BS36 final Diane

BusinessScotland PAGE HEADER

Scottish Chambers of Commerce Magazine

ISSUE 36

Diane Gutiw Vice President, Global AI Research Centre at CGI

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Scottish Chambers of Commerce

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 36

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10 28

20

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BUILD A 7 LET’S GLOBAL FUTURE

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HEATHROW: SCOTLAND’S BRIDE TO GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS 24 THE AFFECTING BUSINESS IN 2025

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SOLVING SCOTLAND’S ENERGY TRILEMMA

WALKER’S SHORTBREAD HAS CAMPAIGN TO SHOW 39 NATIONAL APPRENTICESHIPS ARE MADE FOR 60 BEEN AWARDED THE ROYAL BUSINESS

UNEXPECTED JOURNEY INTO 50 AN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

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REGION SHINES AT 2024 AYRSHIRE BUSINESS AWARDS

WARRANT BY KING CHARLES III

BUSINESS 74 CAIRNGORMS PARTNERSHIP: DRIVING

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND INNOVATION IN THE HIGHLANDS

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SHAPING THE FUTURE OF ENERGY, TOGETHER.

Wind Power | Hydrogen | Nuclear | Hydro Power | Waste to X | Conventional Energy | Heat Storage | Battery Production

Your next career move starts here!

Find out more about working at Bilfinger

FOREWORD

Forging New Paths: Empowering Scottish Business in 2025 Thank you for picking up this edition of Business Scotland Magazine – one of the most widely distributed and read business publications in Scotland.

Firstly, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year as the new President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce. As I step into the role of President, I am both humbled and excited by the opportunity to represent the Scottish Chamber Network. Together, we will ensure that the voice of Scottish business resonates powerfully – locally, nationally or on the global stage. This is a time of ambition and determination as we navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Your team at the Scottish Chambers of Commerce has continued to amplify the voice of the business community, highlighting the need for close collaboration with the Government to agree on the best path for economic growth. That was a key message at the 2024 Annual Business Address which welcomed over 600 industry and political leaders from across Scotland and the UK and served as a platform for Scotland’s vibrant business community to connect, share insights, and celebrate success. The event featured the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, who underlined the importance of Government and business working in partnership (Page 10).

Our line-up of incredible business speakers included; Media Mogul & On-screen Interviewer for The Apprentice, Mike Soutar; LUSH Co-founder and Product Inventor,

Rowena Bird; Managing Director, SSE Energy Solutions GB and Ireland, Nikki Flanders; and Vice President, Global AI Research Centre, CGI, Dr Diane Gutiw. Find out more on page 12.

This edition also highlights some outstanding opportunities for Scottish businesses in 2025. CGI showcases the transformative potential of the latest advancements in deep tech—from AI to sustainability—to create innovative solutions that enhance business creativity and productivity. You can read more about this on page 24. Meanwhile, Heathrow underscores its role as “Scotland’s Bridge to Global Opportunity,” connecting Scotland to 94% of the world’s economy and providing vital links across the country. By facilitating over £30 million worth of Scottish exports, Heathrow continues to champion Scottish exporters in achieving their global ambitions (page 22).

More locally, Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce celebrated business excellence at their 20th Annual Rocco Awards. The event honoured 17 deserving winners who took home the coveted ROCCO trophies at Renfrewshire’s largest black-tie business event (page 68). Elsewhere in the magazine, you will discover an exciting new chapter for Lochaber Chamber of Commerce as it becomes West Highland Chamber of Commerce. This rebrand reflects the Chamber’s expanded services which now

Rodney Ayre

President, Scottish Chambers of Commerce

support businesses across Wester Ross, Skye and Lochalsh, Oban and Lochaber.

Learn more about this evolution on page 49.

Collaboration lies at the heart of our success and I look forward to working closely with our Chamber Network and partners to drive meaningful change.

I hope you enjoy this edition of the Business Scotland Magazine. Remember, your local Chamber of Commerce is here to support your business. If you need support, connections, advice or guidance, get in touch with our Chamber Experts across Scotland.

Contact details are included on page 76.

Scottish Chambers of Commerce Business Partners

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PRESIDENT’S REMARKS

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PRESIDENT’S REMARKS

Let’s build a global future Trying to put into words what the future holds for Scotland’s businesses in 2025 is hard enough, but for an engineer I will admit it’s well out of my comfort zone.

Rodney Ayre

President, Scottish Chambers of Commerce Our power doesn’t come from words and talk. It’s from process, building, creating and delivering. We make things happen and don’t just talk action.

And our success and our impact is not just limited to Scotland, it’s global.

So maybe it’s time for us all to step out of our comfort zone and see the challenges and opportunities from a manufacturing and engineering perspective.

The building blocks to growth and prosperity lie in our own hands and by working collaboratively and in partnership with governments it is time to turn all those words into deeds.

I’m a manufacturing guy, I make things for others to use to help them make other things for others, a cycle of growth.

Scotland has a powerful heritage in traditional industrial and a new successful heritage in developing industries across a range of sector.

Yet too often we have a negative image of ourselves even though in 2023 exports were up 13% and Scotland’s economy is continuing to grow despite the difficult climate.

It’s time for less negative talk and more positive action.

The cost of NI to employers and reduced access to the EU market because of Brexit are all expected to impact the medium and long-term growth of the manufacturing sector, my sector.

I know from years of national and international experience in the engineering and manufacturing sector the ability to look beyond adversity and see the opportunity.

I use the phrase, “when faced with an obstacle how do I get over it, under it, around it or through it” definitely not standing looking at it. That’s the culture Scotland has embraced for centuries and why we are such great inventors. Even now with all the challenges, the companies I speak to are already making plans, looking for the new opportunities.

Manufacturing is the workhorse of the Scottish economy; as a Trading Nation make things to grow.

Our continued success will come from our established companies Established companies expanding offshore and innovation companies accessing funding and taking risks.

We must capitalise on our enviable position in renewables onshore and offshore, the development within the space sector, the digital environment, Service and hospitality sectors, healthcare, I could go on….

The transition from oil and gas to green energy offers significant business and economic opportunities for Scotland.

As does offshore wind, the developing green hydrogen industry, and the need to decarbonise homes and industry.

Within the complex mix of large International Companies and medium and small indigenous business Scotland has the ability but we need a Government that understands the full importance of the manufacturing sector, what it has to offer and where to put support to get the best outcome, now and beyond the next horizon.

The above statement is not related to who is in power, it’s a statement on the future manufacturing sector we wish to have in Scotland and the long term vision and clear direction to create stability for investors.

To an engineer, a problem without a solution is a complaint: Identify the problem, work together on an agreed solution, don’t wait for the future to happen but be bold and create it ourselves.

I am very privileged to be the President of the Scottish Chamber of Commerce and working with an impressive Board of Directors and Operational team. We are asking ourselves how to support making Scotland a strong trading nation, an enviable brand, “Made in Scotland.”

With my manufacturing hat on, here are some initial thoughts: 1. Let’s get it done and make it happen where we can, making sure that Government understands and is ready to provide the initial fiscal support where the outcome is clearly beneficial but the fiscal challenges.

2. Government and Business must work in parallel to support a strong public service and a thriving Business sector. They are not mutually exclusive as the latest Budget would have you think.

3. Cut the red tape in ALL sectors.

4. In business be willing to take more risk to ensure innovative ideas are supported through to the manufacturing stage within Scotland. That includes financial risk.

5. The Made in Scotland brand and strategy should be a priority for business and government and we leant the lessons from our European Cousins Strategies.

6. Make it easier for international companies to invest in Scotland by creating a seamless proposition.

7. More investment in infrastructure, services, transport.

The SCC has a leading role to play in working collaboratively with government and delivering successful growth.

We will support the internationalisation of Scottish Business by creating a new value proposition and collaborating with partners for inward and outward investment.

We will grow our link with international trading partners worldwide, including the chamber network, to create that synergistic group branded, “Scottish Chamber of Commerce” and deliver an International synergistic ecosystem to support new, existing and developing businesses.

We will make a clear proposition, together with other large organisations including our partners in the British Chambers, as part of a strong and wide voice to Government of the opportunities that business can give and where the support is required.

But most importantly, we shall take the inspiration of our industrial past and today’s successful innovative culture to manufacture and engineer Scotland’s economic growth.

More action and less words will keep this engineer happy!

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PRESIDENT’S INTERVIEW

Can we use our power to put something better on the table?

An exclusive interview with Rodney Ayre, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, conducted by Scott Wright, left, Deputy Business Editor at The Herald.

Rodney Ayre, the Mitsubishi veteran recently appointed president of Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC), has stated his view that there is a better way for business and the Scottish Government to work together, following years of strain between the two parties.

And he underlined the importance of Scotland continuing to foster strong economic ties with the US, amid concern President-elect Donald Trump will reintroduce import tariffs on products such as textiles and single malt Scotch whisky after his inauguration next week.

Relations between business and Scottish Government ministers have been a source of tension in recent years, notably in the period since the Covid-19 pandemic, with company bosses frequently expressing frustration that the political leadership at Holyrood does not understand or prioritise business. This impression has not been helped by the fallout from the flawed deposit return scheme, controversial proposals to severely restrict alcohol advertising, and a sense that sectors such as hospitality have not been provided with sufficient support during various crises.

The latest Scottish Business Monitor, a survey of more than 350 firms produced by the Fraser of Allander Institute shortly before Christmas, found that just 9% of Scottish firms agreed that the Scottish Government understands the business environment.

Meanwhile, at UK level, the decision by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to hike employer

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national insurance contributions have also drawn sharp criticism from sections of the business community, such as retail. Critics of Ms Reeves have also questioned her plan for kick-starting UK economic growth.

Mr Ayre, a manufacturing engineer who heads production at Mitsubishi’s six sites in West Lothian, acknowledges that much government activity in recent years, on both sides of the Border, has focused on crisis management, whether relating to the pandemic, war in Ukraine or the cost of living crisis. He said First Minister John Swinney “looks like he listens” and praises the openness of other political figures such as Minister for Business Richard Lochhead and Russell Findlay, leader of the Scottish Conservatives. But he suggested business could bring more to the table.

Speaking exclusively to The Herald, Mr Ayre said: “It sounds like there is a voice to be listened to, [but] do we [business] give them enough on the table for them to get behind?

It is easy to complain. I work in a business where it is very easy to complain. A problem without a solution is a complaint, and I have got no time for complaints! And I think maybe the government is a little bit like that. “[Government might say] ‘Okay, I hear you complaining about this, have you got something to give me?’. I think we could maybe be better at doing that.”

Mr Ayre, who succeeded Crieff Hydro hotel boss Stephen Leckie as president of SCC, cited his experience at Mitsubishi, which is heavily involved in the roll-out of heat

pumps to households across Scotland. He said Mitsubishi cannot do this on its own and stressed the importance of cash support from government for the boiler upgrade scheme. He also said the company needs government to support legislation to tackle the fact electricity is priced more expensively than gas, and to tackle “disinformation from lobbyists” around the energy transition.

However, Mr Ayre emphasised that Mitsubishi is not relying solely on government to tackle these challenges, noting that it has built its own training centre to ensure it has enough skilled workers.

It negotiates tariffs with suppliers such as Octopus to secure prices are as close as possible to those enjoyed by electric vehicles for ground sourced heat pumps.

Mr Ayre said: “Businesses like mine are good at doing things by themselves. That is a bit of selfish statement – Mitsubishi Electric is by no means a small business.

Small and micro [firms] aren’t able to do that. How can we use all that power to put something better on the table that says to

PRESIDENT’S INTERVIEW

the government, if you do this, we will give you that.”

Meanwhile, Mr Ayre offered his view on the implications for the Scottish economy for a second Donald Trump presidency in the US, amid fears among sectors such as whisky and textiles that the controversial politician will reintroduce tariffs on imports across the Atlantic.

Mr Ayre said: “We are aware and had a look at what he did the last time. It is very

unpredictable what he will do, and I don’t think the current rhetoric that has been through the newspapers in the last few days [around Trump’s views on the North Sea] will help.”

Observing that US politics is conducted very differently to the UK, Mr Ayre added: “Will he increase tariffs on some products from Scotland? I think it depends very much on his relationship with Scotland, because he is a relationship man.

It is easy to complain. I work in a business where it is very easy to complain.

A problem without a solution is a complaint, and I have got no time for complaints! And I think maybe the government is a little bit like that.

Rodney Ayre, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce

“I don’t think he doesn’t like Scotland. I just think that some of our politicians should maybe ‘haud their wheesht’ until they find out what is going to go on.

“When you have got the biggest business leader in the world, the first thing you don’t come out and say is I don’t want to talk to you. You might come out at the end of the meeting and say, thanks for the conversation, but we are done. Donald Trump is a businessman, first and foremost he is a businessman.

“Is there an opportunity? There is. There definitely is. A trade agreement would be enormous. I don’t believe everything I read or see. I’m old fashioned. If you shake my hand and we agree to trust each other… break that and you are done. There is always an opportunity.”

Originally published in The Herald on the 18th of January 2025, produced exclusively by Scott Wright, Deputy Business Editor, The Herald

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ANNUAL SCOTTISH BUSINESS ADDRESS

Scottish Business excels at the 2024 Scottish Chambers of Commerce Annual Business Address The Scottish Chambers of Commerce Annual Business Address 2024 once again cemented its reputation as one of the most significant events of Scotland’s business calendar. The much-anticipated gathering brought together over 600 key figures from over 300 companies, including leading entrepreneurs, renowned personalities and senior politicians from Scotland, the UK and beyond.

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ANNUAL SCOTTISH BUSINESS ADDRESS

Sponsored by SSE Energy Solutions, the event celebrated the vibrant spirit of Scottish business and innovation, while highlighting the incredible accomplishments of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network. It was a night that honoured success, inspired collaboration and showcased the strength of Scotland’s business community.

The evening’s agenda featured an impressive lineup of speakers, each delivering unique insights and sharing compelling stories which captivated all. Among the standout speakers were: Stephen Leckie, Former President, Scottish Chambers of Commerce John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland Nikki Flanders, Managing Director, SSE Energy Solutions GB & Ireland Dr Diane Gutiw, Vice President, Global AI Research Centre at CGI Mike Soutar, Founder of Shortlist Media, Media Mogul and on-screen Interviewer for The Apprentice Rowena Bird, Co-founder & Product Inventor at LUSH Owen Wyatt, Chief Growth Officer at DC Thomson

Stephen Leckie

Former President, Scottish Chambers of Commerce

Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Director & Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce.

Opening the evening Stephen Leckie, Former President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, “This gathering highlights the importance of collaboration between government, business, and our communities. A collaboration which drives Scotland’s economic growth and prosperity.

Your presence today underscores the shared commitment to fostering a thriving business environment.

I’m delighted that tonight is our biggest-ever event with the widest possible representation of the Chambers of Commerce Network – from the Scottish Borders to the Highlands.

The past few years have tested the resilience of every business and individual across Scotland. But resilience is not just about weathering storms. It’s about learning, growing, and ensuring our foundations are stronger for the future. Businesses across Scotland have embraced change, from adopting new technologies to pivoting towards sustainability. These are not just survival strategies; they are investments in a more dynamic, competitive future.

Increasing energy costs, higher tax burdens, stretched consumers, new government regulations– this is a lot for us to manage and absorb.

Inevitably, we have to turn our attention to the levers that are in our control such as

increasing prices, reducing operating hours, pause on hiring and freeze on investment.

These all have the risk of hitting consumer spending power and our ability to create jobs.

Ultimately, the strength of our economy depends on thriving businesses not just resilient businesses. Every business in this room, and beyond, has the ambition to grow, do better, make more money, reinvest more.

Scotland has a rich tradition of innovation, from the industrial revolution to today’s cutting-edge work in renewable energy, life sciences, and fintech. To harness this potential, we must foster an environment that rewards entrepreneurship and investment.

That’s why, where and how we choose to invest is a critical marker for our future growth.

We need to prioritise regional and sectoral investment to ensure that opportunities are spread across Scotland – from the thriving hubs of Glasgow and Edinburgh to the vibrant economies of our rural and island communities. Investment in infrastructure, digital connectivity, and skills development will ensure Scotland remains a destination of choice for global business.

Government policies are critical to creating

the conditions for growth. Businesses need certainty, clarity, and collaboration.

This means a renewed focus on tax reform to incentivise innovation, a planning system that enables swift development, and support for key sectors like renewable energy, tourism, and manufacturing. Government must also take bold steps to address the skills gap, working closely with businesses and educators to ensure we’re equipping people with the tools they need for the future economy and empowering our agencies such as Skills Development Scotland to respond to business demand.

None of this can be achieved in isolation.

The relationship between business and government must be a partnership.

Businesses are the engine of the economy, creating jobs, wealth, and opportunities.

Governments have the tools to unlock potential – through policy, investment, and support.

By working together, we can ensure Scotland remains a world leader in innovation, a magnet for investment, and a model of sustainable growth.

As we look ahead, I am confident in the strength and ingenuity of Scotland’s business community. Together, I know we have the vision, talent, and determination to turn challenges into opportunities.”

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ANNUAL SCOTTISH BUSINESS ADDRESS

Meet the speakers Get to know the 2024 Scottish Chambers of Commerce Annual Business Address keynote speakers.

John Swinney First Minister John Swinney was appointed First Minister in May 2024.

He joined the Scottish National Party in 1979.

Prior to his election as Westminster MP for North Tayside in 1997, he held a number of posts in the SNP at local and national level. In 1999, he became the MSP for Tayside North, remaining as the constituency’s MP until standing down from Westminster at the 2001 General Election.

From 1998 to 2000, he served as deputy leader of the SNP, and then as party leader between 2000 and 2004. He was re-elected as an MSP at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election and appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth. He was appointed as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy in November 2014. In 2016 he was appointed Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. In 2021 he was appointed Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery.

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Rowena Bird Lush Cofounder & Product Inventor Drawn to the beauty industry from an early age, Rowena trained and qualified as a beauty therapist before fortuitously joining the creators of Lush in their small manufacturing company of the time, Constantine and Weir (C&W), and the team has been together ever since.

Co-Founding Lush in 1995, Ro has had many roles within the business, ranging from opening stores and training on customer service standards to overseeing Lush’s expansion with business partners and coining the term creative buying.

It’s this that inspires Lush’s team of ethical buyers, who are responsible for sourcing all the raw materials and establishing direct relationships with farmers. Ro is passionate about pioneering new materials and methods to create compostable, recyclable or refillable packaging where necessary, and going naked where it’s not.

Mike Soutar Media Mogul & On-screen Interviewer for The Apprentice Mike Soutar is a portfolio director, investor and adviser, focused on technology, media, sport and the arts.

He is a founder investor and director of start-ups in a variety of industries, from data analytics and institutional foreign currency exchange, to online contemporary art retail and TV production. Mike is also a NonExecutive Director of Scotland’s leading design museum, the V&A in Dundee, and an Independent Director of SRL, the Board of the Scottish Rugby Union.

He has worked in the media and entertainment industry since the mid-1980s, starting as a journalist and Editor in magazines before becoming a Publisher and Managing Director working across print, digital and broadcast brands in the UK and America.

He is also a familiar face to viewers of BBC One’s The Apprentice where he has been an on-screen interviewer of the final candidates since 2011.

ANNUAL SCOTTISH BUSINESS ADDRESS

Dr Diane Gutiw Vice President, Global AI Research Centre, CGI Dr. Diane Gutiw, Vice President and Global AI Research Centre Lead at CGI. She holds a PhD in Medical Information Technology Management and a certification in Medical AI from Harvard Medical School. Diane has over 30 years of experience in designing, developing, and delivering integrated big data, analytics, and AI solutions, including public health surveillance systems in the US and Canada. She also led the creation of enterprise analytics and research solutions at institutions like the University of California, San Francisco.

Diane is a former visiting lecturer at Simon Fraser University and has co-developed Data Science in Medicine materials for UBC’s Medical School. Currently, she collaborates with organizations to improve data understanding and evidence-based decisions through AI, data science, and machine learning. Her focus includes developing AI ethics and governance models, creating guardrails for responsible AI use, and researching the return on investment in human-AI service delivery.

Nikki Flanders Managing Director, SSE Energy Solutions GB and Ireland Nikki has over 25 years of experience in retail in the broadest sense; from “bricks and mortar” to digital businesses.

Nikki started her career with Marks & Spencer before taking up Divisional Director/ C-suite posts with WHSmith, Centrica, Telefonica and Drax (Opus Energy). Nikki joined SSE in 2019 as Managing Director of the customer division, which provides energy solutions to 380,000 businesses across Great Britain from SMEs to large corporates, and over 700,000 homes and businesses across the island of Ireland.

SSE is the UK’s clean energy champion and in the process of investing £20.5bn in clean energy infrastructure out to 2027. Nikki is also a Non-Executive Director for Pendragon Plc, a Leadership Fellow at St Georges and a Mentor and Coach with a focus on Inclusion and Diversity.

