The firm has strengthened its reputation as a leading Pensions practice with a string of new appointments in its Edinburgh office
Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has further strengthened its Edinburgh team with the recent appointment of a new senior lawyer joining the firm’s sizeable national Pensions and Lifetime Savings practice.
Mairi Carlin joins as a professional support lawyer. Previously a pensions legal director at Pinsent Masons and then latterly at Brodies, Mairi has a broad range of expertise advising employers, including many household name providers, as well as trustees on the whole range of pensions issues. Mairi has also advised on the technical aspects of SIPPs/SSAS provision and has provided corporate support on pensions aspects of mergers and acquisitions. Her particular specialism centres on public sector pensions issues including on private to public sector outsourcings, TUPE transfers and private to public scheme transfers. She has always taken a keen interest in training both clients and more junior colleagues.
Mairi’s appointment is the latest in a series of new hires in Scotland for the firm’s Pensions practice following the arrival of senior lawyer Helen Woodford late in 2023 and solicitors Sophie Kirk and Shannon Wright-Davies a few months earlier.
Helen previously held senior roles in national and multi-national law firms such as Womble Bond Dickinson and has specialised in pensions law for over two decades, gaining a wide variety of experience acting for both trustees and sponsors operating in many sectors, including energy, manufacturing, retail, transport and the charity and not-for-profit sector. Sophie specialised in private client advice before moving to Burges Salmon’s Pensions team, bringing valuable trust law experience with her. Shannon joined having previously been a member of the Pensions team at CMS Edinburgh.
The four recruits join solicitor and notary public Sarah Moody (nee Fairley), who advises clients in relation to both defined benefit and defined contribution schemes, with a particular interest in the employment law aspects of pensions provision, due to her former specialism as an employment lawyer.
The new appointments strengthen Burges Salmon’s Pensions practice in Scotland and enhance the firm’s reputation as having one of the largest Pensions teams in the country and being included amongst the few national firms to have pensions lawyers qualified in all three UK jurisdictions.
Richard Knight, head of Pensions and Lifetime Savings at Burges Salmon, says: “It’s a pleasure to welcome Mairi to our fast-expanding Edinburgh team. The recent appointments of Mairi, Helen, Sophie and Shannon significantly enhance our Pensions offering in Scotland and affirm our commitment to the Scottish market and to our Scottish clients, building on our reputation as one of the largest, most specialist Pensions team in the UK. We’re also delighted to welcome a further senior associate joining our team in April. The Defined Benefit Funding Code coming into force in April, the Mansion House reforms and the increased focus on ESG from the Regulator mean pensions schemes are today facing ever-greater challenges and we’ve scaled up our team to support our clients navigate through this volatile regulatory environment.”
Burges Salmon celebrates its fifth anniversary in Edinburgh this year where it has developed a strong reputation as a market leading law firm advising Scottish clients on nationally significant projects spanning a broad range of sectors. The firm’s Pensions team is highly regarded in the legal industry, advising around 10 percent of the UK’s trust-based occupational pension schemes and acting on some of the most complex and high-profile cases. The firm’s pensions clients – some of whom it has represented for more than 30 years – span the private and public sectors, large commercial master trusts, not-for-profit organisations as well as religious and educational bodies, and the team continues to build upon its trusted status in the international arena, providing specialist UK legal advice to its international clients and coordinating advice across multiple jurisdictions.
Recognising that innovation in the pensions industry is vital to understanding its ever-changing landscape, the firm has brought to market a number of interactive tools to shape best practice and support clients meet their statutory requirements, including an ESG Pensions toolkit and a UK Pensions for International Companies Triage tool, both of which have been nominated at this year’s Pensions Age Awards, where the firm is also a finalist in Pensions Law Firm of the Year.
An award-winning sculptor is exporting products internationally and is on track for a six-figure turnover after she accessed expert guidance and support from Business Gateway.
