Better late than never
THE outgoing US ambassador to the UK, Matthew Barzun, famously moaned about being fed lamb and potatoes too as he carried out his official engagements on these shores.
He will no doubt have been relieved when Alison McGregor, chair of CBI Scotland, revealed to guests shortly before dinner at the organisation’s dinner in Glasgow last week that beef was on the menu.
There were still plenty of spuds on the plate, mind you.
Put a sock in it
AT last, research has confirmed what we have long suspected – most meetings last too long.
According to a survey by Altodigital, the office technology specialist, over-run meetings cost the economy £582 million per week. It found that 95 per cent of respondents questioned said they regularly attend over-run meetings, with more than half (53 per cent) saying the boardroom chin-wags could have been conducted more efficiently.
Given how often we hear about the UK’s poor productivity, perhaps we all need to learn to put a sock in it.
SPV eyes hat-trick
IT is shaping up to be a memorable autumn for SPV Energy, with the Glasgow-based solar voltaic and biomass specialist short-listed for two awards.
SPV is in the running in the solar PV category at the National Energy Efficiency and Retrofit Awards, to be hosted by Joanna Lumley in Birmingham on September 16. From there it is on to the Glasgow Business Awards on October, where SPV will find out if it has gone all the way in the green champion category.
Having already been named solar PV installer of the year at the Regional Energy Efficiency Awards in March, the company will at least have a victory speech rehearsed.
Commercial director Jim O’Brien, pictured with fellow director John Gorman, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for all our staff. We are a challenger brand in the energy sector, and recently we have seen so many Solar PV businesses close down, yet we continue to go from strength to strength.”
Code for a new career
FANCY a career in the digital world?
Yard, the Edinburgh technical marketing agency, is running an afternoon seminar on September 19.
The event, taking place as part of National Coding Week, aims to offer those mulling a move into the digital sector an insight into topics such as search engine optimisation (SEO).
Admission to the workshop is available to anybody in the area who is interested in learning a new skill. A limited number of free tickets are available via Eventbrite.
Communications Warriors
WE doff our cap to Malcolm Robertson, founding partner of Charlotte Street Partners, and Stephen McCranor at joint venture partner Frame PR, who are taking part in this weekend’s Total Warrior event in Edinburgh.
A quick glance at the event’s website tells us the gruelling contest involves negotiating 30 punishing obstacles, 10 tonnes of ice and 100 tonnes of mud.
The involvement of Messrs Robertson and McCranor is down to colleague and Total Warrior veteran David Gaffney, who is organising the event.
Gentlemen, we wish you well.
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