Owen Wyatt Chief Growth Officer, DC Thomson Owen Wyatt is Chief Growth Officer at DC Thomson. After seven years with the business, he relocated to Scotland to help lead DC Thomson’s ambition to revolutionise local news for the digital age and to launch E-FWD, a senior leadership network driving innovation in the UK energy industry.

Throughout his career, and as anyone following him on LinkedIn knows, Owen has been obsessed with delivering growth, no matter the backdrop or levels of pessimism he faces. At Sky Sports, he contributed to BSkyB’s success, later sold to Comcast for £30 billion. At Reuters, he revitalised a £150 million video business that fuelled the firm’s $17.6 billion acquisition

by Thomson. At Base79, he scaled operations to 500 million monthly video views, leading to a £50 million sale to Rightster.

At CNN, Owen drove digital advertising innovation, securing multimillion-dollar partnerships before its $85 billion acquisition

by AT&T. As Managing Director of Stylist, Owen played a pivotal role in the brand’s transformation into a digital-first business, championing gender pay equality and women’s sport, and growing an audience of over three million UK women.

An Oxford MBA graduate with distinction, Owen continues to align journalism, technology, and investment to create inclusive, sustainable growth.

What to expect from Owen and the team at DC Thomson in 2025? More of the Three Bs of the Resilient Growth Mindset: Be Formidable, Be Focused, and Be Forward

Stephen Leckie Chairman & CEO, Crieff­Hydro Ltd Stephen Leckie is Chair and CEO of Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels, Chair of Visit Scotland, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and was Chair of the Scottish Tourism Alliance for fourteen years.

The fifth generation of his family to run what is now Scotland’s oldest trading registered Company. The Company now owns six hotels from the Borders to the West Highlands including the iconic Peebles Hydro and Ballachulish Hotels and manage a number of businesses such as the Kingshouse Hotel in Glencoe and Peel Café at Glentress Forest. Recent innovations include the acquisition of Highland Safaris near Aberfeldy and building a Gin Distillery & School in Peebles.

Apart from his business interests and family he is an enthusiast of sailing, skiing and classic cars. Stephen is the Lord-Lieutenant of Perth & Kinross.

His Majesty The King’s personal representative in the county.

Dr Liz Cameron CBE Director & CEO, SCC Liz Cameron is recognised as one of the most influential, informed and authentic business leaders in Scotland.

Liz brings over 30 years’ experience of operating small businesses and a variety of executive and non-executive roles in a range of sectors. Liz represents the Scottish business community nationally contributing her expertise on a wide range of committees. On the world stage, Liz has expanded Scotland’s profile internationally, successfully establishing a new Scottish Trade Oe in China and other locations.

Liz was recognised with a CBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List 2022 for services to the promotion of Scotland and UK International Trade. Liz was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland and recognised as a Scottish Woman of Influence by Business Insider.

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ANNUAL SCOTTISH BUSINESS ADDRESS

Commenting on the collaboration between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, remarked: “One of the key contributors is the partnership we enjoy with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce. Through the International Trade Partnership, which has been a partnership of long-standing, reflecting the fact that the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, historically, have always been outward looking, always interested in taking companies from Scotland to International markets and of course the strength of the Chamber of Commerce network Is that the network is so intensely connected within local communities.

“Those companies with dynamism and an export appetite can be readily identified, they can be supported and they can be given a platform on the international stage. Since 2019, when we established the International Trade Partnership, there’s been the successful support of more than 100 trade missions overseas onboarding over a thousand Scottish businesses and resulting in international sales, worth an estimated 45 million pounds that wouldn’t have happened without the intervention of the international trade partnership.

“The importance of Government working in partnership with business is a welcomed theme for me to reinforce in what I say to you tonight. At the heart of any government will be its policy agenda, I have set out the policy agenda for Government will be focused on four principal themes; the eradication of child

John Swinney MSP

First Minister of Scotland

poverty, transforming the economy to deal with net zero, ensuring sustainable public services and growing the economy.

“I don’t view these as unconnected or compartmentalised themes, these are absolute interlinked themes as we cannot achieve the eradication of child poverty, we cannot deliver sustainable public services, we cannot support the transition to net zero, unless we have got a fundamentally strong, growing and dynamic economy.

“I am committed as First Minister to making sure that the government takes the necessary steps to ensure that is the case, but we will be greatly strengthened if we do that in an atmosphere of partnership and engagement with business to ensure the perspectives and the aspirations of the business community are brought very much into the heart of government.

“The government is focused intently on ensuring we create the conditions for your success.”

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce was honoured to host two exceptional keynote speakers at this year’s event. Mike Soutar, renowned entrepreneur, media mogul and onscreen interviewer for The Apprentice and Rowena Bird, co-founder and product inventor of the globally acclaimed LUSH shared their invaluable insights from their impressive careers.

Their engaging presentations captivated the audience leaving a lasting impression, providing inspiration and fresh perspectives to all who attended.

Mike Soutar engaged the audience with his inspiring business journey, starting his career at just 17 with DC Thomson, later founding Shortlist Media in 2007 – a venture that quickly became one of the UK’s fastest growing private businesses. He shared his knowledge with the audience providing five practical suggestions for how your business can embrace opportunity:

1. Before you cut costs, cut team meetings Team meetings are a luxury in tough times.

Think of them as artisan chocolates: one a day is fine.

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My top tips? Do stand-up meetings in person or, if they’re virtual, use the timer clock on Zoom. Then, use the time you’ve won back to meet customers or focus on revenue generation.

Liberate people from reporting and get them doing business. Encourage members of your team to opt out of any internal meetings they don’t find useful. You’ll soon see what and who adds value to your organisation.

And you will personally be freed up to become more productive too.

2. Get cost-smart Cutting the small stuff can damage team morale and customer optimism. Smart leaders rank costs largest to smallest, then start at the top.

It’s often just as time-consuming to get your largest supplier to cut charges by 10% as it is your smallest – but the impact is much greater.

And make cost-cutting someone’s day job if you can. Check in with them every single day.

ANNUAL SCOTTISH BUSINESS ADDRESS

3. Figure out if you are an insurgent or an incumbent There are only two viable positions for companies coming out of an economic downturn: the established incumbents and the hungry insurgents. a. Incumbents have a lot to defend. If you’re an incumbent, use your strength to offer long-term deals at competitive prices.

Hold salaries steady but offer attractive LTIPs, focus on what you stand for, and consider acquiring in your core areas.

Mike Soutar

Founder of Shortlist Media, Media Mogul and on-screen Interviewer for The Apprentice

b. Insurgents have nothing to lose. If you’re an insurgent, go all out. Move fast, introduce fresh ideas, and go the extra mile with every customer, every time.

4. Innovate constantly No matter what your business does, your customers will always welcome novelty.

So ask yourself: what’s your new idea? Your fresh perspective? Your added-value service or product? Brainstorm several ideas and schedule them over the next year.

In times of economic squeeze, everyone is on the lookout for partners and suppliers who can bring inventive new solutions to deeprooted problems. Continual innovation helps you retain clients and attract new ones.

5. Forge new partnerships In difficult times, other companies are far more open to collaborations. It makes sense: the prize might be smaller, but it’s easier to win a share when you team up.

My advice is to find partners with similar characteristics. Start-ups almost always work best with other start-ups. The same goes for big players.

Make it a marriage of equals. Like a Hollywood wedding, both of you have as much to gain or lose.

Rowena Bird shared the remarkable journey of LUSH, from its humble beginnings as the “Cosmetic Warriors from the Temple of Temptation” and the opening of their first store in Poole in 1995, to becoming a global success story with over 850 stores across 52 countries, employing around 17,000 worldwide. Rowena shared the valuable lessons learned along the way: “Trademarks are super important. We have over 900 trademarks in 103 countries. If you are thinking you might do business abroad, trademark your business name and product range names or you could find someone else is using your own brand name or trading off.

In 2014 we won a court case against Amazon, for infringing our trademark. Never be afraid of the bullies when you are in the right.

We pay the real living wage, our staff are the key to our success and work hard. They are the best investment we can make.

Thinking about the future of Lush in 2017 we created the Lush Employee Benefit Trust. We want the company to be owned by the staff.

We had seen what happened to the staff of the Body Shop when it sold to L’Oréal, they were distraught, they felt they had been sold too and to make matters worse to one of the largest animal testing companies in the world. We never want that to be the fate of our people.

We listen to our customers. We have a lot of intense fans, they are not afraid to give us tough love and tell us what they think. For example, we tweaked our henna formula recently, however our regular users fed back that they didn’t like it as much - so we changed it back!”

Closing her speech with a heartfelt message: “So on behalf of my fellow founders, I would just like to say, thank you very much, and if you are running or starting your own business, I hope you have as much fun as we do, consider your team carefully and you too can leave the world Lusher than you found it.”

Closing off the speeches for the evening, Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Director & Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce said: “I believe a thriving Scotland is within reach. People and passion make this happen. Every business in this room knows that our people are our greatest assets. We know that Government gets this too. That’s why we fully back and support our probusiness skills agency – Skills Development Scotland – who champion and understand the needs of business.

Rowena Bird

Co-founder & Product Inventor at LUSH

So, as we leave here tonight, let us do so with optimism and determination. We are not just participants in Scotland’s economy; we are all its architects.

Together, I know we will build a brighter future for Scotland.”

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ANNUAL SCOTTISH BUSINESS ADDRESS

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce would like to thank our amazing partners: SSE Energy Solutions, CGI, E-FWD/DC Thomson, LNER, Drax, SDS, Heathrow and Lumo for their support which made this event possible and helped us shine a spotlight on the power of Scottish business.

A special thank you to our event partners: LUSH, Launch Digital, Lussa Gin, Speyburn/International Beverage, Ochil Fudge and Ross’s of Edinburgh for their generous gifts and support, their contributions made this event even more special.

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1 John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland, enjoying the SCC Annual Business Address 2 Owen Wyatt, Chief Growth Officer at DC Thomson addresses the VIP reception 3 Nikki Flanders, Managing Director, SSE Energy Solutions GB & Ireland takes to the stage at the 2024 Annual Business Address

For partnership opportunities or to book your place at our 2025 Annual Business Address contact Ros WardleySmith, International & Operations Executive (ros.wardley-smith@ scottishchambers.org.uk)

4 Diane Gutiw, Vice President, Global AI Research Centre at CGI, addresses the audience at the 2024 Annual Business Address

Scottish Chambers of Commerce 3

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ANNUAL SCOTTISH BUSINESS ADDRESS

Dr Liz Cameron CBE

Director & Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce

I believe a thriving Scotland is within reach. People and passion make this happen.

Every business in this room knows that our people are our greatest assets. We know that Government gets this too. That’s why we fully back and support our pro-business skills agency – Skills Development Scotland – who champion and understand the needs of business.

Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Director & Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce

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VISIT SCOTLAND

Steadfast in our support for the visitor economy

Over my first few months as Chief Executive of VisitScotland, I have had the pleasure of meeting with industry colleagues, politicians and business leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities that face tourism and events.

Vicki Miller CEO VisitScotland

These conversations have been invaluable – not only to share more about the important work we do and the impacts of this, but also to understand the needs of our stakeholders and partners and consider how our activity can support their future needs.

As an economic growth agency, our core purpose is to drive the visitor economy, growing its value to Scotland. Through our work and our support of the industry we help to stimulate investment into Scotland and help businesses to grow. This remains crucial as we all navigate shifts in the financial, political, and travel landscapes.

To keep pace with change and make the best use of our resources and expertise, we are focusing on three priorities: Market development - Growing and diversifying Scotland’s reach in key international and domestic markets.

Place development - Enhancing destinations to ensure tourism benefits communities and regions across Scotland.

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Business and experience development - Providing tailored support to help businesses reach new audiences and markets and deliver high-quality, memorable visitor experiences.

We are using data and insight to ensure we are reaching the right audiences at the right times, offering the right support to businesses and prioritising the markets where we see growth and potential.

The recent impressive international visitor figures demonstrate the importance of our work in this area and the impact that comes with this.

Our latest annual report shows that our activity to stimulate demand in 2023/24 through our multi-channel consumer marketing, generated a net economic impact of £56.7 million which means every £1 we invest in our marketing generates £11 for the economy.

The reach of our channels is vast and there is a vital role for us to play in getting information to visitors at this earlier stage of their holiday planning.

While marketing will forever be part of our DNA, it is clear our role is, and needs to be, far broader than that. One area we have been reviewing is our business and experience development activity and how we help businesses to tap into changing travel trends, capitalise on local investment projects and sector strengths and adapt their offer to reach new audiences and markets.

To do that, we will focus on providing tourism and events businesses with tailored, free to access advice and support to help them grow and deliver quality, memorable experiences.

We’re also increasing our focus on business development by building a bigger team of subject matter experts to support through our new digital hub as well as in person across areas like sustainability, inclusion, travel distribution and travel trade.

We have an important role to play in providing industry guidance and have specialist knowledge and expertise in these areas of advice. I am excited to share more about our business support programme in the months ahead.

VisitScotland is steadfast in its support for our tourism and events industry. Scotland consistently punches above its weight in a highly competitive global market, delivering world-class events and experiences that inspire visitors and set us apart.

This success stems from collaboration, commitment, and the shared expertise of countless individuals and organisations.

I look forward to building on these past success in the year ahead. Together we can ensure Scotland’s visitor economy continues to flourish.

DELTA

100 years of flight. What’s new for Delta’s centennial year?

It’s almost 100 years since Huff Daland Dusters, Delta Air Lines’ predecessor, was founded.

Since then, the U.S. carrier has grown to be one of the world’s largest international airlines. Next summer Delta will operate its largest-ever schedule across the Atlantic, offering more than 700 weekly flights from 33 European destinations, including nonstop service from Edinburgh to three U.S. gateways.

Delta’s services from Edinburgh to New York-JFK resume in March 2025, followed by flights to Atlanta and Boston in April and May respectively - connecting customers to over 200 destinations across America and beyond.

Here’s a look ahead to what’s in store for customers flying Delta from Scotland in the airline’s centennial year.

widebody jets, and lighting that promotes relaxation by creating a warm, calming and atmospheric environment will span the fleet.

New look

Exclusive Lounges

Delta is introducing a new cabin interior with a modern design that will significantly enhance the onboard experience for customers. Starting with its B757 and A350 aircraft, every aspect has been carefully planned and thoughtfully redesigned with a new colour palette, branded elements and seat tags that create subtle distinctions between cabins. Breathable seat fabrics, comfortable memory-foam cushions on

A premium lounge experience now awaits in the brand-new Delta One® Lounges in Boston, New York-JFK, Los Angeles. Exclusively for Delta One passengers, the new lounges feature luxurious design elements that reflect each city’s unique characteristics and offer an elevated pre-flight experience including fine dining and spa-like wellness treatments.

Additional aircraft will receive the new cabin design as Delta’s schedule and operation allows over the next few years.

The new lounges feature customized design elements by luxury Italian fashion house, Missoni, which has also designed the new Delta One amenity kits that are taking haute couture to high altitude.

Free Wi-Fi Gate-to-gate Wi-Fi connectivity allows SkyMiles members to connect during travel and spend their time in a way that suits them – just like they would at home - for free.

Already installed across Delta’s domestic route network, free Delta Sync Wi-Fi is available on flights from the UK, France and Germany and will be fully rolled out across all international flights keeping customers connected across their journey.

Follow Delta’s 100th anniversary year at news.delta.com

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CELEBRATING SCOTLAND

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Celebrating Scotland’s leading businesses at Edinburgh Castle On the 29th of October 2024, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce hosted a prestigious Scottish Business Reception at the historic Edinburgh Castle. The event brought together over 100 esteemed guests including Chamber representatives, politicians and business leaders which showcased the vital role of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network in driving economic growth and advocating for the needs of its local communities and businesses allowing them to grow and prosper.

A highlight of the evening was the attendance of the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney MSP who opened the reception with a powerful speech that reinforced the government’s commitment to Scotland’s economic future. Addressing the audience, the First Minister stated: “My Government is committed to growing the economy to generate the wealth to invest in our public services and eradicate child poverty. We want to use that investment to create a partnership between government

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and business that will make the most of Scotland’s many economic opportunities.

“It takes political willpower to adapt and evolve our economies and grow thriving societies in all four nations – something the Chancellor can signal by including steps to advance the Acorn carbon capture and storage project in the UK Budget, which would provide new opportunities for workers in the oil and gas sector in Grangemouth and in other parts of Scotland.”

The First Minister’s call for partnership between government and business set the tone for the evening, underscoring the importance of collaboration to unlock Scotland’s potential.

Also addressing the night, Stephen Leckie, Former President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, emphasised the need for investment to remain at the core of the UK’s economic strategy. He highlighted how critical it is to place investment at the heart of the UK’s budget to foster growth,

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1 John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland with Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Director & Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Charandeep Singh BEM, Deputy Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce 2 Guests networking after speeches at the prestige business reception 3 President, Rodney Ayre, Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Taro Hattori, President, Mitsubishi Electric with John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland 4 Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Director & Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce with Stuart Broster, President, Cairngorms Chamber of Commerce and Donald Martin, Founder, DM Media Consultancy

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boost competitiveness, and instil confidence among businesses. Speaking to the audience, Mr Leckie remarked: “Our budget focus is on growth, investment, and competitiveness. That means investing in skills, technology, and infrastructure, and equipping the workforce for tomorrow’s challenges.

“The Chancellor’s actions and the message they send will directly impact business

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confidence and investment at a time when we need to create positive momentum.

“We hope that our calls to support business have been listened to and not ignored.”

The reception was a powerful showcase of the outstanding work of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce networking in championing the voice of Scottish businesses and facilitating opportunities for

growth and prosperity. The night provided an invaluable platform to strengthen the relationship between Scotland’s business community and its political leaders, fostering meaningful dialogue on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

For partnership opportunities contact Ros Wardley-Smith, International & Operations Executive (ros.wardley-smith@ scottishchambers.org.uk)

Our budget focus is on growth, investment, and competitiveness. That means investing in skills, technology, and infrastructure, and equipping the workforce for tomorrow’s challenges.

Stephen Leckie, Former President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce

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BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Heathrow: Scotland’s bridge to global opportunities Heathrow connects Scotland to 94% of the world’s economy, providing crucial connections to and from Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Kirkwall and Sumburgh. This vital connectivity supports over £570 million worth of trade and investment per year supporting 468,000 jobs. Heathrow’s proud of its connectivity to Scotland, and Edinburgh remains one of Heathrow’s most popular routes having joined the ‘Millionaire Club’ in 2024 with over a million passengers travelling on this route.

Heathrow’s support for Scottish business goes far beyond facilitating tourism and business travel. As the UK’s only hub airport, Heathrow handles 48% of all UK air cargo and in 2023 facilitated over £34 million worth of Scottish exports. From high-value machinery to whiskey and salmon – if you’re flying out of Heathrow in 2025, the chances are, there’s Scottish products underneath you in the belly hold of the plane. Heathrow’s always looking to champion Scottish exporters, so if you export via air cargo, get in touch with Sarah Ralphs, External Affairs Lead, by email sarah.ralphs@heathrow. com.

Beyond exports and passenger travel, Scottish businesses also play a vital part in the airport’s supply chain. Heathrow’s brand-new annual Investment Impact Report outlines how the airport’s £1.1 billion investment in 2024 reaches every corner of the UK – from its £191 million upgrade

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Did you know Heathrow has a team of over 160 people based in Glasgow? to security lanes to resurfacing one of the runways. Between December 2023 and December 2024, Heathrow spent £10 million across its almost 40-strong supply chain partners in Scotland.

2025 brings even more opportunities for Scottish businesses to work with the world’s busiest airport. Towards the end of 2024 Heathrow announced a £2.3 billion accelerated investment plan to upgrade the airport over the next two years. This is the largest private sector capital investment in UK transport infrastructure, with an increase

of almost a quarter of a billion compared to previous estimates. This increased investment serves to support growth and deliver the UK’s industrial strategy, supporting industries that rely on our global connectivity for trade and tourism.

Heathrow wants to work with Scottish businesses to deliver this investment programme and to achieve its vision is to be an extraordinary airport, fit for the future.

Get in touch with the team to find out more about Heathrow’s supply chain opportunities.

How to get involved Heathrow’s supply chain: Heathrow is committed to building a successful and innovative supply chain built around SMEs. If your business is interesting in working with Heathrow get in touch with the team at procurement@heathrow.com.

Alternatively, you can find out more about working with Heathrow here: heathrow.com/ company/doing-business-with-heathrow

Western Commercial www.westerncommercial.co.uk

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BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

The technology trends affecting business in 2025 Exciting times await in the technology sector this year. There remains a huge opportunity for the brightest minds to grasp the latest capabilities in deep tech, and use them to create exciting solutions that enhance and improve business creativity and productivity. But along with the positives, there will always be challenges – most often in the shape of cyber criminals.

