13 August 2014 12:54

The Chief Executive of the Money Advice Service Caroline Rookes CBE has been given an Alumni award at the July graduation ceremonies.

Caroline graduated in 1976 from Lancaster University with a degree in English and Creative Writing.

During a distinguished career in the Civil Service, she has overseen a number of major developments to improve people’s personal finances.  These included the introduction of automatic pension enrolment and the new NEST pension scheme.

She remembers first-hand what it feels like to struggle for money, when her boyfriend had to go to his tutor in her first year to borrow £25 to buy an engagement ring.

Her first job after graduation in 1976 was in a local benefits office and she was appointed head of the Money Advice Service in 2013.