AGENDA GLASGOW TALKS INTERNATIONAL PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Raise a glass for Glasgow’s Peter Duthie forecasts a We are securing global Four key businesses share new independent beer strong future for the SEC recognition for members their latest appointments page 11 page 20 page 21 page 46 MAY 2017 THE MAGAZINE OF GLASGOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RATES OF CHANGE Glasgow businesses are leading the charge to protect the city’s economy FREE TO CHAMBER MEMBERS / £4.99 FOR NON MEMBERS www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com 3 CONTENTS May 2017 04 28 President’s Column Whisky Why we must use our Glasgow’s international influence creative spirits 07 29 Chief Exec’s Blog Future Ambitions Working hard to grow Ambitious vision for the Glasgow economy jobs and skills growth 08 30 Intel Local Elections Craig Vickery discusses The Chamber team is his essential links planning for all results 10 32 Agenda 24 IT Supply Glasgow Chamber is Careful selection of IT leading the agenda providers is paramount 18 12 36 City Roundup Employment Law All the latest news Business could face a from the city change in direction 14 40 Member News Intellectual Property Shining the spotlight 20 An innocent error on our members could prove costly 18 29 44 Partner News New Members Update on the work A warm welcome to of our key partners all new members 20 46 Glasgow Talks Appointments Peter Duthie on the People on the move in Scottish Event Campus the business community Editor: Anne Marie Hughes Production: 21 22 24 27 Roisin McGroarty Design: Felipe Perez International CityFibre Business Rates Winner Profile Advertising: Contact Publicity Creating global Explore the city’s Glasgow businesses Looking back at GBAs Chief Writer: Kenny Kemp recognition digital future are leading the charge winner Golden Charter 4 Glasgow Business PRESIDENT Why we must use our international influence Neil Amner, President [email protected] hether we like it or not, two issues are we are investigating the United Arab Emirates as well. dominating our political debate – Brexit and MIPIM in Cannes shows how much work we have to do. the related prospect of a second referendum Make no mistake, this is a highly competitive world. More on Scotland’s constitutional future. than 90 countries were represented and almost every major WBoth issues do challenge us to work harder in presenting conurbation on earth was vying for new investments and a coherent international case either for investing in our major real estate projects. The discussions are about smart city region or for expanding our export markets. I pick up cities of the future and about how people can live and work a fairly clear message from the Chamber’s members – in sustainable urban environments. A technology revolution, however the political debate evolves, business must carry geopolitical instability and societal changes are sweeping on and getting on with helping our members grow remains through the business world and property professionals our primary task. are facing the same kind of challenges that other industry To that end, we are significantly increasing our sectors face. They need to find places where there is stability international work. For example, Chamber Chief Executive and continuity. Stuart Patrick recently travelled with the Glasgow team Glasgow has immense benefits and is an attractive to the Palais des Festivals in Cannes where MIPIM, the location to international investors. Our region, which extends international real estate congress, is held. That is one down the Firth of Clyde, is unique in that 1.8 million opportunity to promote our city as an attractive people live and work within the defined area. This place to invest in the hotels, offices and housing is an attractive pool of well-educated talent for that we want. Similarly, I welcomed a trade international companies. Our research base is delegation to Glasgow from Slovenia following equally impressive. But we have to listen to what the Scotland-Slovenia World Cup qualifying informed outsiders think about Scotland. The match at Hampden, and I represented message that comes back loud and clear is Glasgow Chamber in a Scottish Chambers’ that the UK and Scotland’s continuing political delegation to China both to seek out trading uncertainty just makes some investors and opportunities and encourage business international business people that little bit more investment. nervous and so we have to make the extra Of course, our primary aim effort to get our message across. must be to search out direct With help from our members, business connections for our from Glasgow City Council and members and so we will be from the Scottish Government, expanding our formal links we can marshal a powerful with overseas Chambers case for Glasgow. Look out this year. We will have for opportunities to join in visitors from Manhattan as