GLASGOW BUSINESS OCTOBER 2016


CONTENTS/PRESIDENT 6


Neil Amner, President president@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


City of Glasgow College a fantastic investment in our young people


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It was a by-gone Prime Minister who gave us the slogan: education, education, education. That mantra is something well worth supporting in Glasgow, a city that’s famed for the excellence of its teaching, learning and research. So, I am delighted the staff and students at the new City of Glasgow College are settling into their first term and enjoying their courses in fantastic new premises. I understand that many of the courses have been designed to be as practical and realistic as possible – in a comfortable and contemporary environment. While Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has excellent high-level academic links with our city’s universities, there remains a special and enduring link between our own organisation and City of Glasgow College.


In the tough 19


News Agenda


City Roundup Member news Partner news New members


Events International Trade


Features 6


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Past and forthcoming events 18 Glasgow Talks: Resilience


20 Glasgow Talks: Chris Weston 21


Inspiring City Awards 2016 22 Make it in Manhattan


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Cyber-security: Is your business open to risk?


The impact of Brexit on HR


The Glasgow Business Awards 2016


Column BIG Talks


Cover image: Jessica Walker, President of Manhattan Chamber of Commerce


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inter-war years, when west of Scotland unemployment hit its peak, the focus in Glasgow began to shift – rather too slowly it has to be said – towards the commercial education of the city’s young people. A topic that business people in the Chamber discussed with headmasters at the time was the preparation of young people, ensuring they had the skills for the changing work place. Teach them modern languages rather than Latin and Greek, pleaded our forebears. While the technical institutions were still attracting bright young people into science and engineering, there was a fear that other business skills were being sorely neglected. The Chamber’s own ‘Education


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Authority’ backed the Glasgow and West of Scotland Commercial College by handing out annual prizes for modern languages, bookkeeping and accounting. In 1925, the college had


1,950 matriculated students with no fewer than 7,000 students in the neighbouring counties affiliated to the college. There was a conviction growing for a new, more modern style of college, the forerunner of today’s City of Glasgow College. Glasgow Chamber of Commerce


was at the forefront of calling for a College of Commerce and was instrumental in securing the funding from the Scottish Education Department. Our members were proudly involved with the opening of the Scottish College of Commerce in Pitt Street in 1934. However, the project to raise £200,000 was hit badly by the depression. In effect, with just £75,000 in the coffers only the first stage was reached by 1932. However, it provided courses for 2,000 students, and was completed after the Second World War. We are delighted that


City of Glasgow College – and its new marine campus on


the Clyde – represents a continuation of the evolution of education. The new facilities are world-class and represent a fantastic investment in young people in the city.


The Chamber and its members


wish the College, its staff and students the very best and hope to continue a long-standing relationship and commitment. The Scottish Education Secretary


John Swinney has said he wants to raise the education standards across all sectors of Scottish society. We support this aspiration and applaud the Scottish Government for ensuring the proper funding for this superb new facility was realised. I’m sure that City of Glasgow College will play its part magnificently. If our city is to continue to prosper, the College’s success matters a great deal.


Glasgow Business . 3 www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


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