Everyone needs to be increasingly vigilant against threats from ever more sophisticated hacks and attacks. And a continued effort needs to be made in terms of sustainable practices in business that combine growth ambitions with climate responsibility.

Below, three CGI experts in AI, cybersecurity and sustainability give their opinions on what they believe awaits this year, and what businesses and organisations in Scotland need to both embrace and prepare for.

Instead of a top-down approach where leaders instruct teams how to use software and tools, leading organisations will democratise AI for all. Letting employees experiment will be the best thing an IT leader will do.

The result will be innovations and applications you never had planned for, but ones that have a tangible effect on your organisation. We’re seeing a remarkable 40% increase in productivity across some workstreams.

That being said, all of this experimentation and implementation needs to be underpinned by providing the necessary guardrails.

2. AI as a support mechanism for a diverse workforce

Russell Goodenough

CGI Head of AI in the UK and Australia

AI

AI will tackle some of society’s most pressing issues, aligning technological advancements with public good.

AI is already making a genuine impact on all areas of society, from projects that utilise AI to take early intervention for at-risk children or speeding up the diagnosis of brain bleeds in hospitals.

This is just the start though.

Through these ‘AI for Good’ initiatives, public services will be enhanced, climate change efforts supported, and the efficiency of critical systems like court services improved.

There will be a shift in mindset from fear of AI to recognising how it can enable society to focus on and develop solutions in areas that are most in need.

4. The next frontier: Agentic AI

1. Implementation of AI across organisations

The impact of these goes beyond productivity gains, they create happier and more inclusive environments.

Agentic AI is enabling organisations to automate complex sequences of tasks while keeping humans in the loop.

From experimentation to deep integration, AI will become completely woven into business operations. We’ve seen this evolution in our own business, and know other organisations will follow suit.

By giving employees, the tools to work smarter and focus on what matters, AI will can enable organisations to achieve more, while a creating a culture of support and equity.

This shift allows teams to focus on higher-value work, driving innovation and addressing critical challenges with greater efficiency – all within a responsible AI framework.

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AI’s impact is already transforming workplaces in unexpected ways. Tools like ChatGPT have helped neurodiverse employees to reduce the time spent on tasks like drafting emails. This eases anxieties and makes work more manageable.

3. AI for Good

BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Over 100 financial institutions, including asset owners and managers representing US$14 trillion, have volunteered their intention to begin adopting nature reporting as part of their annual corporate reporting for FY2023, FY2024 or FY2025 – so we shall see more of this.

2. Stricter Frameworks and legislation on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) New ESG regulations aimed at enhancing sustainability transparency and accountability in business practices will come into effect over the next few years.

Mattie Yeta

CGI Chief Sustainability Officer in the UK and Australia

Sustainability 1. Increased reporting on nature Publicly listed companies like CGI operating across industry sectors and geographies represent US$4 trillion in market capitalisation.

Cyber Security 1. Tactical deployment of AI This year we will see organisations adopt a hyper-focused approach to AI making more targeted and impactful deployments.

Looking for genuine use cases to protect themselves from surface-level attacks and identifying inefficiencies but comes with challenges such as high energy usage costs.

2. Smarter scams and smarter solutions Whilst scammers step up the cyber war with more AI-powered social engineering phishing, organisations will fight back aided by ever more sophisticated AI-enabled tools.

As the tech arms race grows, humanity will be a differentiator. We’ll see an impact of students joining the workforce from more varied academic backgrounds – those studying psychology as opposed to coding for instance.

We will see businesses align with stricter frameworks that mandate reporting across ESG, especially the supply chain in a bid to hit goals whilst continuing to accelerate innovation.

Government intervention through more stringent guidelines and legislation will intensify efforts.

3. Embedding sustainability into core business strategies, supported by technology In the last 12 months, I’ve seen a big emphasis on the integration of sustainability into different business functions like finance, marketing and operations.

At the same time, there has also been a lot of investment in AI. Many organisations

are investing to uncover patterns to support sustainability initiatives.

4. Rise of green careers and the need for sustainability experts The demand for sustainability experts within businesses will continue to grow, and this will open doors for green careers and education.

Organisations will look at prioritising reskilling initiatives to ensure they tap into existing talent that have a passion for sustainability, but sometimes just lack some of the specific skillsets.

This will close the sustainability skills gap, while we wait for new generations of green-specialists to come into the workforce.

5. Transparency and accountability in energy usage for cloud providers By 2025, hyperscalers and cloud providers will face increased pressure to improve the transparency and accountability of their energy usage. As this evolves, reporting and measuring sustainable IT metrics will grow in importance.

On a granular level, there will be a greater adoption of tools like Data Twin 360, which tracks metrics like CPU and memory energy consumption.

3. The Quantum kick-off Quantum computing has the power to disrupt the cybersecurity landscape.

Although its growth has been rapid, the technology remains in its infancy and its eventual widespread adoption will bring significant challenges.

Upgrading systems to quantum-resistant encryption will not be a simple task; quantum computing excels in specific types of mathematical operations but falls short in others, resulting in newly exploitable weaknesses in some commonly used encryption methods.

As a result, industries heavily reliant on long-term data protection face an increased risk of breaches.

To mitigate this, organisations must thoroughly understand their encryption methods and the required protection timelines for their sensitive data.

Alex Woodward

CGI Senior Vice President – Consulting Delivery, Cyber Security, in the UK and Australia

Business Scotland

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BILFINGER

From left to right: Joseph Strachan, Commercial Director at Bilfinger E&M UK, and Dan Jackson, Founding Director Cerulean Winds

Bilfinger E&M UK will carry out operations and maintenance services for the floating offshore wind farms

North Sea transition in action: Bilfinger selection adds further offshore expertise to floating wind consortium Bilfinger selected by Cerulean Winds as operations and maintenance partner for Aspen, Beech, and Cedar floating offshore wind farms Wind farms will collectively generate more than 3GW of renewable energy for UK Joint contribution to UK government’s 50GW capacity by 2030 target Aberdeen, United Kingdom. Bilfinger, a leading industrial services provider, has been appointed by Cerulean Winds to join the alliance of companies developing the Aspen, Beech and Cedar floating offshore wind farms, which collectively will generate 3GW+ of renewable green energy. Bilfinger will serve as operations and maintenance (O&M) partner bringing decades of experience in development planning and a deep knowledge of the offshore energy sector.

“This is the story of the North Sea transition in a nutshell – a leading oil and gas service provider redeploying its skilled workforce and expertise to scale up floating wind,” said Dan Jackson, Founding Director of Cerulean Winds. “Bilfinger is joining an alliance of exceptional companies united by a shared ambition to advance the floating offshore wind industry in Scotland and deliver clean power to the UK.” Aspen, Beech and Cedar once built will comprise over 300 turbines. The 1GW Aspen site will be developed first, providing new

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commitment to advancing renewable energy solutions and leveraging our extensive experience in the energy sector.

By integrating innovative

Floating offshore wind turbine foundations. © Cerulean Winds

offshore wind capacity helping to meet the UK government’s 50GW by 2030 target.

Bilfinger will advise on O&M during the detailed design of the Aspen site, facilitating opportunities to adopt innovative technologies before delivering the O&M services once the development is built.

Sandy Bonner, President Engineering & Maintenance UK at Bilfinger, said: “Being selected as the operations and maintenance partner for these pioneering floating wind farms is a significant milestone for us, which underscores our

technologies and collaborating closely with the consortium, we aim to ensure the safe, efficient, and sustainable operation of the Aspen, Beech, and Cedar sites.

Our early involvement in the design phase will allow us to optimize maintenance strategies and support the project’s ambitious goals of industrial decarbonization and enabling electrification of oil and gas facilities. We look forward to contributing to the success of these groundbreaking projects and driving forward the future of clean energy.”

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BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

Why Scotland is leading the charge for business and energy innovation Over the past few years, I’ve had the privilege of leading transformation and growth initiatives across the UK and beyond in roles that have taken me from London to Tokyo, New York, and Sydney. But no place has inspired me quite like Scotland.

Owen Wyatt

Chief Growth Officer, DC Thomson The energy transition – arguably the defining challenge of our time – has brought me to the heart of Scotland’s business community, where collaboration, resilience, and innovation are more than just buzzwords; they are a way of life. As we look to the future, Scotland’s potential to position itself as a global leader in clean energy solutions and business innovation is undeniable. But the time to act is now.

From day one, I’ve been struck by how deeply collaborative this community is. Whether it’s the energy transition, making positive change in local communities or embracing

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emerging technologies, businesses here understand that progress happens when we work together.

Green Freeport ensures that this region will play a significant role in the energy transition journey.

Take, for example, E-FWD, DC Thomson’s powerful tool for C-suite networking and collaboration in energy transition. It was the support that we received from the cities in Scotland who are playing critical roles that has allowed us to create something truly impactful.

These achievements are not isolated successes but part of a larger story: a country where businesses and leaders share a vision of progress, fuelled by openness, partnership, and mutual support.

Aberdeen, the oil and gas capital, is reshaping itself as the home of GB Energy.

Edinburgh has established itself as a global hub for financing renewables. In Dundee, we’re helping decarbonise transport infrastructure, while Glasgow – the city with ambitions to be a global clean energy hub – is showcasing the very best in tech and innovation. And of course, Inverness and across the Highlands and Islands including Cromarty, home of Scotland’s

Over the last 12 months, I’ve met with hundreds of business and community leaders who have limitless ambition, enthusiasm, and commitment, inspiring innovation and driving growth in their sector, industry or community. These leaders exist throughout Scotland, and I am committed to connecting and engaging with even more of them in 2025 to identify opportunities for us to work together.

Scotland’s business leaders have found a rare balance: building ventures that are globally relevant yet proudly rooted in their

BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

communities. This isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a critical advantage.

At DC Thomson – a 200-year-old family business – this philosophy has shaped everything we do. Whether it’s our global energy media platform, Energy Voice or E-FWD, our ventures are making an impact worldwide, but they have strong roots at home.

This combination of global vision and local commitment positions Scotland perfectly to lead the clean energy revolution. With abundant wind and tidal resources, world-class universities conducting groundbreaking research, and a highly skilled workforce, Scotland has all the ingredients needed to become the go-to destination for green energy innovation.

Scotland’s ability to adapt and innovate is unparalleled. The energy transition itself is proof: a monumental challenge that Scotland has embraced as an opportunity to lead.

Whether it’s leveraging new technologies, rethinking outdated infrastructure, or responding to global trade dynamics, Scotland has shown that it can compete and thrive on the world stage.

But we cannot afford complacency. The opportunities are immense, but they require collective action. Two early E-FWD events in Q1 2025 will ensure we start the new year on the front foot – a vision-setting session in January and a workshop in March exploring themes like AI’s role in energy – will showcase Scotland’s potential to lead.

These events are more than conversations; they are calls to action for businesses and policymakers alike.

While Scotland’s strengths are clear, there remains a gap between politics and business. Too often, opportunities for collaboration are missed.

In the lead-up to Scotland’s next election, and against a backdrop of global uncertainties, it has never been more important for political leaders to lean into business. By collaborating with the private sector, policymakers can unlock growth, drive innovation, and position Scotland as a global leader in clean energy and beyond.

The energy transition is a once-in-ageneration opportunity. Scotland has all the ingredients to firmly establish itself as a global leader. But to seize this moment,

Scotland’s business leaders have found a rare balance: building ventures that are globally relevant yet proudly rooted in their communities. This isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a critical advantage.

Owen Wyatt, Chief Growth Officer, DC Thomson

we need bold leadership – from business and politics alike – to come together with a shared purpose.

Scotland is a brilliant place for business and, as I have found over the last year, to bring up a young family. Its strengths – collaboration, global vision, and relentless innovation – are precisely what the world needs to solve the challenges of today and tomorrow.

I firmly believe DC Thomson is a transformative partner in bringing together communities to effect positive change.

Where there are challenges, we lean into them and look for ways to make a practical difference. Where people are looking for guidance, we’re a focus; convening conversations and events that are purpose led and identify solutions. If we should be having a conversation in 2025, please get in touch.

To my fellow business leaders: let’s work together to position Scotland as a global leader in clean energy technology and innovation. The enabling conditions are here; now, we need collective will and action to turn potential into reality.

To our politicians: embrace the spirit of partnership that defines Scotland’s business community. Listen to businesses, understand their challenges, and work with us to drive meaningful solutions.

Let’s not wait for opportunity to come to us. Let’s make it happen – together. By championing innovation, collaboration, and ambition, Scotland can lead the way in energy and countless other sectors and industries, ensuring a greener, brighter future for us all. Let’s go.

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EDINBURGH EXECUTIVE TRAVEL

Driving Excellence and Innovation into 2025 The transport sector has faced significant challenges this past year, with income dropping by 32% due to soaring costs and an unfavourable business climate.

However, we at Edinburgh Executive Travel (EET) have bucked the trend, more than tripling our turnover and cementing our position as a market leader in chauffeurdriven transport.

This success is thanks to our strategic investments, innovative approach, and relentless commitment to delivering exceptional service.

Strategic Growth and Expansion Over the past year, we’ve expanded our fleet by 40%, adding new luxury vehicles, including Mercedes-Benz and Range Rover’s. This growth allows us to meet increasing customer demand while reaffirming our commitment to providing premium, travel experiences.

We have also doubled our office team to ensure every customer enjoys the seamless and personalised service we’re known for.

our team volunteered to assemble starter packs and gather donations, and we’re already planning further activities to support this vital cause.

Investing in Excellence

A Vision for 2025 and Beyond

We take pride in raising industry standards and through our new Chauffeur Training & Development Academy we do just this. It ensures our chauffeurs continue to provide exceptional service.

Training includes mystery shopper assessments, regular driving evaluations by our in-house trainer, and secure ground transportation courses delivered by our security consultant. These efforts ensure that whether clients are travelling for leisure or require enhanced security, they are in safe and expert hands.

Looking ahead, 2025 promises even more exciting developments. In March, we’ll welcome five plug-in hybrid Mercedes E-Class’s to our fleet — earlier than planned —further strengthening our eco-conscious offering.

Sustainability and Community Engagement

Innovation in Branding and Service

Sustainability is central to our long-term strategy.

This year, we introduced a new visual identity, including a sophisticated website and a fresh approach to social media.

Our chauffeurs now play a key role in our online presence, contributing usergenerated content that adds an authentic, personal touch to how we connect with customers.

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These innovations have helped us secure several high-profile accounts, including orchestrating a major event for a global luxury brand. Managing a fleet of 150 vehicles, we ensured the flawless transportation of VIPs to and from the event. Earning preferred supplier status for this project is a testament to our ability to deliver large-scale, high-profile events with professionalism, precision, and discretion.

By supporting rewilding efforts in the Scottish Highlands, we’re helping restore Scotland’s natural beauty for future generations. Our community focus doesn’t stop there. This year, we partnered with Fresh Start, an Edinburgh-based charity that helps individuals transition from homelessness into a home. In November,

Additionally, several of our chauffeurs have volunteered with the Children’s Holiday Venture charity, further demonstrating our commitment to giving back to the community.

As a newly appointed Visit Scotland Travel Trade Partner, we’re delighted to play a role in showcasing Scotland’s world-class destinations. This partnership allows us to offer exclusive rates and tailored services to help visitors experience the very best of our beautiful country.

With our growing fleet, innovative services, and unwavering focus on sustainability, we’re set to continue leading the market in chauffeur-driven transport. From seamless VIP travel to eco-conscious journeys, we’re here to make every trip exceptional.

Book Your Journey Today Our fleet is fully operational throughout the year, ready to make your travel as special as the occasion.

Contact us today and let us take you wherever you need to go, with luxury, professionalism, and a personal touch.

Edinburgh Executive Travel e: enquiries@edinburghexecutivetravel.co.uk t: +44 (0)131 3000 998 edinburghexecutivetravel.co.uk

D R I V E S

W I T H

D I S T I N C T I O N

For luxurious chauffeur-driven business travel, transfers and touring of the highest standard, choose Edinburgh Executive Travel. We have been exceeding expectations since 2007, with nationwide coverage and the most professional, experienced and personable drivers and guides. It all adds up to a truly personal service full of five-star reviews.

Talk to us today to find out why so many people already place their trust in Edinburgh Executive Travel.

+44 (0)131 3000 998 enquiries@edinburghexecutivetravel.co.uk

E D I N B U R G H E X E C U T I V E T R AV E L .C O. U K

FOR SPILLS

For Spills: making your business clean and green Sweep your business into a cleaner, greener era with the help of For Spills. Their ingenious products guarantee safe, powerful, and eco-friendly cleaning - all proudly made in Scotland.

The patented technology from For Spills, based in Edinburgh, represents the most significant eco-friendly breakthrough in floor cleaning in over 100 years.

It’s time to ditch detergent (sustainably, of course) and embrace their unique dry powder formulas, which effortlessly cut through grime every time.

A Clean Leader For Spills is a trusted cleaning supplier for leading organisations like McDonald’s UK, Tesco, and the NHS. Why? Because their products work better, cost less, and are safer for both people and the planet.

For Spills’ floor cleaning solutions require no valuable freshwater and utilise a 100% natural mineral formula that keeps harmful chemicals and microplastics out of our water supply.

For example, using just one sachet of Greasebuster instead of traditional mopping saves 16 litres of freshwater and 20 minutes of cleaning time - all while keeping toxic detergents out of the drain.

Your business can enjoy the benefits of superior cleaning power, along with a boost to both your budget and the environment.

Plus, wet, slippery floors will become a thing of the past, transforming your workspace into a safer, more hygienic environment for employees and customers alike.

In 2025, as a proud member of the UN Water Resilience Coalition, For Spills continues to make significant strides in sustainability. Their vision is to remove 1 billion litres of valuable freshwater from commercial use by 2026, powered by their innovative technology.

Eco-Friendly Innovation

As British companies strive to meet climate impact commitments, we’re proud to be able to deliver cost-effective products which offer vastly improved performance and safer working spaces at the same time as reducing the use of water, chemicals, plastics, energy and the CO2eq footprint compared to common and traditional floor cleaning methods. David Lilly, founder and CEO

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Dedicated to Helping Businesses: Reduce operational costs by slashing cleaning time and eliminating waste in water, chemicals, and plastics.

Improve workplace safety with cleaner, slip-free floors that protect employees and enhance hygiene.

Enhance sustainability with groundbreaking, eco-friendly technology.

For Spills understands the challenges businesses face in achieving environmental goals affordably and whilst maintaining hygiene standards. That’s why their R&D team leads the way in commercial cleaning innovation, with popular trademarks like Greasebuster, Bioperl, For Spills Absorbent and the Pop-Up Card Dustpan—and more exciting developments on the horizon.

Pioneering Progress “We’re providing a unique, patented solution to revolutionise floor cleaning across multiple sectors. Thanks to continued investment from Scottish Enterprise and Par Equity, we were able to drive innovation and market interest around the world, from Scotland.”

David Lilly, Founder and CEO Learn more at forspills.com.

SCC

Solving Scotland’s energy trilemma

By Aidan Kerr

Senior External Affairs Manager, Drax Governments around the world are caught between a rock and a hard place: cutting carbon emissions while ensuring energy remains both secure and affordable.

This is known as the ‘energy trilemma’.

Each of these three outcomes must be balanced to ensure that energy systems are resilient, efficient, and effective.

In the last decade, the UK has decarbonised its power grid faster than any other major economy largely due to the phasing out of fossil fuels and growth in wind and solar power. But what happens to our power grid when the wind doesn’t blow, or the sun doesn’t shine? How can we have a green grid but at the same time have secure power supplies at an affordable price?

At Drax, we believe pumped storage hydro is a critical technology which is perfectly placed to help solve this trilemma. It’s the only proven grid-scale technology which can store vast quantities of energy for long durations. These sites act like giant water batteries, using excess power from the grid to pump water to an upper reservoir where it is stored, before rereleasing it to generate electricity when demand requires.

Each year, the UK spends hundreds of millions of pounds constraining wind farms as there is either too much power being generated versus demand, or there are bottlenecks on the transmission system meaning it can’t be transported.

We can’t afford to let renewable power go to waste. That’s why Drax is progressing plans to build a new pumped storage hydro plant at our existing Cruachan Power Station in Argyll. Like the current plant, the new power station will be built underground inside Ben Cruachan. This will be done by creating a new hollowedout cavern which would be large enough to fit Big Ben on its side.

Cruachan is preparing for its next chapter as the UK’s first pumped storage hydro scheme in 40 years. This project will more than double the site’s generating capacity to over a gigawatt, providing enough clean power for two million homes and businesses across Scotland and the UK.​ This year marks 60 years of Cruachan keeping the lights on. It was the first reversible pumped storage hydro system on this scale to be built in the world. For more than half a century, Cruachan has delivered growth and opportunity for local communities. During the construction phase, the expansion is projected to support over 150 jobs in Argyll and Bute and over 500 jobs across the wider supply chain in Scotland. In total it will support 1,100 jobs across the UK.

