GLASGOW businessman and philanthropist, Lord William Haughey, has been commended for his “huge contribution to Scotland” as he was named EY Scottish entrepreneur of year.

The co-founder and chairman of City Holdings Group triumphed as the overall winner ahead of the bosses of 20 of Scotland’s most successful businesses at the ceremony in Gleneagles.

Huaghey, who began his career as an air-conditioning engineer, set-up his business, which provides facilities management services, with the help of his wife Lady Susan Haughey and four employees in 1985.

They now employ 12,000 people worldwide, with employees in the United States, Australia, Asia and Europe and generate an annual turnover in excess of £600 million.

The company’s growth was recognised with victory in the Sustained Excellence category of the awards.

Mike Timmins, EY partner and leader of the EY entrepreneur of the year programme in Scotland, praised the businessman’s principles as well as his success.

He said: “Lord William Haughey is a compelling leader who has built a world-class business, which is widely regarded as the benchmark for excellence in his industry.

“The judges were impressed by the sustainable business model he has developed and his commitment to improving the lives of others; by investing in the training and careers of his workforce, supporting fledgling entrepreneurs launch their own ventures, or by sending engineers to Africa to install clean water supplies for tens of thousands of people.

“Haughey has made a huge contribution to Scotland, and working with Lady Haughey they have been a leading philanthropic team helping to change many lives for the better. He is a true inspiration and a well-deserved winner.”

The Glaswegian will now progress to the EY Entrepreneur of the Year UK final, which will be hosted in London in November.

Joining him will be the winners of each category in the Scottish edition, decided by a judges panel chaired by Andy Lothian, group CEO of The Insights Group.

Chris Stewart, the CEO of Edinburgh-based real estate development and investment firm, Chris Stewart Group was presented with the Building a Better Working World award.

The judges praised “his willingness to create better cities for residents, by transforming empty listed building into hotels, bars and accommodation”.

The Rising Star award went to John Reynolds, CEO of Castle Water, based in Blairgowrie, Perthshire.

His business, which is the UK’s largest independent water retailer, has seen its customer base triple from 30,000 to 330,000 within the past year alone.

In the Scale-up category, Dr Rabinder Buttar, chairman, CEO and founder of Clintec International, was rewarded for her Glasgow-based firm’s work providing clinical research services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries.