Retired Lanarkshire-born businessman Les Hutchison was honoured by UWS with an Honorary Doctorate at the graduation ceremony on Wednesday 1 July 2015 at the Town House, Hamilton.

Les is an alumnus of the University, graduating from the former Bell College in 1974 with an HNC Electrical Engineering and also completing a Higher Supplementary (HS) in Control Systems and Mathematics in 1975. After further education and experience, he became an Incorporated Engineer.

Dr Les Hutchison said: “I am very honoured and humbled by this award from the University. The University is a leader in innovating and adapting education needs for the future to ensure Scotland prospers. I fully support the work of the University and wish it and my fellow graduates every success in the future.”

Early in his career Les worked with a number of engineering companies in Lanarkshire, gaining experience as a Project Engineer within the oil and gas sector before progressing as a Production Director in the field of longwall mining and tunnelling equipment.

During his career Les gained a reputation for turning struggling companies around, and for a time ran his own consultancy business helping companies to grow and diversify. Les was headhunted by Canadian Energy Services Group – ShawCor Ltd in 1998 and remained with the company until he retired as Vice Chairman in 2013.

In 2002, whilst at ShawCor, he was appointed a Global Scot by the then First Minister Jack McConnell, and became very active in supporting Scottish companies trying to enter the US market.

Alongside his career Les has engaged in a variety of philanthropic activities, helping charities and other worthwhile causes across the globe. Les is the founder and patron of the Saltire Foundation, an organisation founded and nurtured by a global network, whose mission is to find, fuel and spark the next generation of business leaders in Scotland. Les donates annually to the Marie Curie Hospice in Glasgow, where there is a ward named after his late father who died from cancer. He also provides on-going support to the Maggie Centre, at Monklands Hospital in Coatbridge. In 2012 Les became involved in supporting Silverton House in Hamilton which is a respite centre for handicapped children and their families.

Now living in Barbados, Les continues to have strong ties to his home country and in January this year bought a 75% share in Motherwell Football Club which he plans to transfer to its fans.

Les has strong links with the University, supporting the University’s Mechatronics programme, delivered at its campus in Lanarkshire, and providing the annual Hutchison Prize for the best performing student on the programme.

Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of University of the West of Scotland, said: “We are delighted to award Les Hutchison, who throughout his career has made such an important contribution to Scottish industry and society, with an Honorary Doctorate. It is great to be able recognise the contribution Les has made both professionally and philanthropically with this award.”