Dame Ann Limb, chair of the King’s Foundation, has acknowledged providing “misleading” information regarding her doctoral qualifications.
The education specialist, recently nominated for a life peerage by the Labour Party, admitted to The Sunday Times that she did not complete a PhD at the University of Liverpool, despite its prior inclusion on her CV.
“To be completely upfront and honest about it, I never completed my PhD at Liverpool University,” she stated to the newspaper, explaining that she used the title “Doctor” due to receiving honorary PhDs from other institutions.
The BBC has reached out to Dame Ann for comment. The King’s Foundation has declined to comment.
Dame Ann was among the nominees for the House of Lords announced by Downing Street earlier in December, recognizing her extensive career in senior public and private sector roles.
The King’s Foundation, which provides vocational training to young people, announced last week that Dame Ann would be stepping down from her position as chair, a role she has held since January, to assume her peerage.
An earlier version of her online CV, reviewed by the BBC, listed a PhD from the University of Liverpool in 1978, accompanied by the “Dr” honorific.
In 2020, the City & Guilds Foundation, where she also serves as chair, referred to her as Dr Ann Limb, as did the Queen’s Birthday Honours list announcing her damehood in 2022.
However, a revised CV created in July 2024 omits the “Dr” title and the purported 1978 PhD, instead stating that she holds honorary PhDs from Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Northampton.
Her website continues to state that she began her teaching career in further education “whilst undertaking a PhD at the University of Liverpool”.
She told The Sunday Times: “I have used the word ‘Doctor’… because I have got several honorary PhDs and that’s been clear to me that they’re honorary.”
“Perhaps my own website is not very helpful, I don’t pay a lot of attention to it, but if there’s anything misleading… on that I’m very happy to correct [it].”
The newspaper also reported her admission that a claim of obtaining an MA from the Institute of Linguistics was also untrue.
It is generally considered inappropriate for recipients of honorary doctorates to use the “Dr” title, out of respect for those who have completed the rigorous academic requirements for a PhD.
When contacted for comment, a No 10 spokesperson directed the BBC to a document outlining the reasons for Dame Ann’s peerage nomination.
That document highlights her service as chair or non-executive director of numerous public, private, and charitable organizations.
Dame Ann, who grew up in Moss Side, Manchester, is currently the pro-chancellor of the University of Surrey and chair of several institutions, including the Lloyds Bank Foundation.
She was appointed a dame for her contributions to young people and philanthropy, following a distinguished career in higher education.