Construction

Stewart Milne, Chairman and Chief Executive, The Stewart Milne Group

"Having been brought up in the North East, the culture and environment has had a major influence in shaping me as an individual and on our approach to business. Aberdeen City and Shire has been the foundation and springboard for the growth of the Group. The entrepreneurial spirit and opportunities which exist within the region have been fundamental in helping us establish our success and become one of the leading housebuilders as well as enabling us to become the number one supplier of Timber Frame Structures in the UK."

Stewart Milne left school at 15, served his time as an electrician and started his own business in 1975. The Stewart Milne Group is now Scotland's leading privately owned housebuilder. Specialising in timber-frame housing, it employs 1,200 people.

Expansion

The Stewart Milne Group has expanded throughout Scotland and is now poised to acquire housebuilders in England. With a timber frame manufacturing plant in Aberdeen already established, the group decided four years ago to spend £15m on building one of Europe's most advanced timber frame factories in Oxford. It intends to build another such factory in England and to double turnover by 2010.

Entrepreneur

In 2005 Stewart received the Ernst & Young Scottish Entrepreneur of the Year award and was named Master Entrepreneur 2005.