IoD Scotland Spring 2023

The official membership 

magazine for the Institute 

of Directors in Scotland 

iod.com/scotland 

Direction 

SPRING 2023 

Sustainable businesses are the 

only hope for the future 

Accountants are more than 

just number crunchers 

A touch 

of the 

X factor 

Nothing is off the table when it 

comes to disrupting the status 

quo, says FutureX’s Bruce Walker

We need to unlock the potential and 

encourage entrepreneurs to shine 

In the midst of the current turmoil we 

are facing, there has never been a better 

time to recognise the achievements of 

our best directors, says 

Aidan O’Carroll, IoD Scotland Chair 

As this issue of Direction is 

published, we are in the midst of a 

leadership contest for the next First 

Minister of Scotland; our economic 

performance remains fragile; the 

world continues to be in turmoil; and 

closer to home, we are all facing the 

challenges of a highly inflationary 

environment. 

It is easy to feel somewhat 

overwhelmed by all that is going on, 

and to forget that in Scotland we 

continue to innovate and show 

resilience in the face of these storms. 

Business organisations are pushing 

forward with plans to ensure their 

sustainability and growth. While we 

have many challenges around the 

availability of skills (one of the key 

drivers of growth), we also have 

record low levels of unemployment. 

The balance to this, of course, is the 

record numbers of people who are 

not seeking active employment, thus 

exacerbating the skills shortages we 

are currently experiencing. 

The seeds of recovery, the building 

blocks of creating a more dynamic 

growth environment, are all there to 

be harnessed. 

What we need to do is unlock that 

potential – and encourage the 

entrepreneurialism to shine through 

these clouds. 

That is why we are so looking 

forward to celebrating some 

outstanding individuals across all 

sectors of our community through 

the Director of the Year Awards in 

June. Without recognising just how 

many great leaders there are out 

there and supporting them to build, 

“Without recognising just 

how many great leaders 

there are out there and 

supporting them to build, 

how can Scotland really 

energise itself over the 

coming years?” 

how can Scotland really energise 

itself over the coming years? 

Please do participate, contribute 

and nominate as we go through our 

judging process, which will 

culminate in a spectacular event at 

the EICC on June 8. 

Finally I want to thank all of our 

members for their support over the 

last five years or so as I step down 

from the Chair role. 

It has been a real privilege to 

represent you and the IoD through a 

very turbulent period. 

I am delighted with the way the 

IoD has continued to promote great 

governance in times of challenge, 

helping to build the resilience we 

need as leaders and promoting the 

very best practices that will help us 

all to succeed. 

It has been a real honour to Chair 

the IoD in Scotland and I look 

forward to continuing to support the 

new leadership team. 

IoD Scotland 

12 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JE 

T: 0131 557 5488 

E: iod.scotland@iod.com 

W: www.iod.com 

Nations Director - Scotland: 

Catherine McWilliam 

Catherine.McWilliam@iod.com 

Branch Manager: 

Patricia Huth 

T: 0131 557 5488 

Patricia.Huth@iod.com 

Commercial Manager, PD: 

Natasha Ure 

E: natasha.ure@iod.com 

T: 0131 460 7681 


Direction 

Direction is the official membership magazine of IoD Scotland and is published by: 

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T: 07871 444922 / 01942 537959 E: colinregan001@yahoo.co.uk 

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Editorial: Lisa Donnelly 

Please send press releases or editorial for consideration for future issues of Direction 

to Lisa at E: lisa@clarkcommunications.co.uk 

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained within this magazine, 

neither IoD Scotland, Chamber Media Services nor Clark can accept any responsibility for 

omissions or inaccuracies in its editorial or advertising content. The views expressed in this 

publication are not necessarily those of the IoD. The carriage of advertisements or editorials in this 

publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. 

03

National Director / News 

Scotland’s directors showing their 

mettle as they rise to the challenge 

With the current news agenda, you’d 

be forgiven for wondering if it’s April 

Fool’s Day on a regular basis. 

Traditionally, April 1 sees many of 

us reviewing the news to find the 

tongue-in-cheek stories which 

couldn’t possibly be true. Recently, 

however, the line between reality 

and fiction seems fainter than usual. 

Coincidentally, this April 1 I’ll be 

celebrating six months as the head 

of IoD Scotland, supporting our 

members as they demonstrate 

resilience and the ability to pivot on 

a daily basis. 

So much has happened since I 

took on the role. There are some 

days when I feel like I’ve been in the 

job for years, and others when I am 

reminded of just how new it all is to 

me. 

From the Covid-19 pandemic to 

global unrest, the economic 

downturn to recruitment challenges, 

dramatic political change to the rise 

of environmental, social and 

governance (ESG), directors have 

had to become more flexible, 

innovative and focused than ever. 

My biggest worry is the toll that 

The pace of business life shows no sign of 

letting up any time soon – which is why it’s 

never been more important to consider the 

impact this is having on business leaders, 

says Catherine McWilliam, National Director, 


this perpetual cycle of uncertainty is 

taking on our business leaders. 

These are not rich fat cats in 

pinstripe suits, but local leaders, 

deeply rooted in their communities 

and committed to their employees. 

Coming into this role, my number 

one priority was to speak to our 

members across our seven regional 

branches as I am acutely aware that, 

while some will be shared, the 

concerns and experiences of 

members in, for example, the 

Highlands are likely to be vastly 

different to those operating in urban 

Scotland. 

Without a doubt, the most 

rewarding aspect of this job is being 

able to tap into the vast and varied 

insight that comes from our 

membership. As an organisation, we 

exist because of our members, and 

it has been genuinely fascinating 

speaking with you all. 

During each of these meetings, 

I’ve been struck time and time again 

by the resilience and ingenuity of 

our members. Despite facing some 

of the most challenging 

circumstances in recent times, our 

members are pivoting and innovating, 

looking for ways to do better 

business, and showcasing Scotland 

as a lucrative place to do business. 

We are seeing new collaborations, 

product and service diversification, 

renewed commitment to delivering 

Net Zero and, of course, tackling 

inequality in the workplace. 

And what better way to recognise 

the hard work of our members than 

at our Director of the Year Awards? 

We are now welcoming entries – and 

I’m so looking forward to reading all 

the submissions across our 12 

categories. The awards provide an 

opportunity to celebrate the work 

being done in boardrooms across 

the country to ensure our businesses 

don’t just survive, but thrive. 

Both IoD members and nonmembers 

are eligible to enter, or you 

can nominate someone and enter on 

their behalf. This year we will be 

returning to an in-person event at 

the EICC, and we’re so grateful to 

our awards sponsors for 2023: 

Insights, Turcan Connell, Zero Waste 

Scotland, Wheatley Group and 

SCVO. I’m really looking forward to 

meeting more of our members to 

celebrate the incredible business 

sector we have here in Scotland. 

I’ll welcome in the next six months 

of my tenure with a hope for 

economic stability, certainty, and 

opportunity on April 1 – foolish as 

that may be. 

• More on awards: see page 16 

IoD ScotRail offer 

Would members please note that 

the IoD offer in connection with 

ScotRail, whereby members could 

upgrade their ticket to first class on 

proof of membership, has now 

finished. 

See page 20 for details of other 

unique IoD benefits, and contact 

Patricia Huth for a full list, at 

patricia.huth@iod.com 

Get your application in now – but hurry: 

Deadline is March 17. See page 16 

04 SPRING 2023

Highlands & Islands 

Award-winning pub is blazing 

a trail for Scottish culture 

Time to grab an award-winning pint 

in Aberdeen! 

MacGregor’s Bar in Inverness has 

just been awarded ‘Best Bar in 

Scotland’ at Visit Scotland’s Thistle 

Awards. This is a remarkable 

achievement for an independent, 

family-run business in an industry 

dominated by major brewing 

corporations. 

MacGregor’s, a crowdfunded 

venture, opened in 2017 to celebrate 

the best modern Scotland can offer 

in terms of food, drink, music and 

culture. 

Bruce MacGregor and Jo de Sylva, 

the husband-and-wife team behind 

MacGregor’s, brought a unique skill 

set. Jo has a flair for building design 

and promotional presentation, and 

Bruce is a founding member of 

Blazin’ Fiddles, one of Scotland’s 

most successful bands. 

Says Bruce: “On my tours across 

the world I was always amazed at 

the successes of the Irish bars. I 

believe Scotland’s food and drink 

offering is better, and our music is 

on a par with our Celtic cousins. 

What was stopping us? 

“The bar is a meeting place for 

people who enjoy all things Scottish. 

Removing the cliches and offering 

an authentic experience is what 

drives this concept forward,” 

explained Jo. 

“This is the second time we’ve won 

the National award and that’s a 

credit to our team. It is also 

recognition that our message is still 

very much on point.” 

During Lockdown the couple 

started an online show, ‘Live at Five’. 

The show is broadcast each Friday 

from the bar and continues to 

develop the brand and the 

‘MacGregor’s’ community 

worldwide, with thousands tuning in 

each week. 

The business is now actively 

looking for investors who can help 

take the concept to the next stage. 

Find out more at 

www.macgregorsbars.com 

National 

Chancellor urged to think again over SME tax credit scheme 

The Director General of the IoD has 

urged the Chancellor “in the 

strongest possible terms” to reverse 

planned cuts to the generosity of 

the SME tax credit scheme, and also 

to resist the introduction of a lower 

threshold to any future claims. 

The IoD’s intervention is in addition 

to previous Budget representation 

that called for greater investment in 

skills, capital and net zero. 

This additional ask is 

driven by real-time data 

coming through from 

IoD members on the 

negative impact of the 

proposed cuts to the 

SME scheme. A recent 

survey of members who 

currently use the SME 

scheme show four in ten 

agree that the change ‘has 


caused us to reduce our total 

planned spend on R&D’. The 

generosity of the SME scheme is 

planned to reduce from 230% to 

186% in April 2023. 

