BOB Cryan’s career came full circle when he was appointed vice-chancellor of Huddersfield University.

The ex-Deighton High School pupil graduated from the former Huddersfield Polytechnic in 1986 with a first class honours degree in electrical and electronic engineering and returned two years ago as the university’s vice-chancellor.

And last night, he accepted the plaudits when he was named Chadwick Lawrence Business Person of the Year at the Examiner Business Awards.

He said: "I’m chuffed to bits. I’m tremendously proud to be from Huddersfield. Since I returned I have been welcomed back into the community.

"I want to thank the people of Huddersfield and all my colleagues at the university. I am the frontman but behind me there are a lot of staff who work extremely hard and I accept this award on their behalf."

He was recognised for his contribution to the growth and development of the university, his work to strengthen links between the town’s leading academic institution and local businesses and his commitment to furthering the cause and prosperity of Huddersfield.

Prof Cryan took up the vice-chancellorship in January, 2007 – also becoming the youngest vice-chancellor to take charge of a UK university at the age of just 42.

And he did so with a determination to ensure his own pride in Huddersfield was reflected in the ethos of the university.

Prof Cryan was born in Huddersfield and grew up in Deighton. He took his O-levels at the local high school before sitting his A-levels at Salendine Nook High School.

After graduating from the polytechnic, he undertook a British Telecom-sponsored part-time PhD programme – while working as a lecturer at the polytechnic.

Prof Cryan worked at Manchester Metropolitan University, Northumbria University and the University of Wales in Swansea before returning to Northumbria as pro vice-chancellor.

He was promoted to deputy vice-chancellor in 2005.

At Huddersfield University, he has led a major redevelopment of the Queensgate campus – perhaps most notably the striking £15m creative arts building and the £16m business school – now under construction.

Prof Cryan also chairs the Yorkshire Universities group – made up of the seven institutions of Huddersfield University, Leeds University, Leeds Met, Trinity & All Saints, Leeds College of Music, Northern School of Contemporary Dance and Bradford University.

The group is forging stronger links with local firms – to widen the business benefits of a higher education sector with more than 200,000 students and 33,000 staff generating almost £3bn output a year for the regional economy.

Prof Cryan has spearheaded the work of the Yorkshire Universities group in helping businesses meet the challenges of recession by offering expertise and by bringing forward their own building and maintenance projects wherever possible.

The group has also pledged to pay its bills promptly, use procurement to ensure they benefit the local economy wherever possible, support local businesses to get good information on contacts and opportunities in the higher education sector and on sources of business support.