Direction - IoD Scotland

Direction

AUTUMN 2019

iod.com/scotland

The official membership magazine for the Institute of Directors in Scotland

Fashioning the perfect team Leadership interview with Kim Winser obe

However uncertain the future, Scotland will succeed It’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed by events at the moment, but business leaders need to remember the many positives of living and working in Scotland – and the help that will always be available from the IoD, says Chair Aidan O’Carroll It is an understatement to say that we are living through an extraordinary period, with high levels of anxiety around Brexit, global economic uncertainty, potential trade wars as well as increasing security concerns around the world.

At times like these it is easy to feel somewhat overwhelmed, whatever your political leanings, and our leaders and directors across Scotland will continue to be challenged by both local and international issues for some time to come.

It is at these times that we can look at the role the IoD does and can continue to play in Scotland and elsewhere to provide guidance, to help educate and inform, so that our leaders and directors across private, public and third sectors can feel confident they can access some of the best training, up-to date-information, access to expertise and mentoring. We have a great team based in Edinburgh and across our branches ready to help in any way they can.

This team has been bolstered this month by the arrival of Malcolm Cannon, who is joining us as national director (see News, pg 4).

We should not forget that at the heart of our purpose is the promotion of the best governance, acting with ethical integrity, and to instil in our current and future leaders the

desire to grow in the skills that will ensure we promote vibrant and successful businesses.

We are here to help organisations as they endure uncertain times and ensure they can take advantage of opportunities that lie ahead.

We should also never forget that there are so many positives about living and working in Scotland, and our job at the IoD is to help promote entrepreneurship, to help create that sense of responsibility and accountability in our leaders to both contribute and lead, and to give them the tools to succeed. We have a great pool of talent to draw from, we have one of the best educated workforces which on its own is attracting some major inward investments, and we want to show how confident we can be about forging a successful future for Scotland.

The IoD wants to be right at the centre of that success, to be relevant and grow our membership, connecting them across all sectors and helping to build a sustainable and bright future, regardless of the storm clouds that may be gathering.

With focus and energy, the IoD wants to help lead us all through the choppy waters ahead and be an attractive and vibrant members’ organisation for everyone who aspires to lead.

IoD on hunt for our next Charity of the Year The IoD in Scotland is looking for a new Charity of the Year that it can support during events – and needs your help to find one.

Over the last 12 months The Teapot Trust (pictured right) and Beatson Cancer Charity have benefitted from being supported by the IoD Scotland.

Do you know a charity that could benefit from our support? Please contact Kirsty Livingstone with your nomination at Kirsty.Livingstone@iod.com.

The nominated charity should ideally meet the following criteria: • Is a smaller charity that receives limited national funding • Has a Scotland-wide reach • Includes a board member who is an IoD member • Meets checks at Companies House and on its governance policies.

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IoD Scotland & Direction National Director Scotland: Malcolm Cannon For email enquiries: iod.scotland@iod.com W: www.iod.com Address: 10 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4DR T: 0131 557 5488 Direction is the official membership magazine of Institute of Directors Scotland and is published by: Chamber Media Services, 4 Hilton Road, Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire SK7 3AG Advertising sales: Colin Regan Tel: 07871 444922 / 01942 537959 Email: colinregan001@ yahoo.co.uk Production: Rob Beswick Tel: 0161 426 7957 / 07964 375216 Email: rob@chamber mediaservices.co.uk Editorial: Please send press releases or editorial for consideration for future issues of Direction to: Kirsten Paul Email: kirsten@clark communications.co.uk Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained within this magazine, neither IoD Scotland nor Chamber Media Services can accept any responsibility for omissions or inaccuracies in its editorial or advertising content.

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the IoD. The carriage of advertisements or editorials in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised.

Cover: Kim Winser OBE. Leadership interview, see pg 10

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News

IoD Scotland appoints new National Director IoD Scotland has announced that Malcolm Cannon has been appointed as National Director for Scotland.

Malcolm joins from Cricket Scotland where he helped to restructure the organisation, recruit a new board of directors and introduced new membership groups and income streams to the business.

Prior to this, Malcolm led both property marketing firm ESPC and the iconic wellington brand, Hunter – where he was pivotal in introducing the footwear to a new audience and extending the product range. His work at Hunter resulted in the company achieving a turnover of £25 million within a space of two years.

Commenting on Malcolm’s appointment, Aidan O’Carroll, IoD Scotland Chair said: “Malcolm has a great reputation for reinvigorating a brand and taking it to the widest possible audience.

“His vision and ambition to grow the organisations he has worked with is clearly demonstrated in the great results that have been produced under his leadership.

“As we transform the IoD here in Scotland to be the leading organisation that attracts directors and other leaders across all sectors, Malcolm will bring a dynamic approach that I have no doubt will reinforce our relevance in the business community.”

Poppyscotland rolls out new welfare support service Poppyscotland has launched a new service that will transform the support available for the Armed Forces community in Scotland, including those still serving, those who have served and their families.

The Welfare Support Service team will be made up of four welfare support officers and two independent living advisers and will have a strong local focus.

Gary Gray, head of welfare services at Poppyscotland, said: “Poppyscotland is at the forefront of delivery of support to our Armed Forces community across Scotland.

“The implementation of the service enables us to deliver greatly enhanced support in local communities; providing one-to-one and face-to-face support to individuals who are particularly vulnerable and have complex needs.”

Chris Fisher, who served in the Royal

Poppyscotland has a new welfare service on offer to veterans

Navy from 1970 to 1977, suffers from a progressive and degenerative disability.

Poppyscotland provided a grant for a specially adapted van which allows Chris to get out.

Chris says: “I feel lucky to have got the support so quickly, but there are so

many other veterans out there who have similarly complex needs and struggle to seek out help. However, the new Poppyscotland service will ensure that they have the right package of support put in place within their own community and that will make a huge difference.”

ScotlandIS names new chief executive ScotlandIS has appointed Jane Morrison-Ross as its new chief executive.

Morrison-Ross will work alongside outgoing Polly Purvis, who stands down from the membership and cluster management organisation for the digital technologies industry in October.

Morrison-Ross is a previous board member of ScotlandIS and has held

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senior roles at Capgemini. Most recently she was the CEO of the Taigh Chearsabhagh Museum & Arts Centre in North Uist.

ScotlandIS chair Frances Sneddon commented: “This is a brilliant appointment for ScotlandIS. “Jane is not only a proven, innovative CEO but also a longstanding contributor to the growth of Scotland’s technology sector.

“Her understanding of organisational culture and rich experience in managing growth and transformation will be invaluable to our members.

“I am really looking forward to working with her as we expand our membership services and activities to support our members in driving further impressive growth for the Scottish Economy through digital.”

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In memoriam: Donald Hardie obe We are sad to record the death of Donald Hardie OBE, former national director of IoD Scotland (1985-97).

Born in Kenya in 1928, Donald died at home in Humbie in early July after a long, well-lived life. A well-attended memorial service was held in Humbie Church at which Sir Charles Fraser, a good friend for 40 years, gave a moving tribute, remembering a man of stature, character and service.

Donald was schooled in London before being commissioned in the Cameronians and attending the University of St Andrews. He had a business career with Scottish & Newcastle and soon developed a keen interest in politics, eventually standing on a number of occasions to become an MP. At a time when the Institute of Directors was struggling in Scotland, Donald accepted the role of Director of Scotland (at the instigation of Sir Charles) and built the organisation on the back of the leaders of smaller company leaders and entrepreneurs.

He established the Institute’s first offices in Great Stuart Street, was a shoulder for many a director on both a formal and informal basis, and established the tradition of the successful annual conference at Gleneagles.

Donald Hardie (right)

Planning permission delays could cool Scotland’s growing housing sector Concern has been raised by industry body Homes for Scotland (HFS) over how much longer the country can handle its current housing boom, amid fears the planning regulations could stifle growth.

Following a study of the number of new homes securing permission in comparison with statistics showing a long-awaited upturn in housing delivery levels last year, HFS found that while housing completions increased by 15% in 2018, there was no corresponding upward trend in planning permission – something which is required in order to sustain recovery and tackle the country’s housing crisis.

HFS chief executive Nicola Barclay said: “Having recently increased our capabilities in terms of data analysis, this is the first time we have been able to examine these key indicators on a calendar year basis, bringing them together in an easy to read format covering both national and regional levels.

“With new provisions in the Planning Bill signalling an end of tolerance in relation to below-par housing delivery, all stakeholders should seize this opportunity to move from conflict in the planning system to collaboration to ensure all our communities have the new homes they need for a successful future.”

Scotland business creation lower than UK average, says FSB The number of businesses in Scotland has soared by 46 per cent since devolution 20 years ago, but that creation rate still lags behind the UK as a whole, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has said.

The number of businesses in Scotland hit 338,110 in 2018, up from 231,525 at the turn of the century.

However, across the UK, there are 2.2 million more businesses than in 2000 – an increase of 63 per cent.

As a result of the revealing figures, the FSB is calling on Holyrood ministers to “carefully consider” how its policies are impacting on local economies.

“There are 100,000 more Scottish WWW.IOD.COM

businesses now than when the new Scottish Parliament first met in May 1999,” said Andrew McRae, FSB’s policy chairman in Scotland.

“These operators have started up in an environment where a decision made at Holyrood can have as much of an influence on a firm’s success as an announcement during the UK Budget. This means decisionmakers in Holyrood have to combine their ambitions for the country with an understanding of how their proposals will work in the real economy.

“While UK-wide business growth figures are

disproportionately influenced by London and the south-east, Scotland should aspire to drive up both start-up and business survival rates.

“Building the vibrant and successful Scotland we all want to see requires a flourishing private sector.

“But to grow our business community, we need a steady stream of people prepared to set up on their own.”

Andrew McRae: ‘Holyrood must balance its ambitions for the country with an understanding of how proposals impact in the real world.’

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News

£6m boost for innovation A funding programme aimed at helping business collaborate with Scotland’s universities and colleges has awarded over £6 million to boost innovation.

Funded by the Scottish Funding Council and administered by Interface, Innovation Vouchers offer grants to help businesses offset the cost of collaborating with Scotland’s higher and further educational institutes. Over the last seven years, the funding programme has provided more than 1,200 Standard Innovation Vouchers, worth up to £5,000 each, supporting company-led innovations in partnership with a college or university.

Dr Siobhàn Jordan, director of Interface, said: “This funding has enabled businesses to develop or enhance a commercial product or service, or improve productivity through the creation of a new business process. That’s £6.7 million that has been paid out to support business innovation in Scotland over the past seven years alone.”

Updates to the programme – including a new Workforce Innovation Voucher – have brought greater flexibility to all eligible SMEs and a greater financial incentive to businesses to deepen their collaborations with their academic partner.