In addition, the IoD is concerned 

by a suggestion that a de minimus 

threshold may be introduced for 

future claims. If introduced, this 

would undermine the policy’s aim of 

boosting the culture of 

innovation in the UK. 

Jonathan Geldart, 

Director General of the 

IoD, said: “We are very 

concerned that the 

changes announced in 

the Autumn Statement 

will lead to less 

innovation in the very 

near future, just at the 

time that the focus of 

government policy is rightly shifting 

to measures designed to raise the 

sustainable rate of economic growth. 

“We also strongly oppose the 

introduction of a lower limit. It 

seems perverse to be restricting 

access to the scheme for firms with 

smaller budgets when the purpose 

of the policy is to spur a culture 

change in the wider economy 

towards greater routine innovation. 

“We do not think it is possible or 

desirable to judge the additionality 

impact of the policy on the basis of 

the size of the budget or the nature 

of the company concerned. 

“I have therefore written to the 

Chancellor and urged him to take 

swift action to reverse the proposed 

cuts in the March Budget.” 

The full letter to the Chancellor 

can be viewed here. 

05

News 

Concern over energy firms’ 

tough moves on firms 

The IoD has written to Ofgem and 

urged action to secure a wellfunctioning 

energy market for 

non-domestic customers after a 

recent survey revealed more 

businesses had suffered from 

disadvantageous treatment by their 

energy suppliers. 

One in five (18 per cent) respondents 

encountered at least one form of 

negative behaviour, with the most 

common reported being requests 

for a larger share of the bill to be 

paid in advance (11 per cent). 

This was followed by refusal to 

negotiate payment terms when 

requested to do so (6 per cent) and 

refusal to renew a contract (6 per 

cent). 

The IoD also drew attention to 

members’ concerns over the 

continued ability of energy 

suppliers to insist on the inclusion 

of take-or-pay clauses in energy 

supply contracts to non-domestic 

customers. This practice undermines 

the ability of non-domestic 

customers to both reduce their 

energy consumption and to 

transition to alternative, low-carbon 

forms of energy supply. 

Jonathan Geldart, Director 

General of the IoD, said: “At a time 

when energy prices are at an 

all-time high, it is important that the 

energy regulator ensures that any 

unnecessary burdens for businesses 

are removed. 

“The inclusion of take-or-pay 

clauses in energy supply contracts 

to non-domestic customers runs 

counter to the government’s 

messaging to business regarding 

the cost and environmental 

imperatives to reduce energy 

consumption. 

“It is therefore important that 

Ofgem identifies and recommends 

the actions needed to address the 

concerns of business energy 

customers.” 

Survey responses: 

Have you experienced any of the 

following behaviours from your 

energy supplier in the last six 

months? 

• Requesting a larger share of the 

bill to be paid in advance: 11% 

• Refusing to renew a contract: 6% 

• Refusing to negotiate payment 

terms when requested to do so: 

6% 

• Terminating or altering the terms 

of a contract before it comes up 

for renewal: 4% 

Fife & Tayside 

Leverage storytelling to sell your brand 

Marlene Lowe 

Chair, Fife & Tayside Committee 


The stories we love the most are the 

ones we can see ourselves in. We 

either recognise ourselves in the 

words we read or aspire to have the 

lives we see. Whether aspirational or 

familiar, stories have the power to 

capture and evoke emotion, build 

relationships, and create engaging 

experiences for customers. 

Weaving your tale should be 

intrinsically linked to how you guide 

your customers’ decisions. Take a 

look at how you present your brand 

today. Do you highlight the 

company or your customers? Who is 

the hero in the stories your share? If 

the answer is anything other than 

the customer being the hero – I’d 

urge you to relook at how you 

leverage storytelling to sell your 

brand. 

We know that you guide your 

customers to make decisions that 

positively impact their life. Craft 

stories that help them see 

you in that story. Make the 

story interesting, captivating, 

and authentic – and you’ll find 

your perfect customers are 

seeking out your guidance 

and want to have you as 

part of their everyday. 

Use storytelling to show them 

how you impact their lives positively 

and why they should choose you 

over other options on the market. 

Contact Marlene at 

chair.fifetayside@iod.com 


Aberdeen & Grampian / Chartered Director 

‘Chartered Director course helped 

me understand link between good 

governance and business success’ 

Are you a new director just starting your journey? Perhaps 

you’re an experienced director wanting to enhance your 

performance? Or perhaps you are considering a non-exec 

director role? The IoD Certificate in Company Direction could 

be just what you are looking for to help you on your journey. 

Graeme Wood, Chartered 

Director Ambassador for 

the IoD Aberdeen and 

Grampian branch, 

achieved his IoD CDir 

status in 2017 – 17 years 

after he first became a 

director. 

At that time he says: “I 

was really young and 

wasn’t ready or prepared for 

what it really meant in terms of 

understanding my role and 

responsibilities as a director.” 

“I think there are several people 

who find themselves in the same 

position and who remain 

unprepared for the responsibilities 

they hold as a company director 

and lack clarity on what good 

governance looks like.” 

His journey 

Graeme outlines his journey from 

director to Chartered Director: 

It started in 2000 when the CEO 

of the company I worked for 

enrolled myself and others on some 

of the IoD certificate modules. 

About 10 years later, someone I 

knew had started up their own 

business and was looking for a 

non-executive director to come on 

board and help his business grow. 

So I put myself on the IoD nonexecutive 

directors course to gain a 

full understanding of the role. It 

was at this point that I realised the 

gaps in my knowledge and how 

unprepared I was. 

I completed a week-long 

accelerated Certificate in Company 

Direction, sat the exam and passed. 

The course is demanding as there is 

a lot to absorb, but the course 

materials are very good and provide 

a refresher for specific areas. 


I started getting into the 

detail and gained real value 

out of the effort – not just 

in terms of 

understanding my 

fiduciary duties, but all 

of the business 

improvements that 

come through good 

governance. 

The penny dropped for me 

– about good governance and 

how your own performance in the 

boardroom can, negatively or 

positively, impact how your 

business is running. 

The next step for me was to 

complete the Diploma, which was 

about taking the knowledge from 

the Certificate and putting it into 

action. I benefited from meeting 

peers, people from other industries 

and sectors, working together 

through real boardroom scenarios, 

using the learnings from before to 

develop tangible skills in a safe 

environment. 

From there, it was more of a 

personal challenge and ambition to 

go forward and become a full 

Chartered Director. 

Good governance is multifaceted. 

It’s about risk management, 

financial acumen, knowing your 

legal requirements, and 

understanding leadership. The IoD 

professional development courses 

give you that “holistic view” of all 

those different parts and what it 

takes as a board to collectively run 

a business well. It’s not just about 

setting a strategy – it’s about 

following it through, measuring the 

success, and ultimately being able 

to change and adapt when required 

as well as responding to 

complicated and complex problems 

in a calm and managed way. 

The skills I gained from my 

professional development journey 

with the IoD have enabled me to do 

this and to positively contribute and 

add value in boardrooms. 

Anyone that is thinking about 

becoming a director or anyone that 

has become a director needs to 

understand the importance of their 

role. We’re all coping with uncertain 

times and these courses give 

directors the tools and knowledge 

to steer their businesses through 

difficult times. They make you a 

better manager, leader, and director. 

• The IoD Certificate in Company 

Direction modules which cover 

governance, finance, strategy and 

leadership are being delivered in 

Aberdeen starting in April. 

The accelerated course is available 

in Edinburgh on 22-27th October. 

Anyone interested in exploring the 

Certificate in more detail or to book 

can contact Sarah Downs at 

chair.aberdeen@iod.net or 

Natasha Ure at natasha.ure@iod.com 

Also, see pg 30-31. 

07

Aberdeen & Grampian 

Putting sustainability first is 

the key to our future 

Dan McAteer, Vice President Energy, Aberdeen, at Worley, 

recently joined the IoD Aberdeen branch committee to 

take up a role as its Sustainability Ambassador. 

We caught up with him to talk about his industry 

experience, the IoD Ambassador role and what he hopes 

to bring to both the local and broader IoD community 

Can you share your background? 

I started my career with Defence 

Contractor BAE Systems, working in 

the Naval Warship division in 

Scotland where I held a range of 

project management positions 

across several defence programmes, 

including the Type 45 Destroyer, 

Astute Class submarine and Queen 

Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. 

Over 20 years I’ve held senior 

leadership positions both in the UK 

and Internationally with 

organisations such as KCA Deutag, 

Global Energy Group, Petrofac and 

BAE Systems, leading major EPC 

projects totalling in excess of $10Bn. 

Within the energy industry I have 

developed and built businesses such 

as Petrofac’s Floating Production 

business, M&A projects such as KCA 

Deutag’s acquisition of RDS, and 

overall development and implementation 

of corporate strategies that have 

migrated businesses from traditional 

oil and gas into new energy. 

I joined Worley in October 2019 as 

the Head of Project Management 

and assumed my current role as Vice 

President Energy, Aberdeen in 

March 2021. 

Sustainability is very close to my 

heart and is a core mission of Worley, 

‘to deliver a more sustainable world’ 

and to have 75 per cent of our 

revenue sustainability driven by 2026. 

Can you tell us more about your role 

as IoD Sustainability Ambassador? 

It’s a new role and one I am 

looking forward to. I expect to focus 

and drive sustainable initiatives 

across the diverse industry sectors 

represented within the IoD, helping 

to engender cross-sector learning of 

sustainability. 

Why did you want to get involved 

and what do you hope to bring to 

the branch and its members? 

I want to ensure I am trained to 

the best of my ability to undertake 

my director duties. I’m committed to 

driving a sustainable future for our 

local community within Aberdeen 

and Grampian, and we need to 

provide a sustainable future for the 

generations to come in terms of 

climate and employment opportunities. 

I hope to bring my international 

experience from over a decade of 

working abroad along with my 

perspective of a multi-national 

engineering company, which is 

striving to deliver a more sustainable 

future. 

I want to give back to Aberdeen 

and Grampian and provide 

opportunities for future generations. 

