Entrepreneur Robert finally graduates – 45 years later

SCOTTISH businessman and philanthropist Robert Kilgour 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.”

As well as being an active philanthropist supporting many good causes including, in particular, Macmillan Cancer Support, Robert’s business interests have ranged from local radio and insurance broking to care homes and security systems businesses.