This week’s Made in Scotland podcast guest, sponsored by Ogilvie Ross, is Iain Waddell.

Iain is Managing Director of Tayside Contracts.

Tayside Contracts is a commercially based local authority contracting organisation providing catering, cleaning, roads maintenance, vehicle maintenance and winter maintenance throughout the Tayside area of Scotland.

We are the commercial trading arm of the Councils of Angus, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross and employ approximately 2500 people operating out of in excess of 300 establishments.

In this episode Iain talks about the development of the organisation, the complexities of running the business and the all-important leadership qualities required for the job.

Iain also shares his thoughts around the future of Tayside Contracts, the importance of succession planning and why he believes he’s not competitive (sort of).

This week’s Made in Scotland podcast guest is Mike Beale.

Mike spent 28 years as the Headmaster of Craigclowan School in Perth. Following his retirement in 2007, he became President of the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce. Since he retired, he has been Chairman of Peak Leaders UK, a training company based in Strathmiglo and Chairman of the Management Board of Algo, a building company based in Perth. He runs his own consultancy, specialising in mentoring, appraisal and business development and works with a Ski school in Courchevel in France.

During his career, Mike has had unique professional development opportunities which have resulted in the award of the highly prestigious Churchill Fellowship in 1991 and an English Speaking Union Walter Hinds Page Scholarship in 2001.

He was elected Chairman of the Association of Preparatory Schools in 1994/5 and uniquely, for the Head of a Scottish school, Mike was re-elected in 2005/6. He served for 17 years on the Managing Board of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools and on the Board of the Independent Schools Council in London. He has also served as a Governor of several schools, as a trustee of St. John’s Kirk and Horsecross Arts in Perth, Scotland and currently sits on the managing committee of Blairgowrie Golf Club in Perthshire.

Mike is also one of the leading figures with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).

This week’s Made in Scotland podcast guest is Dr Marie Weir.

Marie was born on a Scottish farm in 1920, grew-up through the depression of the 1930’s and the Second World War.

Marie has recently written and published her book ‘The Times of My Life’ (ukbookpublishing.com) which traces nine decades of her life set against a background of huge social, health economic and educational change.

Marie worked as a PE teacher then lecturer, bringing up a family of five children and becoming the first national hockey coach for Scotland where her leadership changed the face of the game!

History, insight and a wealth of life experience is to be found in this podcast.

It’s a truly inspirational story that will hit a chord with everyone.

This week’s ‘Made in Scotland’ podcast guest with Ogilvie Ross is Guy Richardson.

This episode is about LEADERSHIP from one of the leading experts in the UK today.

As an officer in the British Army for 20 years, Guy has led soldiers on operations since the age of 22. In this environment, where there is no room for mistakes, trust and absolute belief in your abilities is essential. His operational service in the army took him to Northern Ireland, 1st Gulf War, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Bosnia.

On leaving the army in 2004 Guy joined The Scottish Rugby Union and became the Scotland National Rugby Team Manager. As the first professional Manager for the National Team, Guy led in the development of a world class environment within which the team could perform. He also formed an operational department, bringing together all operational support and allowing best practice to be shared.

In 2010 Guy became the Director of Operations for The British and Irish Lions Rugby Team and was accountable for everything off the field of play. His collaborative leadership enabled him to get the very best out of stakeholders, all working to the one goal.

Another must listen for anybody who has any role whatsoever in leading and inspiring one, one hundred or one thousand people.

This week’s ‘Made in Scotland’ podcast guest is the Author, Broadcaster and Journalist Lorraine Wilson.

In this episode Lorraine recounts her early memories of meeting international pin-up pop groups, talks about her love for music, why she decided to sell her house, give-away all but two suitcases of possessions and head off on a solo adventure of a lifetime.

Although Lorraine was accepted to university courses, she took the opportunity to learn from the ground up and joined DC Thomson, one of the UK’s leading publishing houses after school.

This was the heady world of heartthrobs, pin-ups and problem pages in iconic teenage magazines such as Jackie.

Her first book, ‘Take it to the Bridge’, was a labour of love charting the story of Dundee’s contribution to the world of contemporary music was published in 2011.

Lorraine’s latest book ‘Facing Forwards’ charts her solo journey across 20 countries, covering 11,500 miles in three months – one life-changing summer.

This episode is an inspiring, at times tough but ultimately heart-warming story of a truly proud Scot with a surprising song choice at the end of the programme!

A must listen.

This week’s ‘Made in Scotland’ podcast guest is Mike Forbes.

Mike, at heart, is a Scottish farmer. When you listen to his story, you’ll discover much, much more.

Mike talks openly about the professional and very personal challenges he has faced over the years and how those experiences have led to the way he develops and leads his business today.

Hard work and entrepreneurial vision is in his genes.

