Press Release

Business leaders from across Scotland gathered at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Edinburgh on 5 September to attend the Growing Scotland Business Dinner, co-hosted by Shoosmiths, Santander and KPMG.

Guest speaker Bob Keiller CBE presented various talking points in what was an interactive evening of dinner and thought provoking discussion between peers of top organisations in Scotland.

Keiller, a decorated international businessman and the current Chairman of Scottish Enterprise, addressed guests on various pertinent issues that Scottish businesses have to navigate and gave lessons in leadership. Amongst the leadership fundamentals, Bob cited the need to place trust in your business partners, champion change and embrace intelligent time management to become an effective business leader.

Janette Speed, head of Shoosmiths’ Edinburgh office, said: “Scotland has faced challenging circumstances over the last year that have caused uncertainty across the market. However Scottish businesses have pushed on with careful planning and strategy to negotiate these obstacles and drive growth in Scotland.

“This dinner provided a great opportunity for businesses from across all of Scotland’s industries to come together and share experiences and advice on how businesses can work collaboratively to ensure Scotland continues to flourish.”

Phil Charles, Head of Enterprise at KPMG in Scotland, said: “Navigating change is swiftly becoming second nature for many in Scottish business. From political uncertainty and the rise of technology, to ever-changing consumer habits and attitudes, firms must constantly evolve in order to grow.

“Luckily, Scotland has a rich history of innovation when it comes to enterprise. This event gave business leaders the opportunity to come together and discuss the challenges affecting each and every sector, reflecting the collective approach we all must take to steer through future challenges.”