Author: SABC Secretary

Member blog – Mhairi Mackenzie Associates

SABC Secretary

People are at the heart and soul of every successful business. However, people matters can be complex, urgent, time-consuming and must be carried out in a legal, professional and ethical manner.

 

The “People Lifecycle” incorporates recruitment, retention, developing, mentoring and coaching staff, diversity & equality, employment law, succession planning right, performance improvement through to exiting employees where necessary – and everything in between!

Some HR matters, such as investigation, should be carried out by an impartial third party, and often the Manager or Business Owner is “too close” to personnel issues to deal with difficult situations effectively and impartially.

Mhairi Mackenzie Associates offers a flexible and cost-effective Consultancy solution for SMEs who have no in-house HR support, or with limited or stretched HR resources. Mhairi operates an independent Scottish consultancy, based in Crail, supporting businesses requiring People support by offering a highly cost-effective alternative to having permanent HR personnel – you only pay for the time required and fees can be structured to make them flexible and affordable. Mhairi is also happy to work in partnership with clients’ HR team members on project work and integrates seamlessly with the clients’ team.

Mhairi Mackenzie Associates Ltd offers a comprehensive range of People Solutions including:

Strategic resourcing incorporating the entire Talent Acquisition Lifecycle including Workforce Talent planning, sourcing to Executive level, Employer Branding, writing adverts and job specifications, screening & interviewing, as well as coaching clients on successful interviewing skills. Mhairi is a results-driven and approachable professional who specialises in resourcing problem solving and filling niche and ‘impossible to fill’ vacancies. Mhairi works in close partnership with clients to ensure she sources candidates who have the right skills for the job and cultural fit for your organisation, meaning they will stay and be successful.

HR Services from employment contracts, staff handbook, compliance, systems/processes, quality, diversity and equality, employment law, investigations, disciplinaries to dismissals and redundancies.

Mhairi is a member of both the Chartered Member of Personnel Development (CIPD) and FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) and offers bespoke support to clients in many capacities, tailored to clients’ specific needs. Mhairi is also a qualified practitioner in behavioural profiling Psychometrics.

Mhairi has worked in Talent Management and HR for more than 20 years and was Managing Director of an oil and gas recruitment business, which she grew from a loss-making position to turnover of £8.6m before relocating to Fife in 2009. Since then, Mhairi has undertaken interim roles helping businesses grow through Organisational Development, becoming more successful through the growth and success of their teams. Mhairi has a wide range of private sector experience from setting up systems and processes and all ‘grass roots systems’ to building strong teams, focused or Organisational Development and Success.

The majority of Mhairi’s business comes from repeat business and client recommendations.
Costs are calculated on a pro-rata day rate basis, providing a cost-effective HR solution tailored to individual business’s needs.

For more information, or to arrange a meeting, please contact Mhairi on 07788 485685 or email mhairi@mhairimackenzieassociates.co.uk
See testimonials at: www.mhairimackenzieassociates.co.uk

Business Breakfast – Sales professional to advise on The Challenge of Sales in the Digital Age

SABC Secretary

People doing business in North-East Fife can learn how to meet the challenge of Sales in the Digital Age from an international sales professional at St Andrews Business Club’s breakfast event on April 25.

In the Club’s first business breakfast of the year, to be held at the Old Course Hotel from 7.30am, Sales Coach Peter Waggott of Vertical Motives, who is an Executive Fellow at the University of Aberdeen and teaches sales to MBA students, will teach attendees how sales has changed in this digital age, how to develop their customer base and move away from ‘solution sales’.

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

All welcome to hear Eden Mill’s Paul Miller at St Andrews Business Club AGM Evening

SABC Secretary

People doing business in North-East Fife are being invited to hear Eden Mill owner Paul Miller speak at St Andrews Business Club’s AGM Evening on April 18.

 

In the event, open to all,  to be held at the Old Course Hotel, Mr Miller, who founded the distillery and brewery brand in a former paper mill at Guardbridge in 2012 after almost three decades working for global brewing and distilling brands, will be the guest speaker.

Non-members should arrive after the club’s AGM formalities have concluded at 6.15pm for networking, food and refreshments before Mr Miller’s talk begins at 6.45pm.

Anyone wanting to attend is asked to book a ticket on Eventbrite.

Problem-solving networking Lunch

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Committee member Douglas Glen, of Freshfrontiers Consulting talks attendees through the event’s ‘World Cafe’ networking format. Pic: ASM Media & PR.

In our final learning lunch of the season, Members enjoyed a problem-solving networking lunch.

 

Thanks to the Members who attended and Committee Member Douglas Glen of Freshfrontiers Consulting for co-ordinating the event.