One business that benefited from the funding stream is Welbot, which was created to combat the ill effects of sedentary computer-bound working. The company were matched by Interface to three universities to look at occupational stress, wellbeing in the workplace, and behaviour change in a technology setting, which helped the business develop and launch a commercial product.

Further information on Innovation Vouchers can be found at interface-online.org.uk.

First Minister calls for new methodology to measure a country’s success Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has used a TED talk in Edinburgh to argue for the need to change the way we measure the success of nations.

Ms Sturgeon stressed a need to move away from GDP to a measure that rates the achievements of countries, taking into consideration equal pay, childcare and mental health, as part of a range of progressive measures adopted by governments around the world.

“GDP measures the output of all our work,” she said at the TEDGlobal Summit gathering. “But it says nothing about the nature of that work, about whether that work is worthwhile or fulfilling. It puts a value, for example, on illegal drug consumption, but not on unpaid care. It values activity in the short term that boosts the economy, even if that activity is hugely damaging

to the sustainability of our planet in the longer term.”

In 2018, Scotland took steps to establish a new network – the Wellbeing Economy Governments group – comprised of Scotland, Iceland and New Zealand, in order to challenge the focus on the narrow measure of GDP. “The objective of economic policy should be collective wellbeing,” she added. “What do we value in the communities that we live in, what kind of country, what kind of society do we really want to be – and when we engage people in those questions and finding the answers to those questions, then I believe that we have a much better chance of addressing the alienation and disaffection from politics that is so prevalent in so many countries across the developed world today,” Sturgeon added.

MHA Henderson Loggie receives £2m Barclays support package MHA Henderson Loggie is set to launch a recruitment drive after securing a seven-figure support package from Barclays.

The Dundee-headquartered practice is looking to grow its team and expand its client offering on the back of funding support and facilities, totalling more than £2 million from the lender.

MHA Henderson Loggie said it will place a focus on “recruitment and retention” of talent across its locations, which include offices in

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Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The funding package will also be used to help grow the firm’s audit services for both commercial and not-for-profit organisations across the Central Belt, as well as increase its accounting and tax advisory services in Aberdeen and Glasgow.

Recruitment will take place in Dundee to further enhance the group’s offering for ownermanaged businesses in the Tayside region.

MHA Henderson Loggie is set for growth after securing support from Barclays

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Pensions and other tax wrappers Joe Roxborough, Chartered Financial Planner at Ascot Lloyd, takes a look at the current tax rules impacting on your pension – and your options.

Personal pensions may be the most tinkered with of all investment wrappers.

Compared to ISAs and bonds, pension pots have seen a considerable amount of change in tax treatment, courtesy of government intervention. For those that have not kept up for a couple of years, it is worth recapping what your pension pot can do for you.

Fortunately for most investors, the most recent swathe of changes has been mostly positive, particularly for those who already hold decent-sized pots. You now have the freedom to withdraw as much or as little from your pension as you like, and for those that want to pass on assets to the next generation, pensions have gone from being the most highly taxed pot for Inheritance Tax (IHT) purposes to the least.

What the government gives with one hand, however, it takes with the other – typically with less ceremony and hidden in the small print. Annual contributions to pensions have been capped so much it almost looks like a typing error – as recently as 2011, you could invest £255,000 per annum into a pension. For many higher earners today, you are now limited to a measly £10,000 a year – a 96% reduction!

You can put more into your ISA than into your pension, at £20,000 per annum.

For those who already have some pension savings, the government might also penalise you for making good investment choices. Back in 2011, your pension could have been valued up to £1,800,000 before you faced any ‘punitive’ tax charges. The current lifetime allowance is £1,055,000, a 40 per cent reduction in eight years. Irrespective of how much you have contributed, sometimes those who have paid in a reasonable amount on a slow and steady basis and happened to make wise investment choices, will be penalised in future years.

For many investors approaching or

thinking about their retirement, who have not already built up a pot that is likely to breach the lifetime allowance, using your annual pension allowance in full (often a complex calculation, so worth discussing with your adviser) is a no-brainer. But what if you would like to save more than this?

Are ISAs the next port of call?

Investors in their prime earning years, around 50 to 60 years old, may find this £10,000 annual cap on pension contributions frustratingly limited. The kids are off the books, the mortgage is paid off, and now you are in a position to make some serious investments, so that you can enjoy a well-deserved retirement! The odds are that at this age you are also paying the highest rate of tax you will likely encounter for your entire life, so receiving such meagre tax relief for your prudence can seem a bit deflating. It makes a new car seem far more appealing than a pension contribution.

You should put the new Mercedes on hold for now, as there are other taxadvantaged options available. Firstly, ISA contributions of up to £20,000 per annum can be made per person, as you do not receive tax relief on the contribution like you would with a pension.

Conversely you are not taxed on any withdrawals in the future (which you would be on a pension, after you have taken your 25% tax-free cash). Retirement income for most investors in the future is likely to be a smorgasbord of pots rather than a single pot from which you make withdrawals, and ISAs form a decent option in there. You do not have to wait until you are 55 as with a pension, so they are more accessible too.

For those with a slightly higher appetite for risk and perhaps with a larger tax bill, there are also some other investment types that are getting more attention from investors following pension limitations.

There are two primary forms which we use

for our clients, depending on their circumstances, and they have the less-than-catchy names of VCTs (venture capital trusts) and EISs (Enterprise Investment Schemes).

VCTs and EISs are almost always riskier than your pension or ISA investments, but the risk is a double-edged sword. The best VCTs and EISs have offered stunning returns, not even factoring in the generous tax relief, but research and diligence in this area is a must if it is something you are considering.

Comparison between the tax wrappers You should never prioritise tax relief above your investment objectives, but if these kinds of investments are right for you, the tax back can be the icing on the cake.

Please note, as with anything in financial services, there are rules within rules, and the grid below does not represent every single situation for an individual. Some legacy pension schemes have far more complicated rules, so none of the below should be taken as an absolute fact and you should check with your financial adviser before making any decisions based on this article.

But if some of the above statements ring true, perhaps it is worth considering a more diverse approach to your portfolio. Tax reliefs, diversification, risk and time all form part of holistic financial planning, so it is worth discussing how these different types of plan could benefit you.

Want to know more?

For more information or to discuss this with one of our advisers, please call us on 0345 450 7500, email info@ascotlloyd. co.uk or visit www.ascotlloyd.co.uk.

• Ascot Lloyd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA Number 578614) and incorporated in England and Wales under registration No.07584487

Investment options

Pension ISA VCT Investment Options Flexible Flexible Higher Risk Annual Contribution Limit £10,000 to £40,000, varying £20,000 £200,000 Tax Relief on contributions At investors marginal rate None 30% of investment Tax situation on growth Tax-free Tax-free Tax-free Tax situation on withdrawals 25% tax-free. Remainder taxed Tax-free Dividends are tax-free.

at income tax marginal rate Growth free from CGT if

held for 5+ years Tax situation if Outside of estate, so free Subject to IHT Subject to IHT the investor is to die from IHT up to certain limits

EIS* Higher Risk £1,000,000 to £2,000,000 30% of investment Tax-free Dividends taxed. Growth free from CGT if held for 3+ years.

Free from IHT

*increased limit only if anything above 1 million is invested in knowledge-intensive companies.

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Behind the Desk / Downtime

Full inclusivity can’t come quickly enough for me Name: Position: Company: Number of employees:

Lynne Connolly Global Head of Inclusion and Diversity Standard Life Aberdeen plc Headquartered in Scotland and listed in the UK, Standard Life Aberdeen employs around 6,000 people in 52 locations worldwide. We manage and administer over £577.5bn of assets (as of June 30, 2019).

Short overview of organisation: Our aim is to build a world-class investment company and create long-term meaningful relationships with all our stakeholders. We develop innovative products and services to meet the evolving needs of investors and savers. All of this is supported by our talented people across the globe.

What is the greatest recurring challenge in your role, and what’s your strategy for dealing with it?

Inclusion has to be a long-term focus as it includes reshaping behaviours and workplace cultures which have formed as a result of influences across industries, societies, education and even families.

My approach is to embed this into what we stand for as a company and to keep a relentless and sustained attention on making progress among the many competing priorities.

Understanding that this is not about big initiatives or doing something separate to what we do every day is key; it’s more about the daily experiences our people feel and see, and encouraging people at all levels of our company to take practical steps to create a more inclusive environment around them.

Whom, or what, drives or inspires you?

I’m driven by creating equal chances and by a belief that everyone, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to reach their potential.

This then leads to many societal and economic benefits for everyone – too many to list here!

What is your long-term vision for the organisation that you lead?

To create a great place to work where our people thrive – a place where our people feel able to bring all that is unique about them to work and where we bring our diverse talents together to deliver great outcomes for our clients and customers.

What keeps you awake at night?

How long the change takes. I’m a

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naturally impatient person so when, for example, it is still estimated to take 70 years to achieve full gender equality in the workplace, that frustrates me.

What makes a good leader great?

Their passion and values. Leaders who are authentic, compelling and whose words and actions match create followership and have a far bigger and longer lasting impact.

Have you had a mentor, and what did he/she add to your development?

I’ve had several mentors at different stages of my career and for different reasons.

Most often it’s about having a safe space to talk through opportunities and challenges and to get a different perspective – diverse thinking at its best!

Even leaders aren’t the finished article.

What’s next in your leadership development journey?

I believe that there is always something to learn and I love surrounding myself with new people with new ideas. I’d like to continue to build my external leadership of inclusion across our sector and will continue to do so using my recent IoD Scotland award as a platform.

What is the ‘next big thing’ that will transform your sector?

Innovation on all fronts is important and my sector (financial services) is changing so rapidly.

Start-up financial companies will continue to place immense pressure on more established companies such as mine and the expectations of both customers and those who work with us

will continue to diversify with demographic change and the global landscape.

Companies which are truly inclusive will be able to transform the sector through attracting more diverse talent to better understand our diverse customers and drive more innovation through bringing together our creative ideas.

What piece of technology do you rely on most?

For the job I do, I love using technology that makes it easy to enable sharing and dialogue – in other words, inclusive by its very nature.

What is your favourite social media platform, and what does it bring to your business/organisation?

I personally enjoy using LinkedIn as it is flexible in terms of the content which can be both shared and accessed.

I don’t believe that one company alone can progress inclusion in isolation, so I enjoy both sharing what we are doing as a company and learning from others.

What needs fixed?

For me it’s about changing the perception of my industry, so it is better understood and is attractive and accessible to all types of talent, wherever they are located and whatever their background and experience.

What leadership advice would you give your younger self?

I’d grow my confidence more quickly to put forward my perspective while still respecting others’ views. I spent a lot of my early career being apologetic.