Inspired by the matrix of food production, Fake Food Workshop creates high-quality and realistic fake food sculptures for a range of uses, including in theatre, television, interior décor and marketing. Owner, Kerry Samantha Boyes, uses a range of sculptural techniques and creative disciplines to replicate food, including weighing, mixing, and layering.
Guided by “everyday nosh”, the business, launched in 2018, exports fake food sculptures all over the world, with clients including esteemed international names like Warner Bros, Guggenheim Museum, and Walt Disney Imagineering, as well as renowned UK clients including National Trust Properties, Heinz, BBC, Jo Malone and Selfridges.
Fake Food Workshop’s ice-cream replicas, which mimic classic flavours, featured in the blockbuster Barbie movie in 2023.
With 30 years of experience in the UK Heritage & Visual Arts Sector, Kerry had successfully carved a niche in the market with her business and enjoyed international demand for her unique products. On a mission to grow her business and meet an increased demand from overseas, Kerry approached Business Gateway for support.
Kerry accessed a suite of Business Gateway’s growth business services, including one-to-one guidance from a dedicated business adviser, as well as advice on hiring and specialist support on international exporting.
Kerry also accessed logistics and exporting advice through Business Gateway’s Expert Help programme, which was crucial for developing a plan to meet the increased demand from customers, as well as navigating complex exporting regulations and logistics.
Through Business Gateway, Kerry also attended webinars with a dedicated focus on producing engaging online content, and used the skills learned to develop her website and social media presence.
Kerry is now forecasting growth from £43k to £130k in three years, with exporting sales accounting for approximately 50% of this turnover. Fake Food Workshop has now relocated to Dumfries and Galloway, and, with support from Business Gateway, Kerry is looking into Employment Guarantee to take on her first part-time member of staff.
Kerry Samantha Boyes, Owner, Fake Food Workshop, said: “Last year, as demand surged, I sought guidance from Business Gateway on exporting products. Their invaluable support and expertise have been instrumental in the business’ success.
“Recently, my family and I relocated both home and business to Kirkcudbright, renowned as The Artist’s Town in Dumfries and Galloway. We’ve established a specialised workshop and store and look forward to opening our doors to the public during Spring Fling ’24. January has already been fruitful with exciting international and UK enquiries, and we look forward to building more extraordinary fake food.”
Jeff Hume, Business Gateway adviser, said: “Exporting internationally can be challenging, but it can also open up significant growth opportunities for businesses like Fake Food Workshop. We were able to support Kerry with a range of our growth business support, which has been instrumental in her increasing export sales.”
To find out how Business Gateway could help your business, visit: https://bgateway.com.
- BCC’s Trade Confidence Outlook for Q4 2023 sees SME exports continuing to languish
- Half of all SME exporters (50%) saw no change in overseas sales, and 24% reported a decrease.
- Only a quarter of exporting SME firms (26%) saw their overseas sales rise in Q4.
- BCC indicators show exports have consistently underperformed compared to domestic sales since the pandemic
The Trade Confidence Outlook, conducted by the BCC’s Insights Unit, is a survey of more than 2,000 UK SME exporters.
It shows SME exports have been broadly static since the pandemic and remain far less likely to see improvements when compared to the pre-pandemic and pre-Brexit period.
In Q4 2018, 28% of SME exporters reported an increase (5 points higher than Q4 2023) and 16% reported a decrease (8 points lower than Q4 2023).
Post-pandemic, there has also been a noticeable divergence between domestic trade performance and exports. As the economy reopened in 2021 there was a sharp increase in UK sales, but overseas orders saw no corresponding rise, indicating that SME exporters have been disproportionately impacted by headwinds in global trade caused by Covid lockdowns and new trade barriers with the EU.
The proportion of firms seeing increased UK trade in Q4 2023 stood at 34%, an eight percentage point difference over the 26% of exporters.
The proportion of businesses reporting decreased overseas sales began to rise in the run up to Brexit and has remained stubbornly higher ever since.