In your opinion, what does it mean 

to be a ‘better leader’ for the 

future? 

To be a better leader for the 

future, I feel you need to be open 

and listen to what the new 

generations can offer in terms of 

ideas, vision, drive, focus and how 

they want to be led. 

I’m a firm believer that the past is 

there to be learnt from and not 

repeated just because it’s the way 

we’ve always done it. 

For the UK to be a leader we need 

to forge a new path in this everchanging 

world, and as leaders, we 

should encourage and be prepared 

for constructive risk-taking and 

innovation. 

08


09

Downtime 

Project Harmless 

poop bags look 

set to clean up 

Edinburgh-based Project Harmless has introduced 

a new category of dog waste bags for 

environmentally conscious dog owners. The awardwinning 

Harmless poop bag is made of innovative 

water-reactive, non-toxic, and micro-plastic-free 

material, allowing the bag to rapidly disintegrate in 

landfill, seas and oceans yet remain durable 

enough for its purpose. 

George Greer, managing director and co-founder, 

explains: “We believe Harmless Poop Bag can help 

slow the eco-disaster of waste plastic in our 

planet’s environment, particularly in our seas and 

oceans.” 

One hundred Harmless waste bags cost £15, 

which George says compares well against cheaper 

varieties when you consider the quality and 

positive effect on the environment. 

“Our Harmless Poop Bag Subscription plan 

works at just £2.88 a week for one dog, that’s less 

than the price of a coffee to make the world a 

better place”. 

Find out more at: https://projectharmless.com/ 

Pottery session gets the 

creative juices flowing 

Looking for something different to do before 

the summer arrives? Next time you’re meeting 

up with friends, why not pop into your local 

pottery painting studio? A creative catch-up is 

a great way to spend time together and make 

a handmade craft you can keep. 

Start by choosing your ceramic object to 

paint, then using special glaze paints begin to 

design your item. When you’re finished you 

leave it with the studio to fire in their kiln, and 

then return to collect it a couple of weeks later. 

Before you know it, you’re enjoying a morning 

coffee in your hand-crafted mug or admiring a 

bunch of flowers in your one-of-a-kind vase! 

Here are some suggestions of studios across 

Scotland. Click on the location for details. 

GLASGOW: 

The Craft Pottery 

EDINBURGH: 

Edinburgh 

Pottery Sudio 

FIFE: 

St Andrews 

Pottery 

Glasgow Film Festival showcases 

triumphant return of cinema 

Cinema has enjoyed 

a cultural 

resurgence 

following the 

pandemic, with 

viewers starved of 

creative, otherworldly 

experiences 

flocking back to the 

silver screen 

Glasgow Film 

Festival (GFF)’s 

triumphant run from 

1 to 12 March was the perfect vehicle to showcase this, with 

festival highlights including ‘Viva el cine español!’ , a 

celebration of a new generation of Spanish filmmakers who are 

already making waves around the world. Films shown included 

On The Fringe, Prison 77, and the UK premier of Lullaby by 

Alauda Ruiz de Azúa. This latter film is backed by Pedro 

Almodóvar – the most internationally acclaimed Spanish 

filmmaker in recent times, and who described it as as “the best 

debut in Spanish cinema for years”. 

The GFF collection provided a window into modern Spain, 

with films dealing with the legacy of the Franco years, caught 

between urban living and a hankering for a return to the land, 

and show deep emotion through their scripting and directing. 

Check them out if they venture to a cinema near you – or 

stream them in the comfort of your home! 

SPRING 2023

Behind the Desk: Andrew McGill, Ashton McGill 

Accountants have got to give more 

then a spot of number crunching 

Name: Andrew McGill 

Position: Commercial Director 

Company: Ashton McGill 

Number of employees: 13 

Short overview of organisation: 

Growth-focused accountants. We’re a 

team of experts who thrive on helping 

businesses grow. It’s our mission to 

encourage you to think differently 

about your business so you can build 

a better future. 

What is the greatest recurring 

challenge you come across in your 

role, and what’s your strategy for 

dealing with it? 

Scaling our business profitably. It is 

essential to find a balance between 

growth and maintaining a healthy 

bottom line. We’ve built a game-plan 

with each of the directors taking a 

responsibility for each part of the 

business, and then checking in 

regularly with where we are at. 

Who, or what, drives or inspires you? 

My partner Rebecca is my biggest 

inspiration, and the thought of 

starting and providing for a family 

after our engagement last year is a 

big motivator. Also, my dad, Alasdair, 

who I started the business with, is so 

experienced and knowledgeable – it’s 

an expectation to live up to and I 

always strive to make him proud. 

What is your long-term vision for the 

organisation that you lead? 

Our long-term vision is that Ashton 

McGill becomes integral members of 

our clients’ teams, providing them 

with the essential advice they need to 

grow and succeed. 

We want to empower our clients to 

make informed decisions and help 

them to achieve their goals. We will 

provide high-quality, bespoke 

services that meet the specific needs 

of each individual client. 

What keeps you awake at night? 

A looming deadline, an inevitable 

reminder that there is something that 

needs to be done. 

I find that when I’m sticking to a 

regular sleep schedule and getting 

exercise at the gym, I’m at my best 

and can manage my responsibilities 

with more ease. 

What makes a good leader great? 

One of the most important traits of 

a great leader is being a great 

storyteller – like my dad. He’s able to 

capture the attention of his audience 

and engage them with stories that are 

both entertaining, informative and 

inspiring. 

Have you had a mentor, and what did 

he/she add to your development? 

We’ve taken on a consultant who 

has been an incredible mentor, 

offering me the necessary support to 

develop, thrive and build out our sales 

pipeline. His guidance and 

encouragement have been invaluable 

and I’m so grateful to have had the 

opportunity to learn from him. 

Even leaders aren’t the finished 

article. What’s next in your leadership 

development journey? 

I want to focus on enhancing my 

presenting skills, as well as my skills in 

leading workshops and engaging with 

groups in an effective and meaningful 

way. By honing these skills, I hope to 

develop my leadership capabilities 

and become a more effective leader. 

What is the ‘next big thing’ that will 

transform your sector? 

The powerful combination of 

technology and artificial intelligence. 

As technology advances, more 

businesses are turning to AI-driven 

solutions to automate mundane tasks 

and improve accuracy, allowing 

accounting professionals to focus on 

higher-value activities that drive 

growth and profitability. 

What piece of technology do you 

rely on most? 

Xero is essential for managing 

clients’ financials, track income/ 

expenditure, and identify areas 

of improvement/profit. It’s 

invaluable for staying on top of 

our clients’ progress and 

ensuring their businesses grow. 

What is your favourite social media 

platform, and what does it bring to 

your business/organisation? 

Instagram: I believe it brings a lot of 

value. It has been a great way to 

promote my brand and the employer 

brand to potential new staff members. 

Additionally, it has allowed us to 

share content that is interesting and 

relevant, as well as showcase our 

successes and achievements. 

What needs fixed? 

Business owners should be getting 

more value from their accountants 

than just standard number crunching 

and compliance work. It is essential 

they take the time to evaluate what 

their accountants bring to the table 

and get the most out of the 

relationship. 

What leadership advice would you 

give your younger self? 

Be open to learning from the 

mistakes of others; it is often said that 

experience is the best teacher. Don’t 

be afraid to ask for advice and to take 

the time to understand why things 

didn’t turn out the way someone else 

expected. It can be a tremendous 

help in avoiding the same problem. 

SPRING 2023

The Leadership interview: Bruce Walker, FutureX 

We’re moulding the 

future – with a 

touch of the X factor 

Bruce Walker discusses sustainability, building teams 

and helping businesses to the next stage in their 

development with IoD Scotland’s Rob Beswick 

“There was a point when I was about 

to leave school,” recalls Bruce 

Walker, “when I thought life was 

really unfair, because all the great 

things had been invented and there 

was no space left for people my age 

to make their own mark. ” 

“I got that so wrong, didn’t I … 

looking at where we are now, there 

is so much scope in business for 

people to come in, disrupt the status 

quo and transform every single facet 

of life. Nothing is off the table. We’re 

at the start of a new industrial 

revolution, where everything in 

business and life is ripe for 

transformation. This is such an 

exciting time.” 

His enthusiasm – as well as being 

infectious – is apt, as he has been 

disrupting and transforming the 

landscape around him since the age 

of 17. Still only 28, today he is 

co-founder and owner of FutureX, 

an innovative training, learning 

platform and business consultancy 

based in Edinburgh but with a global 

outlook when it comes to clients. 

His start in business came in a very 

familiar place to many IoD members: 

Young Enterprise Scotland. 

“For a Young Enterprise project 

we were ridiculously ambitious,” he 

says, laughing. “We decided to 

organise an event for young 

entrepreneurs, people involved in 

start-ups… problem was I didn’t 

actually know what a start-up was, 

but I didn’t let that stop me. I 

thought, ‘who’s the best-known 

person in the UK for starting his own 

business,’ decided it was Lord Alan 

Sugar and invited him to address it. 

“He didn’t accept but he did send 

me a really nice letter praising the 

ambition and wishing us all the best. 

“It made me realise that even the 

biggest business names were 

accessible, that if you approached 

people with a good idea, they were 

willing to listen and help. That was a 

game changer in my outlook.” 

The event proved a huge success, 

with 500 tickets sold, RBS on board 

as a principal sponsor and a host of 

high-profile business people giving 

up their time to speak. It also 

opened more doors, and soon Bruce 

was jetting off to Silicon Valley for 

“We organised an event 

for start-ups... problem 

was, I didn’t actually 

know what a start-up 

was... but I didn’t let 

that fact stop me ...” 

meetings with, among others, Google, 

Apple and eBay, with a view to setting 

up similar events for entrepreneurs. 

“I emailed the CEOs of every big 

company I could think of and tapped 

into the Scottish/British diaspora 

while I was out there and again, the 

willingness of others to advise, help 

and guide was incredible.” 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, any 

university course struggled to 

compete with the lure of such an 

exciting workplace, so Bruce quickly 

left academia behind to focus on his 

fledgling business. “Over the next 

five years we worked with over 

5,000 entrepreneurs, delivering 

summits and programmes around 

the world in partnership with global 

brands.” 

