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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2016

Inspiring Talent and Skills

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Positivity embedded at Edinburgh Napier

It’s time to trust your team with unlimited holidays

Introduction / Contents

It’s time to trust your team

RHS delivers outstanding event

Attracting Excellence not Mediocrity

Personal branding is key to young talent

Member Benefits – Westfield Healthcare

Keeping a talented workforce motivated

Focus On Recruitment

Feature: Finance

When developing talent is your business

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Happy 230 Year Anniversary to us!

Business Fives gets professional

Why workplace learning needs to change 26 Positivity embedded at Edinburgh Napier 28|29 When developing talent is your business

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Feature: Talent and Skills

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Inspiring Talent and Skills

Get Going/New Members 40

Welcome to the latest issue of Business Comment.

60 Seconds 42

Much has happened since our last issue. We have seen the vote to leave the EU returned at UK level, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron. The desire to leave south of the Border was not reflected in Scotland, where a strong vote to remain has reignited the debate around the possibility of another independence referendum. These are uncertain times, and business and investment now require a degree of stability. Both the UK and Scottish Governments need to ensure they do all they can to provide a platform in which our businesses - which at the end of the day create the wealth for our country - can perform and prosper. As a Chamber we will be collecting the views of members and feeding these into both governments to ensure we have a voice in the negotiations. While those discussions are set to run, what isn’t up for debate is that skilled, talented people are essential to business success. The development, recruitment and nurturing of talent is very much our focus in this issue of Business Comment. We hear from two University Principals, Professors Andrea Nolan at Edinburgh Napier and Petra Wend at

Ask The Expert

Queen Margaret, about the ever progressive work they are doing across a variety of sectors. In particular, it is heartening to see the universities work together to focus on the vital “softer” transferable skills, such as communications and attitude to equip young people likely to enjoy a portfolio of careers. Professor Ian Clarke, Dean of the University of Edinburgh Business School, also tells us how “personal branding” can be key to young people enjoying successful careers in the Scottish business landscape. Elsewhere in the magazine, you can learn more about the 230 year history of your Chamber - from initiating the firing of the one o’clock gun to leading the charge to bring the Green Investment Bank to Edinburgh. It was reassuring to be able to open up the office to welcome members to our 230 anniversary party. Particularly enjoyable were the cupcakes made by our youngest members, Daisy (14), Uma (11) and Tiffany (6). Entrepreneurship is alive and well.

Partners In Enterprise 43 Be The Best/Get With It 44 Europe Direct Edinburgh 45 Feature: Motoring 46|47 Chamber Training

In The Spotlight

Inspiring Connections & Events

Join Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Our membership base is truly multisector, multi-scale and multi- national. As we develop our geographic reach, we continue to welcome new members who can enjoy exclusive benefits of being part of Scotland’s capital city Chamber of Commerce. We would be delighted to share with you the benefits of joining. Contact our dedicated membership team on 0131 221 2999 or e-mail leads@edinburghchamber.co.uk

www.edinburghchamber.co.uk

Cover image Credit: Ewan Barry/Tête-à-Tête Foto

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Movers & Shakers 54

Liz McAreavey

Chief Executive, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce liz.mcareavey@edinburghchamber.co.uk

Image of Liz McAreavey: Credit: Tuskite Photography

August/September 2016

CHAMBER NEWS

It’s time to trust your team with unlimited holidays

Nexflix started it, Virgin soon holiday working contract. A year and a half on, we’ve adapted, and we haven’t looked back. followed and Google have probably been offering it for What’s in a change of working hours Our new working culture focuses on what years; unbridled flexibility people get done, rather than what time they and unlimited holidays, isn’t take or from where they do it. People take a few hours, days or weeks off as and when it time we were all doing it? No, we’re not all Virgin It’s easy to scoff that multi-billion pound corporations can afford to offer such work perks. It feels like a bigger risk when you’re smaller and greater exposed to market fluctuation, like it might cost a fortune, cost the business. In reality, when finding fantastic people can be an expensive challenge, can you afford not to support your team and improve their work-life balance? If you truly want to retain the best people, attitude and productivity levels in your business? These were questions we pondered for months. With a sum total of 9 employees, Primate sits firmly within the ‘S’ of the SME acronym, but on 1 January 2015 we introduced a new, fully-flexible, unlimited-

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they feel they need the break. They have the freedom to choose the date and time of their breaks. They are trusted to ensure they take time off only when safe in the knowledge it won’t damage the project they’re working on or impact dramatically upon the team.

The reward has been fully-awake team members whenever they’re working for us. A lighter, noticeably happier atmosphere (and we were very upbeat beforehand!). Hugely more productive working days, where staff power through their tasks because their mind is only on the task at hand. They’re present, in the room and very active, not simply going through the motions. Is it abused? No. Nobody wants to damage their career, their colleague friendships and their reputation with a blatant abuse of such

an enviable work-perk. Have we had teething problems? Yes; there were a couple of days where only one person turned up to the office and sat alone all day because the rest chose to work from home, were on holiday or out with clients. Not ideal, but not a deal breaker either. To combat this we introduced a notification system; everyone confirms their location (in office, elsewhere or on holiday) using a group email or the shared calendar.

Stop waiting and give the contract lawyer a call We’ve teased and tweaked the way we manage this style of working to fit our people and the reality of such working conditions in our line of work. Our work-arounds are not as utopian as Nexflix or Virgin’s latitudinarian arrangement but it ensures our culture can remain, until we’re big enough not to worry.

By Rebecca Mackenzie-Smith Primate

CHAMBER NEWS

Royal Highland Show delivers outstanding event in its 176th year A record breaking 188,810 visitors flocked to the Royal Highland Show over four days – with the Friday playing host to 48,941 exhibitors, farmers, food producers and business owners, as well as the general public, who were digesting the results of the Brexit vote. The historic announcement failed to engulf Scotland’s biggest celebration of farming, food and rural life, which saw 7000 of the UK’s finest livestock compete for £225,000 of prize money and 280 trophies worth around £2,000,000. Following closely behind the livestock in terms of popularity was the Show’s revamped 13th Avenue Arcade, which featured an array of luxury retailers, offering fine furniture, jewellery and art along with a new Prosecco bar. Over £8million is estimated to have been spent on shopping at the event. Two new themed bars, the Botanical Garden, serving Scottish gins, and The Stetson, proved popular additions, with live music, food and quirky themes. The show dance, held each night, attracted in the region of 6,000 revellers over the four days (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday). Over 30,000 children attended the Show for free over the four days, with many learning about food, farming and the countryside at the Royal Highland Education Trust’s Education Centre. The Show’s food offering, Scotland’s Larder Live!, also proved very popular. Featuring over 120 of the finest food and drink exhibitors from across Scotland and the UK, Scotland’s Larder Live brought to life the main consumer message of ‘farming equals food’ and was a lively, stimulating, informative and interactive area full of smells, sights and samples.

Attending Scotland’s largest outdoor event, which contributed £46.2M to the Scottish economy in 2015, were some of Scotland’s finest chefs including Jamie Scott and Lady Claire Macdonald. Chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Ross McEwan, and a number of political figures including Fergus Ewing MSP, Ruth Davidson MSP, David Mundell MP and Rory Stewart MP also attended. Commenting on the success of the 176th Show, Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) chairman, Willie Gill, said: “Once again the Royal Highland Show has proven that, along with being the country’s premier exhibition for the finest livestock, it is one of Scotland’s favourite days out. It is also a great stage on which to do business, and we know that a number of deals have been struck over the four days, which is great to hear. “A lot of planning goes into this event and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our exhibitors, sponsors, staff and visitors, without whom the Show wouldn’t be able happen, and who enable the RHASS to carry out its

charitable remit of promoting and protecting the interests of land based industries here in Scotland. We are looking forward to seeing everyone back here in 2017 for what will be the 177th Royal Highland Show.” Malcolm Buchanan, chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s Scottish board, said: “This year’s event has had greater significance to the Royal Bank of Scotland as we announced that we would extend our sponsorship of the show for another five years – making this one of the longest continuous partnerships in the bank’s history. “We are delighted to have been able to play a part in this year’s show and look forward to working together with the RHASS to build on this success in the years to come.” Final figures - 2015 in brackets: Thursday 42,495 (42,941); Friday 48,941 (47,990); Saturday 54,617 (56,202); and Sunday 42,757 (41,316) Total 188,810 (188,449) www.royalhighlandshow.org

“We are delighted to have been able to play a part in this year’s show and look forward to working together with the RHASS to build on this success in the years to come.”

August/September 2016

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breakdowns. You can find out exactly when your bus will arrive without relying on timetables or spending time waiting at the bus stop. It saves you time and puts you in control of your journey. Our Initiative In order to expand the availability of live bus times, SEStran is supporting the implementation of digital signage (TV screens) in public premises throughout the South East of Scotland to display the real-time bus information (trains and trams can also be included) with the aim of encouraging people to use public transport.

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CHAMBER NEWS

Attracting Excellence not Mediocrity Gaynor McIntyre joined Condies Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers in 2015 as Strategy Consultant. Gaynor has over 20 years of consultancy and business coaching experience. A daily gripe I hear from virtually every client I work with regardless of sector is: “I am really struggling to recruit people who are good… and to get people with real drive is almost impossible….” It doesn’t seem to matter whether you are in finance, healthcare, IT or sales, getting excellent people appears to be a growing nationwide problem. Only recently I listened to a report on BBC news about the current and emerging skills gaps in the digital and science sectors. Indeed the Scottish Government and Skills Development Scotland are currently undertaking a skills review of this sector, which is due to be reported in October. The results will probably come as no surprise to most of the employers I work with, who remain distinctly underwhelmed at the poor quality of individuals turning up at interview expecting flexibility and high salaries without necessarily having the skills set to do the job.

want to see existing businesses continue. Something needs to happen to inject inspiration and self-responsibility into young people, many of whom don’t really believe in themselves and just need to be supported. Young people need to understand that taking full responsibility is all about learning how to respond to successes and failures, so that they can negotiate their way through the agonies and ecstasies of life. I believe we need to get young people away from their screens and out into the real world doing something for themselves that will show them what they can really achieve. As parents we’ve got to stop mollycoddling our kids and get them to work for their money – after all, our primary role is to create a generation who have the basic skills to go out into the world and do something constructive. Right now I would question whether we are really serving the next generation… We also need to play our part as employers. I often meet business owners complaining about the basic skills and drive that 20 years ago were taken for granted. Therefore, one of the options is for employers to stop complaining, lower the entry bar and start their own programmes of intensive education and continuous development. I would like to see

improved people management skills and more training on how employers want roles carried out. I would also like to see more acknowledgement of a job well done and a more decisive approach to dealing with sub-standard performance. My experience is that most people want to do well in whatever field they have chosen and, as employers, we have a duty to steer inexperience in the right direction. In my view we haven’t yet succeeded in improving the quality of who walks through the door at interview, but we can make it crystal clear what we expect from the moment an employee signs on the bottom line. I believe that we should all be working together using a similar framework and extending learning into the workplace and beyond. So, just as the government is driving the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ framework in schools, so we should be doing the same and aiming for excellence in the workplace. Gaynor McIntyre Tel: 01383 721421 E-mail: gaynor.mcintyre@condie.co.uk www.condie.co.uk

So what on earth is going on? Is it just skills that are missing? Is this a problem that can be addressed with some on the job training or is there actually a huge shift in the way people are working, how they view work and how much commitment they are prepared to give? The last thing I would want to do is to promote a regressive sweatshop culture, but surely there is a happy medium somewhere? I do wonder sometimes if it is core skills we need to address or something much more fundamental? One business owner who employed his son recently said to me, “You know it’s my fault. I grew up with nothing so gave my children everything. Now I can’t get my son to recognise the true value of money. There’s his brand new top of the range Mercedes sitting in the car park, yet I can’t get him to see things from my point of view.” Personally, I think we need a bit of a shake up and some tough love, especially if we

August/September 2016

CORPORATE VIEW

Personal branding is key to young talent’s career success The way we work is changing at an unprecedented pace. The idea of a job for life has been on the wane for decades. We now expect to switch careers, start a business, go freelance or even build a portfolio career from multiple parttime or project roles. So it’s only understandable that University graduates can feel a little pensive when they embark on their careers. Some are overwhelmed with the sheer number of options available, and many opt to pursue what they perceive to be more secure opportunities with large international firms outside of Scotland.

But there are significant opportunities if they stay. Scotland has a unique culture of small business. Some 99.4% of all of the country’s private firms are SMEs and they employ more than 1.2 million people. Edinburgh in particular significantly punches above its weight, when it comes to start-ups.

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The problem for graduates is seeking out these opportunities – many SMEs don’t have the time or resources to visit or advertise their roles on campus. Meanwhile SMEs tell us young people coming out of university often lack the specific skills required to work for smaller firms. They can find it hard to be flexible enough to deal with the challenges these roles throw at them. And they can struggle to be resilient when things go wrong.

