On behalf of the Principal of Heriot-Watt University, you are invited to attend the Inaugural Lecture of Robert MacIntosh, Head of School of Management and Languages and Professor of Strategic Management
10th December 2014, Postgraduate Centre Auditorium, Heriot-Watt University, 5.30pm – 6.30pm
About the lecture:
Across the ages, strategy has helped groups and individuals build empires. In antiquity those empires were geo-political in their nature but modern empires are just as likely to be defined in terms of market dominance and revenue streams.
Professor Robert MacIntosh will show you how to play the strategy game by exposing the hidden order behind winning strategies. Few plans, however well defined, survive first contact with the enemy so the lecture will focus on the critical role that strategists play in connecting plans to the lived reality of life complex and dynamic organizational settings.
Please register here to ensure your place at this event.
As always, attendance is free and includes refreshments from 5.00pm and a post-lecture drinks reception.
*If you do not wish to receive information on upcoming lectures, please respond to this email and your name will be taken off our distribution list.
Office equipment specialist Capital Document Solutions has achieved record monthly sales of £2.4m.
Scotland’s largest independent supplier, Capital expects to record turnover of £24m for its March 2015 year-end. The business, which has operations in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness and Shetland, is targeting turnover of more than £30m by the end of 2016.
Capital has announced today it has achieved a record monthly sales figure of £2.4m – including new business worth £639,000.
These latest equipment contract wins will see Capital install 247 new multifunctional devices (MFDs) and print management software to businesses and organisations across the Scottish private and public sectors.
Additional service provision, including comprehensive national maintenance and training support, will add significantly to the value of these agreements over the next five years.
The business, which currently employs 205 staff across the country, is looking to add a further 20 people over the next 12 months to meet the growing demand for its products and services.
Tom Flockhart, founder and managing director of Capital Document Solutions, said: “The company has benefited from a high level of major contract wins for some time now which reflects the strength and depth of our product range and our reputation for delivering a very high level of customer service and support.
“We firmly believe that our knowledgeable and experienced team’s commitment to providing first-class customer service has been pivotal in the company’s ability to attract and retain leading businesses and public sector organisations.
“Our truly national sales and service cover and branch network across Scotland has enabled us to win many major public and commercial contracts and significantly grow our customer and machine base.
“The suite of products, combined with industry-leading print management software, offered by Capital can help clients significantly reduce the number of devices deployed for copy, print, scan and fax, control the output of their devices and achieve significant savings in operating costs, along with a reduction in their carbon footprint.”
The record monthly sales figures were for September. Capital provides photocopiers, printers, scanners and print management software with comprehensive national maintenance and training support.
It has won contracts with large organisations and businesses ranging from government bodies, local authorities, oil and gas companies, the voluntary sector and a wide spread of universities, colleges and independent schools.
In 2013, Capital acquired Inverness-based Highland Office Equipment and was re-appointed as a successful supplier on the Scottish Government’s National Framework Agreement for Office Equipment.
For further information visit: www.capital-solutions.co.uk
To coincide with the first Scottish Family Business Week (10th-14th November), a major new research project has revealed how family businesses and SMEs in Scotland have the potential to boost the country’s annual economy by up to £1.23 billion. The study, involving universities, government bodies, businesses and professional advisers, indicates that Scotland needs to do more to build and protect this important sector. There is an opportunity for Scotland to lead America and parts of Europe in providing the knowledge, skills and support needed to become a world-wide centre of excellence.
In Scotland, SMEs account for 99.3% of all private sector enterprises and 63% of these are family businesses. 73% of Scottish family businesses want to keep the business in the family. In 2012, only 12% of family owned businesses in Scotland were passed down to the second generation and only 7% of family owned SMEs had been in the family for three generations or more. This new research is raising awareness of the impact of poor succession, lack of exit strategies, failure to successfully transfer a family business from one generation to another and how this could be damaging the Scottish economy.
In 2012, 17,385 new enterprises were set up in Scotland, but 16,760 of these have now ceased to exist. A number of these business closures resulted from failed business succession. Surprisingly, the survival rate of new businesses after five years is around 35-50%. In contrast, the survival rate of business transfers is around 90-96%. The research is also beginning to show that transferred businesses outperform new start-ups in terms of turnover, profit, innovation and employment.
