Meet the GlobalScots

In May 2019, GlobalScot and Scottish EDGE collaborated to co-host a networking event at Scotland House in London. The idea was conceptualised by GlobalScot Paul Gallagher from EY who has been working with Scottish EDGE as a mentor and with Scottish Enterprise as a GlobalScot for many years.

The ‘Meet the GlobalScots’ event was focussed on encouraging the businesses to seek growth opportunities outside Scotland and aimed to connect Scottish EDGE businesses with GlobalScot members and offer the businesses the opportunity to meet new contacts, seek advice around doing business in London and beyond and establish relationships that could develop into mentoring support.

With the onset of the pandemic, a follow-up in-person gathering was put on hold. However, subsequent events have taken place virtually and true to form, we discovered that opportunities continue to flourish when a group of ambitious, creative, and purpose-driven entrepreneurs gather in a room together, even a virtual one.

Paul Gallagher tells us that the GlobalScots are a 600+ strong network of entrepreneurial and inspirational business leaders, dedicated to supporting Scotland’s most ambitious companies. Having just celebrated its 20th year, Paul explains that “the GlobalScot network has had a great impact on Scotland’s economic and business community”, but he feels we’re just scratching the surface of what the network can do “to support the next generation of entrepreneurs to be global successes”.

David White, founder of BGR Training and a member of the EDGE alumni highlights the importance of mentorship in those at early stages of trading, sighting the benefit of having three GlobalScots follow-up with him after the initial meeting and show interest in his product, “the pitching event was a success, I now have three GlobalScots showing great interest and that are keen to offer support over the next few crucial months”.

Also benefitting from follow-up support was Duncan Peters of Novus – “I’ve had follow-up sessions with both Gary [Kildare] and Hazel [Arnot]… both have been super supportive and proactive, I really am grateful to have been included”. Gary, a Chair and Board Advisor, helped Duncan explore other markets and revenue streams by shifting his focus from exclusively on his product to his business’s potential service offering, “is there a business opportunity around the service as much as around the product?”.

GlobalScot Hazel Arnot, MD of Arnot Consult, views her mentorship role as that of a “sparring partner”, helping up and coming entrepreneurs develop their skills and uncover opportunities in areas they perhaps hadn’t considered. Even when a business is doing well, Hazel examples the benefit of having the support of others who have already trodden the path, referencing her relationship with Victoria Nicol of MLC Ltd, Hazel explains that she supported Victoria in utilising her team’s full potential. She further guided MLC’s journey into the world of Pharma, an area where in-depth sector knowledge can be the “differentiator” between success and failure.

Legitimising both Hazel and Gary’s perspective on the role of a GlobalScot, Victory added “Speaking with Hazel and Gary was invaluable, they really got me thinking about how we are honing in on the team’s experience… to segment things, to maximise the client experience… and to then look at how we can develop the specialist areas that we serve using the team’s skills to do it.”

Rounding up the conversation, EDGE CEO Evelyn McDonald adds, “For Scottish Enterprise and the GlobalScots to have enabled this valuable access to such a vast array of business knowledge is incredible and has equipped many of our business leaders with a greater understanding of how to promote, market, lead and raise investment for their business.

“I have no doubt that the impact of these events will be long lasting, helping our EDGE winning businesses enter new markets and forge stronger trading relationships that will ultimately benefit the Scottish economy.”

To find out more about how GlobalScot can support your business or if you’re interested in joining the network, visit: https://www.globalscot.com