There’s an expectation and skills gap to be filled. Supporting young talent to develop careers is fundamental to what we do throughout University of Edinburgh Business School and the wider University as a whole. We actively engage with programmes like the Santander SME Internship Scheme and Scotgrad to bring on our students together with small businesses across Scotland. Through our entrepreneurial network, the e Club we’re also able to connect students to a network of more than 2,500 entrepreneurs,

investors, and fast growing alumni companies. And we offer students the chance to play a role in ‘bringing Scotland to the world’ through projects and consultancy with small firms looking for international opportunities. Young people are more switched on to worklife balance than any generation before them. Their commitment to making a positive impact is a defining characteristic of their generation. But on leaving School they often don’t appreciate how much of their career success is down to them. Building a career today is as much about cultivating a personal brand as it is about technical ability. And our main role is to help students shape their own career goals. We really have a duty to empower them to reflect critically on the story they want to tell and the person they want to become. Professor Ian Clarke is Dean of University of Edinburgh Business School

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FEATURE: DIGITAL FOCUS

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FEATURE: DIGITAL FOCUS

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IT support company launches exciting product to help SMEs Edinburgh-based IT support company SortmyPC Ltd is launching an exciting new software product, that will help SMEs manage their business operations in a simpler way than many of the existing systems on the market. SortmyPC Ltd, which was formed in 2004 and is based in Colinton, has developed Worx24 – a business management system, which can manage everything from client data, to quotes & job orders, suppliers & stock control to financial records and invoices. Worx24 has arisen out of the company’s growing sense that there is a need for a business management system specifically designed for the Small Business Market that is easy to use and can be developed for a client’s individual needs. Managing Director Gordon Sayers, who created the fast-growing company, said: “We offer a wide range of IT support for companies in sectors ranging from property letting, engineering, the legal sector and a growing number of charities and everyone we have talked to about Worx24 has ended up purchasing it.

“A lot of the products out there are too large and complex and most SMEs end up using only a small percentage of the facilities because they do not need the rest. “Our system is different because it offers them only what they need and we can tailor it specifically to the way the client works. It really is a bespoke system. “By using Worx24, they do not end up with something that is too big and unwieldy, and therefore not particularly well suited to their needs, but instead gives them something that they can easily use and get more value out of. “The system has been developed by our team of software engineers based on what clients have been telling us and that is its greatest strength.” Worx24 is the latest in a series of success stories for SortmyPC, which operates out of 200-year-old Mackenzie Cottage on Colinton Road. The company, which provides computer services and support in and around Edinburgh, the central belt and Fife, has grown dramatically since its first home in a garden shed back in 2004.

As one of Edinburgh’s leading IT service providers, SortmyPC supplys and supports business technology and telecoms for small and medium size businesses through two divisions: n SortmybusinessIT - providing outsourced business IT services and support to small and medium businesses n Sortmytelecoms - supplying and supporting business broadband and VOIP telephone systems to improve business telecommunications. Gordon said: “The business has been growing rapidly over recent years and we are supporting a wide range of businesses from people working from home to SMEs with 7080 members of staff. “Three years ago, there were just four of us but now we employ thirteen as we continue to expand.” Worx24 will launch at the end of September.

0131 477 2644 http://www.sortmypc.co.uk/

Its team of engineers now provide outsourced IT support to more than 150 businesses as well as supporting a small local base of home users with their computer problems.

August/September 2016

CHAMBER NEWS

Law firm Anderson Strathern works to recruit and keep a talented workforce trained and motivated The focus on talent and skills means that employers increasingly have to do more to identify, train and keep the best people to help them drive their business forward. It is something that as a law firm in a competitive professional services market, Anderson Strathern has made a particular focus. The firm introduced a wide range of employee focused initiatives as part of its strategic ambition to be the legal employer of choice in Scotland. This objective is driven forward under the stewardship of the firm’s Managing Partner, Murray McCall who set up the role of Human Resources & Organisational Development Partner, all with support and commitment from the firm’s Board and Senior Management Team. As a result, Anderson Strathern is a law firm determined to create a happy, motivated, entrepreneurial, productive and engaged workforce – and where people have fun doing so! There are a number of achievements which has helped the firm on its journey and culminated in winning “Employer of the Year” at the Scottish Legal Awards earlier this year. The submission for the award focused on recent achievements which included financial reward and recognition, flexible working, communication, training, corporate social responsibility, equality & diversity, having fun and external recognition. As the first double gold status law firm in Scotland for Investor in People and Investor in Young People, Anderson Strathern was focused on the most recent review of the firm by IIP which said: “Overall your people continue to value the environment you create and in which they work. They align well at a personal level with both your strategic aims and your core values with many providing examples of how they deliver excellent customer service to your clients as a result of this focus.” For businesses external recognition is, of course, important. However, Anderson

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Strathern has also focused on making sure this was felt internally too. Thinking through what makes a difference to people is a part of that. When the firm won the ‘Employer of the Year’ award, it announced an additional public holiday, giving the new in the upbeat weekly newsletter from our Managing Partner - End of Week Report (EOWR)- to celebrate and share our success. The EOWR, while an incredibly simple idea, has helped demonstrate that communication is fundamental to the firm’s success by acknowledging the variety of excellent work going on across the business as well as recognising team and personal successes. Saying thank you and recognising success is important and so the firm also introduced a spot bonus scheme, specifically designed to reward individual employee performance and fairness. In terms of reward is seen through

being one of only two law firms in Scotland at the time to become an Accredited Living Wage employer in February 2015 and it signed the Scottish Government’s Business Pledge. While winning the “Employer of the Year” really was a moment for the firm to take stock on its achievements to date, it is crucial to remain hungry to do more in this space and the firm has made that commitment to its people.

Chris McDowall is a Partner in Anderson Strathern’s Employment & Pensions Unit and is also the firm’s Human Resources & Organisational Development Partner

ADVERTORIAL

Get moving with Business Gateway In addition to one to one support the advisers can also point businesses to a wealth of free online advice and specialist guides on www. bgateway.com that will help them plan for growth.

Free workshops to help you get moving

Business owners across Edinburgh and Lothians can access expert advice to give their businesses a boost. From exporting, helping to source finance, marketing and customer care to HR, new product development and planning for growth, Business Gateway offers a programme of online advice, free workshops and one to one support that can help business owners make the right decisions.

A network of professional advisers Business Gateway has a network of professionally trained advisers who can give much needed, on the ground, support and advice to businesses with growth potential. The advisers, many of whom have run their own business or held senior positions within industry, have the skills, practical experience and network of valuable contacts to help business owners achieve their objectives.

Business Gateway’s free workshops are targeted at all stages of business development and take place throughout the year in a variety of locations across Edinburgh and Lothians. The workshops are run by experienced business advisers and cover a range of topics including online trading, selling internationally, social media, recruitment and marketing amongst many other subjects.

Business Gateway helps tech business plan for growth One business that has been supported by Business Gateway is Lothians procurement company, Procure Wizard. With a host of high profile clients and a recent Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation under its belt, the business is now looking to the future, with an ambitious expansion planned over the next few years. Using its dynamic online purchasing portal, the company (www.procurewizard.com), which was started in 2009 and helped to grow by Business Gateway, has modernised

the procurement cycle and helped the likes of Macdonald Hotels, Gleneagles, Social Bite and Chester Racecourse increase efficiencies and reduce costs. Founder William Gorol now has ambitious plans to double the size of his business, which employs 25 people at offices in Loanhead, Edinburgh and in Liverpool, by 2018. “The Queen’s Award is really exciting for a young business and a real recognition of our biggest asset – our employees,” said William. “When we started up, it was clear that technology could add much-needed profit improvement whilst simultaneously reducing labour intensive and manual processes. We now have almost 10,000 active users who between them send over £12 million a week in purchase orders and invoices via the portal. “When we were looking to scale the business we turned to Business Gateway for advice and potential financial support that would help us develop a fresh marketing strategy; improve sales capability through recruitment and route to market improvements; and improve the company’s product range through the development of foreign currency and language versions. Their input has been invaluable to us.” To find out how Business Gateway can help you, visit www.bgateway.com/edinburgh or contact your local office on 0131 516 5035.

August/September 2016

CHAMBER NEWS

Let’s Talk About Youth Talent: Skills of the Future Workforce Academic qualifications are great for young people and support the achievement of further and higher education and positive progressions. Schools and colleges invest in teaching, coaching and supporting young people to achieve in learning, life and work, but it is often quoted that bringing the curriculum to life and employability skills development requires more engagement from employers. Developing the Young Workforce: Scotland’s Youth Employment Strategy highlights the need for more employers to be involved by stating: ‘Employers play a central part in these efforts. Through their understanding of the skills they require, and of future labour market demand, employers can help to shape the workforce of the future by helping to develop and deliver young people’s experiences of the world of work while at school’. Recent UKCES research shows that skills shortages and gaps are on the increase. Engaging in education early supports the development of skills desired by employers in the future workforce. What we currently understand to be the skills employers are looking for in the future workforce could be harnessed in research carried out with STEMNET and partner employers across the UK. The top 10 Employability Skills highlighted are: n Communication and Interpersonal Skills n Problem Solving Skills n Using your initiative and being self motivated n Working under pressure and to deadlines n Organisational skills n Team working n Ability to learn and adapt n Numeracy n Valuing diversity and difference n Negotiation Skills This was backed up with research from CIPD suggesting the top three skills to focus on in the first year when recruiting young people are communication skills, team work and confidence. The top 3 skills identified as hard to find among skills shortage vacancies were ability to manage own time and prioritise, customer service skills and team working. We see a clear pattern emerging. In your business would you agree with the importance of these skills? If a young person leaves school or college and is able to demonstrate ability in these areas or articulate experience, attitude or behaviours that represent these

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skills, would they be a valuable asset to your organisation? What has also been highlighted is that 66% of recruiting employers state that work experience is a critical or significant factor in their recruit decision making. For certain roles industry specific skills and qualifications are required too. Employers engaging in education can support the development of young people as they move towards their career and both can benefit from this. Employers can influence the curriculum and skills developed by young people by engaging in meaningful activity ranging from offering work placements to giving career talks to inspire young people to think about careers in your industry. Yet it has been identified by FSB in a recent report that many employers do not know how to engage or have never been asked to. We are making this ask now, and the DYW team are here to help.

How can I get involved? Working in partnership with Skills Development Scotland, Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian DYW are working to make it easier for employers to engage in shaping

youth talent. In August 2016 a digital tool will be launched in the region for employers offering opportunities to education. The ‘Market Place’ will showcase offers from employers mapped against skills outcomes, offers can be targeted, for example; be curriculum area specific, school stage specific, location specific. Initially, secondary schools and colleges will be able to log on and identify what offers employers have made and then take up these offers. Offers range from skill sessions, employer inspiration activities, work placements, career events attendance, teacher continued professional development and parent sessions. Please contact us if you would like to be involved.

Are you in? Find up to date information on support available on our website, www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/ Developingtheyoungworkforce. You can follow us on Twitter @DYWEdinMidEast and we would love you to join us in our ‘Let’s Talk About Youth Talent’ Group on LinkedIn, where we will discuss best practice, challenges and ideas – involving everyone in this discussion.

FOCUS ON: RECRUITMENT

ADVERTORIAL

How skilled recruitment can help you compete with the big boys Fuel your business with Meraki Talent – recruitment experts for Financial Services, Accountancy & Finance, IT, Sales & Marketing, Business Support and Legal As a business leader, hiring and retaining the best staff should always be at the forefront of your mind. No matter how fantastic your product or service, if you don’t have talented and passionate people in your business it is impossible to execute your plans. That means knowing where to look for the talent, which is why hiring Edinburgh-based Meraki Talent makes such good sense. Meraki Talent, which was founded in January 2015, provides high-end recruitment solutions to the Financial Services, Accountancy, Professional and Legal markets within the UK and internationally. The team at Meraki Talent knows that a common issue for SMEs is how they can compete for the best talent in an efficient and cost effective way. Often, they are trying to attract the same staff as larger firms who

have invested significantly more in what is commonly known as “talent acquisition” The digital age may have levelled the playing field in many ways but companies still need to invest time and money to bring the best people to their business. A key part of the Meraki Talent approach to making that happen is to help employers understand what they want out of the process: Employer branding - What do you stand for? What are your goals? What do you value? What is your role in the community? These are the questions employers need to ask so that they have a strategy for taking these messages to their key market demographics. Online Presence - Most companies’ career pages extend little beyond current vacancies or contact details for HR to which speculative applications can be sent. An attractive careers page allows potential candidates to “look into” your business either via employee profiles or hiring success stories. Also include information around your Corporate Socially Responsibility or charitable work – a socially conscious business is increasingly an attraction point for individuals. Research shows that 93% of job seeker check out a potential employer’s digital footprint before deciding whether to apply or now.

Social Media - Social Media is now firmly interwoven into everyday life and 63% of job seekers have applied for a role on their mobile. Your company social media channels should be used for business updates and to provide leadership to your community but career opportunities should be part of this content also. Candidate Experience - This is an area where the nimbler SME market should be able to differentiate themselves but often don’t. When you engage with candidates ensure your process is timely, all your internal stakeholders are committed and engaged and that you provide feedback to all applicants. Even a rejected candidate can become an ambassador for your brand if the decline is handled correctly. If you are looking for professional advice on hiring or hiring strategies, please contact Andrew Welsh on 01312972702 or Andrew.welsh@ merakitalent.com.

August/September 2016

ADVERTORIAL

FEATURE: FINANCE/LEGAL

What do you do with your retained profits? Following the credit crisis, UK recession, volatility in European markets, uncertain outlook from China, and the more recent UK market instability along with the fall in Sterling during the furore around the EU referendum, it is simply good business sense to hold additional reserves within your company to allow you to smooth out any fluctuations in your turnover. That will allow you to pay wages, dividends, suppliers, and everything else that goes into keeping your business trading. In recent years we have become used to a low-interest-rate environment and in some cases there is no return on your capital at all. Information from the Bank of England suggests that this situation is unlikely to change in the near future, and the prospect of a rate reduction, or even a negative interest rate, is once again being discussed. When rates do start to increase, we are encouraged to keep in mind that rates are likely to rise slowly and that they will probably plateau at a lower level than before the crash. The need to maintain flexibility of access to your funds may lead to you accepting these rates as a necessary risk, but the long term erosion of inflationary pressure on the buying power of the retained capital could have a significant impact on how far this capital stretches. If you donâ€™t need to access it for several years, it may not be worth as much, in real terms, as it was when you set it aside. All is not lost, however. There are investment

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solutions available which can provide a much needed boost to your potential returns, without necessarily restricting your access to the capital. The nature of your business will drive the most suitable form of investment for you, as will your attitude to investment risk and your ability to withstand investment loss. Capacity for loss is particularly important in the short-term should your business require an element of liquidity to meet any financial commitments, however, making provision to invest only funds that can be committed over the medium to long-term should allow for any liquidity issues. Of equal importance is tax status and the value of funds you have available to invest. All investments carry an element of risk, and you may get back less than you invested, but leaving the funds idle is also risky. Taking professional advice can help manage these risks, and an objective review of your needs by an independent adviser may highlight

other areas in which action could be taken to help further improve the financial health of your business. Speak to your financial adviser about your options or, if you donâ€™t currently have an adviser, please get in touch and I will be happy to discuss your situation in more detail. Bryan Keith is an Independent Financial Adviser with Spence and Spence (Scotland), and can be reached on 0131 656 5500, or bryan@spenceandspence.com. Spence and Spence is a trading name of Fairstone Financial Management who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Fairstone Financial Management have been awarded Chartered Financial Planner status by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

FEATURE: FINANCE/LEGAL

ADVERTORIAL

Will auto enrolment ‘opt out’ rates remain as low as anticipated? By Lisa Bruce, Director at Acumen Accountants & Advisors Limited.

