Dominic McVey, a British business leader, entrepreneur and humanitarian who started his own business at the age of 13, has been appointed as a Professor of Practice at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD).

The title of Professor of Practice is awarded to acknowledge an individual’s academic and/or professional distinction in a field which is aligned to the University’s mission and strategic direction. Professor McVey’s expertise will be pivotal in assisting the University to develop initiatives which aim to deliver economic impact to Wales, particularly in the digital and manufacturing sectors. Professor McVey’s commitment to sustainable development and transforming lives through education and access to technology aligns closely to the University’s own strategic mission.

By the age of 15 Professor McVey was Britain’s youngest self-made millionaire through his business of importing micro-scooters from the United States to the United Kingdom which saw him involved in the sale of several million micro-scooters around the world. At the age of 18 he was recognised as a ‘Pioneer for Britain in Entrepreneurism’ by Her Majesty The Queen.

He has a portfolio of multi-national business interests from manufacturing, technology, cosmetics, and management consultancy.

Professor Medwin Hughes, DL, Vice-Chancellor said:

“We are delighted to welcome Professor McVey, who joins a number of exceptional individuals who are working with the university to bring their unique and professional expertise to benefit our students. Through their involvement in our provision, we can enhance the access to a range of defined skills to support academic delivery and build upon our rapidly improving reputation for delivering graduate skills in the context of employability, sustainability and work-related education and training.”

Professor McVey said:

“I am truly honored to be appointed a Professor of Practice and recognised by one of Britain’s most forward thinking, inclusive and innovative Universities.  I have always lived by the mantra that we rise by lifting others and will use this opportunity to share with the University and its wider community the many lessons I have learned as an entrepreneur. I hope to be a familiar face on campus and will be taking the time to listen, engage and learn about the many ideas students have and the challenges they may face. Through collaborative innovation, sharing experiences and understanding what doing good for people and planet really means will enable the University to deliver the community, business, and industry leaders that society needs.”

In 2013 Professor McVey purchased Sri Lankan clothing manufacturer Hela Clothing and by sustainably and ethically restructuring the business, he increased staff numbers from 3,000 to over 20,000 and vastly grew revenue. Today, Hela generates almost $200 million in revenue employing 15,000 people directly in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sri Lanka and until recently Mexico.  Hela Clothing is now listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange

In 2019 Professor McVey, moved to a Non-Executive Role at Hela and stepped down from the board in 2020. He remains an active shareholder.

He has formerly been an adviser on entrepreneurship to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in the Republic of Ireland and is an ongoing consultant for a varied group of organisations and government agencies, on ethical and sustainable business growth.

In addition to being an advocate for ethical manufacturing practices, he is the Chairman of Computer Aid International; a foundation which aims to build a world where everyone has equal access to technology through sustainable IT solutions, providing access to high-quality equipment and education in the developing world and at home in the UK. Since their inception, Computer Aid has brought access to technology to over 14.5million people worldwide.

In 2009, Professor McVey was named Britain’s second most influential businessperson under the age of 30 in The Sunday Times’ “Top 30 power players under 30”.

Professor McVey is a respected speaker on business ethics and entrepreneurship and consults with government think tanks and world leaders. He is a notable speaker on entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship, ethics, and international trade, having been one of the keynote independent business speakers at the Conservative Party Conference main stage in 2018, at Bloomberg’s Modern Affluence Summit in 2019 and Davos in 2020.

His charitable endeavours include having served as an independent trustee for the Royal Chartered Landscape Institute for two terms and he is currently; an ambassador for The HALO Trust (the world’s largest de mining charity), a Trustee and Non-Executive Director of the Overseas Development Institute (an independent, global think tank that works to inspire people and governments to act on injustice and inequality) and a member of the advisory council for The Coalition for Global Prosperity. Combined, these not-for-profits have positively enhanced the lives of tens of millions of people.

Having guided Hela Clothing to win the PVH award for Human Rights in 2017, Professor McVey’s interests lie with what is not only best for an organization but what is right for the people it employs and the communities it engages