In 2017 he co-founded FutureX 

with Zoi Kanatounatou, working with 

a range of dynamic businesses to 

help unlock potential, build focused 

teams and scale with purpose. 

He explains more about their role: 

“We’ve worked with 65 companies 

so far. Usually they are small – 

between 3 and 15 staff – are 

founder-owned and looking to take 

that next step. We operate in all 

sectors, but digital provides more 

than any other. The leaders are 

dedicated to their business, they 

work hard, are agile and know what 

works well for them, but they are so 

immersed in the thick of things they 

can’t create enough space around 

them to look to the horizon and see 

what’s next or what’s blocking 

them. It’s our job to help them plot 

that course, whether through 

consultancy, training, or both.” 

Sometimes that vital next step 

involves subtle changes and a new 

focus, but it can also mean major 

reform, such as reshaping the team. 

“It’s easy to grow a business but 

create a dysfunctional team while 

you are doing it. You start off with a 

loyal group of people around you 

and just assume that, as you grow, 


“Sometimes it can be for the best to 

change things round, follow a new 

direction. Never be afraid to pivot.” 

they will be the best people to have 

with you on the journey. They might 

not be. We’ve worked with plenty of 

teams where it’s obvious that the 

people who got the business to where 

it is now aren’t the best fit for the next 

stage in its journey.” 

Sometimes people’s loyalty blinds 

them. “Business owners often place a 

great store on loyalty, and feel an 

obligation to the people who were 

with them at the start. They don’t 

want to let go. But sometimes it can 


be for the best to change things 

round, follow a new direction. Never 

be afraid to pivot.” 

The solution, as it often is, is to talk. 

It can be a tough conversation but “sit 

down with your team, explain where 

the business is going and what you’ll 

expect from them, and see if they 

want in. You might be surprised. They 

might not like the sound of their role 

in the future, but didn’t want to say so 

out of loyalty to you. ” 

It might also require remoulding the 

team. “Your people may need training 

to give them extra skills, or it might be 

best for them to leave, gain 

experience elsewhere and then come 

back in later. 

“The important thing is having the 

courage and empathy to have the 

conversation in the first place. Helping 

to build effective teams is at the heart 

of what FutureX offers – and that’s 

deliberate.” 

Continued on page 14 

13

The Leadership interview: Bruce Walker, FutureX 

Continued from page 13 

Another area where FutureX takes 

no prisoners is on sustainability, and 

the impact businesses have on 

society, their people and on the 

planet. “Right from the start I’ve 

been convinced that sometimes, 

businesses operate in the wrong 

way. They are too extractive, too 

focused on the short-term, with no 

thought of long-term impacts.” 

FutureX’s aim is to be “a boutique 

consultancy, working with a handful 

of small but powerful companies 

who look to add to society in a 

beneficial way. We won’t work with 

extractive businesses who simply 

look to profit without consequence; 

our clients are those who want to 

work ethically with everyone.” 

Warming to his theme, “it 

shouldn’t be right for a business to 

be organised so that one or two 

shareholders extract all the value at 

the expense of the employees. It’s 

bad for them, and it’s bad for the 

wider society. 

“Treat your workforce well, and 

you create a ripple effect of 

goodwill: they will be better people 

to be around.” 

You cannot just think about profit: 

“To build a great business, focus on 

your team, what they are getting out 

of the experience, about whether 

what you’re doing is good for society, 

and whether how you operate is 

sustainable over the long term. Don’t 

just focus on the bottom line.” 

Bruce sees the world of business 

as wholly linked to the society in 

which it operates: “You cannot 

divorce the two, or think business 

sits in splendid isolation to the world 

around it. We need to build healthy, 

resilient organisations that serve 

everyone well – the environment, the 

people who work for them, 

stakeholders and suppliers.” 

With environmental issues at the 

“Engagement from the 

Scottish Government is 

certainly valuable, with 

really great ideas and 

intentions, but sometimes 

it isn’t matched by 

deliverable actions...” 

top of the business agenda, building 

a business that is good for the 

planet, too, is clearly a key part of 

his overall philosophy. “I’m glad this 

issue gains so much traction now, 

with the climate change debate. You 

feel that the days of wholly 

exploitative, extractive businesses 

with no regard to the environmental 

impacts of their work, are coming to 

an end. The extractive economy is 

such a negative place to be right now.” 

But it remains profitable: our 

conversation took place immediately 

after record profits were announced 

by BP and Shell, among others. How 

did he feel when hearing about that? 

“I was disappointed; it’s an indictment 

of the system that businesses profit 

from, basically, global calamity. 

“How did we get to this position? 

It’s been a deliberate strategy for 

some, to take a dwindling resource, 

exploit it as much as possible, 

increasing prices as they go and 

squeeze the very most out of it, 

without any regard to the damage 

done. Tell me, what’s good about 

that for society? 

“How can it be right that 

renewable energy costs the same 

– or more – than extractive fuels like 

oil and gas, when the latter prices 

don’t factor in the damage they do? 

What price can you put on a business 

that operates with true sustainability?” 

There’s positive news coming, 

however. “I think we are in a new 

world. Every young business owner I 

speak to has the bug for sustainability 

and understands that businesses 

have to operate in harmony with 

what’s around them. The future 

business will not be extractive of 

resources, people or of society.” 

It’s a philosophy that underpins 

FutureX. “We look after our people. 

Before the pandemic we took the 

conscious decision to switch to a 

four-day week, to look after their 

wellbeing, and it has been a great 

success. We are more productive.” 

The reason is simple. “A five-day 

week leaves everyone exhausted by 

Friday, and then they have to start 

doing all the ‘other jobs’ – the 

shopping, fitting in appointments, 

etc – before they can switch off and 

relax. By working four days you give 

people a day for ‘life maintenance’, 

then they get two days off. ” 

Bruce is enjoying being back in the 

office rather than working from 

home. “Working from home has its 

advantages, and was vital during the 

pandemic, but I think the recent rise 

in business confidence is linked to 

people getting back into the office. I 

missed being with the team. Zoom 

meetings are a great addition to the 

armoury and make meetings more 

efficient, but are they at the expense 

of meeting people and getting to 

know them – the human side of 

business? Have we lost a little of the 


apport with each other that we 

used to take for granted?” 

Does he share the rise in business 

confidence? “Absolutely. For us, 

things look great. There’s a real buzz 

about the office and we’re looking 

for consistent growth. I think the 

confidence is coming back to 

Scotland, too. Things are looking up 

after several years of crisis.” 

If this optimism is to translate into 

successful businesses, however, he’s 

looking for assistance from the 

centre. “Engagement from the 

Scottish Government is certainly 

valuable, with really great ideas and 

intentions, but sometimes it isn’t 

matched by deliverable actions. We 

need to give strategies space to get 

established and bed down. There is 

too much short-term thinking, then 

the focus shifts on to the next thing.” 

He highlights the review of the 

digital sector by former Skyscanner 

chief Mark Logan as an example of 

how things should be done. “Mark 

and his team looked a decade ahead 

and considered what the digital 

world would look like, and what 

Scotland needed to accommodate it. 

“It’s ground-breaking, long-term 

thinking that will put Scotland in 

a great place in the future. We need 

more of the same in other areas.” 

But Scottish businesses cannot 

just look to the state for guidance: 

they need to grasp the opportunities 

that present themselves for their 

own growth. “We know Scottish 

businesses often don’t scale well. 

Why? It’s not a lack of ambition, but 

it might be a lack of insight. My 

advice is to think globally from the 

outset. Ask yourself what businesses 

you admire – chances are, they won’t 

be in your town, or your county, 

perhaps not even in Scotland. Get 

out of Scotland, go down to 

England, to the EU, to the US, to find 

out what’s going on. 

“Look internationally, take 

inspiration from wherever you see 

great practice. Cherrypick the best 

ideas and ways to operate. Be 

audacious, be bold – but most of all, 

be global. We’re a small consultancy 

but the clients we’re talking to come 

from all over the world. If we can do 

it, so can you.” 

A final piece of advice: “Don’t be 

insular. Tap into the global Scots and 

British diaspora, or work the Saltaire 

Foundation abroad. If you ask, doors 

will open. I’ve found doors always 

open to Scots!” 

“We won’t work with 

extractive businesses 

who simply look to 

profit without 

consequences... the 

extractive economy is 

such a negative place 

to be right now.” 


15

News 

Our awards are back – 

and you’re invited 

Director of the Year Awards 

June 8 at the 

Edinburgh International 

Conference Centre 

We’re set for a night to remember in 

June when we play host to the 

2023 IoD Scotland Director of the 

Year Awards. 

In what will be our first in-person 

awards evening since 2019, the IoD 

Director of the Year awards are a 

chance to shine a deserving spotlight 

on those business leaders who have 

really inspired others and rose to the 

challenges we’ve all faced in 2022. 

Who has turned their business’s 

fortunes around? Who has bucked 

the trend by ignoring contraction and 

going for growth? Who has led their 

public sector or third sector 

organisation through a maelstrom of 

obstacles and still delivered for its 

stakeholders and clients? 

These are just some of the qualities 

our judges will be looking for at the 

awards. 

As usual we’ll be awarding Director 

of the Year Awards in a host of 

sectors, including Large and Small 

Business, Public and Third Sectors, 

Young Director and Non Executive 

Directors of the Year. 

Nominations are open NOW but 

you’ll have to hurry: entries and 

nominations must be completed by 

March 17 for judging to start. 

The awards evening is on 

Thursday, June 8 at the Edinurgh 

International Conference Centre. 

Tickets are on sale now too, so 

book in early and join us for a night 

to remember as we celebrate 

Scotland’s finest business leaders. 

IoD Scotland Nations Director 

Catherine McWilliam said: “I can’t 

wait for our Director of the Year 

Awards in June. 