With auto enrolment in full swing, it is anticipated that there would be a fairly low opt-out rate amongst employees at around just 9-10%. However, according to a recent news story, this might become a much higher percentage. The reason for this is that there is still huge disengagement from employees, with around only 1% of members having currently accessed their member account online. This shows that the topic of pensions is just not something that is currently at the forefront of employee’s thinking. Currently, the term ‘opt-out’ is the second most popular search term on the NOW: Pensions website, says its Director of Communications. This means that, sadly, the main reason people are visiting the site is to enquire about how to leave the auto enrolment scheme. So yes, current opt-out rates are low, but if we see a rise in engagement to around 5%, some suggest these opt-out rates are likely to rise to an anticipated 30%. Other sources have remained more optimistic, with Nest’s Chief Investment Officer stating that he thought opt-outs might initially increase when contributions rise, however he’d be amazed if it was a major increase. Furthermore, a recent survey by Aviva found that more than a quarter of pension savers never review their retirement savings, and if we just focus on women, 32% of those questioned neglect retirement savings completely. Have your employees approached you about opting-out of the auto enrolment scheme?

Are you ready for Auto Enrolment? you Whatever the view, there is noAre time like the ready for A present for them to consider their pension New legislation states that employers are legally required to automatically enrol their staff into a options. Your pension is your salary once you are pension scheme and make contributions. retired, so it should be worth consideration.

New legislation states that employers are legally required to automatically enrol their staff into a pension scheme and make contributions.

Don’t leave it too late! The implementation of a compliant scheme can take time.

All employers have been given a staging date; this is the deadline by which you will need to have a scheme in place and be ready to enrol workers.

Acumen can assist with all elements of Auto Enrolment, relieving the additional administrative burden and providing peace of mind for the employer.

ensuring that you are prepared.

advice, email our in-house expert Lisa Bruce at lisa.bruce@acumen.info or visit www.acumen. info

All employers have been given a staging date; this

the deadline by which you will need to have a If you would like further informationisscheme on the reasons in place and be ready to enrol workers. your employees should stay in the scheme, or for more Acumen Accountants & Advisors Payroll Bureau Acumen Accountants & Advisors Payroll Bureau has over 20 years’ experience in dealing information with ever Failure to comply can incur considerable on opting-out, contactfines. a member ofhasAcumen over 20 years’via; experience in dealing with ever changing legislation and compliancies, we can take changing legislation and compliancies, we can take the pain out of the Auto EnrolmentENQUIRIES@ACUMEN.INFO procedures, Please do contact us for more information and or call 0845 270 1688the pain out of the Auto Enrolment procedures,

ensuring that you are prepared.

August/September 2016

ADVERTORIAL

FEATURE: FINANCE/LEGAL

Debt recovery, dispute resolution, and litigation... Can these be cost effective?

Becoming a party in a court action, whether you are the party making the claim or contesting it, can be a daunting, complex and potentially expensive business. Taking advice at an early stage can make a significant difference in terms of the outcome and impact on you as an individual or on your business. Ian Wells of ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan, Solicitors, answers some common questions and concerns in relation to an area in which the lawyers have often been seen to be the only winners:

What sorts of issues can ELP assist with? We have a wide range of general civil litigation experience, however our principal focus in this department is on debt collection, contractual/commercial disputes, and the matters which affect our growing number of SME clients. We provide support to our commercial leasing clients in areas such as rent arrears and recovery of property/eviction, and our business clients who require to deal

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with issues with former employees such as enforcement of the terms of restrictive covenants. We try to be as helpful as possible and offer a wide service to SMEs, so if you think you have an issue then let us know and we will see if we can assist.

Is there an alternative to formal Court proceedings? Although some disputes simply cannot be resolved without litigation, the benefits of early dispute resolution should never be underestimated. Attempting to head off a potentially protracted, and expensive, court process through discussion and negotiation with the other side will often be the most cost and commercially effective way of dealing with even the most contentious disputes.

And if matters canâ€™t be resolved? Sometimes, however, there is a need to raise or defend a Court action and we can take you through the process, merits, and potential costs and outcomes of your case. We represent our clients in the Commercial, Ordinary, Summary Cause and Small Claims levels of the Sheriff Court, and are happy to appear on behalf of our clients wherever their local court is, or instruct local agents for basic hearings if that is more cost effective. At the outset we will discuss with you what you are looking to achieve, and how best to go about this. We will take the time to get as much information from you as we can so that we can get the best result for you, and we always make ourselves available throughout the process should any questions or queries arise.

We will always look to see if there is the prospect of resolving matters prior to raising court proceedings as this can take away risk and uncertainty, whilst also minimising costs to our clients.

We appreciate that many people have no experience of Court, so we try to make things as clear and straightforward as possible even when matters are complex from a legal point of view.

We are of the view that approaching matters in this way represents the best interests of our clients, and the results can really benefit those involved.

Although a great number of cases may settle before a final hearing, our approach is to prepare as if the case will go the full distance, as in our view this places our

FEATURE: FINANCE/LEGAL

ADVERTORIAL

When should I come to ELP?

clients in a better position if there is to be any negotiation during the process.

As soon as possible.

But Court action is expensive? The amount of work involved in any Court action can be a difficult thing to estimate at the outset, and Court actions can be expensive. To assist our clients with this uncertainty, we offer our clients flexible and tailored options such as cost effective reduced rate hourly packages, or fixed fees whenever this is practical. As with the other legal services we provide, we are open with our fees in order that clients do not find themselves receiving a nasty surprise at the end of a case. However, as well as considering the potential legal costs involved in a case, and the merits of the arguments, we believe it is crucial that at the outset our clients consider carefully the chances of actually recovering any sums due from the other party to the case if the claim is successful. We will sit down with you and assist you in taking an early view on the potential for actually recovering the sums claimed, which in our view is an essential step for our clients to undertake before committing funds to the pursuit of a claim. Further down the line we assist successful parties to court actions to instruct Sheriff Officers to enforce decrees granted in their favour. However, Sheriff Officers can only enforce against assets, and it is therefore better to consider at an early stage the assets which the other side is likely to hold.

Can’t I deal with matters myself? Although this may be possible, in certain circumstances it may not always be the case, and our recommendation is to take advice as soon as you are aware of a potential issue. The Court matters that we deal with for our business clients will often involve technical matters such as the interpretation of contractual clauses, or the process for recovery of possession of property (which is more complicated and prescriptive than one would expect), and we can add real value for our clients by giving them informed and helpful advice on the merits of the case and the most productive way forward. We are always happy to have an initial free telephone conversation with our clients to see what their issue is and to provide them with an overview of what we could do to assist them. Also, if you are intending to deal with matters on your own behalf then we are still willing to offer assistance on specific aspects of the case, and in preparing you for the Court process and providing guidance in respect of how to go about successfully winning your case.

We won’t charge you for an initial chat to see if we can help.

Duncan McFadzean, Ian Wells and Duncan Hamilton

What about debt recovery work and pursuing unpaid invoices? Is it worth paying a solicitor to do this? We know that in the majority of cases businesses will have no real problem arranging for their own invoices to be paid. We tend to only become involved when despite our client’s best efforts payment is not forthcoming. We aim to make the debt recovery process as efficient as possible for our clients, both in terms of cost and time taken. To achieve this we like to create a template demand for payment letter for individual clients, and when instructed to we issue these to the debtor in question in a form that makes clear that if there is no satisfactory resolution within a specified time period Court proceedings will be raised with no further notice. We prefer to issue demand for payment letters in a manner which allows our clients to proceed straight to Court (claiming Court expenses) if payment is not made. This can involve “signed for” post, or Sheriff Officers in more extreme cases. By dealing with matters in this way we can take the steps that are necessary to secure payment on a fixed fee basis, which offers the best value for our clients and also allows them to proceed to Court immediately if the debtor is simply not going to pay voluntarily.

It is not a good idea to "soldier on" on your own unless you are entirely comfortable with the issues and the process. Doing so runs the risk of a situation deteriorating and potentially ending up in a more costly Court action than should have been required, or mistakes being made that may affect your chances of success. Bringing us in early often allows the situation to be dealt with quickly, and for those involved to negotiate a settlement before too much expense is incurred. We will always advise from a common sense point of view, and using our experience we can recommend the best way to achieve a positive result.

Getting in touch ELP Arbuthnott McClanachan is an Edinburgh law firm providing services and support to clients across a range of areas. In addition to debt recovery, litigation and dispute resolution services we provide specialist employment law advice and Employment Tribunal representation through our employment law department, and we also have a very experienced property and private client department. We are always happy to have an initial discussion with you or respond to an email enquiry. If you would like to discuss matters on a no obligation basis please fill in our enquiry form on our website, email us on enquiries@elpamsolicitors.co.uk or call us now on 0131 554 8649.

Supporting Your Business Litigation and Dispute Resolution

98 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH6 4PG

Debt Recovery

Tel. 0131 554 8649

Employment Law

enquiries@elpamsolicitors.co.uk

Commercial Leases and Business Purchases

www.elpamsolicitors.co.uk

August/September 2016

CHAMBER NEWS

Happy 230 Year Anniversary to us! By Mayan Grace, Marketing Manager at the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce This year we celebrate our 230 year anniversary of serving members and inspiring connections. Two weeks before Christmas in 1785, a number of leading Edinburgh business men met, and from this meeting, the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Manufacture was born. The first Secretary of the Chamber was Mr William Creech, bookseller, publisher to Robert Burns. On 10 July 1786 Edinburgh Chamber was officially formed by Royal Charter granted by King George III.

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Throughout the Chamber’s long and distinguished history, the Chamber has been at the front of innovation. We instigated the firing of the one o’clock gun to keep shipping in Leith informed of accurate time, and were even responsible for influencing the first ever Business Degree. And we’re still innovating today –we pioneered the Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference to progress our renewable energy industry, and we took a leadership role in bringing the Green Investment Bank to Scotland’s Capital. We have been influencing business and life in our city for more than two centuries. And we couldn’t do any of this without or members and partners.

To celebrate we held our anniversary party for our members at our office on the 11th of July – fun was had by all our members! If you would like to get involved with anniversary campaign please visit www. edinburghchamber.co.uk/our-230-yearanniversary or contact the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce on 0131 221 2999, e-mail marketing@edinburghchamber.co.uk.

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August/September 2016

HOW WE HELPED JOHN develop his own oil company HOW WE HELPED JOHN HOW WE HELPED HOW WE HELPEDJOHN JOHN ADVERTORIAL

Braw Beard Oils is a rapidly growing personal grooming brand develop his own oil company develop his own oil company develop his own oil company that’s selling across the globe. Oils is a rapidly growing personal grooming BrawBraw BeardBeard Oils is a rapidly growing personal grooming brandbrand Braw Beard Oils is a rapidly growing personal grooming brand Having developed a strong range selling across the globe. that’sthat’s selling across the globe.

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Four years on from its launch, Braw Beard Oils has secured a host of fans hone his marketing strategy. Limp Bizkit frontman, Fouron years from its launch, Fred Durst, Fourincluding years fromon its launch, and MMA fion ghter, Robert Braw Beard Oils has secured a host Braw Beard Oils hasfrom secured aWhiteford. host of fans of fans Four years its launch, hone marketing strategy. turned tohis Business Gateway to help hone his marketing strategy.

including Limphas Bizkit frontman, Fred including Limp Bizkit frontman, Fred Durst, Braw Beard Oils secured a host of Durst, fans Support from Business and MMA fi ghter, Robert Whiteford. andincluding MMA fighter, Robert Limp BizkitWhiteford. frontman, Fred Durst,

Gateway has helped John and MMA fighter, Robert Whiteford. Support from Business Support from Business develop a social media strategy Gateway has helped John Gateway has helped John that’s built brand awareness, Support from Business develop amedia socialstrategy media strategy develop a social driven online sales and secured Gateway has helped John that’s builtawareness, brand awareness, that’s built brand distribution worldwide. develop a social media strategy

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driven online sales and secured Businessdistribution Gateway’s worldwide.

social media support Business Gateway’s Business Gateway’s has proved invaluable. social media support social media support John Jackson, Owner, Braw Beard Oils has proved invaluable. hasBusiness proved invaluable. Gateway’s social media support How we helped: has proved invaluable.

