Business Comment 20

Low carbon conference delivers

DECEMBER 2012 / JANUARY 2013

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Contents

DEC 2012 /JAN 2013

Edinburgh - a city that knows how to party!

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We hear so much doom and gloom about the economy these days that it’s sometimes easy to forget how to be positive.

Christmas celebrations in Edinburgh

Yes, things are hard but, at the same time, we have so much to celebrate in this great city of ours and I think that realisation comes to the fore at this time of year.

As the fantastic summer festivals fade into the memory, and this year they attracted vast numbers of people, so we look forward to Christmas and Hogmanay. And if there’s a city that knows how to party it’s Edinburgh! I defy anyone not to be moved by the sight of our city centre streets bedecked with lights and other decorations and not to be uplifted by the sound of people celebrating a special time of year.

There are so many events to enjoy and we hope that our stores experience the busy season that they so badly wish for at the end of a year which has had so many challenges.

So, as we enjoy this magical time of year, let’s celebrate what is good about the city, its spirit and its determination to overcome difficulty, its innovation and its vision, its people and its customs.

With Hogmanay, comes the New Year, of course, and although talk of the end of the double dip recession should be tempered with a degree of caution, there are reasons to hope that 2013 will be better than 2012. Whatever the new year brings, one thing is certain; this Chamber will be there to support its members every step of the way, offering advice, organising events and promoting success. We are shaping our organisation to be even more focussed on the needs of members and building even stronger business partnerships to deliver our promise.

So, as we contemplate our reasons to be cheerful, may I take this opportunity on behalf of the team at the Chamber, to wish you a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

03 Introduction / contents

The First Minister gives his speech at the 3rd Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference 16|18 Inspiring connections

04 City prepares to ring in the season of celebration

19 60 seconds

05 Christmas markets

26|27 Low carbon conference delivers

07 Capital view

37 In the spotlight

08 Partners In Enterprise Building on success

38 Chamber news

41 Ask the expert / get with IT

12 Chamber news

44 Getting started

13 Be the best

47 New members

14 Business news

49 Partners In Enterprise

15 Going international

50 Movers & shakers

24|25 The Interview

Business Comment is an Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce publication.

All editorial a n d g en eral en qu iries: Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Tel: 0131 221 2999 email mayan.grace@edinburghchamber.co.uk Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Capital House, 2 Festival Square, Edinburgh EH3 9SU www.edinburghchamber.co.uk President: Alex Mcleod Chief Executive: Dave Birrell EDITOR Mayan Grace, Tel: 0131 221 2971 Email: mayan.grace@edinburghchamber.co.uk P RO DUCTION & DESIGN Distinctive Publishing, 8th Floor, Aidan House, Sunderland Road, Gateshead NE8 3HU Tel: 0845 884 2385 www.distinctivepublishing.co.uk ADVERTISING Distinctive Publishing, 8th Floor, Aidan House, Sunderland Road, Gateshead NE8 3HU Tel: 0845 884 2345 john.neilson@distinctivepublishing.co.uk

David.birrell@edinburghchamber.co.uk

David Birrell

FEATURE EDITORS John Dean & Francis Griss deangriss@btinternet.com DIS CLAIM ER

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

chief executive

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Chambernews

City prepares to ring in the season of celebration At the end of a tough year, there’s nothing better than letting your hair down and few cities do it better than Edinburgh!

This year, the Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations promise to be even better than ever, enthralling not just local people but the many visitors who come to enjoy the season Edinburgh-style.

BC takes a look at what’s in store.

We’re all dreaming of an Edinburgh Christmas With the festive season fast approaching, plans for a bigger and better Edinburgh’s Christmas

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have been unveiled, proving once again that Scotland’s capital is one of the best places to be at Christmas-time.

Commissioned by the City of Edinburgh Council, Edinburgh’s Christmas 2012 runs for six weeks from Thursday 29 November until Sunday 6 January 2013, with a programme packed full of excitement and wonder.

From the spectacular Light Night on November 29 to the Edinburgh Ice Rink and traditional markets, the city will once more be transformed into a magical landscape filled with festive favourites.

City of Edinburgh Council Lord Provost, Rt Hon Donald Wilson, said: “Edinburgh’s Christmas is one of the most iconic Christmas celebrations in the world and we are pleased to announce a varied programme of events and attractions for 2012.

“Whether it’s to catch up with family and friends, or just to relax and soak up the magical atmosphere, we are proud of the fact that so many people make Edinburgh their destination of choice.

“With the nativity scene at the heart of the city and carol concerts to attend, visitors and residents will have plenty of opportunity to enjoy the festive season.”

From skating beneath the stars on the Edinburgh Ice Rink to seeing the city from a new perspective on the breathtaking Edinburgh Wheel, there is something for everyone this Christmas.Visitors of all ages will be thrilled to see the return of live reindeer to St Andrew Square on 8 & 9 December, then Friday, Saturday and Sunday on both weekends before Christmas.

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Edinburgh’s Christmas Markets Traditional German Christmas Market ·Mound precinct ·Thursday 29 November – Monday 24 December ·Sun – Wed 10am – 8pm;Thu – Sat 10am – 10pm

·Free entry Traditional Highland Village Christmas Market ·East Princes Street Gardens ·Thursday 29 November – Sunday 6 January ·Sun – Wed 10am – 8pm;Thu – Sat 10am – 10pm

·Free entry The Real Scottish Christmas Fair ·Castle Street ·1 – 6 December

·Free Entry The Ethical Christmas Fair ·Castle Street ·8 – 16 December

·Free Entry Edinburgh’s Farmers Markets ·Castle Terrace ·Every Saturday during December; 9 am – 2 pm

·Free entry www.edinburghfarmersmarket.co.uk

run, jog or walk the 1.5km route around West Princes Street Gardens.

For the first time, there will be a 3D cinema in East Princes Street Gardens, where children and adults alike will love the award-winning Christmas caper ‘Rocket’s Missing Antler’.

Rocket is usually the fastest of all of Santa’s helpers, but he has lost his antler, meaning Christmas could be cancelled. The exciting visual feast follows the loveable reindeer, Cheeky Snowman and the Wishfairy as they battle against time to regrow Rocket’s antler and save Christmas.

Full details of all events, including timings and prices, can be found at www.edinburghschristmas.com

Following the success of last year’s St Andrew’s Day celebrations, Edinburgh’s Christmas will once again present an exciting programme of activity on the Castle esplanade on 30 November as part of Scotland’s Winter Festival.

During the day, there will be a chance for visitors to make their own lanterns, before a specially commissioned night time spectacular, with fireworks to celebrate Scotland’s patron saint.

Santa will be arriving in the city centre from 5pm on Saturday 8 December in his reindeer-drawn sleigh, and will make daily visits to collect his post and to see who has been naughty and nice.There will be a flurry of red and white on Sunday 9 December, as hundreds of Santas pull on their running shoes for the tenth Great Edinburgh Santa Run, in aid of the When You Wish Upon a Star Foundation. Santas of all ages will be able to

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professional claims. Employers subscribe to low cost monthly plans which provide cost effective CV checking credits.

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Subscribers to Veritas Vitae can easily screen CVs for independently verified candidates simply by entering a profile number at www.veritasvitae.com.

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23/11/12 15:23:52

Capitalview A lot of hot air?

The First Minister recently announced that half of Scotland’s electricity must be generated through green energy by 2015, which will be a key milestone towards achieving the ambitious target of producing all of the nation’s electric power from renewables by 2020.

Although it would appear that we are on track to do that, with the Scottish Government advising that in 2011, 35% of our energy was being generated through renewables against a target of 31%, will this trend continue for the rest of the decade?

Interestingly, while Mr Salmond was raising the targets in Scotland, John Hayes, a senior conservative energy minister, was warning “enough is enough”, appearing to sound the death knell for onshore windfarms. So, are the First Minister’s targets simply wishful thinking?

Not necessarily. Mr Hayes, in making his comments, was perhaps recognising that we have, to date, had a heavy reliance on onshore wind farms to reach our renewable energy targets. But as suitable land becomes more scarce and any capacity for absorbing

cumulative impacts is taken up, we will need to look at other resources and initiatives.

In Scotland we have many resources (as well as having a lot of wind!) which could be tapped into in order to generate electricity.

From waves and tides to the wind and the sun, all of these should be used to achieve the targets and to ultimately reduce emissions.

However some technologies are still at the proving stage; everyone knows that electricity can be produced from waves and tide – the next goal for the industry is to establish that wave and tidal power can be generated profitably at scale. This will be challenging and so there needs to be some incentivisation to encourage developers to use these technologies.

We saw some attempt at that in the recent ROC banding review in July, with the support for wave and tidal energy being increased significantly (by 250%) from 2 ROCs to 5 ROCs per megawatt hour for new projects.

However other technologies shouldn’t be penalised, particularly those technologies, which can encourage a lot of us to ‘do our bit’ for example photovoltaic panels.

Trudi Craggs

Partner, Dundas & Wilson CS LLP. So the targets aren’t wishful thinking but we will need to innovative and diversify to ensure they will be met.

Fantastic opportunity for Scotland Up to 750 jobs are to be created in Scotland by a company that makes wind turbines.

Luc Oursel, chief executive of Areva, said: “Scotland is known to be a pioneer in renewables and its commitment to offshore wind in particular was a key part of our decision to locate our future UK manufacturing base there.”

Areva, one of Europe’s biggest wind power firms, is to locate its UK turbine manufacturing arm in Scotland.

First Minister Alex Salmond said the decision could create 750 jobs in the manufacturing and support supply chain.

The company has signed a deal with economic development agency Scottish Enterprise, outlining its aim of locating turbine casing and blade manufacturing facilities in the country.

Mr Salmond said: “This is another powerful example of how attractive Scotland is for international investors and is indicative of our shared energy future.”

The firm is now looking at various locations with the favoured place being the east coast in the Firth of Forth.

Areva said it will manufacture its five-megawatt turbines in Scotland for offshore projects in the UK, complementing its base at Le Havre

which will supply France, Belgium and more southerly UK projects. A third base in Bremerhaven, Germany, will help establish an operation to cover the European market.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Scotland benefits from UK-wide initiatives to promote renewables and access to the entire UK consumer market.”

Maria McCaffery, Chief Executive of trade body RenewableUK, said: “Factories like those planned by Areva will provide the jobs of the future.”

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Businessnews Partners In Enterprise - Building on Success Our Partners in Enterprise programme continues to build from strength to strength and we thank again our current partners. Working together we have delivered unique business support as well as make significant contributions to economic development in our city and beyond.