The situation remains more volatile for SME manufacturers than other sectors, with 28% reporting an increase in exports, 44% no change and 28% a decrease.
This compares to SME services exporters where 25% saw an increase, 53% remained constant and 22% saw a decrease. However, firms supplying services to other businesses (B2B) saw the most stable performance – with only 20% reporting decreased sales, against 27% of businesses supplying end customers (B2C).
William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said:
“The global outlook was already looking fragile for 2024, but with increasing disruption to Red Sea shipping routes and continued geo-political uncertainty, it appears even more brittle.
“The reality is if we want to remain one of the world’s largest economies, then we need to get more firms selling goods and services internationally.
“This is not easily done in the aftermath of a pandemic, supply chain disruption, Brexit, increased non-tariff trade barriers and further global headwinds.
“But the UK’s brand remains strong, so we must lean more heavily into the advantages we possess. We are already a world-leader when it comes to digital trade, and we must make more of the opportunities that provides.
“The UK has great strengths in our exports – services (including professional, business and travel services), renewable energy, green finance, engineering, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, automotive, food and drink, and R&D.
“Business needs to work with Government to put in place a framework that makes use of all the advantages the UK has, to keep us at the top table, and to access incentives for our exports overseas.
“Finally, we need to look again at ways of improving trade with the EU. It is still our biggest trading partner, but firms continue to express huge frustration with the complexity and costs involved – which go way beyond what they face elsewhere.”
Edinburgh College is ready to welcome those considering starting a course in August 2024 to its four open days this January and February.
At the open days, prospective students will be able to find out about the various courses they can apply for, meet lecturers, explore the College’s facilities, as well as experience first-hand what it’s like to study at Edinburgh College.
Midlothian Campus will be open from 4.30pm-7pm on Tuesday 30 January, Granton Campus will be open from 10am-1pm on Saturday 3 February, Milton Road Campus will be open from 4.30pm-7pm on Tuesday 6 February, and Sighthill Campus will be open from 4.30pm-7pm on Thursday 8 February.
Prospective students, parents, guardians, business owners and those in employment are invited to attend the open days to not only find out about course options, but also find out more about applications, funding options and accommodation.
The College offers a wide range of subjects within Creative Industries, Construction and Engineering, Health, Wellbeing and Social Science, and Tourism, Hospitality and Business.
With beginner-level courses, pathways to university, short courses and continuous development courses, learners at any stage of their career or education journey will be able to find out about their possible next steps at these events.
Guided tours of campus facilities will also take place, with staff and representatives from Edinburgh College Students’ Association on hand to answer any questions.
Edinburgh College Principal, Audrey Cumberford, said: “We’re delighted to soon be welcoming prospective students onto our campuses. Open days are such an excellent opportunity to find out more about the fantastic range of courses we offer, as well as the different paths an Edinburgh College education can take you down. Plus, you get the crucial experience of finding out what life is like with us here in the capital. So, I really encourage anyone who’s thinking about studying with us to come along.”
For more information and to book a place at one of the open days, visit the Edinburgh College website.
Applications for courses starting in August 2024 are now open.
In a recent initiative by Family Business United, the invaluable contributions of women in family firms across the UK are being celebrated through a dedicated campaign. This initiative aims to shine a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of women, both family members and non-family members, who are making a significant impact in the vital sector of family businesses.
We are delighted to share the exciting news that Stafffinders’ very own CEO, and the driving force behind the recruitment agency, Jane Wylie-Roberts, has been acknowledged in the annual report compiled by Family Business United. Her remarkable leadership skills, commitment to innovation and advocacy for family businesses have earned her a well-deserved place in this important report.
As our CEO, Jane has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities that have propelled the family business to new heights. Her vision, strategic thinking, and ability to inspire and motivate her team have been instrumental in their success and have carried on the legacy her father began in 1971.