The Goodison Group in Scotland and Scotland’s Futures Forum is working with a number of partners in an effort to discuss these issues, influence thinking on future policy and practice and to identify practical interventions. Over 100 representatives from SMEs and family business, government agencies, education and professional advisers from around Scotland attended two landmark conferences held in Edinburgh and Inverness to discuss what the research means for Scotland.
The conclusion of the research, involving organisations from the conference, suggests that more focus needs to be placed on successful family business and SME transfer to help maintain and boost Scotland’s economy. Researchers agree that improved infrastructure and support mechanisms can help protect jobs, increase employment, widen business ownership and maintain existing local supply chains.
David C Watt, Director of Goodison Group in Scotland, said: “There is a fantastic opportunity here. The results of the research project will be used to engage with Scotland’s SME and family business policy makers and practitioners. Scotland has the potential to be a world leader in this field.”
Dr Claire Seaman, Senior Lecturer in Enterprise & Family Business at QMU, said: “Feedback from this latest study has confirmed that family businesses are crying out for the right kind of support to help them succeed beyond the first generation. “This collaborative research has explored ways of improving the growth and sustainability of Scottish SMEs and family businesses, but more specialist support is required.“If we want to change thinking and practice and improve business succession across these businesses, we need an integrated approach to learning, research and influencing policy.”
Grant Bell, Owner of East Links Family Park in Dunbar, East Lothian, said: “Queen Margaret University is currently working with us on the next phase of development in the Park with the intention to enter into a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University and a postgraduate student.
“There is a great support network out there for family businesses and SMEs in Scotland. East Links Family Park has joined many networking events hosted by East Lothian Council, the Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce and Queen Margaret University, as well as industry specific events held by VisitScotland and the National Farm Attractions Group. It’s an exciting time for family and small businesses – there’s a lot of help out there and much of it is free.
East Links Family Park has just received the Family Business Award from Midlothian and East Lothian Chambers of Commerce. The award highlights the importance of family businesses to the Scottish economy.
Two short films, which have been produced by GGiS and Scotland’s Futures Forum as part of the project, which can be viewed online at https://vimeo.com/98730546 and https://vimeo.com/98743002. The films showcase the two landmark conferences that were held in Edinburgh and inverness earlier this year. The conferences addressed the challenges faced by SMEs and family businesses and put forward recommendations from delegates as to how this sector could be better supported.
The research project: ‘Sustainability: The challenge facing Scotland’s SME and family businesses’ is a partnership project between Goodison Group in Scotland (GGiS) and its strategic partner Scotland’s Futures Forum, in collaboration with Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh; Scottish Family Business Association; Bank of Scotland; University of Strathclyde; University of the Highlands and Islands; Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Wright, Johnston and MacKenzie LLP.
The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is Scotland’s largest running event of its kind and takes place between 30-31 May. If you didn’t get a place at the London Marathon, don’t worry you are guaranteed a place at this event!
Why Barnardo’s?
You can make a saving on your registration fee!
If you choose to run for Barnardo’s, your registration fee for the full marathon event will be just £40 (with an individual minimum sponsorship commitment of £375). Purchasing your own marathon place costs about £55.
Your registration fee for the half marathon will be just £25 (with an individual minimum sponsorship commitment of £200). To purchase your own place is roughly £35.
A free running vest!
You’ll also get a high performance running vest to train and run in during the event.
A massive cheer from the loudest cheer station on the route!
You will receive a huge amount of support from the Barnardo’s Challenge Events team and our volunteers as you run past our cheer station on the day.
And last but not least – you’ll raise vital funds!
This event is an exciting way of raising vital funds through sponsorship. All sponsorship will go directly towards supporting some of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people. Our dedicated Challenge Events team is here to support you every step of the way.
Why Edinburgh?
You’ll get to see the best that the beautiful city of Edinburgh has to offer: Starting in the city centre with Edinburgh Castle providing a spectacular backdrop, the route takes you past Holyrood Palace; Arthur’s Seat; along Portobello Promenade for a breath of Scottish sea air; past the stunning Gosford house before finishing just outside Musselburgh Racecourse. With its flat route, this marathon is one of the fastest in the UK, giving runners the chance to achieve that elusive personal best.
Great! How do I sign up?
Applying to run for Barnardo’s can be done in three simple steps:
- Visit the Edinburgh Marathon website
- Create an account (click on the ‘My Details’ log in icon)
- Choose either the Full or Half event, click ‘Enter for Charity’ and select ‘Barnardo’s’ from the list of affiliate charities.
Dear Fellow Chamber Members,
I’m a new member of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and keen to make connections so please get in touch!
