'Hard Work and Good Research Are Never Wasted'
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SPRING 2020 iod.com/scotland Direction The official membership magazine for the Institute of Directors in Scotland IR35: Preparing for the inevitable On the journey to true inclusion ‘Hard work and good research are never wasted’ Poonam Gupta obe on building a business IoD Scotland Let’s go from innovation & Direction National Director Scotland: to opportunity Malcolm Cannon For email enquiries: [email protected] Uncertainty continues to stalk the business community, W: www.iod.com Address: but by harnessing the talents of our teams and being 10 Charlotte Square, bold as leaders, Scotland can thrive and prosper, Edinburgh EH2 4DR says IoD national Chair Aidan O’Carroll T: 0131 557 5488 Direction is the official membership magazine There is no question that all of us, as IoD benefitting from technology, automation and of Institute of Directors members, are facing uncertain times. Looking creating greater efficiencies, is motivating our Scotland and is at this through a Scottish lens, we can see the people to harness new or additional skills, published by: challenges that the proposed immigration rules encouraging innovation among our most Chamber Media recently announced by the UK Government will important asset. Services, 4 Hilton Road, pose in our quest for the talent we need to help Scotland has one of the best talent banks to Bramhall, Stockport, Scotland’s business and communities grow. apply to the challenges of today and tomorrow, Cheshire SK7 3AG We see the global economy being affected by so let’s, as leaders, think how we create the right a number of potential shocks to the system, environment where our people feel fully Advertising sales: including the as yet to be fully quantified effect engaged with the strategies we want to Colin Regan of the Coronavirus on supply chains, which implement and feel incentivised to come Tel: 07871 444922 / could have a significant knock-on effect to our forward and be bold. 01942 537959 business-as-usual models. Finally, we are still We can all identify with being an outward- Email: colinregan001@ working out how to deal with the undoubted looking nation, a welcoming place for all who yahoo.co.uk challenges that Brexit is going to pose from 1st will contribute to building a better and more January next year, and beyond. prosperous Scotland. As leaders there has never Production: It is at times like these that we can all step up been a more important time to provide that Rob Beswick as leaders and challenge the way we and our confidence to our colleagues, our customers, Tel: 0161 426 7957 / colleagues come up with solutions, the speed and to the broader community, showing that 07964 375216 with which we implement bolder plans, we can drive forward our respective businesses Email: rob@chamber manage risks more effectively and, in my mind and organisations. mediaservices.co.uk most importantly, think innovatively on how we At the IoD, while we continue to engage with can turn challenges into opportunities. our members and government to help build a Editorial: One key area that remains an enduring issue sustainable economy, we have some of the Please send press for our economy is how we raise the effective most relevant training opportunities that will releases or editorial for productivity that we know creates greater help to build better leadership, create better consideration for future growth and prosperity for everyone. At all times enterprises and increase the skills that we will issues of Direction to: we need to challenge how we invest for the need to sustain us through uncertain times. Kirsten Paul future, and a key investment, alongside Take a look and see how we can help you. Email: kirsten@clark communications.co.uk Although every effort CONTENTS is made to ensure the accuracy of material contained within this News 4 magazine, neither IoD Scotland nor Chamber Downtime 8 Media Services can accept any responsibility for Behind the Desk 10 5 10 omissions or inaccuracies in its editorial or advertising Leadership Interview: content. The views expressed Poonam Gupta OBE 12 19 in this publication are not necessarily those of Technical briefings: 16 the IoD. The carriage of advertisements or editorials IoD Scotland: in this publication does not 5 constitute an endorsement Conference 19 of the products or services Awards 24 advertised. Membership Benefits 28 Cover: Poonam Gupta OBE Director Development 30 Photo: Susie Lowe See pg 12 Events Diary 32 18 WWW.IOD.COM 03 Executive Comment/News The importance of manifesting promises The constantly changing performance can be monitored against of what these required skills are, but also landscape that our businesses previous years, competitor activity or through more effective recruitment and operate in challenges us to get against forecast, and therefore, through leadership training. Increased objectives can be set against any or all of diversity on boards and staff will also our goals – and our teams – these