Latest news with #TomHunter
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Record numbers turn out for Aberdeen's Kiltwalk
A record breaking 6,000 people strode out on two routes to Duthie Park in the city, raising more than £1.2 million in donations for 500 charities. The streets of Aberdeen turned tartan today as thousands took part in this year's Kiltwalk. A record breaking 6,000 people strode out on two routes to Duthie Park in the city, raising more than £1.2 million in donations for 500 charities. The majority set off from Bellfield Park in Banchory at 9am on Super Sunday for the 18-mile Mighty Stride while 1,300 Wee Wanderers set off from Cults Academy to make the four-mile trek to the beauty spot, winding their way alongside the River Dee. Since it was set up by Sir Tom Hunter 10 years ago, Kiltwalk has raised £54 million. Kiltwalk CEO Paul Cooney, said: 'It's incredible that 517 charities here in the North East of Scotland will benefit from today's efforts. Charities of all sizes; the biggest with 325 supporters to countless smaller charities - each with one or two walkers. Every penny, every pound raised plus Gift Aid goes to the causes chosen by the walkers. 'Last year's Aberdeen Kiltwalk raised £1.1 million and we are set to raise even more this year. And Kiltwalk, now in its tenth year since it was rescued by The Hunter Foundation, founded by Sir Tom Hunter, has raised £54.7 million for 4,000 Scottish charities since 2016. 'Thank you for your Kiltwalk kindness.' 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. All Aberdeen Kiltwalkers who registered and fundraised are in with a chance of winning a car worth £30,000 thanks to headline sponsor Arnold Clark. Russell Borrie, Chief Executive Officer of Arnold Clark, said: 'The Kiltwalk continues to make a huge difference to so many communities across Scotland, bringing people together to raise vital funds for charities close to their hearts.' The Kiltwalk also provided four lucky local charities with an additional £5,000 as part of 'the happiest minute at the Kiltwalk'. They were: SensationALL, which offers specially designed play activities, social groups and practical support for people with neurodivergent or complex conditions across northeast Scotland; Charlie House, which helps improve the quality of life for babies, children and young people in the North-east of Scotland with life-limiting conditions; Friends of ANCHOR, established to support patients and staff at Aberdeen's cancer and haematology centre and Kayleigh's Wee Stars, which provides vital financial support to families where a child has a terminal illness, helping them make precious memories during the most difficult times. This year, Kiltwalk is also supporting Sir Chris Hoy's Tour de Four charity cycling event, established by the six-time Olympic gold medallist following his diagnosis of Stage 4 prostate cancer. This means anyone who chooses to walk for Kiltwalk itself in 2025 will see everything they raise, plus eligible Gift Aid, go to five cancer charities nominated by Sir Chris Hoy. The charities are Breast Cancer Now, Cancer Research UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Maggie's and Prostate Cancer UK. Next up is St Andrews to Dundee on Sunday, August 17, and Edinburgh on Sunday, September 14.