We continue to manage requests across the business community who wish to be even more engaged with Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and we are extremely proud to welcome three new partners.

Representing different key areas of business sectors we have British Airways, Bruce Stevenson and Grayling Scotland who have recently joined as partners.

Detailed below is more information on our these companies and we look forward to building our unique partnership programme in the new year.

Lynne Embleton

BA provides 25 services a day between Edinburgh and London. There are nine to London City airport, flying new Embraer aircraft into the heart of London’s financial district, 12 to Heathrow where customers can connect onto a worldwide network of 123 destinations and four services a day to London Gatwick Airport.

In addition to passengers, BA flies important freight on behalf of Scottish companies, including: n 8,000 kgs of shellfish from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Barcelona and Madrid every week n Vast volumes of whisky flown to Singapore, Johannesburg, Hong Kong and other destinations all over the world n 150,000 kgs of salmon a week taken from Glasgow to North America and the Far East n Vital oil and gas connections, transporting equipment to and from Aberdeen Well over 1,300 people in Scotland work for British Airways. Each year, Scottish businesses supply BA with goods and services worth about £140 million, with total supply chain effects generating about £240 million a year for Scotland.

Following BA’s acquisition of bmi, BA has added more than 1,300 seats per day to its schedule between Heathrow and Edinburgh.

British Airways (BA) Lynne Embleton, Director of Strategy at BA, said: “We’ve been flying to Edinburgh since 1947, so have a 65-year history of bringing tourists to the City of Edinburgh and facilitating business links between Scotland’s capital and the rest of the world.”

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Edward Bruce

BA is using some of the former bmi slots at Heathrow to expand the British Airways network to growth markets in Asia.

Bruce Stevenson Founded in 1981, Bruce Stevenson has become one of the largest independent Insurance Brokers in Scotland, serving both commercial and private clients.

The company, which is proud to be an innovative and dynamic organisation, remains owner-managed and is still committed to the traditional customer service foundations upon which it was established.

Edward Bruce, Managing Director at Bruce Stevenson said “Bruce Stevenson has a clear focus and a standard of service that is both personal and professional. We are proud to be an innovative and dynamic organisation, however we remain owner managed and are still committed to the traditional customer service foundations upon which we were established. Our strapline, ‘bespoke and guaranteed’ demonstrates the commitment we strive to deliver to our customers” Its independent status is increasingly rare in the insurance marketplace and the company feels that customers benefit immensely from the personal service it provides.

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Bruce Stevenson has grown strongly in recent years. In 2009-10, its Gross Written Premium (GWP - the total policy premiums it places into the market) was £13.6m, the next year saw this increase to £15.2m and last year it grew to £17.4m.

“There are a number of themes that are important to Edinburgh and, indeed, Scottish businesses. The key is working with the Chamber and its membership to determine how we can add value to a debate – and taking advantage of that when it is right to do so.”

Rather than grow for growth’s sake by acquiring other broking firms which may be a good business fit, the company’s philosophy is looking at what is a good fit for its clients.

David Birrell, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: “Grayling is one of Scotland’s leading communications consultancies and is part of the world’s second largest global PR network. We are delighted to welcome a business of its calibre into the programme. I have already had first-hand experience of how the team adds real value to the way we work.”

To this end, it has recruited key staff who add to what it can offer in niche areas using their specialist experience, often brought in from outside the insurance industry to give an the edge in expert knowledge.

Bruce Stevenson has successfully grown its Property, Private Client, Renewable Energy and Housing Association specialist departments this way and has identified other market sectors where it believes it can offer an unrivalled balance of expert advice and service.

Grayling’s clients range from local businesses to global corporations and it has specialists in a range of disciplines, from crisis communications to political strategy and campaign planning. The agency runs a series of highly-regarded training sessions for in-house communications teams.

Ross Laird, Director at Grayling, said: “We’re very excited about this opportunity and look forward to meeting Edinburgh Chamber members and the other Partners in Enterprise and, as a former member of the Chamber’s Council and Chair of the Transport Committee, I’m delighted to be back at the heart of the Chamber’s work.”

The Grayling team

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Grayling Scotland Grayling Scotland is one of Scotland’s leading communications consultancies, it’s integrated Public Relations and Public Affairs offering will deliver a number of benefits to Edinburgh Chamber and its members.

Initially, the agency will act as an external PR resource, advising on both reactive and proactive media engagement but also helping to shape a wider media strategy for the organisation.

Billy Partridge, Director at Grayling, said: “We will be supporting Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce to better communicate its objectives to the Edinburgh business community, with the ultimate goal of improving awareness of the many benefits its members enjoy.

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    

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AGILE

JAVASCRIPT

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Chambernews

Welcome 2013 with Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival promises to kick off the New Year in style with the emphasis on Lucky 2013.

The three-day festival starts with a cast of thousands enjoying the Torchlight Procession through the historic Old Town on Sunday 30 December, and the celebrations continue with the World Famous Street Party and Concert in the Gardens on Monday 31 December.

More than 70,000 revellers from across the UK and around the world will see in the New Year, dancing the night away as they enjoy the very best in live music and entertainment on stages and screens throughout the Street Party. The stunning spectacle of the midnight fireworks rising from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle is an image that is beamed around the planet, and the evening ends with the world’s largest rendition of Auld Lang Syne.

A host of free events celebrating Your Lucky Day will kick off New Year’s Day around

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the city where revellers can try their luck in games and sporting activities. The hardy can enjoy the annual New Year’s dip in the River Forth - the Loony Dook – which will start off with a Dookers Parade through South Queensferry featuring pipers and a host of entertainment, followed by the brave (or daft) Loony Dookers. For those not quite tough enough to take the plunge, there are plenty of vantage points to watch the action and spectators are welcome.

Tickets are on sale now for the Street Party and Concert in the Gardens, participation in the Torchlight Procession is free (but torches can be purchased subject to availability) and all Your Lucky Day events are also free of charge.

For full details of all events in the three-day programme, and to purchase tickets, please visit www.edinburghshogmanay.com

23/11/12 15:24:17

BetheBest The Secrets to Sales Success

- A new training programme designed for Owner/Managed Businesses.

By Carrie Wilson In my experience, most Owner/Managed businesses are established because the owner has a passion for, and skill in, delivering a product or service, rather than a passion for selling it.

So how do you develop the passion and skill for sales? Well, the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has created a new training programme, specifically designed for owners of small businesses, which will help you. The programme contains four modules, covering: 1 How to Understand and Control Your Sales Process 2 How to Negotiate the Right Deal for You and the Customer

3 How to Network with Prospects and Build Great Relationships with Customers, and

The “Secrets to Sales Success� Programme launches in January, and will be held throughout 2013, with modules running on a weekly basis.

4 How to Make Better Sales Presentations than Your Competition Each module lasts for three hours, is practical in approach and will leave you eager to practice your new skills immediately.You can attend all or some of the modules to suit your requirements; and there are discounts available when you book all four.

For more details, and to book your place on the programme, please visit www. chamberbusinesssolutions.co.uk/Open_ Training_Courses or contact Carrie Wilson, Chamber Business Solutions Executive, at the Edinburgh Chamber, on 0131 221 3191, or by email: carrie.wilson@edinburghchamber.co.uk

You will create and implement your own Sales Success Plan and receive the help and support of our experienced facilitator, as well as learn from the experiences of the other delegates.

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Scott House, Mid New Cultins West One Business Park Edinburgh EH11 4DH

Tel: 0131 458 4255 Fax: 0131 458 4254 Email: edinburgh@sir-robert-mcalpine.com

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Businessnews

Mandy Exley, new Principal at Edinburgh College

New college seeks to support growing economy The vision to create a bigger, better and stronger college to serve Edinburgh and the Lothians is now a reality with the launch of Edinburgh College.

The new college has set out to provide improved opportunities and outcomes and, in turn, help to kick-start the regional and national economy by delivering skilled people to those industry sectors where Scotland enjoys a competitive advantage.

New Principal Mandy Exley said that the potential of Edinburgh College, both for students and for Edinburgh and Lothians, is limitless.

She said: “This is a significant landmark in the history of education provision in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

“By being bigger and better, we can combine strengths and resources to give our students high quality skills that will allow them to seize life-changing opportunities.

“Equally, we will work hand in hand with businesses to ensure we are not just providing a

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curriculum of varied courses – but are actually focused on training future staff to work in those key industry sectors where there is high demand or in those sectors which have been identified as growth areas for Scotland.

“We want to be an economic powerhouse for the Edinburgh and Lothian region, helping to drive growth and prosperity to benefit both the local and national economy.”

Mandy was appointed as Principal of the new Edinburgh College – the product of a merger between Edinburgh’s Telford College, Jewel & Esk College and Stevenson College Edinburgh - after a rigorous selection process conducted over a number of months.

She has a long history of leadership in education in Scotland having served for the last two years as Principal at Jewel & Esk College and previously as Principal at the University of the Highlands & Islands Perth College.

In a new development, the process also included the involvement of the leadership of the student body in the college - the President and three vice Presidents of the Edinburgh

College Students’ Association.This was seen as an important part of working with and for students in the new College.

Mandy added that within Edinburgh College there will be a clear focus on forward thinking and innovation, allowing for ‘centres of excellence’ in key learning fields to be developed in the new College.

She said: “The College itself will become a ‘centre of excellence’, building on the existing strengths of the three colleges to foster growth, opportunity and economic development.

“We are confident Edinburgh College will compete with the best in Britain and that it will be a College we can all be proud of.”

Edinburgh College, which as a £60m business makes it one of the biggest FE Colleges in Scotland, accommodates more than 35,000 students – one of the largest student bodies in Edinburgh.The College also employs around 1,300 staff operating from four main campuses; Granton, Sighthill, Milton Road and Midlothian.

23/11/12 15:24:26

Goinginternational Rebalancing of UK economy under way but progress remain slow The sixth DHL/BCC Trade Confidence Index, a measure of the UK’s exporting health, reveals that UK export sales and orders are still growing.

However, the rate of growth reported by the 1,897 businesses surveyed, shows that this growth slowed in Q3 2012, a disappointing fall on the previous quarter’s results.

In Q3, 39% of exporters reported that their export sales (for the previous three months) increased, but this is down from nearly half (49%) of exporters in the previous quarter.

over the next 12 months, and 46% believe their profitability will increase over the same period. In addition, exporters are still fairly confident in creating jobs. Just under a third (30%) of firms said they had increased employment levels, with 31% expecting to employ more staff in the coming months.