As Stafffinders celebrate this well-deserved recognition for Jane, they also extend their congratulations to all the women who have been acknowledged in the Family Business United campaign. Their stories are inspiring and highlight the integral role that women play in the triumph and sustainability of family businesses across the UK.
To find out more about Stafffinders, a 2nd generation family-owned business and Scotland’s longest-standing recruitment agency, please visit www.stafffinders.co.uk.
In two weeks EXPERIENCEit, the new initiative designed to support the growing market for experiential events in Scotland and across the UK, will showcase its debut event in Edinburgh.
Organised by EVENTIT, this unique event will take place on Thursday 8 February 2024 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC).
EXPERIENCEit celebrates the rise in the desire for experiential events in the UK events industry.
This is a key trend in the industry, with 74% of experiential event attendees saying that they are left with a more positive opinion of the organisation and its offerings afterwards (Event Marketing Institute).
Judith Wilson, Events Director of EVENTIT said: “We’ve launched EXPERIENCEit to bring events professionals together to be inspired, share ideas and insights, and drive our sector forward. We will take people on a journey of incredible sights, great tastes, new smells, fantastic sounds, and numerous opportunities to touch and test.
“The desire for experiential events is continuing to rise and from the plans we’ve seen so far from EXPERIENCEit exhibitors it’s easy to see why. With just two weeks to go until we’re all at the EICC, any last-minute sign-ups don’t have long left as spaces are limited!”
Experiential events often generate significant social media buzz, with attendees more likely to share their experiences on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, amplifying the reach and impact of the event for the brand.
Exhibitors have been encouraged to create immersive and experiential activities, offering delegates a glimpse into the future of event experiences and include Vue Cinemas, Social Jungle, Topgolf Glasgow, Iventis, Kimpton Hotels and Newsquest.
The event will bring together professionals from diverse industries to offer a platform to share, learn and collaborate on the future of experiential events.
EXPERIENCEit will be held on Tuesday 8 February 2024 from 8.30am – 4pm at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) in Edinburgh with tickets costing £75 plus VAT. For more information and to secure your place visit eventit.org.uk
Creative communications agency Muckle Media has welcomed two new employees, Michael Scobbie and Hannah Blackford, following a period of continued growth. The pair will join the agency’s B2B, crisis and corporate communications specialist team, with Scobbie joining as Head of B2B and Corporate Communications and Blackford being appointed as Senior Account Manager.
Michael Scobbie joins the agency from Scottish SPCA where he was Head of Communications and Marketing, bringing a wealth of experience in strategic communications and reputation management. Under his leadership, the team won ‘In-House PR Team of the Year’ at the 2021 CIPR PRide Awards in Scotland.
Hannah Blackford joins the agency as Senior Account Manager from a London-based strategic communications agency, where she led campaigns for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and AstraZenca. Blackford additionally has seven years’ experience in account management, with a wealth of communications experience in industries including the third sector, transport and renewable energy.Commenting on his new role, Michael Scobbie said: “I’m over the moon to join the team. Muckle has gone from strength to strength in recent years, as evidenced by the slew of awards in 2023 for industry-leading communications campaigns.”
Hannah Blackford added: “I’m delighted to be joining Muckle Media’s B2B and corporate communications team. It is a business that has strong values, a really talented team, works with interesting and important clients and looks after its people. I’m really looking forward to helping them drive new and existing client growth.”
Commenting on the two new team members, Muckle Media Founder and MD, Nathalie Agnew, said: “We are really excited to welcome Michael and Hannah to the Muckle team. The B2B, crisis and corporate communications team are going through an exciting period of growth and I look forward to working alongside them to continue to deliver award winning work.”
Muckle Media saw a period of continued growth throughout 2023, with corporate new business client wins including charity Culture & Business Scotland and more-than-profit organisation Cyber and Fraud Centre Scotland. Hannah and Michael will work closely to build on Muckle Media’s B2B, crisis and corporate communications services.