In pumped storage hydro, we have a tried and tested solution to the energy trilemma, but unfortunately there are barriers to unlocking private investment in such transformational projects. While the UK’s policy and market support mechanisms have evolved to enable new build renewables, the current framework isn’t suitable for pumped storage projects.

Excitingly, there now appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. In one of his first acts as Energy Minister, Michael Shanks tasked Ofgem and NESO to develop a new ‘cap and floor’ support mechanism so these vital projects can move forward. This type of mechanism is not new to the UK energy sector, having already been used to support the roll-out of cross-border interconnectors over the last decade. It enables private equity to see the project’s maximum and minimum revenues over an extended period, reducing risk and uncertainty.

Over the coming months, Drax alongside the wider Scottish renewables industry will be engaging with Ofgem and NESO as they develop this mechanism. If delivered, this could be the beginning of an important new chapter in Scotland’s energy story.

We need big, bold solutions to solve the energy trilemma. Drax is ready to move mountains to make a more secure, affordable, and sustainable power grid.

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ALL-ENERGY EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE

All-Energy 2025: Get the dates in your diary!

In four months’ time, on 14 and 15 May, the renewable and low carbon energy world from near and far will be congregating at the UK’s largest exhibition and conference serving their interests. All-Energy, owned and organised by RX, is staged annually at Glasgow’s Scottish Events Campus (SEC), and is already on track to be the biggest edition ever. Space bookings are coming in thick and fast, no doubt due to both the Scottish and UK Governments’ commitment to ‘Clean Power 2030’, and the record-breaking success of the last year’s event.

Attendance records were well and truly shattered in 2024, with total attendance of 11,736 from home and overseas (a 21% increase on 2023);. There were 270 exhibiting organisations, and it saw 13,458 badges scanned at entrances to conference halls, rooms and show floor theatres. The two day event will, as ever, be free to attend for all with relevant business, government or academic interests. Visitor registration is due to open on 10 February.

All the component parts are coming together. Shepherd and Wedderburn is Headline Sponsor for the 11th year; and the finishing touches are being put to the main conference, the showfloor theatres, and features such as ‘Meet the Buyer’ and the PowerClub. Once again, the Civic Reception will be held at the start of the Giant Networking Evening on 14 May at the

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Glasgow Science Centre. Booking for the exhibition with its reputation for being ‘busy and buzzing’ continues apace for several months - check out the growing online exhibitor list.

January is the month when the main conference is largely put in place following discussions with key stakeholders throughout the autumn. Naturally ‘Clean Power 2030’ has been a big talking point and will certainly play a dominant role in the main conference as will the Great Grid Upgrade.

The annual dive into the activities of all the main forms of renewable energy – on- and offshore wind; solar; hydropower (and tidal range); marine renewables (tidal stream and wave power); bioenergy; and geothermal.

The conference will once again cover decarbonisation of heat; transport; cities

and places; and industry. Two sessions will be devoted to Glasgow Climate Week and hydrogen and energy storage play a key role as will vital topics such as finance and funding, supply chain, recruitment and much more.

There will be seven showfloor theatres this year – FutureGrid; Offshore & Onshore Wind; Hydrogen & Energy Storage; Marine Renewables & FLOW (floating offshore wind); Future Talent; and the aptly named Dcarbonise and Insight Theatres. Many hundreds of speakers take part in the annual programme. Academics amongst Business Scotland’s readers will be interested to know that the call for Academic Posters is now open on the event website.

Further information on all aspects of the show is available at all-energy.co.uk/bs

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Statkraft is Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy with 130 years’ experience In the UK, we stand out as developing the widest range of services and technologies required for a successful energy transition.

Our activities span traditional hydro, wind and solar development, innovative green hydrogen, grid stability services and batteries, and the project optimisation and route to market services essential for a thriving market.

So, whether you’re a developer looking for a revenue stream from your renewable project, a landowner wanting to diversify and lease your land, a potential partner or supplier, or none of the above, we look forward to meeting you at All-Energy.

Contact us:

www.statkraft.co.uk

ALL-ENERGY stand L30

ALL-ENERGY EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE

End-to-end project cargo solutions

Partner with DFDS for the coverage and expertise needed to move your project cargo with ease. Connecting Scotland to the whole of Europe.

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Business Scotland

Muirhall Energy Limited is a leading Scottish developer and operator of UK renewable energy projects.

Muirhall Energy has constructed more than 150MW of onshore wind projects across Scotland and has a 3.21GW pipeline of high-quality onshore wind and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects. We have further ambitions to secure an additional minimum 3GW of renewables energy developments by 2030.

At the heart of the company is a commitment to local people, with an aim to create real opportunities for individuals, businesses, groups, and community projects.

www.muirhallenergy.co.uk

info@muirhallenergy.co.uk

BUSINESS PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

National campaign to show apprenticeships are Made for Business People and employers across Scotland are supporting a national campaign to show the benefits apprenticeships bring to business.

Employers, schools, learning providers, local authorities and industry organisations will host hundreds of activities and events to support Scottish Apprenticeship Week, from 3 to 7 March.

The theme for the campaign is ‘Made for Business’, with the aim to show that Scottish Apprenticeships are developed with employers, for employers, making skilled individuals that benefit their businesses.

Scottish Apprenticeship Week will demonstrate how Scottish Apprenticeships are critical to help grow and expand the nation’s workforce, giving people skills to thrive.

Co-ordinated by Skills Development Scotland and supported by the Scottish Government and a wide range of national and local partners, the campaign will also celebrate the winners of the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards.

Talented young people and top employers across the country are in the running for the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards.

The vital role of learning providers will also be recognised when winners of the awards are announced on 27 February.

Contenders across the country, from the north of Scotland to the Borders, have made the shortlist, and one talented nominee will be crowned the nation’s Apprentice of the Year.

Apprentice employers large and small have been recognised for their investment in apprenticeships and the value apprentices have brought to their businesses.

Perth fenestration firm Sidey Solutions, the EU’s largest circular fashion hub, ACS Clothing based in Bellshill, and Auchterarder civil engineering firm WM Donald are finalists in the SME of the Year award, whilst GE Aerospace, Wood and BAE Systems are up for the Large Employer of the Year title.

There are currently around 12,000 apprentice employers in Scotland, investing in approximately 40,000 apprentices to find new talent and diversify their workforce.

help boost productivity and enable them to benefit from staff retention. Modern Apprentice achievement rates are high and nearly nine in 10 qualified apprentices are still working with the employer they started their apprenticeship with.

Minister for Higher and Further Education, Graeme Dey said: “Scottish Apprenticeships are vital for nurturing an inclusive, skillsdriven, and resilient workforce that aligns with Scotland’s economic ambitions, not to mention helping our young people into sustainable and rewarding employment.

“Apprenticeships drive industry investment in skills, providing equity and access to opportunities helping to enhance Scotland’s competitive edge.

a great social return, by giving opportunities of enduring careers for many young people from Scotland’s most deprived areas.

“Scottish Apprenticeship Week is a time for all those who support and benefit from apprenticeships to demonstrate how they are made for business, people and Scotland.”

Get involved Check out the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards finalists shortlist and keep up to date with news on the ceremony at apprenticeships.scot/awards.

Find out more about Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2025 and download the toolkit and resources on apprenticeships.scot/ scotappweek.

“The Scottish Apprenticeship Awards will show the positive impact that apprenticeships have on people, business and society.”

Scottish Apprenticeships are available in Scotland’s key sectors, providing opportunities for people to get the skills employers want.

Chair of Skills Development Scotland, Frank Mitchell, said: “Created in collaboration with industry, Scottish Apprenticeships help employers build a skilled and diverse workforce. Designed by employers, apprenticeships foster innovation, economic growth, and new opportunities.

Businesses say that Modern Apprentices

“Apprenticeships also provide Scotland with

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SCC

Lumo: proud to support, celebrate and champion Scotland This year has been an exciting one for Lumo and the communities we serve along the East Coast between Edinburgh and London with lots to look forward to in 2025.

Pioneering partnerships Lumo has proudly launched several new partnerships in Scotland during the past year with the Holyrood Distillery being helping customers along our route enjoy a true taste of Scotland. Lumo’s popular single malt scotch whisky, distilled by the Holyrood Distillery, is now being served exclusively onboard Lumo services operating between Edinburgh, Newcastle and London King’s Cross.

Customers can now choose between our special whisky, wine, beer and soft drinks, all served in recyclable containers as Lumo was the first train company in Britain to eradicate plastic bottles onboard.

As part of Edinburgh Cocktail Week Lumo hosted a gathering of guests from across Scotland to showcase our sustainable ‘wonky’ drinks by serving-up sustainable cocktails using our onboard soft-drink supplier, Flawsome. Our continued partnership with Edinburgh’s Gravity Beer festival also helped welcome more people to the city to promote local brewers and the vibrant visitor economy.

Supporting arts & culture Our services offered a platform for new and emerging talent in Scotland during the

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Edinburgh Fringe as we hosted a number of onboard performances from Stageworks East West who wowed customers to numbers from a Bay City Rollers tribute show ‘I Ran With The Gang’ which performed in Edinburgh and London during the summer months.

Championing sustainability Lumo proudly continued our partnership with the Edinburgh Science Festival and Co-Labs. We joined Transform Scotland on Earth Day 2024 to help better promote rail as the low-carbon, fully electric and sustainable alternative to flying or driving.

We achieved an industry-leading 96% customer satisfaction score. Our services continue to prove popular, partly thanks to lead-in fares on some Lumo services between Edinburgh and London starting from £24.90.

Innovative approach Lumo was named ‘Green Innovation Business of the Year’ at the recent North East Chamber of Commerce awards and last month was named ‘Best Business at Reducing Carbon Emissions’ at the Institute of Supply Chain Management

Awards. Local supply chains are a key part of our DNA at Lumo. From our onboard beer originally brewed in Leith to our trains being maintained at Hitachi’s Craigentinny dept and onboard products including Edinburgh Gin, Walkers shortbread and Irn Bru, we champion Scotland the length of the East Coast Main Line.

Looking forward As plans are underway for Railway 200 celebrations, Lumo is proud to be Headline Partner for the Community Rail Network Awards in 2025. The awards will be the 20th anniversary year for the awards which celebrate the thriving grassroots movement in community rail across the UK. Lumo has also announced plans to even better connect Scotland. We are working alongside industry partners, Transport Scotland and Network Rail to agree final route options and timings for rights to extend some daily Lumo services to and from Glasgow. After achieving more than three million customer journeys since lunching in October 2021, we are excited for Lumo continuing to support, celebrate and champion Scotland in the years ahead.

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Break The Silence celebrate 20 year anniversary Break The Silence was founded in October 2004 and provides professional counselling support in East and North Ayrshire, helping those affected by childhood sexual trauma, their partners and family members.

In October 2024, trustees, staff and volunteers met to reflect on 20 years of service at a small celebration held at the Harbour Arts Centre in Irvine.

Sharon Belshaw, CEO-Clinical said, “Our staff, trustees and volunteers are all dedicated and committed to providing the best possible support to those affected by childhood sexual trauma and celebrating the significant 20 years of Break the Silence gives us the drive to ensure that

we continue to deliver a service that is a Centre of Excellence for our amazing clients for another 20 years!”

2024 has been a special year for the charity, not just because it marks a 20 year anniversary, but the charity achieved British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Service Accreditation in January, and in February were awarded Ayrshire Chamber’s prestigious Business Excellence Award.

Lesley Craig, CEO-Operations said, “The commitment and passion of our Team is what makes the organisation what it is today. We are so lucky to work with a very special group of people and are humbled by the opportunity to support our clients towards healthier, improved lives.”

To find out more about Break The Silence, or to refer to support visit: www.breakthesilence.org.uk or call 01563 559558.

The commitment and passion of our Team is what makes the organisation what it is today. We are so lucky to work with a very special group of people and are humbled by the opportunity to support our clients towards healthier, improved lives.

Lesley Craig, CEO-Operations

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INTERNATIONAL TRADE

Barbados: A welcoming environment for business Barbados continues to directly attract business interests from Scotland and the wider UK, through the hosting of the Scottish Annual Inward Trade and Investment Mission to Barbados.

Hosts, Invest Barbados, the national investment promotion agency of the country, partners each year with Renfrewshire Business Network and the UK’s Department of Business and Trade to execute this mission that has proven to be quite successful for several entities.

Why Investors choose Barbados?

Barbados offers a business-friendly environment underpinned by a long history of political and social stability, with a legal system based on English common law.

The country has a well-educated Englishspeaking workforce that includes a range of professional services, which are readily available including tax advisors, reputable international banks, global accounting firms, legal firms and management companies offering the full gamut of corporate services.

The government of Barbados is probusiness. Presently, island-wide 4G LTE and fiber optic high-speed internet is available.

The country also boasts a robust physical infrastructure and serves as a strategic hub, located between North and South America with a modern seaport and an international airport that provides direct flights to major international cities. Barbados is safe and offers a high standard of living with excellent healthcare and education, making it attractive for expatriates and their families.

Indeed, it is the ideal place to work, live and raise families.

Wide ranging investment opportunities with a focus on the green economy The jurisdiction has an expanding portfolio of global entities and continues to diversify the range of investment opportunities in sectors including but not limited to, tourism, global education, wealth management, financial services, business process outsourcing, renewable energy, niche manufacturing, agribusiness, real estate, construction, and more recently, life sciences and film production.

Of note is that Barbados continues efforts to adopt eco-friendly and sustainable activities towards a green economy. Opportunities exist for the greening of various industries including tourism, agriculture, fisheries, housing and transport. While the country has made good progress in solar PV energy generation, investment is ripe for Barbados’ transition to renewable energy sources and especially in areas of energy storage and enhancement of the sole energy grid.

Additionally, it is important that Barbados

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continues its transition process to a circular economy that presents sustainable opportunities for waste reduction including recycling and repair among other innovations. This greening process is critical now and for the future, and given our significant uptake in solar panel installations, the influx of electric vehicles, buses and batteries, once inoperable will require disposal. Reaching its renewable energy targets will require Barbados to ramp up initiatives designed to further attract investment and sustainable innovative solutions.

Barbados Welcomes HNWIs and Digital Nomads Barbados offers specific programmes and visa opportunities for non-residents who wish to live and work in Barbados. High net worth individuals (HNWIs) and their dependents can take advantage of the Special Entry Permit (SEP) programme, which allows persons to live and/or do

business in Barbados (work permit carries an extra cost).

Barbados also continues to welcome several non-nationals to its shores under the Barbados Welcome Stamp programme.

Introduced in 2020, this programme offers qualifying individuals the opportunity to reside and work in Barbados under a 12 month remote-working visa, that can be renewed for another year.

Barbados is Open for Business In conclusion, Barbados offers a favourable business climate and other advantages such as being strategically located and well connected, providing stable governance, probusiness policies and incentives, a skilled workforce and an excellent quality of life.

These factors collectively make Barbados an attractive choice for entrepreneurs and businesses looking to establish or expand their presence in the Caribbean region and beyond. Come join us!

Barbados A Welcoming Investment Climate

Considering expansion to a safe and thriving domicile?

Consider Barbados!

One of the highest-ranked developing countries on the UN’s Human Development Index, Barbados has:

Key Investment Opportunities

an excellent quality of life a longstanding record of political, social and economic stability an excellent education system healthcare that’s amongst the best in the Caribbean direct connections to major international cities world-class telecommunications other reliable utilities island-wide an expanding treaty network no capital gains, wealth or inheritance tax

Scan code to see available investment projects.

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Barbados: 1-246-626-2000 Canada: 1-647-977-5996 The USA: 1-347-433-8942 The UK: 011-44-203-318-9036

Financial Services Fintech ICT Global Education Niche Manufacturing Medical Tourism Research & Development Life Sciences/Bio Pharma Special Residency Programme

The Barbados Blue Book

Contact us to explore the opportunities!

Trident Insurance Financial Centre Hastings, Christ Church Barbados, BB15156 E-mail: info@investbarbados.org Website: www.investbarbados.org

» » » » » » » » »

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Children’s charity hails ‘tremendous impact’ of partnership with Aberdeen International Airport A local charity which provides support to some of the most disadvantaged children and families across the North-east has hailed the tremendous impact of its long standing partnership with Aberdeen International Airport.

The praise from AberNecessities came as the airport confirmed it had marked its 90th anniversary year by raising in excess of £65,000 during 2024, with the majority of funding going to the children’s charity.

Funds were raised through a series of events including the airport’s midnight runway run. In June, almost 400 runners took on the challenge of completing the 4km race raising £50,000 in the process.

Generous passengers also contributed thousands of pounds to the total by donating money, including foreign currency, at the airports’ collection globes situated throughout the terminal.

Abernecessities was selected as the airport’s charity partner for 2024/25.

Established in 2019, it provides disadvantaged families with the essential and basic necessities that no child should go without. To date, it has supported over 18,000 children, distributing hundreds of thousands of items to families

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and children across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

Danielle Flecher-Horn, founder of AberNecessities, said: “We are absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to continue as Aberdeen International Airport’s charity partner as we enter the second year of this incredible two-year partnership.

This collaboration means so much to us at AberNecessities, and we are so proud to work alongside such a dedicated and passionate team.

“The attention and exposure this partnership has brought so far is already making a tremendous impact. It has helped shine a light on the vital work we do and together, we’re not just raising awareness but also ensuring that no child in our community goes without the essentials they deserve.

“Thank you to everyone at Aberdeen International Airport for believing in our work and for your unwavering commitment to helping us create brighter,

more hopeful futures for local families. We are so excited to see what we can achieve together in this second year.”

As the partnership moves into its second year, both AberNecessities and Aberdeen International Airport are committed to building on these successes and continuing to make a positive impact in the local community.

Lee McCann, communications manager and charity management lead at Aberdeen International Airport, said: “We are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together with AberNecessities during the first year of our partnership which coincided with our 90th anniversary year.

“The generosity of our passengers and those who work at the airport has been truly inspiring. As we enter year two of our partnership, we are excited to see how we can further support AberNecessities, in their vital work helping families across the North-east.”

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

New programme to help more female entrepreneurs succeed Things are getting better for female entrepreneurs. A report using the Global Entrepreneurship Model, compiled by the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Strathclyde, found that for the first time, the number of female entrepreneurs starting new businesses is matching that of men.

By Emma Reid

Head of Partnership & Engagement at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce This is a positive development, but there is still a long way to go. The obstacles female entrepreneurs face in developing their businesses are well-documented.

They include access to finance, support, mentorship, and potential challenges related to caring responsibilities. Despite the progress in new start-up numbers, female entrepreneurs remain significantly outnumbered by men overall, making up just 20% of the Scottish total. Even more starkly, female-led businesses receive just 2% of institutional investment—a shocking statistic.

At the Chamber, we have proudly hosted Inspiring Women in Business Lunches for nearly a decade. Each event features a female leader who shares their business journey, the challenges faced, the successes achieved, and lessons learned along the way. These lunches are a personal favourite of mine, consistently

The programme focuses on both the individual and the business, ensuring participants have the necessary support, knowledge, and skills to successfully lead and grow their businesses. It also helps them develop a clear vision and business growth plan.

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offering inspiration, valuable insights, and positive takeaways for all attendees. The open and honest dialogue at these events creates a space where individuals can share their experiences—both positive and negative—and learn from one another.

Building on the success of this series, we are excited to announce the launch of the Women in Business: Entrepreneurial Growth Programme, supported by the Scottish Government. This new initiative aims to empower female founders with established businesses to expand, grow, and attract investment.

One of the main obstacles female founders can face is the feeling of “not belonging” in entrepreneurial business culture, which can lead to isolation. This programme aims to create a supportive community where female entrepreneurs can share their experiences, challenges, and opportunities. By fostering a positive environment where such experiences can be exchanged openly and without judgement, we hope to alleviate feelings of isolation and provide a sense of belonging and motivation, while also offering meaningful networking opportunities.

Although the programme is run by the Edinburgh Chamber, our goal is to collaborate with partners and leverage our wider network to attract female entrepreneurs from all over the country.

The programme focuses on both the individual and the business, ensuring participants have the necessary support, knowledge, and skills to successfully lead and grow their businesses. It also helps them develop a clear vision and business growth plan.

There are a range of reasons for female business leaders to consider joining our intensive two-month programme.

It includes three workshops covering leadership, growth strategies, and investment preparation, culminating in a live pitching session with feedback from investors. Participants will also benefit from one-to-one coaching sessions with a carefully matched coach, networking opportunities, peer-to-peer support,

an online community, and continuous guidance through membership with the Chamber. This includes access to our mentoring platform, which features a host of experienced business leaders and coaches.

