A Scottish business leader who helped seal some of Scotland’s biggest deals tells how his company retained its identity, culture and “fierce independence” after a game-changing partnership.

Originally built as a hospital in 1895 and later partially converted for use as Fife Council headquarters, New City House is an important local landmark and a significant part of Dunfermline’s architectural and social history. This vacant site has now been given a new lease of life and transformed into 32 affordable homes in a project hailed as a standout success. The turnaround has been driven by an innovative partnership between Campion Homes and Kingdom Housing Association. 

Thirty years ago, the demolition of Ravenscraig's iconic cooling towers marked the end of an industrial era that had defined generations of families across North Lanarkshire. Today, as one of Europe’s largest brownfield regeneration projects continues, more than a thousand homes have been built with thousands more planned, major employers are investing, and a new community is taking shape. 

Family-owned home builder, Campion Homes, is celebrating two important milestones in the delivery of much-needed affordable homes in Dundee through its continued partnership with Abertay Housing Association.

The delivery of 12 new affordable homes in Dornoch has been marked by local dignitaries and tenants, completing the final phase of a development by Albyn Housing Society, one of the largest social housing providers in the Highlands, and Springfield Partnerships.

Scottish housebuilder Cruden is entering one of the strongest periods in its 83-year history, with a record development pipeline worth more than £1 billion, expansion into new markets and continued investment in its people helping to drive growth across the business.

Building a community that can help pave the way for the next big medicine technologybreakthrough is an achievement in itself.

Irish Surfing, the national governing body for surfing in Ireland, has officially designated Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh as its National Performance Centre for Surfing and Irish National Surfing Olympic Training Facility as part of a landmark partnership supporting the development of Irish athletes on the pathway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

When most people think about data centres, they picture vast industrial buildings consuming huge amounts of energy and dominating the landscape.

It is perhaps unsurprising that proposals for new developments can generate strong opinions. Yet after attending the Datacloud Global Congress in Cannes, a leading global gathering for digital infrastructure professionals, I was struck by the growing gap between public perception and reality.

Not so long ago, if you had suggested Scotland could become a major player in European surfing, most people would have laughed. But something remarkable is happening. Scotland is no longer simply participating in surfing, we are competing, hosting, investing and increasingly leading.

Ravenscraig has reached another key milestone with the completion of Motus Commercials’ new 38,000 sq ft workshop and sales facility for DAF Commercials, part of the Motus Group (UK).

In business, people often tell you to trust your gut. It sounds simple, almost too simple. But some of the most important decisions are made precisely because they challenge convention.

Glasgow-headquartered specialist communications consultancy Perceptive Communicators has secured three significant new client wins, marking a strong start to its 20th anniversary year in business.

Scotland stands at a crossroads. Economic headwinds are strengthening, public budgets are tightening, and in less than nine months, voters will elect a new Scottish Parliament. In this volatile environment, the organisations that will succeed are those that influence the conversation now, before their competitors do.

Securing the outcomes your organisation needs, whether planning permission, funding, or policy change, requires more than strong business fundamentals. It demands early, sustained engagement with the people who influence your success: politicians, regulators, community leaders, and sector stakeholders. At Perceptive Communicators, we specialise in putting our clients at the heart of their industry’s sphere of influence - turning potential roadblocks, like securing planning permission, into growth opportunities.

In a business environment that feels increasingly unpredictable, relationships grounded in long-term thinking and shared trust are more important than ever. From global supply chain disruptions to interest rate speculation and shifting consumer behaviour, companies are facing pressure to adapt quickly while still achieving growth and other priority goals. In this landscape, the need for clear, consistent and strategic communication is growing, but so too is the need to access experts who can solve the problems of the moment whilst enabling a business to stay on track.

At Perceptive Communicators, we’ve always believed that lasting client relationships are built on more than delivering to a brief. Our approach was recognised at the CIPR Excellence Awards in two categories this year, including Best Long-Term Client Care. This highlights the need for businesses to have expert support that will deliver insight-led, impact-focused communications, rooted in commercial understanding.

In an era of information overload, social media users are increasingly discerning. So how can businesses ensure their messages aren’t falling on deaf ears? Charles H. Green’s Trust Equation states that the key elements of trust are underpinned by levels of “self-orientation”. In a business context, this can refer to how much a brand tailors its external communications to the interests of its audience

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve had is to listen first, then talk.  Actually it was a little more brutal than that, suggesting that as I have two ears and one mouth, it would be sensible to use them in that proportion.  A little stinging as a chatty teenager, but  great life long advice in many situations, especially in the business world.  

Imagine for a moment how different your life might be without the security of a safe, comfortable home. Next week marks Scottish Housing Day, with the theme "Homes for Life." At Perceptive Communicators, we’re supporting our housebuilding clients around this, shining a spotlight on the incredible impact of homes on the quality of all of our lives and yet also the massive shortage of much needed homes. 

We are in the grip of a nationwide housing crisis, yet recent figures reveal that the timescale for average planning application is four times longer than the Government target. While this is clearly an issue for developers, why should this be an issue for those beyond the industry?

As a female founder of a consultancy specialising in science communications, we are always keen to walk the talk, so have established Senior Women in Science, a network to help inspire and support women in this key sector.