Club News Archives - St Andrews Business Club

2021 AGM – Guest Speaker Jamie Andrew

3rd June 2021 Yvonne McAulay

Remaining online for the Club’s 2021 AGM, the conference celebrated this season’s committee and members for hosting a share of memorable virtual events throughout these exceptional times.

Immediate Past President Marie Paterson acknowledged the resilience and dedication of the club’s members in continuing to focus on business development despite the difficult challenges posed the past year. Despite membership dropping from its all-time high of 130, approximately being cut in half as a result of the pandemic, the organisation’s bank balance is in good shape as the club looks to start the new season with face to face meetings.

Marie praised the outgoing Committee for creating engaging and productive zoom sessions combining the likes of food, wine, networking and education. Events covered a range of pressing topics including ‘leading change; podcasting; embracing diversity; and the impact of Brexit.’ Similarly, the club’s first partnering with the Home Start St Andrews charity at Christmas proves a new annual means of support to the community.

2021-2022 Committee

The 2021-2022 elected committee are:

65th President Christopher Trotter
Vice President – Heather Stuart
Secretary – Emma-Jane Kerr
Treasurer – Alasdair Kyle
Immediate Past President – Marie Paterson
Committee members – Reseda Muir, Edward Obi, Andrew Stewart.

Marie gave great acknowledgement to secretary Emma-Jane Kerr for her major role in improving the club’s operation. She also thanked Immediate Past President Caroline and past Treasurer Michael for their longtime service as they stood down from their respective positions. Similarly, Marie thanked her Vice President Reseda and the rest of the committee who are continuing their roles in the upcoming season. Last but not least she thanked Marketing-communications interns Sanaa and Stanley for all they have done in promoting the club the past two years. Stating, “I am especially delighted to be handing over to a really strong group of office bearers who I know will see us through the next year, whatever life throws at us.”

Lastly, Marie enthusiastically introduced the newly elected committee before ‘passing the medal’ on to Newly-elected President Christopher Trotter. Trotter, a longtime member and St Andrews native, thanked Marie for her unwavering service and saluted his Committee, marketing communications interns and members for a much-anticipated return in-person events.

Christopher’s first order as President was to encourage each member to invite a colleague to the club’s future events, a sure way to increase membership numbers for the coming season.

Closing the AGM, Christopher introduced the long-awaited guest speaker for the evening’s inspiring presentation, which was given by Jamie Andrew, OBE. Jamie detailed his experience of losing all of his limbs after being trapped by a storm atop a mountain in the French Alps. Following this, Jamie’s inspiring story shows his recovery from his injuries and him going on to be the first quadruple amputee to climb the Matterhorn, as well as other mountains, alongside completing marathons and Iron Man triathlons. Jamie’s story, recounted with honesty and passion, is nothing short of incredible.

2020 AGM Evening – Guest Speaker Andy Lothian

21st May 202021st May 2020 Yvonne McAulay

By Sanaa Sachdev

64th President Marie Paterson (left) and Immediate Past President Caroline Rochford at the Club’s 70th birthday dinner-dance in February.

In the Club’s 2020 AGM, held online for the first time via Zoom, outgoing President Caroline Rochford reported Club membership was 132 by the end of April, 12 ahead of this time last season, making it a third successive year of growth for the Club.

The Club’s finances are also in a healthy state, allowing the new Committee to consider more new initiatives next season.

In her President’s Report, Caroline reminded members of the events held so far this season before thanking the outgoing Committee, Marketing Communications interns and Marketing Assistant for their hard work.

Speaking about the club year, Caroline said: “As I step down from my presidency, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge what an incredibly friendly and successful business club we are. I love hearing from visitors that they have found the club to be friendly and welcoming and long may that continue.

“It has been hard work behind the scenes, but I know that I have been able to build on the great work that previous Presidents and Committees had already put in place. Thank you for the privilege it has been to be your President.”

2020-21 Committee

The 2020-21 Committee elected are:

64th President – Marie Paterson
Vice-President – Reseda Muir
Secretary – [Position vacant]
Treasurer – Michael Stephenson
Immediate Past President – Carolyn Rochford
Committee members – Alasdair Kyle, Jonathan Gibson, Christopher Trotter, Heather Stuart, Kirstin Uhlenbrock

Newly-elected President, Marie Paterson, thanked Caroline for her dedicated service to the Club before asking members to approve honoraria for Emma-Jane Kerr and Alan S. Morrison for ‘going the extra mile’ for the Club during the year and a gift to Caroline.

Marie then closed the AGM before introducing the Guest Speaker, Andy Lothian, Chief Executive of Insights Group.

