Glasgow Business Stories

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we’re joined by Derek Mallon, Managing Director of Lomond Leisure Group, to talk about building a successful hospitality business across a range of unique venues. Derek shares how each venue has developed its own identity, the importance of partnerships with the travel trade and other local businesses, and why getting the right people and culture in pla...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we’re joined by Daniela Sarti, Director of Sarti, to hear about the family history behind the business and how the restaurant has evolved over the years. Daniela shares the story of how her family first came into hospitality, the importance of preserving Sarti’s character while making improvements, and how customer habits have changed over time. We also...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we’re joined by Danny Campbell, Founder of Hoko Design. Danny shares his journey in architecture, the challenges facing the profession and why he believes technology and AI could completely change the way architects work. He talks about using AI to remove time-consuming processes, improving the earning potential of architects and challenging some of the...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we’re joined by Paul Connelly, who has recently stepped back as Chief Executive of family business CSS Ltd after decades of leading its growth. Paul reflects on the journey of building the business, the lessons he's learned through competition, leadership and resilience, and why success has never been about money alone. He shares stories of overcoming m...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we’re joined by Neil Drain, Store Director of Specsavers Kirkintilloch & Bishopbriggs. Neil shares his journey through decades in business, from opening his first optical store and learning some difficult early lessons, to building a successful franchise through strong customer service, leadership and team culture. He talks about the challenges of s...

In this episode of Glasgow Business Stories, we sit down with Gareth Sandler, Founder of Orrjo, to discuss the journey of building a people-first business in the recruitment and talent space.  Gareth shares the lessons he learned from working in challenging environments early in his career, how those experiences shaped the culture he has built at Orrjo, and why kindness, support, and accountabilit...

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...