Evidence of the need for a programme like this comes from a survey by Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES), which found that 74% of respondents view dedicated support for women as vital to achieving their business aspirations, while twothirds have experienced discrimination as female entrepreneurs.

The wider value of such support is significant. Official figures show that if women’s business ownership rates equalled those of men, Scotland would have an additional 108,480 businesses, potentially boosting the economy by 5.3%.

This represents a substantial number of women creating jobs, wealth, and opportunities for many people.

If you are interested in this programme, more information and an application form can be found online here: edinburghchamber.co.uk/women-inbusiness-entrepreneurial-growthprogramme

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Inverness Chamber backs business with membership fee freeze In a significant move to support the local business community during challenging economic times, Inverness Chamber of Commerce has announced a freeze on membership fees for the coming year.

This decision underscores the Chamber’s commitment to standing by its members as they navigate the pressures of increased taxation and other financial headwinds.

Eunice McAdam, President of the Inverness Chamber Board, said, “The Chamber’s mission has always been to support our members in achieving success, and this fee freeze reflects our commitment to their growth and resilience. We recognise the challenges many businesses face and are determined to provide meaningful support during this time.”

Colin Marr, Chief Executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, added, “As all businesses across the Highlands are being hit by the increase in employers’ national insurance, and other tax changes have increased the financial burden further for many sectors, we want to reassure our members that we are here to champion their interests. Freezing membership fees is just one of the ways we are backing our business community and ensuring they have access to the resources, advocacy, and connections they need to thrive.”

In addition to Inverness Chamber’s membership fee freeze, the value of each membership package is set to be enhanced.

The range of events covered by complimentary networking tickets – available with the Essential, Growth, and Corporate packages – will now include Inside Stories: Behind the Scenes, Under 30’s events, and ad hoc networking opportunities such as this year’s Cocktail Masterclass.

With a growing readership, the Chamber’s weekly digest, ‘The Pulse’, reaches over 1,250 engaged subscribers each week giving them relevant political and business updates, together with Chamber and member news, events, training opportunities and vacancies. Members are encouraged to promote their activity and help readers to keep up to date with what’s happening in the area. 2024 has also seen a huge growth in our social media followings meaning that our members successes are championed to more people than ever before.

This comes as the Chamber has increased its level of campaigning on the issues that matter most to the region. In 2024 this included dualling of the A9, rail travel

journey times, and putting pressure on the Scottish Government to match rates relief, currently given in England, for hospitality and retail businesses north of the border.

This will continue into 2025 and beyond to ensure the Highlands continues to be a prosperous place to do business.

Colin Marr explains, “There is so much going on in our business community, so we want to give our members as many chances as possible to explore, learn and connect. Through our events, networking opportunities and promotion channels we’re fostering stronger relationships and collaboration to help build a thriving business landscape. It’s an exciting time to be part of our Chamber membership, with plenty of new initiatives on the horizon, alongside our ongoing efforts to represent our members locally and nationally – championing the economy and advocating for the policies and investment needed to ensure success.”

Stronger Together As one of the key voices of the Highland business community, Inverness Chamber is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and collaborative economic environment. By growing our membership, we amplify the collective voice of local businesses, ensuring that their needs and priorities are heard at local, regional, Scottish and UK national levels through our membership of Scottish and British Chamber of Commerce networks.

Joining Inverness Chamber offers more than just access to resources and events – it

connects businesses to a supportive network of peers and advocates who share a common goal: driving success in the Highlands.

Colin Marr concluded, “We encourage businesses to join us and take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen their networks and leverage the Chamber’s unwavering commitment to their success. Together, we can build a brighter future for the Highlands.”

Supporting Members at Every Level Inverness Chamber offers four tailored membership packages to suit businesses of all sizes and ambitions: Digital Membership: Designed for small businesses looking to establish a presence in the Chamber’s network.

Essential Membership: Provides access to core Chamber services, networking opportunities, and advocacy support.

Growth Membership: Ideal for businesses aiming to expand, with enhanced benefits including promotional support and strategic connections.

Corporate Membership: Tailored for larger organisations seeking bespoke engagement, strategic influence, and high-level networking opportunities.

For more information on membership, its benefits and how the Chamber can support your business, visit inverness-chamber.co.uk.

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TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

Fife College rounds off record-breaking year for Modern Apprentices through brand-new industry partnership with Persimmon Homes Fife College has capped a year of record-breaking achievement in its Modern Apprenticeship programmes by announcing a new partnership with Persimmon Homes. This year, the College welcomed its largest-ever intake of apprentices across key sectors, including Engineering, Construction, Automotive, Plumbing, Gas Engineering, and Life Sciences.

Fife College’s new collaboration with Persimmon Homes was celebrated with the recruitment of Casey Gardner, a 19-yearold from Fife, as an apprentice painter and decorator.

“I understand this is the 15th such partnership between Persimmon and colleges across Scotland, and I am very pleased that Fife students will benefit from this excellent programme.”

William Smith, Persimmon’s regional apprenticeship manager, joined local MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Jenny Gilruth, and Fife College Principal, Jim Metcalfe, at a special event to commemorate this exciting new partnership.

Highlighting the importance of this new collaboration between Persimmon Homes and Fife College in shaping the future of construction talent in Scotland, Mr Smith said:

Reflecting on the launch and its significance for young people in Fife, Ms Gilruth said: “It was wonderful to meet the first apprentice recruited for this new partnership between Persimmon Homes and Fife College.

“I have no doubt that this will be an opportunity for Casey to develop her skills and confidence with hands-on work experience from Persimmon, under the guidance of outstanding lecturers from Fife College.

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“We are thrilled to partner with Fife College in developing the next generation of construction professionals.

“Casey’s enthusiasm and determination exemplify the qualities we look for in our apprentices, and we’re proud to provide her with the tools and support to thrive in her new role.”

Emphasising the value of collaboration between education and industry, Fife College Principal, Jim Metcalfe added: “This new partnership with Persimmon

Homes reflects our shared vision for developing the next generation of talent in the construction sector, equipping apprentices with the training and handson experience they need to thrive in their careers.”

As one of the country’s leading providers of Modern Apprenticeships, Fife College offers fantastic apprenticeship opportunities across a huge range of sectors. With over 420 employer partnerships, we ensure businesses have the skills they need to thrive.

Will you be one of them in 2025?

For more information on our vast range of apprenticeship opportunities for business: Visit Fife.ac.uk | Call 0344 248 0128

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

West is Best!

Sarah Riddle & Frazer Coupland

It’s the start of a new chapter for Lochaber Chamber of Commerce as it becomes West Highland Chamber of Commerce.

Late last year members of Lochaber Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously at an Extraordinary General Meeting to change the name to West Highland Chamber of Commerce. This change marks an exciting new chapter for the organisation as it expands its role in supporting businesses across the West Highlands. The West Highland Chamber of Commerce will be officially launched under its new name in early 2025.

The name change reflects the evolution of the Chamber’s services, which have broadened over the past year to support businesses from Wester Ross, Skye and Lochalsh, Oban, as well as Lochaber. In response, businesses from these areas have embraced the Chamber, recognising the many benefits that come with membership, such as access to business support, political lobbying, networking opportunities, and a range of other practical services.

Becoming West Highland Chamber of Commerce is a natural progression, reflecting the Chamber’s expanded role and the unique characteristics of doing business in this diverse and vibrant region.

Frazer Coupland, CEO of the newly renamed Chamber, comments: “While each area of the west highlands has its own unique opportunities and challenges, we all share common issues that stem from working in rural and remote locations. The West Highland Chamber of Commerce will be a stronger, unified voice for our businesses and communities, advocating for the support and resources needed to help our region thrive.”

Frazer was delighted with the overwhelming support for the name change: “The unanimous approval from our members at the EGM is a clear sign that businesses are eager to work together as part of a larger, more robust network

across the West Highlands. We’re excited to continue driving positive change for our communities and businesses in this unique part of the UK.” 2025 brings an exciting new chapter for the Chamber, which opens the year in style with its flagship West Highland Vision Conference on Thursday 20th March. This high-profile event in Fort William will bring together speakers and panellists from a wide range of businesses and organisations across the west highlands and beyond. Top of the agenda will Speakers include Scottish Chambers’ Director Bruno Berardelli, Group Chief Operating Officer of AMP Clean Energy, eminent economist Professor Graeme Roy, and a plethora of business and industry leaders will discuss key topics of infrastructure, community investment and sustainable tourism.

The West Highland Chamber of Commerce will be a stronger, unified voice for our businesses and communities, advocating for the support and resources needed to help our region thrive.

Frazer Coupland, CEO of the Chamber

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Forth Valley Chamber launched their ‘Member Spotlight’ to shine a light on the incredible businesses within their Chamber Community. In highlighting a new member each month, they aim to enhance their member experience and convey the breadth and depth of the businesses in the Forth Valley area. Abbie Graham, left, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce explains.

An unexpected journey into entrepreneurship After 20 years of dedicated service in the army, Duncan MacLean embarked on an unexpected journey into entrepreneurship by pursuing his MBA. His thesis, which centred around a totally hypothetical candle-making business, took a surprising turn, evolving into a thriving enterprise with over 50 employees, an international reach, and a sprawling 63,000 square feet at West Carrons Works in Falkirk.

Testing his thesis on the ground, Duncan and his wife Cheryl started small, attending local craft markets and fairs. What began as an idea, quickly grew into a shared passion, leading them to take the bold step of relocating to Scotland, leaving their former careers behind.

And so, over a cup of coffee at a service station, Candle Shack was born. An unassuming moment which marked the beginning of their journey as entrepreneurs.

Today, Candle Shack is now dedicated to helping the next generation of candle makers succeed, providing them with the quality candle making componentry, training and advice they need in order to thrive.

Duncan and Cheryl’s mission to simplify candle-making for others, stems from their own early struggles, when their products had humble beginnings— candles made in a shed with makeshift tools like empty jars, biro pens, and glued-on seashells. “Being unable to make products we were proud of was hard. Everything looked the same.

Whereas, if you look at the products our customers make these days, they look fantastic!”

“We want to ensure that people who want to craft products, can create something beautiful, that wouldn’t be out of place on a shelf at say – John Lewis!” said Duncan, co-founder.

But aesthetics are only part of the equation. To help customers create safe, high-quality products, Candle Shack’s team spends countless hours in their lab, developing safe and consistent candle recipes. This dedication to quality helps significantly reduce one of the biggest obstacles new candle makers face: the fear of producing unsafe products.

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Beyond technical expertise, Duncan encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to tackle the emotional challenges of starting a business. Imposter syndrome, he says, often holds people back.

“Most people never try because of imposter syndrome. Everyone looks at someone who runs a business and thinks they have some secret sauce. I just think they had a go.”

“If you work hard and you take time to think, anyone can create a business that will be successful.”

With Candle Shack’s expert knowledge and quality supplies, the team are fuelling

more aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools they need to create lovingly made candles – something Duncan notes to be the most fulfilling part of his job, alongside seeing people grow within the business.

Duncan and Cheryl’s story is one of passion and resilience. One that proves that even the most unexpected ideas can lead to remarkable success.

Whether you are curious about the world of candle making, or simply curious about the world of Candle Shack, discover more at candle-shack.co.uk

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

An Darna have crafted a fresh take on dining Iain Whiteley and Ally Eccles have crafted a fresh take on dining, blending elevated classics with the charm of local delights.

Imagine a cozy, welcoming atmosphere paired with playful, intriguing creations- a unique, five course tasting experience designed to celebrate the seasons. Best of all, it’s nestled in the heart of Stirling.

An Darna was brought to life by long term friends Ian and Ally, who first crossed paths 16 years ago while working in hospitality. With years of industry experience under their belts, fate stepped in when a ‘To Let’ sign appeared across from Iain’s cocktail bar Meraki. Seizing the opportunity, the duo turned their vision into reality and introduced An Darna.

With an ever-changing menu crafted by Head Chef Ally and his skilled team, paired with their commitment to local ingredients and the restaurants welcoming ambience,

every visit promises a truly memorable dining experience.

Iain described the his intentions for the restaurant as “somewhere that does good food but in a really relaxed and comfortable manner. While the food is phenomenal, and Ally has some crazy wild wonderful ideas, we don’t want people to feel like it’s a pretentious or stuck up place. We want it to be enjoyable, relaxed and fun, rather than formal.”

In concocting their wild and wonderful dishes, the pair are deeply committed to supporting the community that shaped them, focusing on “helping their neighbours” by championing local, seasonal produce and building genuine connections within the local business community.

It feels good to be able to put the food down, see the look on people’s faces and know we have done a good job.

Iain Whiteley

Not only do they pride themselves on utilising community sourced ingredients, they are also mindful with reducing their food waste, and have become experimental in finding ways to make ingredients stretch further. Though this isn’t at the cost of repetitive food ideas – Ally and the kitchen team are constantly “coming up with crazy ideas”.

Iain proudly discussed the food he serves, saying “I just think everything the guys put out is phenomenal. It’s nice to be able to serve food that I’m proud of and have confidence in. It feels good to be able to put the food down, see the look on people’s faces and know we have done a good job.”

Iain was excited to share the introduction of their Chef’s Table – a table which faces on to the open kitchen. The handpicked 7 course dining experience allows customers to hear from and interact with their chef. You can also look out for brand new Hampers, filled with customer favorites – from burnt pineapple ketchup to carrot chutney.

An Darna is more than just a restaurant – it’s a celebration of food, friendship and community and an experience you don’t want to miss out on.

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

2024 comes to a close, full steam ahead for 2025!

What a year it has been for Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce. We have grown within the business community and met many business leaders, MSPS, MPS and even First ministers to make sure that businesses in our region continue to have their voice heard.

We held our bi-annual (now annual!) awards this year which celebrated the regions successes from young entrepreneurs to social enterprises to STEM businesses. The first minister met with us twice at the start of the year and last month.

Bank of England came to town to listen to businesses on the struggles they are having on a number of issues to which they fed back to Bank of England HQ. Our monthly networking events grew as they year went on, from small numbers of 4 to 5 attending to now consistently hitting double figures.

We had some success with campaigns we support with Dark Sky Observatory plans approved to be rebuilt here in the region after it was sadly burnt down. The ball finally started moving again in our A75 campaign with Road Developers Jacobs now

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undertaking studies on which parts of the road most need improvement in the coming years. We had a change of board members who we will introduce in next months issue!

We have collaborated with big stakeholders in the region such as SOSE, DG College, DG Council, SSDA to help with events & consultations. One of note, the change to school week hours which was scrapped. DG Council reached out to us to hear from the business community on these changes.

These are just a number of things we have been involved with this year.

We thrive to continue to be the general business voice of the region and would like to thank all businesses and communities for their support! We look forward to seeing what 2025 has to bring.

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

DG Chamber begin 2025 with big events already announced!

We are delighted that we have already big events announced for the first half of this year!

International Women’s Day Lunch!

We are pleased to be doing our 2nd annual international women’s day lunch for 2025.

This year we are raising the bar! Come and join us to celebrate International Women’s Day on Friday 7th March 2025 at the Cairndale Hotel & Spa. Sponsored by the Cairndale Hotel & Spa and DG Life, we have a line up of excellent inspirational speakers.

Hosted by the fantastic Andrea Thompson, we will hear from DR Liz Cameron CBE (Director of the Scottish Chamber of Commerce), Fiona Armstrong (ITV Border) and Katisha Atkinson (Entrepreneur).

Tickets available on our website or Eventbrite (Booking fees may apply on Eventbrite).

DG Chamber Business Awards 2025!

Allan McNaught, Team Leader of Business Gateway, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “As a long-standing business partner to the Chamber, we are delighted to be the headline sponsor for these awards. This partnership allows us to recognise unique achievements and inspire others to reach even greater heights.”

Business Gateway offers a free service providing one-to-one business support, training, and advice to both new entrepreneurs and established businesses in Dumfries and Galloway. Aligned with local, regional, and Scottish policy, Business Gateway offers a range of services designed to help businesses start, grow, and succeed, including:

Our DG Chamber business awards have now gone annually. On Friday the 6th of June at Easterbrook hall, we look forward to hosting another fantastic business awards.

We are pleased to announce that we have a headline sponsor for the 2025 business awards, Business Gateway D&G! Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Business Gateway is proud to announce its role as the overall sponsor for the Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in June 2025.

These prestigious awards celebrate the diversity and innovation of businesses within our region, highlighting their ability to drive forward with new ideas, invest in growth, and pursue development and diversification.

1:1 local advice and support

Some start for the first half of 2025!

Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce is a membership run non-profit organisation which aims to support local businesses, build business networks, and help businesses. There is a number of events, webinars and networking opportunities coming up so please make sure you keep up to date with the chamber via their social media channels: Facebook – @DGChamber Twitter - @DGChamber Would you like to become a member and see all the great benefits we can offer your business? Check out our website for more information: Membership Fees - Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce (dgchamber.co.uk)

Sector-specific training and events Grants and funding advice Online resources and webinars Our team of experienced advisors understands the unique challenges faced by businesses in Dumfries and Galloway and is dedicated to supporting their success.

For more information, visit www.bgatewaydumgal.com.

More information on how to nominate or purchase tickets will be announced in due course!

As a long-standing business partner to the Chamber, we are delighted to be the headline sponsor for these awards.

Allan McNaught, Team Leader of Business Gateway

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OPINION

Optimism for Scottish Businesses in 2025 As we reflect on a roller coaster year for Scottish businesses, there are grounds for optimism in 2025. and manufacturing and tackling this requires collaboration between educational institutions, industry and government to align skills provision with market needs.

By Dr Liz Cameron CBE Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce

Fostering an entrepreneurial culture across Scotland’s educational system, from primary schools to universities, is crucial to embedding innovative thinking and a business mindset.

I would love to see support networks, accelerators, and mentorship programmes be accessible to all—particularly women, young people, and underrepresented groups.

Many of our 12,000 members have faced tough challenges, from rising costs to skills shortages and falling consumer demand. However, what has impressed me most is their incredible resilience in the face of adversity.

Businesses have always found inspiration in adversity, seizing opportunities and demonstrating the entrepreneurial spirit and resolve that has been the bedrock of Scotland’s many success stories over the years.

Difficult challenges remain, with both the recent UK and Scottish Budgets impacting business confidence as we move into 2025.

Measures to support growth and investment are positive but there are still major concerns about the impact of taxation, rates relief, and public spending. We need greater targeted support and policy clarity.

This year Scotland’s economy demonstrated remarkable tenacity, with steady GDP growth, driven mainly by renewable energy, technology, life sciences, and tourism. And business confidence has steadily recovered, despite global market volatility and inflationary pressures.

Looking ahead to 2025, I believe the enduring spirit of Scottish entrepreneurship will ensure we are well-placed to seize opportunities, particularly across the digital economy where Scotland’s thriving tech ecosystem is positioning the nation as a hub for fintech, artificial intelligence, and data-driven innovation.

Digital adoption is no longer a “nice to have” but a commercial necessity and with strategic government support to help businesses embrace digitalisation, we can improve our productivity and competitiveness.

In international trade, Scotland’s exporters have found new routes to global markets, despite the lasting impact of Brexit. Demand for Scottish goods, from whisky to sustainable textiles, remains strong.

Global economic conditions, particularly in the Eurozone and key export markets, will continue to have a direct impact on Scottish exports in 2025 and we welcome both the Scottish and UK governments’ continued support in helping promote overseas trade.

The USA is Scotland’s top international export destination and our largest inward investor.

With its vast consumer base and strong demand for quality products, Scotland’s whisky, seafood, textiles, and tech solutions are wellpositioned to thrive in 2025.

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However, changing trade policies and threats of tariffs on specific Scottish exports under a new President Trump administration will create unpredictability and Scotland’s businesses will need government on its side to negotiate competitive trade terms and minimise trade barriers.

Huge opportunities lie in the transition to a net-zero economy and Scotland’s position as a global leader in renewable energy offers a substantial competitive advantage, if leveraged effectively. Our wealth of natural resources— offshore wind, hydrogen, and tidal energy— gives us a transformative edge.

With the right investment climate, Scotland can be a a global leader in green technologies, attracting international investment and creating thousands of high-quality jobs. However, none of these opportunities will be realised without a concerted effort from government and business. 2025 must be a year of bold leadership and policy alignment.

At the start of 2024, inflation was our biggest cause for concern but that began to stabilise in the second half of the year and while energy prices and supply chain issues presented significant obstacles, Scotland’s businesses responded with agility.

I have been encouraged by how quickly our members adapted. That resilience and entrepreneurial creativity has shone through.

Even staffing and skills issues have seen signs of improvement. Unemployment rates remained low, and businesses continued to invest in upskilling and retraining the workforce to close the skills gap.

Young people in Scotland are benefitting from apprenticeships and skills development programmes but to remain competitive on a global stage, we need to continue to upskill our future workforce. The Scottish government must deliver a long overdue review of the Apprenticeship Levy which is clearly not fit for purpose.