Insights Group CEO, Andy Lothian, was guest speaker.

“I’ve often said self-awareness is the foundation on which all else is built.”

Almost 30 years ago, Insights Group Chief Executive Andy Lothian left the City of London to build a business with his father, Andi Lothian, in his home town of Dundee. From a humble two-man operation, the Insights Group is now one of Scotland’s fastest-growing and most successful businesses.

Andy shared his personal story of success and revealed the principles that have guided him over the years before talking about how your personal purpose and strategy should help guide your thinking about how to take your business through the Covid-19 crisis. Thanks to Andy for sharing his story and expertise with our Members and other attendees.

For more information about Insights Group and its work, go to its website at https://www.insights.com/

NEXT EVENT: June 3 – Members’ Presentations Evening – https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/members-presentation-evening-member-only-event-tickets-106209752228

70th Anniversary Dinner

22nd February 202023rd February 2020 Yvonne McAulay

Club President Caroline Rochford welcomed everyone to the 70th Birthday dinner-dance held by St Andrews Business Club at The Old Course Hotel.

To celebrate the Club’s 70th birthday a special dinner-dance was held at the Old Course Hotel.

Members past and present and their guests were welcomed by a piper before enjoying a glass of fizz and networking.

A photograph of all the Club Presidents present was taken before everyone took their seats.

Presidents past and present (from left): Frank Quinault (2007-8), Bruce Alexander (1985-6), Ewen Sparks (1999-2000), Caroline Rochford (2019-20), Alan S. Morrison (2018-19), Ronnie Murphy (1991-2) and Stephen Westwood (2010-12).

In her welcome, Club President Caroline Rochford explained the Club began in 1950 when ex-Provost George Bruce took up the idea of David Thomson to have a business club to help local businesses discuss and address issues affecting trade. Thus the first meeting was held on January 24 1950 in the Town Council Chamber.

Although Mr Bruce paid tribute to the part played by women in the business life of St Andrews, women were not initially admitted but it was agreed they might be permitted to attend meetings. Women were, of course, later admitted as members.

Caroline went on to explain that the club’s strength, then and now, is the breadth of its membership, who as individuals are involved in a wide range of business interests, local, national and in some instances global.

As Mr Bruce was keen to ensure younger businessmen were involved in the Club, Caroline said she was sure he would be delighted to learn of the introduction of the new daughter club, St Andrews Business Club Students, created last year by the current marketing communications interns, Sanaa Sachdev and Stanley Parker.

Caroline than through some of the Club’s past meeting places, including McArthurs Café – now The Rule – on South Street, the Scores Hotel and the New Golf Club, before listing some of its most prominent speakers, who include Sir Tom Farmer and Andy Irvine. A message was read out from Glen Pride, who was President in 1967-8, recounting how he was invited to join the Club before becoming its President the following year!

Caroline then thanked the committee members who helped organise the event, the staff of the hotel for their excellent service and to Audrey Clarke for her piping.

After dinner, Past Presidents Frank Quinault, Stephen Westwood and Ewen Sparks talked about times past in the Club before a raffle was held in aid of the Refugee Survival Trust, which Food For Support – a fundraising initiative co-founded by Stanley Parker – supports year-round through donations from special dishes sold at local eateries. It raised £534.

The prizes, mostly kindly donated by member businesses, were:

The Old Course Hotel – Champagne Afternoon Tea for 2
Fairmont St Andrews – Champagne Afternoon Tea for 2 in the Atrium Lounge
Scaramanga – Citylander laptop bag
Fife Cultural Trust – a Theatre gift voucher for one of their venues
West Port Print & Design – A voucher for a pull-up banner or box print from
Luvians – A bottle of wine
The club – A bottle of champagne

Finally, all enjoyed dancing till midnight to renowned band Ceilidhdonia.

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

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is March 4: Inspiring Women, when the speakers will be entrepreneurs Rachel Weiss of Rowan Consultancy & Rachael Nixon of Chanix Millinery.

St Andrews Business Club seeks past Presidents for 70th Birthday event

17th January 202016th January 2020 Yvonne McAulay

St Andrews Business Club will turn 70 years old this month and is looking for help bringing together as many of its past Presidents as possible for the birthday event.

One of the oldest continuously-operating business clubs in Scotland, it turns 70 on January 24 and is holding a celebratory dinner-dance at The Old Course Hotel on Friday February 21. The Committee are appealing for any of its 62 past Presidents to get in touch so they can attend.

Current and past members can book for the dinner-dance, which will feature music by renowned band Ceilidhdonia, via the club website.

