Year: 2018

Member News – Ethiopia coffee trip helps Leo (24) go for career and tackle anxiety

Yvonne McAulay
Leo Hector learning about coffee production in an Ethiopian forest.

A 24-year-old Fife coffee professional in training overcame issues with anxiety to organise his first solo foreign trip – to learn about coffee in Ethiopia and work towards a career as a green coffee buyer.

 

Leo Hector, from Ladybank, landed a job at social enterprise We Are Zest Café in St Andrews after impressing on an eight-week post-college work experience placement during which he gained more control over his anxiety. The self-funding ethical café provides training and paid work for people with additional support needs to help them learn valuable work skills and maintain or achieve employment.

Leo developed a passion for coffee after learning more about it from owner Lisa Cathro, who’s a member of St Andrews Business Club.  After he set himself a career goal to become a green coffee buyer, Lisa suggested he go to Ethiopia to learn further on one of the coffee tours organised by her friend Joost Leopold, a Speciality Coffee Association trainer and coffee expert.

‘Very beneficial’

So, in September, Leo set about organising the 10-day trip after he got the backing of his parents. The group set off on October 27 and after, arriving in Addis Ababa, they spent a day visiting coffee related places including the Ethiopian coffee exchange (ECX) – the Government market place where coffee is traded nationally and internationally.

They later visited a centre where the beans are graded, a storage facility, plantations and got to pick coffee cherries. Leo even got a pat on the shoulder from a farmer – which means he picked well! The group also visited Mankira forest, the location where the first coffee tree was found, and sampled different varieties. Leo and the group also learned about the financial side of buying and exporting.

“For someone who wants to be in this industry, the trip was very beneficial,” says Leo. “This trip has given me more understanding of coffee processing and lots more on the economics of coffee trading.

“I’m going to continue developing my coffee knowledge and gaining more experience, so I can find a job where I can increase my portfolio and get a foothold in the industry.

Grateful

“I’m so grateful to Lisa for giving me that opportunity! Lisa is someone who will help to get you where you want to be. She’s made me believe in myself and my capabilities to go forward in life and for that I’m truly thankful.”

“Putting the coffee aside, I learned that I can’t take anything for granted because we can get what we want when we want it but Ethiopian people can’t. Seeing it first-hand has changed my outlook on life – not to take things for granted and to appreciate everything I have.

“One of the highlights for me was visiting a wild coffee plantation which grows in the cloud forests in Kaffa. It was stunning and just listening to the owner talk so enthusiastically about how coffee should be grown and how people should respect the coffee more was inspiring.”

Lisa Cathro says: “The whole Zest team are really proud of Leo for pursuing his goals and pushing himself to keep learning and developing. I have no doubt Leo will get to where he wants to be career-wise and we’re happy to have played a part in his journey.”

Joost Leopold said: “Leo shared a great interest in the coffee trade. Maybe one day in future he will be a green coffee buyer. Leo showed lots of enthusiasm during the trip and it was obvious that this experience was a crucial step for him.”

For more about We Are Zest, go to http://wearezest.co.uk 

North-East Fife 2019 – business influences to be revealed

Yvonne McAulay
Gordon Mole, Chief Officer, Business and Employability, Fife Council (left) and Professor Brad MacKay, Vice-Principal, International, Strategy and External Relations, University of St Andrews, will speak at St Andrews Business Club on January 16.

People doing business in North-East Fife can hear about the likely effects on the economy of North-East Fife of major factors such as Brexit and The Tay Cities Deal at a St Andrews Business Club event on January 16.

 

In the event, to be held at the Old Course Hotel from 5.30pm, Gordon Mole, Chief Officer, Business and Employability, at Fife Council and Professor Brad MacKay, Vice-Principal, International, Strategy and External Relations at University of St Andrews, will talk about what they believe 2019 will and may hold for St Andrews and North-East Fife which will affect businesses and for which they need to have a plan.

Gordon Mole is responsible for employability, economic development, economic policy, town centres and tourism and is the council’s business lead for Brexit. He has worked on economic development and employment initiatives for major construction programmes including London’s Shard of Glass, Heathrow Terminal 5 and Tate Modern, and as Employment and Brokerage Manager for Crossrail.

Prof MacKay is Professor of Strategy in the University of St Andrews School of Management and was appointed Vice-Principal, International Strategy and External Relations, in August 2017.