Almost one in four (24%) firms said they would invest more in training, and a quarter (25%) said they would invest more in plant & machinery, though this figure has fallen from nearly a third (32%) in the previous quarter.

Phil Couchman, CEO of DHL Express UK and Ireland, said: “It’s encouraging news that exporters this quarter viewed exchange rates as less of a concern than in previous reports,

as there were worries that sterling strength would impact Eurozone competitiveness earlier this year. However, exporters making inroads overseas still need our strong support if they are to continue to contribute towards a meaningful recovery for the UK.” John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “Rebalancing the UK economy towards exports is key to ensuring the UK’s economic recovery is sustainable. The latest DHL/ BCC Trade Confidence Index shows that the environment for many exporters is challenging. While many businesses are breaking into new markets, challenges in the Eurozone and the wider global economy have created uncertainty for others. The survey shows that confidence in the longer-term outlook for turnover and profitability is on the up, however increasing concerns about cash flow and weakening balances for export sales and orders in the near-term, underscore the importance of taking action now to support exporters. The government must not allow a lack of export support and cashflow problems to choke off an export-driven recovery.”

Export orders (for the next three months) also saw a decrease: 38% of exporters said that future orders increased, compared to half (49%) in the previous quarter.

The majority of firms said export orders and sales remained constant. So despite a focus by the Government on rebalancing the economy towards exports, the reality is that exports are not growing as quickly as they could.

Trade documentation data (required for all UK exporters trading certain goods in overseas markets) for UK goods exports in Q3 2012 shows an increase of 3% on the same quarter last year, but a fall of 1% on the previous quarter.

Continued problems in the eurozone, coupled with a difficult domestic economy means many exporters will face challenges over the next year. However, many are rising to the challenge. Despite Sterling’s steady gains against the Euro and Dollar in Q3 2012, the percentage of firms that said exchange rates were a concern dropped by twelve percentage points to 28% this quarter - a noticeable fall, and by far the lowest figure of the series.

The number of firms reporting an increase in confidence also rose slightly; 54% of businesses are confident that their turnover will improve

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Photos by Graham Carnie, Tuskite Photography

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Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference

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The 3rd Annual Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference featured acclaimed guest speakers from around the world, including the Rt Hon. Edward Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.

Photos by Graham Carnie, Tuskite Photography

Photos by Graham Carnie, Tuskite Photography

The conference assembled international leaders from all elements of renewable energy – developers, utilities, government and industry; and the international investment community to share and explore ideas on policy, technology innovation and finance as we transition to low carbon economies.

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David Birrell, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce with the First Minister Alex Salmond at the start of the Conference Ignacio Galan, Chairman & Chief Executive of Iberdrola giving his keynote speech at the conference dinner

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Guests relaxing at the conference dinner at the Signet Library

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Delegates enjoying the whisky tasting

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Edward Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate addressing the delegates

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Angus McCrone of Bloomberg New Energy Finance chairing the conference The panel of speakers including Kristian Møller, Deputy Director General, Danish Energy Agency and Keith Anderson, Chief Corporate Officer, Scottish Power during the International Question Time session

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Inspiringconnections Upcoming Events Christmas Party with Bonham

New Members

Thursday 6 December 2012 | 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Thursday 24 January 2013 | 5.30pm - 7.00pm

Description

Description

Come along to our relaxed Christmas Party at Bonham Auction House where you will have a chance to bring in the Christmas cheer and network over a glass of wine and canapés. Book early to ensure you don’t miss out on this fun night.

Location

The Bonham Auction House, Queen Street, Edinburgh

New members are welcomed along to a complimentary evening with Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce. Come and meet the team and network at this relaxed event. We will also hear from our service providers and how they can help you to make the best use of your membership. Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment!

Location

Fee

HSBC, Princes Street, Edinburgh

£20.00 (Chamber members and member guests)

This event is free to members and member guests For further information or to book onto an event call the events team on 0131 221 2972 / e-mail events@edinburghchamber.co.uk or visit www.edinburghchamber.co.uk

£40.00 (non-members)

Breakfast Connections Wednesday 23 January 2013 | 8.30am - 9.45am Speakers

Sue Bruce, Chief Executive, City of Edinburgh Council Councils face great challenges in the general economic climate of reduced public sector finances and demographic changes, which increase demands for services. Local authorities must respond by prioritising services, delivering continuing efficiencies and improving partnership working. Joining us at our January breakfast is the Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh Council, Sue Bruce.

This is a breakfast not to be missed to hear Sue’s practical insights about her role in promoting Edinburgh’s economic growth and prosperity, ensuring that the city is well-cared for and enhancing the quality of life for all.

Location

Ghillie Dhu, Rutland Place, Edinburgh

Fee £30.00 (Chamber members and member guests) £60.00 (non-members)

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60seconds Name: Sami Alami Company Name: Strathmore Business Centres Website: www.sbc-uk.com Q In five words or less, what do you do?

A Manager of Business Centres Q How long have you been a Chamber member?

A 4 Years

Q Are there any additional services or information you’d be

Q Why did you join?

A For the advice and the contacts the Chamber can provide.

A Legal and human resources.

particularly interested in?

what’s the first thing you would say?

Q What services do you use?

A Networking and training events.

A Become a member. If used to its full potential your

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

A Carol Cairns (Our support manager).

Q If you were telling another business person about the Chamber, membership is well worth it.

Q Where do you read your copy of Business Comment?

A At my desk in the morning with a cup of tea.

Scholarship helps student develop her career The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) is celebrating the success of its most recent scholar.

Edinburgh Napier University student Anna Katherina Klip graduated with a Second Class Uppers Honours in Festival & Event Management with Entrepreneurship, after receiving a £6,000 scholarship from The EICC. The scholarship was created in 2006 to support an outstanding academic candidate through the final three years of their degree course in Tourism Management, Hospitality Management or Festival and Leisure/Event Management.

Anna Katherina undertook two industry placements with the EICC team, allowing her an insight into the world of conference and event planning and production.

Jane McGowan, Head of HR from EICC, said:

“Universities and industry working together produce graduates better prepared for the workplace and we are delighted that working with Edinburgh Napier is delivering young people ready to make their way in the global events industry.”

Anna is the second Edinburgh Napier student to be supported by the city centre venue.

The first, Zophie Horsted graduated with a First Class BA (Hons) Festival and Leisure Management in 2008.

David Jarman, Lecturer and Undergraduate Programme Leader in Festival and Event Management, said: “Industry-sponsored scholarships like this really make a difference to the student experience and provide both invaluable financial support and, more importantly, real practical experience, contacts and knowledge from a leader in the events field.“

EICC Head of HR, Jane McGowan, graduate Anna Katherina Klip and Edinburgh Napier’s Festival and Event Management Programme Leader, David Jarman

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ADVertoriAl

Find Inspiration at Gleneagles Whether sipping a whisky cocktail in the Blue Bar; unwinding in the award-winning Spa by ESPA ; learning to fly a Harris Hawk from your gloved hand; or soaking up the unique atmosphere of The Sommelier’s Table in The Cellars, Gleneagles offers a world of unforgettable experiences.

Just one hour’s drive from Edinburgh and Glasgow, The Gleneagles Hotel was built by the Old Caledonian Railway Company in 1924 in the heart of a beautiful Scottish glen.

Set in an 850-acre estate with its own railway station, it immediately won fame as one of the world’s finest hotels.

Gleneagles is renowned for its three championship golf courses - The PGA Centenary Course - venue for the Ryder Cup 2014 - and the stunning King’s and Queen’s Courses. All offer generous fairways, big greens, challenges for all handicaps and superb views of the surrounding countryside.

Throughout the hotel you will find the finest comfort – from the 232 luxury bedrooms and suites, to the calming environment of the spacious destination spa by ESPA. Four restaurants ensure there is plenty of choice for gourmands, including Scotland’s only two Michelin-starred restaurant Andrew Fairlie, where a nine course tasting menu will delight the senses.

The Activities School offers clay target shooting, archery and trout fishing on three lochs within the resort’s estate, as well as

Right now, the resort is gearing up for the Ryder Cup 2014, making sure everything is in place for what will be one of the major global events of the sporting calendar.

With all-weather tennis, swimming, croquet, cycling, off-road driving and the British Falconry School in the grounds, there really is something for everyone.

The event team’s expertise covers all the major considerations, including AV, catering and accommodation, to all of those little touches that make an event so memorable.

Things like fresh flowers in corporate colours, themed room dressing and commemorative photography.

Meetings & events at gleneagles With a stunning setting, a wealth of experience and exceptional attention to detail, The Gleneagles Hotel will take your event to a whole new level. An event at Gleneagles offers the support of a dedicated event manager, the latest technical equipment, free parking, and complimentary wi-fi throughout the hotel.

Whether you are planning a series of executive meetings for twenty in our sophisticated top floor Boardroom; a gala dinner in our grand Ballroom; or a large two-day conference in The Gleneagles Suite, a choice of fourteen elegant and versatile private event spaces guarantee plenty of choice.

The right venue is, of course, hugely important. But so is the right organisation.

At Gleneagles, you’ll have the reassurance of a dedicated corporate events team with long experience in arranging everything from the G8 conference of world leaders, to international product launches and intimate weddings.

A luxury chauffeur fleet of executive cars and people carriers makes airport transfers a breeze - with the capacity to co-ordinate the transport of large groups in perfect comfort. offer: Gleneagles is currently offering a great value “Be Inspired” Day Delegate Rate for just £55 per person, including meeting room hire, a delicious lunch in either the lively Deseo or the relaxed Dormy Clubhouse, two tea and coffee breaks, and complimentary parking and WiFi. Competitive 24-hour conference, day delegate, and dinner, bed and breakfast packages are also available.

To discuss your next meeting or event please contact the Group Sales team on 0800 587 8806 or email group.sales@gleneagles.com

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one of Europe’s leading equestrian centres.

Meanwhile, at the Gundog School, guests can learn how to handle a trained gundog, incorporating obedience, agility and handling.

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ADVertoriAl

Managing Business Risk through Effective Negotiation and Confl ict Management How mediators can help to nip things in the bud – and resolve difficult disputes Few of us find it easy to deal with difficult situations, whether these are to do with personnel issues, sub-contractors or supply chains, boardroom or senior management conflict, problems with funding or dealmaking, or just long-standing unresolved disputes.

