In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Andy Hadden, founder of The Lighthouse Business Centre.

Andy shares how spotting a simple gap in North Berwick led to building a workspace designed around what the town actually needed. We talk about the rise of hybrid working, why community matters more than just office space, and how thinking differently about design and construction is shaping the future of workspaces.He also reflects on leadership, and why understanding people’s strengths is key to building teams and businesses that thrive.

This episode is for anyone building something from scratch, rethinking traditional industries, or looking to create something people genuinely want to be part of.

This episode of Edinburgh Business Stories is brought to you by Rathbones, a leading UK
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In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Michael Apter, CEO and Managing Director of Paper Tiger, one of Edinburgh’s most recognisable stationery and gift brands.

Michael shares his journey from a Christmas temp at HMV, where his passion for music and retail first took shape, to opening Paper Tiger on Lothian Road at just the right moment for growth. He reflects on how early retail experiences shaped his approach to leadership, the story behind the name Paper Tiger, and why building a strong, capable team has been central to the company’s success.

This episode is perfect for anyone starting a business, growing a team, or looking to turn passion into a thriving enterprise.

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we sit down with Kenny McGee, CEO and Founder of Component Sense, to explore what it really takes to build a global business from nothing.

Kenny shares the brutal honesty of the early days; trying to survive on £50 a day, racking up £65,000 in credit card debt and being told by family to “just get a job”. But through the pressure, doubt and financial strain, he believed the business had scale and long-term potential.

The conversation then moves beyond profit, into purpose. Kenny explains why solving the global issue of electronic waste is far more complex than he first imagined - and why real change will require collaboration from the world’s biggest manufacturers.

This episode is a powerful insight into resilience, risk, focus, and thinking bigger than the balance sheet.

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Guy Gracie, Managing Director of Wilkinson & Associates, to explore what it really means to build a people-focused recruitment business.

Guy shares how recruitment became more than just a career, why matching the right people with the right roles has always mattered more than commission, and how visible progress helped fuel his motivation in the early days. He also reflects on the journey from employee to owner, the influence of family and timing, and the importance of being willing to grow into leadership.

We talk about the value of long-term relationships in recruitment, where candidates can become clients and clients can become candidates, and why trust is the true measure of success. Guy also discusses the need to keep evolving as a business, developing skills, staying relevant, and ensuring what you offer continues to meet the needs of the market.

This episode is full of insight for anyone building a service-led business, navigating leadership for the first time, or looking to grow something sustainable through relationships, learning, and purpose.

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Nishant Sharma, founder and CEO of Rutland Square Spirits.

Nishant shares his journey from starting with just £500 from family to building a fast growing spirits brand, and the mindset shifts that shaped him along the way. He speaks candidly about living with ADHD, learning to pause before speaking, and how self awareness has become one of his biggest leadership strengths.

He also opens up about a life changing moment when the pressure of the business nearly cost him his life, forcing him to rethink success, health, and what really matters. Alongside that, Nishant talks about meeting a billionaire investor, the power of honesty over image, and his long term vision for building a sustainable whisky distillery in Scotland.

This episode is full of raw honesty, ambition, and perspective for anyone building a business, chasing big goals, or learning how to lead without losing themselves in the process.

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Gilly Bain, Founder and CEO of YOURGB, a creative agency known for delivering innovative events and experiences across the UK.

Gilly shares how saying yes before you had all the answers, the support of one key person, and a relentless drive to do things differently shaped her career. She also reflects on the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry, how she supports the next generation of female leaders, and why building a business as a true collective makes all the difference.

This episode is full of insight for anyone starting a business, leading a team, or looking to create work that inspires and connects.

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Marie Owen, Founder and CEO of LS Productions, one of the UK’s leading film and television production services companies.

Marie shares the story of how LS Productions grew from a small, hands on operation into a global business trusted with some of the world’s biggest shoots. From building a powerful locations database to managing complex productions across the UK and beyond, she explains what it really takes to make ambitious creative work happen.

She talks about problem solving when things go wrong, why relationships and reputation matter just as much as logistics, and what she has learned from working with A list talent on high pressure shoots.

This episode is full of insight for anyone building a business behind the scenes, leading teams through uncertainty, or creating systems that allow great work to happen at scale.

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we sit down with Nestor Demosthenous, Owner of The Mayfield Clinic by Dr Nestor, one of Scotland’s leading names in aesthetic medicine.

Nestor shares the journey that took him from training as a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon in the NHS to building a clinic known for its clinical excellence, evidence-based treatments, and patient-first approach. He talks openly about the misconceptions around aesthetics, the psychology of ageing, and why the work is far deeper than lips and lines.

He also reflects on the business decisions that helped him stay focused in a fast-growing industry, why specialisation matters, and how emotional intelligence shapes every patient conversation.

Whether he is discussing the thrill of opening day, the pressure of constantly improving, or the lessons he learned from his no-nonsense mum, Nestor brings the kind of honesty and clarity that every leader can learn from.

This episode is full of insight for anyone building a business rooted in trust, expertise, and a deeper understanding of the people they serve.

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Colin Smith, Managing Director of Land Technology and J. Sives Surfacing - two companies shaping landscapes, outdoor spaces, and infrastructure across Scotland.

Colin shares the story of how he went from crawling through centuries-old clock towers as an apprentice engineer to rebuilding his career in landscaping, winning national skills competitions, and eventually leading businesses with a real focus on people, systems, and future talent.

He talks about the importance of creating opportunities for young people, why strong processes matter just as much as strong projects, and how a single book reshaped the way he approaches leadership, culture, and compliance. At the heart of it all is his belief that progress happens when you lift others up with you.

This episode is full of insight for anyone leading teams, developing the next generation, or building a business with foundations that last.