Local Tour Operator on the Way to Green Glory

Denise Strohsahl, owner of marketing consultancy sandstonecastles, is delighted to announce that her client, Edinburgh-based tour operator Wind & Cloud Travel Ltd, has won a Green Apple Environment Award and has been shortlisted for the prestigious Goldstar Award 2014 from the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS).

Commenting on this news Denise said: “Awards are a great way to raise a company’s profile and attract more customers, hence the decision to start an extensive award campaign for the green tour operator. I’m thrilled to see that our efforts resulted in such a great outcome.”

Wind & Cloud Travel offers German speaking visitors to Scotland an alternative to mass market tourism. Their goal is to promote sustainable tourism by keeping the impact on the environment as low as possible as well as supporting local businesses and communities in the Highlands and Islands.

Both awards focus on rewarding sustainable business practices like theirs: GTBS is the world’s leading sustainable tourism accreditation programme and the Green Apple Awards are one of the major environmental recognition schemes, both in the UK and internationally.

The green tour operator brought Denise on board to help them improve their existing marketing and consult on new ways to grow the business. Managing Director Katja Wündrich comments: “We are still a bit overwhelmed by the response but it is great to receive recognition and acknowledgement for our very own brand of green tourism.”

‘Major milestone’ hit as Edinburgh Airport breaks the 10 million passenger barrier

Edinburgh Airport is the first Scottish airport to handle over 10 million passengers in a year. Passenger figures for June 2014, the airport’s busiest June on record, show that its moving annual total broke the 10 million mark with 10,032,288 passengers using Edinburgh in the year June 2013 to 2014.

It is seen as a major milestone in the airport’s move towards securing 10 million passengers in a calendar year, a target that it expects to hit in 2015.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Hitting 10 million passengers in our moving annual total is fantastic news. It’s a real milestone which shows that our strategy of giving our passengers choice and great service is working.

“We’re now focussed on targeting 10 million passengers in a calendar year. Our forecasts suggest it’ll be close this year but more realistically 2015. We’ll be working very hard to achieve that target.

“It’s been a real team effort and we are extremely lucky to have the backing of a range of private and public partners across Edinburgh and Scotland. We could not have achieved this result without them.

“Any growth in this climate is difficult but it is even more special given the backdrop of the highest aviation taxes in Europe.”

Edinburgh Airport has seen a raft of new route launches in 2014 including new flights to Chicago, Doha and Philadelphia which continue to drive passenger growth.

Hudson appoints new management team in Scotland

Talent solutions company Hudson has strengthened its management team in Scotland with the creation of three new roles.

Brian Cameron, Lesley Cameron and Kate McClorey have all been promoted to Regional Director, a role that will see them lead the development of Hudson in Scotland.

Brian Cameron joined Hudson in 2004 and has extensive experience in working with clients operating in a variety of sectors including financial services, industry and professional services. Working across all three of Hudson’s offices in Scotland, his role as Regional Director will see him lead the Finance and Accounting business, as well as oil and gas, supply chain and procurement and sales, marketing and communications.

Also appointed to Regional Director is Lesley Cameron, who will focus upon HR, office support, contact centre and project solutions, as well as construction, property, engineering and manufacturing. Lesley joined Hudson in 2004 and works with leading organisations of all sizes on their recruitment strategies.

The IT and legal sector teams will be led by Kate McClorey. Having joined Hudson in 2008 as Director of IT for the Scottish business, her wealth of experience within the recruitment sector has seen her provide innovative and creative solutions for a diverse range of clients.

Managing Director of Hudson UK and Ireland, Peter Istead said: “Hudson is a market leader in Scotland. The new management team in the region will be focused on consolidating and building upon that position and growing the market share of new focus areas.

“The newly appointed leadership team has a wealth of specialist experience and will further enhance the service we provide to our clients.”

To read the whole magazine online please follow the link: http://www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/membership/business-comment-magazine/ or to receive a copy please email membershipadmin@edinburghchamber.co.uk.