Prof MacKay’s responsibilities include oversight of the development of the university’s institutional strategy (2018-2023) for the post-Brexit era and development and management of practices and policies related to strategic relationships national and international including membership on a range of government and sector-wide committees and delegations

Anyone wishing to learn about this important business topic, as well as network, is asked to book via Eventbrite.

A full list of this season’s events can be found at http://bit.ly/StABCEvents.

Member News – Directors become owners at West Port Print & Design

Yvonne McAulay
Retiring founder Terry Scanlon (left) is presented with his Auchterlonies vouchers by Stephen and Claire Simpson.

St Andrews businessman Terry Scanlon is handing over his ink roller to swap printing for more putting and poolsides in the sun after 35 years running West Port Print & Design and 54 years in the print trade.

 

Terry (69) started the business in 1983 with just two staff and one small, single-colour press after learning his trade over 18 years with the University of St Andrews Printing Department.

Over the years West Port’s reputation for quality fuelled its growth and in 1997 it bought its first full-colour press and was one of the first to offer a ‘while-you-wait’ colour copy service. Since then the business has expanded to a staff of 12 and continues to advance through embracing the latest technologies for its clients, many of which are prestigious locally-based brands such as the R&A, St Andrews Links Trust and the Old Course and Fairmont hotels.

For customers the story is ‘business as usual’ because the new owners are existing directors Stephen and Claire Simpson. Stephen, a Member of St Andrews Business Club, joined the firm in 1997 and became a director in 2008. He and Claire aim to continue the firm’s growth.

Expanding

While they’re expanding its services, Terry plans to be hitting the fairways and travelling to Portugal with his wife Catherine (who used to help out in the shop on Saturday mornings) more often, where he enjoys golf, cycling and eating fresh fish by the sea. His retirement gift? What else but Auchterlonies vouchers!

Speaking about hanging up his printer’s apron, Terry said: “It has been a blast for 54 years. The changes in technology have been unbelievable!

“I must thank all my staff for their hard work and my customers for their loyal support over the years. I hope they’ll support Stephen and Claire just as much.”

Stephen Simpson said: “Terry’s legacy in building West Port Print & Design to the high standing it now enjoys now has to be acknowledged as a phenomenal achievement. Claire and I have a very hard act to follow, but we’re keen to build on the reputation we’re inheriting.”

For more information about West Port Print & Design, go to its website at www.westportprint.co.uk

Festive Social – V&A Dundee

Yvonne McAulay
Members of St Andrews Business Club and their Guests are shown around the building by one of the tour guides.

Thanks to Members and Guests for attending the Club’s 2018 Festive Social at V&A Dundee – the No.1 choice of Members in the Summer Member Survey.

 

It topped off a record year for the Club perfectly – with a new record attendance for an event!

Best wishes for the festive season to all our Members and the wonderful people who make St Andrews and North-East Fife the uniquely amazing place it is.

For more photos, go to the Album on our Facebook page.

Report & Pictures by ASM Media & PR

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is January 16: North-East Fife 2019 when Gordon Mole of Fife Council and Prof Brad MacKay of the University of St Andrews will give their insights into the business environment next year, including the effects of Brexit and the Tay Cities Deal.

INTERNSHIP VACANCY – Marketing Communications Intern

Yvonne McAulay

St Andrews Business Club is looking to appoint a new Marketing Communications Intern.

While this is not a paid position, any out-of-pocket expenses incurred on Club duties will be reimbursed and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to enjoy the following benefits:

BENEFITS

  • Training from experienced professionals, mainly Alan S. Morrison, President – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alansmorrison/
  • Practical experience of real-life marketing communications with measurable results to add to your CV
  • LinkedIn Recommendations from Committee members – https://standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk/about-us/committee/ – if overall job performance has met an agreed standard
  • Introductions to useful career contacts and potential employers if overall job performance has met an agreed standard
  • Opportunity to network and make useful career and personal connections at Club events, free of charge

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

ESSENTIAL

Facebook

–  Create Facebook Event for each Club event (using approved text and photos supplied by main Comms person/Event speaker contact) – about 10 minutes per event before start of season, which runs September to June.
Some already created will require updating once details decided. Picture will be supplied at right spec to fit perfectly. Intern could create in photo editing software if they’d prefer to have that learning experience.