Labour shortages obstacles remain in critical sectors such as construction, hospitality,

The cost of doing business remains a significant concern for 2025. Inflationary pressures may not fully ease and uncertainty over interest rates could influence business investment. We need targeted support measures to ease the pressures of rising energy bills, higher raw material costs and burdensome regulations.

Despite some positive changes in the Scottish budget, sustained rates relief continues to be a pressing issue for the hospitality and leisure sector. To that end, the SCC has joined forces with the Scottish Passenger Agents Association to raise these concerns directly to the Deputy First Minister.

Without parity of support, the risk of closures and job losses could escalate, particularly for smaller operators facing reduced footfall and higher operating costs. As we celebrate the festive period and many of those businesses enjoy a busier time, it is only masking the difficulties they face come the quiet months after the New Year.

Scotland’s economy stands at a pivotal moment. Our performance in 2024 reflects a story of resilience, adaptability, and unyielding determination. If we embrace a growth mindset, nurture entrepreneurial spirit, and lead with purpose, Scotland can emerge stronger and greener.

The SCC Network is the leading voice of business in Scotland. We believe in the economic opportunities that lie ahead for our businesses and our country and we would urge government to recognise, encourage and support that ambition.

Businesses need clarity and consistency in regulation and a positive plan for investment and growth that will create the confidence and financial foundations for a thriving economy.

It’s about taking the lessons of 2024 and leading in 2025, where the world recognises Scotland as a place where quality and innovation are the cornerstones of every product and service, and entrepreneurship is rewarded and celebrated.

There have been so many remarkable business achievements this year and there is every reason for optimism that we will continue to advance Scotland’s position on the world stage in 2025.

Originally published in The Herald on December 27th 2024.

HOSPITALITY & EVENTS

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Ayrshire’s Growth Biz (51+)

Hospitality winner

Region shines at 2024 Ayrshire Business Awards On Friday 4th October, at Ayr Racecourse, business people from across Ayrshire came together to celebrate the resilience of businesses and organisations from across the region.

More than 60 finalists were represented at Ayr Racecourse where 500 guests enjoyed an evening of entertainment from TV magician Ben Hanlin, alongside the award presentations.

A charity raffle on the night raised a fantastic £5,000 for our two beneficiaries Ayrshire Cancer Support and Christians Against Poverty. Thank you to our awards guests for their generosity on the night.

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the 2024 Awards Principal Sponsor Business Gateway Ayrshire, Secondary Sponsor Rainton Construction (Scotland) Limited, all of our category sponsors, and our valued supporting sponsors.

Apprentice of the Year Award: sponsored by Ashleigh Building

Community Wealth Building Award: sponsored by: Booth Welsh

Innovation Award: sponsored by Wallace McDowall Ltd

GE Caledonian Ltd – Louise Collins

The 9CC Group

Renewable Oil Services Limited

Ayrshire’s Growth Business of the Year Award (0-10 employees): sponsored by Woodward, Inc.

Developing Ayrshire’s Young Workforce Award: sponsored by DYW Ayrshire

Start-up Business of the Year Award: sponsored by SimpsInns

QTS Training Ltd

Jack’s Alt-Stays

Driving Sustainability: sponsored by HALO #RockMe Workspace

Tourism Award: sponsored by Stagecoach Bus

Ailsa Reliability Solutions Ltd

Jack’s Alt-Stays

Entrepreneur of the Year Award: sponsored by Dains (Scotland)

Workplace Health and Wellbeing Award: sponsored by Lighthouse IT & Network Services

AWARD WINNERS

Ralston Contracts Ltd Ayrshire’s Growth Business of the Year Award (11-50 employees): sponsored by Business Gateway Foundation Solutions HV Ltd Ayrshire’s Growth Business of the Year Award (51 employees or more): sponsored by James Frew Ltd A&L Mechanical Installations Ltd Charity of the Year Award: sponsored by Regency Facilities Management

Going Global – International Trade Business of the Year: sponsored by Neogen Corporation

McTaggart Construction Congratulations to all of the 2024 award winners!

SBS Ayrshire Ltd

Images courtesy of:

Hospitality Business of the Year Award: sponsored by Trump Turnberry

Derek Dunlop Photography

Community Award: sponsored by GSK Bfriend

The RAD Hotel Group Ltd

Ayrshire Cancer Support

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Iain Greer - Monarch Financial Services Ltd

Karen Simpson Photography

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Driving Sustainability winner

Apprentice of the Year winner

Charity of the Year winner

Entrepreneur of the Year

Start-up Business of the Year

Going Global winner

Developing Ayrshire’s Young Workforce winner

Workplace Health and Wellbeing

Entrepreneur of the Year

Tourism winner

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Record occupancy and exciting expansions signal Aberdeen’s office market revival neospace, Aberdeen’s premier flexible workspace provider, is celebrating its most successful year to date, with a record-breaking office occupancy rate of 94%.

The surging demand for high-quality office spaces has driven the launch of two major developments; Sky Premium at neospace, an exclusive top-floor workspace with panoramic city views, and neoworx@The Quadrant, a flexible, contemporary office solution just steps away from Union Square.

These developments come amid a revitalisation of Aberdeen’s office market.

According to Knight Frank, the third quarter of 2024 witnessed a significant upswing in office activity, with 118,210 sq ft of office space transacted between July and September - more than doubling the yearto-date total.

A record-breaking year for neospace neospace has played an important role in driving this market momentum, attracting businesses seeking modern, flexible, and community-focused workspaces.

94% occupancy: The highest occupancy rate since neospace was established, reflecting the growing demand for premium office environments in Aberdeen.

Sky Premium already 30% secured: Launching in January 2025, this top-floor space is generating significant interest.

Sky Premium combines elegant office design, an exclusive Sky Lounge, and sweeping views of the River Dee and Aberdeen skyline. Members will also have access to state-of-the-art amenities, including wellness facilities and meeting rooms.

Launch of neoworx@The Quadrant: neoworx offers quality and flexibility, featuring contemporary offices, secure parking, and a prime location near Union Square. With flexible rolling contracts and

all-inclusive pricing, it’s an ideal choice for businesses seeking cost-effective solutions without compromising on quality.

“2024 has been a landmark year for neospace,” said Scott Paton, managing director at neospace. “Achieving record occupancy and expanding our offerings reflects not just our team’s dedication but also the resilience and growth of Aberdeen’s business community. We are proud to support businesses as they thrive.”

Sky Premium: Redefining Aberdeen’s office experience Sky Premium represents a new standard for premium office spaces in Aberdeen. Located on neospace’s top floor, it merges sleek design with functionality. From the luxurious Sky Lounge to climate-controlled offices and panoramic city views, Sky Premium provides an inspiring environment for ambitious businesses. Members will also benefit from access to wellness and meeting facilities, providing a well-rounded workspace experience.

neoworx@The Quadrant: Where business worx Located in the heart of Aberdeen, neoworx@ The Quadrant offers fully furnished offices with secure courtyard parking and easy access to key transport links. Designed

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for scalability and ease, it features flexible rolling contracts, all-inclusive pricing, and access to neospace’s vibrant professional community. This makes it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes.

Supporting Aberdeen’s thriving business community neospace has solidified its position as a hub for innovation, collaboration, and growth within Aberdeen. Its dynamic community offers opportunities for networking, wellness, and productivity, empowering businesses to achieve their goals. “neospace is more than a workspace – it’s a community where businesses can connect, grow, and innovate,” added Scott.

“Our success last year reflects the growing demand for spaces that prioritise employee wellbeing and foster a healthy work-life balance.”

In 2025, neospace is poised for further growth. The continued development of Sky Premium and the expansion of neoworx signal a new chapter in Aberdeen’s office market, supporting businesses of all sizes as they shape their futures in the city.

For more information on neospace and Sky Premium please visit www.neo-space.com To find out more about neoworx@The Quadrant, visit www.neo-worx.com

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Glasgow Airport Launches New AIpowered Digital Assistant New innovative tool to enhance passenger support.

Glasgow Airport has officially launched a state-of-the-art digital assistant, powered

by Hello Lamp Post, to improve the travel experience for passengers this festive period.

This new AI-driven technology, now live across the airport, is designed to provide real-time information and enhance navigation throughout the terminal 24 hours a day, optimising the experience for travellers.

The digital assistant was initially introduced as part of an accessibility trial earlier this year in partnership with Connected Places Catapult.

The trial showed: 50% reduction in queries being received by customer service staff 12,300+ more passengers supported per year 86% satisfaction rate with service Following the success of the trial, Glasgow Airport collaborated closely in partnership with Hello Lamp Post to refine and expand the tool’s capabilities, intending to build on the positive outcomes and making it available to all passengers.

Accessible via location-specific QR codes, the digital assistant serves as a personal concierge, offering up-to-date flight information, navigation assistance, and tailored passenger support. By streamlining airport services, this tool aims to make travel easier and creates an inclusive experience for all accessibility needs.

Glasgow Airport is renowned for its commitment to serving passengers with

disabilities and reduced mobility (PRM).

Last year alone, the airport welcomed over 110,000 PRM passengers, earning the highest “Very Good” rating from the Civil Aviation Authority’s Annual Accessibility Report.

This digital assistant is a key part of the airport’s ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility and ensure all passengers have a seamless experience.

Jamie Loudon, Group Head of Operational Solutions at Glasgow Airport said: “We take great pride in providing excellent service to the tens of thousands of special assistance passengers who travel through our terminals each year.

“Working with Connected Places Catapult on a trial earlier this year proved invaluable in helping us roll out this cutting-edge technology across the airport for all passengers.

We take great pride in providing excellent service to the tens of thousands of special assistance passengers who travel through our terminals each year.

Jamie Loudon, Group Head of Operational Solutions at Glasgow Airport

“Technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence, are transforming how we deliver vital services. This AIpowered assistant will further enhance the customer experience, ensuring smoother and more personalised journeys for all who pass through Glasgow Airport.”

Tiernan Mines, Co-Founder and CEO of Hello Lamp Post said: “We’re really pleased that the success of our initial trial has now led to the full rollout of our platform at Glasgow Airport, and is helping to improve the airport experience for thousands of passengers.

“We have reduced repetitive passenger queries going to airport staff, freeing up their time, allowing them to not only support more passengers each year, but also focus on more urgent queries.

Forming this partnership has unlocked opportunities to build a truly inclusive, passenger-focused solution that champions the values of Glasgow Airport and Hello Lamp Post.”

Connected Places Catapult’s Ecosystem Director for Air Mobility & Airports, Andrew Chadwick said: “It is tremendous to see Hello Lamp Post launch its AIenabled digital assistant.

“This development follows a trial of the technology at Glasgow Airport as part of the Connected Airport Living Lab project, where innovative new systems were funded by the Catapult to address challenges facing the airport sector.”

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Walker’s Shortbread has been awarded the Royal Warrant by King Charles III The honour comes in the same week as the funeral of Sir Jim Walker, the Moray company’s former managing director.

Nicky Walker, his nephew and the company’s current managing director, said: “It is a privilege for Walker’s to be granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment from His Majesty King Charles III for the supply of shortbread and oatcakes to the Royal Household.

“As an independent, family-run business, we are extremely proud to carry the Royal Warrant which is a great honour. We feel is a true mark of recognition for our service and commitment to baking in Scotland at its finest for over a century.

“It is particularly poignant to receive the appointment following the very sad passing of my uncle recently.”

As of last year it employed 1500 people, with sites in Elgin as well as Aberlour, and had a turnover of £184 million.

The company’s roots stretch back to 1898 when Joseph Walker moved to Aberlour, took over the village bakery, and developed a recipe for shortbread which is still lovingly followed to this day.

Mr Walker said: “My uncle, my father Joe and my aunt Marjorie were extremely proud when Walker’s was granted the Royal Warrant for the supply of shortbread and oatcakes to the late Queen Elizabeth.

Moving forward a couple of generations and Sir Jim, his elder brother Joe and sister Marjorie all played a huge role in the ongoing expansion of the business into an internationally recognised brand.

“I know how delighted they would have been by this Appointment from his Majesty King Charles III. This award is testament to their legacy.”

As an independent, family-run business, we are extremely proud to carry the Royal Warrant which is a great honour. We feel is a true mark of recognition for our service and commitment to baking in Scotland at its finest for over a century.

Nicky Walker, Managing Director

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Building Trade with Ireland: Insights from our Trade Mission In November 2024 we led a delegation of nine Scottish companies to Dublin for four days of fact finding and strategic connection building. We had a lot of fun, but more importantly our delegates left with meaningful business contacts and leads (and in one case an importer) to help them break into Ireland’s booming marketplace.

The aim of all trade missions is to establish meaningful relationships. From insightful presentations by industry leaders, to curated networking sessions with Irish businesses, participants gained valuable perspectives and practical knowledge about trading opportunities in Ireland.

We got off to a great start with a dinner address from Katy McNeil, Head of the Scottish Government in Ireland, who underscored the importance of collaboration between our two countries. Katy highlighted the resources and support available for Scottish businesses aiming to enter the Irish market, and over the course of our visit, provided contacts and future opportunities to some of our delegates. She even recommended one of the best pints of Guinness in Dublin.

We benefitted from expert insights into the Irish economy, business opportunities and advice on how to approach doing business in Ireland from Martin McBride of the Causeway Ireland Scotland Business Exchange. Martin also shared specific insights and contacts for each delegate and their business sector. We all agreed it was the best market awareness session we had ever seen. Martin was joined by Clair O’Neil from Meab Enamels who gave specialist insights and contacts for the retail sector.

A trip to the Guinness Enterprise Centre showed how Irish start ups are supported, and we heard from two growing businesses, as well as gaining an insight into the Irish business incubator ecosystem.

Central to the mission’s success was a high-energy networking event hosted by the Dublin Chamber. Our delegates connected with around 50 Irish entrepreneurs and business leaders, exchanging ideas, exploring market opportunities, and laying the groundwork for future collaborations.

Many participants identified this as a turning point, where initial conversations translated into definite opportunities. The photos don’t do the buzz of excitement (and noise level) in the room justice.

And of course, sprinkled throughout the mission were the vital, pre-planned, business to business meetings.

For our Scottish businesses, the trade mission was much more than a visit—it

was a launchpad to trading in Ireland.

Participants left equipped with new contacts, market insights, and a stronger understanding of Ireland’s business landscape. Early feedback shows that connections made during the mission are already leading to exciting developments, with potential partnerships and ventures in the pipeline.

At the feedback session with our delegates, we asked a number of questions around value for money, appetite for joining us on another trade mission, and whether they are still planning to trade in Ireland. All the responses we received were a resounding ‘yes’. One delegate stated that the business identified will safeguard one job and create one new job.

Colin Marr, CEO of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, said “I was so pleased to play a small part in this mission – the nine delegate businesses from across nine different business sectors and scales – represented Scotland in the best possible light and the generosity of our hosts with their insights, knowledge and contacts means that every delegate has a great chance of developing meaningful and profitable business relationships with Ireland in the coming years.”

Inverness Chamber of Commerce is proud to have facilitated this transformative experience, which not only showcased the opportunities in Ireland but also demonstrated the broader benefits of stepping into international markets.

Looking ahead Exporting is an essential part of a successful economy. As global markets evolve, initiatives, like trade missions, play a vital role in helping businesses expand and thrive. They are more than an exploration of opportunities; they are about building relationships, understanding new markets, and laying the foundation for sustainable growth.

If your business is ready to take its first steps into international trade, we’re here to help. Contact our International Trade Team at international@inverness-chamber.co.uk to find out more about how we can support your global ambitions along with news of upcoming trade missions.

About the mission The trade mission to Ireland was led

by Inverness Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce from 11-14 November and is part of the International Trade Partnership supported by The Scottish Government and Scottish Chambers of Commerce. The programme and business connections were developed by our International Programmes Manager, Changu Mosojane-Martin, and the mission was accompanied by our CEO, Colin Marr, Deputy CEO, Paula Nicol. We couldn’t have done it without the support of Katy McNeil, Martin McBride, Clair O’Neil and Dublin Chamber, and the work done prior to the mission which received fantastic support from Jerry O’Donnovan (Irish Consul General in Scotland), Royal Bank of Scotland, Dentons and RSM.

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OPINION

Scottish entrepreneurships are well-placed to seize new opportunities in 2025 While difficult challenges remain, there is reason to be hopeful about 2025.

By Dr Liz Cameron CBE Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce

The recent UK Budget and the Scottish Budget have played pivotal roles in shaping business sentiment. Measures to support growth and investment have been welcomed but there are still major concerns about the impact of taxation, rates relief, and public spending.

These fiscal decisions will influence business confidence as we progress through 2025, underscoring the urgent need for targeted support and policy clarity.

Last year Scotland’s economy demonstrated remarkable tenacity, with the latest data indicating steady GDP growth, driven by key sectors such as renewable energy, technology, life sciences, and tourism.

Business confidence, though tested by global market volatility and inflationary pressures, has shown signs of steady recovery.

Inflationary pressures, which at the start of 2024 were the biggest cause for concern for Scottish business, began to stabilise in the second half of the year. While energy prices and supply chain disruptions presented significant headwinds, Scotland’s business community responded with agility. It was encouraging to see how quickly companies adapted through innovation, digital transformation, and the re-shoring of supply chains.

Labour market conditions have also seen positive movement.

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Unemployment rates remained low, and businesses continued to invest in upskilling and retraining the workforce. Notably, Scotland’s young people are reaping the benefits of apprenticeships and skills development programmes, which have played a crucial role in closing the skills gap.

If we are to remain competitive on a global stage, we need to continue to upskill our future workforce. The current Apprenticeship Levy is not fit for purpose, and I hope our Holyrood government make it their New Year resolution to deliver a long overdue review.

Labour shortages in critical sectors such as construction, hospitality, and manufacturing continue to present obstacles. Tackling this issue requires collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions to align skills provision with market needs. Access to skilled labour must

remain a priority if we are to sustain growth and innovation.

As navigate 2025, several challenges loom large. Inflationary pressures may not have fully abated, and interest rate uncertainty could weigh on business investment. Global economic conditions, particularly in the Eurozone and key export markets, will have a direct impact on Scottish exports.

While Brexit posed challenges, Scotland’s exporters have found new pathways into global markets. Demand for our goods, from whisky to sustainable textiles, remains strong. As new trade agreements come online, we must continue to champion Scottish exports and support businesses’ access to international markets and we welcome the continued support of both the Scottish and UK governments in helping to promote overseas trade.

OPINION

The USA is critical for Scotland’s economy given it is both Scotland’s top international export destination and our largest inward investor. With its vast consumer base and strong demand for high-quality products, Scotland’s whisky, seafood, textiles, and tech solutions are well-positioned to thrive. However, tariff-related threats loom over Scottish exporters as we approach the start of a new President Trump administration.

Unpredictable trade policies and the imposition of tariffs on specific goods will create instability for exporters. Scotland’s businesses will need government on its side to negotiate competitive trade terms and minimise tariff-related barriers.

Many businesses particularly in our leisure and hospitality sectors will nervously await 2025.

The cost of doing business remains a significant concern. Rising energy bills, higher raw material costs, and increasing regulations are placing additional strain on profit margins and we need targeted support measures to ease these pressures.

The need for sustained rates relief continues to be a pressing issue and the SCC alongside the wider business community including the Scottish Passenger Agents Association have raised these concerns directly to Scottish Government. Without parity of support, the risk of closures and job losses could escalate, particularly for smaller operators facing reduced footfall and higher operating costs.

Looking ahead, I have every confidence that the enduring spirit of Scottish entrepreneurship will ensure we are wellplaced to seize new opportunities.

The ongoing transition to a net-zero economy offers huge opportunities to propel our economy forward. Regulatory changes, the pace of green infrastructure investment, and the rising costs of the transition will test the mettle of our business community. However, Scotland’s position as a global leader in renewable energy offers a substantial competitive advantage, if leveraged effectively.

The digital economy continues to offer vast potential. Scotland’s thriving tech ecosystem, coupled with strategic government support, is positioning the nation as a hub for fintech, artificial intelligence, and data-driven innovation. For business, digital adoption is no longer a “nice to have” but a commercial necessity. By supporting businesses to embrace digitalisation, we can drive productivity and competitiveness.

Scotland’s wealth of natural green resources—offshore wind, hydrogen, and tidal energy—gives us a transformative competitive edge. If the right investment climate is nurtured, Scotland can position itself as a global leader in green technologies, attracting international investment and creating thousands of highquality jobs.

None of these opportunities will be realised without a concerted effort from government and business. 2025 must be a year of bold

leadership and policy alignment. Businesses need clarity and consistency in regulation and support. From access to finance for SMEs to trade facilitation, government and industry must work hand in hand.

Moreover, fostering a culture of entrepreneurship across Scotland’s educational system, from primary schools to universities, is crucial to embedding entrepreneurial thinking at every stage.

