Edinburgh Business Stories

Join us for an insightful conversation with Shona and Jonny Jenkins, Directors of Jenkins Fabrications, on this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories! Jenkins Fabrications, based in Falkirk, is an award-winning steel fabrication company with a rich history dating back to 1958. As a third-generation family-operated business, Jenkins Fabrications has grown to work with major UK housebuilders and con...

Get ready for an inspiring episode of Edinburgh Business Stories! This week, we sit down with Sean Rollo, Managing Director of Rollo Developments, to dive into his incredible journey from a young tradesman to a successful business leader. Sean started in the trades at a young age, following in the footsteps of his dad and grandfather. Over the years, he honed his skills and built a thriving constr...

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Josh Littlejohn, a leading social entrepreneur and founder of Social Bite—a pioneering social enterprise on a mission to eradicate homelessness in Scotland.  At just 35 years old, Josh has raised over £25 million for charity and homelessness causes, earning prestigious accolades including an MBE from the Queen and recognition on the Debrett’s list of 500...

Join us for an engaging episode of Edinburgh Business Stories with Gordon Beaton, Director at 56three.  Gordon, who joined the practice in 2005, brings over 20 years of professional experience working in various sectors throughout the UK and Ireland. Known for his strong design skills and exceptional leadership, Gordon has a wealth of insights to share. In this episode, Gordon discusses The Import...

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Malcolm McPherson, Chairman of Hibernian FC and Consultant at Addleshaw Goddard, on the latest episode of Edinburgh Business Stories! Malcolm McPherson's remarkable journey in the legal and business world offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and professionals alike. Qualified as a solicitor in 1977, Malcolm's rapid rise to partner by 1979 showcase...

On this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories hosts, Alex Richards and Alan Smith, sit down with Chris Tiso, CEO of the Tiso Group, for a brilliant chat! With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, Chris Tiso has been at the helm of Tiso Group since 1992, overseeing retail operations, shaping strategic direction, and driving growth. Under his leadership, Tiso Group has seen remarkable...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Daniel Hill, Owner and Game Designer at Escape and Noughts & Coffees, on the latest episode of Edinburgh Business Stories! With over a decade of experience in the industry, Daniel is the mastermind behind Escape. Under his leadership, Escape has grown to become the largest operator in the UK and Ireland, boasting 76 escape rooms worldwide.  In this e...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Colin McAndrew, Managing Director of Medusa Hairdressing, on the latest episode of Edinburgh Business Stories! With over 30 years of experience in the hairdressing industry, Colin brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the table. From owning and managing six exceptional salons in Edinburgh to serving as a distinguished Wella Creative Artist and boar...

Kirsty Allan, Director of City Access Scaffolding, joins Alex and Alan on this week's episode of Edinburgh Business Stories! Kirsty has helped City Access Scaffolding grow by over 1000% from year one to year four and continues to execute her growth strategy as we arrive in our 9th year of trading. Kirsty takes pride in thinking outside the box and has the confidence to execute a growth strategy in...

Steven Smith-Hay, co-founder of Vault City Brewing, joins Alex and Alan on this week's episode of Edinburgh Business Stories! In 2018, Smith-Hay started on a journey to create remarkable sour beers using simple ingredients and the magic of fermentation in his very own kitchen. As a result of his passion and dedication, he proudly became one of the select few to have an HMRC-registered excise wareh...

David Wither, Chairman of the Montpeliers group, joins Alex and Alan on this week's episode of Edinburgh Business Stories! Montpeliers Limited was created in 1992 and is a bar and restaurant group in Scotland. It is known for providing high-quality service throughout the UK. Montpeliers has eight bars located in Edinburgh's city centre, where they serve premium food and drinks. The group has won n...

Ian Stirling, the Founder and Co-CEO of Muckle Brig Ltd, is featuring in this week's episode of Edinburgh Business Stories alongside Alex and Alan. Ian established Muckle Brig, a Scottish spirits and wine producer, in 2014. The company has three significant brands, namely The Leith Distillery, Lind & Lime Gin, and The Leith export company. During the episode, Ian shares stories about how he ca...