– Schedule Facebook Business page posts to promote each event – 20 minutes every 3-4 weeks through the season.

– Schedule daily Facebook posts once a week – 1.5 hours per week. Involves curating posts by Club members and speakers as well as creating a weekly #MemberMonday post. Links can be supplied. Tuition and content strategy will be supplied. Opportunity for intern to devise creative original content that drives more engagement.

– Optional – ‘Social listening’ – checking Facebook notifications daily for any comments to the page which require a reply and responding accordingly or flag to Club Comms person. 10 minutes maximum per day.

– Optional – Creating and adding content to a Facebook Album for each event – uploading images (supplied unless intern wishes to learn event photography too) as well as linking it to the event report on the Club website. 30 minutes per event.

Twitter

–  Schedule tweets in Hootsuite – https://hootsuite.com – to promote each event using Eventbrite link and photos supplied by main Comms person/Event speaker contact. Intern will create their own free Hootsuite account and relevant permissions will be granted to schedule Club tweets. Training will be provided. 30 minutes per event, every 3-4 weeks during the season.

– Scheduling two tweets to share the link to the Facebook Album and 4 of the photos from it after each event, which finish 9am, 2pm, and 7.30pm. 15 minutes per event every two weeks during the season.

– Schedule a weekly #MemberMonday post – best done a month at a time – 10 minutes for each as involves taking a screengrab of their website and using that as the photo. Also searching for their social accounts to tag – so they get a notification and share it. 4 a month, year-round. Intern would be requested but not required to do this during their holidays.

– Optional – Retweet Members tweets and ones by Local and Fife groups we have friendly links with and have created Twitter Lists for – once a day, 1pm for 10 minutes [N.B. Timing important for maximising views].

– Optional – ‘Social listening’ – checking Twitter notifications daily for any comments which require a reply and responding accordingly or flagging to Club Comms person. Best done in Tweetdeck via web browser (free). Expert tuition on its use will be provided. 10 minutes maximum per day.

Website

  • Editing content on Club’s WordPress site – training will be provided. Maximum of an hour every two weeks.

Attending Committee meetings – one every 2 months in the evening 5.30-7pm.

DESIRED MARKETING TASKS

  • Eventbrite – event creation & management. Training and content will be provided – 30 min per event listing twice in season. 10-12 events per season is target.
  • MailChimp – marketing email creation & scheduling –  two per event during season. Training and content will be provided.
  • Optional – PR – news copywriting, researching using Cision media database, media-spec picture formatting, pitching & coverage checking training for PR undertaken every 2 weeks during season. Scope and time could be agreed with successful candidate.
  • Project – to increase new memberships and membership renewals – time could be agreed with successful candidate.
  •  Attending Club events – to assist with running of each event – roughly one per month. See schedule at https://standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk/events-st-andrews-business-club/

REQUIREMENTS

  • Interest in marketing communications, ideally targeting a career involving or related to this.
  • Facebook – must have own account – Admin permissions for Club page will be granted. No prior knowledge or experience of using a Facebook Business page required – training will be provided, attitude more important.
  • Twitter – some prior experience would be useful, but training will be provided
  • LinkedIn – must have a profile on this platform
  • Fluent written and spoken English
  • Must have access to image editing software
  • Must be able to read and edit documents in Microsoft Word
  • Should be able to access Dropbox for sharing of documents and files.
  • Must be professional and flexible in way tasks are completed and time is managed
  • Desire to learn and be guided by experienced professionals essential

HOURS REQUIRED

See above, but once season launched total typically at least two hours every two weeks. Actual weekly hours will depend on how much successful candidate wants to learn and take responsibility for.

Will be more during period building up to season launch, but hours for that can be agreed with successful candidate.

START DATE & LENGTH OF INTERNSHIP

The start date and length of the internship will be agreed with the successful candidate.

SUPERVISION

The intern will be supervised and trained directly by the Committee member with primary responsibility for Club communications (currently the Vice-President, Alan S. Morrison) but also by other members of the Committee when attending events and Committee meetings.

HOW TO APPLY

Application should be made by email to secretary@standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk with:

  • Subject Line “Marketing Communications Intern Application”
  • CV attached
  • Body text of email describing why candidate is applying and why they would be suitable for the role.