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Lights on at castle this Christmas

LNER’s first Azuma train reaches Edinburgh LNER’s new Azuma passenger train has made its first stop in Edinburgh as the company looks to revolutionise travel between Scotland and London.

The first of a new fleet of 65 trains was welcomed into Edinburgh Waverley last month and plans are now in place for the fleet to operate to all of Scotland’s cities by November this year.

The high-speed trains will provide around 100 more seats per train, as well as extra legroom. It is also expected that the number of cheaper fares available will increase as a result of the increased capacity.

The Azuma model will initially take over one service a day in each direction on the route, increasing to eight between the cities by the end of September.

LNER’s sole daily London-Glasgow Central service will be operated by an Azuma from September 23, followed by those on its Aberdeen and Inverness routes around two months later.

All 65 trains in the fleet are due to be in service by May or June next year.

The trains are capable of 140mph but will be limited by the line’s 125mph speed limit.

Companies betting on Hyperloop future

While it might only just be autumn, we are already using the ‘C’ word.

Yes, we’re talking Christmas; and there is a new attraction coming to Edinburgh this year for the winter festival season.

Edinburgh Castle will this year be turned into a ‘Castle of Light’. The after-hours event at Edinburgh Castle will see the 900-year-old landmark transformed by a series of dramatic projections. Set to a specially created soundtrack, the all-ticket light show will be staged over 22 nights across five weeks in November and December.

Billed as the capital’s biggest ever “light experience,” it will be the first major after-dark public event to be staged within the walls of the castle in its history.

Special effects inspired by the castle’s history will be created for nine locations, while the castle and its esplanade will also be lit up for the show’s duration.

It is hoped up to 40,000 people will attend this year’s event, with further runs already planned in 2020 and 2021 depending on demand.

Tickets for the £20-a-head show went on sale this month (September), with the show due to open on 14 November and end three days before Christmas.

The race to develop the most successful and fastest Hyperloop pod is on. With more companies entering the field and new tracks being built around the world, it leaves us with one question – will it be the way we travel in the future?

At the recent SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition, student teams launched their prototype pods through a 1.2 km vacuum tube beside the SpaceX headquarters in California. Team TUM, from the Technical University of Munich, took home the win thanks to achieving the top speed overall of any team to run in the finals. Their pod hit a new top speed of 288mph (463kph) – before it exploded! What is certain is that there is huge potential for this technology to help reduce travel times over large distances – let’s just hope that by the time we are using them, there is a lot less exploding!

Old Course Hotel plans extension and reopening for 2021 If you are one of our readers who is partial to a round of golf, The Old Course Hotel in St Andrews has revealed plans for an extension and a 2021 re-opening.

The 144-bedroom property has submitted plans to Fife Council to add 31 golf course-facing bedrooms and expand its conference facilities ahead of the 2021 Open.

The plans include expanding the hotel’s main function room, the Hall of Champions, from 300 seats to a planned 440 through the re-purposing of staff offices, and the extension of the property’s west wing (the Millennium Wing) through a new bedroom floor and rooftop penthouse to meet the subsequent increased bedroom demand.

Two ground-level meeting rooms will also be converted to new bedrooms and all other bedrooms in the Millennium Wing, built in 2000, will be fully refurbished. If approved, the works are likely to begin in early 2020.

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The Leadership interview: Kim Winser obe

Fashioning the perfect team Kim Winser obe, fashion guru, saviour of several household names and driving force behind Winser London, talks to Rob Beswick about her career, the opportunities in retail created by the digital revolution and why blended teams in business don’t just make sense, they’re essential A few years ago, the doyen of British cooking, Delia Smith, casually mentioned an omelette pan made by a tiny Lancashire firm during one of her TV shows. The Lune Metal pan was, Delia said, a “little gem”.

The impact of such an endorsement on the company was huge: sales rose from just 200 pans a year to 90,000 in just four months.

You have to wonder what the company’s directors did on hearing her words: Punch the air? Cheer? Or just sit quietly wondering how on earth they were going to process the orders...

The story came back to me while chatting to Kim Winser OBE – a fashion industry pioneer who has spent her career at the cutting edge of retail, working for Marks & Spencer’s, Pringle of Scotland and Aquascutum, among others. Her current business venture, Winser London, is having a phenomenal year, with global sales up, particularly in the United States where the demand for British-designed high-quality clothing never seems to go out of fashion, and its Gillian Anderson collection is proving a winner with critics and customers alike.

And just when you think things can’t get any better … into TV shot walks the number one celebrity endorsement on the planet, as one Meghan Markle is pictured wearing one of your outfits as she helps Prince Harry launch the Invictus Games in Australia... and the brand’s profile goes off the Richter Scale.

To a fashion company, the Duchess of Sussex is as big an endorsement as you can get at the moment and one can only imagine the scenes in the office when the story broke. Says Kim: “It was a huge boost. I’m not going to deny it; the next day the office was buzzing. You could feel the energy. There was a huge sense of pride among the staff; they all felt they had contributed to what was a great coup for the company.”

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That sense of pride employees feel in what they do is something business leaders should never overlook, Kim says.

“When you think about what’s important to your team about their job, you can’t over-estimate the value in saying ‘well done’. People do their best and they want their contribution recognised. There’s nothing worse than the feeling that you’re not appreciated.”

Kim’s career began with Marks & Spencer, after taking the gamble that a management trainee role at the high street giant was a better bet than a place at university or a career playing tennis – both were an option. It was a decision she would never regret but success came only after a bit of a fight: this being the 1970s, being a woman in business wasn’t easy. “I had to fight to gain acceptance.

The company wasn’t great at putting women in decision-making positions – despite it being a company with a huge female customer base.”

Kim admits she’s always been up for a challenge, and that sense of taking on and beating the odds has served her well – and lies at the heart of Winser London.

With huge experience in rebuilding fashion brands and re-energising businesses behind her – more on that later – she considered following that route again, but instead chose what to many would appear a more challenging option: launch her own business from scratch.

“I had a decision to make: launch a start-up or come into an existing business and look to transform it, as I’d done before. There were pros and cons to both but in the end, the challenge of starting from scratch, of getting a brand known and getting its products out to the public, proved a more exciting challenge than turning an existing business inside out to make it more responsive to modern customer trends.”

But in many ways you sense a start-up

offered a simpler route to market. For, alongside the design and quality fabrics that lie at the heart of Winser London, is the word ‘digital’. Embracing that world and putting it at the centre of her new business model is something Kim was intensely focused on. “For me, how you respond to the digital challenge is the biggest issue for modern business. I’ve talked to lots of companies – banks, Blue Chip, SMEs, in all sectors – about how to bring the digital world into every aspect of their business.

“In retail, you have to get that digital side right from the start.”

From start-up Winser London was only online, with no ‘bricks and mortar’ outlets. “We built the brand through fashion shows, pop-up stands, photo shoots, social media and paid-for advertorials in selected media.

“We had people like Annie Lennox and Emma Watson wearing our designs, and built the brand from there.”

And the Duchess of Sussex, of course!

Given her track record of revitalising flagging brands, however, it still came as something of a surprise to many industry commentators that she took that path. For many years Kim was the ‘go to’ woman for turning companies round, having transformed the fortunes of two of the UK’s best-known fashion labels, Pringle of Scotland and Aquascutum.

While successful, the latter provided the biggest disappointment of her career, sadly. “I was brought in to Aquascutum with the brief to transform it, and get it ready for a management buy out.

“I put in two years of hard work, had a great team in place and we did a brilliant job. We took the brand forward, customers loved it and we had so many good stories come out of the business – but it was so good that another bid came in when it came to sell.”

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The Leadership interview: Kim Winser obe

Continued from page 10 “As CEO I was in the position of having to present two bids to the board: one mine, the other from a rival who valued the company far higher.”

She laughs at the memory. “Before I walked into the room I already knew what the board’s decision would be but still put in my bid as I thought we could do a lot with Aquascutum.”

Did that leave a bitter taste? “No, it was more disappointment than anything else. The people that bought it were lovely people, but I thought we could have done so much with the brand and losing it still hurt.”

But despite that, “I know I wouldn’t have changed my experience there for the world – except the outcome! I’ve had people say I should have made the turnaround slower but that’s not in my nature. I knew we’d made a difference – and I think that is so important.”

In many ways, Kim’s time at both Aquascutum and Pringle of Scotland offer a template on changing a company’s culture. At Pringle the problem was a brand that had fallen in value in the public’s eyes, and was seen as little more than discounted golf wear.

Its days appeared numbered. How did she lead the transformation required in the company’s fortunes? “The simplest way was to be honest and open with everyone. We sat down with all the divisions and explained that things had to change; mass producing discounted golf wear in Scotland was never going to work, the cost equation was wrong.

“We had to raise our goals. The employees knew it; they’d seen people laid off over the years and the headcount fall, and everyone knew the brand was in trouble unless it changed.

But I was transparent about our way forward and what was needed.

“At out first meeting I said we’re going to a fashion show in Florence in 10 days time with a new menswear collection, and it’s vital we get new designs there.

“The whole factory got behind it; they were buzzing as they knew it was important and they had a role in that.

“It made the difference; it proved how important it was to bring the workforce with you as you make major changes. Be open, be transparent. And if you have to let people go, do it in the right way.

Support them, help them retrain, give them options and opportunities.”

In the case of Pringle, the relaunch worked. “Selfridges loved the new lines – as did David Beckham, who wore one of our jumpers at a book launch. It certainly helped with publicity!”

Yasmin Le Bon models designs from the Winser London collection (right)

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Does make you wonder how hard it was to drop the previous face of Pringle, the golfer Sir Nick Faldo, for the world’s most famous footballer!

Kim laughs, but points out “it wasn’t about Sir Nick; it was about the market the company was aimed at, and where it needed to go to assure its future. It was the argument of discounted goods versus quality.”

This is an argument that has lain at the heart of retail since the financial crash of 2008, and is key to understanding the future of the sector and the High Street – and why the digital marketplace is so important. “When the financial crash hit in 2008, retailers took one of two paths; as customer numbers and spending fell, many shops decided to cut quality but kept prices static, to protect profit margins. At the top end they took the decision to go even higher, as their clientele were still spending and they were offering something exclusive.”

But that created a yawning gap in the clothes industry – those customers who wanted high-quality fabrics, beautiful designs but priced affordably – which is the gap Winser London jumped into.

“It was an obvious opening but the important thing was to marry the retail opportunity with the digital agenda.”

Too many retailers have tackled the challenge created by digital halfheartedly, trying to bolt on a digital side to their operations while maintaining a strong High Street presence, and it’s a

marriage that doesn’t always work well.

“They are tinkering,” says Kim. “I get frustrated by the number of companies I come across who just don’t have the right business model, the right structures in place, to handle what’s changing in our society, as retail moves from physical stores to an online shopping experience.

