Business and social entrepreneur, Marie Macklin, is CEO of The Klin Group, a second generation family business distinguished by an inspired and creative approach to investment and economic regeneration. The Klin Group, which engages in economic and social transformation in Scotland and manages a portfolio of international property investments, with a strong sense of social responsibility. Under the direction of Marie, the company has progressed from construction into land investment, property regeneration and now into a wider entrepreneurial business. After training as an accountant in private practice and construction industry, Marie became a Client Securities Manager for Royal Bank of Scotland concentrating on company debt factoring /finance company rescue and investment, before joining her father’s company as Financial Director in 1998, assuming ownership in 2003. The importance of engaging with stakeholders, the political community and business partners is a key feature of the success of the group and this has helped her to develop an exceptional network of business relationships and increasing influence in stimulating challenging regeneration initiatives. Her straight talking approach leaves people in no doubt about her ability, energy, enthusiasm, credibility and commitment to business and social agendas. She is increasingly recognised as an inspiration and supporter of aspiring entrepreneurs. Her work is international but Marie's commitment and passion for combining her entrepreneurial flair with community engagement and regeneration initiatives is most evident in Scotland, particularly her native Ayrshire. In 2003 The Klin Group introduced the 1st Wm M Morrison PLC Supermarket to Scotland before Morrison’s, Safeway PLC buy out. This store was in Kilmarnock developed on a Klin owned 10 acre site, creating 350 new jobs. - The Klin Group was one of the first private sector investors in the regeneration of the Tollcross area of Glasgow, completing several brownfield housing developments which led the way for further third party investment. - In 2007, Klincribs was launched as a lifestyle brand for high quality, serviced apartments for let, providing fully-furnished homes in Gleneagles, Glasgow and Kilmarnock. - The company is leading the regeneration of the 28 acre site of the former Johnnie Walker packaging plant in the centre of Kilmarnock based on an exclusivity agreement with Diageo PLC. Marie’s respect for heritage is evident in regeneration work in Kilmarnock, where land and properties with a wealth of history, in their former purposes or in their architecture, have been passionately restored and found new, meaningful uses. Marie is respected and well known across the wider business community. She engages regularly with like-minded business women working together to drive social enterprise initiatives. During 2013 Marie won the Association of Scottish Businesswomen Award for Outstanding Contribution. Marie was awarded in Her Majesty’s New Year’s Honour List 31st December 2014 a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for ‘Services to Economic Regeneration and Entrepreneurship in Scotland’ 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. She has developed a ‘Women in Enterprise’ initiative to support female entrepreneurs to build business networks and her inherent sense of social responsibility is reflected in unstinting commitment to the development, excellence and philanthropy of young people. This is evidenced in the advice, time, support and assistance she provides for a wide range of community organisations, for example in education, in the arts and culture and in sport. Marie offers advice and counsel to numerous individuals and groups and is a mentor for Sir Willie Haughey and Sir Tom Hunter’s E Spark Enterprise. She is a patron of the Centrestage Music and Theatre School and a supporter of the Robert Burns World Federation. Marie is no arm’s length benefactor; she fully engages in her projects. She is a Board member of the New Ayrshire College and works with local schools to encourage new generations of entrepreneurs, sharing business knowledge and providing advice and financial support for initiatives which stimulate and motivate young people. In arts and culture, Marie seeks to engage and inspire young people; and sport is another beneficiary of her social philosophy, with close involvement with a local community football team.