Muckle Media was recently awarded ‘PR Consultancy of the Year’ at Scotland’s CIPR PRide Awards, and ‘Agency Employer Brand of the Year’ at the Marketing Society Scotland’s annual awards.
For more information on Muckle Media and the services we offer please get in touch at hello@mucklemedia.co.uk
- INFLATIONARY CONCERNS EASE BUT REMAIN HIGH: Concern over inflation has fallen to 52% for this quarter – compared to 75% in the last quarter – and this is the lowest that concern from inflation has been in all of 2023. 52% is still 20 percentage points higher than the 32% recorded pre-inflation crisis in Q1 2021.
- INVESTMENT IS STILL FLATLINING: While on balance, more firms continue to report increases in investment than falls, over half of firms continue to report no changes to both total (55%) and training (54%) investment.
- INTEREST RATES RISES REMAIN A CONCERN: Concern over interest rates was
reported by half of firms in the last quarter, that has now fallen by 10 percentage points to 40% for this quarter but is still significantly higher than the 15% recorded in Q1 2021 pre-inflation crisis.
- PRICE RISES HAVE STABILISED: Less firms are indicating that they will raise prices this quarter compared to last, following the trend over 2023. Four in 10 now indicate they will raise prices in the next quarter compared to 48% in the last quarter.
- LABOUR MARKET REMAINS TIGHT: Recruitment difficulties remain challenging, impacting 40% of firms this quarter, with associated labour costs still affecting seven in 10 firms.
Stephen Leckie, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said: “These latest survey results paint a clear picture: Scotland’s economy is stuck in a low growth cycle. Persistently high inflation, higher borrowing costs, frozen investment and ongoing global uncertainty are placing businesses under significant pressure.
“These issues must be addressed by all parties at the next General Election with businesses expecting clear plans which will boost economic growth and investment. Parties of all colours will be tested on whether they are listening to business and taking real action to back business growth.”
On the labour market, Stephen Leckie said:
“Skills shortages and availability of talent continue to act as a major barrier for business expansion. The Scottish Government’s £2.4 billion investment into colleges, universities and the wider skills system must remain agile to align with future economic demand to ensure we have a talent pool ready to contribute to the economy.
“Businesses are rightly asking why practical existing schemes such as the Flexible Workforce Development Fund have been scrapped, considering the challenges firms face regarding training and upskilling talent. The news of a reduction in funded University places is also a major concern for the business community when we need as many highly skilled graduates to enter the workforce as possible.
“On top of these concerns, companies are now grappling with the increasing tax burden of working in Scotland, making it more challenging to retain and attract talent. The introduction of a new income tax band is impacting on our competitiveness and depleting the spending power of individuals in the economy. Anyone in Scotland who makes more than £28,850 will now pay higher taxes than workers elsewhere in the UK.
“Looking further afield, a coherent policy approach from the UK Government is urgently needed to attract and secure international talent. Recent announcements have caused confusion and impacts on our global reputation, which risks deterring skilled workers from choosing to live and work in Scotland.”
On inflation and interest rates, Stephen Leckie said:
“While concern from high inflation and interest rates remains high, the levels of concern have slightly eased compared to the previous quarter. However, this should not be interpreted as an improvement as these figures are still too high and contributing to low business confidence.
“Clarity on the future direction of interest rates policy will be critical to help unlock suppressed growth and investment in the economy.
“If as currently generally forecast, inflation continues to ease, we expect corresponding action on interest rates to stimulate much needed investment.” On investment, Stephen Leckie said:
“Over half of Scottish firms continue to report no changes to investment which has exacerbated the low growth cycle the economy is now in.
“New and increasing regulations are adding extra costs onto businesses, squeezing our ability to invest and leading many sectors into legislation fatigue.
“The decision by the Chancellor to make full expensing permanent in the Autumn Statement was welcome but more must be done to shift the dial and incentivise firms to invest.”
Commenting on the survey results, João Sousa, Deputy Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, said:
“The final quarter of 2023 was full of policy events and economic news at both UK and Scottish level setting out the context for the year ahead.
