The founders of a hairdressing chain which has a salon in East Kilbride Village have been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List.
Alan and Linda Stewart, who recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of Rainbow Room International, have been awarded an OBE for Services to Hairdressing.
The husband-and-wife team who have built up the largest salon group in Scotland along with a renowned Training Academy and a product company, have received an array of awards for their business acumen and creativity.
They have also raised tens of thousands of pounds for charities and for the hairdressing industry’s charity HABB.
The first Rainbow Room International salon opened in Glasgow’s Buchanan Street in 1979 and in 2003 they opened their training Academy, which allowed them to cultivate and provide a career path for the next generation of Scotland’s top stylists along with training qualified professionals from all over the world in their bespoke cutting and styling techniques, as well as business skills.
Over the years Alan and Linda’s philosophy and philanthropy of constant change and continual improvement has never wavered.
“We are delighted to have been awarded such a prestigious honour,” said Alan and Linda.
“2020 has been an exceptionally hard year for everyone and the hairdressing industry is no exception, this honour has given us, our team and the industry a reason to celebrate and to look forward to a promising 2021.”
Meanwhile, Paul Malcolm Miller from East Kilbride, a senior manager, health, safety and environment at ASDA, has been awarded a MBE for services to retail customers during the COVID-19 response.
