Broadcaster and Bestival co-founder awarded honorary degree

Better known by his alias Rob da Bank, music broadcaster and tastemaker, Robert Gorham has been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Business from Solent University today (Tuesday 10 July).  

One of the UK’s best-loved music curators, he first gained public attention with Sunday Best, a label and club night founded in London in 1995, which has grown into three multi-award-winning music festivals, Bestival, Camp Bestival and Common People.   

Rob also co-founded the award-winning music supervision and licensing company Earworm Music, which sources music for films, advertising, games and TV shows.

Regionally, both Southampton and Eastleigh have benefitted from Rob’s collaboration with SoCo, which offers open access monthly music workshops offering a variety of music making activities for young people.  These events are led by professional musicians and guest artists, including many from Solent University’s music community. 

Southampton has benefitted greatly from the launch of Common People festival which links community groups, the local music industries and broader arts based projects. 

Robert is a keen supporter of Solent University, and in 2009 he gave students the opportunity to work every year at his festivals in a number of capacities. This valuable work experience has resulted in a number of students gaining graduate employment through their relationships with Bestival, Camp Bestival, Common People and the AIF partner festivals. 

Robert said: "When I talk to graduates starting out I tell them to think twice before becoming a festival promoter! It’s very stressful and nothing ever goes quite according to plan, but despite that it’s a really rewarding, amazing and very diverse job!"

Speaking to graduating students, he added: I can’t tell you what skills you’ll need in the future; when I was at university there was no internet, no social media and we were writing with pens and paper! But it’s important to be different in what you do, that’s a universal truth. Be fresh, don’t copy other people, and be yourself!