A leading Cumbrian tourism boss has been recognised for his contribution to the industry.
Nigel Wilkinson, managing director of Windermere Lake Cruises, received an honorary fellowship from the University of Cumbria.
Honorary fellowships recognise individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the university or support causes linked to the university’s work.
Mr Wilkinson said: “I am delighted to receive this recognition from the University of Cumbria. Employers across this county appreciate the vital role that the University of Cumbria plays in developing the skills of our workforce, attracting talented individuals into Cumbria, and giving opportunity to Cumbrians who want to develop their careers in this fantastic part of the world.
“I hope that through the association with the University of Cumbria that this honorary fellowship brings, I can use my experience of Cumbria’s visitor and the wider economy to assist in the continued development of the university.”
He was born in Oxford in 1964 and spent his early education in Yorkshire.
After graduating from the University of Nottingham with a BSc in civil engineering, he initially worked in engineering before qualifying as a chartered accountant with a York firm where he worked for 12 years until 2000.
During that time, he led the acquisition of the Windermere Iron Steamboat Company Limited by Bowness Bay Boating Co Limited, the forerunner of Windermere Lake Cruises Limited.
In 2000, he joined marine technical services provider, Lintec Group Limited as commercial director before settling in the Lake District as managing director of Windermere Lake Cruises Limited four years later.
He has also held several non-executive roles including director of Cumbria Tourism for 10 years from 2007, and was elected chair of the Lake District National Park Partnership’s Business Task Force in 2015, just weeks before Storm Desmond hit the county.
In 2016, he was presented with the Bernard Gooch Award for Cumbria Tourism Personality of the Year in recognition of the impact he has had on the sector.
Then in 2017, he joined the board of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership strategically leading all activities contributing to the county’s economic growth, where he also chairs the Visitor Economy Sector Panel and the Finance, Audit, and Resources Committee.
In 2020, he was appointed to the Tourism Industry Council, an industry-led board composed of employers and small businesses, and representative organisations from the tourism industry, which is co-chaired by the Minister for Sports, Tourism, and Heritage. In 2021 he joined the South Cumbria Rivers Trust as a trustee and director.
Last month, Mr Wilkinson was awarded an MBE for services to tourism and the economy in Cumbria, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2022.
He joined three other honorary fellows being conferred at University of Cumbria graduations this week, alongside over 800 students taking part in seven different ceremonies.
Dr. Julie Staun OBE was awarded an honorary fellowship in recognition of her lifelong and outstanding service to occupational health. Jackie Arnold MBE FCMA gained an honorary fellowship for lifelong and outstanding contribution to strategic development and business growth in Cumbria, and Geoffrey Donnelly MA BSc Hons was recognised for his lifelong and outstanding contribution to financial management, governance, and public service.
This week’s events are the first set of ceremonies to celebrate the University of Cumbria’s class of 2022 as the institution returns to its biannual ceremonies, with a further set planned to take place in November.
