Well-Known Scots Entrepreneur Finally Graduates – 45 Years Later!

Well-known Scottish businessman and philanthropist Robert Kilgour today (Thursday, June 29) received his degree from Stirling University – 45 years after leaving the university without one.

The 66 year-old, who founded both Four Seasons Health Care and more recently Renaissance Care, a leading Scottish independent care home operator, left Stirling University in 1978 without finishing his degree studies.

But in recognition of his services to entrepreneurship and philanthropy, he received an honorary doctorate alongside more than 600 graduates from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, and the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

He said: “Leaving university without a degree after three years of studying wasn’t exactly ideal, but my time at Stirling taught me so much more than just about academic study. It was also crammed with life lessons about people, relationships, real-life economics and the cut and thrust of student politics, all of which have helped me massively in my subsequent career.

“I warmly thank Stirling for their recognition of my contribution to entrepreneurship and philanthropy, both of which started while I was at the University and neither of which would be possible without the amazing support of the teams I have worked with over the years, my family and friends.”

The Queen of Sweden, former Mars CEO Grant Reid and Khadija Coll MBE, founder of charity One Community Scotland, were also awarded honorary degrees from the University this week.

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling, said: “We are delighted to be awarding honorary doctorates to such a diverse and well-deserving group, who each in their own way have had an influence on our society.

“They truly are inspirational in their fields, and role models for the students about to graduate with them.”