Speaking about the club and the event, current President, Caroline Rochford, said: “It’s a massive achievement for such a relatively small networking and business club to have survived this long, but we are justifiably proud of this achievement thanks to the hard work of the hundreds of volunteer Committee members over the decades and the support of our members.

Changes

“When you think back to what running a business back would have been like in 1950, so much has changed – there were no industrial tribunals, very little employment or health and safety legislation and the technology involved in running a business now would have been unimaginable then. Equally, running a business in post-war Britain would have had very different challenges to those we face today.”

Caroline, who took office as only the second woman President in the club’s history in May last year, added: “Our business club has stood the test of time and we are delighted to be celebrating its success and taking this opportunity to thank those who, over the years, have kept the club going. Past presidents who’ve not been in contact with the club in recent years should email the club Secretary via secretary@standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk as we’d like to have as many present as possible.”

St Andrews Business Club is the place in North-East Fife to meet business people, learn business tips, and holds networking events at least monthly between September and June. Past speakers include such names as Sir Tom Farmer, Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Andy Irvine, Former Lord Advocate Lord Mulholland, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, Lord Ian Duncan and William Dowson, Bank of England Agent for Scotland.

Anyone wanting to learn more about this event, or book should go to the Eventbrite listing.

Festive Social – Fairmont St Andrews

12th December 201912th December 2019 Yvonne McAulay

Report by Sanaa Sachdev & Pictures by Stanley Parker

Members enjoyed the Club’s 2019 Festive Social at Fairmont St Andrews.

The five-star resort encapsulates luxury, elegance and truly breathtaking surroundings and prides itself on its array of facilities, including two championship golf courses.

Along with 211 luxury guest rooms, it also offers a unique dining experience at the La Cucina Italian eatery and the recently awarded second AA Rosette – St Andrews Bar and Grill. Its services expand beyond dining with a world class spa facility that includes a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and relaxation room.

Club President Caroline Rochford welcomes everyone to the event.

Stewart Elder, Fairmont St Andrews Director of Sales, welcomes Club members.

The event was held at the newly-refurbished Zephyr Sports Bar and began with a warm welcome and a short presentation by the Hotel’s Director of Sales, Stewart Elder.

Members enjoyed networking over drinks in the Atrium on arrival at Fairmont St Andrews.

Members enjoyed networking and festive canapes and drinks in the Zephyr Sports bar at Fairmont St Andrews.

It was followed by an evening full of networking, drinks, canapes and a quiz! The Christmas spirit definitely brightened the ambiance, making it one of the many great nights we’ve had with our members.

Thanks to Fairmont St Andrews for kindly hosting this event and becoming a corporate member of the club and to all our members for attending it.

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

NEXT EVENT : The Club’s Next Event is Sustainability – benefiting your business and the planet on January 22.

Our first event of the New Year brings this in to focus with three guest speakers: Fiona Flynn of Resource Efficient Scotland, Reseda Muir of Muir Walker Pride and David Stutchfield of University of St Andrews, who will talk about ways in which you can make your business have less environmental impact, an example of how it’s done and how you can market your ‘greenness’ to build relationships with stakeholders.

Fife business coach to advise on work-life balance in St Andrews event

21st October 201916th October 2019 Yvonne McAulay

People struggling to achieve their desired work-life balance can get expert tips on business success without sacrificing family goals at St Andrews Business Club’s November 13 event.

In the event, to be held at the Old Course Hotel from 5.30pm, Fife business coach Sam Forsberg will tell attendees about the big work-life balance myth, the key to success and the perspective shift you need to make to avoid succeeding in business but doing it at the cost of family, health and sanity.

Sam Forsberg is a business coach and business growth specialist at ActionCOACH Scotland, based in Dunfermline. A graduate of the University of Newcastle in her native Australia, she has qualifications in IT, Business Systems, Management Accounting, Psychology/Behavioural Analysis and Coaching.

Sam grew up in a small business and, despite seeing the many challenges firsthand, has been a business owner herself for 13 years. She helps other business owners get their businesses running more effectively, profitably and sustainably so they can take a step back and focus on growing and running the business, rather than feeling like it runs them.

Anyone wanting to learn as well as network is asked to book via Eventbrite. A list of this season’s events can be found the club’s website at www.standrewsbusinessclub.co.uk.

