A University of Bradford graduate who is now one of the UK's leading businesswomen was back on campus today.

Kate Swann, 42, relived her student days during a ceremony at which she received an honorary doctorate for her exceptional contribution to British business.

Mother-of-two Mrs Swann, who is currently chief executive of high street retailer WH Smith, said: "I am extremely surprised but very honoured to have been given this very prestigious award."

Mrs Swann graduated from Bradford with a degree in business studies in 1986.

She began working in marketing for supermarket giant Tesco before going on to hold senior positions with a host of big business names including Homepride Foods, Dixons and Coca-Cola.

Over the years, Mrs Swann has gained a reputation for injecting new life into flagging retail brands.

She joined the home improvement store Homebase as managing director in 1997, which was then part of J Sainsbury plc. By the time Sainsbury's sold Homebase to a venture capital firm for around £1 billion at the end of 2000, her reputation had been cemented.

She was then headhunted to lead Argos, where she oversaw two years of record profits before moving to WH Smith four years ago.

She received her doctorate from Bradford University chancellor and former Pakistan cricket captain Imran Khan.

Mrs Swann said: "I lived around 200 yards away from the university in a house on Dirkhill Road with six other people which cost £8 a week.

"Mould in the bathroom had been thrown in for free!"

"I attended the university's Management Centre on Emm Lane and remember spending a lot of time in the library."

Mrs Swann, who now lives in Hertfordshire, said her time at the university had been great preparation for the rigours of a high-flying business career.

"Bradford, for me, was not only great academically but it also helped me get on with people from different walks of life," she said.

"It's a great university which prepares its graduates to do pretty much anything."

She said she would be happy to recommend the university to anyone who was looking for more than just an academic experience.

Michael Ziff, chairman of Bradford Centre Regeneration and chief executive of Bradford-based footwear retailer Stylo, also became an honorary doctor of the university.

Mr Ziff, 54, was honoured for his "many and varied contributions to the city and the district of Bradford".

He said he had been "deeply honoured and humbled" to receive the honour which had been made extra-special by the fact that it had been awarded by "childhood hero" Imran Khan.

Father-of-three Mr Ziff is also chairman of the British-Israel Chamber of Commerce, vice-chairman of the United Joint Israel Appeal and a former president of the North and Yorkshire Business Forum.