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Equipping leaders of tomorrow with the skills to unlock growth

Equipping leaders of tomorrow with the skills to unlock growth

However, adversity breeds ingenuity and no other industry is as well set up as ours to innovate. To do this, we must rewire how we think about leadership. Often people are promoted into management positions because they excelled at their previous role. Previous success in sales, operations, manufacturing or quality control testing, does not necessarily translate into having the skills you need to lead effectively. The Chartered Management Institute calls this phenomenon "accidental managers".
As part of their new role, and this can apply right across the Scottish economy, new leaders should be equipped with the frameworks and skills that will allow them to build strong, empowered teams that deliver greater business value and impact. I believe we need a leadership skills accelerator that can practically upskill managers within a short timeframe.
Delivered through a partnership between industry and academia, the accelerator could become a recognised benchmark for excellence, future-proofing talent pipelines and elevating Scotland's international profile in life sciences. I envisage it offering intensive, hands-on, real-world training, ensuring future managers understand the role of a leader and possess the strategic thinking necessary to succeed.
Not only would this deliver growth in the quality of our people, it would also raise health, safety and quality standards which are so vital to the life sciences sector. Importantly, it would foster the innovation and collaboration required to streamline our manufacturing processes and research, combatting the commercial challenges posed by macroeconomic forces. This is vital in industries where innovation moves quickly and regulatory landscapes can continually change.
Organisations like the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service, Skills Development Scotland and others already offer valuable practical leadership training. With a compact geography, engaged and connected industry leaders and strong and active support from the Scottish Government, this could be improved and rolled out relatively easily, turning our accidental managers into intentional leaders. This is something I'm passionate about and we are committed to as an organisation with continued focus on training and development for our people. But more can be done at an industry level to ingrain this mindset for future generations.
When so often we are talking about the lack of growth in the Scottish and UK economy, investing in leadership could help unlock productivity gains and even drive export growth, ultimately delivering the results our public finances needs. But effective leadership is not just good for the country's bottom line. It is critical for national resilience, especially in the face of current geopolitical instability and recent public health crises.
Greig Rooney CMgr FCMI is the Managing Director of Valneva Scotland
Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@theherald.co.uk
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Keir Starmer & John Swinney face difficult ‘balancing act' after Donald Trump admits he's in a grumpy mood
Keir Starmer & John Swinney face difficult ‘balancing act' after Donald Trump admits he's in a grumpy mood

Scottish Sun

timea minute ago

  • Scottish Sun

Keir Starmer & John Swinney face difficult ‘balancing act' after Donald Trump admits he's in a grumpy mood

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SIR Keir Starmer and John Swinney face a difficult 'balancing act' in talks with Donald Trump - after the US President admitted he was in a grumpy mood. The Prime Minister will fly to Scotland on Monday morning to meet Mr Trump at his Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire for a 'wide-ranging' summit on issues including trade and the Israel-Hamas war. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Donald Trump is 'not in a good mood' before summit 3 The Prime Minister and First Minister are set to meet with the US President 3 He made the admission after he striking an EU trade deal Later, the PM and the First Minister will attend a banquet-style dinner hosted by the US leader in the north-east, ahead of him opening a new 18-hole golf course in honour of his late Scottish mother, Mary Anne Macleod, at Menie, Aberdeenshire, on Tuesday. 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The insider said 'There will be complaints about our approach to Trump whatever we do. 'The funding for the event at Trump International Golf Links was a positive announcement and it's our job to make the best of this visit as we possibly can.' Tomorrow morning Mr Trump will carry out the ceremonial opening of the Macleod course at his Menie estate, which it emerged on Saturday was set to get £180,000 from the Scottish Government's tourism and events organisation, VisitScotland, to support its hosting of the 2025 Nexo Championship next month. Police lock down Scots country park and beach ahead of Donald Trump's arrival HOLIDAYMAKERS have been ordered to leave a country park boasting one of Scotland's best beaches as police prepared for Donald Trump's visit to his nearby golf course. Visitors were told to vacate the beauty spot as security is beefed up ahead of US president's trip to his neighbouring Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire tomorrow. 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Trump agrees US-EU trade deal avoiding tariff war in Turnberry talks with Von der Leyen
Trump agrees US-EU trade deal avoiding tariff war in Turnberry talks with Von der Leyen

Daily Record

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Trump agrees US-EU trade deal avoiding tariff war in Turnberry talks with Von der Leyen

A deal was struck after European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen met with the US President at his golf resort in South Ayrshire. Donald Trump has announced a huge trade deal with the European Union worth more than $1.35 trillion (£1.05 trillion) after meeting European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen at his Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire. ‌ The former US President said the agreement, struck during Von der Leyen's visit today, will see the EU buy $750bn of American energy and invest a further $600bn into the US economy. ‌ Trump told reporters: 'The European Union is going to agree to purchase from the United States $750 billion worth of energy. ‌ 'They are going to agree to invest into the United States $600 billion more than they're investing already. So they're investing a large amount of money. 'You know what that amount of money is, it's very substantial.' He added that all EU countries had agreed to open up their markets for zero-tariff trade with the US and to purchase 'a vast amount of military equipment,' calling the deal 'bigger than any other deal', reports the Mirror. ‌ Trump also revealed both sides had agreed to a 'straight across' 15% tariff on cars. 'I think that basically concludes the deal,' he said. Von der Leyen said the US and EU remain the world's biggest trading partners and described the talks as an attempt to 'rebalance' the multi-trillion-dollar relationship. ‌ Calling Trump 'a tough negotiator and dealmaker,' she added: 'I think it would be the biggest deal each of us has ever struck.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Trump described hosting Von der Leyen at his Scottish resort as 'an honour' and repeated his long-standing concerns about 'unfair' trade with Europe, warning that without an agreement, the US had been ready to impose 30% tariffs on EU imports. The agreement follows months of tense negotiations, with both sides previously threatening retaliatory tariffs on goods ranging from European cars and cheese to American beer and aircraft.