“Digital changes everything; it doesn’t just change from bricks and mortar to a website, it changes the way we buy, the way the company does its marketing, the way it handles its logistics.

“For instance, in retail, warehouses are used to sending out goods in multiple units to stores, but now they need to send them out in individual units. How do you set your warehouse to cope with that change? How do you cost it?

“Some are struggling with the transformation – but others are denying it completely, and that’s a fatal mistake.”

The blames for that lies, in some cases, in the boardroom. “By the nature of how companies work, the chances are the people on any board have been with the firm a long time and are older, and have climbed through the ranks during a time when the digital world was nothing like as important as it is now.

The board isn’t full of ‘digital natives’ but they are expected to provide a vision for the role that digital will play in their business and create a strategy for it. It’s a tough ask for anyone.”

From the start, the digital marketplace was central to the way Winser London operated – and the concept of constant innovation was embedded into every layer of the business. But that’s how it has to be for every business today, Kim says.

Younger employees play a key role.

“I’ve always been a champion of building teams where young people work alongside more experienced staff.

When I set up Winser London I asked all my senior people to recruit someone straight from education to work with them. It’s worked brilliantly. People who have lived in the digital space all their lives ask different questions to their boss, who’s been in the business for the past 20-30 years but hasn’t got the same experiences as their younger colleagues.”

There was an unanticipated bonus to the idea, too. “When it started out we thought of it as ‘gifting’ experience to younger members of the team, exposing them to situations that would be great for their development,” Kim said. “But my more experienced leaders have learned a great deal, too; they are the first to accept that the younger ones’ input has been important to the success we’ve had.”

There are limitations… “Younger staff make mistakes. They rush, or think they’ve cracked something without WWW.IOD.COM

checking it first. But you have to let them make mistakes – as long as they learn from the experience, and don’t make the same mistake twice.

“It’s a bit of a risk but if you make them accountable, younger colleagues grow up very fast. Anyone who isn’t creating blended teams like this is missing a great opportunity.”

Looking for new ways of thinking from every layer of the business isn’t something new to Kim. “At M&S we had a policy of open meetings, where employees drawn from every level discussed key issues affecting the company. It was completely nonhierarchical; you had young trainees sat at the same table as far more senior colleagues, but all on an equal footing.

They discussed new ideas and found different ways to tackle challenges.

“It’s a concept I’ve tried to emulate in all my businesses since.”

Kim clearly sees the value of this sharing of experience and expertise, and it’s her main strategy for keeping her own skills up to date, too. “I don’t use a mentor as such or formal CPD; I have a large pool of people, experts in different fields, who I turn to for advice. I cherrypick their expertise and add them to my own skill-set.

“The same thinking is behind my non-executive director roles. I’ve made a conscious effort to look for roles outside my own area, where I know little about the business but can contribute positively. I sit on the boards of the Peninsular Hotels Group and the Natural History Museum. They are both WWW.IOD.COM

bodies I know by reputation but that’s it – I’ve stayed in hotels and visited museums, but that’s where the expertise ends!

“Where I help is getting them to transform the way they interact with their customers. I ask questions about where their customers come from, how their marketing works in the digital sphere; are we getting customers through agents, though the website, or other areas?

“It’s the key to transformation of any organisation. Ask good questions, be enthusiastic about change and look at every level of the business.”

What’s the best piece of advice she has for her fellow business leaders?

“Listen to your customers. Sometimes you get so bogged down in the minutae that you miss the obvious.

“We had an example recently at Winser London. We’d have models on our website wearing a coat, a sweater and trousers, but if you wanted to buy them all, as an outfit, you had to go to three different pages on the website: the coat was in the coats section, the trousers with the other trousers, etc. We had customers saying ‘but I just want to buy the whole outfit, I want that look…’ and so we made that possible on the new website. One click and it’s yours.”

That ability to bring about rapid change to your business has always been one of the advantages of running a smaller operation than working for a High Street giant – but what’s the biggest downside? “Probably the one every small business owner says: lack of expert help.

“In a big company you have IT experts, HR people, a finance team, all there to support you. When you’re on your own it’s down to you to cover all those departments.

“When I look back now at my time at M&S, for example, we had the most brilliant people behind everything we did; the support the frontline senior management received was superb.

Sadly, that was all I knew at the time so I don’t think I appreciated just how good the support was.”

Kim has got round that lack of internal support by establishing an external pool of strategic investors who put more than their cash into her business. “I brought in 10 investors last year to help with growth but didn’t just pick people with money to invest; I looked for people with the skills and expertise we needed, too. There was a highly thought-of lawyer, a banker, someone who understands retail websites, a digital marketeer – all people who were able to offer support and advice as we looked to grow Winser London.

“The current challenges of the retail sector are immense, and if you plan to grow, having that support is vital.”

Any other advice? “Never sit back. As soon as you start to relax and think you’ve made it, someone or something will come along and beat you. You have to be thinking all the time, how can I improve this, how can I give my customers what they want?

“You can’t stand still. Make sure innovation is at the heart of everything you do.”

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Technical briefing

I’ll fly the flag for focus and good old hard work Russell Wardrop, co-founder and chief executive of Kissing With Confidence, asks whether the current calls for a shorter working week are missing the point of how we find true contentment A recent Twitter post recommended that the four-day week is key to wellbeing. However, it was posted by an expert with three jobs and a published book whose friends thought the post hilarious.

But it got me thinking, where is the government champion for hard work?

As it is obvious to me that meaning, purpose and sacrifice will bring contentment and fulfilment more effectively than another day sitting on the sofa watching Storage Wars.

Just back from a four-day weekend away, I’m fully on board with down time. A few free hours in crazy London will see me in the Tate Modern before you can say lemon drizzle cake. But people who have spent decades working their asses off to gain expertise – and are still clocking 60 hours a week in their multiple roles – telling you to do less and that nirvana is achievable on a three-day weekend, are selling our future leaders short.

The next generation need to hear a different message that will do more for their well-being than more time off.

They need to know they are more robust than they can imagine and have a greater capacity for hard work than they think. That they are wasting more time than they know and if they stop it now, there is no limit to what they might achieve.

That they need to pick a goal, forget the four-day week, banish any worries the world will end soon, and go out and get busy. That they need to think less about their rights and more about their responsibilities – and that’s true whether they are the joiner who became a luxury house builder, or the computer geek who is the world’s greatest philanthropist.

This message will transform the country, too. Our First Minister’s cabinet would be sacked if they did a four-day week and their SPADS would never say, “Sorry, it’s Thursday and I have yoga….. have a nice weekend”. Our nation needs entrepreneurs and business leaders of

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every stripe who know that the right goals, structure and personal sacrifice are cornerstones of well-being.

So how about getting some of that tough love out there?

Find some inspirational leaders; talk to them and listen to them. Not one has achieved success without doing their 10,000 hours – and then 10,000 more – and you will be surprised how few of them say they do it just for the money.

My dad was a bulldozer driver when I was born, a lorry driver and ultimately, transport director of an industrial waste business. He worked from 6am to 6pm six days a week, stopping at lunchtime on Saturday and just loved to work. Bill Gates has done more to take absolute global poverty below ten per cent for the

first time in history than any other human on the planet. He does not do 28 hours a week and will tell, with great enthusiasm, that we are living in an age that is healthier, safer, and more equal than at any other age in history – and, to live a little.

Yes, live a little. Live a lot. Get up early.

Stay up late. Work hard. Work harder.

Find your thing. Become independent.

Become competent. Become better.

Get good. Get really good. Become an expert. Be less fearful.

Wellbeing comes from being useful and competent, not from a three-day weekend and whale music on your iPhone.

Ask any of the globe-trotting ever-sobusy warriors on the front line.

“Wellbeing comes from being useful and competent, not from a three-day weekend and whale music on your iPhone. ..”

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Dr Ken Thomson OBE, Principal and CEO of Forth Valley College and FIoD Since 2017, Developing Young Workforce (DYW) Forth Valley has worked with businesses and schools to deliver nearly 900 separate activities and has actively engaged with over 250 businesses to support young people into work.

This has been a tremendous piece of work undertaken by a small team working with all secondary schools in the Forth Valley and hundreds of businesses, supporting thousands of young people to help them make the right choice and identify possibilities for their career decisions in the future.

Supported by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and regional colleges, DYW has been a tremendous example of a national collaboration between schools, the college and businesses towards a common goal – making learning work for our future generations and providing a skilled workforce for the future.

This story is impressive. It would appear we’re well set for the future, with a well informed and professionally skilled workforce, particularly in technical and professional skills, and a solid investment in our future talent pipeline.

But are we really well set? Because I think we have a problem.

As a CEO of an FE and HE College with over 650 staff and thousands of customers I have to understand the education system. The college’s people strategy, recently approved by our board, is a five-year investment in our staff, supporting health and wellbeing and a comprehensive CPD programme for succession planning, upskilling and future needs of the organisation, with appropriate and relevant qualifications for the future.

However, looking across all industries, and as an executive director who has come through the education system, been to university and is now running your own business, can you honestly say you’re prepared for this young generation and understand their wealth of experience and qualifications?

How many executive directors can put their hands on their hearts and say they understand the value of the Scottish Credit Qualification framework for appropriate skills training, can understand the landscape of technical and professional qualifications, recognise the work universities have been doing in widening access and know what is now going on in schools and further and higher education WWW.IOD.COM

Do businesses understand the modern Scottish educational landscape?

“Are today’s executives appointing staff with HNCs and HNDs with recognised competencies in technical and professional knowledge, and are they supporting their own staff through Scottish Vocational Qualifications?” colleges? Are we taking full advantage of modern apprentices in succession planning, never mind the great potential of the Foundation Apprentices?

The investment in skills in Scottish education is impressive, though of course we would like to have more. But critically, are today’s decision-making executive’s really in a position to take full advantage of this investment in our education system and in Scotland’s future workforce? Are they maximising the opportunities for students with Nat 4s and 5s, Highers, Degrees, Modern Apprentices? Are today’s executives appointing staff with HNCs and HNDs with recognised competencies in technical and professional knowledge, and are they supporting their own staff through Scottish Vocational Qualifications? Are organisations with a staff budget of £3 million or over aware they can access £15,000 towards CPD

through the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF)? Do they know they can support their own communities by providing help for the new and exciting Foundation Apprentice qualification?

Executives tell me they have an issue with skills in their businesses, but I’m not convinced many fully understand what’s happening in today’s Scottish skills landscape and therefore are not benefitting from their people potential.

On technical and professional qualifications, it would be good to chat with your local DYW group, SDS or your regional college to help get a real understanding of what a skilled workforce could look like.

Understanding the skills landscape is an education in itself.