“It will be chance for all of us to sit 

down and reflect on what we’ve all 

achieved – despite all the challenges 

they have faced. 

“We can all say, collectively, ‘we 

got through this, we survived the 

storm.’” 

Awards categories: 

National 

• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion 

• Family Business 

• Third Sector 

• Agility & Resilience 

• International 

• Innovation 

• Sustainability 

• Non-Executive 

• Young 

• Public Sector 

• Small – Medium Business 

(up to £25 million) 

• Large Business (£25m+) 

Regional 

• Aberdeen & Grampian 

• Central Scotland 

• Edinburgh & Lothians 

• Fife & Tayside 

• Glasgow & West of Scotland 

• Highlands & Islands 

• South of Scotland. 

CLICK HERE to enter 

CLICK HERE for more details 

of the awards, including how 

to book your place. 

Former winner of both the small-medium business and public 

sector IoD Scotland Director of the Year awards, Marshall Dallas, 

CEO of the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) 

said: “I am so pleased to see the Director of the Year Awards 

returning to the EICC this year and bringing its audience back 

together for a face-to-face event. The IoD Awards Ceremony is a 

flagship event in the Scottish business calendar which allows 

leaders to take a brief pause to celebrate the hard work and 

commitment from their own organisations.” 

Marshall 

Dallas 

Both IoD members and non-members are eligible to enter the 

awards, or you can nominate someone and enter on their behalf. 

Closing date for applications is March 17. 

Awards sponsors 

The 2023 Director of The Year awards are 

sponsored by Insights, SCVO, Turcan Connell, 

Wheatley Group and Zero Waste Scotland. 



17

Education & training 

Unlocking the potential of 

Scotland’s apprentices 

The Scottish Qualifications 

Authority (SQA) is proud to support 

this year’s Scottish Apprenticeship 

Week and highlight the positive 

impact work-based learning has on 

people, businesses, and the local 

economy. 

Apprenticeships unlock learners’ 

potential and provide them with 

valuable skills and experience 

sought by employers. 

Apprenticeships also support 

sustained employment and 

upskilling, as well as opening up 

opportunities for young people 

from diverse backgrounds and 

abilities to gain skills that will 

support them throughout their life 

and in work. 

Modern Apprenticeships are an 

essential part of Scotland’s 

education and training landscape, 

and SQA qualifications, specifically 

Scottish Vocational Qualifications 

(SVQs), are an integral part of most 

Modern Apprenticeships. 

These well-respected vocational 

qualifications meet the required 

National Occupational Standards 

outlined by a host of industries. This 

ensures that the skills young people 

develop during their apprenticeship 

meet employers’ needs, and that the 

young people themselves are 

work-ready and able to accurately 

demonstrate the skills, knowledge, 

and experience that they have 

developed during their training. 

The flexibility of SQA 

qualifications allows for innovative 

delivery approaches that schools, 

colleges, and training providers can 

tailor to meet their own specific 

requirements. 

Investing in apprentices 

Jennifer Kolonko from Hamilton 

recently completed a Modern 

Apprenticeship in engineering at 

Coca Cola Europacific Partners 

(CCEP), becoming the first female 

engineer at her site. She now has a 

job as a senior technical operator 

and supports three new apprentices. 

Throughout her apprenticeship, 

Jen completed two SQA 

qualifications; an SVQ in 

Engineering Maintenance at level 3, 

and a Higher National Certificate in 

Engineering Systems. 

She said: “Growing up I had a 

hobby of re-building cars with my 

dad so always had a love of 

engineering and applied for the 

CCEP Modern Apprenticeship after 

seeing it online. 

“My Modern Apprenticeship has 

given me the knowledge to do 

things properly and better ways of 

problem solving which has 

improved my confidence a lot. 

Through the apprenticeship you get 

to work with experienced engineers 

who pass their knowledge onto you. 

The main benefit was the mixture 

between academic and hands-on 

experience. I had my own flat and it 

helped that I was getting a salary 

while still learning.” 

Beneficial for businesses 

Sharon Blyfield, Head of Early 

Careers and Apprenticeships at 

CCEP said: “As the first female 

engineer at the site, Jennifer is 

changing the narrative around 

engineering, an industry that has 

traditionally been dominated by 

men. She’s paving the way for future 

female engineers to follow in her 

footsteps as apprentices, 

volunteering to talk in schools and 

to young people in the community. 

“Apprenticeships also deliver a 

great return on investment for the 

business. While apprenticeships are 

about giving back and making sure 

we do our bit, it also makes good 

business sense. During her 

apprenticeship, Jennifer played a 

vital role in leading a project to 

improve mechanical efficiency 

across the site. She spotted an 

opportunity to reduce the number 

of jams, and designed and 

implemented a system guide to 

support colleagues in establishing 

the quickest routes to resolve 

issues. It has drastically improved 

mechanical efficiency, reducing 

waste by 30% and producing up to 

10% more product.” 

Foundation Apprenticeships 

SQA qualifications also underpin 

Foundation Apprenticeships, which 

provide work-based learning 

opportunities for secondary school 

learners in S5 and S6. The 

programme enables learners to 

complete elements of a Modern 

Apprenticeship while still at school, 

alongside their other subjects. They 

spend part of the school week at 

college or with a local employer, 

working towards industryrecognised 

qualifications while 

developing skills and experience in 

the workplace. 

Foundation, Modern and Graduate 

Apprenticeships are now supporting 

over 43,000 apprentices and 12,000 

businesses across the country, 

developing a workforce that 

supports the skills needed for now 

and the future. They are providing 

critical knowledge needed to 

support economic priorities and 

renewal, including Net Zero 

ambitions, to help Scotland to 

become a stronger, fairer, greener, 

and wealthier economy. 

Caroline Hunter, SQA Scotland 

National Manager says that by 

investing in apprentices, businesses 

like CCEP are setting a fantastic 

example to other employers, not 

just in the engineering and 

manufacturing sector, but across 

the board. “The qualifications and 

courses that SQA offer, and the 

support given by training providers, 

enable employers to take on the 

responsibility of training their own 

people. 

“This means they can tailor their 

development and get exactly the 

sort of person they want to fit their 

specific needs.” 


“My Modern Apprenticeship sees me 

work with experienced engineers who 

pass their knowledge onto you ... the 

main benefit was the mixture between 

academic and hands-on experience...” 

JENNIFER KOLONKO, 

Coca Cola’s first female engineer at her site 

For more information on 

SQA, the qualifications it 

offers, and how it supports 

Modern, Foundation, and 

Graduate Apprenticeships, 

visit 

https://www.sqa.org.uk/ 

apprenticeships 


19

Members benefits 

IoD membership 

We’re delighted that you have chosen the IoD to support you in your development as a director and we 

hope you get real value from your membership. The IoD Scotland team is always looking to enhance 

your membership with exclusive discounts on products and services, helping make your role that little 

bit easier, kinder on the budget and – most importantly – more convenient. We have outlined some of 

the key benefits here: for a full summary and discount codes, contact patricia.huth@iod.com 

Spotlight on... 

Edinburgh 

hotel offers for 

IoD members 

The George 

Following a multi-million pound 

refurbishment, the architectural detail 

of The George, a Grade-II listed hotel, 

is complemented by elegant interiors, 

from the bedrooms to the grand 

King’s Hall. 

All with the very best of 

Edinburgh’s shopping, restaurants 

and nightlife on your doorstep. 

To take advantage of IoD 

membership special discounts, 

present your IoD membership card at 

check-in or when seated at one of 

the hotel’s food outlets. 

Book online at ihg.com or see 

www.edinburgh.intercontinental.com 

0131 240 7137 

EdinburghTheGeorgeReservations 

@ihg.com 

The George 

Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel (above 

right): 15% discount on food, drinks 

and accommodation 

Also new 15% discount on the Gym 

& Spa at the Charlotte Square Hotel. 

Quote IoD Scotland member when 

booking. 

Holiday Inn, Edinburgh – 15% off 

best available rate. To book call 

0131 314 7018 or email 

reservations@hi- edinburgh.co.uk, 

quoting IOD Scotland. 

Malmaison Hotels – 20% off 

lunches and dinners Edinburgh. 

Locke Apartments - 20% discount 

Lateral City Apartments - 12% 

discount 

Fountain Court Premier 

Apartments - discounted rates 

Mode Aparthotel, Edinburgh 

– discounted rates. 

Book via 0131 370 8433. 

Angels Share Hotel, Edinburgh 

– 15% discount. Quote GLC15. 

Eden Locke – 20% off designer 

apartment. Visit lockeliving.com and 

enter code “LOCKEDIN” for 20% off 

Best Available Rate. Leisure stays at 

weekends 15% off through website - 

just enter the code LIVELOCKE. 

Yotel, Edinburgh. Quote IoD when 

booking online for a preferential rate. 

See www.yotel.com/yotel-edinburgh 

or call 0131 526 4950 

Hawksmoor Edinburgh – a round 

of drinks on us when eating. Quote 

IoD when booking. 

Remember these discounts when booking your accommodation for the Director of the Year Awards in June 

Hotels 

The following hotels also have 

special rates for IoD members. 

Aberdeen – Malmaison 

IoD offer: Up to 10% off 

accommodation and 20% off 

food and beverages. 

malmaison.com 

01224 507097 

Dundee – Malmaison 

Take your pick from 91 sumptuous 

rooms and suites spanning six 

fabulous floors. There’s so much to 

see and do in Dundee, and 

Malmaison is perfect place to stay in 

the City of Discovery. 

