Returning from the Annual Hospitality Conference in Manchester earlier this month, I was reminded why the sector continues to inspire me. It’s the people, the passion and the shared ambition to create great places for people to experience, in an ever-changing world.

At Clyde Gateway, we are working with the community and partners in Calton, an area facing significant social and economic challenges, to test new approaches to tackling child poverty. Families here face multiple barriers, from language and childcare to health and caring responsibilities that restrict their ability to move into work. Our Demonstration of Change, part of Glasgow City Council’s Child Poverty Programme, is showing that childcare, when treated as economic infrastructure, can unlock opportunity and act as a genuine poverty exit strategy.

Digital chemistry company Chemify is set to embark on the next phase of its business journey with a strategic relocation to Glasgow’s newest purpose-built life science facility, Health Innovation Hub (HiH).

The housing emergency has rightly returned to the heart of Scotland’s political conversation. With the appointment of Màiri McAllan as Cabinet Secretary for Housing, and the publication of a new action plan, there appears to be renewed urgency to address the crisis.

Akela Ground Engineering, part of the Akela Group, has successfully completed groundworks for its first major contract in Ireland using its groundbreaking ABeam system.

The tech and business ecosystem in Scotland has another unique advantage, it is small enough that you can know the people who matter, but large enough to contain real expertise and international experience. That balance makes it an ideal place to start and grow a globally ambitious business.

Scotland’s surf-therapy story is remarkable. As a proud Scot and the world’s first PhD holder in surf therapy (2022), I’ve seen our progress first-hand: established programmes changing lives, a deep research partnership with Edinburgh Napier University, and a wave pool built with wellbeing at its heart. 

Working in life sciences, every day begins with one question: how will today’s work change a patient’s life tomorrow? This focus grew out of my own experience of contracting malaria as a child in rural Yemen and is underpinned by my work with the Scottish Patient Awareness Council (SPAC) which seeks to empower the ultimate end user of life sciences innovations. Patient stories remind us that transparency, predictability and empathy matter just as much as the efficacy, quality and safety of a vaccine or treatment. 

As a mother of two school-aged daughters, I often think about the example I set for them. It’s too early to tell if they will become the next female leaders in construction, but if I can show them that women can succeed in senior roles, that resilience and a strong work ethic open doors, and that they should never doubt their ability to achieve, then I’ll have done my job.

Across the UK, business leaders are navigating a marketplace full of uncertainty. From inflationary pressures and supply chain issues to the knock-on effects of geopolitical disruption, the current economic environment is volatile and for some, confidence is fragile. In my work as a trainer and business coach I speak to leaders across a range of industries, from construction and logistics to professional services and tech.

A common theme has emerged: leaders are carrying almost the entire burden of stress and responsibility while many team members appear more focused on their own rights and rewards than on their role in the collective effort.

Across the UK, business leaders are navigating a marketplace full of uncertainty. From inflationary pressures and supply chain issues to the knock-on effects of geopolitical disruption, the current economic environment is volatile and for some, confidence is fragile. In my work as a trainer and business coach I speak to leaders across a range of industries, from construction and logistics to professional services and tech.

A common theme has emerged: leaders are carrying almost the entire burden of stress and responsibility while many team members appear more focused on their own rights and rewards than on their role in the collective effort.

FLIC (Female Leaders in Construction) has appointed five new Advisory Board members.  Karen Campbell, Group Corporate Communications Director at the Springfield Group, Louise Chambers, Partner at Burness Paull, Hazel Davies, Sales & Marketing Director at Cruden, Elaine Farquharson-Black, Partner at Brodies and Marion Forbes, Director of Performance & Organisational Change at AC Whyte & Co Ltd.

Pancreatic cancer is a silent killer. Its early symptoms - fatigue, back pain, unexplained weight loss - are easily mistaken for everyday ailments or dismissed entirely. Tragically, the warning signs often go unnoticed until it’s too late.

Despite its quiet onset, pancreatic cancer is one of the UK’s deadliest cancers. Only 8% of those diagnosed survive beyond five years, and just 1% reach the ten-year mark. It is now the fifth biggest cancer killer and the tenth most common cancer in the UK. These stark statistics underscore the urgency to shine a light on its subtle symptoms and make early diagnosis the norm - not the exception.

One year ago, Scotland declared a housing emergency, yet we are still nowhere near tackling this challenge. It’s a stark assessment but not a surprising one for those of us working at the heart of housing delivery.

It’s not just a challenge for the homebuilding industry but one that affects everyone. Having a safe and warm place to call home has a direct impact on educational attainment, physical and mental health. Recent statistics from Shelter report over 10,000 children are living in temporary accommodation, the highest level since records began in 2002, which has detrimental implications that can last a lifetime.

Having worked with hundreds of clients in a range of businesses and organisations over the past three decades, one consistent challenge is under-performance.  This can result from a variety of causes, from being promoted too soon, struggling to meet performance expectations, a loss of motivation, strained colleague relationships, to stress and burn out.

When I am asked to coach someone described as a "poor performer," my first step is to check if coaching is the right approach. Poor performance is often attributed to attitudinal and behavioural issues, rather than a lack of skills or expertise which might actually be the case. Addressing underperformance also requires a deeper understanding of the employee’s motivations, perceptions, and emotional reactions. Again this is often overlooked.  

It’s been nearly two weeks since Spain’s national grid faltered - plunging parts of the Iberian Peninsula into chaos and dragging Portugal with it. The initial response, as ever, was to look for someone to blame. Hackers? Foreign powers? But there was no hostile actor behind the failure. This was a system buckling under the strain of its own transition.

It’s a stark reminder: as we rush to decarbonise, the energy transition is becoming increasingly stretched - and under strain is when things break.

In today’s housing landscape, developers have a greater responsibility than ever before. While addressing the national housing shortage remains a key part of our role, we need to go beyond numbers on a spreadsheet and take the time and care to create places where people of all ages can not only live, but thrive. That means building real communities.

At Cruden Homes, we believe that truly successful developments are those that promote multi-generational living; where young and old and everything in between can live harmoniously, side by side. Our award-winning Longniddry Village in East Lothian does exactly that - a development carefully conceived to cater for all life stages, from first-time buyers and young families to empty nesters and retirees.

As Scotland prepares for its next parliamentary election, the evolving political climate presents a unique opportunity to influence. We are approaching a critical juncture with just one year to go until the next Holyrood vote, whilst the new UK Labour Government will soon have had its first full year in office. 

They say a week is a long time in politics. For the Prime Minister that first year will have felt like an age, seeing his popularity plummet and his party’s lead in the polls disappear.

Scotland’s life sciences sector is a crucial part of the nation’s economy, contributing groundbreaking innovation in areas such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and vaccine manufacture.

Recent data shows the sector now contributes almost £10.5bn to the Scottish economy, with life sciences exports worth £4.3bn, and the potential is building. Its strong academic foundation, coupled with a robust talent pool and the Scottish Government’s life sciences strategy, makes Scotland a prime destination for innovation and investment.

Perceptive Communicators is shortlisted for Supporting Member of the Year at the Homes for Scotland Awards.