When problems arise they can quickly escalate, given human nature and our cultural tendency to become defensive and take positions – or simply our need to save face. Escalation can lead to polarisation and festering unease, whether in internal matters or in external relationships. Morale and productivity can drop. This is not good for business.

Avoid making assumptions about people; most people are trying their best in the circumstances in which they find themselves.

As the writer Margaret Wheatley has observed: “It’s not our differences that separate us but our judgments about each other.” Identify your own triggers and manage your own emotions.

John Sturrock QC

separate the people from the problem Approach the issues with frankness and clarity, and always treat the individuals involved, whatever you think of them and their behaviour, with respect and courtesy.

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In the jargon of effective negotiation, this is called identifying the interests of those involved, in contrast to their positions. What is this really all about? What are their hopes, fears, aspirations and worries? We can’t change the past but we can certainly influence the present and the future. Ask questions - and listen, really listen to the answers. Try and get into their shoes: how do they see it? As Atticus Finch said in To Kill a Mockingbird, “You never really understand things from another person’s point of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

Make a unilateral concession - give to gain

These days, there have been significant advances in our understanding of how conflict arises, how to manage it and even how to prevent it - and how to achieve more collaborative approaches to resolving disputes.

These give small and large organisations better opportunities than ever to build, maintain or renew important business partnerships and other commercial relationships or to bring difficult contracts and joint ventures to an end with the minimum of cost and time. Nipping things in the bud. In other words, we can all now be more effective at managing the risks inherent in unresolved conflict. The bottom line impact can be significant, allied to better reputation management and more effective customer and staff retention and project management.

What can we do to be more effective negotiators as we address actual or potential conflict? Here are some tips from experienced mediator and negotiator, John Sturrock QC, chief executive of Core Solutions Group.

search for the other person’s underlying needs and real concerns

The power of reciprocity is strong; if you understand what the other party’s needs and concerns are, you can offer something to address these, directly or indirectly. Don’t fear making a unilateral concession or surprising someone with a gift: it will very often stimulate a reciprocal response. This is all much easier if you keep in mind the Big Picture, the overall purpose, where your and their interests converge. Make sure you help people to save face.

Develop your options creatively

Detoxify the language Take time, pause before speaking. Choose your words with care. One word can make all the difference, as can your tone and manner.

Don’t demonise or personalise.You can be clear and direct whilst also being measured, under-stated and courteous. But this requires self-discipline because, under pressure, we can tend to default back into defensiveness and antagonist language.

Search for the nuggets that create value. It’s usually not just about money. What nonmonetary possibilities are there? Use your imagination. Weigh up the pros and cons, the risks, the alternatives. Don’t be boxed in by bottom lines. Keep an open mind - the person with the greatest flexibility will have the greatest influence on the outcome. Don’t just assert but look for objective justification to support any proposals. if you get stuck or need help, call in a mediator The ideas discussed above are not easy to implement, especially in difficult circumstances. A skilled, independent

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mediator can provide the necessary context and structure to enable tough conversations to be carried out, to bridge gaps and build understanding. Often the communication chasm is the real problem. An experienced mediator will know how to help people to re-engage. In pulling deals together, managing workplace conflicts, resolving difficult disputes and breaking deadlock, a mediator assists individuals and businesses to find their own solutions.

Mediation has a fine track record here in Scotland and elsewhere. It is used increasingly in commercial contracts, employment disputes, claims against professional advisers, the financial services industry, sports governance, SME issues and disputes involving local and other public authorities.

Consider trying mediation before resorting to litigation, tribunals or arbitration, or even internal grievance procedures. Many matters are resolved successfully in a day or two using mediation.

What do people say about mediation?

“I would like to thank you and your team for your assistance in bringing such a long standing complicated dispute between the parties to a mutually acceptable conclusion.The mediation process was instrumental in reaching a resolution in a very complicated set of circumstances. It was an interesting and rewarding experience, both

“I would like to thank you and your team for your assistance in bringing such a long standing complicated dispute between the parties to a mutually acceptable conclusion. The mediation process was instrumental in reaching a resolution in a very complicated set of circumstances. It was an interesting and rewarding experience, both professionally and personally, to be involved in the mediation.”

professionally and personally, to be involved in the mediation.”

Core Solutions Group is holding a one-day Negotiation and Conflict Management Master Class on Friday 25 January 2013 in central Edinburgh.

Led by John Sturrock QC and other senior Core mediators and coaches, the Master Class provides opportunities, in discussions and workshops, to explore the ideas discussed above and many other key tools and techniques.

“I find the Core training to be the best I have experienced”

Contact Stefanie Gibb on stefanie.gibb@ core-solutions.com or 0131 226 6564 for more information on a special rate for ECC members and to register.

Also available: Early Bird rate for Core’s 5-day flagship Mediation, Negotiation and Conflict Management course. Contact Stefanie!

“The skills I learned during the Core course and subsequently applied....have added a new dimension to my own style of management.”

And for more information about using mediation, visit Core’s website at www.core-solutions.com

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Theinterview President sees exciting future for Chamber Recently-elected Chamber President Alex MacLeod, who was born in the Highlands, has strong connections with Edinburgh, having studied Civil Engineering at Heriot Watt university in the 80s and lived longer in the city than anywhere else.

Although he now lives in Fife, much of his working week is either spent in Edinburgh, travelling or in the City, promoting not only current his employer Skanska but also Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

Alex has been involved in the Chamber for three years, two as a board member and latterly as a member of the audit committee with a watchful eye on the finances.

He said: “It is a real honour to be the President of the Chamber in Scotland’s capital city. Edinburgh is a city that is vibrant and has the real potential to be a powerhouse in growing the Scottish economy.

“It’s a city where inward investment has grown more than another other area in the UK in the past 12 months and where capitalising on the low carbon economy has the potential to further Edinburgh’s reputation on the world stage.

“I hope to bring skills and experience from my current job as Operations Director for Skanska to bear on the Chamber going

forward, offering strategic advice and direction and business planning, for example.

“As Skanska is a global company, I hope to use my international connections to further the city’s success in encouraging inward investment.

“The Chamber has gone through challenging times and much credit has to go to my predecessor Robert Carr for keeping the ship steady through his tenure. I am delighted that Robert has agreed to stay on the board and I have sought, and will continue to seek, his counsel.

“There is an opportunity for the Chamber to draw a line in the sand and get the organisation back to its core values, ensuring the interests of the members are at its heart and are our first , second and third priority.

“David Birrell has brought a new energy to the organisation, ensuring that we are firmly focused on the members’ needs and also growing the membership and capitalising on the inward investment. This ensures that indigenous organisations benefit in terms of their growth and the opportunity to provide local employment.

“The market is still challenging and, despite all the analysis, is likely to continue as such for the foreseeable future. There is a continued strain in public expenditure and it is important that the Chamber plays its part in alleviating this.

“As well as providing a network within which members can find opportunities, it can also provide the training and skills that any organisation may find difficult to provide themselves. In a hugely competitive market, this can make the difference between success and failure.

“I am working closely with David Birrell and the current executive team in formulating and executing a business plan for the Chamber going forward. David has a great team working at Festival Square and has recently strengthened this and we are already seeing results and a step change in the Chamber’s fortunes.

“It is important that the Chamber is the voice of business in the city and we represent our members at local and central government.

Often, business growth is inhibited by red tape and bureaucracy and the Chamber must play its part in overcoming these hurdles.

“Despite the economy, financial services and tourism are still key employers in the city and it is important that we continue to engender an environment in which these can continue to flourish. In addition the emerging sectors provide a huge opportunity for further inward investment and the provision of badly needed employment. Our aim is to ensure that Edinburgh can be the best it can be as a place to stay, work, rest, play and study.

“The city council has made it a priority to create jobs within the city boundary especially for our young people, and the Chamber can support, and will continue to support, these initiatives.

“We must never forget that the Edinburgh Chamber is just a small part of the Chamber of Commerce family and work is already under way to ensure that the sum of the parts is greater than the whole and we continue to use the strength of the entire network.

“I continue to be passionate, not only about the City, but Scotland as a whole and the potential we have to capitalise on our resources both human and natural to really become a force in the global economy.”

“There is an opportunity for the Chamber to draw a line in the sand and get the organisation back to its core values, ensuring the interests of the members are at its heart and are our first, second and third priority.”

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Alex MacLeod Operations Director, Skanska, and President of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

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coverfeature Low carbon conference delivers again for sector

By David Forsyth, Benchmark Media

The First Minister addressing the delegates

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Hundreds of delegates attended the third Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, delivered by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.

Delegates heard senior speakers from politics, the energy sector, and finance from around the world with Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond playing a prominent role in the two day event. The UK Secretary of State for Energy, Edward Davey, also attended the second day of the conference.

The triple bottom line is commonly mentioned when it comes to renewable energy and the low carbon economy but Mr Salmond added a fourth element to environmental, economic and social considerations.

There were also calls for the UK Government to deliver greater certainty through Electricity Market Reform, and fears expressed that a lack of certainty was hindering investment.

are mixed messages through EMR (Electricity Market Reform) and it is difficult to get projects to financial close. Market confidence and consistent government support is key.”

The headline figures look good; £2.9 billion has been invested in renewable energy in Scotland since 2009 and more offshore testing is going on here than anywhere else in the world. Renewable energy provided 35 per cent of Scotland’s electricity consumption in 2011 and it is the UK’s fastest-growing sector for inward global investors.

Jim McColl, of Clyde Blowers, who has global interests in renewables, made a similar point: “We are very focused on preparing for this market when it comes, but uncertainty is the biggest risk for us. It’s a big investment risk.”

Despite these positives, Lady Susan Rice, Managing Director of the conference headline sponsor Lloyds Banking Group, delivered a nuanced message, saying. “We have momentum, but many pitfalls ahead. We have not solved all the infrastructure challenges, technology needs to scale up, there are regulatory problems and economic volatility.

These are big, big challenges.”.

Lady Susan went on to argue that “stability and the approach to policy and subsidies is just as important as driving down costs, perhaps even more so. Regulatory risk is creating the biggest obstacle.”

The First Minister with Edward Davey, Edward Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and Ignacio Galan, Chairman & Chief Executive of Iberdrola

He said: “Climate change is not a distant ungraspable threat that will happen to our children and their children. In the developing world, the effects are catastrophic. The poorest countries bear many of the worst impacts of climate change. Low carbon technologies are not just an economic, but a moral imperative.”