IoD offer: Up to 10% off 

accommodation bookings and 

20% off food and beverages. 

malmaison.com 

01382 339715 

Glasgow – Kimpton Blythswood 

Square 

IoD members receive 15% off best 

available bed and breakfast rates. 

kimptonblythswoodsquare.com 

0141 248 8888 

Glasgow – voco Grand Central 

Members receive a 15% discount on 

the best available rates for food, 

beverage and accommodation. 

grandcentral.vocohotels.com 

0141 221 3388 

One Devonshire Gardens 

Members receive 10% off best 

available rate for accommodation 

when booked online. 

hotelduvin.com/locations/glasgow 

0330 016 0390 

Citizen M 

Enjoy: Best rates at time of booking 

and a welcome drink. 

citizenm.com/directors-scotland 

0203 519 1111 

Malmaison 

10% off best available rates 

malmaison.com 

0141 378 0384 

Inverness – Kingsmills Hotel 

Fabulous four-star luxury hotel in 

Inverness, set in the beautiful 

Scottish Highlands. Luxurious rooms, 

impeccable dining and good old- 


Better directors build 

a better world 

We believe that helping directors to improve, encouraging 

great governance, while fostering an entrepreneurial climate, 

helps generate prosperity in all its forms, making the world a 

better place. We strive to remind those with influence of this 

belief. Better Directors, Better Businesses, Better Economy. 

Browse our Events 

Professional 

Development 

Policy & Governance 

Other benefits 

Members can access special 

discounts on a host of products and 

services: 

Professional Indemnity Insurance 

Office insurance 

Data risks insurance 

Car and van hire 

Personal private health insurance 

Home and contents insurance 

Private client insurance 

About... Directors’ Liability 

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discounted rates from Hiscox. 

Great offers on company directors’ 

and officers’ insurance, to offset the 

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holding authority in a firm and 

mitigating threats to your personal 

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more about the product and how 

the discount works or get a quote. 

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insurance is more important than 

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breaches increasing in frequency 

and sophistication. Cyberclear, 

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CLICK HERE to discover more. 

voco Grand Central 

Business growth advice and support 

Where Now Consulting Ltd provides 

business advice and support to IoD 

members in Scotland. 

Where Now Consulting focuses on the 

development of business models for 

growth and would be delighted to support members in any of the following 

categories: Organic growth; In-organic growth; and Success Planning 

fashioned Scottish hospitality. 

IoD offer 

Book with the hotel’s dedicated 

Reservations Team to qualify for the 

IoD discount. Rooms £89 including 

Scottish breakfast. 

IoD Scotland offer 

Where Now Consulting Ltd will give members a complimentary one hour 

consultancy session to focus and develop key strategies for success with a 

further 10% discount on further support from Where Now Consulting, and a £35 

discount on the Where Now Consulting Business Diagnostic Tool. 

kingsmillshotel.com 

01463 257100 

reservations@kingsmillshotel.com 


21

Technical Briefing 

End of the line beckons for 

social media’s old timers 

Social media has been constantly hyped for two decades 

as the digital panacea towards commercial success and 

keeping the customer satisfied, but in its current form is 

it past its sell-by date? asks IT and digital business 

commentator Bill Magee. 

Three-out-of-five UK small to 

medium-sized businesses forced to 

slash their marketing budgets are 

questioning the commercial 

usefulness of social media platforms, 

according to a keynote survey. 

Such research findings should give 

us all pause for thought, especially 

in such uncertain economic times 

when developing digital technology 

skills can give an outfit that vital 

competitive edge. 

Many organisations, irrespective of 

their size, and this includes 

governments, have in recent years 

lost their way in terms of achieving 

customer excellence. 

It must now be all about fasttracking 

digital strategies. But, in a 

perhaps surprising move, that also 

appears to all but discard global 

social media platforms. It raises a 

big question. 

In this age of hyperconnectivity, 

can an ambitious organisation afford 

to live without such ‘social’ sites – 

even ones as overwhelmingly 

dominant as Twitter and Facebook? 

The report emphasises that 

technological solutions can bring 

companies closer to their client 

base. Those who get their social 

media ‘A game’ back can survive 

and prosper. 

The survey, by unified customer 

platform Klaviyo, reveals that along 

with the 60 per cent marketing 

budgets statistic, 67 per cent of UK 

SMEs say their main priority is 

acquiring new customers in 2023. 

This is all well and good. But the 

research points out the cost of 

bringing a new customer on board 

can be up to five times more 

expensive than retaining those in an 

organisation’s client base. 

A “disconnect” is highlighted 

between a firm’s budget cuts and 

ambitious plans. It is evident 

marketers should focus on nurturing 

existing relationships and building 

connections with their customers in 

more personalised and agile ways. 

And so, on to social media. 

Marketed as an integral part, if not 

leading, an organisation’s marketing 

mix, the research brings some 

surprises. 

Respondents totalling 32 per cent 

say the business-led LinkedIn 

platform will feature more in their 

strategy. 

So far so good. However, only 

fifteen per cent plan to focus more 

on Facebook, and a mere six per 

cent on Twitter. 

The survey says this reflects the 

“Only 15 per cent plan to 

focus on Facebook, and a 

mere six per cent on 

Twitter... a further surprise 

is only five per cent of 

those surveyed reveal they 

will look to TikTok, 

suggesting younger 

demographics aren’t a 

priority audience...” 

turmoil the latter site is going 

through since being taken over by 

Tesla tech tycoon Elon Musk. 

Then there’s the revelation the 

capricious ex-POTUS Trump’s 

accounts are being reinstated on 

certain social media platforms. 

A survey by banklesstimes.com 

reveals 3-out-of-5 Americans think 

social media is bad for democracy. 

A YouGov UK-wide survey reports 

57 per cent of residents think Trump 

shouldn’t be reinstated, with a 

further 20 per cent in the ‘don’t 

know’ camp. 

It’s worrying, as what occurs on 

the US front has such an impact 

here, thousands of miles away 

across the Pond. 

A further surprise in the survey is 

only five per cent of those surveyed 

reveal they will look to TikTok, 

suggesting younger demographics 

aren’t a priority audience. 

A more tactical approach is 

evident. One where relevant web 

and mobile-based digital products 

and processes will more likely 

protect data, both within an 

organisation and covering its client 

base. 

You can add to this the need for 

customer-facing teams to upskill so 

that they feel more connected, 

which in turn enhances the client 

approach. Boot camps, training 

courses – anything really that makes 

staff more cybersecurity aware. 

At the heart of everything is the 

online and mobile health of valuable 

data belonging to both the 

organisation and customers, 

together with third party supply 

chains. 

Here it’s best to ensure the 

business has a Cloud solution, like 


“Here it’s best to 

ensure the 

business has a 

Cloud solution, 

like Microsoft 

Teams, to 

redefine or 

evolve the digital 

workplace along 

with continuing 

to adjust to the 

‘new normal’ of 

large-scale 

homeworking...” 

Microsoft Teams, to re-define or 

evolve the digital workplace along 

with continuing to adjust to the ‘new 

normal’ of large-scale homeworking. 

Moving data to the Cloud, and 

with it, integration services, connect 

a company’s legacy systems that in 

turn reduces costs and improves 

performance. 

Whatever industry is involved an 

organisation must ensure it remains 

operational, sustainable and 

relevant. 

Bring in outside expert help when 

needed, if that’s what is required. 

Also, beware becoming 

constrained by legacy platforms and 

enterprise architecture technologies 

that were not designed for today’s 

digital age. Instead move data to the 

Cloud at pace. 

Here Data Integration as a Service 

(DIaaS) promises connectivity to 

legacy/back-end systems, sources, 

files and operational applications by 

implementing well-defined 

interfaces and web services. 

DIaaS creates a more loosely 

coupled environment, one safe from 

complex interdependencies and 

enables integration across a multicloud 

environment, including third 

parties. 

In what is going to be a testy year 

ahead, such a future-proofing data 

exercise ensures the delivery of 

reduced operating costs. 

Above all you need a superior 

customer experience – one that 

appears likely to depend less on 

commercially unreliable social 

network platforms. 

McKinsey report highlights change coming 

to workforce as AI continues to disrupt 

McKinsey Global Institute Report 

states that by 2030, 14 per cent of 

the global workforce will switch 

jobs as digitisation, automation 

and artificial intelligence (AI) 

continue to disrupt the world of 

work. 

Upskilling initiatives represent a 

major focus for many companies 

to help retrain staff, giving them 

the skills required to move into 

in-demand roles. Establishing a 

‘Digital Academy’ approach can 

develop future talent. Attracting 

bright, driven school leavers, 

graduates and others seeking a 

career in technology. 

Central to this aim is giving 

them the training they need to 

take on in-demand roles. Also 

support customers in developing 

such an approach: 

• help shape a learning 

programme collaboratively 

• provide professional 

accreditations 

• lay out on-the-job experience 

allowing participants to practice 

and hone their new found skills 

Partnering with third parties can 

provide scale and flexibility by 

giving access to their talent pool. 

This works well if you are looking 

to add niche experience or 

accelerate a programme, but don’t 

have the time or resource available 

to recruit. Also, it can be viewed 

as a lower risk than recruiting as 

you are not increasing headcount 

or committing to long term 

overheads. 

The likelihood of getting the 

hire ‘wrong’ is also lessened as if 

someone is not the right fit, the 

onus is on the partner to bring 

someone else in who can fulfil the 

role. 

Ultimately, it means that those 

who develop a sustainable model 

for securing and developing talent 

are likely to come out on top and 

gain highly coveted market share. 

• Source: www.exceptionuk.com 


23

Insights: The Samaritans 

Building a more caring Scotland, 

one compassionate listen at a time 

Human connection saves lives 

– and that’s why the work of the 

Samaritans is more important 

than ever, says Neil Mathers 

I joined Samaritans Scotland as 

Executive Director last September, 

and I’m so proud to lead a team 

which contributes a huge amount of 

research, experience, and passion to 

the work on suicide prevention in 

Scotland. 

Collectively, our goal is to ensure 

fewer lives are lost to suicide by 

always being there to listen, by 

bringing evidence and an 

experienced voice to suicide 

prevention, by challenging 

inequality, and by working hand in 

hand with people every step of the 

way. 

Every 10 seconds a Samaritans 

volunteer will answer a call for help 

from someone who may be 

considering taking their own life. The 

level of need is hard to comprehend, 

but across Scotland, our 1,000 

volunteers are always there to listen, 

providing a safe space for anyone 

who needs to talk. The hope we 

offer through human connection 

saves lives. 

