Latest news with #TheSocialHub
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Scot went from car salesman to boss of a $2billion business
'My first job was at the Toyota garage down in Cameron Toll. They used to push me out in front of the old, posh customers, because I could 'speak posh' TOP GEAR Scot went from car salesman to boss of a $2billion business CHARLIE MACGREGOR quit private school at 16 to become a trainee car salesman – and found the drive to build a European hospitality empire. The businessman revealed he was 'crap' in the classroom and couldn't wait to join the working world. Advertisement 4 Charlie started out life as a car salesman and now is CEO of The Social Hub. 4 The Social Hub Glasgow is the biggest hotel in Scotland. 4 Charlie relaxing in one of his hotels and the sort of activities guests can enjoy. His first job after leaving Merchiston boarding school in Edinburgh was flogging motors at Western Toyota in the city's Cameron Toll, where he used his privileged background to woo posh buyers. Growing in confidence, he later joined the building trade before turning his attention to hospitality. Charlie — whose dad, Charles, built Scotland's first student digs in 1980 for Edinburgh University — now owns 21 hotels in eight European countries under The Social Hub banner. They provide a mix of short and longer stay accommodation, plus co-working and event spaces. Through his Dutch-based firm, the entrepreneur last year opened his first UK venue — the £90million, 494-room, 4star Glasgow Social Hub. Advertisement Charlie, 49, from Haddington, East Lothian, recalls: 'I found school quite hard. I later discovered I was dyslexic before dyslexia was a thing. 'I was being told all the time that I was crap at everything and ended up leaving as early as I could. 'My dad was not so happy with me leaving school at 16, so told me to start earning a living. 'My first job was at the Toyota garage down in Cameron Toll. There was an old guy there who used to push me out in front of the old, posh customers, because I could 'speak posh', according to him. He told me to put on the 'posh school boy act' and I played up to it. Advertisement 'That helped build my confidence, but I guess I really found my mojo working on a building site. 'I discovered quite early on that I wasn't afraid of work the way I had been at school — it's just in the classroom I didn't understand what the hell was going on. 'But I worked like a dog and loved being part of a team. At work, I was the happiest I have ever been and have worked and worked since then.' Dad-of-four Charlie built his venues — which provide around 10,000 rooms — after raising almost £1.5billion from investors. Advertisement All are based on the same philosophy of offering luxury rooms for leisure and business travellers, as well as students and extended-stay guests. They also feature turntables and table tennis with bars, some with rooftop pools, restaurants, function rooms, a laundry and a gym. The most recent addition to the chain is Social Hub in Rome. Charlie reckons the key to his success is giving people more meaningful social experiences on a greater scale than they would get in the street or over a coffee. Advertisement He says: 'Bringing all these people together is only what we all experience on a bus or in Starbucks. Hotels seem to focus on one group or another, like, 'This is a business hotel, this is a leisure hotel, this is a health hotel'. And God forbid the locals are not allowed in there because they're just gonna disrupt the place, right? 'So we've come along and, with no hotel experience and in our naivety said, 'Hey, let's just bring everybody together and let's make sure the locals are part of it, too'.' Charlie's idea for Social Hub came after he got into the student accommodation business like his dad, opening his first Student Hotel in the Netherlands in 2006. He says: 'I grew up thinking, 'Jeez, these places don't really motivate good behaviour'. But build a space where their parents could come to stay — well, it naturally makes you behave better.' Advertisement Charlie believes other hotels need to 'rip up' the rule book if they want to follow in his footsteps. He says with a sigh: 'Do you know that in the big hotel chains, there's a standard operating procedure on how staff should sneeze? We have a reverse philosophy where the front of house staff — cleaners, receptionists — they're at the top of the tree, with me as the CEO at the bottom, because they really are frontline staff who are there to make your stay the best it can be.' Charlie would now love to expand his Social Hub accommodation into other parts of Scotland and Britain. He revealed it is 'really heartwarming' to see the concept working, and is particularly proud of his Glasgow venture. Advertisement However, he cautions: 'I wouldn't recommend to my own children to leave school at 16, but for me, getting out into the workplace really was the best thing I could have done.'