Akio Fukui, of Mitsubishi, explained the position from the perspective of an inward investor. “In three years, we have spent more than £100m in Scotland but there is uncertainty about the return on investment and how much volume we will get,” he said. “We are very patient to have return on investment over 10-15 years but we need commitment from government to ensure that.

We need government assurance to proceed.”

Julian Brown, Director of UK Wind for AREVA, said: “As perceived by industry, the UK government is pretty ambiguous. There

Andrew Buglass, Head of Energy, Structured Finance at RBS Group, said although renewables remained a focus sector for lenders, there were “a number of headwinds with which to contend” – such as macroeconomic factors, wider Eurozone risks, reduced liquidity for both developers and banks and a lack of new equity investors.

Mr Buglass added: “I am concerned about the perceived politicisation of the sector, and certainly the policy environment appears more complex and difficult than when we started the EMR process.”

Javier Perea, Managing Director Commercial, Projects & Offshore at Gamesa ,said: “There is no other industry where you would expect to invest such huge amounts without assuring payback. Investors in renewables will expect results and returns on investment.”

Edward Davey, the UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, insisted things were moving in the right direction: “My job is to provide certainty, to ensure that the UK is and will remain a fantastic place to do low carbon business. I think you can see that priority clearly. We are opening markets and we are giving investors confidence in the long term.”

Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, listed the challenges but also echoed a rallying cry: “The transition to the low carbon economy is established as a strategic priority, but let’s not kid ourselves.

We still have a long way to go to capture the benefits beyond the low-hanging fruit. But we can lead from the front; despite our size, we are incredibly ambitious.”

Many other speakers gave a hard-headed assessment of the challenges facing the low-carbon economy, including a difficult investment climate and, in particular, a lack of regulatory certainty.

Delegates networking at the conference

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sPeCiAl FeAture

Generating waste from energy, an idea that has come of age Ever since he first walked the planet, Man has struggled with the problems presented by organic waste - the materials that rot down and cause major environmental damage.

energy. Its advantage is that the use of bugs means it is a natural process which lends itself as easily to back-yard concerns as it does to industrial-scale operators.

Every day around the globe, vast quantities of the stuff are produced, everything from waste food to livestock manure.

The irony is that this new-found enthusiasm is for a science has been known for centuries.

AD research can trace its history back to at least the seventeenth century when Irish scientist Robert Boyle and his colleague Stephen Hale noted that flammable gas was released by disturbing the sediment of streams and lakes. The world’s first anaerobic digester was built in Bombay, India, in 1859.

For centuries, the main solution has been Man’s traditional standby - dig a hole, throw the waste into it and hope the problem goes away. However, the problem has not gone away and landfill is recognised as a major environmental problem because when organic waste rots it produces methane and carbon dioxide, major contributors to climate warming.

Now, increasing numbers of companies are investing in a simple, age-old technology which offers a solution - anaerobic digestion (AD).

During AD, bacteria helps breaks down waste to produce ‘biogas’ ,which can generate

In modern times, the real breakthrough was research in Europe in the 1930s that led to the discovery of anaerobic bacteria, the microorganisms that make AD work, after which France and Germany led the way in refining a process now widespread across the Continent.

gas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, can be extracted.

It is a process that works as well in small containers as it does in massive tanks and biogas is flexible, able to be adapted for uses including running engines, fuelling boilers, driving generators and steam and gas turbines and even for fuel cells. Biogas can be upgraded and used in natural gas pipelines and the process can also produce agricultural fertilisers.

The technology is also allowing for the creation of new businesses, either farmers finding new ways to use waste or companies which can see ethe potential for selling their services to industry.

An age-old technology has, it would seem, come of age.

The science itself is simplicity personified. The way to generate biogas is to seal the waste and its bugs in an airtight container. Heat builds up, the bugs do their work and the resultant

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Janey Janey produces enough energy to light up Aberdeen.

The energy industry is powering Scotland’s future. And the future of the energy industry is being powered by Scotland’s people.

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With rigorous, relevant qualifications from SQA, Scotland is developing the skills to ensure that the energy industry can grow and develop and generate more opportunities in the decades to come.

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ADVertoriAl

Training for the renewables industry When the Scottish Government announced its commitment to the power generation and renewables industry, and in particular to the creation of 40,000 new jobs in the sector by the year 2020, it was just another reminder of the importance of the energy industry to Scotland’s economy and its future.

The Oil and Gas industry has long been the supporting pillar of the Scottish economy, from the very first discoveries of oil in the North Sea. But it is the continued potential for further growth, innovation and employment that keeps Energy at the heart of Government and business policy.

In short, it is very much a key industry, and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.

One of the most important factors is a ready supply of people suitably qualified and able to grow and develop with the industry.

However a highly talented workforce doesn’t just happen by accident, it’s down to excellent training and a continuing partnership between industry and education.

Scotland’s proud engineering tradition has also played a central role. In modern Scotland engineering remains pivotal to the economy and to the development of the oil and gas industry and the benefits it brings.

As Scotland’s national body for qualifications, SQA accredits, assesses and awards all stages of qualifications up to degree level, except those granted by professional bodies. It’s a role that SQA have fulfilled for more than a century and they can point to years of experience and success working with employers, colleges, training providers and schools throughout the UK and worldwide.

SQA is a Government body and reports directly to the Scottish Government. This gives it credibility with industry that other, purely commercial qualifications organisations cannot offer.

A renewable Future Scotland has a wealth of natural resources to exploit, from solar, and wind to wave and tidal energy. It is this natural wealth that underpins the Scottish Government’s determination to achieve a target of 20% of total Scottish energy use from renewable sources by the year 2020.

industry find its feet, and they are constantly working with the industry to develop new qualifications that will continue to provide the expertise and innovation required to find success long after 2020.

This is not just desk-bound theory either; these qualifications have been developed alongside the industry to recognise the kind of real world expertise and skills that employers will be looking for years to come.

A Bright Future There has never been a more exciting time to be working in the Energy sector in Scotland, and SQA’s established portfolio of relevant qualifications means there will continue to be a ready and growing supply of highly qualified individuals to see the industry to new heights.

SQA continue to work closely with the industry to develop qualifications that are robust and flexible and which are suited both to people just starting their working life and to those developing a career within the sector.

Just training the 40,000 new workers required to meet that target represent a considerable challenge in itself.

That’s where SQA qualifications come in. SQA have developed a whole range of relevant qualifications to help the new

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ADVertoriAl

On Track for Business Transform Scotland’s new report, ‘On Track for Business: Why Scottish businesses should try the train’, challenges Scottish business to try the train by highlighting the many advantages of switching from air to rail for business travel.

Welcomed by industry and government representatives alike, this report shows that use of rail for business-related travel is not only the eco-friendly choice, but also the superior option to air from an economic standpoint.

In terms of ecological impact, the statistics within the report are alarming: the average flight between Edinburgh and London results in 82kg CO2 emissions per passenger. In comparison, the average rail journey between these cities generates 27kg CO2 emissions per passenger: a full two-thirds less than air. As the report notes, a switch from air travel to rail will play an important part in cutting climate change emissions.

The report also analyses various economic issues associated with selecting business transport modes, and in particular some key factors pertaining to air and rail, including: cost, journey times, seamlessness of travel, quality of the travel environment, and overall productive use of journey time. For almost all criteria, rail proved to not only be highly competitive, but the preferable choice Focusing on business journeys between Edinburgh and London, the largest business travel market in the UK, the report establishes that 81% of flights between these cities had a cheaper (East Coast) rail alternative, with

32

further direct value-for-money advantages over air when the additional costs of transport between the airport and destination getting are considered. The report also notes that rail operators will often negotiate bulk rates for businesses with greater travel needs, resulting in potentially significant travel cost savings when switching from air to rail.

Presently, one of the primary drivers of the preference of air to rail is the presumption that air travel is significantly faster than rail. The conclusions of this report indicate that this is largely false. While many flights are technically faster than rail (with a maximal time saving of one hour, and only half an hour when comparing the 05:40 Flying Scotsman with the average flight between Edinburgh and Heathrow), this is not an overly significant time saving in the face of the cost advantages of rail, the seamlessness of a rail journey, and the fact that rail journeys provide a more productive work environment Rail travel is simply a less stressful and less fragmented means of getting from one place to another. As concluded in the report, a plane journey requires transport to and from the airport, security checks, and much tedious queueing. In contrast, rail passengers need only to arrive at the station several minutes prior to departure, there are few security requirements,

and very little queueing. Rail stations connect city centres, thereby eliminating the need for multiple changes in transport mode to reach the final destination, resulting in a more seamless, and stress-free journey.

Furthermore, regarding travel environment and with emphasis on the availability of productive workspace, the report finds that unlike the cramped conditions in airplanes, rail carriages (particularly First Class) offer larger seats, greater legroom, the ability to use mobile phones, and enhanced food service. Additionally, rail operators offer ‘mobile office environments’ by providing Wi-Fi, larger worktables, and sockets for electronic devices. As such, not only does the train provide a better environment, but also the report concludes that business travellers are more productive.

Ultimately, this report drives home the fact that rail is by far the superior choice for business travel due to its offer of exceptional value for money, a high-quality travel experience, and of course its clear-cut carbon advantage. So, in the words of Transform Scotland, why not try the train?

This report is available to download from the Transform Scotland website www.transformscotland.org.uk

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YOU CHOOSE,

Travel in style and comfort with either our Hackney cab or our luxury cars, we will let you choose.

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23/11/12 15:26:37

,

CAR OR CAB? www.comcab-edinburgh.co.uk

Please phone 0131 272 8000 to make a booking or 0131 272 8020 to enquire about opening an account with us.

BC issue 20.indd 35

23/11/12 15:26:41

Presenteeism:

a greater risk to your business than absenteeism?

Tabbard QP

Research has shown that more and more people continue to go to work despite being unwell. Stress, depression and anxiety are increasingly common causes of mental and physical illness. resolve helps employers to reduce the hidden costs of presenteeism and stress and promotes a mentally healthy workplace through tailored wellbeing services, including:

stress awareness information sessions and training guided self-help for employees to develop strategies to manage stress counselling to explore concerns in more depth one to one support for employers/managers to tackle stress in their workplace

For further information please get in touch.

resolve

MWB Business Exchange 9-10 St Andrew Square Edinburgh EH2 2AF Tel: 0131 718 6003 support@resolvescotland.org.uk www.resolvescotland.org.uk

find us on

resolve is funded by the Scottish Government’s Enterprise Growth Fund and is part of Health in Mind, registered Charity: SC004128

Our people-first culture makes us

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the global standard in customer service delivery

Between them, the 650 employees speak 17 languages, handling customer support for 21 countries throughout Europe, including Russia and Spain and also Turkey

Sykes (Europe) Calder House/Pentland Gait, 599 Calder Road Edinburgh EH11 4GA

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0131-458 6500

www.sykes.com www.sykes-gala.com

23/11/12 15:26:51

Inthespotlight Company name: Central radio taxis ltd Who? tony Kenmuir, Director Website: www.taxis-edinburgh.co.uk What were you doing between 10 and 12 this morning?