I am an award-winning presenter, performer, writer and actress with a base in Edinburgh. For more on me and my shows please visit www.julietteburton.co.uk
Having toured around the world in the UK and Australia with my 5 star sell-out shows ‘When I Grow Up’ and ‘Look At Me’, I would love to perform for your companies and offer additional benefits to your businesses.
“Juliette Burton’s got huge talent…and then some!” ★★★★★ Daily Mirror
“Juliette Burton’s future is as bright as her world view with her Zooey Deschanel-style glee.” The Stage
“Comedy you can learn from.” John Lloyd, BBC Edinburgh Festivals
I would love to be of service to Chamber members. From hosting your events and presenting your business awards, hosting Christmas parties and performing for your private or corporate functions, I would like to offer Chamber members competitive rates on my shows and skills. For videos and testimonials please see www.julietteburton.co.uk/bookings
I also have extensive experience as a speaker for events and functions. I have spoken about mental health: in the workplace; life without limits; comedy and mental health; depression and comedy; mental health and the media; language around mental health; body image and body confidence; fashion and beauty industries’ impact on mental health; the need for better education on body image; and more. For more on my story please see www.julietteburton.co.uk/about
I have spoken on BBC Radio, BBC News, ITV’s This Morning and Headline London on channel London Live. I have also performed for the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival as well as in educational establishments and answered informative Q&As on mental health and disability. I have strong experience in offering workshops on how to handle mental health in the workplace and would be proud to offer Chamber members this addtion to any performance booked for your company.
My shows are flexible and tourable: I can perform in your workplace, a private function room or in a theatre setting. Alternatively I am available as a host, presenter and Master of Ceremonies for any event you wish to hold.
Please email my agent andrew@andrewroachtalent.com for further details and rates.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Juliette Burton
Just before the blog a quick note to let you know about a promotion that is being run for the month of November. Initial assessments for chamber members and their friends/family, are discounted by 20%.
Also don’t forget about our offer of free talks to businesses about the health habits required to survive the high stress, immobile environment of the desk. Part of which is covered in today’s blog post.
The subtitle of this email is – Psoas
So who? Who’s what? almost, its called Psoas. So what?
I know we all love a bit of time sitting at a desk, or at least we’ve learned to love it, until we have saved up enough for a treadmill desk (more on that in the future). Whilst we are sitting we have a muscle that (effectively) attaches our hip to the inside of our low back. This muscle is called Psoas. It doesn’t stand (er, sit) alone, it has a colleague called Iliacus, or its ill-cuz…(Maybe I’m alone in that mnemonic).
Now if you’re sitting comfortably pull yourself forward so that your spine, moves forward. Then relax back in your chair. The muscle that pulled you forward – Psoas. Ah ha – no thought I know what you were talking about, but nope – nothing.
So this muscle (with its colleague), works to keep you sitting upright, even with the perfect chair and low back support. But without the proper chair it has to work really hard. (Just imagine all those years on shocking school chairs).
As it works all day it shortens and tightens, putting pressure on the inside of the low back and causing other muscles to tighten, and yet others to loosen, creating a pattern of tension. read more here
Please also note that it is possible to keep up to date with the clinic on Facebook – please follow here
I am delighted to announce that Riccardo Mazzoni has become the Shopper Anonymous Regional Director for Scotland East.
Riccardo will be working with you to introduce and manage our world class mystery shopping and customer feedback systems as well as run our numerous motivational customer service and sales training seminars within your region. He has had a very successful career in a number of sectors, in including the Licensed trade, Hospitality, Motor Finance as well as Retail and understands the challenges facing companies both large and small and will bring a consultative, service driven approach to building strong business associations for Shopper Anonymous.
Born to an Italian family in Scotland, Riccardo has enjoyed the best of both cultures, although his favourite topic is Italy, its language and culture including Italian food and wine. Brought up in the west of Scotland, he says he moved east to escape the midges and the rain. Riccardo is delighted to be taking on the Shopper Anonymous business in Scotland East and by focusing on customer service standards, Riccardo will support his clients to motivate their teams to high performance with the reward of increased profitability.
You will start to receive monthly Shopper Anonymous newsletters from Riccardo shortly. These will contain many fantastic thought provoking stories and tips.
