‌The lecture, on the topic of ‘Issues and Challenges facing Aspiring Entrepreneurs and UK Business’, which was given in the Wallace lecture theatre, was attended by more than 120 staff, students, invited guests and members of the public, who gave Mr Pateman a warm welcome to the city.

Professor Richard B Davies, Swansea University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “We were delighted to welcome such a senior figure within Santander UK to the University and to hear Steve Pateman’s thoughts during this highly engaging and interesting public lecture.

“Our partnership agreement with Santander Universities enables us to not only to further develop international cooperation with institutions around the world, but also to present our students with a raft of life enhancing experiences.

“This valuable partnership enables a significant number of Swansea students to enhance their employability opportunities, to develop enterprise skills and become truly global graduates.”

One of Britain's leading businesswomen Debra Williams, former Managing Director at both Confused.com and Tesco Compare, was among those who attended the lecture.

Ms Williams said: “I worked in the Financial Services Industry through the Banking crisis in 2008. The UK had not witnessed 12 months like it since 1929. Lehman Brothers went bankrupt. HBOS, Royal Bank of Scotland and many more came within a whisker of serious trouble and needed Government help.

“Even though we all lived through this period it was not until this lecture given by Steve Pateman, Executive Director and Head of UK Banking, Santander, that the sequence of events and consequences of liquidity and capital provisions were explained in such a way that it was made easy to understand what created this.

“Having lectures like this arranged by Swansea University and making them open to the general public, is a great way to make high profile speakers on topics of interest accessible to more people.

“Santander and Swansea University enjoy a strong relationship which combines with local business to offer graduate placements. I have personal experience in this initiative and high recommend local companies take advantage to bring in young innovative minds into their businesses.

“To quote Benjamin Franklin, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest".

Mr Pateman joined Santander in June 2008, and was appointed Executive Director in June 2011.  Mr Pateman became Executive Director, Head of UK Banking in March 2012, with his responsibility now covering Retail, Corporate, Commercial and Business Banking, incorporating all of Santander UK's channels under his remit.

Mr Pateman was previously with NatWest and RBS where he was CEO of Business Banking, Managing Director of Commercial Banking and Managing Director of Corporate Banking.  He also worked on a variety of financings, restructurings, capital market and equity issues during his time in NatWest Markets where he specialised in the leisure and retail sectors.

In 2014, Swansea University announced a partnership agreement with Santander, through Santander Universities Global Division.

Swansea University is part of the Santander Universities network, an international group of universities with three goals in common: internationalisation, transfer of knowledge, and fostering of entrepreneurial skills.

The partnership, established in 2014, enables the University to develop and strengthen collaborative links internationally as well as create new opportunities for staff and students.

The agreement includes four scholarships for international students studying at Swansea University and 15 travel bursaries for Swansea staff and students to visit overseas universities which are also part of the network. There is also an entrepreneurial support fund for up to 20 new student start-ups and an internship scheme which places students with local small and medium sized (SME) companies, allowing them to gain valuable work experience.