Where do you stand on work/life balance?

Responding to e-mails, text messages, phone calls, forum posts and walk-ins from taxi drivers regarding their suggestions, problems and queries about working their taxis day to day

Absolutely woeful. I work from 5am to 5pm, 6 days a week and for the last three years I’ve taken one week off per year. I’m behind the wheel of a taxi, in the office or asleep.

What do you see as your job’s biggest challenge?

Striking a balance between supporting 1,300 drivers while keeping an eye on the management of our business operations and driving my own taxis as often as possible (which pays better).

What do you consider your biggest business triumph?

Being voted onto the management committee of Central Taxis (becoming a Director) by my friends and colleagues, the 419 other members of our co-operative. It’s humbling to be offered that sort of support and recognition from your peer group.

Do you have any money-saving business tips?

Sell your car, don’t waste time waiting for a bus, hail or call for a taxi.

What do you believe are the 3 key stages on your career ladder?

Owning my own recruitment agency, becoming a Director of a multi-national recruitment agency, having a mid-life crisis and walking away from it all and buying my first taxi.

much liked anyone I met who was at or near “the top” in my former profession. I made a big change to what I do for a living and I still work just as hard but the nature of the trade is more honest and straightforward and I find that I’ve thrived in it.

Who is your hero?

What do you like to do on your spare time?

What spare time?

What qualities do you need to see in your employees?

It’s very difficult to balance the desire of a taxi driver to maximise his income every hour of every day with servicing the needs of clients for the overall, long term-good of the company. A driver who can see the “bigger picture” and provides a high level of customer service is a valuable asset.We have about 70 staff in the office including our callcentre temporary workers. Our key people are all first rate and they understand the need to balance the needs of the company with the needs of the individual driver.

in business, is it more important to be liked or successful?

My grandfather,“Papa” Kenmuir.The most honest, decent and quietly good-natured person I’ve ever met. In 89 years, I don’t think he ever made it throughfive minutes without laughing.That’s something to aim for.

Any business (or other) projects you would like to plug?

Central Taxis operates executive travel, shuttle buses, tours, weddings and insurance satellite businesses. Look no further.

other than your current position, what would be your dream job?

Doing exactly what I do now in half the time for twice as much money.

Who (living or dead) would you invite to a fantasy dinner party?

Although I have no work/life balance at all, I believe I can say that I’ve struck a balance in this area. If the other members of the company didn’t like me, I wouldn’t have been voted onto the board. If I wasn’t successful, I’d be voted back off!

Gran and Papa Kenmuir, my Dad, my Wife and my Daughter.That’s all I need.

outside of business, what is the most important thing in your life?

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

My family. I guess you figured that out already. I only wish that I could afford to spend more time with them but they need feeding.

Be honest about what’s really important to you. I made a handsome living and had some impressive sounding job titles but I never

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Edinburgh company’s award recognises great year The UK’s first manufacturer of completely compostable food packaging has secured an award after winning a series of major contracts this year.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Chamber Awards 2012 is committed to finding the best businesses in Britain through a series of regional heats.

Vegware, which is based in Polwarth Crescent in Edinburgh, beat off challengers from across the country to win the Excellence in Innovation Award (sponsored by DHL Express) at the Chamber Awards 2012’s Scottish heats.

Vegware, which is a member of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, was one of six winners in Scotland, who went through to the national titles in their respective categories.

The company’s products are all plastic-free and low-carbon, including hot cup lids, double-wall cups, soup containers, high heat cutlery and glassine window bags.

It has already convinced a number of high profile names to switch to their eco-friendly product, with its customers ranging from large contract caterers (Compass, Aramark) and food distributors (Brakes, 3663) to the NHS, Government departments and artisan cafes.

President of the British Chambers of Commerce Martyn Pellew said: “There has never been a more important time for businesses to showcase the amazing work they are doing on a day-to-day basis.”

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Other successful companies in the region include: • Alba Power (Excellence in Customer Service) • Ayr College (Marketing Campaign of the Year) • Elan Hair Design (Sustainability Award)

Edinburgh Corn Exchange wins again The Edinburgh Corn Exchange held onto its crown as Best Large Venue in Scotland for the second year running at the fifth Scottish Events Awards at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.

The former Corn Exchange, which is a listed building in Edinburgh’s original agricultural quarter is run by the Demarco family and used as a conference centre, banqueting suite, exhibition hall and music venue.

Marcos Managing Director Paul Demarco said: “Winning this prestigious award is recognition of the highest standards of service and genuine hospitality that our team consistently delivers to our clients and guests and is especially rewarding to have retained the crown for the second year running.”

• Entier Limited (Commitment to People Development) • The Great Turf Company (Business of the Year, Achievement in International Business, Most Promising New Business)

23/11/12 15:27:04

ADVertoriAl

This challenge delivers at all levels CHILDREN 1ST, one of Scotland’s leading child welfare charities, has launched an innovative new charity challenge designed at promoting entrepreneurship amongst corporate teams in Scotland.The Dragons’ Glen challenge sees seven teams from across the central belt pitted against each other to turn £500 into the greatest profit for the charity.

Ken Lewandowski, Mike Welch, Michael Laing and Judy Wagner launch the competition in Edinburgh.

Supporting the teams through the challenge are the “Dragons” – Ken Lewandowski, Michael Laing OBE, Mike Welch, Judy Wagner, Frank Blin CBE, Sir Willie Haughey and Michelle Mone OBE. The dragons are mentoring the teams, helping them maximise their return to CHILDREN 1ST and providing a unique development opportunity for all participants. Competing are teams from Shepherd and Wedderburn, Baker Tilly, RSM Tenon, Sykes, Optos, Bellcom Worldwide and O2.

CHILDREN 1ST support some of Scotland’s most vulnerable children but also are pushing themselves to stretch and develop their own business skills.

Commenting on the challenge Ken Lewandowski said: “This is one of the few fundraising initiatives specifically designed to build business skills. This challenge delivers at all levels – development for team members, development of entrepreneurial spirit within companies and not least, the development of funding streams for the vital work of CHILDREN 1ST.”

With businesses ranging from events, to publishing, to e-commerce, these teams will be raising a significant amount to help

Scottish Scotti sh Business BusinessCoach Coach Helping you and your business to grow Do you want to:

Helping you and your business to grow

I’m a business coach who specialises in management accounting and personal growth. I understand the financials behind your business and know how important it is that you are getting the right information to run and grow your business. I care about your profits, but I also care about you and all those supporting you.

Save money?

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As our business grows, from start up to year 1, year 3 and so on, we need to adapt to various challenges within our business and I can help you identifythese the rightchallenges information youcan need to your business. I will help you pull out the essential begrow diffi cult.

Drowning in information but still not sure you are on the right track? Unable to read your accounts? information that tells you how you are performing so you can do what you do best.

Scottish Business Coach encourages you to grow with your business and gives you the support and the tools to do it.

I will work with you toAs overcome youred challenges and help you growand your business. a certifi NLP practitioner a chartered Management Accountant I can: FREE 1 hour consultation Know where you want to go but feeling a little challenged?

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December 2012 /January 2013

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ADVertoriAl

Council’s one-stop-shop for businesses opened by Sir Tom Farmer A one-stop-shop for Edinburgh businesses has been officially opened by Tom Farmer at the City of Edinburgh Council’s headquarters.

Responsibility for Business Gateway, which was run by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, transferred to the Council in October.

The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce remains a key partner in delivering business support services as part of the wider Edinburgh Business Gateway partnership.

Building standards and planning are now working alongside Business Gateway, the national advice programme, in a new Business Development Centre located in Waverley Court.

Cllr Andrew Burns, Council Leader, said: “This is a great example of the Council’s support for existing businesses, which we committed to in our recently launched Strategy for Jobs. Providing a fully integrated one-stop-shop for businesses under one roof will now be much more convenient for clients using our services in Waverley Court.”

New Business Gateway office now open in Edinburgh City Centre!

Sir Tom Farmer, who opened the new centre, said: “Support for businesses is critical, particularly during the current economic climate. It is great to see the Council pulling its resources and making it as easy as possible for businesses to access the services they need.”

Robert Brice of Go Think Learning, said: “The support I have received from Business Gateway has been vital in helping me take my educational software start up Go Think Learning from idea through to launch. Over the last few years of development, my business advisor, John Hughes, has been a great source of encouragement and advice. He has also directed me to significant sources of financial support, most notably the Scottish Enterprise Growth Pipeline which has delivered vital financial support for software development.”

The centre includes: • Building Standards • Planning • Business Gateway

Business Gateway is now giving free practical advice to businesses from a new Edinburgh office.

You can find our new office in the City of Edinburgh Council Headquarters at Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG, alongside other Council business services.

To make an appointment with one of our experienced business advisers call the local office on 0131 529 6644 or email us at bglothian@bgateway.com To see a list of our upcoming free business training workshops visit www.bgateway.com/events

• Access to information on other business-facing council services •Formal and informal meeting space • Public access to workstations with online information including the Development Consent Portal and Business Development tools

0845 609 6611 www.bgateway.com

• Printing, scanning and wifi • Waiting area, reception and appointment service with business information, magazines and newspapers.

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Business Gateway services are delivered by Local Authorities, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government with the support of associated partner organisations. Maximum call charge from BT landline is 3p a minute.

23/11/12 15:27:15

Asktheexpert Answering those burning questions Ever found yourself wondering n Should I spend more time on Facebook or on Twitter promoting my business? n Do prospective clients find my website interesting? n How do people find my website?

If so, you should really investigate Google Analytics. It’s perhaps one of the most underused marketing tools available, especially given that it’s free, and relatively straightforward to set up.

The reports available go from the simple ‘in which countries are people based who visit my website?’ to much more complex ones like ‘did visitors who came from Google AdWords spend more money/time on my website than people from Facebook?‘.

A useful report for online marketing is the ‘search terms’ report, which gives an overview

of what people are typing into Google to find your business. If you’re thinking about doing any online advertising (Google AdWords PPC for example), it will help you decide on which keywords to bid.