Cocktail Making at the Voodoo Rooms

Thank you very much to the Voodoo Rooms and to our award winning bartenders Fraser and Rosie for putting on a great cocktail making class last Thursday. From the classic French Martini to the more unusual Dark and Storm I think everyone found something they could enjoy. Our next cocktail making masterclass is on the 31st of July and is part of our Raising Stars series. Please do check out this event http://www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/event/cocktail-making/.

Getting started with Lee Fitzpatrick

Name: Lee Fitzpatrick
Business name: Market Prepare
Start up date: 1/5/2011
Website: http://www.market-prepare.co.uk

Q1: Tell us a bit about your business?
Market Prepare are a forward thinking and driven all-trade project and facility Management Company that through the development of unique tendering infrastructure/ software are going to revolutionise the way in which commercial organisations can outsource property services across the UK.

Q2: What gives your business ‘the x-factor’?
Our ability to deliver highly skilled, pre vetted tradesmen promptly to our clients. Also our ability to ensure that planned projects are completed on time and to satisfaction, no matter the job instruction we are undertaking.

Q3: What motivated you to set up in business for yourself?
I wanted to create opportunities for myself but more importantly for others, the ability to give our hard working team members a chance to make a difference is a huge motivator for me

Q4: What do you like most about working for yourself?
My capacity isn’t capped and I can make the decision to push myself as far as I want and achieve the things that I really want to achieve.

Q5: What has been your greatest business success to date?
Successfully recruiting and training a team of 6 in just 7 months has allowed us to increase our capacity and position us to increasing our market share in Edinburgh and move us closer to expanding across the UK

Q6: What has been your lowest moment?
We have been limited by poor cash flow and have experienced some big growing pains which has put us under pressure in the past 6
months

Q7: In terms of business achievements, where do you want to be within the next 5 years?
We have clear ambitions to be trading across the UK in the next 24 months and for our software to be accessible internationally
within 36 months.

Q8: What would be your top tip to someone thinking of starting up their own business?
Don’t be scared to do things differently. If you are confident that your idea has substance and you have done your market research then don’t stop until you have proven everyone wrong.

As featured in Business Comment magazine. To read the full magazine follow the link to our website: http://www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/BC29_.pdf

If you do not receive Business Comment and would like to please email membershipadmin@edinburghchamber.co.uk

Edinburgh Chamber Pub Quiz

Thursday the 19th saw the inaugural Edinburgh Chamber Pub Quiz at Teviot Row House. The event was a huge success with over 20 teams taking part. Santander took first place and went away with dinner at Vodka Revs. There was also a raffle with lots of members kindly donating prizes. All the money from this went to support the Homeless World Cup which is taking place in Chile this year. We hope to make this an annual event so if you didn’t manage to make it this year do make sure you don’t miss out again.

 

 

Strengthen the Foundations for our Infrastructure

Continued investment in our infrastructure is critical to maintain a strong business environment and to facilitate future growth.

Our success is dependent on the public and private sectors working even more closely together, sharing strategic priorities, helping unlock limited finance and creating confidence amongst all key stakeholders.

In Edinburgh and across Scotland, we continue to experience growing levels of confidence from investors to unlock infrastructure projects, creating much needed jobs in the construction sector and ensuring we maintain and improve the opportunities for business of all sizes.

Strong relationships between local government and the private sector are essential to ensure an effective planning process whilst respecting the needs and views of all key stakeholders.

At Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, our property and infrastructure membership groups help to facilitate that process. However, our influence and engagement is also at a UK level and includes improving airport capacity in the South East and providing a perspective on High Speed Rail, all of which are essential for the Scottish economy. The opportunities for business are far reaching.

In addition to the much needed recruitment opportunities and renewed investment in training and development, we must ensure that our local businesses are given as fair a chance as possible in the procurement process and that quality and not just price is taken into account when contracts are awarded.

The pressure on our Capital City continues to intensify on maintaining a world class location to visit and a leading city for major employers. Continual improvements in our infrastructure are essential.

Edinburgh attracts investment from all parts of the globe and the partnerships between local government and the private sector are delivering strong results. This includes much needed investment in our commercial office space, improved quality retail space and the exciting developments supporting exceptional growth in tourism and education.

The transport sector has already paved the way, covering all aspects of transport. Whilst the trams have understandably attracted much attention, the Capital City has experienced unprecedented levels of investment in our rail infrastructure, airport and roads network.

