In 2010 Sir Michael Heller CBE was awarded an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in recognition of his extensive charitable work and his proud connection to the city.

Sir Michael, together with his wife, Lady Morven Heller, run a charitable foundation supporting the arts, education and medicine.

Sir Michael’s association with the University began in 1962 when he taught accountancy at the Sheffield College of Technology - one of our precursor institutions. At the time, he was a successful accountant working for his father’s business KP Nuts which was later sold to United Biscuits. Since then, Sir Michael has founded a number of start-up businesses and he is now chairman of London Associated Properties whose portfolio includes Orchard Square. Sheffield remains very close to both Sir Michael and Lady Morven and they have continued to maintain an important link to the city through the work of the University.

Sir Michael and Lady Morven established the Heller Bursary scheme to enable students to learn something new, transformational and unrelated to their course of study. The bursary recognises the importance of extracurricular activities and hobbies to enhance student employability and personal development. To date, more than 25 students have been awarded the bursary and have achieved some incredible things, from deep sea diving and learning new languages, to restoring instruments and archery.

Carl Goodman used the £1000 he was awarded to set up a social enterprise which aims to improve the state of the world’s seas and oceans. Robert Jones used his bursary to make the first gin to be brewed in Sheffield in more than 100 years, while Katrina Love travelled to Japan to learn Aikido, a modern martial art, from the masters.

Katrina, who was born and raised in Sheffield, said: “Without the Heller Bursary I never would have been able to afford the chance to go to Japan to train and celebrate the sport’s 50th Anniversary - a pillar in the Shodokan Aikido history. I can proudly say that I was there and trained with some of the best Aikido from Japan and around the world. I also made some amazing friends and learnt so much.”