Ian McLean, Managing Director of UK based John Smedley, ‘the world’s finest knitwear’ manufacturing brand has been awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in Her Majesty The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020.

“We are delighted to announce that our Managing Director Ian Maclean has been awarded an MBE for services to the fashion industry and the response to COVID-19 in Her Majesty The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2020,” the company announced on social media.

Speaking about the award Ian Maclean said: “Twenty years seems to have passed in the blink of an eye and I am extremely humbled to have been nominated by my peers for this wonderful award. I have always wanted to see the UK textile industry on a growth path, and so much of our good work has been temporarily halted by COVID-19, this might be cause for us to lose heart.”

“However,” Mr Mclean continued, “in the May-July period this year I saw so many amazing individuals and companies in our industry rally around to manufacture and gift scrubs to NHS doctors, nurses and carers, it gives me a lot of confidence for the future. I enjoy my work for UKFT and QEST so much, I feel that together with others in our industry, we can ultimately bring about a revolution in the way textiles are made in the UK.”

“Finally, I would like to thank Jess McGuire-Dudley, my colleagues and staff at John Smedley who were all so professional, positive and helpful in doing something amazing – for those amazing people who work for us in the NHS and care sector,” Mr Maclean concluded.

www.johnsmedley.com