STV News
08-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Scottish brewer launches search for year long 'beer tasters'
An award winning Scottish brewer has launched a search for year long 'beer tasters'. Innis & Gunn have teamed up with video interview platform Willo to search for five candidates to be offered the position of Beer Taster for a full year, effective from July 1, 2025. Successful applicants will gain early access to new beers and will receive VIP tickets to some of Scotland's top cultural events, including Belladrum, Edinburgh Christmas Market, Celtic Connections, and even The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Full training will also be provided at the Innis & Gunn taproom. The process started with a pop-up booth at The Social Hub in Glasgow, where passer-by's were invited in to ask questions, ranging from 'describe the flavour of a pint in five words' to 'let's see you pull an imaginary pint'. You apply for the next pop up booth on the Innis & Gunn website. Dougal Sharp, founder and master brewer at Innis & Gunn said: 'Glasgow's got personality by the pint, so it made perfect sense to kick off our search for Scotland's top beer taster right here. 'We wanted to do something that felt less like a job interview and more like a laugh down the pub, and that's exactly what happened at The Social Hub. 'With help from our friends at Willo, we've captured some brilliant characters who know their way around a beer, and we can't wait to see who else throws their hat in the ring. This could genuinely be the best gig in the country – so get your applications in as soon as you can.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
08-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Fancy a job tasting pints? Innis & Gunn are on the hunt for Scotland's top beer tasters
Innis & Gunn are on the hunt to find Scotland's biggest beer fan for the role of a lifetime. In a unique recruitment campaign, the Scottish drinks company are searching for a new official Beer Taster. Beginning the hunt with a pop-up booth at The Social Hub in Glasgow - with the help of video interview platform Willo - potential "professionals" were asked a number of questions, ranging from "describe the flavour of a pint in five words" to "can you pull an imaginary pint". And for those who missed out, but who firmly believe their palate meets the brief, Innis & Gunn are also calling on lager lovers from around the country to apply online. We hit the streets of Glasgow to conduct some *very serious* pint-erviews 😉 No CVs. No awkward handshakes. Just plenty laughs and free beers! Want to be our Beer Taster? There's still time to apply - simply pick up a promo pack of our lager and scan the QR code. — Innis & Gunn (@innisandgunn) May 8, 2025 With five open roles, successful candidates will be offered the position of Beer Taster for a full year, effective from July 1, 2025. In addition to early access to new beers, successful applicants will receive VIP tickets to some of Scotland's top cultural events, including Belladrum, Edinburgh Christmas Market, Celtic Connections, and even The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Full training will also be provided at the Innis & Gunn taproom. Dougal Sharp, founder and master brewer at Innis & Gunn said: "Glasgow's got personality by the pint, so it made perfect sense to kick off our search for Scotland's top beer taster right here. "We wanted to do something that felt less like a job interview and more like a laugh down the pub, and that's exactly what happened at The Social Hub. "With help from our friends at Willo, we've captured some brilliant characters who know their way around a beer, and we can't wait to see who else throws their hat in the ring. This could genuinely be the best gig in the country - so get your applications in as soon as you can." Fancy becoming a Beer Taster for Innis & Gunn? Here's how If you're looking to throw your hat in the ring and become a Beer Taster all you need to do is pick up a promotional pack of Innis & Gunn Lager in-store and follow the instructions to apply online.
Entrepreneur
06-05-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
'I choose not to play ball in this war': Why CEOs must stand up proudly and say 'we support DEI'
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The rapid movement of DEI rollback has been surreal and unnerving to witness. As founder and CEO of The Social Hub, a B Corp Certified hybrid hospitality company which employs more than 1,000 people directly and welcomes more than 2 million guests per year, it has left me wondering what this all ultimately says about us. It should be noted, I say this as a privileged, educated, well-fed and loved white, straight, able-bodied man. I have had all the advantages our society can offer at my feet my whole life. Let's just take a moment to unpack what this acronym stands for: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Let them sink in for a second and consider what it would mean if we don't support this, if we want the opposite. Uniformity, Inequality, and Exclusion. It is an insane idea that you would run a team with this as your values in the western world in 2025, especially when you are targeting a wide range of customers. Before I go into the ramifications, though, I would like to rewind to the moment when DEI truly kicked off. DEI gained momentum as a unified response to the murder of George Floyd in 2020 by a white police officer in broad daylight. The fact that it was documented, the evidence undisputable, was a catalyst for the Black Lives Matter protests that summer, which unleashed a tidal wave of pledges of support for greater diversity, equity and inclusion. Compounded with the reckoning of the earlier #MeToo movement, it exposed a hard truth, one as old as time – our societies and our economies were not a level playing field. Rather, they systematically privileged a certain kind of straight, white, male above everyone else – again, people like me! It's not an exaggeration to say that it was a watershed moment that dismantled the myth, especially the American myth, of hard work as the only path to success, revealing instead deeply entrenched systemic issues. It offered a unique, global moment for self-reflection. As early as June of 2020, the World Economic Forum published a DEI toolkit for companies that, crucially to my mind, laid