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

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is April 18: AGM Evening, when Paul Miller, Founder & Owner of Eden Mill, will be the Guest Speaker.

Inspiring Women

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Inspiring woman – Professor Sally Mapstone, Principal of the University of St Andrews, shared the University of St Andrews women who’ve inspired her in her keynote talk. Pic: ASM Media & PR

Professor Sally Mapstone, Principal of the University of St Andrews, joined an award-winning businesswoman in sharing her story and talking about the University of St Andrews women who inspired her in our event on the eve of International Women’s Day.

 

Attendees gained inspiration, as well as the chance to question both Prof Mapstone and Nicola Dames, in the well-attended ‘Inspiring Women’ event at the Old Course Hotel.

Professor Mapstone, who gave the keynote at the event, has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews since September 2016. Before taking up the role, her academic career was spent at the University of Oxford. Earlier in her career she worked as an editor in the book publishing industry.

She talked about the female role models who inspired her in her career, including several connected with the University of St Andrews.

First woman student

In 1862 Elizabeth Garrett became the first woman to matriculate there. Sadly, she was later removed from the list of students and prevented from attending medical classes.

She nevertheless went on to become the first woman to qualify as a physician in Britain, co-founding the first hospital staffed by women, and becoming Dean of the London School of Medicine for Women.

Her determination paved the way for other women, including Agnes Forbes Blackadder – who in 1895 became the first woman to graduate from St Andrews – and Margaret Fairlie, who in 1940 became the first female professor in Scotland after being appointed Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College, Dundee, then part of the University of St Andrews. It was a long time till the next.

Despite diversity and equality at St Andrews moving on greatly since – now a fifth of its professors are women and 44% of research students are female – Prof Mapstone said she felt “we are still not there yet”. Which is why she’s started several initiatives to improve that, including a mentoring programme for women in senior roles named after Elizabeth Garrett.

Finally, Prof Mapstone said she felt the most inspiring women are those who push for change not just for themselves for those who will follow them.

Inspiring woman – Nicola Dames, founder of Vanilla Blush, talked about her entrepreneurial journey as a result of bowel disease. Pic: ASM Media & PR

Nicola Dames shared how her life changed forever when she started to suffer with Ulcerative Colitis while a nurse in her 20s working in London. After surgery to remove her large colon, she found underwear available for women with stomas lacked femininity.

So she created her company, Vanilla Blush, in 2008 to provide attractive underwear for women like her. She now designs, makes and sells that and swimwear for all genders and is about to extend the range into sportswear.

In 2011, Vanilla Blush had its first range listed as a Class 1 Medical Device and in 2014 was named Post-Surgery Brand of the Year. In June 2016 Nicola secured £50,000 in Scottish EDGE funding. In December last year, she was included in Lingerie Insight’s Power List 2018.

Both speakers answered questions on their advice for women and who inspired them. Prof Mapstone named Michelle Obama, whom she’s met. Nicola Dames nominated her namesake, Nicola Sturgeon.

They were warmly applauded by the large number of attendees.

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

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is March 28: Members-Only Problem-solving & networking lunch.

Award-winning businesswoman joins Inspiring Women event line-up

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Inspiring women – (left) Nicola Dames and Professor Sally Mapstone.

A multiple award-winning businesswoman who created her company to help women like her affected by bowel disease has been announced as the second speaker for St Andrews Business Club’s Inspiring Women event on March 7.

 

Nicola Dames had her life change forever when she started to suffer with Ulcerative Colitis in her 20s. After surgery to remove her large colon, she found underwear available for women with stomas lacked femininity. So in 2008 she started Vanilla Blush to design, make and sell what women like her wanted.

Since then it’s grown to become a multiple award-winning brand specialising in selling swimwear and medical lingerie to people like her, directly and via the NHS, and has grown from online-only to opening a store in Glasgow and contracted to eight European countries.

In 2011, Vanilla Blush had its first range listed as a Class 1 Medical Device and in 2014 launched its pioneering innovation with Hernia Prevention and support available on NHS prescription. It continues to invest in leading-edge research to inform its product design.

In 2014, Vanilla Blush was named Post-Surgery Brand of the Year and in June 2016 secured £50,000 in Scottish EDGE funding. Nicola rejected a £2.7m offer for the business in June last year because her brand’s mission and financial projections meant too much to simply “grab the cash and run”. In December last year, Nicola was included in Lingerie Insight’s Power List 2018.

Keynote

Nicola joins Professor Sally Mapstone, Principal of the University of St Andrews, who will give the keynote at the event, open to all, to be held at the Old Course Hotel from 5.30pm.