A shortlist of candidates will be selected for brief interview in St Andrews w/b 28/1/19.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 13/1/19, 23:59

 QUERIES: Any queries about this role should be emailed to the President, Alan S. Morrison, on asm@asmmediaandpr.co.uk

Want to know more about what this internship is like? Here’s a blog by our first Marketing Communications Intern, Comora Love-Mitchell.

Life as the St Andrews Business Club Marketing Communications Intern

Yvonne McAulay
Comora Love-Mitchell, the Club’s first Marketing Communications intern.

Hello everyone, this is my first blog post for St Andrews Business Club.

 

I’m currently in my final year at the University of St Andrews and I can’t believe how quickly 4th Year has come. I now truly understand the phrase ‘time flies when you’re having fun.’

Interning with the Club has been a whirlwind. I have learned a tremendous amount from the Club, but also from my mentor and current Club President Alan S. Morrison.

As this post is about my time as the Marketing Communications Intern, I’ll now give you a glimpse into what it’s been like since the start of my internship.

This time last year I was looking for work experience to busy myself during the term in my field of choice – marketing. When the job posting for this internship popped up in my email from the Careers Center in November I’m be the first to admit it came at the worst possible time – I was stressed out with deadlines and nearing revision studying. When do great opportunities come when it’s convenient?

Responsibilities

Fast forward through the interview process and subsequent acceptance, I dived head first into my responsibilities, which is exactly how I’d want it.

Comora talking to Flora Selwyn, Editor of St Andrews in Focus, at her first event.

I attended my first Club event – a tour of The Old Course Hotel – in December 2017 (pictured right). This was my first interaction with Alan since my interview as well as my first meeting with the rest of the 2017/2018 Committee. Everyone was extremely kind and ready to talk. It was a perfect beginning.

Another huge part of our early meetings was giving me insight into the goals of the Club for the year.

I not only learned about the Club and the businesses they supported, but also about businesses in general, different strategies implemented by them, and business models. Some of these included the Disney Strategy for creative ideation, Agency Problem, Stakeholder Map and 80/20 Rule just to name a few.

After the holidays, Alan and I met up to commence my training. Hitting the ground running, we outlined the areas I was really interested in learning about and what I wanted to get from this experience. We agreed to first focus on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and Alan sat with me in Starbucks for two hours once a week to train me on the ins and outs of social media and marketing tips of the trade.

Duties

My duties for the Club most heavily focuses on creating posts for the #MemberMonday meme as well as weekly Member posts that feature different Members, which is one of the perks of Membership with St Andrews Business Club.

I learned what times different posts should be scheduled at to receive maximum views and clicks and also general ‘How Tos’ for scheduling and formatting posts in Hootsuite and Facebook.

As time went on I gained more and more responsibility as I became comfortable with my position and learned about the industry. I was given the opportunity to draft copy for press releases and compile the Club’s monthly KPI reports for the Committee. At events, I helped to set up before the start of each event, sign in all of the Members and place out badges so it was easier for everyone to interact in the networking environment.

I’ve valued this experience because it has allowed me to expand on my past experiences with marketing communications as well as to learn new things and be given the opportunity to explore areas of interest I have within the marketing realm.

Everyone has been more than happy to answer any questions or concerns I have had and this internship has equipped me with the tools I need to be successful in whatever field I choose to go forward in because of the fundamentals the Club has given me.

I cannot recommend this internship and this club enough to people who are unsure if they want to get involved.

SGM + William Dowson, Bank of England

Yvonne McAulay
William Dowson, Bank of England Agent for Scotland, shared the Bank of England views on the current economic climate, interest rates and the business environment, as well as explaining his role and talking questions at the event held by St Andrews Business Club at The Old Course Hotel. Pic: ASM Media & PR

In our latest business learning event at the Old Course Hotel, William Dowson, Bank of England Agent for Scotland, shared the Bank’s views on the current economic climate, interest rates and the business environment as well as explaining his role and talking questions.

Thanks to him for sharing his time and expertise.

Mr Dowson became Agent for Scotland in 2010. He joined the Bank in 1995 and was a Senior Manager in the Bank’s Foreign Exchange Division before joining the Agency Network.

He has held a range of analyst and management positions in the Banking, Financial Stability and Markets areas at the Bank.