The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Some unflattering comparisons for Scotland to absorb
It was therefore fascinating to read the report on Singapore's economic success recently published by Oxford Economics for The Hunter Foundation. Several columns have already been written in response, with some challenging the relevance of Singapore's experience to the economic challenges we face here in Scotland. I have no doubt that Sir Tom Hunter relishes the debate. The transformation of Singapore's economy is undeniably extraordinary. In 60 years, the country has changed from one of the world's poorest and most resource-limited states into the eighth-richest in the world with a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita 1.4 times higher than the UK. Understanding how this was achieved is well worth our attention. There are some unflattering comparisons for Scotland to absorb; in education outcomes, population health and industry productivity. The quality and efficiency of Singapore's transport infrastructure and the management of its public realm are all immediately apparent to any first-time visitor. Singapore has not just caught up economically with the more established developed countries, it has well surpassed them. The section to which I was especially drawn was that on Singapore's research and innovation. The country now consistently ranks among the top 10 nations of the Global Innovation Index produced by the World Intellectual Property Organisation. This success is underpinned by strong government direction, guided by a long-term innovation strategy that clearly defines national research priorities. Our own delegation met with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) which leads so much of that work. We could see how advanced their thinking is and how much of an advantage there is in having a clear and consistent commitment to developing expertise in a targeted set of technologies. I know the usual argument against government innovation strategies is that governments should not get involved in picking "winners". They will more than likely get it wrong. Well, Singapore offers a compelling counterexample. Take just one case study: in the late 1960s, the Singaporean government decided that the arrival of containerised shipping would transform global trade. In 1969, it committed to build the country's first container terminal and the first in Southeast Asia. That bold decision, starting from a comparatively small port, set Singapore on the road to having one of the largest trading ports in the world, second only to Shanghai for the tonnage it processes. The Hunter Foundation's report argues that Scotland should concentrate its efforts on a small number of high-growth sectors, choosing renewable energy and the low-carbon economy, life sciences and medical technology and software, big data and artificial intelligence (AI). We can debate whether these are the only options. They are all certainly set out in the UK's industrial strategy but so too are advanced manufacturing, financial services and the creative industries. Each offers its own potential for economic growth and global competitiveness. Read more We also have a national network of what are named "catapults" - centres of innovation excellence part-funded by government and spread around the UK, all aiming to find ways of accelerating technology research into commercial exploitation. In Glasgow, for example, the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, the Satellite Applications Catapult, the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre and the Compound Semi-Conductor Applications Catapult are all part of the wider UK network. Without going into the specifics of each technology, my point is simple: we have a rich set of options we could exploit and these are all emerging from our genuinely world- leading academic institutions. We already have examples of agencies like Singapore's A*STAR. The UK Government has been doing the consultation work to decide what the national industrial strategy should be. The point is that we have all the ingredients needed to rise to the challenge posed by The Hunter Foundation report and to position Scotland at the forefront of high-potential sectors. I would add one other ingredient that we are experimenting with in Glasgow. Both the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow are using the innovation district concept to nurture complex systems of innovation support. The idea is to bring academic research teams, entrepreneurs, businesses both large and small, investors, government agencies and civic bodies all together in relatively small geographies - making it more likely they will collaborate and turn technology into commercial success. Glasgow has three very different innovation districts already in place; in our city centre, along the River Clyde, and at Glasgow Airport. One consequence has been the emergence of Glasgow Technology Week – delivering more than 40 events exploring all that is happening in the city region. And Glasgow Technology Week is taking place right now. There are many aspects of The Hunter Foundation report that are deeply sobering but I would argue at the very least that we can make meaningful and early progress in developing our innovation economy. Singapore currently ranks fourth in the Global Innovation Index, with the UK close behind at fifth, which is evidence that the foundations are already in place. The Scottish Government's international trade programme is helping small and medium-sized companies grow their exports. It is also giving Scottish companies and chambers of commerce the chance to learn how other countries are developing their innovation economies. We will be back in Singapore in the autumn and we will be reflecting on the insights and challenges set out in The Hunter Foundation Report. Stuart Patrick is chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
Scotsman
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Low tax approach will help bring greater benefits for all of us