It’s vital that we work to reach 

those who need help most and 

encourage people in distress to 

make that potentially life-saving call. 

But we also need to do far more to 

reduce the levels of distress, anxiety, 

isolation and hopelessness that lead 

people to contact us in the first 

place. 

“By working together, it is 

possible to build a more 

compassionate and caring 

society in Scotland where no 

one feels they need to face 

their struggles alone.” 

Our Small Talk Saves Lives 

campaign encourages us to trust our 

instincts and start a conversation 

when you feel something isn’t quite 

right and you think someone might 

need help. 

We know that the encouragement 

of a family member, friend or 

colleague can be crucial in someone 

seeking support and taking that 

all-important first step. It can be 

daunting to approach someone you 

ae worried about, but our SHUSH 

active listening tips can be a great 

help. By working together, it is 

possible to build a more 

compassionate and caring society in 

Scotland where no one feels they 

need to face their struggles alone. 

Show you care 

To really listen to someone, you 

need to give them your full 

attention, keep eye contact and 

focus on them. Getting into the 

habit of doing this takes practice, so 

don’t be too hard on yourself. Keep 

trying, you’ll get there. 

Have patience 

Listening well is about creating 

trust with the other person. They 

shouldn’t feel rushed, or they won’t 

feel it’s a safe environment. If the 

other person has paused in their 

response, wait a moment. It’s 

important to remember it might take 

them some time to get their words 

out or express what they’re feeling. 

Use open questions 

An open-ended question means 

not jumping in with your own ideas 

about how the other person may be 

feeling. 

Try not to ask questions that leads 

them to a particular answer, for 

example, instead of asking ‘have you 

had a bad week?’, try ‘what’s been 

going on for you this week?’. Being 

open-minded can encourage them 

to reflect, open up and talk. 

Remember, the conversation is a 

safe space you’re holding for them, 

and nothing they say is right or 

wrong. 

Say it back 

Repeating something back to 

someone is a really good way to let 

them know you’re listening. You can 

check to see that you’re hearing 

what they want you to hear, and not 

putting your own interpretation on 

the conversation. 

Have courage 

You might feel uncomfortable 

asking someone how they feel, but 

you’ll soon realise if someone feels 

uncomfortable and isn’t ready to 

talk about it. Just let them know 

you’re there if they ever want to talk. 

Help is on hand 

Samaritans volunteers are here, 

day or night, for anyone who needs 

to talk. You can call them free on 116 

123 or email jo@samaritans.org 

Neil Mathers is the Executive 

Director of Samaritans Scotland. He 

joined the country’s leading suicide 

prevention charity from the 

learning and wellbeing 

organisation, Curiosity Collective, 

where he was Chief Executive. 

Previously, he was head of Save the 

Children in Scotland. 


Insights: Sustainability 

Marketing: A weapon of 

mass consumption? 

Kirsty Innes says it’s time 

we took another look at 

our marketing goals as 

businesses look to build 

true sustainability and 

greater brand loyalty 

Climate change is making it clear… 

we must change the way we do 

business. 

We use a disproportionate amount 

of the planet’s resources to support 

our current lifestyles; and we know 

we over-consume. 

In fact, if everyone across the 

world consumed the way we do in 

the UK, we would need 2.6 planet 

Earths. We would need five planet 

Earths to meet the consumption of 

the US. 

At the same time, most of the 

world’s population is suffering 

immense social injustice and 

growing economic inequality. We 

simply cannot support infinite 

growth with the limited resources of 

a finite planet. 

The SCDI’s ‘Business Purpose 

Commission’ defined the role of 

business as ‘finding profitable 

solutions to the problems of people 

and planet, not to create problems 

for either’. 

So, while everyone’s talking about 

the climate, carbon reduction and 

net zero, we also need to change 

how we use, organise and distribute 

the earth’s resources. That means 

the way we do business, and while 

this might seem daunting for some, 

it presents huge opportunities for 

others. 

The Edelman Trust, in their annual 

Global Trust Barometer, says we are 

living in the great trust void of the 

21st century. The Trust’s data shows 

record-level lows of confidence in 

the economy, mistrust of the media, 

and a continued drop in public 

approval of Governments. 

As this is happening more and 

more, citizens are turning to 

businesses and brands who show 

social and environmental leadership. 

In every measure of brand health, 

consumers are more likely to try, 

stay loyal, pay more and advocate 

for brands that genuinely do good. 

Understanding who we are, what 

we stand for and the difference we 

can make through our business is 

core to helping us do well by doing 

good. This is our purpose and it 

needs to be the golden thread which 

runs through and governs our 

business. 

This is where brand and culture 

come in. Your brand is a window to 

your business and encapsulates your 

culture and purpose and can be a 

key driver in achieving positive 

impact through your marketing and 

communications. 

We need to move marketing from 

being a weapon of mass 

consumption to being an agent of 

change for true sustainability, 

promoting new forms of 

consumption, building customer 

acceptance of new business models 

and building partnerships to create 

greater impact. 

If we are all to enjoy healthy and 

dignified lives on a thriving planet, 

we need business leaders to step up 

and lead the change. 

In my white paper, Why purpose, 

why now? The role of marketing in a 

world of overconsumption, I explore 

and explain how we can make 

business and marketing part of the 

solution, examining the link between 

purpose, culture, brand and success. 

I’d love you to read it and hear 

your thoughts. 

Read the 

report 

You can 

download a 

copy of the 

report by 

clicking on the 

cover left 

Kirsty Innes can be contacted via kirsty@kirstyinnes.com or on 07989 331474 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyinnesmarketing/ 


25

IoD Events 

Military leadership, and 

its role in business 

Date: 16 March 

Venue: Harper Macleod LLP 

Alder House, Cradlehall 

Business Park, Inverness 

IV2 5GH 

Cost: Members, 

Non-members, £5 

IoD Highlands & Islands 

invites you to join it for this 

event, where we will hear 

from guest speaker Squadron 

Leader Jason Edwards. 

Jason Edwards is a serving 

officer in the RAF and a 

director and leader with 

many years’ 

experience in hard 

and soft facilities 

management, 

management 

accounting, business 

management and HR/ 

welfare support. 

Join us at Harper Macleod in 

inverness to hear Jason’s leadership 

journey, during which he will draw 

on bis experiences in the RAF and 

how those lessons can be applied 

to ‘civilian business life’. 

Timetable 

8am: Registration. Networking 

breakfast (breakfast rolls) 

8.30am: Welcome from Donald 

Forsyth, Chair IoD Scotland 

Highlands & Islands branch 

8.35am: Jason Edwards – 

Leadership Journey 

9.15am: Discussion and Q&A 

9.30am: Thanks & close 

Organiser: Patricia Huth 

t: 0131 557 5488 

e: Patricia.Huth@iod.com 

Oban & Argyll Blue Economy & Built Environment 2023 – 

Investing in Sustainability and Innovation 


Time: 1.15pm-5pm 

Venue: The Scottish Association for 

Marine Science, Scottish Marine 

Institute, Oban PA37 1QA 

Cost: Free, Members and 

Non Members 

IoD Highlands and Islands branch 

invites you to come to Oban for a 

dynamic in-person business forum 

and networking reception. 

The forum will bring together 

leaders, sector operators, innovators, 

financial institutions, and investors in 

the Blue Economy and Built 

Environment for Oban, Argyll, Mull 

and the Islands and will focus on: 

• Blue Economy (incl. marine 

sciences, marine biology, 

conservation, renewables) 

• Built environment (eco-property 

development, renewables) 

• Eco-hospitality (incl. tourism, food 

and beverage) 

• Human health (as related to 

marine sciences and built 

environment) 

• Entrepreneurship & expansion 

funding (grants, venture debt, equity) 

Panelists include: 

• Fergus Murray - Head of Economic 

Development, Argyll 

& Bute Council; Board 

of Directors, BID Oban 

• Elaine Jamieson - Head of Life 

Sciences, Blue Economy, and Food & 

Drink, Highlands & Islands Enterprise 

• Andrew Mearns Spragg - Founder 

& Chief Scientific Officer, Jellagen 

Pty Ltd 

• Rhianna Rees - Seaweed Academy 

Coordinator, SAMS Enterprise 

• Lisa Lambie - Chief Impact Officer, 

Blue Oasis Ventures; Environment & 

Sustainability Ambassador, IoD 

Highlands & Islands 

We hope to have others panelists 

with us on the day. 


t: 0131 557 5488 


Lisa Lambie 

Andrew Mearns Spragg 

Elaine Jamieson 

Fergus Murray 



Introducing ... the IoD’s Certificate 

in Company Direction programme 


Time: 9am — 10:15am 

Cost: Free 

Venue: Online 

• Kick start your professional 

development journey 

• Free information session 

• Meet a course leader and 

Chartered Director 

Have you been considering how you 

can enhance your impact and 

performance as a director? Do 

you want to gain the latest 

tools and techniques 

from expert 

practitioners who have 

a wealth of experience 

in boardrooms across 

the globe? If you 

answered “yes” then 

this may be the most 

useful session you take this 

year. We warmly invite you to 

find out more about our gold 

standard Certificate in Company 

Direction. In this free information 

session you can sample course 

content alongside other delegates 

and meet the IoD’s course 

leader. 

Whether you’re a 

newly appointed 

director, aspiring to a 

seat on the board, or 

want to improve 

performance with 

fresh insight, the IoD 

Certificate in Company 

Direction, Bachelors level 

(SCQF) qualification will 

equip you with the core knowledge 

and awareness needed to function 

effectively as a director. 

The session will be interactive, 

featuring a Q&A with the course 

leader and Chartered Director and 

will also include a teaser activity 

from one of the Certificate in 

Company Direction modules. You 

will discover what it means to be a 

Chartered Director, and will have 

the opportunity to hear direct 

experiences from a member of our 

Chartered Director alumni. 