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How helped: How helped: •John 1we to 1 we business support Jackson, Owner, Braw Beard Oils 1 to 1connections business support • 1 to 1• business support • Global • Global connections • Global connections How wemedia helped: • Social training • Social media training • Social media training • 1Networking to 1 business support opportunities • Networking opportunities • Networking opportunities • Global connections

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Togrow grow yourbusiness, business, call 0131 5035 To your call 0131 516516 5035 To grow your business, call 0131 516 5035 orvisit visit bgateway.com/edinburgh or bgateway.com/edinburgh or visit bgateway.com/edinburgh 22 BC August/September 2016

ADVERTORIAL

Cracking the Consistency Code Everyone wants to know what the magic word or spell is to make your business a success. The honest answer is actually all about you and your commitment (and sometimes just a little bit of luck). However, there is one golden (and simple) rule any business owner can use that will help drive their company to succeed, and might just bring some luck with it.

The rule I like to call Consistency. What I mean by consistency is really very simple. You don’t have to be the best at something or provide a more premium, superduper service compared to your competition. What you need to ensure is your service and your employees are always reliable and constantly delivering the same level of service, every single time, for every single client. Look at it this way, we don’t go to Pizza Express because we know we are going to get the most authentic pizza outside of Italy, we go because it’s convenient, reliable, and we know exactly what we are going to get. It’s this same thought process that you want your business to be known for. You want it to be seen as the Pizza Express of your industry – the reliable, knowledgeable, go-to and really delicious service. OK so maybe “delicious” doesn’t apply in your industry, but for the sake of your business’ success and maximising profits – and your own sanity – being able to get consistent, predictable, reliable results from each and every one of your employees is a must. Achieving consistency doesn’t take much but it does mean you have to be honest with yourself. You might have a sales team that

seems to be getting some serious successes, but if you look closer, are these successes down to a couple of members of the team outshining the rest? Sure, you might be getting the results but will your prospects get the same quality and attention to detail regardless of who picks up the phone? Imagine the seamless and wonderful opportunities available to you if everyone was singing from the same sales sheet. Sounds like the dream doesn’t it? But it doesn’t take much for it to be a reality.

Control Your Wild Horses Just like the wild horses on the Great Plains, your sales team can be tamed, and this is all down to discipline. If you feel motivation is dipping in your team, the discipline card always comes in handy. This isn’t about punishment, this is about addressing any negatives before they becoming problems. You’re all trying to meet a certain standard, so if you feeling this is slipping away, reassure the team, boost morale, and make sure any issues are dealt with quickly.

May The Focus Be With You Make sure you staff remain on track every step of the way, don’t let them visit the dark side, and become distracted from not only the task at hand, but the overall goal of the business. That goes for you too. Remember the 20/80 rule, 20% of your tasks are responsible for 80% of your success. So that 20% is your golden ticket, if you struggle with consistency across your entire business, at least make sure that small percentage runs like a well-oiled machine. When it comes to business we all want more results, more profit and more happy clients. I think the key to achieving this is consistency. It will create the reputation and identity you want, while also leading to some exciting and outstanding successes for you, your company, and your team. If you have any questions about how OpenCRM can help you achieve consistency heaven, please get in touch. I would love to hear from you. Find us at www.opencrm.co.uk or drop us a line at hello@opencrm.co.uk.

A Watched Clock Never Moves Don’t forget that, for all the truth in the old adage that “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” that doesn’t mean the people building it weren’t pushing themselves to the breaking point. So have some patience with your team, appreciate what they are doing. and work out how you can make life easier for them. It might be delegating more work or helping them with their organisational skills. Just have a little patience, set a time frame, and you’ll reap the rewards sooner than you think.

Graham Anderson, is the CEO and founder of OpenCRM, one of the UK’s leading customer relationship management systems.

August/September 2016

UK SMEs will be out of business in 5 years if they don’t adapt

“It’s great to see that there’s such a positive outlook among SMEs, but it’s clear that in order to deliver on those ambitions businesses need to adapt to the times.

Only 2% of UK SMEs have adapted to meet digital demands. Online sales is the biggest focus area among SMEs to boost growth. Businesses that embrace data analytics are twice as profitable. Well over a third (38%) of UK small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) believe that if they don’t adapt their business models they will go out of business in five years. However, only a mere 2% have done something about it. These are the findings of the 2016 ‘SME Barometer Research’ commissioned by Exact, which is an annual survey looking at technology adoption among 2,500 SMEs across Europe and the USA. One of the key highlights of the research was that two thirds (64%) of all UK SMEs face competition from new digital players in their space. Yet, surprisingly, only 6% are investing in new technology to keep up with this digitalisation movement and retain market share. The findings come at a time when SMEs across all seven countries surveyed (UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and the USA) are planning for growth: 73% of UK SMEs have said they are planning to grow. Interestingly, France had particularly high growth plans with 90% of businesses stating their ambitions.

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Gavin Fell, General Manager of Exact Cloud Solutions UK, said, “It’s great to see that there’s such a positive outlook among SMEs, but it’s clear that in order to deliver on those ambitions businesses need to adapt to the times. Digitalisation is going to be key to ensuring you are not only efficient, but remain competitive in today’s highly challenging environment.” The research revealed that while only 2% of British SME leaders have already taken action to align their businesses with market developments, a further 56% are now exploring new business models, something that is shared with their European and USA counterparts. Some of the primary focus areas are investing in new technologies and talent. In the UK, SMEs are looking to online sales (30%), partnerships and channel sales (26%) and hiring talent (27%) to boost their businesses. The USA is placing greatest faith in online sales (39%) while Germany is throwing its weight behind new partnership agreements (31%). In terms of tech adoption, the momentum behind embracing cloud technologies appears to be gathering pace in the UK with 58% now using one or more cloud tools, up from 47% in the same survey last year. This remains a priority from last year’s study (63%) with 65% believing that technological changes are going

to have a strong impact on the competitive landscape in the UK in the next three years. Other tools that are proving popular among SMEs include data analytics and reporting. Over a third (34%) of professionals surveyed said they could get a complete overview of company performance with a single push of a button. This increased availability of information is driving profit growth, with data-led businesses reporting an average profit margin of 21% last financial year, in comparison to 9% for businesses reporting limited use of data. “The use of technology to deepen business insight means that the wider SME economy is entering a new period of rapid growth and efficiency,” said Erik van der Meijden, CEO of Exact. “As customer demands become ever more stringent, we are seeing entrepreneurial businesses taking advantage of digitalisation to broaden their service offerings. Exact provides ambitious SMEs with the technology and services they need to grow beyond their limits. As a result, companies are becoming increasingly agile, adapting to customer demands and market fluctuations in real time.”

CHAMBER NEWS

Business Fives gets professional Scotland’s first national business five-a-side tournament launches its Professional services heat. We are delighted to announce the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce as our industry partner for the Professional Services heat in Scotland’s first ever national business 5-a-side tournament. The tournament organised by Business Fives takes place throughout the summer and will raise money for The Trussell Trust foodbank network. With 8 sector heats taking place representing the entirety of the Scottish economy from Finance to Energy, from Housing to Technology the first heat sees Scotland’s Professional Services sector gather at the Sighthill Powerleague in Edinburgh.

In what we’re sure will be a great event, the professional services heat will take place on Thursday 11 August in Edinburgh and will be a great networking opportunity for all individuals taking part. It’s the chance for industries to unite with the two finalists from each heat progressing to the national final at Hampden.

Fives has chosen to partner with The Trussell Trust network of foodbanks in Scotland. These contributions will literally transform the lives of men, women and children across the whole of Scotland who are unable to put food on the table by ensuring we support our foodbanks well so they can support our communities well.”

Liz McAreavey, Acting Chief Executive, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said “This is a great initiative bringing together business, sport, fun whilst enabling to get more engaged in supporting the City’s ‘Responsible Business’ campaign delivered in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council’

With places limited to 16 teams per sector heat why not come along to your sectors tournament and get the office buzzing with some friendly rivalry before the tournament of the year.

As well as being a great networking opportunity for Scottish Businesses Ian Esson, Scotland Partnership Coordinator for Business Fives charity partner, the Trussell Trust explained “We are delighted that Business

The Business Fives website has more information on the entire tournament and the Professional Services heat. Visit us at www.businessfives.co.uk.

August/September 2016

CHAMBER NEWS

Why workplace learning needs to change Social interaction is a key way that we learn, and digital technology can do much to enable social and collaborative learning. Learning platforms with forums and communities of practise facilitate the sharing of ideas and knowledge, even across global networks. In addition they provide a controlled environment for coaching and mentoring.

How can organisation help employees to engage with learning? The aim of many organisations is to create a learning culture where people are engaged and take responsibility for their learning. Applying a recognition system to learning can help to raise the perceived value and motivate employees to get more involved.

Micro learning can provide a more nimble The skills required for approach to skills development, creating today’s workplace change short bite-sized learning to quickly target a specific learning need. Employees are more with increasing rapidity. It likely to have the time to complete short is estimated that by 2020, manageable activities and by delivering 60% of new jobs will require training at the right time they can start less than 20% of the skills we putting it into practice straight away. currently possess. Businesses How must workplace learning adapt to need agile learning solutions staff expectations? eLearning shouldn’t be judged on the to ensure they develop the dull compliance training we might have right talent and skills to stay experienced in the past. With creative multi-media design and immersive learning competitive. At the same time employee’s requirements for workplace learning are changing. People are exposed to creative multi-media resources on social channels every day, which has raised the standard expected of materials. While busy lives mean that they want more flexibility in how and when they learn.

techniques there is the potential for highly engaging and effective online learning.

How can organisations become more agile in skills development?

With so many of life’s tasks now possible on mobile devices, employees expect their learning content to be equally accessible, giving them more flexibility in when they learn. By using responsive design when creating learning, content will be automatically repositioned to ensure the optimal learning experience on whichever device is being used.

eLearning delivered through online learning platforms has long been used to upskill employees, often allowing wider and more rapid deployment than face-to-face training. However traditional online learning modules can take many months to create, as well as requiring a significant investment of time from employees to complete.

New eLearning content creation tools, which come with libraries of interactive objects to build courses, make it possible to create highquality and responsive eLearning without any technical knowledge. These tools help teams to quickly develop just-in-time training to address business needs, while achieving a much higher standard of design.

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Digital credentials are increasingly being used as a way of recognising workplace achievement. Open Badges are digital credentials which offer transferability. Learners collect badges in a free ‘backpack’ to create a comprehensive digital record of their learning experiences, which can be used in e-portfolios, CVs, and social media. As their personal backpack is not linked to any badge provider they can add to it as they move around different organisations.

How do you create a digital learning environment? Developing a digital learning environment takes time and for many organisations is best achieved in incremental stages. Projects which are most successful are those based on a clearly defined business need and trusted partnership between client and vendor. Applying a standards based approach to development allows the building of an ecosystem which makes the most of what is already there. Connectivity across systems is the goal, with all knowledge and skills captured whether the learning is through formal or informal routes. To maximise learning in the digital age it is key that systems support and recognise learning when and where it happens. By Wendy Edie Managing Director, eCom Scotland eCom Scotland is focused on the delivery, tracking and reporting of workforce learning and development, through innovative technologies. Our products and services include bespoke eLearning, learning platforms and badging. eNetAuthor, is our new content authoring tool for eLearning teams. www.ecomscotland.com

Conference and facility hire

GTG Training offers a flexible space ideal for conferences, events and meetings at its leading-edge centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Both centres are ideally located for guests travelling from near or far, with GTG Edinburgh on the airport’s doorstep and GTG Glasgow within a ten-minute drive of the airport. Our Glasgow and Edinburgh centres are designed to host events of varying sizes with equipment to cater for all technological and presentation requirements. All of our rooms are fully-equipped for any type of training and include: • Dry marker board • Projector and screen • Air conditioning • Flip chart • Wi-Fi With ample free parking and on-site café at both centres, discover why GTG Training has everything you need.

Keep in touch with us: GTGTraining

www.gtg.co.uk

@GTG_Training

Glasgow 1330 South Street, G14 0BJ Edinburgh 1A Queen Anne Drive, Lochend Ind. Est., EH28 8PL Calls may be recorded for quality or training purposes. 0011610

0141 950 5648 0131 333 6839 August/September 2016

INSPIRING TALENT

Positivity embedded at Edinburgh Napier

Professor Andrea Nolan Edinburgh Napier

Professor Andrea Nolan is in no doubt what modern universities seek to instil in their students…and it is way beyond the degrees and qualifications that spring immediately to mind. Development of the individual’s attributes are key to the success of the work carried out in the Capital’s Higher Education establishments, attributes and skills that will see their graduates through a lifetime of varied careers. And that reflects the changing world of work graduates face, as the days when individuals left university to pursue one career have long been replaced by the need for skilled and flexible professionals able to move seamlessly from career to career, with a passion for learning and development. So what are these vital attributes that are increasingly embedded across every area of the University’s work? Professor Nolan, Principal of Edinburgh Napier University, describes them thus: “Confidence, resilience, communication, team-working, problem solving and a positive mindset. All of these, plus a creative, entrepreneurial spirit.” The creation of well-qualified individuals imbued with this “can-do” attitude is the basic fuel that will help drive knowledge economies which create sustainable, high value jobs and opportunities.