If you have an e-commerce site, Google Analytics allows you to track which marketing generates sales. The mobile report shows how many visitors are viewing your site on a mobile device, helping you decide whether to invest in a mobile website, or if you should have mobile specific email marketing.

The bottom line is if you want to do any marketing online, you should start by ensuring you have access to data that allows you to see if the marketing is paying off. Google Analytics is perfect for this.

Lucy

experts in PPC. Book online here http:// www.chamberbusinesssolutions.co.uk/ Training_Zone. The trainer is Lucy Johnston, who worked at Google on AdWords for seven years and now runs Bread & Butter Marketing http://www.breadandbuttermarketing. co.uk a Google AdWords Certified company.

Edinburgh Chamber are pleased to be running a series of training sessions on Google AdWords and Google Analytics in February, catering for novices right through to

GetwithIT

By Bill Magee

Scottish Business Technology Writer of the Year

Scotland ‘must up its game’ A group of senior business leaders led by former European CEO of Weir Engineering Group, global Scot William (Bill) Adam, is calling on Scotland to better utilise technology to strengthen its knowledge economy and regain its entrepreneurial spirit.

Adam, a founder and senior advisor to Knowledge Economy Network (KEN) with the Secretariat in Brussels, membership in 14 countries and operations in several, said:“We need to develop and strengthen Scotland’s knowledge-based international competitiveness, especially in four domains - from higher education to research and development, and innovation onto entrepreneurship.”

He stressed this giving the keynote at the newly-established Edinburgh Summerhall cultural/commercial hub, saying that, with very

few exceptions, we are not pursuing vigorously enough high-quality tech-based activity and thus neglecting excellence.

KEN country ratings show Scotland, along with the rest of the UK, slipped from 4th to 13th during 2007-2012. Along with Sweden we are better than the European average (four times lower than the US).

power. Such a quality of human capital is crucial.”

KEN is offering itself up to help in establishing a Scotland/UK/Europe inspired “Venture Management Group” to assist investment by coaching partners on direct knowledge of advanced business culture along with key connections.

Contact Bill through www.knowledge-economy.net http://www.knowledge-economy.net/

Adam said:“Unless we upgrade the venture capital operations we cannot expect to even retain our present level. The biggest paradox is how Scotland..and its young generations enjoy less internationalism through education than most youngsters in Europe and beyond.

Catch his Daily TechPost #billamagee

“It should not be forgotten that it was precisely the unique Scottish public school system that made us a global intellectual and engineering

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TENDER PAIN?

Intend has some remedies to ease your bidding agony …..

“What kind of feedback can we expect for our tenders?”

For most tenders over the EU threshold value (c£173K for goods and services) you should be notified of: n the contract award criteria n where appropriate, the score you obtained against those award criteria n where appropriate, the score the winning tenderer obtained n the name of the winning tenderer Many Scottish public authorities are signatories to the Supplier’s Charter which commits them to providing “meaningful” evaluation feedback for all procurement.

If you have been unsuccessful getting feedback, you can also try contacting the Single Point of Enquiry for help.

“What first steps should we consider when bidding as a consortium?”

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It is important to have a confidentiality agreement in place before you start substantive discussions with potential partners. As you get more involved in the bid strategy and plan, a teaming agreement will help to define the roles of all partners and how you will work together, both during the tender process and once the contract starts.

“Tendering Together” is a collaborative bidding training programme run by Intend and other partners – free for SMEs and the 3rd sector - via the Supplier Development Programme. It covers legal issues, forms of collaboration and preparing content for joint bids, so well worth signing up for if you are considering a consortium tender.

More tendering remedies in the next issue!

For confidential help with templates and preparing tenders please contact gill.joy@intend-eu.com Intend Business Development Ltd

0780 829 4981 www.intend-eu.com

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ADVertoriAl

the open Hospitality on Muirfi eld 9th Hole After a three year absence from Scotland, golf ’s greatest Championship will return to the stunning surroundings of Muirfield on Scotland’s east coast from 17-21 July 2013.

From the VIP entrance and parking providing easy access to the course, to the perfect space in which to relax and savour the fine food and complimentary bar service throughout the day, The Open Hospitality makes the perfect gift for any golf fan. Comprising premier restaurants and exclusive private suites the hospitality pavilion provides a variety of options to suit all tastes, including our Premier Suites, The Gallery Restaurant, The 1860 Club or The Champion Bistro.

The Open Championship Official Hospitality Programme for Muirfield 2013, is the only ticket and on course hospitality inclusive packages approved by The R&A. Providing customers the location they want, on course, close to the action, and they have the additional comfort of knowing that their advance purchase is secured by The R&A and tailored to meet the highest standards of customer service.

Please visit theopen.com/hospitality for further information.

BC December 2012 /January 2013

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2070_T

AN OPEN INVITATION

TO SAVOUR SCOTTISH SILVER SERVICE HOSPITALITY +SPJ´W KVIEXIWX GLEQTMSRWLMT [MPP FI LIPH EX 1YMV½IPH 7GSXPERH NYWX XLMVX] QMRYXIW JVSQ XLI LIEVX SJ )HMRFYVKL JVSQ .YP] )\TIVMIRGI [SVPH GPEWW KSPJ [LMPI IRNS]MRK SYV E[EVH [MRRMRK LSWTMXEPMX] WIX EKEMRWX XLI FEGOHVST SJ 1YMV½IPH´W XL LSPI =SY SRP] KIX XLMW ZMI[ ERH XLMW GPSWI XS XLI EGXMSR [MXL 8LI 3TIR´W 3J½GMEP ,SWTMXEPMX] TVSKVEQQI 3YV EPP HE] ½RI HMRMRK TEGOEKIW WXEVX JVSQ † TIV TIVWSR 8LI YPXMQEXI MR WTSVXMRK LSWTMXEPMX] [MXL XLI FIWX KSPJ ERH WSQI XVYP] I\GITXMSREP GSQTER] 8,) 34)2 ',%14-327,-4 19-6*-)0( 7'380%2( .90= BOOK YOUR OFFICIAL, ON-COURSE HOSPITALITY PACKAGE Contact our hospitality team now on: T: +44 (0)844 371 0883 or email: hospitality@TheOpen.com Ref: EdinCham Please visit TheOpen.com/hospitality for further information.

BC issue 20.indd 43 2070_TheOpen_Business_com_mag_advert.indd 1

23/11/12 15:27:31 01/11/2012 09:56

Gettingstarted Name: Mhairi Fisher Business name: Veritas Vitae Start up date: May 2012 Website: www.veritasvitae.com q1: tell us a bit about your business?

We are a service that lets candidates register their qualifications on a secure online profile.

The system will then confirm these with the relevant institutions and professional bodies.

Members receive a unique number which can be quoted on a CV.

q2: What gives your business ‘the x-factor’?

The employee vetting industry is currently at the end of the process. This risks interviewing and selecting candidates who may have lied on their CV. We let candidates create their own certified CV before they apply for a job.

q3: What motivated you to set up the business?

Working in recruitment I have seen the cost, wasted time and consequences caused by candidates who have lied on their CV.

q4: What do you like most about working for a start-up?

Knowing that I am helping to build something that could make a difference and change how the recruitment industry works.

q5: What has been your greatest business success to date?

Getting the first verified CV on the system.

q6: What has been your lowest moment?

Trying to convince people there is a better way to address qualifications vetting. Not everybody understands the change we are introducing.

q7: in terms of business achievements, where do you want to be within the next 5 years?

I would like to see Veritas Vitae as a new international standard in recruitment.

q8: What would be your top tip to someone thinking of starting up their own business?

Get a great team. Look out for talented people that can help, and get them onboard!

Under Pressure?

We’ve all experienced it – that feeling of dread as the ‘to do’ list gets longer and time ticking by at an alarming rate. In today’s difficult climate when budgets are tighter than ever before, it’s easy for this feeling to become a daily occurrence.

But worrying constantly is a symptom of stress – a condition that while many of us choose to accept as a ‘normal’ part of working life, can take a major toll on your health and wellbeing.

So, what can be done to help ease the pressure? The findings of a study carried out by wellness solutions provider Vielife suggest that improving your diet could have a positive impact.

The research found that working adults who have a poor diet are more likely to suffer from stress, low productivity and low job satisfaction.

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Those with good nutrition achieved a six per cent higher job satisfaction score, as well as a 15 per cent higher mood score.

In addition to lifestyle changes, talking therapies such as counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) are widely renowned for helping people suffering from stress, anxiety or depression to deal with negative thoughts and feelings and make positive changes.

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, offers employees a full confidential counselling service, which includes a 24 hour counselling and advice line, as well as up to six face to face counselling sessions or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) sessions.

For more information about the Chamber Plan, please visit www.westfi eldhealth.com/ chamber or call 0845 602 1629, available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Westfield Health’s Chamber Primary Health Plan, which is available to all members of

23/11/12 15:27:35

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS MEAN BUSINESS Achieve a Management Degree in One year BA in Business Management I]^h XdjghZ ^h ^YZVa [dg VcndcZ l]d l^h]Zh id ejghjZ V bVcV\ZbZci XVgZZg Vi V hZc^dg aZkZa# I]Z eVgi"i^bZ XdjghZ ^h d[[ZgZY ^c eVgicZgh]^e WZilZZc LZhi Adi]^Vc 8daaZ\Z VcY :Y^cWjg\] CVe^Zg Jc^kZgh^in# EVgi"i^bZ ;ZZ <gVci " *%% VkV^aVWaZ

For further information: T: 01506 427557 E: devans@west-lothian.ac.uk

Are you prepared for a disaster at work?

In this modern world everything is about communication, information and speed of response. We all make use of the tools around us: PCs and software, servers, smartphones and the internet are all essential in today’s business, but what happens when these resources are unavailable to us? Insurance takes care of buildings, stock and physical equipment. But this alone is not enough to save a business in the event of disaster.

6abdcYkVaZ 8gZhXZci! A^k^c\hidc LZhi Adi]^Vc :=*) ,:E GZ\^hiZgZY HXdii^h] 8]Vg^in Cd# H8%'&'&+ 7dVgY d[ BVcV\ZbZci

Floods, power cuts, theft, fire and so many other everyday happenings can disrupt and destroy a business in minutes. It is then that the little things that we were putting off until tomorrow become glaringly important.

