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UoG Vice-Chancellor Awarded Damehood by Princess Royal 

University of Gloucestershire’s Vice-Chancellor, Clare Marchant, has been officially made Dame Commander of the British Empire by the Princess Royal at a ceremony at Windsor Castle.  

The honour was awarded in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2024, for services to Higher Education. It is one of the highest in the United Kingdom and is granted to those who have made a significant contribution to their field.  

Dame Clare, who joined University of Gloucestershire as Vice-Chancellor in September 2023, is passionate about the benefit that education can bring to both an individual’s overall life chances and wider society.  

Before joining the University, Dame Clare was Chief Executive of the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), where she was dedicated to increasing higher education opportunities for people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. In the six years she spent at UCAS, the charity doubled the number of students it supported.

Vice Chancellor, Clare Marchant, chatting with the Princess Royal whilst receiving her Damehood at Windsor Castle.
Vice-Chancellor, Clare Marchant, chatting with the Princess Royal whilst receiving her Damehood at Windsor Castle

Dame Clare said: “It was both incredibly exciting and hugely humbling to meet the Princess Royal and receive this honour. My six years leading UCAS were challenging but incredibly satisfying, driving through parity of apprenticeships, trebling the numbers of students using our information and advice services to navigate choices and using data to bring transparency in making those choices.  

“The team of trustees and staff at UCAS were brilliant to work alongside and this honour is a recognition of their efforts, as much as my own.  

“I consider myself privileged to work in a sector where we have such a direct opportunity to transform lives. In my current role as Vice-Chancellor at University of Gloucestershire, we support over 9,000 students and apprentices on their educational journey. This involves delivering high-quality learning opportunities, creating great careers and connections that last a lifetime and driving skills development in Gloucestershire and beyond.   

“Being able to make such a positive difference to people’s lives makes it very easy to be passionate about the work I do.”   

Between 2010 and 2017, Dame Clare was employed at Worcestershire County Council, starting out as Head of Change, before being promoted to Assistant Chief Executive and then Chief Executive in 2014.  

Before that, she spent seven years in senior leadership roles as a digital delivery specialist with the Department for Health, leading on the implementation and integration of the Choose and Book Service and the digitisation of imaging services in hospitals.