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Professor Nolan said: “In Edinburgh Napier University, we are embedding opportunities to develop these attributes and providing a wide range of work-related experiences linked to the curriculum as part of every student’s experience is one of our strategic priorities. We are also expanding crossdisciplinary team working, and this meeting of people from different areas within the University and beyond, to cross-fertilise ideas is producing some innovative and interesting results in terms of the curriculum and research as well as from the resulting commercial spin-outs. “This dynamic, highly networked and connected environment provides learning experiences that develop graduates who have enterprising mind-sets and who are well prepared to thrive in complex uncertain environments.” There are many examples of how the University’s approach is bearing fruit, but the Principal quoted two specific examples. The first one, Get on Board, is a student-led Young Professionals as Trustees initiative. The body comprises 60 students who have successfully completed the Get on Board programme, which trains, develops and places students on the boards of charities, voluntary organisations or public bodies. The young professionals who have graduated from the programme now form a ‘board bank’ packed with untapped talent and ready to make an impact on their communities while developing skills which will equip them for the workplace. As well as bringing passion and enthusiasm to boardroom roles, they will also bring down the average age of a trustee from 57 and, given the ratio of participants, potentially improve the gender balance. Students also get the opportunity to connect with and learn from the influential people who populate these boards. Professor Nolan said: “This scheme provides fantastic opportunities for young people to learn how they can bring their skills and talents to bear in a way that brings significant social benefit, and at the same time helps organisations source and develop very talented people to support their own progression.” The second example is the e-Placement Scotland programme, which the University

has run in partnership with ScotlandIS since it its launch in 2010. The programme aims to address the digital skills shortage by matching talented students with quality paid work placements in the IT sector in Scotland. The programme has now worked with more than 500 companies and has benefited over 1000 students by securing them paid work placements, while ensuring a flow of fresh talent into the industry. The University is keen to further expand the real-life experiences of work it offers students, both in the private and other sectors, with both students and employers set to gain. Learning in the work-place has much to offer as a complementary strand to a student’s Higher Education experience. This win-win goal is also at the heart of much of what the University seeks to do, such as through its partnership with Investment firm Mercia Technologies. The national investment group focuses on the creation, funding and scaling of innovative technology businesses with high growth potential. The collaborative university partnership provides the group with access to a flow of spin-out and early stage investment opportunities, which can be supported through the professional networks of Mercia’s team.

INSPIRING TALENT Edinburgh Napier has a significant track record in student enterprise, having supported more than 250 student start-up companies to date, leading to it being named in a 2014 report by Biggar Economics as the most successful university in Scotland for graduate enterprise and start-ups. Professor Nolan said: “We are proud of our hard-earned reputation as a leading university for developing entrepreneurial students, and for encouraging and helping to develop student-run businesses and consultancies, many of which fall under our Bright Red Triangle model. “For instance, we can incubate students’ ideas and projects to the point where they can have a commercial or social impact. Hopefully both. We also encourage and support students to work

with SMEs in particular, to help them deliver projects such as marketing strategies and plans, with teams of students working under the guidance of a member of staff. It is an approach which works well for students, staff and businesses.” Our work is very much focused towards industry need, a commitment that underpins our teaching and research. Another sector success story for the University has been in timber. We have worked closely with the Forestry Commission and a broad range of businesses, helping the sector to develop different products in Scotland. This outputs of our work into sustainable construction and wood science were recently recognised by the award of a second Queen’s Anniversary Prize. Indeed the University’s research and

support of new products is worth more than £65million a year to the UK timber and construction industry and our students are benefitting from this significant connection with industry. And we are delighted to host the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, which is driving partnerships between businesses, trade bodies, colleges, universities and the public sector to increase innovation across the sector. The Principal concluded: “In today’s Higher Education sector, whether we are developing engineers or nurses, we need well qualified, skilled, resilient, flexible people with a really positive, problem-solving and inclusive approach to contribute to economic growth and build a more cohesive and tolerant society. That’s where our energy is focused”

August/September 2016

INSPIRING TALENT

When developing talent is your business When it comes to developing talent, Universities are just about as experienced as it gets… But that is not to say our institutions of Higher Learning are remotely complacent. They, more than anyone, understand the need to be constantly vigilant, constantly learning, constantly relevant.

Professor Petra Wend Queen Margaret University

Professor Petra Wend is Principal at Queen Margaret University, and a quick verbal walk through some of the initiatives being run by the university pay testimony to its desire to ensure that what it does meets the needs of students and employers.

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Impressive programmes in key sectors such as hospitality, family businesses, food & drink, and social enterprise are well underway, along with a new initiative to help improve leadership in our public sector.

several, and so the kinds of skills we can give them are vital. At Queen Margaret, recognising this, we now also offer lifelong advice to our graduates through our careers service.”

And all of this is being offered to the university’s 6000 students on campus, but also through Queen Margaret courses offered around the world in places as far flung as Singapore, Nepal, Egypt and Greece.

Some examples of work being carried out at Queen Margaret include:

Professor Wend said: “Developing the skills and talent in people is what we do all the time, and we work very hard at doing it well. In Scotland now, the universities are working together to develop what we call ‘graduate attributes’ and to embed this in the curriculum.

Four Academies, in Hospitality & Tourism, Health & Social Care, Creative Industries, and Food Science & Nutrition. The Academies work with school pupils aged 15-17, providing high quality experience and learning and opening their minds to potential career opportunities. The University is now working with 400 students spread across six local authorities as the Academy project continues to grow

“We know that nowadays people generally do not just have one career, they may have

The University is running a programme aimed at developing skills in family

INSPIRING TALENT

businesses, many of them SMEs who might not otherwise have access to high-quality development opportunities, which is aimed at helping these businesses meet the unique challenges they often face

All of the above are in addition to the “normal” business of the University – the myriad of courses and programmes it offers to students keen to learn new skills and develop their talents.

The University has established a Master of Public Administration course, designed to help develop high-level leadership skills within the public sector.

Professor Wend explained: “For example, our Academies do great things with young people who might otherwise not even recognise the opportunities which might exist for them. Take hospitality: when you begin the process, that sector means working in a bar or serving at tables as far as they are concerned. But when we get them engaged with the sector, their eyes are opened to all of the many opportunities the sector offers – everything from HR to IT. It is the same across each of the sectors: we need to do more to help young people understand just how wide the opportunities are out there.”

The University is working closely with the Cyrenians charity and has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on how the two organisations can work together. In particular, the university and the charity are working on supporting students interested in the development of the social enterprise sector.

The University is also working closely with East Lothian Council in the development of an exciting food and drink innovation park which could create and support up to 13,000 jobs on an identified location near the University campus. This would build on the university’s burgeoning reputation in the food and drink sector. The university has already worked with 250 SMEs , helping to research and develop quality food products, and placing many students into real work programmes. Professor Wend said: “This is a development I am very excited about. It has huge possibilities in a sector of great importance in Scotland not only in boosting our economy, but also in tackling a range of health issues.”

"Our Academies do great things with young people who might otherwise not even recognise the opportunities which might exist for them. Take hospitality: when you begin the process, that sector means working in a bar or serving at tables as far as they are concerned. But when we get them engaged with the sector, their eyes are opened to all of the many opportunities the sector offers – everything from HR to IT.

August/September 2016

SQA JOURNEYS ADVERTORIAL

DeveloPing the Workforce of toMorroW

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Scotland’s young people are our future – they are the workforce of tomorrow. Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) is the Scottish Government’s seven year initiative to improve the options available to young people, reducing youth unemployment by preparing young people for the workplace and giving them the skills that employers are looking for.

Delivering for ScotlanD SQA is a key partner in the initiative. We are uniquely placed to deliver this because we already work closely with training providers, employers and colleges as well as schools. We understand the needs of learners and of employers and how we can help one group to help the other. Our wide range of qualifications is designed in partnership with industry experts to foster the workplace skills and experience needed in the real working world to make businesses more competitive and Scotland’s economy more dynamic.

These qualifications ADVERTORIAL sit at various levels, allowing the learner to progress up the skills ladder from one qualification to the next or to move sideways to a different ladder at an equivalent level. They create a more qualified, more motivated and more productive workforce.

find out where SQa Journeys could take your business.

Working With You Employers can play a major role in helping Scotland’s young people, who in turn can ensure a better future for Scotland’s businesses. Every business working with SQA has a dedicated Manager in their Region – one point of contact who will take the time to get to know you and how you work. An advisor you can trust. They will listen and advise, help identify goals and zero in on how you can achieve the biggest business benefits from helping develop Scotland’s young workforce.

August/September 2016

Business Development T: 0303 333 0330 E: mycentre@sqa.org.uk W: www.sqa.org.uk/journeys

ADVERTORIAL

Business coach brings wealth of international experience to Edinburgh Following a career in the law that has seen him advise senior business figures across the world, John McPhail has returned to Edinburgh to bring his expertise to the coaching of leaders and potential leaders.

John started his legal career in Edinburgh, and he lived in Hong Kong for several years in the 80s. Working for the Attorney General at a crucial time in HK’s history, his specialisation in maritime and aviation law led to his involvement in the key negotiations on the future of Hong Kong.

John has established JM Executive Coaching, which provides individuals and teams at all levels of companies large and small with the opportunity to explore and identify solutions through executive coaching.

After handling claims worldwide of nearly every type, such as oil pollution, collision and wreck removal, he moved into the world of compliance and regulation.

So far, his main focus on 1 to 1 coaching has been on careers at all stages of transition. Other types of coaching have included leadership and management styles and simply getting better at the job and managing people. The success of any 1 to 1 coaching session is dependent on confidentiality, trust and a good working relationship. With teams (usually about six members), John initiates an open discussion providing transparency, trust and better working relationships. The outcome will be more than a simple agreement, but real commitment by team members and to the firm or company as a whole.

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On moving back to the UK, John also qualified in English Law and joined one of the World’s largest mutual insurance clubs for shipowners’ liabilities.

One of his key roles was to ensure proper corporate governance and regulation and assist the 35 Directors representing shipping companies worldwide to navigate through the mass of complex regulation. John has had the benefit of working in the legal world in the private and public sectors as well as working in house. Having served as an Officer in the Royal Naval Reserve for 30 years, he also brings these leadership skills to the coaching arena. John is available to coach in all sectors and at all levels, although he focuses primarily on board members, partners, senior executives and senior management. He has a Professional Certificate in Coaching from Henley Business School (University of Reading) and is a Member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council.

He said: “I have advised senior business people all over the world and I feel that I bring a lot of experience to my role as a coach. “It is extremely satisfying to work with individuals who need direction and to see results after unlocking their ideas and thoughts - often life changing. “With the teams I have coached, there are often dysfunctions which need to be addressed. “In running my own business, I am very flexible and aware of the need to accommodate limited budgets. I am looking forward to coaching more people in Edinburgh and generally in Scotland.” You can find out more about JM Executive Coaching at: Phone: 07768 143889

E-mail: ajohnmcphail@gmail.com www.jmexecutivecoaching.com/

JM EXECUTIVE COACHING

ADVERTORIAL

FEATURE: TALENT AND SKILLS

Effective Leadership – The painting palette to a successful business They encourage a recruit to put their team and the mission first, and treat people with respect.” Army Reservist Private Kathryn Davies (21) has recently taken part in the intensive threeweek training package.

“Imagine a colour palette, mix a squirt of compromise with a big dollop of determination then add a little smidgen of intelligence and experience around the edges and you can see how Leadership can be an art” explains Major Lee Patchell, an Army Reservist with 105 Regiment Royal Artillery in Edinburgh, who specialises in leadership training at Universities and businesses throughout Scotland. Lee adds: “An effective leader may get close to choosing the perfect colour for each occasion but no two people regardless of how effective they are as leaders will ever mix their palette in the same way to become effective.” Leadership is a skill in which the building blocks and basic tools can be taught. These skills remain the same as do the characteristic traits of the leader including charisma, command, responsibility and setting an example, and, these skills are taught at the very beginning of the Army Reservist career – immediately and directly benefiting their employers and their businesses . At the Army Training Unit (ATU(Sc)) in Redford Barrack, Edinburgh, newly recruited Reserve soldiers are taught the foundations of Army Life - courage, discipline, respect for others, integrity, loyalty and selfless commitment.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the exercise; I met new people, it improved my confidence and installed a bit of discipline; I have a lot of great memories to take away with me”. “This gives me the opportunity to enhance my teamwork and life skills, putting me in situations where I will train and experience things that do not happen in the my civilian job; it will enable me to push myself forward more than I ever thought I would.” “This is a real personal achievement for me. There was a lot of practical skills which I loved. My outlook on life has changed and I find that I have the confidence to come up with new ideas and approach situations from a different perspective allowing me to see the whole picture.” However, given that truly effective leaders are those who have the ability to recognise that their suite of emotional tools and interpersonal interaction skills have to be modified, tweaked and calibrated every time a new challenge or situation arises, so too does the Army leadership and management training. As part of the Command Leadership and Management Training (CLMT) scheme, every individual, whether Army Reservist or Regular, has to pass courses in leadership training

as they progress up the rank structure – increasingly challenging them as their roles and responsibilities build alongside their Army experience. Career pathways for Army Reservists are maintained and monitored at Unit level and soldiers are encouraged to break through their boundaries enhancing their personal development by participating in professional and personal development courses, military exercises alongside their regular counterparts and adventure training. In his speech to employers at the FSB Conference dinner, Commander 51 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier Gary Deakin was optimistic that the message was getting through to employers: “We are among the world’s top training organisations, we develop the best in our people, and if our people can become your people, that’s got to be good for business.” The Army has long since recognised how to develop their leaders – in the words of Major Lee Patchell: “Your palette is personal, unique and will only work for you and the real ‘art’ of leadership is being able to change, ever so imperceptibly the shades and tones of your colour to best effect at the right time.”

Officer Commanding ATU(Sc) , Major Richard Barker, explains the ethos behind the Army Reservists first encounter with Army leadership and management.

Smiling, Lee concludes, “Keeping your head when all about you are losing theirs …… and blaming it on you’ is always a good place to begin”.

“It is all about learning by doing, so the recruits take part in a number of exercises that test them in realistic conditions. It is hard work, but they work as part of a team and are trained to encourage and support each other.”

For more information on bespoke Army leadership and management training that could benefit your business call Major Fiona Battey on 07939071820 or email 51X-EngtMedia-SO2@mod.uk.

Major Barker continued: “The course develops teamwork, leadership, and personal improvement; it is about learning how to take calculated risks and make decisions under pressure.”

@Fighting51st @ASEngaged

“The British Army’s ‘values and standards’ underpin all the training the recruits received.

