Glasgow Business Stories

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Victoria Nicol, Founder and CEO of My Language Connection. What started as a translation business has grown into an international company supporting clients across multiple sectors, while embracing technology, AI, and new markets along the way. Victoria shares the lessons she's learned over nearly a decade of building the business, from...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Alan MacGregor, founder of Silver Birch Interiors, to explore the journey of building one of Scotland's leading interior fit-out and refurbishment companies. Alan shares the story behind the business, the lessons learned through years of growth, and the challenges that come with leading projects across a wide range of sectors. From winn...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Michael-John O'Shaughnessy, Managing Director for Glasgow, Ireland, Inverness and London at Will Rudd, to explore the world of structural engineering, city regeneration and the importance of relationships in business. Michael-John shares how building genuine trust and strong relationships became the foundation for growing the business,...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Brian Toward, Chief Executive of Wholesale Domestic, to explore the journey of growing a long-established family business into a modern multi-site retail and e-commerce brand. Brian shares what it was like growing up around the business, working in the warehouse from a young age before eventually returning with fresh ideas and a vision...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Peter McBride, Founder of Scintilla, to explore the journey of building a specialist intellectual property firm and the lessons learned along the way. Peter shares what it was really like in the early days of starting out, from mastering his craft as a patent attorney to quickly realising he had to learn everything else that comes with...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Chris Wilson, CEO of Golden Charter, to explore the experiences, values and mindset that have shaped his journey into leadership. Chris reflects on his early entrepreneurial instincts, from small ventures at school to building a career working with businesses and eventually leading one of the UK’s most recognised funeral planning organi...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with David Wilson, CEO of Certum Limited, to talk about building and growing a technology business over more than two decades in a rapidly changing industry. David reflects on the early years of starting out, the relentless hard work required to get a business off the ground, and the lessons learned from mistakes along the way. From learning...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Chris Paton, Managing Director of Dimensions Fulfilment, to explore the world of e-commerce fulfilment, partnerships, and innovation. Chris takes us behind the scenes of his business, explaining how they manage stock for Scottish brands like Tennents, Ian MacLeod Distillers, and Edinburgh Gin, and deliver everything from subscription bo...

Join us on this episode of Glasgow Business Stories with Ross Wilson, Founder and CEO of Vidatec, as we dive into how purpose, values, and technology can transform a business. Ross shares insights from leading a tech company as a non-techie, working with Team GB to optimise performance, and creating products that genuinely serve people - including the hugely successful Couch to 5K app. He also tal...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Christian Bruce, partner at Redpath Bruce, to explore the moments, relationships and mindset that have shaped his career in business. Christian reflects on an early period of uncertainty and how an unexpected opportunity took him far beyond the path he thought he was on, teaching him the value of adaptability and backing yourself when t...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Ryan Clark, founder and CEO of Safer Group, to explore how a temporary job and a curiosity for technology turned into a fast-growing security business. Ryan shares his journey from studying engineering to building an iPhone app, before realising there was a bigger opportunity to rethink how security services are delivered. He talks open...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Lisa Johnston, Managing Director of VWM Wealth, to talk about financial planning, leadership, and what it really takes to build trust with clients. Lisa shares her journey into financial services, from studying the subject at university to working her way through administration, paraplanning and advice before stepping into leadership. S...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Anne Marie and Melissa Cairney, mother and daughter and the Managing Director and Sales and Marketing Manager behind The Victor Pizza Co. Anne Marie shares her journey from community focused work and an unexpected start in sales to building, selling and reinvesting in businesses that prioritise people, relationships and repeat customers...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with John Morris, founder of Prime Property Auction and one of Scotland’s most recognisable names in the fast-paced world of property auctions. John shares how he went from having just 15 properties on the books to building one of the most active auction businesses in the country. He talks openly about the early pressure of finding deals, th...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Jack McGill, founder and CEO of QTV, one of Scotland’s leading sports broadcast companies. From humble beginnings filming local cricket matches to delivering major events like the Commonwealth Games, Jack’s journey is one of vision, innovation and persistence. He shares how QTV built its reputation through collaboration, creative proble...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Sarah Haran, founder of the luxury handbag brand that bears her name and the woman who turned a creative side project into an award-winning business. Sarah shares how her journey began while working in tech, creating handbags as a hobby before realising there was a real opportunity to blend function, beauty and innovation. What started...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we’re joined by Abhishek Bhatia, Managing Director of IDEA and Distill-RE — two forward-thinking businesses at the intersection of engineering, whisky, and innovation.  Abhishek shares his journey from humble beginnings to leading a company built on systems, structure and purpose. He talks about the power of recognition in the workplace, how one forgott...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we’re joined by Julie Moulsdale, director of Perceptive Communicators. Julie shares her journey from working in large global organisations to founding her own business. She talks candidly about the risks of leaving a secure salary, the challenges of balancing early motherhood with entrepreneurship, and the transformative first client that helped set her...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we chatted to Lorna McFarlane, Managing Director of Blantyre Fabrications, where every truck-mounted concrete mixer starts as a flat sheet of metal and ends as what Lorna calls “a beautiful lady”. Lorna shares how she’s built more than just mixers, she’s built a team she can trust for the long haul, blending decades-long relationships with fresh talent...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Heather Matthews, Managing Director of Little’s Chauffeur Drive and Chair of The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice. Heather shares the journey of taking the reins of a family business that began over 60 years ago with one car and a bold idea. From being invited to become a partner in a quiet moment after dinner, to leading a carefull...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we’re joined by Andrew Dobbie, founder and CEO of MadeBrave, one of Scotland’s most recognisable creative agencies. Andrew shares how a leap of faith and a £1000 MacBook led to a business that now works with global brands. From freelancing on the side to building a team, a culture and a community around creativity, Andrew’s story is full of energy, ambi...

What happens when you walk away from the business you built and start again from scratch? In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we chat with Karen and Frank O’Hara, the husband-and-wife team behind Faskin Group. They share their journey through difficult beginnings, business breakups, and navigating storms, both literal and metaphorical, with resilience and determination. They talk about th...