Stewart studied an electrician's apprenticeship from 1966
to 1971 at Aberdeen Technical College, which was one of the three
colleges later merged to form Aberdeen College.
When he qualified in 1971, at the age of 21, he set up a
business specialising in kitchen and bathroom conversions. Four
years later Stewart Milne Construction Ltd was established with 30
employees and a turnover of £1 million.
The Stewart Milne Group, a leading independent construction
company, now employs around 1,000 people across the UK and
generates a turnover of more than £350 million. The company is at
the forefront of timber frame house building and in 2007 launched
the UK's first five star carbon neutral home and has won awards for
its innovative and sustainable approach to house-building. The
lessons learnt at college some 40 years ago have underpinned
Stewart's successful business; he recognises the value and
importance of hard work and a belief in one's own ability to
generate success. His technical training at college provided him
with the necessary practical skills, a determination to succeed and
a strong commitment to excellence.
Now Chairman and Chief Executive of the multi-million pound
Stewart Milne Group, he was awarded the CBE in 2008 for services to
the house building industry in Scotland. In recognition of his
significant contribution to the development of the economy in the
North East of Scotland, Stewart was awarded the first Fellowship of
Aberdeen College in 2010. He has also been chair of Aberdeen
Football Club since 1998.