/Fighting 51st /Army HQ Scotland

August/September 2016

Tree of Knowledge believe in bringing something different, something that will inspire, motivate and empower people to challenge themselves, to embrace change, to have fun, work hard and most of all MAKE A DIFFERENCE! “You may not remember everything our speakers say but you’ll remember exactly how they made you feel.” Gavin Oattes, Managing Director Our unique team of speakers will take your audience on the most wonderful journey of laughter and learning while engaging, challenging and inspiring them from beginning to end. Drawing from real life experiences our speakers create presentations that everyone can relate to.

ADVERTORIAL

FEATURE: TALENT AND SKILLS

Did you hear the one about the training company making L&D/CPD/Learning (whatever you want to call it) cool? Have you ever been told you’re going on a training course or attending a conference and secretly, deep down, you’d rather not go because you have better things to be doing with your time? Worry no more, training courses just got cool! There’s a movement happening in the world of L&D and right at the helm is Scotland’s own Tree of Knowledge. If you were in attendance at the Edinburgh Chamber Awards 2015 you will have had the pleasure of listening to our keynote speaker and Managing Director of Tree of Knowledge Gavin Oattes. And if you weren’t there then you missed an incredibly emotional speech that had you laughing one minute and crying the next. Not only was it entertaining but it was both enlightening and educational. This is typical of a Tree of Knowledge experience and they are in serious demand with companies big and small, all over the world. TOK is a motivational and engagement training company that provides unique,

of thousands. With one-off days to programmes running over a few years they are helping to transform attitudes towards what is often a very repetitive and old fashioned market.

bespoke training workshops, seminars and keynote speeches all designed to challenge and excite even the most hardened cynic. Covering topics from engagement and team performance to resilience and growth mindset, TOK specialise in taking their audience on a journey of learning never to be forgotten.

Gavin Oattes is a former primary school teacher and firmly believes in the power of play. This is evident in all TOK experiences. If you’re looking for a normal experience for your team then TOK are most definitely not for you! However if you want something your staff will actually remember, that will truly make a difference then our details are below! Emma Hazley: 01383 621 648 Email: emma@treeof.com Web: www.treeof.com Youtube: TokScotland

Business Development Exec Emma Hazley said, “We take time to listen to our clients and ensure we are creating the best learning experience for them and their teams that we can. Often a client will know exactly what they want their people to gain, it’s our job to ensure that expectation is surpassed, and some.” TOK engage with small organisations all the way through to some of the biggest companies in the world. They deliver to rooms of 3 people all the way up to audiences

August/September 2016

ADVERTORIAL

Award winning escape game company is now bringing the experience to your doorstep We’ve all seen the movies; the countdown timer is ticking, the pressure is on and the wouldbe hero manages to save the day with seconds to spare whilst from the comfort of the sofa, you decide that given the chance, you could easily do that. Well, Can You Escape, an Edinburgh based business, now offers you and your colleagues the chance to see if you have what it takes to beat the clock and escape one of their challenging and immersive missions. If you’re not familiar with the escape game concept, they’ve taken the world by storm with hundreds opening across the globe in the past few years. The basic premise is that teams of friends, family or colleagues arrive at a venue and are given a mission briefing before being locked in a room with one hour to solve a series of puzzles, challenges and activities in order to complete their objective and escape – think Crystal Maze meets Cluedo. Can You Escape has been operating in Edinburgh for 18 months and has been named Scotland’s Best Family Day Out, received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, won the Best Performing Business in the 2-10 category at the Chamber awards and has recently won a Young Scot Edge

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award. More recently, the business has opened a second venue in York and launched an innovative new product – Operation Blue November. Their newest venture is one of the UK’s first portable escape games, meaning that the experience can now come to you. The Can You Escape team have designed the game with the corporate market in mind and the use of technology, custom lighting and special sound effects ensure that you get just as immersive and high quality experience as if you visited their venue. Director Alastair Watson said: “We’re really excited by what we can now offer to customers with Blue November; employees will be blown away when they walk into

ADVERTORIAL

what’s normally a meeting room and instead have to step through the porthole into an immersive submarine set.” “Escape games are the perfect team building activity, but Blue November adds another level to that as the puzzles have been specifically designed to require teams to work closely together, communicate with each other and think creatively; and this can all now be delivered at the client’s own office”. “Two of our trained Games Masters will be on hand to run each mission and ensure that everyone has a fantastic experience, whether they’re first time escape artists or professional escapees and, as a bit of healthy competition never goes a miss, we’ll keep everyone up to date with the fastest escape times” The new portable game can accommodate six people at a time and missions can last either one hour allowing 36 people to complete it in a day or 30 minutes, allowing double the number of people.

To find out more about the business and the missions that are on offer, you can visit the Can You Escape website at https://canyouescape. co.uk or to inquire about the portable escape game, email Alastair Watson at a.watson@ canyouescape.co.uk.

August/September 2016

GET GOING

Name: Stephen Hibbard Business name: Hibbards Coaching & Mediation Start up date: February 2016 Website: www.hibbards.co.uk Q1: Tell us a bit about your business? Through Executive, Senior Leadership, and Personal Coaching I specialise in helping leaders make a difference, creating a legacy they can be proud of.

Q2: What makes your company unique? I bring out the best in leaders, addressing both the business and personal challenges they face, to enable their success.

Q3: What motivated you to set up in business? My heart is to stand alongside senior leaders who bear responsibility and influence, to produce a more peaceful, prosperous and enriching society.

Q5: How long have you been trading?

Q7: What has been your greatest business success to date?

February this year, although I bring Commercial Management experience with Marks & Spencer and over 25 years as a pastoral coach, and community builder.

What I do is discreet, success is when I see leaders realise their potential and make a greater impact.

Q6: What do you like most running your own company? Having the freedom to get alongside people who benefit from my coaching, and empowering them to overcome the challenges they face.

Q8: What has been the hardest part of setting up your own business? Knowing I can make a difference yet not having the connections to Senior Leaders, which is why I am offering a free Strategy Session to Chamber Members. (See members offer section)

Q9: In terms of business achievements, where do you want to be within the next 5 years? A portfolio of some of Scotlandâ€™s key leaders who have flourished as a result of my coaching support.

Q10: What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting up their own company? Know what you are seeking to achieve and why, to sustain your motivation. Itâ€™s a marathon not a sprint.

NEW MEMBERS

20/20 Productions

European Centre of Technology (ECT)

Macdonald Holyrood Hotel

51st Infantry Brigade

GL Hearn Limited

Party at the Palace

9 Dots Consulting Ltd

Growth Avenue UK Limited

PIB Limited

ActionCOACH

Haines Watts Chartered Accountants

Rebecca Inspires Ltd

Air Advantage

Harper Macleod LLP

RM Capital

Billinghurst Ltd

Hibbards Coaching & Mediation

Russell Leisure Limited

Blue Tang Software

Hidden Door

SortMyPC Ltd

Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels

Infinite Content Ltd

StepChange Improve Ltd

Dirty Work Clearances

Innostaa

The Persian Trader

Eden Delicious Drinks

Inspiring Scotland

The Yard

Edinburgh Management Consulting Ltd

Jacks Engineering

Visual Native

Emperor

James Gibb Residential Factors

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ASK THE EXPERT

Time is precious and productivity is high Since January Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Training and Development Department has been undergoing a revamp and I am really excited to share with you some of our successes! Speaking to one man bands, SMEs and large corporates, the same themes are evident no matter what industry they are in; Time is precious, productivity is high on the agenda and in 2016 everyone seems to be aiming to sort their social media presence once and for all. We can really see this translate into the types of bookings we see trending. On June 29th we hosted our second “Inspiring Women in Business” training seminar and first time with new ECC trainer Vickie De Vries of Growth Avenue UK. This session sold out in just a few days due to its accessible cost (£15+VAT), quick length (One hour) and really specific title “Getting Your Airtime”, introducing new communication training. With this success we now aim to make these sessions part of our core programme.

I want to share some really exciting, interesting and almost intriguing communication statistics from Go-Globe. In the 60 seconds it takes to fill up your car with petrol, there are 100 new domains registered, 56,000 pictures shared in Instagram, 143,000 apps downloaded, 69,5000 hours of Netflix watched, 4 million What’s App’s sent, 2.7 million YouTube views and 150,000,000 emails sent- IN 60 SECONDS! I love these numbers as the opportunity for business growth, relationships and connections seems to be endless, but on a daily basis businesses tell me yes they might be on social fairly active but they just aren’t getting anywhere with it. In order to support companies with this frustration, we have looked at our own digital offering and ensured we have as many options as possible. Colin Gilchrist, The Social Tailor, continues to run our Social Media series with the next intake starting Sept 16th. These four sessions are currently available at the cost of three and places can be shared amongst colleagues. Covering major platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn along with providing training on Instagram and Google Plus ensures that productivity is paramount. The last three cycles have sold out so please do not hesitate to book your spaces.

We have also focused on helping delegates brush up on their writing skills with “How to write compelling web content” and “Email marketing for business” both with Hilary Phillips of Cygnus Extra. In June both of these course sold out, to meet demand we will be running extra sessions on Sept 9th and 15th. On September 13th, we welcome Tim Bradshaw, a former intelligence officer, who has worked with a broad range of stakeholders including the Ministry of Defence, civilian intelligence organisations and corporate partners and has been responsible for the development and security of intelligence sources, designing and implementing relevant and now works with world leading brands such as Jaguar, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin. Tim will give delegates an insight into the secrets of sales and communication success. During Wimbledon when I watched Marcus Willis take on Roger Federer ‘in the pursuit of greatness’, it was a reminder to us all that if we focus and give attention to our talent and skills, even the smallest business can be the best! As always, please do get in touch with your bookings, suggestions, enquires and requests. Until next issue! sian.downes@edinburghchamber.co.uk.

August/September 2016

60 SECONDS

Name: Stephen Pearson Company Name: Geckotech Solutions Limited Website: www.geckotechsolutions.com Q In five words or less, what do you do? A We provide quality access solutions. Q How long have you been a Chamber member? A We’ve been a chamber member since 2009.

Q What’s the best business/benefit you have won through the Chamber? A N/A

Q Why did you join? A We joined for the networking opportunities with other young businesses; and to learn from the established movers and shakers.

Q Are there any additional services or information you’d be particularly interested in? A Networking events which focus on specific industries so that we can explore the possibility of reaching other markets where our access solutions could provide the answers they’ve been looking for!

Q What services do you use? A As the business continues to grow, we are keen to access training opportunities to help us increase our social media presence.

Q If you were telling another business person about the Chamber, what’s the first thing you would say? A Make the best use of the comprehensive array of services offered

to help you establish a platform in the market-place. Q Where do you read your copy of Business Comment? A At home at the end of the day. It’s good to get such a clear overview of the businesses operating in and around this wonderful city. 2016 marks our 10th Anniversary – it’s been an amazing journey so far and the Geckotech team are already excited about what the next 10 years will bring!

Developing a Team of Specialists Our long heritage in Edinburgh can be traced back to William Bell, an accountant in 1841 who subsequently became a stockbroker and one of the founders of what became Bell Lawrie White - acquired by Brewin Dolphin in 1993. Since then we have continued the tradition of exemplary personal attention while expanding our offering to encompass a complete wealth management service for our many and varied clients. We have thrived in Edinburgh for 175 years by adapting and tailoring the skills of our workforce to client needs and nurturing the talents of our team, both client facing and back office. With this in mind, and to improve our overall client experience, the Edinburgh office has developed teams of specialists which focus on different areas of wealth management including financial planning, charity investment and intermediaries.

Financial Planning At Brewin Dolphin, we specialise in helping clients tackle issues and make the most of opportunities to protect and grow their

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wealth. Alastair Creyke and his team, help clients by creating financial plans that meet personal and professional ambitions and aspirations. This ethos of personal and professional ambition is realised through opportunities to grow at Brewin Dolphin. Jo Douglas, a Chartered Financial Planner in the Edinburgh office is a great example. She started as a financial planning administrator just six years ago but on the job training and self study helped her achieve this rapid progression to obtain Chartered status from the Chartered Institute of Insurance.

Charities Lynne Lamont heads a team of charity investment specialists which meets the needs of trustees across Scotland and the rest of the UK. Each charity client is offered its own discretionary portfolio – structured to reflect its specific policy requirements, be it a balanced investment objective or a different strategy. It is not just about managing the money – the charity team will help with policy, provide professional investment advice, offer trustee training and work closely with trustees to review the charity finances and budgets.

Intermediaries Known for expertise in private client investment management, Brewin Dolphin

also allows clients of financial advisers to tap into the skills and knowledge of our investment managers through the discretionary fund management offering. John Moore and his team, help financial advisers to effectively outsource the day-today management of their clients’ portfolios, freeing up their time to focus on what they do best: develop client relationships and grow their businesses.

Professional Services Our latest evolution to meet client needs is the creation of a proposition to help those in professional services and their clients. Having conducted dozens of interviews with accountants and lawyers to identify which attributes are desired from a wealth management firm, we have shaped the design of our services and confirmed what is valued most by both professionals and their clients. We are pleased to launch specialist services for family lawyers, corporate advisers and partners. For more information on this offering, please contact Johnny McGlynn on 0131 300 2810 or email Johnny.mcglynn@brewin.co.uk.

PARTNERS IN ENTERPRISE

Stop, Pause and Choose the Right Management Skill Gaynor McIntyre joined Condies Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers in 2015 as Strategy Consultant. Gaynor has over 20 years of consultancy and business coaching experience. Clients will often approach me regarding management training and produce lists requesting help for their managers – the most common areas requiring support are: n To take more initiative n Manage people more effectively n Deal with difficult situations n Make better decisions n Carry out appraisals I sometimes feel my energy nose diving when I get a request to do such training and ask myself why this is. The answer is simply that 9 out of 10 organisation’s management capability is very often the main skill that’s missing. The more I work with owner managed businesses who want help eradicating customer complaints or inconsistent service the more time I spend talking about the importance of resourcing your business with great management capability. Consequently when a client approaches me for management training I tend to take things back to basics. I might ask the client to imagine a member of staff approaching them with a big work-related problem and invite them to consider how they would normally deal with a similar situation? Do they just tell the individual the answer or do they support the employee to work out a solution for him/herself? Sometimes I simply draw out this chart and go through the 5 main management skills all managers should have at their finger tips

Have you ever thought about what skills you use when faced with a similar situation in your business? Consult – if you use this skill you are probably a specialist who will give the person the answer. It’s quick and addresses the problem.