Sir Tom Hunter commissioned the report by Oxford Economic through his foundation The usual critics have been quick to pounce on a study commissioned by Scotland's most successful entrepreneur, Sir Tom Hunter, to find ways to kick-start Scotland's flagging economy. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As the Oxford Economics report focused on a direct comparison with Singapore, leftwingers inherently suspicious about business interests were quick to dismiss comparisons because, as everyone knows, Scotland isn't Singapore. Nor are we Denmark or Finland, or Ireland for that matter, but that doesn't stop Nationalists using their economic records as a justification for ending the union, a far more successful arrangement than the EU will ever be. But Sir Tom and Oxford Economics were not just interested in Singapore, because two years ago they collaborated on a similar study looking at, guess where, Ireland, and they came to the same conclusion; a much more competitive approach to taxation, both personal and corporate, would yield better results and ultimately bring greater benefits for all. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ireland's 12.5 per cent corporation tax on profits produced average annual economic growth of 8.9 per cent from 2012-2022, compared to Scotland's 0.9 per cent. Ah yes, but corporation tax is UK-wide, and it went up from 19 to 25 per cent in April 2023 under the Conservatives, our critics will say, and not without justification. But that doesn't mean the low tax approach is wrong, just that the political reality of high state expenditure to cope with an ageing population and accelerated by the very necessary emergency measures to save thousands of jobs in the pandemic, means that delivering the low tax, go-getter economy that Sir Tom wants, and we in the Conservative Party would like to see, is far from easy, even for a party which believes in reducing the burden of the state. Not easy, but still worth striving for, and decisions taken by the SNP and Labour, under nothing like the pressure of the immediate aftermath of Covid, have repeatedly shown that cutting the tax burden is the last thing they want to do. Between the two of them, Scotland has been hit by higher income tax, property transactions tax, council tax, employers' national insurance contributions and business rates, so it's no wonder Scotland has struggled to spring back from the grim pandemic era. The SNP's income tax policy is a disincentive for people on low wages to earn more, as if their boast that a majority don't pay more income tax than in England is something to be proud of, when that's everyone on less than £26,500 a year, according to figures from the Institute of Fiscal Studies. No-one argues that poverty shouldn't be tackled, not even in Singapore, but the problem in Scotland is that the SNP pays lip service to the need for a thriving economy to provide sustainable solutions and instead hikes up tax to fund a spiralling welfare system which disincentivises work. With around a quarter of working age Scots inactive, the burden on the other 75 per cent will keep growing and with it the incentive to stop. 'To build Scotland's economy and the future for the next generation of Scots we need a low tax regime, a new model for health and social care, and a housing and planning policy that works in an accelerated manner,' wrote Sir Tom. He's no Tory supporter, but we've been saying this for years. Sue Webber is a Scottish Conservative MSP for Lothian
Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Tom Hunter's rescue plan for Scotland: lower taxes and follow Singapore
One of Scotland's richest men has demanded lower taxes to reverse the 'managed decline' of the country. Sir Tom Hunter, Scotland's first homegrown billionaire, said he was 'deeply worried' by the future prospects of his homeland in areas such as education, health and the economy. In a new paper he suggests Scotland should look to Singapore as a blueprint which would improve its economic fortunes. Hunter argued that lower taxes along with a bespoke immigration system would attract more talented people and help grow the overall tax revenue the government collects. That in turn would allow for greater public spending to help overhaul public services. 'The current state of our nation does not reflect our potential,' Hunter said. 'I have never heard so much
Scotsman
19-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Plumbing new depths? Why ministers must heed the warnings of businesses
Trade body and Sir Tom Hunter lend voices to ever-louder refrain on Scottish Government's handling of the economy Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Today's warning from a leading trade organisation should ring alarm bells at the Scottish Government on its handling of the nation's economy. The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing and Heating Federation (SNIPEF) says eight years of frozen apprenticeship funding has led many sectors to 'breaking point'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Without government support, increasingly few firms are able to provide young people with the apprenticeships they need to follow their preferred careers. Analysis by the federation has found just 22 per cent of businesses are likely to recruit a plumbing apprentice in the next six months Young people who are being lost to trades such as plumbing might have gone on to be part of the next generation of small business owners, in turn helping out another cohort of school-leavers behind them. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Business growth has been starved' SNIPEF chief executive Fiona Hodgson says: 'Years of government inaction have created a situation where business growth has been starved.' Meanwhile, one of Scotland's most prominent business leaders has criticised ministers for presiding over a country in 'managed decline'. Sir Tom Hunter | John Devlin Sir Tom Hunter said: 'Scotland has not been a pro-business friendly country for the past ten years.' The entrepreneur called for more housebuilding and a tax regime that encourages rather than deters investment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Sturgeon administration was 'not business friendly' These calls add to what is now a familiar complaint about the Scottish Government: it is simply not doing enough to help businesses. Sir Tom claims the outlook is improving under First Minister John Swinney and Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, adding that under Nicola Sturgeon the government 'was not business friendly'. While welcome if true, evidence to back Sir Tom's belief that prospects are improving is hard to discern - especially when the number of apprentices in trades such as plumbing is continuing to dwindle.
