07-08-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Employee ownership boom and not a 'white elephant' after all
He takes a look at the story of United Auctions, reporting that its move to an employee ownership trust will help provide continuity for customers and staff and longevity for the business.
Brian observes that the number of employee-owned businesses is growing at a rate of around 45 a year in Scotland.
And he notes that Scottish employee-owned businesses and worker cooperatives currently have a combined turnover of £1.47 billion and employ 7,593 people.
Elsewhere in this month's edition, Colin Cardwell reports on the resurgent Maxim Park business park on the M8 – once dubbed a 'white elephant' by critics.
I interview Matt Chapman, managing director of brand design agency Contagious, who declares that launching the business with a newborn at home 'was both terrifying and exhilarating'.
He also observes: 'In the UK, Brexit has gutted parts of the hospitality workforce – especially skilled bar staff – which affects on-the-ground brand advocacy.'
Kim McAllister profiles UTROV, a Glenrothes-bases subsea company which has pivoted from salvaging items from the ocean floor to servicing the offshore renewables boom.
Mairi Spowage, director of the University of Strathclyde's Fraser of Allander Institute, writes that 'reform of our public services is desperately needed to ensure they are sustainable, and innovation in delivery should be part of this', as she considers the broader question of productivity in Scotland.
Read more
Economist Stephen Boyd, director of IPPR Scotland, concludes that 'pretending that we can muddle through the great challenges of the 21st century on current levels of taxation is irresponsible and very wrong'.
Fashion entrepreneur Antoinette Fionda-Douglas writes about the risk of underfunding female entrepreneurs.
She concludes: 'It's time we stopped asking women to do more with less and started giving them what they truly need: funding, and the real, hands-on support that must come with it. That's how we change the future, by backing ambition with action, not just intention.'
Solicitor Austin Lafferty meanwhile contemplates the issues and pitfalls when expanding a small but successful business.
The Herald's business writers share their expert perspectives on a raft of business and economic developments as they reflect on what they have been writing about during the last month.
Scott Wright meanwhile takes a look at who has had a good month, and who has not.
Tech entrepreneur Ian Ritchie, and business and life coach Ed Haddon offer their insights in their regular columns.
I hope you enjoy the broad range of content in this month's edition, and find it insightful and valuable.
