Tinopolis Director receives Honorary Fellowship
Swansea University will present Ron Jones, Executive Chairman and Director of Llanelli-based Tinopolis plc, with an Honorary Fellowship today (Monday 18 July) during the Degree and Award Congregation for the College of Arts and Humanities.
Since founding Tinopolis in 1989, Mr Jones has established the company as one of the UK’s leading independent media groups, making more than 2,500 hours of programmes a year including Question Time and Traffic Cops. In addition, Tinopolis owns a portfolio of companies which produce sports coverage for the BBC and Five, and Video Arts, the training media firm founded by John Cleese.
Mr Jones, who originally trained as a Chartered Accountant, is passionate about promoting the skills and enterprise of the region and his company produces training materials used in Welsh secondary schools to encourage young people to run their own businesses.
His expertise in the creative industries, one of the important wealth creating sectors of a successful knowledge economy, has been recognised through his appointment as Chair of a private sector panel which will help shape and steer the Welsh Government’s support to the creative industries sector.
Speaking about the award of an Honorary Fellowship from Swansea University, Mr Jones said: “As a local businessman I know how important a role higher education plays in the business life of our community and I have experience of the quality of its graduates in my own business. Swansea University, Tinopolis and I share the belief that West Wales is a great place to study, work and live. To be honoured in this way is a great pleasure.”
Swansea University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Richard B Davies, said: “Ron Jones is an entrepreneur who understands the need to stimulate enterprise, and who is passionate about promoting Wales.
“He is a particular friend of and advocate for Swansea University and our role in translating academic research into commercially viable products and services. It gives us great pleasure to present him with this prestigious award."
Swansea University’s Summer Degree and Award Congregations take place from Monday, July 18 – Friday, July 22. The Congregations are held in the City and County of Swansea’s Brangwyn Hall (part of the Guildhall).For more information about Swansea University Graduation Week, visit: www.swansea.ac.uk/graduation/.