IoD Events: Invest for Your Future Talent & Skills - Stirling. See pg 20

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Technical briefing

Scots tech must take advantage of its lead and catch global eye Let’s tell the world about what’s great about IT in Scotland – and while we’re at it, let’s get our next generation of workers enthused about the possibilities the sector offers, says industry commentator Bill Magee Surely the timing is right – if not significantly overdue – for Scotland to gather together its abundance of tech offerings and reboot them as one ‘digital centre-of-excellence’ to catch the global eye?

What we urgently need is a dose of good old-fashioned leadership dedicated towards accomplishing the task.

Some years ago I asked in this column – amid all the Scots independence/ Devomax/pro-Unionist discussions (yes, we’re there again folks) – if enough consideration was being given to what standard of technological infrastructure Scotland has in place to make its mark in the international marketplace.

For want of a better description, I labelled such a single entity as Scotland’s ‘TechSuperHub’. So, as the competition gets more, not less, fierce, how are we doing at the moment?

Scott McGlinchey, an IoD Fellow, took time out from his senior role as chief executive of Exception, Scotland’s largest indigenous market-leading IT consultancy and services specialist, to conduct an annual Scottish digital audit, casting his eye over whether we have developed a more cost-effective, energyefficient greener tech offering yet.

Scott notes that, of late, there has been much talk about the urgent need to develop the next generation of tech leaders and avoid viewing the world, as Napier University Cyber Academy’s Professor Bill Buchanan puts it, through rose-tinted glasses.

He fully backs the position that there remains a great deal of work required for the tech sector, especially when it comes to Scotland’s education system producing sufficient numbers of students with the right science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and allied IT skills moving forwards.

Scott also agrees with the Scottish Government’s Sarah Davidson, directorgeneral for organisational development and operations, that we can take a leading role in tech with women at the forefront, and Scotland’s status as a major tech hub can only be judged

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through a global lens.

The country has numerous IT strengths to be proud of, but in this digital age, fundamental questions persist concerning the nature of work together with relationships and society at large, and this remains a challenge in terms of becoming and remaining a major tech hub.

For leadership to represent what has been described as ‘meaningful and sustained action’, there has to be a much closer and tighter collaborative effort all round, with full recognition of talent and a broadening out of skills both within and across organisations irrespective of their size.

The top and bottom of our current dilemma is we’re not attracting enough young people into STEM subjects.

Professor Buchanan suggests this might be due to them being put off by the ‘engineering’ tag.

So we have to become better at explaining directly to students how STEM education overall is so vital from an early age, potentially opening the door to exciting and creative careers.

Literacy, numeracy and overall confidence are significantly improved as such courses provide the specialist knowledge and skills necessary to work in the ever-increasing STEM sectors of the economy. There are more such courses than ever to choose to study at school and college, reflecting the wide range of careers on offer.

It is up to those who assume a leadership role to urge, inspire if you like, young people to think more creatively about what subjects and career options they plan to pursue.

Here, Young Scot is in a pivotal position. As the national youth charity for 11-26-year-olds providing information and opportunities for young people all over Scotland, it is proving vital towards guiding the digital generation.

Scott McGlinchey contends this particular organisation is key towards supporting the further development of STEM-based careers, but he warns that we must move with more agility together with greater local investment.

Over the coming months the charity plans to work with key delivery partners to identify even more opportunities to maximise the impact of both universal and bespoke services for young Scots.

As a small nation we certainly possess the essential dynamic to bring to life a new national enlightenment. It’s time for Scotland to take the lead.

“Here, Young Scot is in a pivotal position. As the national youth charity for 11-26-year-olds providing information and opportunities for young people all over Scotland, it is proving vital towards guiding the digital generation...”

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Real responsibility for SQA’s Modern Apprentices

As Scotland’s national awarding and accreditation body, SQA provides a wide range of high quality, widely recognised qualifications, enabling individuals and organisations to achieve their potential.

As a significant and responsible employer, SQA has to ensure that young people taking their first steps into the world of work have real opportunity. That is why we developed our Pathways Modern Apprenticeship programme.

The SQA’s Pathways programme relies on collaboration: between the employer SQA, training providers Drumbeat and Lifelong Learning and Employability along with City of Glasgow and Edinburgh colleges.

At the heart of this partnership is a cohort of enthusiastic Modern Apprentices who, over two years with SQA, gather relevant work experience across a variety of disciplines – including finance, HR, business systems, and corporate governance – while completing a Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in business and administration, and a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in business, obtaining a blend of academic learning and practical skills.

Elaine Gourlay, Head of Organisational Development and Change Management at SQA, says the advantage of the SQA Pathways programme is the opportunity for Modern Apprentices to gain workplace-based qualifications with real transferable value.

Gourlay adds: “Modern Apprentices at SQA are working members of our teams.

They have meaningful work with real responsibilities and are accountable for their performance and contribution.

While with us, we ensure they are supported in their development and are able to gain the skills and experience they need to complete their SVQ and HNC.” A strong support network is vital to success. Sarah Anne Rooney, SQA Employee Development Programme Manager, outlines the steps taken to provide SQA’s Modern Apprentices with the right support.

Rooney explains that while SQA Modern Apprentices complete four ‘rotations’ in a variety of business areas, they work closely with experienced line managers who help them develop their skills.

They also work with assessors to help evidence their skills, and a mentor who helps them to identify and plan for their future career aspirations.

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“Modern Apprentices at SQA are working members of our teams. They have meaningful work to do with real responsibilities and are accountable for their performance...”

Those relationships are crucial. “The interaction between the line-managers, the mentor, and the assessor are key to the apprentice succeeding in their position,” adds Rooney. “They are responsible for ensuring the apprentice knows what they are doing and why they are doing it. A workplace is a very different environment from school, and Modern Apprentices need additional support to help them make a success of the transition.”

Working with independent trainers such as Drumbeat and Lifelong Learning and Employability, ensures that the apprentice receives fair and independent support throughout their time with SQA. As part of the SQA Pathways programme, SQA’s Modern Apprentices attended either City of Glasgow College or Edinburgh College, where they undertake a part-time HNC in business over two years.

Nicola Darroch, Curriculum Head at City of Glasgow College, says: “The SQA Modern Apprentices came to the college with a real sense of purpose. The workplace experience is translating well into their coursework.”

At the centre are the Modern Apprentices themselves. Lindsey Burke and Anna McGowan have completed their first year of their Modern Apprenticeships in business and administration. Lindsey works with Data Solutions team, while Anna works on the IT Service desk.

Both young women had other options available when they left school, but both felt that a two-year Modern Apprenticeship would give them the best start to their careers. Burke comments: “What the Modern Apprenticeship has

allowed me to do is to take some time to develop my skills and build some experience. If I want to go to university or get another position after I’ve completed my time with SQA, then I still can.”

For the SQA, the successful outcome of the Pathways programme is to equip its Modern Apprentices, such as McGovern and Burke, with the skills, experience, and perhaps most importantly, the confidence they will need to build their futures. Sarah Anne Rooney adds: “A Modern Apprenticeship isn’t a guarantee of a full-time job, however the Pathways programme is a demonstration of our responsibilities and our commitment to developing the young workforce, to young people across Scotland.

“It’s our responsibility to work in partnership with colleges and training providers to offer a commitment to a young person, that we will support them with their learning, we will provide them with appropriate on-the-job training, and that we will give them the opportunity to achieve recognised, relevant qualifications.”

For more information on how SQA qualifications support apprenticeships in Scotland, and our own Pathways Modern Apprenticeship programme, visit www.sqa.org.uk/apprenticeships

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Architects of the new Scottish economy

IoD Scotland Annual Conference, Gleneagles Hotel, Thursday 31 October & Friday 1 November What will Scotland’s economy look like in the future – and who will be the architects of this new landscape? To find out – and contribute to the debate – join us from 31 October - 1 November at the Gleneagles Hotel for the IoD Scotland Conference 2019.

We have pulled together an exciting line-up of speakers and panellists to explore the theme Architects of the New Scottish Economy. Our keynote speakers are: n Charlotte Valeur, IoD n David Beurle, Future iQ n David Cutter, Diageo n Tim Eldridge, The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) n David Febrache OBE, Scottish National Cyber Resilience Leaders Board n Edel Harris, Cornerstone n Kevin Mathers, Google UK n Jamie McGowan, Essence of Harris n Dr Kim Winser OBE, Winser London Now is the time to ask yourself

whether you are ready for the challenges ahead – and to re-engineer your skill-set so you can play your part in creating the economy of tomorrow.

“This is a key event for Scottish businesses, especially with the Brexit deadline falling in the same week,” says Aidan O’Carroll, Chair of IoD Scotland.

“It is an excellent opportunity for business leaders to come together to share ideas and concerns, while hearing from some of the country’s most experienced business people.”

In addition to our speakers, the conference includes a host of other events and exciting features. The conference will close with our traditional black-tie dinner on Friday night, at which Leslie Evans, Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government, will be our guest speaker.

During Friday a series of workshops will be held, allowing delegates to get closer to key themes. In addition, we will

Our venue: The Gleneagles Hotel host a panel discussion, the Scottish Business Insider Leadership Conversation, and there will be plenty of the all-important networking time to ensure you leave Conference full of new ideas and new perspectives.

The event opens on Thursday afternoon when we will host our Development Lecture, alongside Director Development workshops.

Whether you can attend full Conference or only part of it, we are confident that it will be time well spent.

We have worked closely with the hotel to ensure preferential rates and there are a variety of options to choose from.

IoD Scotland is delighted to be working in partnership with Salesforce; Where Now Consulting; Scottish Government, Cyber Resilience Unit; The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH); Scottish Business Insider; VISTRA and Gleneagles.

Conference speakers David Febracher obe Chair, Scottish National Cyber Resilience Leaders’ Board In his role on the Scottish National Cyber Resilience Leaders’ Board, David advises Ministers on the Scottish Cyber Resilience strategy. David is also the Head of Global Cyber Futures for KPMG, leading KPMG’s cyber innovation programmes.

He was the winner of the 2018 Cyber security personality of the year award and has over 30 years’ experience of cyber security, including as the Head of Cyber and Space for the Ministry of Defence.

Charlotte Valeur Chair, IoD IoD Chair Charlotte Valeur will be among our guest speakers at conference.

An expert on board governance, Charlotte was appointed to her role with the IoD with a brief to broaden the reach of its membership base.

“It’s imperative that people of all backgrounds know that the world of business is not a closed shop, and the IoD has a major part to play in achieving this,” she said.

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Edel Harris Chief Executive, Cornerstone Edel Harris joined Cornerstone, one of Scotland’s largest charities, as Chief Executive in May 2008 having previously been Deputy Chief Executive of Aberdeen Foyer.

A former police officer, Edel’s background is in health promotion and has significant experience in setting up and leading successful social enterprises and in developing new social care services.

Edel is also a Director of the Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust, the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) and the Robertson Trust.