Donald Trump agrees trade deal between US and EU avoiding huge tariff war
Donald Trump agrees trade deal between US and EU avoiding huge tariff war

Daily Mirror

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Donald Trump agrees trade deal between US and EU avoiding huge tariff war

Donald Trump and European Commission chief Ursula Von der Leyen have agreed a trade deal between the US and the EU, it ha been reported. They are said to have struck the deal today, as Ms Von Der Leyen visited the US President at his Turnberry golf resort in South Ayrshire, Scotland. After less than an hour of talks, the two leaders went before cameras and announced the deal. "The European Union is going to agree to purchase form the United States $750 billion worth of energy," Trump said. "They are going to agree to invest into the United States $600 billion more than they're investing already. So they're investing a large amount of money. "You know what that amount of money is, it's very substantial." He went on: "They're agreeing to open up their countries for trade at zero tariff. So that's a very big factor. All of the countries will be opened up to the United States at zero tariff. "And they're agreeing to purchase a vast amount of military equipment. We don't know what that number is but the good news is we make the best military equipment in the world." Trump said they'd also agreed to a "straight across" tariff of 15% on automobiles. "I think that basically concludes the deal," he said. "Those are the main factors. I don't think there are too many other factors." The Commission's President was seated next to Trump at his golf resort on the Scottish coast. Earlier she had called for a rebalancing of bilateral trade worth billions of dollars between the vital partners. Speaking to reporters before their private meeting began, she and Trump both put the chances of reaching an agreement at 50-50. 'This is bigger than any other deal,' Trump said, suggesting they could hammer out an agreement in just a short time. The president also pledged to change what he characterized as 'a very one-sided transaction, very unfair to the United States.' "I think both sides want to see fairness,' Trump said. Von der Leyen said the US and EU combined have the world's largest trade volume, encompassing hundreds of millions of people and trillions of dollars. Trump said the stakes involved meant of making a deal, 'We should give it a shot.' Von der Leyen said Trump was 'known as a tough negotiator and dealmaker' which caused the president to interject with 'but fair." She said that, if they are successful, 'I think it would be the biggest deal each of us has ever struck.' Trump called meeting with von der Leyen at his Turnberry golf course — where he played in the morning, an honor. 'I think the main sticking point is fairness,' he said while also noting, 'We've had a hard time with trade with Europe, a very hard time." For months, Trump has threatened most of the world with large tariffs in hopes of shrinking major U.S. trade deficits with many key trading partners. More recently, he's hinted that any deal with the EU would have to 'buy down' the currently scheduled tariff rate of 30%. During remarks before the media Sunday, the president pointed to a recent US agreement with Japan that set tariff rates for many goods at 15% and suggested the EU could agree to something similar. Asked if he would be willing to accept tariff rates lower than that, Trump said 'no.' "I'd like to see it resolved,' Trump said of a deal with Europe. 'But if it isn't, we'll have tariffs.' Of retaliation from Europe he said, 'They'll do what they have to do.' Joining von der Leyen were Maros Sefcovic, the EU's chief trade negotiator; Björn Seibert, the head of von der Leyen's Cabinet; Sabine Weyand, the commission's directorate-general for trade, and Tomas Baert, head of the trade and agriculture at the EU's delegation to the U.S. The US and EU seemed close to a deal earlier this month, but Trump instead threatened the 30% tariff rate. The deadline for the Trump administration to begin imposing tariffs has shifted in recent weeks but is now firm, the administration insists. 'No extensions, no more grace periods. Aug. 1, the tariffs are set, they'll go into place, Customs will start collecting the money and off we go," US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told 'Fox News Sunday.' He added, however, that even after that 'people can still talk to President Trump. I mean, he's always willing to listen.' Lutnick said the EU 'needs to make a deal and wants to make a deal and they are flying to Scotland to make a deal with President Trump. The question is do they offer President Trump a good enough deal that is worth it for him to step off of the 30% tariffs that he set.' Get Donald Trump updates straight to your WhatsApp! As the world attempts to keep up with Trump's antics, the Mirror has launched its very own US Politics WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news from across the pond. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. CLICK HERE TO JOIN Without an agreement, the EU said it would have been prepared to retaliate with tariffs on hundreds of American products, ranging from beef and auto parts to beer and Boeing airplanes. Had Trump eventually made good on his threat of tariffs against Europe, it could make everything from French cheese and Italian leather goods to German electronics and Spanish pharmaceuticals more expensive in the United States. The US and Britain, meanwhile, announced a trade framework in May and a larger agreement last month during the Group of Seven meeting in Canada. Trump says that deal is concluded and that he and Starmer will discuss other matters — though the White House has suggested it still needs some polishing.

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