The consultant will tell you what to do and you’ll do it. The down side is that no real learning is transferred and the skill remains at the hands of the expert doing the telling. This method creates dependency and you have to go back to the consultant every time you encounter a problem. If you don’t want to understand the problem this is your best bet. Train – you’ve identified that there is a training need so you either arrange for some work place training or arrange for the individual to go on a training course. Training courses are often another form of telling. You sit in a classroom scenario, the course follows a set agenda and you learn at the pace the trainer sets as opposed to a pace that suits you. The down side is that the learning method may not suit the trainee or contain enough practise time for learning to be properly transferred. Mentor: Mentoring focuses on the past – and is usually done by an expert who has seen it, done it and got the t-shirt. They have achieved success in their field and support others by telling them how they have used this skill or did whatever they did. Buddying and shadowing is the most common way companies often mentor staff. It’s cost effective and is designed to tell or guide a person through the learning process. It’s generally a one-way form of communication with a mentor where they “tell” the trainee what to do and the trainee carries out the work. Coach: Completely opposite from consulting, coaching is all about behaviour change, where the coach is not supposed to guide the trainee. It’s based on the future, not the past and offers a learning experience. The learner is in control of their own journey and the coach will support them in achieving the outcomes they want. It’s an “ask” based approach, with a coach never telling people what to do. The upside is that the learning is all experiential and new skills will

be developed; the downside is that it can be a longer and deeper process and one that doesn’t always follow a straight line – so throw out any pre-conceived agenda, trust in the coach and, most crucially, trust the process! Facilitate: This form of learning is based on following a process as opposed to finding the answer. You don’t need a relationship with the facilitator – they are purely there to facilitate the learning process. Unlike coaching which is a 1-2-1 process, facilitation is group based, with the facilitator supporting the team to achieve an outcome. Counsel: This is a highly specialised skill that I avoid like the plague. For me if I meet a client with specialist support needs, it’s usually because they’ve opened up into a much deeper space, usually highly personal, that I choose not to tackle. Clients can make the mistake of confusing personal coaching for counselling – so be careful and clear in what you want to learn and take time to source the right support.

Why am I writing about this? Simply because, for me a great manager knows which of those 5 core skills to harness at the right time and can use them to develop a culture in which people can learn how to take more responsibility, improve their attitude, change behaviour, be a good team player and all the other things we need staff to get better at. So the next time you want to source some management training have a really good think about what you really want your managers to be able to do and whether it’s the core skill that needs developed or knowledge or a particular area or both. Then you might find that the training solution you opt for actually works. Gaynor McIntyre Tel: 01383 721421 E-mail: gaynor.mcintyre@condie.co.uk

We thank our Partners in Enterprise for their continued support of the Chamber.

August/September 2016

BE THE BEST

How to Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn Make sure your profile is complete

Branding has changed. Now, it’s not just about the business; people are interested in the people behind the company. Many people are just as interested in YOU as they are the business and want to buy into the personality of the brand. Trust in big businesses has decreased and it’s more about building relationships with real people and personal brands are becoming more considered by the public. This is why professionals should always be building their personal brand. LinkedIn is the perfect place and tool to build your personal brand; it’s made for professional networking and opens you up to a whole community of people, creating all sorts of opportunities. Most people who interact with you professionally will go on to view your LinkedIn profile. This is where first impressions are really important: “Like it or not, people will harshly judge you by how slick your profile appears. If the life is sucked out of it by a cruddy headshot or out-dated, boring or skimpy information, you could miss out on more than a few potentially career-boosting connections. You might also dent your reputation and scare off business.” The Entrepreneur. LinkedIn can be the first-port-of-call and is really important in building your personal brand. So what can you do on LinkedIn?

Make sure your photo is professional Your photo is one of the first things people see. Make sure it’s professional, no holiday or happy-hour photos, you don’t want to risk

losing credibility. You also shouldn’t not have a photo at all, people like a visual to connect with and it shows that you’re more willing to communicate openly. It increases your views and creates a good impression. By adding a professional photo you are 14 times more likely to be found on LinkedIn.

Pay attention to your headline Your headline is something that you should take advantage of, use it to entice your audience and draw them in with keywords. Make it attention grabbing, strong and reflective of your USP. It’s a critical element in building your brand; as it’s one of the first things people see. You can:

Make sure you use LinkedIn to engage

In your summary section make sure you tell your story and share your background, you don’t want to leave blanks for people to fill in themselves. Show your brand history and let them know how you got to where you are today. Include your specialities and show-off your expertise.

If you would like to find out how to make the most of LinkedIn attend the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce full day ‘LinkedIn Masterclass’ on 28th September or the half day ‘How to Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn’ workshop on 5th of October. www. edinburghchamber.co.uk/training/courses

By Bill Magee Scottish Business Technology Writer of the Year

represented a logical fit with their ambitious aims and objectives.

The cream of Scots tech talent is just back from a fact-finding and networking trip to Silicon Valley North as Canada’s eastern Ontario province is labelled.

Company Net is becoming more expansive beyond its Scottish and UK borders as it brings some interesting new products onto the market, and the networking opportunities at WPC Toronto chimed perfectly with its strategy to drive forward business growth.As an IT supplier with top-flight credentials and in-depth experience of providing systems to the information management space, the outfit works closely with organisations irrespective of the sector in which they operate.

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If you add extras to your profile and link to more of your work people are able to build a better picture of your personal brand. Link to your blog and self-publish posts to boost your visibility and show people more about you.

Show your expertise in your summary

n Explain in a sentence what you do n Use key words or phases n Or it will de-fault to your current position if not complete

Dateline: Toronto

The Edinburgh-based tech outfit’s business development manager Brian Douglas told me that his business visit across the pond

Add extras to your profile

Joining LinkedIn Groups is a way to build your personal brand as you get the chance to network with people in your industry and build a reputation. By posting updates you grab people’s attention and demonstrate your expertise. It’s a way to regularly reach out to your audience and keep in touch. You should also respond to questions and comments promptly, showing that you’re a good businessperson to deal with.

GET WITH IT Company Net - an IT veteran celebrating 20 years successful business operations - formed the vanguard of the Scottish contingent that attended Microsoft’s Worldwide Partners Conference 2016.

The first thing people will do is look at your profile, so make the most of your personal space. Your profile should be complete and you should take advantage of all the sections that are available and fill them with content that is valuable and relevant. Use keywords throughout your profile to make you more searchable and always have a personal call-toaction to make it easy for people to reach you.

In today’s fast-paced digital era it is all about

providing a unified approach to managing data across an entire business during the lifespan of the relationship with a client. Microsoft’s Country Manager (Scotland) Stephen Grier led the Scots contingent linking-up with Scottish Development International, and he told me during the trip that it fitted in with the tech giant’s “Digital Blueprint for Scotland.” The blueprint examines what it might take to empower a world-leading Digital Scotland with an apparently simple message: there is a huge prize to be grasped if the nation can truly commit to this aim by 2030. It’s there for the taking.

EUROPE DIRECT EDINBURGH

The European Commission Skills Agenda for Europe

In an increasingly fast-changing global economy, skills continue to determine our competitiveness and capacity to drive innovation. They are a draw for investment and a catalyst for growth. Europeâ€™s future prosperity depends on the best possible use of our human capital. Approximately 70 million Europeans lack sufficient reading, writing and numeracy skills, this puts them at high risk of unemployment, poverty and social exclusion. Yet, 40% of European employers report that they cannot find people with the right skills to grow and innovate. While large numbers of high-qualified young people, work in jobs that do not match their talents and aspirations. The New Skills Agenda for Europe aims to improve the teaching and recognition of skills and boost employability. It also aims both to ensure that no-one is left behind and that Europe nurtures the high-end skills that drive competitiveness and innovation. The Skills Agenda for Europe launches a number of actions to ensure that the right training, skills and support is available to people in the European Union. 1. Improve the quality and relevance of skills formation 2. Make skills more visible and comparable 3. Improve skills intelligence and information for better career choices

To reduce the high number of lowskilled adults in Europe, the Commission is proposing that a Skills Guarantee is established in cooperation with social partners, education and training providers. The aim of the Skills Guarantee is to help people improve their chances of securing and maintaining good jobs and quality of life. Through the Guarantee, low-skilled adults should be helped to acquire a minimum level of literacy, numeracy and digital skills and - when possible - a wider set of skills allowing them to get an upper secondary education qualification or equivalent. The Skills Guarantee should be open to people both in and out of work who are not covered by the Youth Guarantee, and implemented by Member States in line with national circumstances. The Skills Guarantee will provide for adults who lack an upper secondary school qualification by: n a skills assessment, giving them the chance to identify their existing skills and their upskilling needs;

specific needs of the individual and of local labour markets; and n opportunities for the validation and recognition of the skills they acquire. While competence for the content of teaching and the organisation of education and training systems lies with Member States, actions are needed at the EU level. Members States indeed meet similar challenges and opportunities such as skills mismatches, skills shortages and insufficient workersâ€™ mobility, digital needs, ageing workforces, brain drain, or migratory flows. The Commission will therefore play a coordinating role through common initiatives, frameworks and guidelines, and will offer support by sharing expertise and good practice. Further information can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/social/main. jsp?catId=1223&langId=en

n a tailored learning offer, adapted to the

August/September 2016

FEATURE: MOTORING

Kia Soul EV

All electric, zero emissions

Now Available For Only £24,195 (including the Government £4,500 grant)

Belmont Sighthill Bankhead Drive Sighthill, Edinburgh, EH11 4DJ 0131 665 3691

DISCOVERY SPORT

INACCESSIBLE JUST BECAME ACCESSIBLE

With standard equipment, Discovery Sport gives you all the capability and space you need for both business trips and weekend adventures. What’s more, with competitive running costs and CO2 as low as 129g/km, the Discovery Sport is now within easy reach of your business. Pentland Land Rover Newbridge, Edinburgh, EH28 8TH Tel: 0131 202 5440 www.pentland.edinburgh.landrover.co.uk Locations also at: Cupar, Elgin, Perth

Discovery Sport 2.0L TD4 150HP Manual 4WD SE 5DR Monthly Contract Hire Rental Initial Rental In Advance Excess Mileage (pence per mile) Annual Mileage Contract Duration

£327 +VAT £1,962 +VAT 9.3p +VAT 10,000 36 Months

Business users only. VAT payable at 20%. Model pictured (including optional metallic paint) from £339 a month +VAT, plus initial rental in advance of £2,034 +VAT.

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for Discovery in mpg (l/100km): Urban 33.2 (8.5), Extra Urban 39.8 (7.1), Combined 36.7 (7.7). CO 2 emissions 203 g/km.

The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and these figures are for comparative purposes only. Based on a Discovery Sport 2.0L TD4 150HP Manual 4WD SE with standard specification, non-maintained. Vehicle must be returned in good condition to avoid further charges. Contract Hire subject to status. This promotion cannot be used together with other manufacturer’s promotions and is subject to availability at participating Retailers only for new vehicles ordered by 30th September 2016. Contract Hire is provided by Land Rover Contract Hire, a trading style of Lex Autolease Limited, Heathside Park,Heathside Park Road, Stockport SK3 0RB.

BC August/September 2016

JAGUAR XE R-SPORT

FEATURE: MOTORING

FROM £259 A MONTH +VAT*

SATISFY THE DRIVER IN YOU AND THE ECONOMIST The Jaguar XE is a truly accomplished sports saloon. On the road it offers outstanding performance, with Jaguar’s signature ride and handling delivering an exceptional drive. On efficiency the XE is equally seductive, with excellent fuel economy and low emissions. Business Contract Hire. Initial rental in advance of £1,554 +VAT. 36 month term. 10,000 miles per annum. VAT payable at 20%. Model pictured above (including optional metallic paint and optional alloy wheels) from £283 a month +VAT, plus initial rental in advance of £1,698 +VAT. PENTLAND JAGUAR 107 GLASGOW ROAD, EDINBURGH, EH12 8LH 0131 341 5844 WWW.PENTLANDJAGUAR.CO.UK

Official fuel consumption for the Jaguar XE range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 24.4-64.2 (11.6-4.4); Extra Urban 46.3-83.1 (6.1-3.4); Combined 34.9-75.0 (8.1-3.8). CO2 Emissions 194-99 (g/km). Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. *Important Information - Business users only. Based on an XE Saloon 2.0D 180PS R-Sport 4dr Manual 17 standard specification, non-maintained. Excess mileage charges (at 9.7p per mile +VAT). Must be returned in good condition to avoid further charges. Contract Hire subject to status. This promotion cannot be used together with other manufacturer’s promotions and is subject to availability at participating Retailers only for new vehicles registered by 30th September 2016. Contract Hire is provided by Jaguar Contract Hire, a trading style of Lex Autolease Limited, Heathside Park, Heathside Park Road, Stockport SK3 0RB. Model shown is an XE Saloon 2.0D 180PS R-Sport with optional Italian Racing Red metallic paint and optional 19" Star 5 twin-spoke alloy wheels.