Professor Mapstone has been Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews since September 2016. Before taking up the role, her academic career was spent at the University of Oxford, where she read English Language and Literature, gained her doctorate in Older Scots literature and became Professor of Older Scots Literature in the Faculty of English Language and Literature.

Earlier in her career she worked as an editor in the book publishing industry. Prof Mapstone is an Emeritus Fellow of St Hilda’s College, Oxford and an Honorary Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford and St Cross College, Oxford, as well as a member of the board of Universities UK, a member of the Higher Education Policy Institute advisory board, and a member of the National Centre for Universities and Business Growing Value Scotland Legacy Project Advisory Group.

Attendees will gain inspiration as well as the speakers’ career lessons and the chance to question them.

Club President, Alistair Morris, said: “We’re delighted to have two truly inspiring women speaking at this event on the eve of International Women’s Day to recognise the immense contribution women make to the world and how stories like theirs can inspire anyone to make positive changes in the world.”

Anyone wanting to attend can book their place on Eventbrite.

Marketing messaging

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Lynda Hamilton Parker, of Lynda Hamilton Communications, explained how best to make customers love your business by communicating your business messages effectively with marketing & PR. Pic: ASM Media & PR

Award-winning former national magazine journalist and travel writer, experienced business editor and PR consultant Lynda Hamilton Parker shared how to use the media and other marketing channels to raise the profile of your business, as well how the media works and operates.

 

Lynda also debunked some of the myths and mysteries around PR.

For more information about this subject, you can visit her website.

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

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is Feb 28: Learning Lunch – Modern Apprenticeships, when John McFarlane, Employer Engagement Co-ordinator responsible for the Modern Apprenticeship programme at Fife Council, and Heather Brown, Co-ordinator for DYW Fife will explain the benefits to employers of Modern Apprenticeships.

Find out how a Modern Apprentice can help your business

SABC Secretary

People doing business in North-East Fife can learn how Modern Apprentices can help their business, and Scotland, at St Andrews Business Club’s next business learning event on February 28.

 

In the learning lunch, to be held at The Old Course Hotel from 12.30pm, John McFarlane, Employer Engagement Co-ordinator responsible for the Modern Apprenticeship programme at Fife Council, and Heather Brown, Co-ordinator for Foundation Apprenticeship at Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Fife, will teach attendees about the features, benefits and costs of Modern Apprenticeships.

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

Learn to use marketing messages to make customers love your business

SABC Secretary
Award-winning journalist and PR consultant Lynda Hamilton Parker will teach attendees about how to communicate their business messages.

People doing business in North-East Fife can make a date with St Andrews Business Club on Valentine’s Day to learn how best to make customers love their business by communicating their business messages effectively.

 

In the latest event of the club’s season, to be held at the Old Course Hotel from 5.30pm, award-winning journalist and PR consultant Lynda Hamilton Parker will teach attendees about how to communicate their business messages by using the media and other marketing channels to raise the profile of their business.

PR

Lynda will also describe how the media work as well as debunking some of the myths and mysteries around PR.

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.

North-East Fife 2018

SABC Secretary

A Club record number of people doing business in North-East Fife came to the Old Course Hotel to hear what to expect in the economy of North-East Fife in 2018 from Keith Winter, Executive Director of Enterprise & Environment at Fife Council and Professor Brad MacKay, Vice-Principal, International Strategy and External Relations at University of St Andrews.

 

Professor Brad MacKay, Vice-Principal, International Strategy and External Relations at University of St Andrews, talked about the factors he believes will influence what 2018 will hold for the university sector and businesses in North-East Fife at the event held by St Andrews Business Club at The Old Course Hotel.

Professor MacKay talked about Post-EU scenarios for the higher education sector, particularly Brexit as well as Eden Campus, the opportunities it will create and how they will be realised.

Keith Winter, Executive Director of Enterprise & Environment at Fife Council, talked about the factors he believes will influence what 2018 will hold for businesses in North-East Fife at the event held by St Andrews Business Club at The Old Course Hotel.

Keith Winter explained Fife’s approach to delivering economic growth, the current environment, the county’s economic and social make-up and external influences before detailing its challenges and opportunities.

In particular, Keith explained the role of Fife in the Tay Cities Deal and the role of the Plan for Fife.

Thanks were given to Keith and Brad for sharing their insights.

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

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s Next Event is February 14, when Lynda Hamilton Parker, of Lynda Hamilton Communications, will explain Marketing – getting your messages across.

 

INFO & BOOKING: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/marketing-getting-your-messages-across-networking-tickets-36791238585