Entrepreneur Fletcher gets honorary doctorate
Serial entrepreneur and technology investor Scott Fletcher has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
In recognition of his outstanding contribution to business and the North West region, Fletcher became a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at a ceremony at the Bridgewater Hall.
Fletcher joins other notable Mancunians given honorary degrees by MMU, including Sir Alex Ferguson, former boxing world champion Amir Khan and Elbow front-man Guy Garvey.
As one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs, Fletcher was awarded an MBE for services to business and the community in the North West of England in 2014.
While he now heads up companies with a total valuation in excess of £300m, he founded what is now his largest business, ANS Group, when he was just 22 years old in his back bedroom.
Since its inception in 1996, ANS has grown to become a leading cloud and managed services provider, with nearly 300 employees and over £60m turnover.
Fletcher is highly active in the Manchester community. He is a member of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, while other roles include serving on the board of FC United of Manchester and the Manchester Academy.
He is a fierce advocate of youth employment and training, establishing the ANS Apprentice Academy which to date has taken over 50 people through three years of managed IT services training.
Fletcher said: “It is a huge honour to be recognised in this way. I feel very proud and I’m incredibly thankful to the brilliant people who helped me achieve my successes.
“I didn’t go to university, but every day in business I see the massive value that MMU adds to our city and region. I will continue to do all I can to increase and strengthen links between the business community and university and help close the digital skills gap.”