out not just a moral case for embracing DEI, but a business case as well. This wasn't rocket science after all. The world we live in is highly diverse. Organisations were successful when they created an inclusive work culture that tapped into the full potential of human diversity. The numbers backed it up too - companies that had already embraced DEI were consistently performing better than those that weren't. At my company, The Social Hub, we have a global customer base, just like these myriad S&P 500 companies backpedalling on their DEI (90% and counting of the top 400). We proudly cater for every person, no matter where they come from, what they have or don't have, what they do or don't identify as. As for these other companies, my question is this – how can you expect to attract global customers if you don't actually have teams who can help those privileged few at the top understand the needs, challenges, and wants of these other group. Which, by the way, are the majority when combined? The other argument we hear is that DEI has gone too far. While it is true that the left also has voices which can be scary and intimidating, it is up to us – my fellow CEOs – to make sure we find a balance which works for us, our teams and for our businesses. I am a super optimistic person, so a large part of me is really hoping, thinking, that these big international companies are simply 'Trump Washing' when it comes to DE&I. It doesn't make business sense to play ball with an old, white male bully, and taking these three letters down from websites, but not really going through with anti-DEI actions. I choose not to play ball in this war. I want to stand up proudly saying we support DEI. We want and need a diverse team, we will give everyone equal chances and we will do our best to make everyone feel included. After all, this is exactly what we are doing with our guests, each and every day and for each and every one of them. For us, having a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce is not charity, it's something we passionately advocate for. In such a wonderfully diverse world, we know it's the only pathway to a better future and to sustainable growth. It's nothing but a win-win for all of us. This is why all our hubs – no matter the location – are safe, welcoming spaces for everyone. So that together we can contribute to a fairer, more inclusive society. Last autumn, our efforts were rewarded when we became a B Corp, a huge milestone for us. We're now an active member of a community of like-minded companies that also use business as a force for good. This is also why I'm particularly proud of the work we do at my NGO Movement on the Ground, which is focused on turning refugee camps into what we call an active "CampUS." And, with our very own TSH Talent Foundation, we are promoting scholarships and other skilling opportunities for brilliant students from underprivileged and diverse backgrounds. At The Social Hub we commit 1% of our global revenue to fund the organisation, every year. Meanwhile, at our Better Society Academy at The Social Hub Glasgow last week, I saw what happens when people from all backgrounds – activists, business leaders, students, civil servants – get in a room and really listen. You get energy. You get ideas. You get progress. People actually hear each other – which is scarily rare in today's world. I've been meeting a lot of UK entrepreneurs lately – through our community in Glasgow and as we look to expand The Social Hub into other UK cities. And I get it: a lot of people are feeling worn down right now. Costs are up, growth is slower, and the temptation is to turn inward. But I truly believe this is the moment to look outward. To open the doors wider, not close them. To founders across the UK: this isn't about being 'woke' or ticking boxes. It's about building companies we're proud to run – places where people want to stay, want to grow, and want to do work that matters. If we can make room at the table, stay curious, and lead with purpose, then I really think we've got a shot at creating businesses that outlast the noise, do the right thing, and help build a better society. Ultimately, in my view, what it comes down to is this: be the kind person you are, who we all are… listen to your heart not your ego, trust this feeling when you meet people and, more importantly, don't forget to smile.
Glasgow Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow hotel to host Wings for Life World Run event
The Social Hub will take part in the Wings for Life World Run on Sunday, May 4, at noon. The global event sees all participants run simultaneously, no matter where they are in the world. Read more: Glasgow runner who survived cardiac arrest during race to compete in same event Participants download the official Wings for Life app and try to outrun the virtual Catcher Car. Once you are caught, your run is over. Antoine and Joel, student leaders of The Social Hub's regular Run Club, will lead the way from Glasgow's city centre. The route will start and finish at The Social Hub Glasgow, with a scenic loop taking runners through Glasgow Green and along the River Clyde. All participants will receive a goodie bag complete with exclusive discount codes for Stretched, Scotland's first clinically led independent assisted stretch studio. One lucky winner will enjoy a complimentary 50-minute stretch, while the runner-up will receive a 25-minute stretch session. Read more: Tortoise the size of matchbox hatches at popular theme park Ben Mcleod, general manager at The Social Hub, said: "It's the perfect opportunity for anyone who missed out on the London Marathon ballot. "You still get to be part of a huge global running event, support an incredible cause, and have loads of fun doing it. "We're so excited to be hosting a Wings for Life App Run here at The Social Hub Glasgow, it's part of a global fundraising initiative by Red Bull to support spinal cord research. "All 21 of our hubs across Europe will be taking part on Sunday, and it's shaping up to be a really special event. "The event is open to all, whether you're a regular runner or just fancy being part of something meaningful and fun." Anyone looking to sign up and join the Glasgow run can do so on the Wings for Life World Run website. All entry fees go directly towards spinal cord research, helping to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.