Business support networks, accelerators, and mentorship programmes must be accessible to all—particularly women, young people, and underrepresented groups.

Scotland’s economy stands at a pivotal moment. Our performance in 2024 reflects a story of resilience, adaptability, and determination of the business community.

As we look to 2025, there is no room for complacency—but there is also every reason for optimism.

If we embrace a growth mindset, nurture entrepreneurial spirit, and lead with purpose, Scotland can emerge stronger, greener, and more inclusive.

The Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network will continue to champion this vision, advocating for the policies, investment, and support that our businesses need to thrive in 2025.

Originally published in The Press & Journal on 30th of December 2024, this article has been adapted for the Business Scotland Magazine.

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Colin Marr

Chief Executive, Inverness Chamber of Commerce

On the Wrong Track – Time for ScotRail to Fast-Track Highland Services In November 2024 I attended a reception at Edinburgh Castle where we heard from First Minister John Swinney. Even with the increase in online meetings there are still occasions when business is better done in person. This was such an occasion and that’s a reality for everyone living and working in the Highlands – trips to the central belt are sometimes essential – for both business and leisure.

To hear the First Minister, I travelled by train. When I moved to Inverness in 1997 that train journey normally took 3h 20 minutes. Last week each leg of my journey to Edinburgh took 3h 46 minutes. And that was with both trains running on time.

Twenty-seven years of progress has seen our trains get slower. How can that be?

Where is our outrage and why are we not hearing from Scotrail on a regular basis with their improvement plans?

It took 49 minutes just to get to Aviemore from Inverness – a trip that can be made

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in 35 minutes by car. Trains are safer and a good step towards net zero. But to encourage more people to use them they need to be consistently more comfortable, have reliable power points and Wi-Fi, and a good standard of catering – my return journey failed on all three of these. They also need to be significantly faster than driving, and affordable.

My trains were both running and on time.

That doesn’t always happen and Scotrail have just announced that there will no trains for four weekends in a row from the

middle of November. And of course, the train services north of Inverness are even worse.

The very welcome investments we’ll see from the Freeport will lead to even greater pressure on our road and rail network and neither of them are coping at the moment.

The cost to business of our slow and outdated rail services is very real and to my knowledge there are no plans for serious reductions in journey times. Come on Scotrail – when are you going to take our rail services seriously?

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Event charts economic journey since bold Strategy launch Tom Arthur, Minister for Employment and Investment, was the special guest at a major business event in Ayrshire this week.

The bold Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy (RES) was launched in June 2023 and the ‘Making and Keeping the £ in Ayrshire’ event at Ayrshire College, Kilwinning, was a chance to explore the journey since it was launched.

The strategy is the first in Scotland to feature Community Wealth Building as a founding principle.

A Delivery Plan was launched in October 2023 to support the RES vision and to set out a series of practical actions. The Year 1 Delivery Plan had a total of 46 actions, many with a timescale reaching beyond one year. To date, 40% of these actions have been completed, with a number of multiyear actions carrying on into Year 2 and successes including: Strengthened partnership working including NHS engagement on our Regional Strategy Delivery Group; Mapping of business support across the region, including for third sector organisations, with the aim of making this easier to access and understand what is available; Approval of funding for the regional 5G Innovations Region project.

Mr Arthur was one of the keynote speakers and explained the importance of Community Wealth Building in regional economic development. Angela Cox, Principal and Chief Executive of Ayrshire College,

spoke about how skills and innovation are important drivers for economic prosperity for Ayrshire.

Employment and Investment Minister Tom Arthur said: “It’s impressive to see how public bodies, businesses and community organisations are working together to drive growth in Ayrshire.

“The Scottish Government is committed to supporting regional economic partnerships to create and sustain jobs and grow local and regional wealth. Inspired by the example of Ayrshire, our Community Wealth Building Bill will support this approach to economic development.”

There was also a chance for guests to engage with expert panellists in discussions on skills and innovation, and discover how these crucial elements are shaping the future of our region’s prosperity.

Councillor Martin Dowey, Leader of South Ayrshire Council and Chair of the Ayrshire Economic Joint Committee said: “We are delighted to be hosting this event which brings together businesses from across the region to hear about the challenges and opportunities around working and doing business in Ayrshire.

“A lot has happened in the 15 months since the Strategy was launched and it is vital that we collaborate and continue to deliver for our communities.

“What has been most encouraging is the determination and shared vision by so many to make a difference to this and future generations.”

Angela Cox, Principal and Chief Executive Officer said: “We are delighted to participate in this event and reflect on the journey since the launch of the Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy.

“As an active partner in the strategy, Ayrshire College plays a vital role in supporting the region’s economic prosperity by developing the skills and innovation needed for Ayrshire to thrive.

Our strategic ambition of Empowering People for a Changing World is directly aligned with the goals of the strategy, and through our partnerships with local businesses and community, we are helping to build a resilient and thriving future for Ayrshire.”

The Strategy focusses on six themes: Support for Enterprise Fair Work Innovation Good Health and Wellbeing Stronger Places and Communities Enhancing Natural Capital

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Karolina Dannberg named Bright Green Business’s Most Enterprising Environmental Intern 2024 Four interns who completed Bright Green Business’s longstanding environmentally focussed internship programme during the last year presented their work to a panel of expert judges during the annual ceremony at Queen Margaret University on 20th November 2024. The students and graduates completed paid internships with host organisations, working on projects to promote sustainability.

The finalists included: Ana Hernandez, Campus Cycling Officer, City of Glasgow College in partnership with Cycling Scotland Erin Stowell, Climate Adaption Risk Intern, The Scottish Parliament Karolina Dannberg, Business Strategy Intern, The Leith Collective, in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland Kelvin Akpojevwe, Sustainability Research Intern, Saltire Patisserie, in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland A Business Psychology student, Dannberg was instrumental in launching the UK’s first single-use plastic free online marketplace, We Relove, for her internship host organisation The Leith Collective. The judges were particularly impressed with her lasting impact on the host organisation and her ability to push multiple projects

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forward during her internship, including strategic planning for the organisation’s sustainability strategy. Zero Waste Scotland sponsored her internship with the Leith Collective to help promote the circular economy. Another intern sponsored by ZWS, Kelvin Akpojevwe, received a special commendation from the judges for his work developing partnerships between host organisation Saltire Patisseries and local breweries to make muffins from spent grain created from the brewing process.

The expert judging panel included: Lucy Filby, Head of Net Zero Transition for Agriculture, South of Scotland Enterprise; Mhairi Cochrane, Senior Projects Officer, Edinburgh Climate Change Institute; Kenny Hall, Integrated Employer Engagement Manager, Capital City Partnership; Elena Marburger, Most Enterprising Environmental Intern 2023.

While the judges deliberated, attendees

had the opportunity to hear from another former Most Enterprising Environmental Intern, Ovie Frederick-Simon, who now works as Senior Sustainability Analyst for SP Energy Networks about his work and the role BGB’s internship programme played in his career journey.

“Every year I am amazed by what the interns are able to accomplish,” said Bright Green Business CEO, Karen Ritchie.

“We’re incredibly proud of what impact the internships have, and we encourage any business interested in making sustainability a priority to consider taking on an intern. Within a short amount of time, they make a massive impact on their host organisation.”

Interested businesses can email bright@ thebusinesspartnership.org.uk to request a client information packet that includes up-to-date information on the process and costs to take part.

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Hawick Firm Quietly Leading Borders’ Net Zero Charge The nationwide push towards achieving net-zero carbon emissions has prompted a wave of companies eager to claim a share of the burgeoning green energy industry.

For many, this has meant cold calls offering deals and government-funded insulation services. However, one local firm is quietly going about its business of retrofitting homes, community halls, and commercial properties across the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland — without the need for cold calls.

Shelbourne and Greer, launched in Hawick in 2022 by Craig Greer and his partner Lisa Stanners, operates out of the former Lyle and Scott factory in Liddesdale Road. Lisa, a former project manager at Scottish Borders Council, and Craig, a former professional rugby player for Edinburgh and Poland, have a deep understanding of the challenges faced by national and local governments in improving energy efficiency across buildings.

Lisa explains: “When we talk about netzero on a local level, we take a ‘fabric-first’ approach as insulation specialists. This means we focus on insulating village and community halls, business premises, and residential properties, using modern techniques designed to reduce energy usage and lower bills.”

With growing awareness of government funding available for reducing carbon emissions, Shelbourne and Greer have seen increasing demand for their services. “It’s been pretty hectic,” admits Lisa.

No Cold Calls, Just Trusted Reputation Lisa and Craig emphasise that they don’t engage in cold calling. “We don’t need to,” she says. “All our clients come to us through accredited bodies like Trustmark or the National Insulation Association. People often

find us because they’ve heard about the funding or have seen our logo at the local rugby club — they know we’re local and can be trusted.”

While they occasionally receive inquiries from businesses further afield, the couple prefers to pass them on to other companies, as demand within the Borders is more than enough.

Net Zero Awareness and Real Savings So, what motivates people to seek out better insulation for their properties? Is the netzero message getting through?

“There are several reasons,” says Lisa.

“The publicity around net-zero, the available funding, and the desire to contribute to reducing emissions are definitely factors.

Once people realise how much energy they’re wasting through poor insulation, the savings can be significant. You wouldn’t take £100 out of the cash machine and throw £30 away, would you? But that’s what’s happening when homes are poorly insulated.”

Lisa continues: “Of course, with the rising cost of energy bills, no one wants to waste money. Many of our clients are looking for ways to save, and improving insulation is one of the most effective solutions.”

Building a Future for the Next Generation Shelbourne and Greer currently employ eight staff, who collectively have over 35 years of experience in various aspects of the building trade. The company also collaborates with specialists in solar panels and heat pump installation.

Given the rapid developments in the energy and insulation industries, Lisa is in discussions with the Scottish Chamber

of Commerce and Borders College about creating bespoke training programmes. She aims to bring in new talent, either straight from school or through reskilling, to meet the growing demand for quality insulation services.

“There’s a real need for trained professionals in this field,” Lisa explains. “The days of an apprentice just ‘shoving in’ insulation are long gone. With government funding comes much stricter standards, and that’s where companies like ours come in.”

A Passion for Local Heritage For Lisa and Craig, working in the Borders and North Northumberland is more than just business — it’s a passion. “I love the variety of projects we work on, from insulating beautiful, old stone buildings on estates to modern homes with specific floor insulation needs.”

Lisa adds: “We’re committed to keeping our business small but growing, ensuring we have the right people with the right skills for the job. It’s a really exciting industry to be a part of, and there’s so much potential for the future.”

The Value of Community Support As a small, family-run business, Lisa finds membership in the Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce particularly valuable.

“It’s hugely important to me,” she says.

“Running a business, especially in a rural area like the Borders, can be quite isolating.

Having events that bring people together is fantastic, and it’s great to be able to reach out to Roz, Trevor, and the team whenever I need advice.”

Lisa concludes: “It’s reassuring to know you’re not alone, and if they don’t have the answers, they’ll find them for you.” shelbourneandgreer.co.uk

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

ROCCO AWARDS 2024: Renfrewshire celebrates 20 years of business excellence Renfrewshire roared in celebration of business excellence at the 20th Annual Rocco Awards Ceremony on Friday 15th November at the Normandy Hotel. The sellout crowd congratulated 17 worthy winners taking home the special Rocco trophies at Renfrewshire’s largest black tie business event, now in its 20th year.

Principal ROCCO sponsor was the Renfrewshire Business Support Partnership (RBSP) combining key partners who help shape business support services in Renfrewshire.

The ROCCO raffle raised an outstanding £9,000 supporting Accord Hospice and Anthony Nolan, the stem cell transplant charity celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024.

President Derek J McNab highlighted the Chamber’s work in its 60th Diamond anniversary year including £250K of support projects delivered to Renfrewshire businesses and funded by Renfrewshire Council.

Rocco favourite Fred MacAulay was on top form entertaining the audience all evening and the outstanding performance by singer/ songwriter ili was met with load applause.

The guests were skilfully piped into the Normandy by the talented St Columba’s School Pipe Band.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson gave the principal sponsor address showcasing the significant £100 million investment in cultural assets including the Paisley Arts Centre and the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMID) with anchor institutions National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and the Medicine Manufacturing Innovation Centre. (MMIC)

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The Awards also featured a unique 20th edition trophy designed and made in Renfrewshire by J.G.B. Steelcraft.

Chamber Chief Executive Bob Grant said: “ROCCO 2024 was an incredible, uplifting evening celebrating all that is good in our business community in a landmark year as we conclude our 60th Diamond Anniversary celebrations.

Renfrewshire truly is a fantastic business location with so many outstanding organisations represented on the night and congratulations to all our finalists.”

“You can view images on our Facebook page.

I encourage all Rocco winners to utilise their win across their PR channels.

Thank you to the entire Chamber team for all their work before and on the night to ensure our 500 guests had a great time.

Special thanks to main sponsor Renfrewshire Business Support Partnership, Diageo who supplied our drinks reception, Andrew O’Brien and the team from J.G.B. Steelcraft for our fantastic trophies, Cameron Presentations & Gap TV for all the AV, the Printbrokers for the program, Jenna Lynn for the excellent social media coverage and the Normandy Hotel for the meal and service.

Thanks also to St Columba’s School Pipe Band who welcomed guests in such style.

Finally, thanks and a warm welcome back to singer /song writer ili following her first appearance at ROCCO 2010 aged just 12 years old – a truly special performance for our sell out audience.”

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

AWARD WINNERS ROCCO Award for Environmental Sustainability sponsored by Lochlie Construction Group.

ROCCO Award for Most Promising New Business sponsored by Business Gateway.

W.H Malcolm Ltd (The Malcolm Group)

Tots United Limited

ROCCO Award for Innovation & Technology sponsored by University of the West of Scotland.

ROCCO Award for Family Business of the Year sponsored by The Malcom Group.

Terumo Aortic

Scottish Leather Group Ltd

ROCCO Award for Excellence in Manufacturing sponsored by National Manufacturing Institute Scotland.

ROCCO Award for Journey to Net Zero sponsored by Ren Zero.

Rolls-Royce PLC

ROCCO Award for Young Business Person of the Year sponsored by Rolls-Royce.

ROCCO Award for International Trade sponsored by Glasgow Airport.

Lochlie Construction Group

Scottish Leather Group

Scott McGinlay, Owner – Scott McGinlay Catering/Paisley Pie Co.

ROCCO Award for Community Wealth Building sponsored by Renfrewshire Council.

ROCCO Award for Employer of the Year sponsored by Arnold Clark.

ROCCO Award for Outstanding Performing Business 5 or less employees sponsored by Spectrum Service Solutions.

Framing Art ROCCO Award for Outstanding Performing Business >5<25 employees sponsored by Terumo Aortic.

Hunter & Robertson Limited ROCCO Award for Outstanding Performing Business >25 employees sponsored by Altrad Babcock.

Wholesale Domestic Bathrooms Ltd ROCCO Award for Business Leader of the Year sponsored by Diageo.

Brian Toward, CEO – Wholesale Domestic Bathrooms Ltd

W.H Malcolm Ltd (The Malcolm Group)

Scottish Leather Group

ROCCO Award for Excellence in Tourism sponsored by Renfrewshire Council.

ROCCO Award for Community Champion sponsored by Engage Renfrewshire.

ROCCO Award for Renfrewshire’s Favourite Business sponsored by Braehead.

Gleddoch Golf & Spa Resort

I Am Me Scotland

Paisley Pie Co

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

A family run hot tub business is overflowing with expansion plans thanks to support from Business Gateway An Inverclyde hot tub business is expanding its operations after experiencing significant growth following specialist growth support from Business Gateway.

Exterea is a family run business that specialises in luxury spaces for gazebos, hot tubs, and wellness saunas. The business was started in 2016 by husband-and-wife Sandy and Sharon Jarvie.

With a background of over 25 years in construction, Sandy, and Sharon pride themselves on delivering high quality products and premium services to their customers with a wide range of products, sourcing the highest quality materials.

The couple now offer hot tubs, log cabins, summer houses, gazebos, wooden garages, garden sheds and more using bespoke designs.

The business has also now launched a new mobile sauna product, focusing on Concept Therapy. This combines the heat benefits of the sauna with cold water exposure, providing a rejuvenating and therapeutic experience.

Exterea is also looking to diversify by introducing more energy efficient products which run off solar and deep source energy systems. The showroom is now expanding to display more of their models, as well as Exterea now widening their geographic reach with deliveries further afield.

As Exterea looks to expand its business, Sandy and Sharon are aware that they will come up against more competitors, but the support that they have received from Business Gateway has helped them prepare for this.

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Their adviser also referred them to local authority growth accelerator programmes to help provide further advice.

Sharon Jarvie, co-founder of Exterea, said: ‘‘The advice and support we got from Business Gateway was brilliant and gave us the confidence to go ahead with our growth plans, as well as helping us get the funding we needed for expansion. We would not have been able to do it without Business Gateway and we cannot thank Barbara enough for all their help.’’

launch the new mobile sauna.

Barbara Mennie, Business Gateway adviser said: “It is fantastic to see the growth that Sandy and Sharon have managed with Exterea, and I am excited to see their new showroom. They have great ideas for their products and fantastic high-quality bespoke designs that show off their passion for the business and it will be great for more people to see this as they expand.”

Barbara also gave the couple advice on local authority grant funding and assistance with

To find out more about Business Gateway, visit bgateway.com.

It is fantastic to see the growth that The couple was introduced to Business Sandy and Sharon have managed Gateway adviser Barbara Mennie, who 1:1 business support and helped with Exterea, and I am excited to see provided with cashflow forecasting to outline the growth strategy for the business. Barbara their new showroom. was also instrumental in helping them Barbara Mennie, Business Gateway adviser

funding applications, which helped them secure funding from Inverclyde Council. This funding gave them the green light for their expansion plans.

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Esk Glazing celebrate 50 years in business Celebrating 50 years in business, Esk Glazing reflects on its journey from Eric Irons’ small workshop in 1974 to a thriving family-run enterprise. With a newly refurbished Head Office and communityfocused celebrations, Esk thanks its staff, customers, and vendors for their support in building a legacy of quality and excellence in north-east Scotland.

Esk Glazing was established in 1974 by Eric Irons, a workshop attendant who wanted to bring quality glazing to northeast Scotland. Because of his exceptional craftsmanship, Eric soon built a reputation

for top-quality products and outstanding service.

Eric’s son, Craig, eventually joined the rapidly growing company as an apprentice.

Today he is the managing director, leading a team of more than 35 skilled staff members.

Celebrating 50 years in business in 2024, Esk has refurbished and rebranded its Head Office in Arbroath’s Kirkton Industrial Estate; the facility houses the showrooms of Esk Windows and Doors, Esk Balustrades and Esk Interiors. It’s an environment that welcomes clients and

provides better service with easy access to Esk’s extensive product range and its team of experienced experts.

Eric and Craig wanted to give back to the community and hosted a Birthday celebration in June 2024. The event was free and a huge success with live music, funfair attractions and a bathroom giveaway.

2024 has been an amazing year for Esk Glazing and Eric and Craig want to thank all past and present staff, vendors and customers who have supported Esk Glazing through the years.

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Festive Cheer and Inspiring Leadership: Highlights from the Inverness Chamber’s Christmas Charity Lunch The enchanting Achnagairn Castle provided the perfect festive backdrop for the Inverness Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Charity Lunch on Thursday 5 December. Guests from the local business community gathered for an afternoon of delicious food, engaging conversation, and a shared commitment to supporting a great cause.

This year, High Life Highland’s Chief Executive, Steve Walsh OBE, took centre stage in an illuminating “In Conversation with Colin Marr,” the Chamber’s Chief Executive. Steve shared his inspiring journey, weaving together anecdotes from his time in the Royal Air Force (RAF), insights into his leadership ethos, and stories from his weightlifting career – a discipline in which he is a British Masters Champion and former World Champion.

A Whistle-Stop Tour of a Remarkable Career Steve’s conversation offered a fascinating glimpse into his multifaceted career, which began with his service in the RAF, including stints at RAF Kinloss and memorable encounters with Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II. From military tours to weightlifting triumphs, his experiences exemplified resilience and dedication.

Steve also highlighted the growing popularity of weightlifting in the Highlands, particularly among women, and shared his commitment to giving back to the community. This ethos is evident in his numerous roles, including

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serving on the NHS Highland Board, the SNAP Board, and the Highland Tourism Awards Board, and as Chair of Highland Disability Sport.

On leadership, Steve emphasised the importance of strong values, noting, “If you lead by those values, you can expect the same from everyone else.” His insights resonated with attendees, leaving them with much to reflect on as they look toward the new year.

A Delicious Feast and a Successful Raffle Guests were treated to a warm welcome drink and a sumptuous two-course Christmas lunch, catered by Good Highland Food Ltd. The festive atmosphere at Achnagairn Castle, decked out for the season, made for a truly magical setting.

