Scale Her Up: Female business stories and expert tips for business growth and success

In this episode of Scale Her Up , I’m joined by Donna Sutherland , founder and Head of Commercial at Veri Energy , Vice President of the Scottish Energy Forum , and a Visiting Professor at Strathclyde University . Donna shares her remarkable career journey through the energy sector, from starting on the trading floor at Scottish and Southern Energy to leading major commercial and project work in o...

In this episode of Scale Her Up , I’m joined by Annie Kenyon , founder of Annie Kenyon Architects . Annie shares the story behind building her architectural practice over the last 20 years, growing it from a sole practitioner business into a respected studio known for creativity, honesty and beautiful design. We talk about what it means to grow a business without losing sight of your values, why b...

In this episode of Scale Her Up , I’m joined by Charlotte Nichols , founder of Harvey & Hugo . Charlotte shares how her business helps clients amplify their voices through storytelling across PR, media, podcasts, video and social media, and why the stories people feel are the ones that truly drive action. We talk about emotion in marketing, trust, credibility, confidence, communication and wha...

In this episode of Scale HER Up , I’m joined by Lisa Ironside , owner of The HR Dept Aberdeen Shire and Bagamoyo Consulting Limited . Lisa shares how Bagamoyo Consulting began as her first business after leaving the corporate world, creating a space for her passion around inclusion, culture, diversity and belonging. She then added The HR Dept Aberdeen Shire as a natural extension, bringing practic...

In this episode of Scale Her Up , I’m joined by Alena Duncan , founder and Chief Executive and Operating Officer of NexEndo Healthcare . Alena shares the story behind building a clinical services company that supports both NHS and private patients, helping to reduce waiting times in endoscopy and other specialist services while keeping patient safety and clinical governance at the heart of everyth...

In this episode of Scale HER Up , I’m joined by Araminta Birse-Stewart , founder of Araminta Campbell , a Scottish luxury woven textile brand based just outside Edinburgh. Araminta shares how her business creates beautifully crafted woven textiles in Scotland, from mill-woven collections sold around the world to one-off and limited-edition handwoven pieces made in-house. She also designs bespoke h...

In this episode of Scale HER Up , I’m joined by Elise MacDonald , Managing Director of Lux Events , an events company specialising in corporate events, conferences, award ceremonies, brand activations and communications. Lux works mainly across Scotland, while also delivering projects further afield in Europe, London and beyond. Elise shares how Lux Events has grown over the last 14 years into a r...

In this episode of Scale Her Up , I’m joined by Jen McLennan , Group Managing Director of Fifth Ring , a global B2B marketing communications agency with offices in Aberdeen, Houston and Singapore. Jen shares her journey from journalism into agency life, and how she worked her way up through the business to become Group Managing Director. We talk about leadership, business growth, international cul...

In this episode of Scale HER Up , I’m joined by Jasmin Corbett , owner of Wealthy You Health Coach Business . Jasmin specialises in helping driven, ambitious women improve their gut health and overall wellbeing through a more holistic approach, looking at nutrition, movement, stress management, sleep and mindset. She shares how her coaching is designed to create real transformation, not just small...

In this episode of Scale HER Up , I’m joined by Lucy McNicoll , Managing Director of Exec Space Limited , a venue-finding agency that helps organisations book meetings, events, group accommodation and hospitality across the UK and beyond. Lucy shares how the business takes the time, hassle and risk out of event booking for clients who need expert support but do not organise events every day. We ta...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Rosie Fraser , founder of Rosie Fraser Real Estate , an estate agency, lettings and property management business based in Dundee. What started just over four years ago as a one-woman business launched during maternity leave has grown into the largest estate agency in the city , with a team of 13 and a record month of sel...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Iona Crawford , founder of Iona Crawford Atelier , a Glasgow-based multidisciplinary design studio that began as a luxury womenswear brand and has evolved into a rich, design-led business spanning fashion, textiles, interiors and art. Nearly 19 years after launching straight out of art school, Iona is still driven by the...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Emma Kirk of User Vision , a UX and accessibility consultancy that has been helping organisations create better digital experiences for 26 years. User Vision uses research-led insight to help clients understand real user needs and design services that work for everyone, including people with disabilities. Over the years,...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Eve McCurrich , Managing Director of Whiteburn Projects Limited , an award-winning SME house builder based in Edinburgh and building across the southeast of Scotland. Eve shares what it really means to build homes, not just houses. From the earliest stage of looking at a piece of land, through planning, design, construct...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Nathalie Agnew , Managing Director of Muckle Media , a founder-led communications group delivering corporate and consumer PR, social media and influencer engagement, with specialist agencies in drinks and hospitality now part of the wider business. Nathalie started Muckle Media from her living room after leaving London a...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Gillian Ogilvie , Managing Director of the Edinburgh practice of Will Rudd Davidson , a consulting civil and structural engineering firm that designs buildings, roads, drainage and the infrastructure that underpins everyday life. Gillian leads a 40+ person team in a still very male-dominated industry – and is determined...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Jill Henry , co-founder of Meander Apparel and co-owner of Tens Sunglasses – two Scottish lifestyle brands inspired by travel, adventure and the outdoors. Meander makes stylish, versatile outdoor clothing designed to take you from city streets to mountain trails – performance gear you can wear on the bike, on the hills a...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Linda Hunt , founder of Some Solutions , corporate “dropout” and one of the early pioneers of remote accounting services. Linda left a demanding, travel-heavy corporate role in 1998 and built a business that started with outsourced accounting and evolved into two core arms: a done-for-you accounting services division and...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Emma Bohan , Managing Director of IMS Heat Pumps , a specialist renewable heating company installing air source, ground source and water source heat pumps, plus solar PV and batteries, from bases in Scotland and Sheffield. Emma and her team help homeowners and small commercial clients move away from gas boilers towards l...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Susie Cresswell , founder of White Wall Marketing , a Glasgow-based marketing and comms agency specialising in the built environment – think shopping centres, retail parks, office blocks and high-end residential. Susie shares how she went from a demanding, male-dominated corporate role in property to launching her own ag...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Kerry Black , Director at Firstcall Trade Services , an all-trades contractor based in Edinburgh. Firstcall employs joiners, plumbers, electricians, decorators and more – around 46 operatives plus an office team – providing a one-stop shop for repairs and maintenance for housing associations, councils, insurers and letti...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Rosie Berridge , founder of Accountability Edinburgh – an accounting practice that doesn’t do personal tax returns or year-end accounts. Instead, Rosie and her team act as a virtual finance department for growing businesses: bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, management accounts and in-year support so owners actually understand...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Deborah Creamer , Managing Director of Optimat , a strategy and innovation consultancy based in Glasgow. Optimat helps public sector bodies, universities and technology-based SMEs make better decisions about markets, technology and investment. The team all come from technical backgrounds – materials engineering, biotechn...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Laura Chapman , Managing Director of Chapmans Property Lettings and Management in Edinburgh. Laura runs a high-service, values-led letting and management agency looking after properties almost entirely within the Edinburgh bypass, navigating complex legislation, political change and the emotional realities of being a lan...

In this episode of Scale HER Up – The Female Entrepreneur Show, I’m joined by Liz McAreavey , Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce , whose business journey started not in a boardroom, but in a student flat baking flapjacks. What began as a way to fund her accountancy studies became a deli, then a catering company that grew over 16 years to a £7 million turnover and Scotland’s largest i...