New Year Honour for Marie Macklin
Marie Macklin, Ch
airwoman of The Klin Group has been awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours List for her ‘Services to Economic Regeneration and Entrepreneurship in Scotland’
“Words can’t express how I felt when I learned I was to be recognised in this way. I’m overwhelmed. I feel both privileged and proud to receive the Award.
“I’m the first to recognise that this is also a reflection of the endeavour and commitment of those around me, who have persevered with me in taking on difficult challenges. It has been all the more satisfying to see people living and working in buildings we’ve created in regeneration schemes that others have considered ‘too difficult’.
“I’ve been privileged to work alongside bright and talented young people, encouraging them to consider business as a career, and to help creative and energetic entrepreneurs to make the most of their talents”, said Marie.
Marie’s Investiture as a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) will take place early in the New Year. The CBE is awarded to people who have made a prominent, long-term contribution, local and nationally, to society or in specific areas of interest - business, the arts or sport, among others.
Marie Macklin has a background in construction, financial services and banking. She is a member of the Board of Ayrshire College and Business Patron to Centre stage, an Ayrshire social enterprise arts organisation. In 2013 she received the Association of Scottish Business Women’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to business.
Marie has a long-established commitment to the development, excellence and philanthropy of young people. She actively encourages entrepreneurs by advising, investing, sponsoring and supporting local schools, colleges, arts and community organisations to engage young people in business. She is a mentor for Entrepreneurial Spark Enterprise and assists female entrepreneurs to build business networks through her initiative, ‘Women in Enterprise’ at Ayrshire Association of Business Women. This initiative is to be extended in 2015 through The Association of Scottish Business Women.
The Klin Group is recognised as an entrepreneurial company engaged in economic and social transformation in Scotland. It is a second-generation family business, distinguished by an inspired and creative approach to investment and economic regeneration. The company’s foundations are in revitalising land and property and investing in challenging and demanding initiatives which help to transform communities.
Under Marie’s leadership, The Klin Group was one of the first private investors in the regeneration of Tollcross in Glasgow, completing several brownfield housing developments which helped to stimulate further third party investment in the area. The Klin Group has continued to redevelop brownfield sites throughout Scotland. During 2003, the company introduced the first WM Morrison supermarket to Scotland, at Kilmarnock, as part of a £60million redevelopment package. This included the transformation of two historic category B listed derelict town centre properties, one the former headquarters of Andrew Barclay & Son, a world-leading steam locomotive manufacturer, the other a derelict Victorian Opera house.