Edinburgh Business Stories

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Anna White, Managing Director of ScotlandShop, a global e-commerce business bringing Scottish heritage, tartan, and textiles to customers around the world. Anna shares her journey from leaving a secure role at Scottish Enterprise to building a business from a spare room in a farmhouse, long before online retail became the norm. She ref...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Chris Dodds, Owner and Director of CTD Scotland, a construction and fit-out business that has grown from a one-man joinery operation into a trusted contractor delivering projects across Scotland. Chris shares the realities of building a business from the ground up, from naming the company after himself and learning hard lessons during...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Mark Rafferty, Managing Director of Bernard Hunter Mobile Cranes and Metal Recycling, a long-standing Edinburgh business operating across cranes, recycling, logistics and storage. Mark shares the realities of running a multi-generational family business, from unusual crane jobs and managing large-scale recycling operations to tackling...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Scott Brewster, Managing Director of Brewster Brothers, a Scottish business turning construction waste into valuable recycled materials. Scott shares his journey from a difficult start in chartered accountancy, where failing exams led to his first major setback, to building a business focused on sustainability, scale, and solving a gro...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Ally Hollins-Kirk, Managing Director, and Austen Clark, CEO of Jera IT, a technology company helping businesses navigate growth, change, and digital transformation. They share the story behind their merger, why it took time to truly understand what a “true merger” means, and how learning to balance leadership and management has transfo...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Ed Vickers and Vicky Hope, co-founders of Loop Agencies, a creative agency built around people, culture, and doing things differently.  Ed and Vicky share how they landed the Edinburgh Fringe as a client just months after launching, working day and night to prove themselves before they felt ready. They also talk about making the bold d...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Andy Hadden, founder of The Lighthouse Business Centre. Andy shares how spotting a simple gap in North Berwick led to building a workspace designed around what the town actually needed. We talk about the rise of hybrid working, why community matters more than just office space, and how thinking differently about design and construction...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Michael Apter, CEO and Managing Director of Paper Tiger, one of Edinburgh’s most recognisable stationery and gift brands. Michael shares his journey from a Christmas temp at HMV, where his passion for music and retail first took shape, to opening Paper Tiger on Lothian Road at just the right moment for growth. He reflects on how early...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we sit down with Kenny McGee, CEO and Founder of Component Sense, to explore what it really takes to build a global business from nothing. Kenny shares the brutal honesty of the early days; trying to survive on £50 a day, racking up £65,000 in credit card debt and being told by family to “just get a job”. But through the pressure, doubt and financial...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Guy Gracie, Managing Director of Wilkinson & Associates, to explore what it really means to build a people-focused recruitment business. Guy shares how recruitment became more than just a career, why matching the right people with the right roles has always mattered more than commission, and how visible progress helped fuel his mot...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Nishant Sharma, founder and CEO of Rutland Square Spirits. Nishant shares his journey from starting with just £500 from family to building a fast growing spirits brand, and the mindset shifts that shaped him along the way. He speaks candidly about living with ADHD, learning to pause before speaking, and how self awareness has become on...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Gilly Bain, Founder and CEO of YOURGB, a creative agency known for delivering innovative events and experiences across the UK. Gilly shares how saying yes before you had all the answers, the support of one key person, and a relentless drive to do things differently shaped her career. She also reflects on the challenges of working in a...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Marie Owen, Founder and CEO of LS Productions, one of the UK’s leading film and television production services companies. Marie shares the story of how LS Productions grew from a small, hands on operation into a global business trusted with some of the world’s biggest shoots. From building a powerful locations database to managing comp...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we sit down with Nestor Demosthenous, Owner of The Mayfield Clinic by Dr Nestor, one of Scotland’s leading names in aesthetic medicine. Nestor shares the journey that took him from training as a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon in the NHS to building a clinic known for its clinical excellence, evidence-based treatments, and patient-first approach. He ta...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Colin Smith, Managing Director of Land Technology and J. Sives Surfacing - two companies shaping landscapes, outdoor spaces, and infrastructure across Scotland. Colin shares the story of how he went from crawling through centuries-old clock towers as an apprentice engineer to rebuilding his career in landscaping, winning national skill...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Gillian Ogilvie, Managing Director at Will Rudd Davidson, the consulting civil and structural engineers behind some of the UK’s most recognisable landmarks. Gillian shares the story of how she went from designing tunnels at Heathrow to leading one of Scotland’s most respected engineering firms, and why authenticity, pride, and emotiona...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Shona Campbell, Partner and Chair of Henderson Loggie - one of Scotland’s longest-standing accountancy firms, known for its people-first culture and community spirit. Shona shares what it’s really like to lead through crisis, from supporting struggling charities to steering complex insolvencies with empathy and clarity. She reflects on...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Rob Aberdein, Group Managing Director at Simpson & Marwick - a lawyer, entrepreneur and lifelong hustler. Rob shares how his early ventures, from selling cookies at family barbecues to trading posters and pizzas as a teenager, shaped his business instincts long before he stepped into law. He talks about the bold decision to walk aw...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Douglas Lawson, CEO & Co-Founder of MarktoMarket, the platform setting new standards for accuracy in the private capital markets. Douglas shares how the company was built on forensic data, why AI can never replace human oversight, and how focusing on the often-overlooked smaller end of the market created a powerful niche. He reflec...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Scott J Miller, Managing Director of Compass Roofing, a family business with deep roots in the city and a reputation built over decades. Scott shares his journey from leaving school at Christmas and knocking on doors for an apprenticeship, to leading one of Edinburgh’s most trusted roofing companies. From the black donkey jackets and a...

From a family business collating school uniform orders by hand to supplying embroidery for global brands like Ralph Lauren and Barbour, Ross and William Smillie’s story is one of graft, adaptability and vision. Today, as joint managing directors of BE Uniforms, they run one of the UK’s largest school uniform and workwear suppliers, but the journey has been anything but straightforward. In this con...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Carina Contini - chef, restaurateur, and director of Victor & Carina Contini, one of Scotland’s best-loved hospitality families. Carina shares a journey steeped in heritage and flavour — from crates of sun-ripened lemons and figs arriving from the markets of Milan, to her grandparents’ adventures on The Queen Mary’s maiden voyage,...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Peter Proud, Founder and CEO of Forrit, a company quietly powering some of the world’s most secure and scalable digital platforms. Peter takes us through a career that’s anything but ordinary: from his time at Microsoft to launching Forrit, building not just a product, but a company rooted in strong values, technical excellence, and a...

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Ross and Craig Davidson; brothers, business partners, and the team behind Dofos, one of the city’s most iconic independent pet retailers. Ross and Craig talk about the early days, including how they turned a cupboard into a grooming salon with nothing but YouTube and grit, and how lockdown helped cement their place in the local communi...