Did you back up your data? Can you contact your customers? Can you work from anywhere? Often these simple but critical questions are overlooked. But, while these threats are real,there are easy, cost-effective ways to protect you and the business.

Office

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S o l u t i o n s

Everything is going to be alright

Microsoft Office 365 gives every business a continuity plan, providing a clear disaster recovery solution. By taking servers, data and applications out of the office and storing them in “the cloud”, all critical data is preserved in the event of disaster.

The business may suffer some physical disruption, but the data will still be there; you will still know who owes you money, and what you owe to others. By retaining access to email, audio and video conferencing and data, you can continue to trade, and to present a professional face to customers.

If you would like to review ‘Cloud computing’ for your business,call us on 01506 674019 or email info@onestream.co.uk to arrange a meeting.

Email enquiries@tbbc.net Telephone 0131 553 9355 December 2012 /January 2013

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ADVertoriAl search utilises multiple forms of identification to reach out to both passive and active candidates. Competitor mapping can give insight into your competitor’s organisation to see how their teams are structured.

Actively targeting people in the market allows you the opportunity to hear how your organisation is thought of, how attractive the proposition is to new candidates and to check whether the remit and salary have been pitched correctly. Advertising a role will reach out to active candidates in the market but that is only half the story. Go get the talent, don’t wait for it to come to you. If you are going to spend money on recruitment, spend it right the first time and you won’t have to spend twice.

Being brave also applies to you personally. CVs can cause line management to glaze over and candidates to squirm. Written well they could get you on the long list and lead to that all important interview. It never ceases to surprise me how many senior level people have not got an up to date CV to hand. I would always advise you to have one that you can just add to as your career expands. Once you have the basics it just needs periodic refreshment. Can we all really remember when we left school, when we graduated and what grades we got? Dig through old paper work and do the hard part now, so you have the foundations for all future CVs. Most importantly get someone used to reviewing CVs to help you compose it. It will not cost much, will save you time in the long run and most importantly, provides you with a tangible representation of your background and aspirations.

leonora gilliat Managing Director Gilliat Moray Ltd

Brave New World We are fast approaching the end of 2012 and while we may want to embrace excessive consumption over the festive period and fantasize about New Year resolutions, we should also afford ourselves the opportunity to reflect on the year just gone.

We are still sailing the seas of economic crisis, that is unavoidable, but I believe we should be optimistic about the year ahead. Why? Simply put, if we don’t change, nothing else will. We still need corporates to grow and we still want to chase our career dreams. If we are brave, we can start to create a new world more tailored to our needs.

Once the CV is polished you need to be mindful of your interview technique. It may have been many years since you were in an interview situation. Presenting to a Board of Directors can be a walk in the park compared to persuading an interview panel you are the right person for the job. Making the right, first impression is imperative. When is the last time someone objective gave you feedback on how you come across?

Hone your skills. If you are prepared, you can lead the interview and come away knowing that you put your points across in a way that you are happy with.

We have survived 2012 and should be optimistic about 2013. Be brave and you might be surprised by the new world we could create.

Leonora Gilliat Managing Director Gilliat Moray Ltd www.gilliatmoray.com +44 (0)771 434 2388 info@gilliatmoray.co.uk

Gilliat Moray are an Edinburgh based search and selection company who work across a diverse range of industries, both in the public and private sector, assisting companies engage senior talent as well as helping individuals through the recruitment process.

The need to hire someone can arise for a variety of reasons: expanding a team, replacing someone or a need to inject new life into an organisation as a means of generating growth. We could easily fall into the trap of creating a role and shoehorning a candidate into it. What we need is to be more proactive and get better at asking what talent looks like and what we can do to attract it; how are our competitors doing it, who do peers rate highly, how attractive are we to candidates? Executive

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Taking a leap of faith for charity Four staff members at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce abseiled down the Forth Rail Bridge to raise funds for children’s charity Place2Be. Julie Foster, Helen Robertson and former employees Graham Birse and Sandra Watt, adopted the name The Edinburgh Chamber Commandos to drop 165 feet down one of Scotland’s most famous landmarks. They wore Commando kit on loan to the team, from 71 Engineer Regiment Scotland.

Helen, Partnership and External Relations Manager at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: “The chance to abseil off the Forth Rail Bridge was too rare an opportunity to resist, and a really exciting challenge to take on.”

Jonathan Wood, National Manager for Scotland at Place2Be, said, “We are hugely impressed by The Edinburgh Chamber Commandos’ nerves of steel and very grateful to them for completing this amazing challenge to raise funds for Place2Be.

“Place2Be works in schools in Edinburgh, East Lothian and Glasgow, where the charity supports 5,000 children to cope with issues ranging from bullying, to domestic violence, to family breakdown, neglect and trauma.

The charity also provides crucial support to parents, carers and teachers, helping children to grow up with brighter futures and achieve their potential. The money raised will help the charity to transform the lives of even more children.”

The team raised £2193.75. If you wish to add to the total, please contact Helen at Helen.robertson@edinburghchamber. co.uk or donate directly to http:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/ fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl =ThePlace2BeChamberCommandos&faId=2 35581&isTeam=true.

The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce welcomes its latest member companies: 52 Print Solutions Absolutely HR Ltd Aicha Chabane Aitken-Walker Cars BBM Solicitors Caledonia Play Carbery Towers CCL (North) Children 1st Chopping Board Solutions Limited Connect2marketing LLP Cristina Carra Caso Photography Custom Contracts David Carpenter Architect Deep Sea World Edinburgh Capitals Hockey Limited Edinburgh Leisure First Data Merchant Services

Freeworld Trading Limited Future-Medics Ltd Gilliat Moray Limited GRT Partners i’Konsepts Jansons West London & Thames Valley Limited Kids Bee Happy Edinburgh South Limelight Careers Ltd Littles Chauffeur Drive Motel One Edinburgh Royal Murray Beith Murray Olive Branch Scotland, The On Line Cafe Ltd Open Championship Hospitality Programme, The Perform 4 Potential Peter Vardy BMW Limited

Queen Margaret College Resolve Royal Over-Seas League Runrev Limited Salescraft St Andrew’s First Aid Stevie Kidd Ltd Tapes Design Shop TC Young The MacReady Group Ltd The Scotsman Hotel Thistle Parking Tom Tom Business Solutions Ubiquitous Taxis Veritas Vitae Limited Vesey Creative Limited Web Advertising Limited

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PartnersinEnterprise Firms strengthen their offer with merger Scottish accounting and business advisory Johnston Carmichael has announced a merger with Aberdeen business Ritson Smith.

the North East and across the wider Scottish practice. It represents a great opportunity to further expand Johnston Carmichael.

both firms in terms of additional capability to service and support our clients.”

“Our firms have similar values, a shared professional ethos and we are passionate about helping our clients develop their businesses.

This merger will further strengthen our position as the largest independent firm in Scotland.

Ritson Smith was established in 1924 and has 60 staff based at three offices across the North East of Scotland. Following the merger, the combined firm will operate under the Johnston Carmichael banner and employ more than 500 people in 12 locations throughout Scotland.

“Our partners and staff will be integrated from the outset thereby enabling both our teams to work as one unit in the interests of supporting and providing an outstanding service to our clients.”

“Our partners and staff will be integrated from the outset thereby enabling both our teams to work as one unit in the interests of supporting and providing an outstanding service to our clients.”

The merger means that, with combined revenues in excess of £30m, the firm will rank among the top 20 accounting firms in the UK. Sandy Manson, Chief Executive of Johnston Carmichael, said “We are very excited by the additional capability and potential that this merger brings to our operations, both in

Niall Farquharson, Managing Partner of Ritson Smith becomes joint Managing Partner of Johnston Carmichael’s Aberdeen office, joining incumbent Andrew Walker in the role.

Neil said “We know the Johnston Carmichael team well and think there is an excellent fit for our people. In today’s challenging and ever changing times, we are all very positive about the benefits which the merger will bring to

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Moversandshakers

Richard Ellis and Gerardine Renwick

Andrew Sloane

Solicitors appoint senior investment specialist Morisons Solicitors has appointed Andrew Sloane, a senior figure with the Scottish Investment Bank (SIB), as a Partner with the Corporate Team.

Andrew was with SIB for more than five years before deciding to return to private practice.

A division of Scottish Enterprise, SIB supports the development of Scottish companies by providing access to investment funds.

With responsibility for a suite of funds investing up to £30m in over 100 companies per year, Andrew’s range of experience in the high growth equity investment market is very broad and included leading SIB’s biggest company investment in Aquamarine Power, an Edinburgh business specialising in the development of wave and tidal technology.

Andrew said: “It was always my intention to return to an advisory role at some stage and having spent five years with SIB it felt timely to move on. A number of opportunities were presented to me, however, I chose Morisons for many reasons not least because they are a progressive firm with ambitious future plans which I can play a major part in.”

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Scott Taylor

Edinburgh Chamber welcome two members of staff

Edinburgh airport welcomes new fi nancial offi cer

Richard Ellis has been appointed as the new Membership Sales Advisor for the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.

Edinburgh Airport is delighted to welcome Scott Taylor, our new Chief Financial Officer.

Scott joins us at an exciting time in our airport’s growth and brings a wealth of experience to ensure that we are building our future on a rigorous financial base. A Chartered Accountant, Scott started his career in one of the Big 4 accountancy firms before moving into the oil, gas and energy sectors. We welcome Scott into our new and dynamic team.

With a wealth of Account Management experience, Richard will be responsible for Membership Sales and Retention, also providing advice & guidance to Chamber members. Richard will be out and about meeting members and attending a variety of Chamber Networking events.”

Gerardine Renwick joins Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce as New Enterprise Allowance Business Advisor.

Gerardine has successfully set up, operated and sold her own business – a very popular coffee shop ’Picnic’ in South Queensferry, and is ideally placed to help and advise others who are looking to start up their own businesses for the first time.

She understands both the challenges and the responsibilities that running your own business bring and I am sure will inspire and encourage the clients she will meet in her new role.

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Hugh turns on the switch, that turns on the turbine, that turns on the lights across Scotland.

Hugh

The Scottish Government has committed to creating 40,000 jobs in the renewable energy industry in Scotland by the year 2020. That’s a lot of people, and a lot of training.

Fortunately, SQA have made a start by developing a wide range of qualifications designed to make the most of Scotland’s more important renewable resource — its workforce.

Find out more about how SQA can energise your training.

P eople. Powered. t: 0303 333 0330 e: mycentre@sqa.org.uk w: www.sqa.org.uk/energy

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