Editing Brian Souter (section)

==Honours and awards==

In 1997 Souter was granted an [[honorary degree]] from [[Strathclyde University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.entrepreneurial-exchange.co.uk/events/evening/2008/evening-brian-souter/biogs/ |title=Biographies — The Entrepreneurial Exchange |publisher=Entrepreneurial-exchange.co.uk |access-date=28 October 2013}}</ref>

In 1998 he was awarded the Scottish Entrepreneur Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.glasgowbusinessclub.co.uk/past-club-meetings/february-meeting-with-sir-brian-souter/ |title=Glasgow Business Club |publisher=Glasgow Business Club |date=23 February 2012 |access-date=28 October 2013}}</ref>

In 1999 he received his second honorary degree, from [[Abertay University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://crieff.wordpress.com/crieff-home-page/crieff-news/crieff-news-archive/ |title=CRIEFF News Archive |date=8 June 2012 |publisher=Crieff.wordpress.com |access-date=28 October 2013}}</ref>

In 2004 he was honoured with the Businessman of the Year award at the Insider Elite Awards.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ben |last=Griffiths |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/baxter-and-souter-lauded-for-successful-recipes-1.73575 |title=Baxter and Souter lauded for successful recipes |publisher=Herald Scotland |date=8 October 2004 |access-date=28 October 2013}}</ref>

In 2008 he was given a Special Recognition Award for services to the bus industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelnortheast.co.uk/news/stories/2008/november/191108-BusCompaniesCelebrateAwardsSuccess.html |title=Bus Companies Celebrates Award Success |publisher=TravelNorthEast.co.uk|date=19 November 2008 |access-date=7 November 2013}}</ref>

In June 2010 he was given a Special Career Service Award at the "Talent In Mobility" Awards, part of the European Mobility Exhibition held in Paris for the public transport industry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transportspublics-expo.com/en/2010/salon/talents_mobilite.php |title=Transports Publics 2012 - 'Talent in mobility' awards |publisher=Transportspublics-expo.com |access-date=5 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009161519/http://www.transportspublics-expo.com/en/2010/salon/talents_mobilite.php |archive-date=9 October 2010  }}</ref>

In October 2010 he was awarded the Ernst & Young UK Master Entrepreneur of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|author=Tim Sharp, City Editor |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/markets-economy/stagecoach-boss-warns-against-cutting-oap-free-travel-1.1036890 |title=Stagecoach boss warns against cutting OAP free travel |publisher=Herald Scotland |date=24 June 2010 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>

In 2011 he was presented with an outstanding achievement award at the 2011 Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perthshirechamber.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=32&Itemid=94 |title=Star Awards 2011 |publisher=Perthshire Chamber of Commerce|access-date=28 October 2013}}</ref>

On 18 April 2012 he was inducted into the British Travel and Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame, the first public transport entrepreneur to receive the honour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2012/2012-04-18.aspx |title= Sir Brian Souter enters British Travel Industry Hall of Fame |publisher =stagecoach.com |date=18 April 2012 |access-date= 19 April 2012}}</ref>

===Knighthood===

Souter was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2011 Birthday Honours]] for services to transport and the voluntary sector.<ref name=gazette>{{London Gazette |issue=59808 |date=11 June 2011 |page=2 |supp=y}}</ref><ref name=birthday>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jun/11/queens-birthday-honours-knights |title=Queen's birthday honours list: Knights &#124; UK news |newspaper=The Guardian |date=11 June 2011 |access-date=5 February 2012 |location=London}}</ref> This proved controversial, and was criticised by Scottish Labour MP [[Cathy Jamieson]], who suggested a link between the knighthood and the large amounts of money he has donated to the [[Scottish National Party]]. In a public statement, Jamieson said: "The [[Alex Salmond|First Minister]] and his party must look seriously at the relationship they have developed with wealthy individuals handing them large sums of cash. The public will rightly be asking what's next on Mr Souter's shopping list?"<ref name="Herald">{{cite web|author=HELEN McARDLE |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/shock-after-teenager-is-murdered-in-his-home.14661073 |title=Row grows over honour for Sir Brian |publisher=Herald Scotland |date=7 August 2011 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> Salmond denied any wrongdoing in the matter and referred himself for investigation after calls for a probe by Scottish MP [[Jim Sheridan (politician)|Jim Sheridan]]. An independent report, conducted by [[Lord Fraser of Carmyllie]], cleared Salmond of any wrongdoing, asserting that "There appears to me to have been no breach of the ministerial code by Alex Salmond as First Minister and he should be wholly exonerated of any breach."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics-news/2011/11/28/alex-salmond-cleared-of-any-wrong-doing-in-knighthood-nomination-for-stagecoach-tycoon-brian-souter-86908-23594215/ |title=Alex Salmond cleared of any wrong-doing in knighthood nomination for Stagecoach tycoon Brian Souter |newspaper=The Daily Record |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref>

Souter's knighthood was also criticised by some gay rights campaigners, who felt that the honour was insulting to the gay community and was effectively rewarding homophobia, given Souter's past campaigning. A petition to have the knighthood withdrawn received 5,000 signatures by July 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dalberto |first=Lorenzo |url=http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2011/07/05/nus-lgbt-oppose-brain-souters-knighthood/ |title= Gay students oppose Brian Souter's Knighthood |publisher=deadlinenews.co.uk |date=5 July 2011 |access-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>