Riccardo can contacted at riccardo@shopperanonymous.co.uk or on 07753 625938
Jonathan Winchester
MD Shopper Anonymous UK Ltd
0844 9432992
jonathan@shopperanonymous.co.uk
Experts in community shares, Kelly McIntyre and Morven Campbell, Community Shares Scotland (CSS) are working on a concerted 3 year plan to engage with communities across Scotland and develop skills and knowledge around community shares. This autumn they took their highly successful roadshow to Leverburgh in Harris and are now meeting community project leaders, social enterprise networks and interested groups to promote their expertise more widely.
The CSS three-year programme involves a range of awareness raising and training activities, setting up information services and providing direct support to communities and groups interested in launching their own community share offer.
Evidence of the impact the CSS team has made already, has come through in two new community share options they have been in instrumental in supporting – renewable energy projects at Urras Energy Society Ltd, South Galson on Lewis and Sunart Community Renewables, Strontian, Lochaber with more notes of interest coming through as a result from the Western Isles.
As well as advising on individual projects, the CSS team get involved in other services such as offering practitioner training for people at the heart of their communities who can give more on the spot support and leadership. In addition they highlight the benefits of the Microgenius website which acts as a dedicated platform for community shares for societies and supporters alike.
Kelly McIntyre, who is spearheading the project said: “We have recognised a new wave of entrepreneurship across Scotland and that community shares can trigger new projects and underpin some long-awaited community project. As people become more confident about how community shares work, we predict a significant take-up in training and practice in the coming years.”
Ms McIntyre added “This method of funding local businesses has already made a real impact across England and by using their first-hand experience, we can see this widen out to even more diverse applications across Scotland. Around 16 new community projects have made approaches to date, recognising the potential in their communities to take forward the community shares model including renewable energy projects, community buy-outs of local swimming pools and community health initiatives. Local people buying local shares to fund community businesses can only be a positive thing and we are really keen people seek out our expertise.”
Start your Christmas celebrations on a musical note with a Christmas Concert hosted by two great charities, Royal Blind and Nordoff-Robbins Scotland.
Taking place on Tuesday 2 December, from 7.00pm, in St Mark’s Church, Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, the concert is a joint fundraiser for Royal Blind and Nordoff-Robbins Scotland.
An evening of fine entertainment includes the Edinburgh Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra, a variety of classical and folk musicians, and a reading from special guest, Ian Rankin, OBE.
Nordoff-Robbins Scotland is the only music therapy charity in the country and its work includes sessions with two pupils at the Royal Blind School.
Money raised at the Christmas Concert will support the work which both Royal Blind and Nordoff-Robbins Scotland do with children and adults across Scotland.
Tickets cost £10.00, concessions £7.00, with a family ticket (two, plus two under 18) for £30.00.
Tickets can be booked through www.royalblind.org/events but for concession and family tickets please email frances.chisholm@royalblind.org in the Royal Blind Marketing & Fundraising team.
Spaces are limited so please book ahead of time.
Edinburgh Bus Tours today (Thursday 30 October) marked its 25th Anniversary with the arrival of specially designed tartan scarves for all tours staff.
The scarves, designed exclusively by Kinloch Anderson, were commissioned to commemorate the company’s 25th Anniversary. The design is based on the City of Edinburgh Tartan to celebrate the tours’ home. The colours were carefully chosen to represent the company’s brand identity, including light blue and orange from the Edinburgh Bus Tours logo. Madder red has been added to acknowledge the parent company, Lothian Buses – part of Transport for Edinburgh, and the silver and black were kept from the City of Edinburgh Tartan. Parallel overchecks represent the tyre tracks of the tour buses and five overcheck formation signifies Edinburgh Bus Tour’s five star status.
Kenny Campbell, Tour Operations Manager commented: “Our tartan has been designed to celebrate our 25th Anniversary and highlights what we stand for as a business. We look forward to showing the scarves off to our customers over the winter season.”
Deirdre Kinloch Anderson, Director at Kinloch Anderson added: “It is a privilege for Kinloch Anderson to be working with the Edinburgh Bus Tours Company and to have designed their own exclusive tartan for their 25th Anniversary. Both our Companies are proud to be working in our wonderful City and share a commitment to customer service and satisfaction.”
The tours, which depart from St Andrew Square, launched in May 1989 and since 2005 have been Scotland’s third most popular paid for visitor attraction. The company has also maintained its Visit Scotland five star status, first awarded in 2011. This winter, following customer feedback the company is also introducing live guides on the Edinburgh Tour. A limited number of the Edinburgh Bus Tours Tartan scarves will be available to purchase from the Waverley Bridge Travelshop at the end of November.