August/September 2016

ADVERTORIAL

Parking made easy at Edinburgh Airport with PremiAir It’s a familiar feeling – you are due to fly out to an important business meeting and there is plenty to think about so finding a parking space should be the least of your worries. Indeed, travellers using Edinburgh Airport need not worry because among those helping to solve the problem is independent car park operator PremiAir Parking Edinburgh Limited, which has just celebrated its first anniversary. PremiAir’s safe and secure car park is conveniently located just three minutes from Edinburgh Airport and offers a wide variety of short, medium and long stay parking services for business and leisure travellers wishing to leave their vehicles. It is an important service because more than 40 airlines serving 100 worldwide destinations use the Capital’s airport with an average of 25,100 passengers streaming through on a daily basis with many of them arriving by car. PremiAir Head of Operations Carole Harper said: “Understandably, business and leisure travellers alike may flinch at the prospect of finding a parking space in this bustling departure point but airport parking like ours makes it easy for them.

BC August/September 2016

“We aim to meet the needs of every traveller using Edinburgh Airport. Whether people are flying for business or pleasure, we’re open 24/7, 365 days of the year and our car park is safe and secure so they can have complete peace of mind when they leave their vehicle.” Indeed, PremiAir’s secure parking at Edinburgh Airport offers comprehensive CCTV coverage to make sure that the vehicles are watched at all times and their ANPR automatic number plate recognition system allows customers to come and go with ease. Additionally, they are a proud holder of the Park Mark Award and a member of the British Parking Association, which means you can be confident that you will be leaving your vehicle in capable hands. PremiAir also runs a courtesy coach transfer to your terminal as part of the package when you book a parking spot. About 85,000 cars have been parked with PremiAir since the company was established in May 2015 and Carole said: “Just as Edinburgh Airport has been growing rapidly so has PremiAir. We have had a really successful first year and are continuing to develop our service.

“There is a lot to think about when you travel by air, particularly if you are on your way to an important business meeting, and our view is that parking the car should not be a cause for concern. “At PremiAir, we understand our customers and know that car parking is low on their list of priorities so we make it our business to ensure the service is simple, secure and reliable. “Our location is also great advantage for us; we’re located at the top of the airport approach road which means we’re the first car park you come to and, when it comes to getting home, our proximity to the A8 means you’re straight on the road without being held up in airport traffic. “Our shuttle bus takes three minutes and we have measures in place to ensure you never have to wait longer than ten minutes for your transfer. “ For more information about PremiAir’s parking at Edinburgh Airport, please get in touch with a member of the team at charper@premiairparking.co.uk or call 0131 297 0777.

Drive, park, fly

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for 24

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PremiAir a simple, secure and reliable solution when flying from Edinburgh Airport. 3 minute transfer, on the A8 slip road, on the Airport approach road. Drop off and pick up at stand 6 at the coach park. Quote "Chamber15" to receive 15% off gate price! *valid until end of August 2016.

August/September 2016

CHAMBER TRAINING

Training Course Calendar August

September

Tuesday 2nd Ultimate Project Management (New Course)

Wednesday 7th Marketing Sessions Workshop: Understanding your marketing funnel

Wednesday 3rd Instagram, Google+ & Facebook for Business*

Thursday 8th Documentary Letters of Credit

Thursday 4th HR Fundamentals Workshop Monday 8th Ultimate Sales Skills (New Course) Tuesday 9th Ultimate Project Management (New Course) Thursday 18th Inspiring Leadership Programme (Flagship Series) Friday 19th LinkedIn for Business Development* Monday 22nd Winning Presentations Skills

Friday 9th Email Marketing for Business Tuesday 13th Breakfast with a Spy: Secrets of Business Communication Wednesday 14th Marketing Sessions Workshop: Implementing your marketing funnel Thursday 15th How to write Compelling Web Content Friday 16th Social Media Series: How to write a social media strategy Wednesday 21st Marketing Sessions Workshop: Optimising your marketing funnel Friday 23rd Social Media Series: Twitter and Blogging for Business

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Friday 23rd An Introduction to Basic Google Analytics Wednesday 28th Marketing Sessions: Maximising your marketing funnel Wednesday 28th LinkedIn Masterclass: Theory and Practice Thursday 29th Delegate with Confidence

October Wednesday 5th Building your Personal Brand (New Course) Friday 7th Social Media Series: Instagram, Facebook and Google+* Thursday 13th Export Documentation Friday 14th Social Media Series: LinkedIn for Business Development* Thursday 20th Advanced Google Analytics Thursday 27th Bidding to Win Tendering Course

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Company name: 20/20 Productions Who? Alastair Scott, Managing Director Website: www.2020productions.com What were you doing between 10 and 12 this morning? I was on a conference call with a client discussing a proposed series of events we are designing in the US, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Then I had coffee – I drink too much of it, but I love it!

What do you see as your job’s biggest challenge? I am lucky enough to work with a hugely talented team of creative people and keeping the right balance in the team is very difficult – knowing in advance what the industry and market will need – that’s a challenge.

What do you consider your biggest business triumph? Opening our San Francisco office in 2002 was a fantastic day, and securing a contract to stage the United Nations birthday celebrations shortly after was amazing.

Do you have any money-saving business tips? Travel economy when you’re paying – Business class when someone else is!

What do you believe are the 3 key stages on your career ladder? Aged 21 – 28 Freelance wild man living hand to mouth Aged 28 – 35 Business owner and builder – fun times and no money Aged 35 – 50 Being a grown up mostly – building a serious business

Where do you stand on work/life balance? The most difficult balance – especially if your life includes work… I think there is no answer – sometimes work feeds your life, and sometimes life and rest feed work.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Be with family, watch Edinburgh Rugby, cycle, fight my garden and drink red wine.

What qualities do you need to see in your employees? Empathy, humour and enthusiasm.

In business, is it more important to be liked or successful? Most business people who are likeable are successful – one leads to another.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to others trying to reach the top? Be kind.

Who is your hero?

Any business (or other) projects you would like to plug? We are film and event producers for business in the main – but our design and digital teams are doing amazing work – check out www.delegatemanager.com for starters….

Other than your current position, what would be your dream job? From my house I see the Pilot boat go off each morning across the Forth – I’d love a job on water, or a job growing fruit on a farm.

Who (living or dead) would you invite to a fantasy dinner party? Raquel Welch, Stephen Fry, Spartacus, William Hague, Bill Hicks and Chaka Khan

Outside of business, what is the most important thing in your life? My kids Fingal and Cliodhna and my wife Georgina.

J K Rowling

August/September 2016

INSPIRING CONNECTIONS

Over the last couple of months we have held a number of events with interesting speakers and plenty of networking on offer for our members. We held our popular Inspiring Women in Business Lunch with the new Chief Executive of the Festival Fringe Shona McCarthy, who shared with us her career highlights and the importance of the arts to Edinburgh and Scotland. The event attracted 65 attendees and provided excellent networking. We also

BC August/September 2016

held our Breakfast Connections with Sandy Begbie, Chief People Officer at Standard Life who spoke about ‘Creating better futures – breaking down the barriers to employment’. We held our popular Breakfast Speed Networking providing members with a chance to pitch for two minutes followed by informal networking. We also ran our successful Chamber Dining Club Lunch at No.11 Brunswick Street in June, members enjoyed the brasseries’ luxury dining experience whilst meeting new contacts. At our June Inspiring Women in Business lunch we were joined by Alison McGregor, HSBC Chief Executive for Scotland. Alison

shared her inspiring story of how she has climbed the corporate ladder and the importance of ‘knowing your career stage’. We held Our Premier Series Dinner was held on 19th of July with our guest speak Simon Fox, CEO of Trinity Mirror. He shared with us how to remain resilient in the face of disruptive technologies. We have a number of events coming up including our Annual Summer Party at the fabulous Roxburghe Hotel with a BBQ and entertainment from Tarrymore Music. We are also hosting our Breakfast Connections with Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport at Dynamic Earth.

INSPIRING CONNECTIONS

FORTHCOMING EVENTS August

September

Wednesday 3rd 10:00-11:00 60 Really Useful Minutes: Xero Software for Accounting, Edinburgh Language Centre

Friday 2nd 8:30-11:00 Breakfast Speed Networking, Surgeons Hall

Thursday 4th 8:30-10:30 Spotlight Breakfast with Edinburgh Rugby, BT Murrayfield Stadium Thursday 11th 17:30-19:30 Leith Dining Club, Malmaison Hotel Tuesday 16th 12:30-14:30 Inspiring Women in Business Lunch with Louise Masson, General Manager at Harvey Nichols, Hilton Edinburgh Carlton Thursday 18th 18:00-21:00 Annual Summer Party, The Roxburghe Hotel Tuesday 23rd 14:00-15:30 Leadership Session with Benny Higgins, Turcan Connell Solicitors Office Wednesday 24th 12:30-14:30 Chamber Dining Club Lunch, Vittoria Leith Walk Thursday 25th 8:30-10:30 Breakfast Connections with Gordon Dewar, Dynamic Earth Friday 26th 8:30-10:00 Early Morning Start with The East India Company, The East India Company

Wednesday 7th 10:00-11:00 60 Really Useful Minutes: Thorntons Law, 40 George Street Tuesday 13th 14:30-19:20 Playhouse Tour and Meal, The Edinburgh Playhouse Wednesday 14th September 12.30 â€“ 14.30 Chamber Dining Club Lunch, Printing Press, George Street Thursday 15th 8:30-10:00 Inspiring Communities Workshop, The Grassmarket Community Friday 23rd 8:30-10:00 Early Morning Start with The East India Company, The East India Company Thursday 29th September Breakfast Connections with Scotrail, 8.30am â€“ 10.00am, Hilton Edinburgh Carlton Friday 30th 8:30-10:00 Macmillan Coffee Morning, 40 George Street

To book please visit www.edinburghchamber.co.uk or call the events team on 0131 221 2999 option 2 or e-mail events@ edinburghchamber.co.uk

August/September 2016

MOVERS AND SHAKERS Growth on the agenda for Flintriver The leading brand, digital and marketing agency has recently appointed a new business development manager, Carrie-Anne Stuart. With 10 years experience in brand management and communications roles for Standard Life and RBS under her belt Carrie-Anne is sure to galvanise the firm’s ambitious growth strategy. She’ll be charged with promoting the creative services for which Flintriver has become renowned and targeted with a 20% increase in sales over the next 12 months. ‘It’s an exciting time to join the business’ said Carrie-Anne ‘our investment in new technology has positioned us well to continue to provide a comprehensive service to our long standing clients while also building for the future.’

Apppointedd Appoints New Marketing Manager Online booking specialist, Appointedd has appointed Marc Blake as their new Marketing Manager. Marc has over 5 years’ experience of promoting small businesses firstly at Dunfermline Delivers BID and then at Miconex. Leah Hutcheon, CEO of Appointedd said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Marc join Team Appointedd! He brings with him a wealth of experience in working with independent businesses, and has fantastic passion and drive when it comes to super powering small businesses. From his very first interview we knew he was a great fit and we’re really enjoying working with him. Most of all, we are delighted to have him helping encourage more small businesses to reach their potential and to flourish!”

Prior to IFB, Alex worked for a major IT Support and Telecoms Company as Business Development Manager for Scotland, providing support to companies across the country. Alex is looking forward to becoming an integral part of the dedicated IFB team, stating “One thing I am looking forward to about working with IFB is the family feel that the company has, it really gives customers the support that is so vital to their business”.

BC August/September 2016

The Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) has announced the appointment of Alan Laidlaw as Chief Executive. Alan will take over responsibility for RHASS, the Edinburgh based charity that contributes £250m to the Scottish economy through its events business and flagship event, The Royal Highland Show. Currently Head of Property at The Crown Estate Scotland, Alan’s role will be to strengthen the Society’s influence in promoting and protecting the interests of land based industries on behalf of its 15,000 members. He will also oversee the £20million investment in the 280-acre Royal Highland Centre site at Ingliston adjacent to Edinburgh Airport that attracts over 1million visitors each year. A passionate advocate for engaging the next generation and strengthening the

BUSINESS COMMENT IS AN EDINBURGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PUBLICATION.

New Business Development Executive at IFB Aberdeen based Internet Service Provider IFB have recently appointed Alex Lafferty as Business Development Executive. Based in Glasgow, Alex will focus on growing business and supporting operations within the central belt.

RHASS Announces Appointment of New Chief Executive

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Business Centre, 2nd Floor, 40 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LE www.edinburghchamber.co.uk

Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels appoint new Cluster Sales Manager The family run hotel group has appointed a new Cluster Sales Manager. Iona Macarthur will play a key part in developing conference and events business at Scotland’s leading four star resort Crieff Hydro, and at Peebles Hydro in the Scottish Borders. Iona joins the business with a wealth of experience, having previously worked as a Corporate Sales Manager for Crowne Plaza, and prior to that, at companies including 5pm, Nestle and Hilton.

President: Scott Black Chief Executive: Dave Birrell EDITOR : Mayan Grace, Tel: 0131 221 2999 Email: mayan.grace@edinburghchamber.co.uk FEATU R ES EDITOR David Forsyth, Tel: 07887 955778 Email: david@benchmarkpr.co.uk P RODU CTION & DES IG N Distinctive Publishing, Unit 6b, Floor B, Milburn House, Dean Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 1LE Tel: 0845 884 2383 www.distinctivepublishing.co.uk A DV ERTIS IN G Distinctive Publishing, Unit 6b, Floor B, Milburn House, Dean Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 1LE John Neilson, Tel: 0845 884 2343 john.neilson@distinctivegroup.co.uk

DISCL AIM ER

Distinctive Publishing or Business Comment cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur, individual products or services advertised or late entries. No part of this publication may be reproduced or scanned without prior written permission of the publishers and Business Comment.

August/September 2016

SQA JOURNEYS FOR SCOTLAND’S FUTURE Scotland’s future is our young people – the workforce of tomorrow. SQA qualifications prepare them for work, and give them the skills employers like you are looking for. Find out where SQA Journeys can take your business.

Business Development T: 0303 333 0330 E: mycentre@sqa.org.uk W: www.sqa.org.uk/journeys