The session is led by Sheelagh 

Duffield, a corporate governance 

specialist advising clients on best 

practice governance, and Menai 

Owen-Jones, a holder of the 

Chartered Director qualification and 

an award-winning social sector 

Chief Executive and an experienced 

Non-Executive Director. 

About our speakers 

Menai Owen-Jones (below) 

Menai is a Chartered Director, an 

award-winning social sector 

Chief Executive and an 

experienced Non- 

Executive Director. 

She was elected as 

Co-Vice Chair of Cardiff 

Metropolitan University 

for 2021-22 and Chair of 

the IoD Wales Director of 

the Year Awards 2021. 

Menai is a Fellow of the IoD 

and an Ambassador for IoD 

Wales. 

Sheelagh Duffield (below) 

Sheelagh Duffield is a corporate 

governance specialist advising 

clients on best practice 

governance and providing 

independent board 

evaluation services. Before 

setting up her own 

business Sheelagh held 

senior executive roles 

within the corporate 

departments of Scottish 

Power plc; Scottish 

Television plc and The Miller 

Group Limited at times when 

these businesses were delivering 

extensive strategic and 

organisational change. Sheelagh is a 

non-executive director with The 

National Theatre of Scotland and a 

member of its Finance Committee. 

She is also a non-executive director 

with Cricket Scotland where she 

Chairs the Risk Committee. She was 

a Trustee Director with Capability 

Scotland for five years. 

Organiser: Events team 

Contact events@iod.com 

Maximise your 

membership 


Time: 12pm — 1pm 

Venue: Online 

Join us for this virtual lunch time 

event as we explore the full range 

of benefits that come as part of 

your membership 

Are you a member who gets the 

most out of membership? Are you 

keen to learn more about the IoD 

and what membership brings? 

We want you to get maximum 

value from your membership, so 

please join us for this virtual 

lunchtime event as we explore the 

full range of benefits that come as 

part of your membership – 

including some you might not be 

aware of! 

Hear from our team of experts 

including the Director General, 

Jonathan Geldart, as we raise 

awareness of the IoD, the 

membership offering and the 

benefits of being part of our many 

communities of directors and 

senior business leaders across the 

UK and beyond. Hear how we 

support, represent, and set 

standards for business leaders. 

The event is also open to nonmembers 

interested to understand 

how IoD membership might 

benefit them. 



27 

27

Events Diary 

Exploring religious/belief inclusion: 

why it’s important and what businesses 

can do to support employees 


Time: 12:30pm — 1:30pm 

Cost: Free of charge 

Venue: Online 

Join IoD Aberdeen & Grampian and 

IoD Coventry & Warwickshire 

branches for this panel discussion 

on what employers need to do to 

accommodate different religion and 

belief structures in their 

organisations. 

We will delve into: 

• Exploring religious/belief 

inclusion in the workplace 

• Why cultural literacy is a 

commercial advantage 

• Practical ways to support 

employees 

Speakers: 

Aaqil Ahmed, Professor of Media at 

the University of Bolton 

Aaqil Ahmed is the former Head 

of Religion and Ethics at both 

Channel 4 and the BBC. At Channel 

4, he was also the Head of 

Multicultural Programming. 

He has won numerous awards 

from EMMY to BAFTA and has an 

Oscar nomination. Aaqil is currently 

a Non-Executive Director at the 

Advertising Standards Authority, 

media and communications regulator 

OFCOM, The Higher Education 

Funding Council for Wales and The 

Bradford Literature Festival. 

Aaqil runs media production and 

communications consultancy, 

Amplify Consulting Ltd with a 

number of clients in the media, 

broadcasting, festivals, education, 

Government and the corporate 

sector. He is also Professor of Media 

at the University of Bolton and 

teaches at a number of universities 

in the UK. He is a published writer, 

speaker, event chair and leader in 

media, diversity, religion, 

demographics and culture. 

Abid Khan, Chair IoD Coventry & 

Warwickshire 

Abid is Chair of the Coventry & 

Warwickshire branch for the IoD 

and Chair of IoD British Asian 

Community. He is currently 

President of the Equality Council UK 

and helped launch the awardwinning 

networking group Chutney 

and Chat. 

Lisa Ferrol, Managing Director, 

Bagamoyo Consulting Limited & DEI 

Ambassador, IoD 

Lisa is Managing Director of 

Bagamoyo Consulting Limited, an 

independent consultancy offering 

practical guidance on inclusion, 

diversity and belonging and is DEI 

Ambassador for the IoD Aberdeen 

branch. 

Lisa is an experienced 

organisational development leader 

with over 20 years’ experience 

across the energy, financial services 

and education sector. She believes 

in supporting businesses and 

employees to create the ideal 

working environment and enabling 

employee voice to build a 

workplace where colleagues can 

thrive. 

Rachael Wilson is the Managing 

Director, EW Group 

EW Group has 35 years of 

expertise in guiding organisations 

on how to move the dial on 

workplace inclusion. 

Rachael has run the company for 

the past decade, overseeing a team 

of more than 100 diversity 

specialists globally. EW Group 

provides a complete diversity and 

inclusion consultancy service to 

organisations in all sectors. 

Its training, analysis, accreditation 

and consultancy programmes have 

been delivered to more than 3,000 

organisations across 80 countries 

with clients including Mercedes 

Formula 1, the BBC, Warner 

Brothers, Adidas, Arsenal FC and 

The White Company.. 


t: 0131 557 5488 



Get the latest on the economic outlook 

at our exclusive IoD members event 

Date: 16 May 

Time:, 12pm — 1pm 

Venue: Online 

Cost: Free of charge, but 

members only 

On the 16 May we will discuss the 

outcomes of the latest MPC report 

released by the Bank of England, in 

the company of the Bank of 

England and Kitty Ussher, IoD Chief 

Economist. 

As the UK enters a period of 

challenging economic activity, keep 

up to date with the trends and 

analysis by listening to IoD’s 

quarterly economic updates with 

the Bank of England and IoD’s Chief 

Economist, Kitty Ussher. 

This is an IoD member only 

event. 

This event will be run 

under Chatham House 

Rules. 

Kitty Ussher (right) 

Kitty Ussher is a UK 

macro-economist and 

public policy research 

professional and the Chief 

Economist at the IoD. 

A former MP for Burnley, she 

served as Economic Secretary to 

the Treasury (‘City minister’) during 

the early phase of the financial 

crisis and subsequently as a junior 

minister at the Department for 

Work and Pensions. 

She then moved to the 

private sector, 

delivering public 

policy thought 

leadership research 

projects for large 

corporates and 

charities. 

She has served on 

the FCA consumer 

panel and in addition to 

her work at the IoD is also 

a NED for an asset manager and a 

fast-growing fintech. 



Japan – UK Symposium: celebrating 

150 years of Iwakura Mission 

Date: 24 April 

Time: 1pm — 9:30pm 

Venue: Japan House, 

101-111 Kensington High Street 

London W8 5SA 

Cost: Member £55; 

Non-member £75 

If you are involved in international 

trade, or wish to be, this is a must 

attend event! This Japan-UK 

Symposium is being run by the IoD 

International Trade Group. 

The gathering will, among other 

things, consider business 

opportunities between the UK, 

Japan and how partnering can open 

up opportunities in third countries. 

It is named after the Iwakura 

Mission, which visited Britain for 122 

days in 1873. It was the first 

Japanese mission designed 

according to Western diplomatic 

principles and perhaps the first 

mission in world history to include a 

large proportion of a country’s 

leadership. 

The 150th Anniversary provides 

an ideal opportunity to raise 

relations to a new level focused on 

carrying out trade and realising new 

businesses opportunities between 

Japan and the UK. 

Japan was the first to sign a 

bilateral trade agreement in the 

post-Brexit age. It has brought 

opportunities to restore digital 

competitiveness and productivity 

for the two nations, covering, for 

example, industrial manufacturing, 

healthcare, financial services, retail, 

systems integrators and technology 

providers, and the public sector. 

Japan is looking to strengthen its 

economic security, enhance supply 

chain resilience, and fund advanced 

research in science, technology and 

innovation, which brings an 

immense opportunity for the two 

nations. 

At this event you will: 

• Meet delegates interested in 

promoting and doing business with 

Japan and the UK. 

• Meet with companies trading 

with UK and Japan 

• Opportunity to network and 

develop opportunities for doing 

business with Japan, UK and other 

third countries. 

• Learn about trading and 

governance issues and 

opportunities 

This event is a must for anyone 

interested in learning more about 

opening up avenues to Japan. It is 

supported by: Embassy of 

Japan, Department of International 

Trade, British Japanese All Party 

Parliamentary Group (APPG) Japan 

Society, and Japan Chambers of 

Commerce and Industries, among 

others. 

Organiser: IoD London 

Contact london@iod.com 


29


Leading Sustainability for Directors 

This new course will include four half-day sessions designed to equip directors with the 

knowledge and skills to strengthen their organisation’s orientation towards sustainability. It is 

based on a director’s sustainability checklist and will provide a practical approach to this 

critically important issue, with a focus on immediate takeaways, and includes an opportunity to 

apply learnings to your own organisation. 

The four sessions of the online course will take place over four different dates from 1:30pm to 

5:00pm. It is a requirement for you to be able to attend all four sessions. 

The session topics and dates are: 

The Governance Agenda: The board’s role and actions | Monday, 15th May, 1:30pm-5pm. 

The Net Zero Agenda: The board’s role and actions | Monday, 5th June, 1:30pm-5pm. 

The Wider Environment Agenda | Monday, 19 June, from 1:30pm to 5:00pm. 

The Social Agenda: The board’s role and actions | Monday, 3 July, from 1:30pm to 5:00pm. 

This course will be delivered ONLINE 

Member Rate: £1,500 plus VAT 

Non-member Rate: £1,950 plus VAT 

For more information, visit 

https://www.iod.com/professional-development/ 

open-courses/leading-sustainability-for-directors/ 


31

IoD Scotland Spring 2023

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