"LUMS Investors in Excellence is a great idea. It’s a way to give back and to help improve the University; I spent the best three years of my life at Lancaster – I love Lancaster and I had such a great time when I was studying there.

"All students deserve a chance to flourish in their education and beyond, no matter their background. I work in investment banking, where many workers have been recruited from a narrow list of ‘target’ universities and where they are almost groomed for the roles. There is so much untapped potential at Lancaster and other similar universities, and investing in this programme is a way to help that talent shine through.

"It ties in with the work I do as part of my role at Jefferies International Limited (a diversified financial services company engaged in investment banking and capital markets, asset management and direct investing) with the Management School and LUIFS. I work as an Investment Banker in Equity Capital Markets at Jefferies. As part of my role, I participate in Jefferies’ graduate recruitment programme. I head up a team recruiting from non-target universities across the UK and Europe and, as a proud Lancaster graduate, have piloted a scheme with the University to attract more high-quality Lancaster graduates to apply for jobs in investment banking (at Jefferies, obviously!) and financial services.

"It’s important to retain a relationship with the university and to help out in any small way I can to open doors for people, and that is what both my professional involvement and the LUMS Investors in Excellence programme do.

"There is so much we can do to support the University in helping people from different backgrounds, people who might be like I was 20 years ago, not knowing exactly what they want to do or the routes open to them, and to provide them with access to new opportunities. The LUMS Investors in Excellence programme means we as alumni can give something back and provide these opportunities to those who are following in our footsteps as members of the Lancaster community."

"I have such good memories of my time as a student at Lancaster – it felt then, and still does, like a community and an excellent place to immerse myself in learning, where I felt really connected to the teachers and my fellow students, many of whom have become lifelong friends.

"A lot of the things I learned in my time at Lancaster have helped me greatly in my career, and I felt that the Investors in Excellence programme was a great way to give something back.

"I received a bursary for my studies, which was a huge help with the fees and the other costs you have as a student. Studying is an investment, but if you are a young person who hasn’t worked before, or who doesn’t have a lot of money, then getting that kind of help is very important. The idea that through this programme I can invest in helping young people complete their studies is very important.

"Creating the opportunity for young people to continue their studies, to progress in their careers and do the things they want to do, providing them with the resources and opportunities to widen their horizons is where we should want to be as a society. We can help develop ways to attract students who otherwise might not have applied, to open up opportunities to students from more diverse backgrounds.

"It’s important for those of us who have been students at Lancaster in the past to give back where we can, for us as alumni to support our own university and future students, helping them carry on the good work of producing good graduates and bringing people from diverse backgrounds into higher education."

The BBA gave Cathie skills in finance, economics, management and – crucially – critical thinking and analysis that have been essential in a successful career. She hopes that through Investors in Excellence, others from family backgrounds where university is not seen as an obvious choice will be able to explore previously unexpected avenues.

“I’m really passionate about education,” says Cathie, who is hopeful her two children will follow in her higher education footsteps. “Having a degree really changed the course of my life. If I can help other people through university, enabling social mobility and allowing people from backgrounds where you don’t usually set your sights on university to achieve what they are capable of, then that’s something I prioritise.

“Being part of this is about saying that people from different backgrounds do go to university. It’s important to let people know there is a way, and that’s why I wanted to be involved.”

He has felt an affinity with Lancaster ever since and wants to see the University continue to succeed.

“I have watched Lancaster University grow in stature over the years and I want the Management School to continue to grow,” says Ray, who completed two more Master's degrees after the age of 50. “I hope that my modest contribution as an Investor in Excellence will enable more young and old students to play a key role in the future prosperity of Britain. They deserve all the support and encouragement we can give them, and I fully recommend that other business leaders become Investors in Excellence.

“I’m nearly 85 now, and for a long time, I have been giving back and contributing to those organisations, charities and people who are important to me. In my heart, I have a great deal to thank Lancaster for, and I want to give back, to help the young people there.

“I have been a student myself. I won a scholarship from the Institute of Marketing, which supported me through my studies, and I want to support and encourage young people who are coming into their studies today. We have to support the younger generation because they are the drivers for the future and for prosperity.”