University of St Andrews Enterprise Week Keynote 2019

8th October 20198th October 2019 Yvonne McAulay

At the University of St Andrews Enterprise Week 2019 – Keynote Event, Dr Tanya Ewing, Owner of Glaze & Save, Daniel Malikzade-Afshar, Founder of Yes!Cab, Graeme Carling of Carling Property Group, PRS Group, United Capital, Infinitas Investments & CEO, McGill, Juno Lee, Co-Founder of CombiniCo & Sagar Kuma Sharma, Founder of the Angel Group, shared their entrepreneurial journeys, lessons learned and advice for anyone considering their own venture.

Dr Tanya Ewing, Entrepreneur & Owner of Glaze and Save Ltd, shares her story.

The evening began with a candid account from Dr Tanya, who shared the troubles she faced in her early life and how she overcame these challenges to develop her highly successful career with Ewgeco, the first smart real-time utility meter in the UK, and her new business Glaze & Save – insulating products for doors and windows, mainly focused on improving energy efficiency in listed and conservation properties.

Graeme Carling, Founder & CEO – Carling Property Group, PRS Group, United Capital, Infinitas Investments and Chief Executive of McGill, tells his entrepreneurial story.

Graeme Carling was just as candid about his business journey – admitted to making mistakes in early businesses before going on to build his large and successful portfolio of businesses. A key message was the need to adapt to changing markets – a very important lesson in today’s economic and political climate.

Journey

Juno Lee gave a very interesting and enlightening description of his journey to creating the iconic CombiniCo food brand and his future plans for the business. The audience enjoyed hearing his stories and challenges he faced.

Daniel Malikzade-Afshar, Founder., YesCab, gave a very candid talk!

Daniel Malikzade-Afshar gave a comic yet educational talk in a laidback style with insights into the challenges and surprises he came across when establishing the Yes!Cab taxi app. It was very interesting learning about his unique business model and his plans to grow the brand while diversifying against his major competitor, Uber.

4th Year Management student Sagar Kumar Sharma talked about his experiences.

The evening concluded with Sagar Kumar Sharma, a student entrepreneur with a colourful career already including investments, property and music. Sagar took a different approach to the others – taking of the importance of pursuing a career you enjoy, which develops you as a person and philanthropy.

Thanks to them, the Enterprise Week Committee and everyone who attended for making this such a great event at the Byre Theatre.

Student Club

Stanley Parker, one of the club’s marketing communications interns, took the opportunity of this event to announce the launch of the new student business club – St Andrews Business Club Students!

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

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is October 23: Structured Networking.

Business Visit + Summer Social – The R&A

27th June 201925th June 2020 Yvonne McAulay

Report by Sanaa Sachdev

Members and Guests enjoyed the Club’s 2019 Summer Social and Business Visit at the Forgan House base of The R&A.

The R&A group of companies was formed in 2004 to take on The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews’ responsibilities for governing the Rules of Golf, staging The Open, golf’s original championship, and developing the sport. The British Golf Museum in St Andrews is part of the R&A group.

Together The R&A and the USGA govern the sport of golf worldwide, operating in separate jurisdictions with a commitment to a single code for the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status and Equipment Standards. The R&A, through R&A Rules Ltd, governs the sport worldwide, outside of the United States and Mexico, on behalf of over 36 million golfers in 143 countries and with the consent of 156 organisations from amateur and professional golf.

The R&A merged with the Ladies’ Golf Union in 2017 and now has responsibility for running a series of world class amateur events and international matches in women’s and girls’ as well as men’s and boy’s golf. The R&A works with IMG to stage the Women’s British Open and with the European Tour to stage the Senior Open.

The R&A Executive Director – Governance & Chief of Staff, David Rickman, gave attendees an insight into the workings of one of the world’s leading sporting organisations

R&A Executive Director – Governance & Chief of Staff, David Rickman, gave attendees an insight into the workings of one of the world’s leading sporting organisations before explaining how it is aiming to invest £200 million in developing golf over the next decade and further support the growth of the sport internationally, including the development and management of sustainable golf facilities.

Members and their Guests then enjoyed networking over canapes and refreshments.

Thanks to the R&A for kindly hosting this event.

For more information about the R&A, go to its website.

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

Pictures by ASM Media & PR

2019 AGM Evening – Guest Speaker Carolyn Currie, Women’s Enterprise Scotland

16th May 201916th May 2019 Yvonne McAulay

By Stanley Parker and Alan S. Morrison

Club President Alan S. Morrison reported a second successive record year. Pic: Douglas Glen.

In the Club’s 2019 AGM, outgoing President Alan S. Morrison reported Club membership was now 120 members (17 ahead of this time last season) and still growing and that so far this season the average event attendance is 11.5% higher at 31.1.

The Club’s finances are also in a much healthier state, allowing the new Committee to consider more new initiatives next season.