comparators. encourage greater challenge and a right, says Malcolm Cannon, Analysing how a business measures broader understanding of market and IoD Scotland National Director up against its competitors is the best customer dynamics. way to monitor performance. Everyone Constant evaluation and monitoring in a specific sector will be facing broadly of performance against these KPIs is It will not have escaped readers’ notice the same economic, political and social very important. This ongoing that we have been promised many challenges, and so you are likely to be assessment ensures management focus things by politicians during the past few on a level playing field. After all, if you years. Their manifesto pledges, whether outperform your competitors, your “It’s crucial that Boards and in documents or on the sides of buses, market share increases and, as the joke have become more and more extreme in says, you don’t need to outrun the management teams include order to attract both voters and votes. opposition, only the lion. people with the right skillsets But there is, and always has been, Setting these corporate objectives, to futureproof the business...” extreme risk in making promises which inexorably linked to delivering the are largely undeliverable or over which strategy, is critical to business, and the and facilitates rapid decision-making. there is little control. Board must work hard with senior Occasionally, tough decisions have to be We are under constant pressure to management to establish realistic and made, and leaders are not here to avoid grow and thrive, but the environment achievable targets while still embracing hurting people’s feelings or to doggedly around us becomes ever less reliable. ambition. Nowadays, these long-term stick to a failing plan; they are here to Of course, we have never been able to plans will also need to include large deliver ambitious targets for their ‘predict the unpredictable’, but it does degrees of tolerance to take into account business. seem that curveballs are thrown our way the moving political, economic, Agreeing a set of objectives, aligned to more frequently than ever before. From technological and legislative landscapes a long or medium-term strategy, forces Brexit and other constitutional issues, to along with potential new competitors a business to deploy resources even greater concerns such as the and market disruptors. efficiently and to measure outcomes in climate crisis, the landscape is ever- It is therefore crucial that Boards and a quantitative manner. changing. management teams include people with Merely promising things in order to How, then, can businesses deliver the right skillsets to help futureproof recruit followers (as in a manifesto), can against their plans when they cannot their business. This can be achieved not be damaging to the reputation of manage these external forces? Corporate only through improved understanding businesses or their leaders. New transport strategy recognises scale of challenge as Scotland looks to tackle congestion and climate Transport Scotland has outlined a new public and active travel modes, as well strategy to guide plans for the next two as a reduction in the demand for decades. unsustainable transport. The National Transport Strategy details Michael Matheson MSP noted: “The the role of transport in delivering the National Transport Strategy is for the priorities of reducing inequalities and whole of Scotland, recognising the taking climate action while helping different needs of our cities, towns, deliver inclusive economic growth and remote and rural areas and islands. improving health and wellbeing. “Transport plays an important role More than 60 organisations and in delivering the society we want and 6,500 people contributed to the inclusiveness and equality are at the development of the document, with a heart of our new strategy. consultation receiving 1,200 responses. “While we tackle inequalities, our The Strategy sets out the actions that activity is required to meet this, actions will reduce poverty, in must be taken to meet the Government’s including the adoption of ultra-low particular child poverty, by improving ambitious climate change targets. emission vehicles, shifting travel access to jobs, education and training It acknowledges that a range of behaviour through improved use of as well as to key services.” 04 WWW.IOD.COM Boost for IoD Fife as new hub opens at Carnegie Conference Centre IoD Scotland members in Fife can now take advantage of a new member benefit with the launch of a new hub at Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline. The facility can be used by members for drop-in meetings in either an open plan meeting space or individual meeting room for up to four people. Located just off the M90, the Conference Centre has over 140 free parking spaces and free wi-fi is available throughout the fully accessible building. IoD members are welcome to drop-in to use the facilities any time between 8am – 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.