Effective and efficient transport connectivity is essential including our ports and improved links between our cities.

Whilst the list is never ending and finance limited, the momentum we have created must continue. It is the responsibility of all businesses and business organisations to lobby for new developments, to work even more closely together, and to promote success.

If Edinburgh is anything to go by, we have a healthy future ahead for new developments in our infrastructure.

David Birrell, Chief Executive

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

60 Seconds with Denise Strohsahl

Name: Denise Strohsahl
Company Name: sandstonecastles marketing consultancy
Website: http://www.sandstonecastles.co.uk

Q In five words or less, what do you do?
A Help businesses with their marketing.

Q How long have you been a Chamber member?
A Since November 2012

Q Why did you join?
A I wanted to benefit from the Chamber’s numerous networking events to meet potential clients and other businesses that offer complementary services.

Q What services do you use?
A I’ve been to a lot of networking events and I’ve been part of their Women In Business programme.

Q What’s the best business/benefit you have won through the Chamber?
A The Chamber helped me raise my profile among Edinburgh-based business owners from all industries.

Q Are there any additional services or information you’d be particularly interested in?
A I’d like to be part of the mentoring programme the Chamber is running.

Q If you were telling another business person about the Chamber, what’s the first thing you would say?
A Great events & networking.

Q Where do you read your copy of Business Comment?
A At my desk while having a cup of tea and some cake.

As featured in Business Comment magazine. To read the full magazine follow the link to our website: http://www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/BC29_.pdf

If you do not receive Business Comment and would like to please email membershipadmin@edinburghchamber.co.uk

To find out more about Denise please follow @sandstonecastles

In the spotlight: Littles

Company name: Littles
Who? Heather Matthews, Managing Director of Little’s
Website: http://littles.co.uk

What were you doing between 10 and 12 this morning?
I have been discussing the delivery of four new Jaguar XF cars with Operations and have held an internal meeting about the Scottish Business Awards (for which we are sponsoring a category) and providing chauffeur driven cars.

What do you see as your job’s biggest challenge?
I think my biggest challenge as Managing Director for a family run company, is to be continually innovative whilst ensuring tradition and service are maintained to the same high standard.

What do you consider your biggest business triumph?
Our international growth, whilst I’ve been Managing Director, has been considerable. This year we have entered new markets including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines. On top of that we’ve increased our presence in China, USA and Europe. In event terms, and personally, managing 140 chauffeurs driven cars for Chanel in Edinburgh at the end of 2012 was a recent triumph.

Do you have any money-saving business tips?
I believe in using trusted, recommended suppliers – if they waste your time, it’s your money too and if you have to spend more on rectifying an issue, that’s an even higher cost to your business.

What do you believe are the 3 key stages on your career ladder?
Initially, I spent five years in Reservations learning the business from the most basic point of view in terms of customer service & allocation of cars and chauffeurs. In 1997 I became a Partner and then, following a long succession planning period, I became M.D. in 2005 when my father retired. Each stage taught me valuable lessons and I draw on my experience of all of them every single day.

Where do you stand on work/life balance?
I think it’s important to balance family life with work especially considering ours is a family business. I think holidays are vital for quality time away from the office but if I’m needed I answer the phone and respond to email. I make sure I leave the office earlier during quiet periods to make up for the long hours I work when we are very busy. I am taking a very early summer holiday this year in preparation for the onslaught of the Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup when time off will be impossible. Planning is key.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy spending time with my son and husband. I run, I garden, I see friends, I cook and bake.

What qualities do you need to see in your employees?
All my employees have to be able to offer the highest level of service to our clients which involves being professional, dedicated and ready to ‘go the extra mile’. Loyalty is important to me as well, I believe in treating my staff well and reward them with long service related bonuses to try and ensure continuity for our clients.

In business, is it more important to be liked or successful?
I don’t think it is an ‘either or’ but I do believe integrity is key. I will always try and do the right thing for my business and my staff while maintaining my reputation. I believe in doing things the correct way and always taking a long term view.

What is the one piece of advice you would give to others trying to reach the top?
To reach the top you have to really know your business and the market it operates in. Little’s started in 1966 and we have evolved with the changing needs of our clients. However it’s our high level of service, that our market expects, that keeps us at the top.