From a young age, Mike worked on the farm and made pocket money breeding pigs in a shed, which he later developed into a prosperous business now employing over 250 people.

Mike converted an overgrown corner of the farm into a fishery and three self-catering lodges, opening in 1995 as Kingennie Fishings with the old boathouse renovated into a fishing shop.

The success of this venture encouraged Mike and his wife Gail to continuously invest and extend to create the resort known as Forbes of Kingennie in Angus, Scotland.

A talented fisherman, he won the Scottish National Fly Fishing Championships in 1991, and was selected for the Scottish Fly Fishing Team. He became captain of the team in 1993 and winner of the Phoenix Salver for Best International Scottish Rod.

This is a podcast for people who are looking to develop and diversify their business, for leaders and for students of all disciplines.

Picture at Forbes of Kingennie shows Mike and Gail Forbes at the resort

Lynne is the Regional Development Officer (East) for the Scottish Volleyball Association.

In this episode, hear how Lynne captained Team GB’s women’s volleyball squad at London 2012 and the associated challenges around leadership, motivation and how to keep focus regardless.

The former Mearns Castle High School pupil made her Britain debut in 2007 and was named as the BOA Athlete of the Year for volleyball two years later.

She is well travelled, having played in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Italy and Slovenia during her club career.

This is a must listen for all athletes, leaders and for those who play a large part in planning and strategy.

Photo shows Lynne with Gary Robinson (seated) and Anthony Drew from Made in Scotland podcast sponsor Ogilvie Ross Ross

This week’s Made in Scotland guest is Ellis Watson is Executive Chairman of DC Thomson Publishing Group, one of the world’s largest family owned media groups.

He was previously global CEO of Syco Entertainment, the joint venture between Simon Cowell and Sony – running the global format and commercial strategies for X Factor and Got Talent, as well as the recorded music businesses.

The Syco appointment followed spells on the board of Menzies and FirstGroup, the huge public transport operator with brands from First Great Western to America’s Greyhound Bus network. Before that he was at the helm of Mirror Group Newspapers, running five national titles.

Ellis’ first break came as a young Marketing Director at The Sun and The News of the World, moving on to take charge of the new digital business and reporting directly to Rupert Murdoch.

After ten years at News Corporation he became CEO of Celador International – licensing Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? to 100 countries and overseeing 130 consumer products.

It’s an honest, humorous and frank podcast.

This is a must listen for all aspiring (and inspiring) leaders – wherever you are in the world!

This week’s Made in Scotland podcast guest is Kirsteen Ross.

If you read Kirsteen’s Twitter profile you will see:

Cricketer, Musician, Wife, Mother, Zumbette, Cat Owner. Not necessarily in that order! Passionate and Compassionate. Working in Sports Development.

However, in this podcast you’ll discover Kirsteen is much, much more.

She is an accomplished Scottish Gymnast Champion and talented musician which led her to the Royal Academy of Music at the tender age of 13.

Kirsteen began volunteering at her local cricket club in Kinross, Perthshire in 2005 and is now chair, coach, umpire, scorer and tea maker!

She completed a full-time sports development university degree whilst maintaining a full-time job in cricket development and is currently delivering a sportscotland 2014 commonwealth games legacy initiative – interested in increasing sports participation generally, and girls and women’s sport and inclusion/equality in sport specifically.

Her vision is to get everyone more active across all stages of life, regardless of ability, or disability and intends to be able to influence sports policy and strategy in Scotland.

In the meantime, she continues to play violin (for Perth Symphony Orchestra) and plays piano as well as keeping fit – cycling, walking local hills, playing cricket, going to the gym, doing Zumba and exercises to music.

Where does she get the time?

Listen to her inspirational story here.

The company enjoyed early high growth and within twenty four months was covering 500 sites across Scotland. As a result of a focus on managing customer relations ecos limited took on additional facility management work on client’s premises as the business grew.

The businesses were sold as a result of the contracts being bought out. Patrick then started his own SEPA registered recycling scheme under the ‘ecos’ brand as a separate limited liability partnership. The ecopak recycling company was bought out in 2004 by an English based competitor, The Wastepack Group.

Not content with this success, Patrick completed a five year course of exams leading to the award of an LL.B (English Law Degree) in 2005 and acted as independent legal advisor to a number of global and UK based family-owned businesses.

Sir Pete Downes appointed Patrick as the University of Dundee’s first ‘Entrepreneur in Residence’ and the University awarded Patrick the title ‘Honorary Fellow’ at the University in 2013.

Patrick first became aware of Hypnosis as a teenager.  During his official training Patrick has been mentored by a Las Vegas trained hypnotist Christopher Caress and a Scottish based trainer and advisor Bill Kerins.

Patrick uses his Hypnosis demonstrations as an entertaining way of showing the power of language and how thoughts become feelings and then emotions.

Hear his Made in Scotland podcast here.