David Beurle Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Future iQ David Beurle is CEO of Future iQ and is a world-renowned expert on urban, community, regional and organisational economic revitalisation. His work extends from the local and regional, through to corporate and governmental levels with a focus on ‘future thinking’ and long-term planning.

He specialises in creating innovative future planning approaches for use in regional and organisational settings.

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Conference speakers Dr Kim Winser obe Founder & CEO, Winser London Kim Winser obe is one of Europe’s most internationally renowned business women. She was the youngest ever female director of Marks & Spencer and has held global posts as CEO of Pringle of Scotland and CEO of Aquascutum, as well as acting as special adviser to Natalie Massenet at Net-APorter. In 2013 Kim launched her own digitally-based fashion business, www.winserlondon.com.

Kim holds a Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University and an OBE for her contribution to the British fashion industry. In 2013 she was appointed as Board Trustee of the Natural History Museum by the then Prime Minister David Cameron. She also serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Peninsula Hotels Group.

Jamie McGowan, Director, Essence of Harris Jamie McGowan is the director of Essence of Harris, a candle and home living company based on the Isle of Harris. Following an ethos of staying as local and natural as possible, Jamie and the team attempt to bring their customers the ultimate peace and calm with their hand poured, natural products. Jamie is committed to developing the Isle of Harris as a desirable place to live, work and visit; and in particular, to reducing the out-migration of talented young people by demonstrating that you can build a career and a future in the Outer Hebrides.

Tim Eldridge, Vice-President, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health Tim is a Chartered Member of IOSH and has more than 25 years’ experience in health and safety, working in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

He is Global Head of Health and Safety for HSBC, leading an international team looking after 230,000 employees in 80 countries. He also has significant experience with regulators, as an Inspector for the Health and Safety Executive. Tim has an active interest in the wellbeing agenda, particularly around how businesses can enhance employee wellbeing (and productivity).

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Kevin Mathers Country Sales Director, Google UK Kevin leads teams that help Google’s UK advertising clients make the most of the web.

During his 12+ years at Google, Kevin has also been the MD of YouTube UK, led Google UK’s new products team with responsibility for the introduction and growth of all their advertising products, and led their technology sales and UK search partnership teams.

Prior to Google, he worked at Deloitte, T-Mobile and one2one. He has an engineering undergraduate degree and an MBA from London Business School.

David Cutter President, Global Supply & Procurement & Chief Sustainability Officer, Diageo, David Cutter was appointed President, Global Supply & Procurement in July 2014. He is based at the Global Supply headquarters in Edinburgh and responsible for a world-class supply chain delivering Diageo’s brands to 180 markets around the world from over 100 production facilities located in more than 30 countries. In December 2018, he was appointed Diageo’s inaugural Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), in addition to his role as President of Global Supply and Procurement.

Conference sponsors

To reserve your places(s) or for more information, call First City Events on 01577 865498 / 07711 432745 / 07483 812596 or email conference@ firstcityevents.co.uk Conference Workshops and Booking form - see overleaf :: WWW.IOD.COM

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Workshops: Scottish Government, Cyber Resilience Unit

Securing Scotland’s digital future In today’s digital age, Scotland’s economy will rely heavily on digital innovation to improve business efficiency, drive customer engagement, and develop new products or services.

Digital technologies bring enormous opportunities, but they also bring with them new threats and vulnerabilities.

During the workshop, the Scottish Government, Cyber Resilience Unit will explore the

growing threat from cyber-crime to business and demonstrate how it innovates, operates at pace and scale and will identify the practical steps that business leaders can take to counter this.

You will learn that Cyber Resilience is your responsibility not the IT team.

Where Now Consulting

Getting in the mindset for growth

Where Now Consulting is delivering a workshop on the Friday of Conference focusing on ‘Getting in the mindset for growth’.

Achieving sustainable and profitable growth is a common goal for most organisations. Despite the investments made in sales, marketing and in acquisitions, too often growth expectations are missed.

This workshop takes a look at some of the inherent internal challenges to delivering growth as well as looking at opportunities and tools for increasing sales.

The discussion will be supported by examples and case studies as well as analysis on the growth performance of companies in Scotland.

How technology is changing business Salesforce is a global technology company founded on four core values of Trust, Customer Success, Innovation and Equality.

Many of the world’s leading companies use the Salesforce platform to bring their business into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and beyond.

We will share our unique view on how technology is changing the world of business, and where there are opportunities for Scottish business to excel in the future.

Top issues facing family businesses Family businesses are unique – to future-proof for the next generation, planning is needed for both family success and business success. It has to be a parallel process. The alternative, continuing to tolerate the difficulties, can often lead to conflict that impacts business continuity.

Delivered by Mairi Mickel, Founder, Mairi Mickel’s Business Families, this participative session will allow delegates to learn more about how this process can tackle the hallmarks present at each of a family business’ generational transition points.

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IoD Scotland Events To book, contact Ms Patricia Huth on 0131 557 5488 or Patricia.Huth@iod.com

IoD Scotland Learn & Lunch: Short, sharp CPD sessions on key topics for directors

Employment Update Date: Time: Venue: CPD: Prices:

10 Oct 12:00 - 14:00 IoD Scotland, Edinburgh 1.5 hours Members and Guests £15 + VAT Non - Members: £20 + VAT

The UK’s employment landscape is continually evolving. Understanding how the courts address fundamental practical issues arising from the operation of businesses, is crucial to avoiding liabilities for your business and importantly, for directors themselves.

A raft of recent, imminent and expected changes are especially relevant to directors, whether that be in relation to your duties; to understanding how on a practical basis the courts assess the status

of those you engage with (contractors or employees); IR35 and the tax treatment of self employed consultants; or the possible impacts (positive and negative) of Brexit on your obligations as an employer.

If any of these concerns sound familiar, come along to IoD Scotland’s employment update lunch. Over lunch, you’ll get the information you need to help your business keep ahead of the curve and identify possible issues before they become problems.

The session will be led by John Lee, who has dedicated his career to advising and supporting employers and senior executives in the fields of employment and discrimination law. John was admitted as a Solicitor-Advocate in 2006 and has been accredited by the Law Society of Scotland in both employment and discrimination law since 2008 and 2009 respectively.

Influencing Others and Handling Challenging People Date Time: Venue: CPD: Prices:

12 Nov 9am - 1pm IoD Scotland, Edinburgh 4 hours Members £175 + VAT Non-Members £195 + VAT

Influencing skills are essential for good leadership as the job ceases to be about you and all about those working with you. Learn about the latest research which reveals the persuasion techniques that really work.

The skills to handle even the most challenging people will be outlined and practiced in this workshop.

• Working out who are your priorities to influence • The 8 skills of influencing

• The 5 Step Process for handling a difficult person • Behavioural analysis using the Interpersonal Influence Inventory • Practising the skills for success.

This half-day workshop (9am-1pm) can be taken alone or in conjunction with five other IoD masterclasses that aim to provide practical learning and focus on the different behaviours and skills needed to be effective on boards.

An Introduction to Public Appointments Date: 14 Nov Time: 2pm - 4pm Venue: IoD Scotland, Edinburgh CPD: 1.5 hours Prices: Members £15 + VAT

Non Members £20 + VAT The Scottish Government Public Appointments Team invites you to find out more about Non-Executive Director opportunities on Scottish public body boards.

Scottish Public Body Boards need NXDs to provide leadership, strategic direction, independent scrutiny and, in some cases, specialist expertise.

These are generally part time posts and can cover a wide range of issues, from the NHS to forestry; sport to finance.

For further information about vacancies go to the Appointed for Scotland website.

This event will provide information about: • what being on a Board involves; • the benefits of being on a Board; • the experiences of a current Board member; • the appointments process for public sector Boards.

The Fundamental Role of the Non-Executive Director Date: Time: Venue: CPD: Prices:

26 Nov 9am - 5pm IoD Scotland, Edinburgh 8 hours Members Early Booking rate £295 + VAT Members £345 + VAT Non Members £375 + VAT

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This one-day workshop identifies the various roles of the non-executive director (NXD) in Scotland within a range of settings, sees how their appointment can help balance a board and how they make an effective contribution to a board’s work. It also examines methods for NXD selection and reviews their motivation, induction and reward. It will

help improve your current performance or help prepare you for the time when you may be appointed.

All delegates will receive extensive workshop notes and a certificate of attendance. There will be ample opportunity to share experiences and future aspirations in a session facilitated

by David C Watt.

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IoD Scotland Events - Director Development

To book, contact Ms Avril Gall on 0131 557 5488 or director.scotland@iod.com

Influencers’ Dinner with Stephen Leckie: At the helm of a family business Date: 8 Oct Time: 6pm-10pm Venue: Crieff Hydro, Crieff CPD: 2.0 hours Price: Members £60 + VAT

Non Members £75 + VAT IoD Scotland is running a Role of the Family Business Director workshop at Crieff Hydro on October 9 (see below). The night before we are holding an Influencers’ Dinner - ‘At the Helm of a Family Business’, where Stephen Leckie will share with IoD Tutor Mairi Mickel, his insights into this special role.

Stephen Leckie is Chair and Chief Executive of Crieff Hydro, the fifth

generation of his family to run this hotel and estate since it opened in 1868. He worked in the hotel from a young age, “sweating” all areas of the business to gain a thorough appreciation of the demands of running of a large hotel.

It is Stephen’s determination, grit and vision that brought him back to Crieff Hydro in 1994 to transform the product

offering. He introduced an ambitious modernisation and development plan and oversaw a £60m investment in the Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels.

Stephen is committed to supporting and developing Scottish tourism at both a national and local level and in sharing business expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to support the industry.

Role of the Family Business Director and the Board Workshop Date: 9 Oct Venue: Crieff Hydro, Crieff,

Strathearn House,

Crieff PH7 3LQ Time: 9am-5pm CPD: 8 hours Price: Members Early Bird £310 + VAT

Members £345 + VAT

Non Members £395 + VAT This one-day workshop explores the role of the director and the Board within individual and family-owned companies. Important aspects of the director’s role are the legal duties and changing architecture of governance,

which have much to offer both start-up companies and established family-owned companies.

It will give participants: • Overview of relevant principles of governance for board effectiveness.

• Directors’ statutory duties and responsibilities.

• Why the company’s property belongs to it and not the shareholders.

• Striking a balance between family control and effective management people and processes.

• The role of the Family Council.

• The role of the independent NXD.

• The role of professional advisors.

• Family Business Survival energising succeeding generations.

• Next Generation development.

• Working with providers of private equity.

• Family Business exits.