Speaking about the Club year, Alan said that, despite following on from the record-breaking success of the previous year, it had not been one without challenges for the Committee, but they had rigorously tackled and resolved each issue in the best interests of members with determination and excellent teamwork.

Rather than rest on its laurels, the Committee continued the pace of progress set in the past two years through various initiatives, including:

Introducing card payments and a partially-automated invoicing system
A new events selection process
Secure Cloud storage for Club documents
Revising the Club’s membership offer
Introducing a Continuous Improvement System
Improving the SEO of the Club’s website
Adding a Member Directory and webform application process
Revising the Club’s Constitution to make it fit for purpose for this century.

On the latter, he said: “That included adding Mission and Vision Statements, revising our Financial Year, adding necessary flexibility to the Committee’s powers, allowing non-business people to be Members and formalising Honorariums so as to help recruit Committee members by allowing those who give exceptional service to gain some financial recompense at the end of the year.

“These were all measures designed to improve the Club’s resilience – to ensure it can continue to be run by volunteer Committee members despite our work lives getting busier by the year and make certain they can use the resources available to continue to deliver on the Club’s Mission.

“I see these measures as steps along the road to a future long-term sustainable and more resilient business model for the Club which includes it having its Secretary as a part-time paid official responsible for the day-to-day running of the Club. I hope one day to see that vision realised to ensure the Club’s long-term future.”

“This has been a Club year of which we can be very proud indeed,” he said, before thanking this season’s Committee members – Vice-President Caroline Rochford, Secretary Emma-Jane Kerr, Treasurer Michael Stephenson, Past President Alistair Morris and Douglas Glen, Marie Paterson, Catherine Maciocia, Alasdair Kyle, Steve Smith, Dawn MacPherson and Graeme Dickson for their hard work, support and friendship.

He also thanked departing Marketing Communications Intern, Comora Love-Mitchell, who graduates next month, for her work and her successors, Sanaa Sachdev and Stanley Parker, as well as Marketing Assistant Louise Cree, for excellent work so far.

The 2019-20 Committee elected are:

President – Caroline Rochford

Vice-President – Marie Paterson

Secretary – Emma-Jane Kerr

Treasurer – Michael Stephenson

Immediate Past President – Alan S. Morrison

Committee members – Catherine Maciocia, Alasdair Kyle, Jonathan Gibson, Reseda Muir.

Women’s Enterprise Scotland Chief Executive, Carolyn Currie, was guest speaker.

Equality in the workplace is an increasingly important matter for business.

St Andrews Business Club was delighted to have Carolyn Currie, Chief Executive of Women’s Enterprise Scotland, as Guest Speaker for the 2019 AGM Evening.

Carolyn talked about her extensive career at a senior level in financial services, including being a member of the T20 – the think tank of the G20 – and the work of Women’s Enterprise Scotland, women’s leadership and the boardroom and her ambition for women-owned businesses in Scotland – a huge contributor to the Scottish economy and faster-growing sector than most normally highlighted.

She encouraged everyone to enter the recently-launched Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards – https://www.womensenterprisescotlandawards.co.uk/

Thanks to Carolyn for sharing her story and expertise with our Members and attendees.

For more information about Women’s Enterprise Scotland and its work, go to its website at https://www.wescotland.co.uk

Please complete their Survey of women-owned and women-led business in Scotland.

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

NEXT EVENT: The Club’s next event is June 5: Members’ Success Stories + Networking, where members will share their favourite business success story.

2021-2022 Committee

In the Club’s 2020 AGM, held online for the first time via Zoom, outgoing President Caroline Rochford reported Club membership was 132 by the end of April, 12 ahead of this time last season, making it a third successive year of growth for the Club.

2020-21 Committee

To celebrate the Club’s 70th birthday a special dinner-dance was held at the Old Course Hotel.

St Andrews Business Club will turn 70 years old this month and is looking for help bringing together as many of its past Presidents as possible for the birthday event.

Changes

Three Expert Speakers

Join Us

Members enjoyed the Club’s 2019 Festive Social at Fairmont St Andrews.

People struggling to achieve their desired work-life balance can get expert tips on business success without sacrificing family goals at St Andrews Business Club’s November 13 event.

Journey

Student Club

Members and Guests enjoyed the Club’s 2019 Summer Social and Business Visit at the Forgan House base of The R&A.

In the Club’s 2019 AGM, outgoing President Alan S. Morrison reported Club membership was now 120 members (17 ahead of this time last season) and still growing and that so far this season the average event attendance is 11.5% higher at 31.1.