The Stirling Business Podcast

A fresh start can change a life, but turning that energy into a movement can change many. We sit down with Pauline Elizabeth—teacher, endurance athlete, and team captain of the Dawn Patrol Riders—to unpack the Doddy800: an 800-mile effort from Melrose to Dublin raising funds for My Name’ Is Doddy and motor neurone disease research. What begins as a story about a name change becomes a blueprint for...

We sit down with Lee Foster, founder of Revitalised Business Club, to map how a coffee meetup grew into a hybrid network built on structure, trust and practical sales mentoring. From table talks to peer cohorts and a Stirling co‑working perk, this is networking that delivers. • Lee’s corporate sales roots and move to Scotland • Why Revitalised Connected People was created and named • Coffee chat t...

We sit down with Maggie Gorman, Director of Business Support and Development at Ceteris, to explore how a unique landlord-with-purpose model drives growth for founders across Forth Valley. From startup advice to accelerators, women’s networks, and Skillshare, we map the path from space to scale. • Ceteris origins in 1984 industrial decline and mission for economic growth • 21 properties across 10...

We share why every business has a digital footprint worth defending and how simple layers turn chaotic risks into manageable routines. Ray maps recent UK breaches to practical fixes and explains the path from corporate engineer to founder building end‑to‑end protection. • value of defence in depth across devices, networks, cloud and people • why social engineering and phishing still drive most bre...

A law can change behaviour, but practice saves lives. We bring on former Police Scotland chief firearms instructor Scott Williamson to make Martin’s Law real for everyday operators, from boutique hotels and co-working hubs to universities, shopping centres, and major venues. Scott shares how to turn policy into clear actions your team can learn fast and repeat under pressure. We start with why the...

A derelict department store, a bold pension strategy, and a belief that buildings should trade like living ecosystems. We sit down with Neil to share how we transformed 45 King Street into a boutique apart-hotel and flexible workspace that runs on smart tech, focused design, and community energy. We trace the leap from three decades in corporate sales to a SaaS pension-backed acquisition, breaking...

Most teams don’t need more AI hype; they need better decisions. We sit down with data expert and founder of Head for Data, Colin Parry, to strip AI back to what actually moves the needle: clean inputs, clear processes, and tools that match the job. Colin’s path from renewables and wind turbine analytics to leading data science teams gives him a rare field‑to‑boardroom perspective on how to build s...

A career can pivot on a single moment. For Graeme Clark, watching his father’s late-career redundancy lit a fire to build on his own terms—first as a self-employed joiner, then as a sales professional, later as the owner of a 50-year-old wholesale brand management agency, and finally as the founder of Oakal Fudge, a handmade confectionery brand supplying iconic distilleries, luxury hotels, and far...

Starting a business shouldn’t feel like walking into a maze. We sat down with Business Gateway at STEP in Stirling to unpack a simpler path: begin with one advisor who learns your goals, pinpoints what’s next, and connects you to the exact support you need. From the earliest spark of an idea to the first hires and beyond, we talk through how hands-on guidance, practical workshops, and targeted fun...

We map how Stirling plans to turn momentum into durable local wealth through new sectors, smarter procurement and a stronger startup culture. Alan Connery shares what the council’s economic development team is building, from a film studio to an events‑ready City Park. • remit and scope of economic development in Stirling  • sector focus across manufacturing, life sciences, digital health and touri...

We chart Steve Cornwallis’s path from quarry worker to multi‑company owner, exploring how values, networking and disciplined bets built a renewables‑led portfolio and a new Green Skills Training Academy. Along the way we unpack painful lessons, practical wins and simple rules that compound. • early drive shaped by family change and urgency to work • 27 years of corporate growth and people leadersh...

What if a hotel room could keep a cancer support centre open for a few more hours, help preserve a coronation church, and fund a school workshop on the First World War? We share how our Giving Back programme at King Street Apart Hotel turns every occupied room into steady support for local charities across the Forth Valley. We sit down with three partners to explore the real-world impact. Lorna fr...

We map how Lumo uses open access rail to compete with airlines on price and service, and why a direct London–Stirling link can reshape trips for leisure, students and business. We also unpack the plan for battery‑electric trains and the role of local suppliers onboard. • What open access rail means and how risk drives value • Lumo’s one‑class model with at‑seat service • Competing with airlines on...

We explore how a regiment’s legacy, a five-star museum at Stirling Castle, and a bold 2050 vision connect with business growth, education, and community. The links between archives, schools, tourism, and the high street show why heritage can power a modern city. • origins of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and ties to the castle • why the museum remains central to Stirling’s visitor economy...

We dig into how Business Improvement Districts turn collective business funding into real services that change a city centre, from festive lights and free Wi‑Fi to safety radios and secure crime intelligence. Danielle shares her path from hospitality to national leadership and how Stirling is preparing for its next five-year plan. • what a BID is and how ballots mandate five-year plans • how Stirl...

Want a real‑world look at how a regional business community turns conversations into jobs, contracts, and momentum? We sit down with Lynn Harris, CEO and President of Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce and head of Stirling University Innovation Park, to unpack the systems and habits that make local networks work. From frequent events to national lobbying, Lynn shows how a focused chamber can be both...

Neil Munday from The Stirling Business Podcast talks  with the Lord Provost to explore how Stirling’s people, SMEs, and creative industries are shaping a confident, fast‑growing local economy. From community wealth building to a major film studio, we unpack how civic vision translates into jobs, skills, and pride. • career path from senior tax manager to Lord Provost  • Why SMEs are the backbone o...