Lord Haughey Masterclass embodies the Common Good

One of Scotland’s leading philanthropists gave a Masterclass at Glasgow Caledonian University last night – and vowed to help solve a housing issue in the West of Scotland.

Scottish businessman and Chair of City Facilities Management Holdings Ltd, Lord Willie Haughey OBE, shared his expertise with a small in-person audience on GCU’s Glasgow campus and those watching online.

GCU’s Masterclass series brings world-class speakers to the University to share expertise and ideas, encouraging discussion and debate. The talks are delivered to students, staff and graduates, as well as the wider community.

Inspired to make a positive change to the facilities management industry, Lord and Lady Haughey established City Refrigeration Holdings Ltd in 1985. Building long-term partnerships, City has grown from humble beginnings to serve over 15,000 sites globally in a variety of sectors including retail, healthcare and commercial property, and employs over 14,000 staff. City has committed to being a net-zero carbon business by 2040.

Born in the Gorbals in Glasgow, Lord Haughey is passionate about giving back, and helping others, both at home and overseas. Since setting up the City Charitable Trust in 2002, Lord and Lady Haughey have donated millions to support the relief of poverty and the advancement of education, health, the arts and heritage.

Awarded an OBE in 2003, and knighted in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to business and philanthropy, GCU is proud that Lord Haughey also accepted an honorary doctorate from the University in 2005.

“Our success is built on the fact that every contract we have with a client is open book,” he said last night. “They see exactly what the job costs us to do and we add 10% margin. This transparency means we have clients who trust us. We have no sales and marketing team – people remember us and they use us again and again, or recommend us to somebody else. That is what has allowed us to grow into the business we have become.”

Lord Haughey shared insight into his exceptional career journey, including his new vision to build 11,000 affordable and sustainable homes in Scotland, as well as what drives his entrepreneurial flair and commitment to helping others.

“Myself and my wife were born and raised in the Gorbals. We were as rich as anyone else who lived there. We’ve since made our money and we want to give something back. We know there is a housing problem in the West of Scotland, so we are taking the money we are making in our business and using it to build houses that are affordable for people in the Gorbals, especially in terms of rent. The idea is to provide a lovely home you would be happy to stay in for the rest of your life and one in which your family can grow. They will be energy efficient, using smart technologies to which I own the IP. We are not just going to build houses, but a community – playparks, internet, electric cars. I believe this will be a new model for housing going forward.”