Direction Autumn 2023 - IoD Scotland members magazine

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DIRECTION | IoD NEWS www.iod.com/scotland IoD Glasgow and the West Committee prepares for season of events and membership engagement During the summer, the new Chair of the IoD Glasgow and West of Scotland committee, Mark Spragg, has been reaching out to the local membership via a membership survey. Mark said, “As we start to build our programme for the next 12 months, we felt it was important to really understand what our members are looking for from their local committee, and how they would like it to be delivered”. The survey, which was sent to the members in the region, achieved an excellent response from the membership. A programme of local events and opportunities to network are now in the planning, with over 80% of those surveyed saying that connection to other local members was important to their continued membership of the IoD. Our membership said that they were interested in a wide range of events but most of those surveyed were looking for opportunities to connect at local networking or social events, or were looking to learn from keynote speakers and other business personalities. The pandemic has changed the way we work, with the daily commute to work a thing of the past for many of us. The same is true for business meetings and, while most said they would be happy for future events to be held in Glasgow, there was a strong desire for local meetings, particularly in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire. There was also a call for virtual and on-line meetings. The committee is now looking at how to arrange events across the region to connect our membership communities across the West of Scotland. The survey also provided an opportunity to find out the local issues that were affecting the directors in the West of Scotland. The quality of local training and skills development, the support from the Government business agencies such as Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise, and local transport links were the issues causing most concern. Also, Mark has been reaching out to potential committee members to help in the local region with events and connectivity with other local groups, including local government. After an excellent response we will shortly be announcing a newly refreshed Glasgow and West of Scotland Committee. This will coincide with the launch of our first new events at the end of September. Get in touch Exciting times are ahead in Glasgow and the West. Members that wish to get involved either with the local committee or in helping to sponsor or run a local event can contact Mark directly at chair.glasgow@IOD.net IoD backs interest rate hold Commenting on the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England to hold interest rates at 5.25%, Kitty Ussher, Chief Economist of the IoD, said: “Business leaders will welcome the decision to keep interest rates on hold. It has become increasingly clear that the Bank’s action constraining demand and bringing down inflation expectations. That’s why the IoD called for a pause in rate rises. “The economy shrank in July and both core and services inflation were lower than expected in August. This combined with a more difficult external environment, negative PMI results, a weakening labour market and the anticipated fall in the Ofgem energy price cap means that inflation is likely to be substantially lower by the end of the year, and within sight of the Bank of England’s 2% medium-term target in 2024. “To tighten further would have risked administering an overdose before the existing medicine has had enough time to fully take effect.” IoD Central Scotland Stepping stone to your first million IoD Central Scotland is delighted to share a new event series aimed at newer Directors, which will be launching across the Central Scotland region soon. The ‘Your First Million – an introduction to Directorship’ series will start with a brief presentation by an expert to set the scene and context, group chats to discuss and explore what that means for them in their journey, a Q&A session with a panel and wrapping up with free networking. Your First Million will be open to both members and non-members, with the option of joining a post-event follow-on support network for IoD members only. The topics covered will include The Art of Strategy, Raising Investment, Innovation, Relationships / Networking and much more. Watch this space for more information coming soon! 06 AUTUMN 2023
www.iod.com/scotland IoD NEWS | DIRECTION IoD Fife & Tayside Exciting partnership sealed with iconic St Andrews hotel The Fife and Tayside Branch is thrilled to unveil a dynamic partnership with Rusacks in St Andrews. Building on the triumph of our members’ drinks event this June, we’re now embarking on a series of engaging quarterly gatherings hosted at this remarkable venue. But that’s not all – an exhilarating prelude to our annual Christmas dinner is already in the works, promising an unforgettable festive celebration (see pg 32). Nestled in the heart of St Andrews, Rusacks has an iconic status as a golfing haven that is revered globally. The IoD branch’s collaboration with this esteemed locale marks a remarkable chapter in our journey. The melding of inspiring discussions, invigorating networking, and breathtaking views promises an enriching experience that transcends the conventional. Anticipation is mounting as we prepare to unveil future events and experiences. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we delve into the stories behind Rusacks and its parent company, Marine and Lawn Hotel and Resorts, over the next few months. The Fife and Tayside Branch looks forward to embarking on this journey with Rusacks, an alliance that symbolises connection. IoD Central Scotland The annual IoD golf event is back As the home of golf, Scotland’s business sector has always had close links with the game, and its ability to seal a deal or make new connections. With this in mind, Neil Bradbrook, Chair of the IoD for Central Scotland, launched the IoD Golf Day as an annual event for IoD members from across Scotland and beyond to enjoy a day of golf, networking, and friendly competition. The inaugural event took place on Friday, 25th August at Falkirk Golf Club, known locally as Carmuirs. The day was well attended by golfing IoD members from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirlingshire, and Perthshire, plus one member who travelled all the way from London just for the day’s activities. The competition for the replica Claret Jug went down to the wire, with the top two pairs tied on points. Brian Williamson, a Central branch member, and Lawrence Connelly, from IoD Glasgow, took the title on countback. The trophy will be permanently Brian Williamson and Lawrence Connelly celebrate with their prizes displayed at the IoD Scotland HQ on Queen Street in Edinburgh, celebrating the winners’ names. Everyone had a great time, and attendees are already looking forward to next year. Neil is also Managing Director of event sponsor Ahead Business Consulting (ABC), which specialises in strategy, transformation, and leadership, supporting SMEs across the private, public and third sectors. He said: “The IoD is reliant on sponsors to make successful events like this one happen, and so we were delighted to be able to support such an enjoyable day. “Golf is a great way to get time out of the office, bringing both personal wellbeing as well as an informal setting for more natural business conversations too.” Following positive feedback from the event, IoD Scotland aims to double attendance at next year’s tournament, with several members already registering their interest in the 2024 competition. 07
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Direction Autumn 2023 - IoD Scotland members magazine

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