It will be led by Mairi Mickel, a Family Business advisor with her own consultancy specialising in succession planning. She tutors, speaks and publishes on topics such as family business governance, family business leadership and developing the next generation

Directors’ accountabilities in a digital era

The Fundamental Role of the Trustee/ Director in the Third Sector Workshop

Date: Venue: CPD: Price:

Date: 22 Oct Time: 9am - 5pm Venue: IoD Scotland, Edinburgh CPD: 8.0 hours Prices: Members £150 + VAT, Non Members £195 + VAT This workshop will examine the specific role required of Trustees and Board Members of bodies in the Third Sector.

It is primarily designed for Third Sector Board members who want to strengthen their contribution or understand how to help improve their Board’s oversight and governance performance.

Those who are thinking about joining a Board will also find it useful in exploring what they need to know as well as what they can bring to the board.

It offers an overview of the particular legal and constitutional position of Boards, The roles and responsibilities of Board Members/Trustees and corporate governance.

It will be led by David Watt.

7 Nov Time: 9am-1pm IoD Scotland, Edinburgh 4 hours Members £150 + VAT, Non-members £195 + VAT

This half-day workshop addresses navigating board risk, compliance and security threats in today’s business world. Security and risk management must go beyond technology and network infrastructure products. It needs to be an on-going process that includes people throughout an organisation. Understanding the risk levels that your organisation faces and effectively leading change to protect your individual legal accountabilities, as a Director, is paramount.

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Driving Eureka! Innovation Engineering for Leaders Date: 3 Oct Venue: IoD Scotland, Edinburgh Time: 9am-5pm CPD: 8 hours Price: Members Early Bird £310 + VAT

Members £345 + VAT

Non Members £395 + VAT This workshop is for directors who want to know how to embed innovation into their organisation.

Companies that innovate realise 200 to 300% increases in profit growth when they transform to a proactive innovation culture versus a reactive price driven strategy. However, research indicates

The Apprentice Director Workshop Date: 8 Oct Venue: IoD Scotland, Edinburgh Time: 9am-5pm Price: Members Early Bird

£310 + VAT

Members £345 + VAT

Non-members £395 + VAT This one-day workshop is designed for the newly-appointed, or apprentice, directors who want to gain the basic tools to do the job. It outlines the role and legal responsibilities of a director and explores how the apprentice moves from managing to directing.

The workshop will include: • The legal duties of a director • The legal and regulatory environment • Company Constitutions • Corporate Social Responsibility – its width and its relevance • Relationships with shareholders and stakeholders, including use of social media • Board structures and organisation • Contributing at board meetings • Relationships with the chair and the non-executive directors • Board decision-making • Understanding strategy and risk including cyber risk • Director contracts and removal of directors • Director and board evaluation The workshop will help improve your current performance as a director and help you prepare for your first appointment to the board.

Opportunity to network and learn from the experiences of other delegates.

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that leaders believe innovation is risky, takes too long or they simply do not know how to innovate.

Innovation Engineering (IE) is a new field of study that transforms innovation from a random gamble to a reliable system that delivers increased speed (up to 6x) and decreased risk (30 to 80%).

In this highly interactive workshop, participants experience some of the tools that could enable their teams to create, communicate and commercialise big ideas for new products, services or work systems faster and with less risk.

Focusing on the role of the leader and how to build innovation into a business

plan to drive innovation success, participants will get to practice the Strategy Activation System. This ensures the innovation effort is focussed in an area that is both important and possibly urgent for the business.

The workshop comprises short presentations followed by fast-paced group exercises to practice the innovation tools. It will be led by Helen Potter, co-founder and CEO, Potter Innovation, who now teaches leaders how to turn ideas into reality, quickly and with less risk, by using IE, a proven, data-driven, systems-based approach to innovation.

Making an Impact for Business Presentations – A Ros Taylor Masterclass Date: 5 Dec Venue: IoD Scotland, Edinburgh Time: 8.30am-12.30pm Price: Members £175 + VAT

Non Members £195 + VAT This workshop will help participants to present to any size of group and have a rewarding, enjoyable experience. You will learn how to put a presentation together speedily without jeopardising quality, and how to be relaxed enough to focus on the audience not your beating heart.

You’ll also learn: • What makes a good business presentation?

• The nature of body language – the essential components to make an impressive impact • The Magic Process for speedily constructing effective business presentations • An introduction to Mind-Mapping • How to involve an audience • Relaxation and visualising success It will be led by Ros Taylor, a leading

UK and international clinical psychologist, corporate and leadership coach who travels the world developing the leadership potential of employees through her Just Leadership programme.

She is a visiting professor at Strathclyde Business School focusing on leadership and runs her own successful leadership and coaching business.

• All IoD Scotland masterclass half-day workshops can be taken alone or in conjunction with five other masterclasses that aim to provide practical learning and focus on the different behaviours and skills needed to be effective on boards.

Of relevance to individuals who are directors and those about to be appointed within the Private, Public and Third Sectors, this series is for those serious about their professional development.

There are six Masterclasses in this series; book on all six and pay for only five. Contact director.scotland@iod.com

Mastering the Art of Strategic Questioning Date: 21 Nov Venue: IoD Scotland, Edinburgh Time: 9am-5pm CPD: 8 hours Price: Members £345 + VAT

Non-members £395 + VAT Questioning skills are the sine qua non of successful business leaders.

In this highly interactive one-day workshop (9-5), you will learn a breakthrough questioning method that is steeped in investigative journalism,

cognitive neuroscience and social psychology. The method emphasises humility, finely tuned listening, empathy, and Eastern and Western perspectives on mindfulness – an ideal model for effective leadership and governance.

This workshop will offer you a new way to think about and ask questions, and will be led by Dr David Steinberg, a consultant and university lecturer who specialises in advanced questioning skills.

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IoD Scotland Events To book, contact Ms Patricia Huth on 0131 557 5488 or Patricia.Huth@iod.com

Invest for your future talent and skills Date: 19 September Time: 2.30pm-6.30pm Venue: Forth Valley College, Stirling, CPD: 3 hours Do you invest in your future talent pipeline?? Do you understand the educational landscape? Are you engaged with your local further or higher education community?

Are you aware of the options you could be implementing to develop your future workforce?

Come and enjoy an afternoon seminar with employers who are committed to developing the young workforce and find out more.

At the event you will hear about the business benefits of investing for your future talent and skills from businesses who have successfully made an investment in developing the young workforce by both supporting the apprenticeship family and engaging directly with education to inspire and attract talented young people to their sector and business whilst helping to

prepare them for the world of work.

Sector leading Forth Valley College will showcase how they are Making Learning Work, including the range of apprenticeship frameworks they deliver.

Other educational partners involved – Developing Young Workforce, Skills Development Scotland and Founders for Schools – will provide insight for business on the options available to employers.

The event is aimed at IoD members and non members whose businesses may benefit from supporting work-based learning opportunities and engaging directly with education.

The event will include an address by Jamie Hepburn MSP (pictured top), Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills; Dr Ken Thomson (pictured below), Principal and Chief Executive, Forth Valley College; and Jen Henderson, Programme Manager, Developing Young Workforce, Forth Valley College.

Learn & Lunch: Effective Business Writing Date: 24 October Time: 12-2pm Venue: IoD Scotland, Edinburgh Prices: Members and guests £15 + VAT Non Members £20 + VAT

At this relaxed and entertaining event, Jane Gracey will show how your written communication can have a greater impact on the success of your business.

The event is aimed at senior leaders of SMEs, professional firms and start-ups who want to improve their writing skills, and would be of particular benefit to those who don’t have PR or other relevant support in-house.

The focus will be on key techniques for getting your message across, whatever the piece of writing: whether you want to convey information clearly and succinctly - to specialists and nonspecialists alike - or are specifically promoting the business.

Influencers’ Dinner with Dr Graeme Malcolm obe Date 3 October Time: 6pm-9.30pm Venue: Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow CPD: 1.5 hours Prices: Members/guests £60 + VAT

Non Members £75 + VAT Dr Graeme Malcolm OBE, CEO and Co-Founder of M Squared provides an insight into the award-winning scientific engineering company which helps scientists understand the world around them.

Recognised as a Sunday Times Fast Track 100 and Export Track 100 company, M Squared received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2016 and International Trade in 2017. Graeme received an OBE in 2015 for services to science and innovation and was recognised as one of Britain’s game-changing entrepreneurs in the 2017 Maserati 100. He is a Fellow of The Royal Society Edinburgh, a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and visiting Professor and Entrepreneur in Residence at the Institute of Photonics at the University of Strathclyde. He has authored and co-authored 62 papers and conference proceedings and has secured 61 active patent families with 211 individual filings worldwide.

Make that connection with the IoD We would like to invite all our recent new members as well as existing members to an informal get together with the IoD Scotland team at our Edinburgh office.

Over drinks and nibbles, you will have the opportunity to meet other members and view the facilities at IoD Scotland headquarters at Charlotte Square.

All sessions are free of charge, beginning at 5pm and running through until 7pm Next events: 26 September, 24 October, 28 November

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Welcome return for Scottish International Week 2019 We are delighted to announce that Scottish International Week will return for its third year this October.

If you are a business leader, director, entrepreneur or investor involved with a scaling or established business, then SIW19 is not to be missed.

The goal of SIW19 is to support Scottish-based companies scale across the UK and internationally, through the delivery of peer-led events. Previous attendees include senior business figures, directors, founders, investors and entrepreneurs.

The line-up of speakers this year is drawn from a range of backgrounds, all offering something unique. The goal of each talk is to ensure that you leave with an insight that can be turned into immediate action for your business.

Members of the network can become involved as hosts, speakers and, of course, as attendees to any of the events that we hope to run, from Inverness to Galashiels.

A series of events are being held across Scotland and London, beginning on October 22 and ending with a showpiece event with the Bank of Scotland at the Mound in Edinburgh on October 29. These will take the form of talks by leading business figures, panel discussions and provide attendees with the opportunities to meet with the very people who can help you succeed.

Scottish International Week is organised by the Institute of Directors and Scottish Business Network, but is being delivered by the whole Scottish business community.

Look out for updates on speakers, supporters and events: www. scottishinternationalweek.com or follow the conversation on Twitter via @sbnscot and #SIW19.

Scenes from events hosted by the IoD during the Scottish International Week 2018

IoD is hosting SIW on 23-24 October.

See www.iod.com for updates.

“The goal of each talk is to ensure that you leave with an insight that can be turned into immediate action for your business�

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Membership benefits

Make the most of your IoD membership IoD membership comes with a host of benefits – on travel, on hotels, accommodation and meeting rooms as well as business services.

Facilities/Locations Free access to IoD lounges at the following sites, plus special discounts on meeting rooms and other services n IoD Scotland, 10 Charlotte Square n 200 SVS – Glasgow Hub n Forth Valley College Stirling Hub n The Centre for Entrepreneurship – Elevator, Dundee n Citibase Business Centre Aberdeen (pictured), Queen’s Road and Hill of Rubislaw

n London – 116 Pall Mall + many centres around the UK Travel and Parking n Members and accompanying family and friends receive 20% discount on Swissport Lounges on production of membership card. n Discounted parking (£10 per day Castle Terrace car park) for members using 10 Charlotte Square – contact the IoD office on (0131) 557 5488 for information.

