Scot-Buzz editor Bill Jamieson says good news keeps coming for Scotland’s economy and there is a growing view that we've turned the corner - but a corner to what, he asks - perhaps the icebergs ahead? HSBC Chief Economist Stephen King was in Scotland this week, raising profound questions on the UK's increasing reliance on money printing and ultra-low interest rates and warning that the worst of austerity – or more accurately real austerity - has still to hit home..
We welcome back doyenne of the Edinburgh arts scene Vera McFly, who this week spreads her wings around Europe. She calls up the ghost of Benjamin Franklin, wonders why Scotland isn't clamouring for a separate entry in the Eurovision Song Contest (go on, we know you watch it) and marvels as Creative Scotland takes on a new lease of life. And there's always Ailsa Craig...
Zelda love meetings. Not many people will admit to that, nor share her view of the benefits of carving out some time to sit in a room and get to grips with a subject with one or a group of people. Most of her day is spent staring intently at a computer surrounded by an invisible bubble. She realises that sometimes meetings can get out of hand - it's something to do with zoo animals...
Last week Homes for Scotland held its prestigious annual awards ceremony. Housebuilding is a key economic driver in Scotland, so it was encouraging that despite the severe downturn in the sector in recent years, no less than 87 submissions were received this year. Scot-Buzz Editor Bill Jamieson was pleased to act as chairman of the judging panel; he says it was the overhead clothes pulley that did it…
George Kerevan says you wouldn't know it from reading the British media but the Obama administration has suddenly been beset by multiple political scandals that evoke the spectre of Richard Nixon and Watergate. The shenanigans of the Obama White House, he says, have exploded all over the front pages. Is it arrogance or is the old Chicago Democratic machine in action again...
More companies than ever were helped into new overseas markets last year by Scottish Development International (SDI), the overseas trade and investment arm of Scottish Enterprise. In the year to the end of March SDI worked with 2,096 companies to develop their international business, a 52 per cent increase from the previous year...
Last week we brought you Tax Freedom Day. Today we highlight the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign for simpler, fairer and more honest taxes instead of three - yes, three - different forms of tax on your hard-earned income. Watch this space...
Scot-Buzz editor Bill Jamieson says an economic transformation is infolding before our eyes. Politicians are fixated on flawed measures of economic performance. But outside of these a micro business revolution is taking shape. It is re-shaping our economic universe and helping to turn the business cycle. The economy that emerges from the aftermath of the global banking crisis will be one quite different in composition and dynamic from the economy that entered the downturn six years ago…
We were right! Three surveys this week show that despite continuing problems in manufacturing and exports to the troubled Euro zone, confidence is improving across most UK businesses, bearing out analysis that Scot-Buzz has consistently presented in recent months - that economic activity has been enjoying a bigger pick-up than is portrayed in official Office for National Statistics data. And far from Scotland lagging behind, on many measures it is ahead of the pack...
Scot-Buzz says put a red flag in your diary for Thursday May 30. It’s party time - the date this year when you stop working for the government and start working for yourself. Every year the Adam Smith Institute calculates Tax Freedom Day and things don't seem to have moved on much from the feudal system when oppressed vassals were expected to work three days a week for their lord. We have to work about the same for the benefit of the Chancellor...
SCOTS ENTREPRENEURS TO LEARN FROM SUCCESS STORIES
The cream of the Scottish business community will come together this Thursday for the annual WeDO Scotland annual conference.It will be held at the Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh. It is the second to be hosted by the leading entrepreneurial network.
The conference will give high flyers from across the country the chance to learn from each other as well as hear invaluable advice from some of the industry’s most acclaimed experts.
Speakers at the event include Bill Jamieson, founder of Scot-Buzz, who previously held the role of executive editor of the Scotsman newspaper; along with David Sole Associates founder David Sole OBE, who is also the co-founder of the School for CEOs; and Gavin Oattes, co-founder of Tree of Knowledge and winner of the WeDO Scotland Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2012.
Alongside the expert talks there will also be various business workshops available and attendees will be given the chance to pick the brains of their peers and Scottish business leaders at the networking lunch.
Founder of WeDO Scotland, Belinda Roberts, said: “WeDO Scotland has an ethos firmly built on nurturing Scottish business and through events such as the WeDO Scotland conference, we strive to celebrate and encourage the amazing entrepreneurial spirit we have on offer in this small but feisty country.
“WeDO Scotland’s first ever conference, which was held last year, arrived with a bang and this year’s conference will no doubt do the same.”
Open to Scottish business owners and founders, WeDO Scotland members meet regularly to share ideas, experiences and knowledge at topic-based events which are selected for their relevance to entrepreneurs. Those involved in the organisation range from start-up businesses with high growth potential to multi-million pound turnover companies.
Registration will start at 8:45am with the event running from 9:25am to 5:30pm.
Ticket Price for members is Standard Ticket £120 + £3.65 online booking fee
Non-members: Standard Ticket £140 + £4.15 online booking fee
To book your place at the conference please email: support@wedoscotland.co or call 08708 759793.
