Sheffield man who went to the 'University of Parson Cross' awarded an OBE for championing the disadvantaged

Lee Hallam has been awarded an OBE in the Queens New Year’s Honours list for his inspirational industry leadership, philanthropy and being a tireless champion of the disadvantaged.

Born in Sheffield in 1972, he was raised on the Parson Cross council estate and became a teenage tearaway, leaving school with no qualifications.

But Lee has gone on to build a successful SME employing over 350 people and given many opportunities to develop national and international working careers.

Joseph Dunn, Lee’s retired headteacher nominated him for the award after watching him become an inspiration for the nation.

At 16 Lee joined The Royal Marines going on to win the coveted Green Beret following 30 grueling weeks basic training at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.

He then went onto serve for seven years.

After leaving The Royal Marines he spent some time with South Yorkshire Police enforcing the law on the very patch where he had once run wild.

He then signed up with Malaysian based company laying undersea fiber optical cables across the Pacific, working in a tough demanding environment and living in squalid conditions.

But a vision was taking shape that would see the industry in the UK transformed by Lee’s company, Linbrooke Services. It grew from humble beginnings to be a gold standard for growth, quality, innovation and training, improving the lives of countless people locally and nationally through employment and rehabilitation, restoring hope and self- belief.

It was launched with a good friend Andrew Wilson from Andrew’s bedsit in Greenhill in 2002, with only a small budget and little in reserve.

Lee said: ''I don't have an education, any GCSE's and no degree, but I went to the University of Parson Cross.

"Coming off that estate gives you spirit, character and a quest for survival. Education will get you far but drive and determination will take you all the way.''

Joseph Dunn added: “Having taught for 34 years, I have engaged with thousands of children and still have contacts in the education sector across the country, but I have yet to learn of an individual who has turned his life around and made such an impact quite like Lee. Leaving school with no qualifications and a juvenile criminal record, Lee is now hailed as a Face of the Vibrant Economy.”