Emirates exclusive IoD Skywards upgrade

Emirates works in partnership with IoD Scotland members on its Skywards frequent flier programme, automatically upgrading their membership levels from Blue to Silver or Silver to Gold.

Additional benefits include dedicated check-in, priority boarding, additional baggage & Emirates First & Business Class lounge access*.

Please contact Jill Niven, Senior Sales Executive – Jill.Niven@ Emirates.com quoting your forthcoming Emirates booking reference to take advantage of this offer.

Emirates flies 19 times daily to Dubai from eight UK airports: London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh, offering seamless connections to over 160 destinations.

On board passengers enjoy worldclass service, regionally inspired gourmet cuisine and over 3,500 channels of award-winning entertainment – plus phone, sms and Wifi connectivity from every seat. On the ground, First and Business Class

passengers can take advantage of the complimentary Chauffeur Car service, expedited check-in, dedicated baggage handling and luxurious lounges ensuring a seamless journey from start to finish. * Emirates has dedicated First & Business Class lounges in 36 worldwide cities along with several in Dubai. Our premium customers departing Glasgow will have access to one of these dedicated lounges while those departing from Edinburgh will be welcome to use the brand new No 1 lounge. * T’s & C’s – Skywards status upgrades will be valid for 1 year, tier miles must be maintained to retain status level; repeat upgrades cannot be approved.

The new IoD base in Aberdeen

n Diesel 24 Fuel Card - All IoD members will benefit from a fixed weekly discounted rate for their fuel. Allcard fee will be waived for IoD members See this feature for more details on specific benefits, or contact the IoD office on 0131 557 5488, or via iod.scotland@iod.com.

Work for Good

Work for Good is an online platform which makes it easy for smaller businesses to donate to charities through their sales and helps them track donations, set targets and promote their giving.

Businesses sign up, choose a charity, and start donating. The platform takes care of the legal admin - the commercial participation agreement - which is needed when a business wants to link donations to sales and promote their support of charities.

Collectively businesses have the power to make a difference, engage their customers and inspire others to do the same.

Use discount code IODWFG for a free Work for Good account for the first year.

Ignite Your Brand

Inspire and grow ambitious brands – from start-ups looking to acquire their first customers, through SMEs exploring new markets, to corporates looking to enhance their bottom line.

Inspire Your Brand is offering a half-day brand strategy workshop (face-to-face or virtually) for free as an exclusive offer to IoD members.

This provides ambitious organisations with an overview of their target markets and steps to improve their internal and external communications.

More details at www.inspireyourbrand.com

UK-wide Member Benefits All members of the IoD can take advantage of exclusive business services: Information and Advice - Business Information Service n Research n Guidance n Advisory n Tax Line n Law Express

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Personal and Business Services at preferential rates n Directors Liability Insurances n Business Sales, Acquisitions and Strategy Services PLUS n Car and Van Hire n Professional Indemnity Insurance n Home and Contents Insurance

n Health Cash Plans n Office Insurance n Private Client Insurance n Director-level Jobs and Recruitment Influencing policy – Policy Voice IoD Policy represents your views across the key areas of public policy.

Get your message through - join Policy Voice at policyvoice@iod.com WWW.IOD.COM

Diesel 24 Fuelcard Diesel 24 is an independent distributor for Shell, Esso, Texaco, UK Fuels and Key Fuels cards and provides fuel management solutions to business. All IoD members receive a fixed weekly discounted rate for their fuel. Card fees will be waived for IoD members. The main benefits of the unique deal for members • Fixed weekly discounted rate for fuel • HMRC-approved invoice saving you valuable time.

• No annual card charges • No administration charges • No non-usage or under-usage charges • No minimum spend • Access to our network which covers all Shell, Esso, Texaco, Gulf, Keyfuels, UK Fuels, Fastfuels, Gleaner, Topaz, Morrisons, Co-op, Moto and Tesco • Designated Account Manager • Your own online account • No contracts – Change cards anytime The Diesel 24 fuelcards save you time and money.

Even if you are using a fuelcard already get in touch and see how much you can save: Sue Florence: Tel: 01698 537157 Email: sflorence@diesel24.co.uk

Scotrail 1st Class Upgrade All IoD members can upgrade their seat on ScotRail to First Class.

To access this special offer: Apply for an individual Smart Card through the ScotRail Leisure Site, this process will take about 7-10 days from application to receipt of card, and will require the IoD member to upload their photograph. https://www.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/ smartcard • Once the IoD Member receives their Smart Card, they should contact Elaine Chester (details below) to register their Smart Card number and contact details. This will also allow Elaine to contact IoD members in the future when Account Based Travel is available.

IoD Members can then:

• purchase rail tickets online through the ScotRail Leisure Site, paying by card at the time of booking. Tickets will then upload onto the Smart Card when they present the card at a Platform Validator or Gateline.

• buy a ticket from a Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) at the Station. When you buy from a TVM the ticket is uploaded immediately.

• Smart Card should be presented to on train staff along with the IoD Membership Card to qualify for the 1st Class Upgrade.

• If an IoD member is looking to open a ScotRail Business Travel Account for employee rail travel, contact Elaine Chester via elaine.chester@scotrail.co.uk SEE MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS PACK FOR FULL Terms and Conditions

Smart PA - outsourced admin support for business SmartPA is a market leader in outsourced administrative, personal assistant and business support services. It frees business leaders from day-to-day management and administrative tasks that can hold them back, leaving them to focus on their core business.

Smart PA creates a tailor-made package to suit your needs, including weekly

Hotels and accommodation IoD Scotland has negotiated a host of superb discounts and special offers for members at hotels across Scotland.

• PH Hotels - 15% discount on food, drinks and accommodation at IHG Hotels: - Kimpton Charlotte Square Edinburgh - Kimpton Blythswood Square Glasgow - Intercontinental on George Street, Edinburgh and Voco Grand Central Glasgow.

Also new 15% discount on the Gym & Spa at the Charlotte Square Hotel. Quote IoD Scotland member when booking.

• Kingsmill Hotel, Inverness – Preferential rates for members • Holiday Inn, Edinburgh – 15% off best available rate. To book 0131 314 7018 or reservations@hi- edinburgh.co.uk, quoting IOD Scotland.

reporting, supporting delegation and providing full visibility of any need to scale up or down depending on your requirements.

As an exclusive benefit for IoD members, we are offering an 20% increase of support with our regular package hours.

See smart-pa.com/iod-offer or contact us on 0845 241 3372, quoting your IoD number.

Left, The Map Room, Principal Edinburgh

• Malmaison Hotels – 20% off lunches and dinners in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow; 10% off best available rate for bedrooms in Aberdeen and Dundee.

• Locke Apartments - 20% discount • Lateral City Apartments - 12% discount • Fountain Court Premier Apartments - discounted rates • Mode Aparthotel, Edinburgh – discounted rates. Book via Geeta.wilcox @modeaparthotel.com or 0131 370 8433.

• Angels Share Hotel, Edinburgh – 15% discount. Quote GLC15 when booking.

• Eden Locke – 20% off designer apartment. Visit LOCKELIVING.COM and enter code “LOCKEDIN” for 20% off Best Available Rate. Leisure stays at weekends 15% off through website - just enter the

code LIVELOCKE. • Yotel, Edinburgh. Quote IoD when booking online for a preferential rate. See www.yotel.com/yotel-edinburgh or call 0131 526 4950 • Lateral City Apartments 12% discount • Fountain Court Apartments. See www. fountaincourtapartments.com. Contact sales@fountaincourt.com to receive special discounted rates; quote “IOD”.

• Hawksmoor Edinburgh – a round of drinks on us when eating. Quote IoD when booking.

Where Now Consulting offers new service to IoD members Where Now Consulting is a leading management consultancy that specialises in helping companies and organisations to develop effective growth and operational plans, and to convert these into actions and results.

IoD Scotland Member Benefits • One hour free consultancy or advice • A 10% discount WWW.IOD.COM

• An online IoD members’ portal via the Where Now Consulting website, a platform for interaction between IoD members and the Where Now Consulting team.

Our team of experts provide practical advice on: • Business growth • Mergers and acquisitions • Business performance improvement • Market analysis and insights For more details, call 0141 370 8999 Email: info@wherenowconsulting.com Web: www.wherenowconsulting.com

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Business advice: Vistra

Service Address: how to protect the privacy of company directors

Do you want the world to know your home address, just because of your business dealings?

Do you value your privacy and want to keep your work and home life separate? For company directors, using a professional Service Address that maintains a distinction between the two could be the answer If you are thinking about starting a business or are already a director of a UK company, you will be required to provide Companies House with an official address for the company, known as the company’s ‘’Registered Office’’.

HMRC and Companies House use the company’s Registered Office to communicate with the company about its statutory requirements, filing of financial accounts and annual confirmation statement.

Additionally, officers of the company (directors, Persons with Significant Control [PSCs]), must also by law register an address with Companies House, known as the officers’ ‘Service Address’. It will be the key address used by these government bodies to communicate directly with the officers of the company.

Why would directors not want to use their private residential address as their Service Address?

• They might be operating from home, or a shared office facility, or might be always on the move.

• They might have premises that are a perfect fit for their business (eg, a warehouse, retail premises or commercial building) but are not

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suitable for the receipt of important documents from government and or legal organisations.

• They want to provide a professional image of the business at a prestigious location.

• They don’t want clients, customers, or agents visiting their home address (at least unannounced).

• It might be that their lease/tenancy agreement does not permit the use of their rental premises for this purpose.

• Directors or PSCs value their privacy, they do not want their residential address on the free-to-access online register, available to view on Google Maps!

How can directors protect their privacy?

Both the company’s Registered Office

“Why would directors not want to use their private residential address as their Service Address?

They might be operating from home, or a shared office facility ... or want to provide a professional image of the business...”

and the officers’ Service Address must be a physical location that the documents can be served to, i.e. you cannot use a PO Box. The addresses are held on an online public database that is free to use and can be accessed by anyone worldwide without pre-registration.

While businesses tend to know that they can use an address other than their company’s operational address as the company’s registered office, many are unaware that in the UK they can use an address other than the officers’ private or residential address, as their officers’ Service Address.

Using a professional Service Address ensures that directors’ home address does not appear on the free online public database, providing greater confidentiality.

Andrew Cockburn is a Director of Corporate Services at Vistra, offering comprehensive administrative services and company secretarial support, including Registered Office and Service Addresses.

For more information contact andrew.cockburn@vistra.com or edinburgh@vistra.com WWW.IOD.COM