“Scotland might not be in a technical recession, but growth has remained subdued, in a stopstart pattern since the beginning of 2022. The latest figures show the Scottish economy just above pre-pandemic levels in October, following a monthly contraction of 0.5%.
“Prospects for 2024 are a little more positive than what transpired in 2023. This is reflected in the survey results being published today. Confidence has proved resilient; sales growth has continued and some of the cost pressures are starting to ease. These factors give us some confidence that there might be an uptick into more sustained economic growth in the year ahead.”
The Women’s Enterprise Scotland chair brings a wealth of experience to the role
Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) has announced serial entrepreneur, experienced tech sector leader, and chair of Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES) Lynne Cadenhead as its newest Entrepreneur in Residence.
The move, which is part of an effort to foster innovation and entrepreneurial excellence, will see Lynne provide support and expert advice at the University.
An alumna of ENU with a background in life sciences, Professor Lynne Cadenhead brings a remarkable track record to the role. She started and grew three successful businesses, and has more than 25 years of entrepreneurial, equity investment, and policy experience.
Lynne has also drawn recognition for her work to support women into entrepreneurship, through her post as chair of WES and as Women’s Advocate and Investor Relations Director for Tricapital Angels Limited.
In her new role as Entrepreneur in Residence, Lynne Cadenhead will join The Royal Society’s Entrepreneur in Residence scheme, a part of the Science, Industry, and Translation programme. This initiative aims to enhance knowledge and awareness in UK universities of cutting-edge industrial science, research, and innovation.
As Entrepreneur in Residence, Lynne will be actively involved in fostering a more entrepreneurial environment for women across Edinburgh Napier University.
This reflects the University’s commitment to encouraging and supporting women in entrepreneurship, aligning with its dedication to driving positive change and advancing gender equality.
Lynne Cadenhead said: “I am honoured to be taking up the role of Entrepreneur in Residence at Edinburgh Napier University.
“If we want to unlock Scotland’s economic potential, we need to champion the entrepreneurial spirit across academia and contribute to a culture of innovation.
“Drawing from my own journey, I am particularly excited about supporting and inspiring women in enterprise, as they face numerous additional barriers when it comes to starting and growing a business.
“This new role will allow me to actively contribute to the university’s commitment to fostering an inclusive entrepreneurial mindset for all.”
Nick Fannin, Head of Enterprise at Bright Red Triangle, ENU’s enterprise hub, said: “We are thrilled to have Lynne Cadenhead join us as our latest Entrepreneur in Residence.
“Lynne’s incredible personal experience in building companies and her commitment to supporting the next generation of entrepreneurial women aligns perfectly with Edinburgh Napier’s mission to nurture and support the women in our university community, enabling them to have real impact in their academic careers, and to commercialise their research.
“We believe Lynne’s expertise will have a profound impact on our students, staff, and alumni as they embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.
“Lynne’s presence will be a tremendous asset to our community, and we are committed to bringing about positive change.”
Responding to the Government’s latest announcement on conformity assessment marking, BCC Head of Trade Policy, William Bain, said:
“Business will welcome this common-sense approach to showing that products sold in Great Britain have met safety, health and environmental rules. Crucially, it will help keep costs down for firms and prices for consumers.
“These new policies take us further down the road to providing business with the stability and confidence to make investments in long-term arrangements for testing and marking of these goods.
“Firms will be particularly pleased that the Ecodesign Regulations will now be able to permanently use CE marking, and that legislation underpinning these announcements is due to be in place by the Spring.
“But there are still some issues which need to be addressed. We need speedy decisions from Government on widening this policy out to construction products from 2025 onwards.
“Conformity assessment bodies in the UK would also greatly benefit from being approved to test to CE standards and requirements. So, it’s vital the Government negotiates a mutual recognition agreement with the EU, to rebuild testing capacity in Great Britain.”
More information on the Government’s planned changes can be found here.