Who is your hero?
Monty Don for his philosophical attitude to life and gardening.

Any business (or other) projects you would like to plug?
I was a founding board member of the Scottish Family Business Association and feel the work they do is very important for advising businesses like ours across the country.

Other than your current position, what would be your dream job?
I would love to be a garden designer.

Who (living or dead) would you invite to a fantasy dinner party?
For comedy value, Graham Norton or Eddie Izzard; for industry knowledge, Terez Perez, a Brazilian travel agent we work with and who
I had dinner with last year; Monty Don, Maxi Jazz, and finally Kenneth Good, my Operations Director, always a top dinner party guest. And he would cook too.

Outside of business, what is the most important thing in your life?
My family and, in particular, my four year old son Rory.

As featured in Business Comment magazine. To read the full magazine follow the link to our website: http://www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/BC29_.pdf

If you do not receive Business Comment and would like to please email membershipadmin@edinburghchamber.co.uk

Airline a key part of the transport network

easyJet is a critical part of Edinburgh’s transport infrastructure – delivering a massive range of choice and destination both for business and leisure travellers.

With a fleet of 220 Airbus aircraft, the airline is the UK’s largest, and Europe’s four largest, so it should be little surprise to know that easyJet has operated to almost 30 destinations from the Capital over the summer.

New routes to Heraklion and Bodrum contributed to a busy summer at Edinburgh Airport, but existing destinations including Paris, Hamburg, Munich, Geneva and, of course, London and Bristol have proven popular with business and leisure travellers.

And the 12 million business travellers aremaking up an increasing proportion – around 1 in 5 – of the millions who use easyJet every year. The airline’s UK Commercial Manager, Ali Gayward, explained:

“The increase in business travellers flying with easyJet shows that we are delivering on the strategy we launched in 2010 to increase our appeal to the business travel sector. Enhancements like allocated seating, Inclusive Fares and Fast Track security have all played a part in enabling easyJet to attract more high yielding business passengers and to win a larger slice of the corporate market.

“Recession and austerity has also encouraged business passengers across Europe to sample easyJet and when they do so they like the experience and the great value and they tend to stay with us. 95 per cent of passengers travelling on business say they will fly with us again which shows that this focus by businesses on value is here to stay.

“The increase in business travellers could also be seen as an encouraging sign of the increasing confidence of businesses across Europe as a number of countries, including the UK, start to edge back into economic
growth.”

With a growing population of a little under half a million, with a wider city-region population of more than 1.6 million, there is no doubt that Edinburgh benefits from a number of key factors which ensure the city remains an important part of easyJet’s plans.

The strength of the city’s economy – in particular in financial services, tourism, science and technology and creative industries –ensures strong performance in terms of business travellers, while the city’s status as a leading city break destination is also vital.

Ali said: “Edinburgh has a lot going for it, both in terms of demand from business travellers and also for leisure travellers coming to the city and, of course, making use of our network to travel throughout Europe.

“We remain committed to Edinburgh, and see the city as a key component in our plans to continue to expand our network.”

“We are currently evaluating new routes to add to our network from Edinburgh, which would enable us to both offer passengers in the City new holiday destination, but also include markets for both business travel and indeed inbound tourism. We hope to be able to announce these in coming weeks, once our final analysis is complete.”

Ali is keenly aware that air travel does not operate in isolation, and is encouraged that the new tram link to the airport provides a more integrated transport hub to benefit passengers.

“We are very excited at the benefits to travellers that this development in infrastructure will be bringing, both in terms of the ease with which people from Edinburgh and its surrounding areas can now access the airport, but also given the ease of accessibility this provides for visitors to the region, which can only bring added benefits for all airport users..”

As featured in Business Comment magazine. To read the full magazine follow the link to our website: http://www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/BC29_.pdf

If you do not receive Business Comment and would like to please email membershipadmin@edinburghchamber.co.uk

Ali Gayward is speaking at our Inspiring Women in Business lunch on Thursday 10th July. If you would like to book onto this event please follow the link http://www.edinburghchamber.co.uk/event/women-in-business-networking-lunch-2/.