Simon Denny was raised in Essex and educated at Brentwood School.
He joined the Army in 1976. After officer training at RMA Sandhurst he joined the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and served in Germany and Northern Ireland before completing a degree at Exeter University. He later served with the Royal Army Educational Corps and completed a MA at Warwick University (part time) before leaving the Army in 1986.
After six years in industry, in 1992 he went to Nene College of Higher Education, which subsequently became the University of Northampton. In 2006 Simon was awarded the University’s Court Award for services to local enterprise. He became Professor of Entrepreneurship in 2007. In 2010 he was granted The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion. His final role at the University was as Executive Dean: Research, Impact and Enterprise, giving him responsibility for devising and implementing the University’s research and enterprise strategy. He retired from the University in late 2018.
Simon is a director of a social enterprise providing accredited educational programmes to people working in the supply chain sector. He also works as an independent researcher specialising in the identification of the economic and social impacts of formal and informal activities and programmes. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Educators, where he acts as military liaison officer and leads the special interest group in military education.
Simon’s hobbies include birdwatching, fishing and shooting. He is a supporter of RAF Music Services and other service charities. His son is currently a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF Regiment and his daughter is a lawyer in a City of London firm.