Tim Purves, Director of William Purves Funeral Directors, joins Alex and Alan for this week's episode of Edinburgh Business Stories. William Purves started the company back in 1888 and now, five generations later, Chairman Tim Purves represents the Purves family. The 'William Purves family' today comprises over 100 staff including four great-great-grandchildren of the founder. Tim shares gives us...

Lorna Clayton, Managing Director at Academic Families, joins Alex and Alan for this week's episode of Edinburgh Business Stories. Lorna founded Academic Families, a leading education agency that provides comprehensive support to international parents seeking the best UK education for their children. The agency offers assistance in school selection, enrollment management and visa support. Lorna sha...

Yolanda Luca, owner of some of Edinburgh's favourite family run ice cream shops, joins Alex and Alan for this weeks episode of Edinburgh Business Stories. The Luca family has been involved in all aspects of the business since its inception. They oversee everything from producing the ice cream to serving cones from their ice cream vans and parlours. Yolanda is now in-charge of ensures that Scappati...

Editor’s Note (August 2025): This episode was recorded in October 2023. Since that time, A petition to wind up Orocco Limited has been presented, which will have an impact on local suppliers, customers and staff. We’ve chosen to retain this episode to reflect the entrepreneurial journey at the time it was recorded. We also recognise the impact this has had on those involved, and we stand with the...

We are excited to have Claire Middlebrook, Managing Director of Middlebrooks Business Recovery & Advice, on this week's insightful episode of Edinburgh Business Stories! Financial distress can be an overwhelming experience. It can be difficult to know what options are available to you. That's where Middlebrooks comes in. They exist to bridge the gap and guide you out of debt, so you can take c...

On this week's episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, your esteemed hosts, Alan & Alex, are joined by Piers Bambridge - Director of Pike & Bambridge. Over the past decade, Pier, and his team, have been changing the motoring industry. As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, Electric Vehicles (EVs) are the way forward. Pike & Bambridge specialise in assisting professionals...

Kat Brogan, director of Mercat Tours Ltd, joins Alex & Alan on this week's Edinburgh Business Stories! Kat has been leading Mercat Tours and Mercat Tours International since 2014, and under her leadership, the company has achieved numerous awards and recognition. Mercat Edinburgh has been operating for over 30 years! With her committed team, Kat has positioned Mercat Tours as the market leader...

Edinburgh Business Stories is thrilled to introduce John Davidson, the owner of Southside Property Management, as a guest on this week's episode. John joins Alex and Alan for an insightful conversation about his career and everything related to property management. From his humble start in entrepreneurship by selling eggs on the farm to running a successful business that has achieved 15 years of c...

We are excited to welcome Craig Letton, CEO of MRM Global, on this week episode of Edinburgh Business Stories! Craig boasts over 11 years of experience and a track record of scaling business, expansion and delivering innovative solutions to global clients! Craig discusses the drinks industry, pandemic effects on business, and managing a massive account at 26 with Alan and Alex.

This week on EBS, Alex and Alan are joined by Ali Findlay - Chief Executive at The Lane Agency. Ali built The Lane Agency into a successful marketing agency by helping her clients to streamline communication, strategy and increase relevancy to their clients. Ali chats with the guys about her setting up her own company, trying to find a perfect work life balance, the importance of company values an...

Kirsty MacKenzie, Founder of iMultiply, joins Alex and Alan for this week's episode of Edinburgh Business Stories. Kirsty has always been fascinated by all aspects of business, from what makes a business unique to what makes it successful. Recruitment seemed like the ideal choice for Kirsty's career path! Kirsty shares with us her business insights she gained from years of working within recruitme...

On this week episode, Alex & Alan are joined by Colin Hewitt - CEO and co-founder of Float. Colin has over a whopping 20 years of experience in the software industry! The idea for float came from Colin's previous entrepreneurial journey as the managing director of a digital agency. While managing the company, Colin realised that he needed a better way to manage cash flow and clients. Colin giv...

On this weeks episode, Alex and Alan are join by Victoria Brown. Victoria is the managing director of The Curious Gem, one of the UK's leading jewellery suppliers. Join us as we hear about Victorias life, from her beginnings in her pursuit to study English Literature to achieving the equivalent of 3-4 years growth in one year! Make sure you don't miss an episode and subscribe now on YouTube, Spoti...