.

Sam said: “I went to Lancaster a bit shy, but it was the right environment for me to grow. What really struck me was the nature of the relationships that existed between students and teachers, which made it OK to discuss, challenge and debate with a person who was in authority. In a big company like the BBC, that is vital.”

University exposed Sam to social language; he developed an interest in sociolinguistics, global media, language and marketing. By graduation Sam was wondering how he could utilise this interest and decided television was the route he wanted to take.

Back in Birmingham, Sam told a recruitment agency that he wanted to work in television and (with beginners luck) was offered a job at BBC Pebble Mill – helping people operate their computers. Soon after this, a job as a press assistant became available; Sam applied and was successful.

After some travelling and a short-lived job in PR, Sam landed his first publicist job for BBC Entertainment. This led to a series of promotions within the BBC, as well as roles at ITV and Channel 4. In July 2011, Sam became Head of Communications for BBC Television, where he managed a large team of publicists and managers, as well as overseeing the press and publicity for all BBC programming.

He went on to become Head of PR and Communications at Twitter, Director of Content Communications at Netflix and a partner at Freuds. He then spent a year at a tech start up company before becoming a self-employed senior communications consultant in September 2022.

Born in Bradford, Edd applied to Lancaster University to study History (though later changed to American Studies and Politics). Despite not getting the grades, Edd was accepted and came to campus as a shy and uncertain teenager.

In the safety of Lancaster’s small campus, Edd gained confidence in himself and made many lasting friends, as well as coming out as gay to himself and his family.

“In the middle of a bigger city, a person like me would have got emotionally lost. A smaller, friendly city like Lancaster was a really good fit.”

Edd got involved in university politics, the LGBT society and in his first year was a roving reporter for the university radio station.

After university, Edd had no idea what he wanted to do, and eventually took a job in the litigation department of a bank. This job made him so unhappy, that he used cooking as a relaxation tool and outlet. He began to experiment with various cake and biscuit recipes.

Following this Edd applied to catering school, but was rejected. Despite this, he bought culinary course books and spent the evenings teaching himself instead. In 2010 a friend persuaded him to apply for The Great British Bake Off – this was the event that changed his life.

As the winner of The Great British Bake Off, Edd was invited to do work experience in Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. Since then he has set up his own company, The Boy Who Bakes, has appeared on various TV shows and runs regular courses for aspiring bakers.

Edd now lives with his partner in London and has said:

“I’m in a job I really love…my time at university taught me where I really did fit.”

Born in Bristol, James came to Lancaster University to study Music in the 80’s, armed merely with a ‘box of Spam and [a] biro’!

On his return to campus to receive his honorary degree, he said:

“It’s a great place, the Lancaster Campus; a true mirror of the times that have produced each part of it. As someone said in a famous film, ‘I’ll be back’.”

After graduating from Lancaster, James started writing for an engineering magazine and, later, an automobile magazine. He also wrote a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph between 2003 and 2011.

James has appeared on a number of television and radio shows, including for the BBC and ITV. In 1999 he became a co-presenter of (the original) Top Gear until 2015, after which he became co-presenter of The Grand Tour for Amazon Prime Video alongside his former Top Gear colleagues.

James lives in West London.

Born in Preston, Ranvir chose Lancaster University because her friend Michelle was intent on going there, but also because her family were keen for her to stay nearby and ‘the campus felt like a safe environment – a town in itself.’

She said:

“My English degree was hugely useful to my career in journalism, but also being made to think critically and question is at the heart of my work, so it was all very relevant.”

Ranvir started doing work experience at BBC Radio Lancashire in 2002, but secured a six-month contract. In 2005 she joined Gordon Burns BBC North West as the main female co-anchor on BBC North West Tonight. After maternity leave in 2012, Ranvir joined ITV, first on Daybreak and then Good Morning Britain. In addition, she has also appeared as an occasional broadcaster on the early evening news and the ITV News at Ten.

Ranvir returned to Lancaster in 2014, where she was given an Alumni award at the graduation ceremony.