we publish more details in May, and we will of our international be taking a member work. Or let us know delegation out to where you think the Milan in June. Chamber could Discussions help develop a with Chambers new relationship have begun in or make a link Germany and for you. www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com 7 CHIEF EXECUTIVE Chamber will work with Council to grow Glasgow Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive [email protected] he local elections are upon us and we will have Direction of travel is taking us to New York, a new administration to work with after 4 May. Northern Italy and Bavaria… It may be a variation of the current administration By Richard Muir, Deputy Chief Executive or something completely new. We await the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has travelled a long way in its Tvoters’ decision. international trade development work in the last couple of years. Whatever the outcome may be, Glasgow Chamber will We’ve always had a really strong certificates and documentation want to maintain a strong and positive relationship with service for exporters, but joining up with overseas Chambers of the City Council. The Chamber’s governing body made a Commerce has been a relatively new thing for us. decision long ago that it was far more productive to invest This really started after we were invited by Glasgow the time and energy in understanding the aspirations set City Marketing Bureau to attend a business and media and the challenges faced by the city’s leadership than to networking event in New York last March and we invited lob critical grenades across George Square. We wanted to some of our President’s Club members who are based in the work constructively on establishing the common ground. Eastern Seaboard of the USA. That common ground is certainly not difficult to find. Quite a few of the President’s Club members came to the We all want the city’s economy to grow. We all want to see event and brought some of their senior business contacts too. economic success widely shared. We all want to see It was a really successful evening and we took the opportunity Glasgow attracting investment, bringing in visitors and to meet with the President of Manhattan Chamber of expanding our business community. Commerce, Jessica Walker. Read more online at: goo.gl/zY0u0c Read more online at: goo.gl/LvagDb Sir Arnold’s proud contribution to youth skills Doing business with Slovenia One of the outstanding figures of business in Glasgow By Elaine Rodger, Head of International Trade Development passed away recently. In his blog at the end of last year our Chief Executive, Sir Arnold Clark leaves behind a tangible legacy for his Stuart Patrick, said: “Brexit has reminded us vigorously that city. The business itself is certainly the most obvious, we have an opportunity to use the international Chamber Europe’s largest independently-owned family-run network so much more than we currently do.” Over the last car dealer. year we have been working hard to do just that – establishing He grew it from scratch, nurturing its success all trade partnerships with like-minded chambers overseas through the years when Glasgow saw one after to support member exchanges into each other’s another old-established family business go to the markets. We took a delegation over to Manhattan last wall and Scotland as a country was lamenting its November and in May we will welcome Manhattan comparative shortage of entrepreneurs. Chamber members to Glasgow. We have an When Glasgow was reaching its lowest outward delegation to Milan planned for June and economic point in the mid-90s, Sir Arnold was there is much more in the pipeline. busily expanding his company into England. Continuing to build on our international But there is also another of his legacies which connections we hosted a delegation from the British is providing opportunities for Slovenian Chamber of Commerce (BSCC) on Monday literally thousands of young 27 March, having been introduced to one another by people in Glasgow every Anne-Marie Martin, Chief Executive of the Council of year. Read more online British Chambers of Commerce Europe (COBCOE). at: goo.gl/J0dBW4 Read more online at: goo.gl/rwpYpA 8 Glasgow Business INTEL Craig Vickery Head of ACCA Scotland Essential links From LinkedIn to Lync, the ability to quickly and simply connect with global colleagues is key for Craig Vickery What technology (from What book(s) should gadgets to software, everyone in business including apps) makes your be reading? working life easier? Slightly different to the norm, I embrace technology Be Our Guest: Perfecting the and, although I still carry Art of Customer Service by a paper diary, I would be Theodore Kinni of the lost without my iPhone. Disney Institute. The one app that I use on Kinni does a great job a daily, even hourly basis, of revealing the magic for business is LinkedIn.