William has a BSc in Business Studies and an MSc in Finance, both from the University of London.

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is December 12: Members & Guests-only Festive Social at V&A Dundee.

Member News – Startup powers its way to order from European giant

Yvonne McAulay
Peter Waggott, Managing Director of Powercases (Scotland) Ltd, (right) shows David Robertson, Technology Solutions Manager at Staples Solutions, how the Powercases Universal Charger works at the Indigo Hotel, Dundee.

A Scottish startup selling cutting edge off-grid power products has landed a substantial five-figure order from Staples Solutions UK as its first deal.

 

Dundee-based Powercases (Scotland) Ltd is the European arm of the Canadian Powercases brand which since 2012 has created state-of-the-art Lithium-Ion rechargeable power packs and cases for devices such as phones and laptops as well as jump-starters for cars, motorcycles and boats.

The startup, headed by sales coach Peter Waggott – a Member of St Andrews Business Club, recently closed its first deal – a distributor agreement and substantial five-figure order for three products with Staples Solutions UK, the leading provider of workplace products, services and solutions to businesses in the UK and Europe.

Powercases expects the relationship to grow into a seven-figure revenue stream over the next 12 months.

Powercases is in advanced talks with Kia and Subaru Canada to offer its range of products via dealerships there. It’s looking to do the same in the UK.

Management training

Peter Waggott’s sales and management coaching company, Vertical Motives, will also offer sales and management training to Staples customers. Earlier this year his two-day sales workshop became the first in the UK to be accredited by a university as Recognised Prior Learning when the University of Aberdeen allowed completion of it to be used by prospective online MBA candidates as part of their application.

Powercases (Scotland) Ltd is currently looking to secure office space in Dundee to base itself and conduct training at.

Peter Waggott was approached by Powercases to open its European arm because he worked for four years from 2010 with its Co-owner and Managing Partner, Taylor Angus, at Wakefield Castrol Canada Inc.

Speaking about the deal, Peter Waggott said: “We’re naturally delighted our first European customer is the region’s biggest supplier of workplace products, services and solutions.

“In today’s work environment having power on demand to stay connected is crucial. Powercases products allow people to stay connected wherever they are. It’s great to have this iconic office supplies chain recognise the superiority of our products in meeting this need with this initial order.

“We’re also looking to work with other trusted brands and expect to be in a position to announce agreements with major names in their sectors in the coming months.”

David Robertson, Technology Solutions Manager at Staples Solutions, said; “The Staples and Powercases partnership provides a great opportunity to introduce innovative charging solutions to Staples UK business and consumer customers.”

For more about Powercases, go to https://uk.powercases.com/

Business Breakfast – Effective negotiation skills

Yvonne McAulay
Andrew B. Brown gave a well-attended workshop in effective negotiation skills in the event held by St Andrews Business Club at The Old Course Hotel.

In our latest business learning event, Chief Inspector (retired) Andrew B. Brown gave a workshop in effective negotiation skills.

 

An internationally-renowned negotiator with specialist knowledge and experience in dealing with kidnap for ransom and hostage/crisis incidents, Andrew’s interactive mini-workshop deconstructed the negotiation process to allow participants to understand active listening skills and how, when they are skillfully applied empathically, they can give strength to persuasion that ultimately influences behavioural change and successful negotiation.

For more information about this subject, you can visit Andrew’s LinkedIn page.

For more photos, go to the Album on our Facebook page.

 NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is November 21 – when William Dowson, Agent for Scotland at the Bank of England, will talk about the economy.

Bank of England official to answer questions in St Andrews

Yvonne McAulay

Business people can ask questions about the economy of a Bank of England official at a St Andrews Business Club event on November 21.

William Dowson, the Bank of England’s Agent for Scotland, will talk about the current economic climate, interest rates and the business environment, before answering questions in the event to be held at the Old Course Hotel from 6.15pm.

Mr Dowson joined the Bank in 1995 and was a Senior Manager in the Bank’s Foreign Exchange Division before joining the Agency Network. He became Agent for Scotland in 2010.

He has held a range of analyst and management positions in the Banking, Financial Stability and Markets areas at the Bank.

Anyone wanting to attend the event, which will be held under the Chatham House Rule – under which what’s said can be reported but not attributed to the speaker – is asked to book via Eventbrite.