The afternoon concluded with a charity raffle that raised an impressive £1,348 in aid of RASASH (Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland). Three lucky winners took home a fantastic selection of prizes donated by Highland businesses – including Caledonia

Dallas, Blackfriars, Tulloch Homes, High Life Highland, Ledingham Chalmers, Landmark Forest Adventure Park, Brodies, Fasaidh Tattoo, Macdonald Group, AC by Marriott Inverness, Corbies Rest Guest House, Alert Health, Palace Hotel & Spa and Highland Blindcraft – bringing a joyful end to the event.

Colin Marr, Inverness Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, said, “It was great to bring together our business community to celebrate the start of the Christmas season, and to raise such a large amount of money for an important Highland Charity. Hearing from Steve Walsh is always a treat – he is a truly inspiring leader and as one gust commented “how has he packed so much into one life?”.”

A Wonderful Start to the Festive Season The Inverness Chamber’s Christmas Charity Lunch was a celebration of community, leadership, and generosity—a perfect way to usher in the holiday season. Thank you to all who joined us and contributed to this meaningful event.

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Blairgowrie Firm is Perthshire’s Business of the Year Perthshire business folk donned their best bibs and tuckers last week for the coveted 2024 Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards sponsored by Binn Group.

And construction industry supply company A Proctor Group took the main prize on the night winning the Perthshire Business of the Year award.

The Blairgowrie company also took the Employer of the Year award.

The region’s premier business awards event took place at Crieff Hydro on Friday, November 22nd.

As usual it was an opportunity for new and established businesses across Perthshire to showcase their excellence.

The awards recognised the fantastic individuals and teams behind the success of Perthshire’s top businesses, from apprentices starting out on their career journey to established employees.

Binn Group, Scotland’s largest independent waste management company, was the headline sponsor and will be for the next three years.

Perthshire Chamber chief executive Vicki Unite said: “It was such a great evening and so inspiring to see the wealth of talent we have in our business community under one roof celebrating one another’s achievements.

“I would like to thank all our sponsors for the 2024 Star Awards -especially our headline sponsor Binn Group, who have been associated with the Star Awards for many years - and also those behind the scenes whose hard work made a fantastic event possible.

The winners were: Employee of the Year Award sponsored by STV Sara Barrie of The Lending Channel Highly Commended Christina Carlon of Here’s The Plan Apprentice of the Year Award sponsored by UHI Perth Eilidh Williamson of NFU Mutual Perth Agency Most Promising New Business Award sponsored by Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants Spa at the Steading

Murrayshall Country Estate Beyond Scotland Award sponsored by Caithness Glass/Dartington Crystal BLISS Business Growth Award sponsored by DYW Tay Cities NFU Mutual Perth Agency Independent Retailer of the Year Award sponsored by Flonix Ltd

By Rebecca Studios Excellence in Food & Drink Produce Award sponsored by Castle Water

Excellence in Customer Service Award sponsored by OCO.eu/Starbucks Perth

Rabbit Hole Cakes

The Black Watch Castle & Museum

Allan’s Chilli Products

Caithness Glass make the beautiful, bespoke glass awards which mean that not only do winners take home their winning titles, but a unique work of art to treasure too.

Highly Commended

Crieff Hydro, as always proved a great setting with excellent food and drink and top-notch hospitality.

Scottish Highers Online

Binn Group as main sponsor also provide goodies for guests on each table.

Excellence in Tourism & Leisure Award sponsored by VisionPK

COUNT (Scotland) Excellence in Business Innovation Award sponsored by Graham Hygiene Services Excellence in Digital Media Award sponsored by Johnston Media Possible Estate Agents

Johnston Media handled all the filming and also the audio visual on the night and live music was provided by the brilliant band, “Hot Date”. Danscot printed the brochures and certificates and GAP Productions provided the autocue.

Contribution to the Environment sponsored by Sidey Solutions

There were 16 categories up for grabs.

YMCA Tayside

Logiealmond Estate Commitment to the Community Award sponsored by Possible Estate Agents

Highly Commended

Employer of the Year Award sponsored by The Perthshire Advertiser The A Proctor Group Health and Wellbeing Business of the Year Award sponsored by Porsche Centre Perth Kevin Cuthbert Personal Training Outstanding Young Business Person sponsored by The Lending Channel Bethany Wallace of Landscaping By Wallace Perthshire Business of the Year 2024 The A. Proctor Group Pics of the winners can be viewed at www.businessstarawards.com.

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Cairngorms Business Partnership: Driving sustainable growth and innovation in the Highlands

The Cairngorms National Park is a place of breathtaking natural beauty, thriving local businesses and vibrant communities. It is a place of diversity, growth and connection.

The Cairngorms Business Partnership (CBP), operating as the local Chamber of Commerce and Destination Management Organisation (DMO), is uniquely positioned to support businesses and communities to thrive in the National Park, striving to achieve a strong, resilient economy and sustainable balanced growth.

benefits of a year round destination include: mitigation of the challenges of seasonal employment, regulation of cash flow and reduced pressure on infrastructure and the landscape. Crucially, visitors are also more able to enjoy the Cairngorms National Park and feel greater connection to the landscape if it is just a little less busy.

A multi-faceted approach to market the destination and extend the tourist season is utilised: a strategic PR campaign, diverse tourism projects and robust stakeholder engagement. With engaged member businesses, local communities and stakeholders, the CBP is shaping a bright future for the area.

The destination is in the fortunate position that its businesses can accommodate year round visitors. Prime year round attractions include The Highland Wild Life Park, Aviemore Ice Rink, Loch Insh Outdoor Centre, Landmark Forest Adventure Park, Dalwhinne Distillery, Balmoral Winter Gardens and outdoor adventure with In Your Element at Rothiemurchus.

Extending the Tourist Season: A Win for All The Cairngorms is the original winter destination, the winter season of the 60’s and 70’s are legendary and latterly the summer season is when the National Park’s visitor footfall has been notably higher.

The CBP has recently focussed on extending the season into the shoulder months. The

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Targeted marketing campaigns, partnerships with tour operators and the development of offerings that highlight the unique charm of each season have been a key focus for the CBP. As a year round destination, the Cairngorms National Park can enjoy sustained growth while preserving the natural beauty and stand out visitor experiences.

Promoting the Cairngorms as a Place to Work, Live, and Play The Cairngorms isn’t just a world-class tourist destination; it’s also an incredible place to live and work. The CBP’s public relations efforts aim to showcase this unique lifestyle, attracting new residents, entrepreneurs and remote workers to the area.

Through high-profile media coverage, social media campaigns and collaborations with regional influencers, the CBP has successfully positioned the Cairngorms as a hub for innovation and well-being. Features on local businesses, resident success stories and the unparalleled quality of life in the Highlands help paint a vivid picture of the region’s opportunities.

By promoting a work-life balance that seamlessly integrates professional aspirations with outdoor adventure, the CBP encourages people to consider the Cairngorms as more than just a destination – but as a home. This influx of talent and investment enriches the local economy, fostering a resilient and diverse community.

CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Picture credits: Dalwhinnie Distillery Credit: Cairngorms Astronomy Group, Tomintoul and Glenlivet Development Trust // Cairngorms Dark Sky Park Credit: Landmark Forest Adventure Park Winter TWI-lights

Diverse Tourism Projects for a Broader Appeal Recognising the importance of attracting a diverse demographic has allowed the CBP to lead several innovative tourism projects that appeal to a wide range of interests. History buffs, foodies, storytellers and musicians can find their kind of magic in the National Park one of our key objectives is ensuring that we are sharing these experiences effectively.

Marketing that showcases the culture and heritage that threads itself throughout the National Park is an important tool - Badenoch The Storylands is a prime example of this. Visitors are guided to connect to the history of the landscape, stories and enduring heritage in this corner of the National Park. Sharing an immersive sense of place that is achievable for visitors is a fundamental aspect of our destination marketing strategy.

kind in the World, and The Speyside Way, a spectacular walk from the Cairngorms to the Moray Coast, are two further examples of projects that drive visitors to areas with less foot, and showcase the special experiences that are unique to the National Park.

By tailoring its tourism strategies to different demographics, the CBP ensures that the Cairngorms remains an inclusive and dynamic destination and one that visitors feel truly connected to. Repeat visitors are an important part of the visitor economy (63% were repeat visitors in the 2019/2020 visitor survey) - our marketing plan aims to ensure there is diversity, connection and world class experiences open to all across the National Park.

Collaborating on Business Matters: Preparing for the Visitor Levy

The SnowRoads, one of the UK’s best driving routes, is another example of marketing to a broader audience; and shining the spotlight on less well trodden corners of the National Park, supporting businesses and communities who are outwith the traditional honey pots locations, dispersing visitors and giving breadth to the experiences available in the National Park.

The CBP’s commitment to the business community extends beyond tourism. The organisation serves as a vital link between stakeholders, ensuring businesses in the region are well-prepared to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. A key area of focus has been the proposed visitor levy, a policy designed to generate additional revenue from tourism for reinvestment in the local community.

Promotion of The Cairngorms Dark Sky Park - one of the most northerly parks of its

Understanding the complexities of implementing such a levy, the CBP has

taken a proactive approach by organising meetings, providing guidance and advocating for the interests of its members. By fostering open communication between businesses, local authorities and policymakers, the CBP aims to ensure that the levy benefits the entire region while minimising potential drawbacks for small enterprises.

This collaborative approach underscores the CBP’s role as a trusted partner for the business community, championing their interests while fostering a spirit of collective growth.

A Vision for the Future As the Cairngorms continue to evolve, the Cairngorms Business Partnership remains steadfast in its mission to create a thriving, sustainable region. From extending the tourist season to promoting the area as a place to work, live, and play, the CBP’s innovative initiatives are driving economic resilience and community well-being.

By embracing collaboration, diversity and sustainability, the CBP ensures that the Cairngorms is not only a destination of choice for visitors but also a beacon of opportunity and inspiration for businesses and residents alike. Together, the partnership and its stakeholders are charting a path towards a brighter future for the Highlands.

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CHAMBERCONNECTIONS

PAGE HEADER CHAMBER CONTACTS

Scottish Chambers of Commerce

Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce

Fife Chamber of Commerce

Strathclyde Business School, 199 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0QU T: 0141 444 7500 E: admin@scottishchambers.org.uk www.scottishchambers.org.uk President – Rodney Ayre Chief Executive - Liz Cameron CBE

Eskdale House, The Crichton, Bankend Road Dumfries, DG1 4ZZ T: 01387 270866 E: admin@dgchamber.co.uk www.dgchamber.co.uk President – Kenny Bowie

Office 46, Flexspace, John Smith Business Park, 1 Begg Road, Kirkcaldy, Fife, KY2 6HD Fife, KY2 6HD T: 07807 023524 E: info@fifechamber.co.uk www.fifechamber.co.uk CEO – Steven Percy-Robb President – Colin Brown

Scottish Chambers of Commerce

Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce

Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce

The Hub, Exploration Drive Aberdeen Energy Park, Bridge of Don Aberdeen, AB23 8GX T: 01224 343900 E: info@agcc.co.uk www.agcc.co.uk Chief Executive - Russell Borthwick President - Bob Keiller

Whitecrook Business Centre 78 Whitecrook Street, Clydebank, G81 1QF T: 0141 280 0272 E: admin@dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk www.dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk President - Mary Ann Smith

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry

37 City Quay, Camperdown Street Dundee, DD1 3JA T: 01382 228545 F: 01382 228441 E: info@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk www.dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk Chief Executive - Alison Henderson President – Kelly Fairweather

The Mezzanine, Glasgow Prestwick International Airport, Prestwick, KA9 2PL T: 01292 678 666 F: 01292 678 667 E: enquiries@ayrshire-chamber.org www.ayrshire-chamber.org CEO - Claire Baird President - Craig Johnstone Cairngorms Business Partnership Ltd Inverdruie House, Inverdruie Aviemore, PH22 1QH T: 01479 810200 E: office@visitcairngorms.com www.visitcairngorms.com Chief Executive - Craig Mills President - Stuart Broster

Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce

East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce 1 Golf Road, Clarkston, East Renfrewshire G76 7HU T: 0141 255 0465 E: info@eastrenchamber.org.uk www.eastrenchamber.org.uk President – John Hamilton Chief Executive – Vicky Mustard

Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce Group (incorporating Stirling Chamber of Commerce) Scion House Stirling University Innovation Park Stirling, FK9 4NF T: 07843 158667 E: info@forthvalleychamber.co.uk www.forthvalleychamber.co.uk President Lynn Harris Glasgow Chamber of Commerce 30 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1EQ T: 0141 204 2121 E: chamber@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com Chief Executive Stuart Patrick President - Derek Provan Helensburgh Chamber of Commerce M&T Builders Merchants, 22 Charlotte Street, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, G84 7PH T: 07789904687 E: info@helensburghchamber.org www.helensburghchamber.org.uk Chief Executive - Vivien Dance

Caithness Chamber of Commerce Naver Business Centre Naver House, Naver Road Thurso, KW14 7QA T: 01847 890076 E: info@caithnesschamber.com www.caithnesschamber.com Chief Executive - Trudy Morris Chairman - Stephen Sutherland

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Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce 40 George Street, 2nd floor Edinburgh, EH2 2LE T: 0131 221 2999 F: 0131 261 5056 E: info@edinburghchamber.co.uk www.edinburghchamber.co.uk Chief Executive – Liz McAreavey President - Pamela Smyth

Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce Room 5, Victoria House 5 East Blackhall Street, Greenock, PA15 1HD T: 01475 806824 E: admin@inverclydechamber.co.uk www.inverclydechamber.co.uk President – Lizzy Todd

CHAMBER PAGE CONTACTS HEADER

Inverness Chamber of Commerce

Perthshire Chamber of Commerce

Metropolitan House 31-33 High Street, Inverness, IV1 1HT T: 01463 718 131 E: info@inverness-chamber.co.uk www.inverness-chamber.co.uk CEO - Colin Marr President - Eunice McAdam

Saltire House, 3 Whitefriars Crescent Perth, PH2 0PA T: 01738 448 325 F: 01738 450 402 E: info@perthshirechamber.co.uk www.perthshirechamber.co.uk Chief Executive - Vicki Unite President - Kerr Elliot

Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce Camloch Chamber, 7-31 Castle Street, Hamilton, ML3 6BU T: 01698 312088 www.lanarkshirechamber.org.uk E: hello@lanarkshirechamber.org.uk Director and Chief Executive - Tracey Campbell-Hynd Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber of Commerce Hercules House, Eskmills, Station Road Musselburgh EH21 7PQ T: 0131 603 5040 E: info@melcc.org.uk www.melcc.org.uk President – Keith Barbour Chief Executive - Karen Ritchie Moray Chamber of Commerce Alexander Fleming House, 8 Southfield Drive, Elgin, Moray, IV30 6GR T: 01343 543344 E: info@moraychamber.co.uk www.moraychamber.co.uk Chief Executive - Sarah Medcraf President Kirsty Dagnan

Scottish Chambers of Commerce Strathclyde Business School 199 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0QU T: 0141 444 7500 www.scottishchambers.org.uk @ScotChambers Like us on Facebook

Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce Bute Court, St Andrews Drive Glasgow Airport, Paisley, PA3 2SW T: 0141 847 5450 F: 0141 847 5499 E: info@renfrewshirechamber.com www.renfrewshirechamber.com Chief Executive – Bob Grant President – Ronald Leitch Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce 27 North Bridge Street, Hawick, TD9 9BD T: 01835 340770 E: chairman@borderschamber.com hello@borderschamber.com Acting Chair - Trevor Jackson Vice Chair – Alan Wheelan

Production, Design & Advertising Distinctive Media Group Ltd 3rd Floor, Tru Knit House, 9-11 Carliol Square Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 6UF Telephone 0191 5805990 production@distinctivegroup.co.uk distinctivegroup.co.uk This publication is also available as an ebook at: businessscotlandmagazine.com/issues

West Highland Chamber of Commerce Waterfront Lodge, Marine Walk, Carmichael Way, Fort William, PH33 6FF T: 01397 705 765 E: membership@lochaberchamber.co.uk www.lochaberchamber.co.uk Chair - Sarah Riddle Chief Executive - Frazer Coupland

Outer Hebrides Chamber of Commerce

West Lothian Chamber of Commerce

Stornoway Business Hub, Stornoway, HS1 2XG, Isle of Lewis T: 07939 450 276 E: info@outerhebrideschamber.co.uk www.outerhebrideschamber.co.uk Chief Executive - Lynne Maciver President - John Moffat

Systems House, Alba Centre, Alba Business Park, Rosebank, Livingston, EH54 7EG T: 01506 414808 E: chamber@wlchamber.com www.wlchamber.com Chief Executive – Paul Hunter Chair - Jim Stewart

Disclaimer

Distinctive Media Group Ltd or Scottish Chambers of Commerce 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 Scottish Chambers of Commerce.

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CHAMBER NETWORK NEWS

Research blasts off towards future space factory development Researchers at a Scottish university have taken one small step towards a future where orbital factories can 3D print future tech on demand in space.

Dr Gilles Bailet, of the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering, has been awarded a patent for a new system which overcomes the challenges of 3D printing in zero-gravity.

His technology has recently been rigorously tested during a series of trips on a research aeroplane known as the ‘vomit comet’.

Dr Bailet says that solving the challenge of 3D printing objects in low-gravity environments could pave the way for orbital fabricators capable of producing parts and components which could be assembled into novel equipment in orbit never seen before.

That equipment could include solar reflectors to generate zero-carbon power for transmission back to Earth, improved communication antennae, or drug research stations that can create purer, more effective pharmaceuticals.

For several years, Dr Bailet has been working on a prototype 3D printer bettersuited for use in outer space. Instead of the filaments used in earthbound 3D printers, it uses a granular material developed by the team designed to work effectively in microgravity and in the vacuum of space.

The unique properties of the materials allow it to be drawn reliably from the prototype’s feedstock tank and delivered to the printer’s nozzle faster than any other method.

Dr Bailet and his colleagues are also exploring methods of embedding electronics into the materials as part of the printing process, opening up the possibility of creating functional components for use in devices created in space as well as recyclable space systems.

Dr Bailet said: “Currently, everything that goes into Earth’s orbit is built on the surface and sent into space on rockets. They have tightly limited mass and volumes and can shake themselves to pieces during launch when mechanical constraints are breached, destroying expensive cargo in the process. If instead we could place fabricators in space to build structures on demand, we would be freed from those payload restrictions.

In turn, that could pave the way to creating much more ambitious, less resourceintensive projects, with systems actually optimised for their mission and not for the constraints of rocket launches.

“Additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, is capable of producing remarkably complex

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materials quickly and at low cost. Putting that technology in space and printing what we need for assembly in orbit would be fantastically useful.

microgravity, and we’re confident that it’s ready to perform as expected, opening up the possibility of 3D printing antenna and other spacecraft parts in space.

“However, what works well here on Earth is often less robust in the vacuum of space, and 3D printing has never been done outside of the pressurised modules of the International Space Station. The filaments in conventional 3D printers often break or jam in microgravity and in vacuum, which is a problem that needs to be solved before they can be reliably used in space. Through this research, we now have technology that brings us much closer to being able to do that, providing positive impacts for the whole world in the years to come.”

“3D-printed space reflectors, like those being developed by my colleague Professor Colin McInnes’ SOLSPACE project, could gather energy from the sun 24 hours a day, helping us reach net-zero with an entirely new form of low-carbon power generation.

Their prototype demonstrator proved its effectiveness in microgravity in November as part the 85th European Space Agency parabolic flight campaign in collaboration with Novespace in Bordeaux, France.

The team took their test kit on three flights which provided them with more than 90 brief periods of weightlessness at the apex of rollercoaster-like sharp ascents followed by rapid descents – a physical challenge which has earned the planes which fly the routes the ‘vomit comet’ for their effect on passengers’ digestive systems.

During each 22-second period of weightlessness, the team closely monitored the prototype’s dynamics and power consumption, which showed that the system worked as designed in the challenges of microgravity.

Dr Bailet added: “We’ve tested the technology extensively in the lab and now in

‘Similarly, crystals grown in space are often larger and more well-ordered than those made on Earth, so orbital chemical factories could produce new or improved drugs for delivery back to the surface. It has been suggested, for example, that insulin grown in space could be nine times more effective, allowing diabetic people to inject it once every three days instead of three times a day, as they often have to do today.”

Dr Bailet and his team are now looking for funding to help support the first in-space demonstration of their technology. They are also leading efforts, supported by funding from the UK Space Agency, to ensure that future in-space manufacturing projects do not contribute to the growing problem of space debris.

The development of Dr Bailet’s in-space manufacturing project is supported by funding from the University of Glasgow’s Glasgow Knowledge Exchange Fund and the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account. The programme is supported both via the RAEng Chair in Emerging Technologies of Professor Colin McInnes and the RAEng Proof of Concept award.

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