Scotland's Economy

Scottish Business Buzz (13.04.16)

Screen Shot 2016-04-13 at 09.15.19West Brewery entrepreneur Petra Wetzel launches £100k fund to help female entrepreneurs 

Wetzel, who runs one of the UK’s most successful small independent breweries is appealing for female entrepreneurs to share in a £100k investment.

Petra Wetzel set up her own business, WEST Brewery, in the iconic Templeton building in the city’s Glasgow Green in 2008. Wetzel said on the fund:

“The aim for West Women is to help more female entrepreneurs exploit the many opportunities that exist within our burgeoning food and drink sector.

“West Women will help other female-led businesses grow and develop their operations throughout Scotland and I am confident that the initial £100,000 fund will grow significantly over the years ahead as we reap the rewards of investment by a female entrepreneur in future generations of female entrepreneurs.”

Female entrepreneurs seeking funding from West Women should contact [email protected] or call 0141 550 0135.

More on this story.


Screen Shot 2016-04-13 at 09.20.51Touch Bionics acquired by Icelandic firm Össur for £27.5m

Livingston based Touch Bionics, the developer and manufacturer of world-leading upper limb prosthetic technologies, has been sold by its shareholders – including Archangel Investors, Scottish Investment Bank and management – to Össur Hf, the Iceland-based provider of prosthetic, bracing and supports solutions, for a consideration of £27.5 million on a cash and debt free basis.

Touch Bionics was the first company to develop an electrically powered prosthetic hand with five independently powered fingers.

David Gow CBE, founder of Touch Bionics and inventor of the i-limb, said: “My aspirations for Touch Bionics have been more than realised and I am extremely proud and delighted that Touch Bionics’ new home will be with Össur.

“I am confident that this will mean that the i-limb and i-digits will be taken forward in safe hands, enabling even more wearers to benefit from this life enhancing technology.”


Screen Shot 2016-04-13 at 09.24.43New Centre of Entrepreneurship revealed at University of Dundee

Elevator has joined with the University to help realise this objective and will launch a Business Accelerator within the Dundee campus.

The new centre will combine the needs of entrepreneurial education within the University of Dundee and provide a beacon of entrepreneurship, which contains an energised and inspiring accelerator programme – to fast track business growth, open to both students and the public, which will launch many more high growth ventures into the city.

The location for the new centre has been identified close to the edge of the University of Dundee’s campus, within existing retail space. The 2,500sq ft ground floor space will be transformed over the coming months, with a shared investment from both Elevator and the University to create a high tech, creative space. Similar to the Aberdeen Elevator Centre of Entrepreneurship, this will feature a flexible open plan creative space, with breakout meetings rooms, hot-desks and a mini auditorium.

Elevator Chief Executive, Gary McEwan comments.


Screen Shot 2016-04-13 at 09.36.10Aberdeen to become home to Scotland’s first urban hydro scheme 

The Donside Hydro, Scotland’s first urban hydro scheme is predicted to power 130 homes per year and  generate around £30,000 per year for community initiatives.

The renewable energy project is being developed by Aberdeen Community Energy (ACE), a community benefit society set up by members of the Donside Community Association (DCA).

The hydro scheme will draw water from the River Don to create clean, renewable electricity that will be sold to the national grid. Surplus profits from the initiative will be channelled into a community fund that will be used to achieve social and environmental benefits for local, deprived communities.

With construction planned for late May 2016, ACE will be launching a Community Share Offer within the next few weeks.

More on this story in Business Quarter.


Screen Shot 2016-04-13 at 09.42.56Online HR launches ‘Online HR 80’ – a fresh approach to human resources support and advice 

The Midlothian based Business for Scotland member, Online HR has introduced a fresh approach to human resources support and advice, their Online HR 80 service provides focused support to small and medium sized organisations, typically where the team is anywhere from two to eighty staff members.

The service compromises a telephone and email support and advice service from Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development accredited, senior human resources professionals. It aims to help SMEs find solutions to common employment related issues, as well as guidance in relation to human resources best practice. Support offered by Online HR is broad, from employment forms, policies and procedures, employee handbooks or assisting putting together job advertisements and recruitment selection process.

To arrange an initial, free of charge “HR needs analysis” and consultation meeting call Online HR on 0131 341 2550 or email [email protected].

Full Online HR 80 details.


Seminar from The Institute of Economic Affairs in association with TaxpayerScotland 

“The case for UK decentralisation – is a federal Britain the answer?”

Keynote speaker: Prof Philip Booth, Editorial and Programme Director, The Institute of  Economic Affairs

Practical politics and federal governance
Dr Alan Convery, School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh

The English problem – can it be resolved?
Daniel Greenberg, Parliamentary Counsel, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, Steering Group, Constitution Reform Group

Scotland, pride and culture in a federal state
David Torrance, Biographer of Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, historian and journalist

The Signet Library, High St, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF

27th April 2016, 17.30 -19.00
followed by a short drinks reception

Doors open for tea and coffee at 5pm

Registration/ RSVP: [email protected]
Numbers are limited so notice of your attendance would be appreciated.


Business for Scotland – Prosperity for Scotland – Join us now

 

Subscribe to Scottish Business Buzz

* indicates required




About the author

Rhona Middler

Rhona was Business for Scotland's Engagement Executive and Events Manager.

Leave a Comment