Business Comment Magazine

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce’s bi-monthly magazine

Business Comment Magazine

 

Business Comment is the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce’s bi-monthly magazine. It provides insight on Edinburgh’s vibrant business community, with features on the city’s key sectors, interviews with leading figures and news on business developments in the capital.

Our magazine is produced by Distinctive Publishing. For more information and to enquire about advertising, please contact Distinctive on 0191 580 5990, referencing Business Comment. Edinburgh Chamber members benefit from a substantial discount on any advertising.

 

  • Our Latest Issue

    Infrastructure and Development

    Feb/March 2024
  • Our Latest Issue

    Talent and Skills

    December/January

    The latest edition of Business Comment focuses on the trends and challenges in the talent and skills landscape. Industry leaders share insights, including the launch of Skills Development Scotland’s employer hub for upskilling, the positive impact of the Living Wage campaign on city employees, and Phoenix Group’s initiative empowering staff to shape their career paths. The magazine covers a Talent and Skills conference at Edinburgh College aimed at collaborative solutions, updates on the Chamber’s Net Zero journey, and thought-provoking perspectives on hybrid working from Ann Frances Cooney, a partner at DWF.

  • Our Latest Issue

    Net Zero and the Just Transition

    October/November

    In this issue, we hear about the work that is going on across all kinds of sectors to tackle climate change and make our world more sustainable. For example, Alan Laidlaw, Chief Executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, talks us through some of the innovative things that are happening in our food production sector. Elsewhere there is advice for SMEs on net zero, and we hear from organisations as varied as the award-winning environmental charity Changeworks through to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland about how they are each making a difference.

  • Our Latest Issue

    Economy & Resilience

    August/September

    In the magazine, we are focusing on our Economy, and in particular its resilience. It is a huge topic and, while it is one that is currently in the news in many guises, it does not always get the serious and open debate it merits. After all, so much of what we view as important in Scotland hangs from our economic success (or failure) – our health, our wealth, our education, our jobs and opportunities.

    That is why, in this issue the Chamber continues to beat the drum for a Modern Scottish Industrial Strategy – a vision to take us forward and remove us from the current short-term nature of our policy cycle. The economy is quite simply too important to be subject to the vagaries of party politics, and that is why the Chamber is calling for a Strategy that is created with Cross-Party support, that takes a medium to long-term view, and that can withstand changes in political hues.

    Elsewhere, and as ever, the magazine showcases the innovation, creativity and leadership of our business community.

    Enjoy the read.

  • Our Latest Issue

    International Connections

    June/July

    Our focus in this issue is on International Connections. The vast majority of us take great pride in Edinburgh’s status as an undeniably international city, with a positive image around the world for the beauty of our city, its world-leading culture, our history of innovation and invention, and as a wonderful place to live, work and visit.

    What we may not always understand is the vital importance to our city of that international status. So much of what Edinburgh is and does depends on our international connections.

    As always, elsewhere in the magazine you can learn about the policy workcarried out by the Chamber on behalf of its members, and as always there ismuch to enjoy and admire in the work and success of our members.

    Enjoy the magazine.

  • Our Latest Issue

    Technology & Data

    April/May

    The world of technology and data – on which we focus this issue – will be vital to the future success of our economy, our businesses and our city. Edinburgh is fortunate to have world class research, teaching and an increasingly skilled workforce in these areas, with our universities very much in the vanguard of harnessing and developing the power of technology, data and artificial intelligence.

    While the work of the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt is well known in these areas, in this issue we learn about the tremendously exciting work in cyber security and AI being carried out at Edinburgh Napier University. We also focus on how data is driving the future of a smarter and more flexible energy network, and how leveraging the right technology and using good quality data can help businesses improve productivity and performance.

  • Our Latest Issue

    Transport & Infrastructure

    February/March

    One of the most tangible examples of investment in transport and infrastructure has finally come onstream, with the completion of the tram line to Newhaven. In the magazine, the Transport Convener of City of Edinburgh Council, Councillor Scott Arthur, describes his pride that the massive project has been delivered on time and on budget.

    We also hear from leading developer Tony Hordon of Parabola, deeply involved in Edinburgh Park, one of the cornerstones of all the enormously exciting and potentially game-changing developments to the west of the city.

    A report by Alan Laidlaw, Chief Executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, which highlights the continuing importance of the rural economy to our city, in part through the almost £40million of economic benefit generated by the Royal Highland Show.

    Finally, we also look at the challenge of retrofitting buildings to meet net zero carbon targets and what is needed to create a truly integrated transport network.

  • Our Latest Issue

    The Future Workforce

    December/January

    Amongst the perfect storm of challenges facing businesses in 2022, tackling the skills and labour shortages ranks amongst the keenest priorities. Not having sufficient, skilled staff is hampering our recovery and future growth.

    In this edition, Catherine Foot, Director of Phoenix Insights, highlights figures that show closing the UK skills gap would generate a £150bn uplift to the value of our economy. We also hear from the enormously important hospitality and leisure sector in Edinburgh, with some positive progress being achieved despite the huge difficulties the sector is facing post-pandemic. Additionally, we learn more about the changes, innovations and hard work of our members.

  • Our Latest Issue

    Innovation and Sustainability

    October/November

    In this edition, we hear the determination of Edinburgh Chamber Business Award winner for innovation, Tronius, to continue to harness the power of good data in guiding the increased use of Electric Vehicles by allowing businesses to better plan charging requirements. Fascinating too, to read of the efforts being made by the Royal Bank of Scotland in its own journey to net zero and – in particular – its Climate Springboard aimed at helping SMEs on their net zero journeys, which is delivered in an Edinburghbased partnership with the University of Edinburgh and the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute.

  • Our Latest Issue

    Economy and Resilience

    August/September 2022

    In this edition, we hear from Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive at our International Airport, who reports on progress in bringing the airport back on line after two years of massive disruption.

    We are delighted that Councillor Jane Meagher, the city council’s Housing, Homelessness, and Fair Work convener has taken the time to pen her thoughts on our economic recovery.

    Looking outside of the city centre, Alan Laidlaw, Chief Executive at the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland, reminds us that outside the city the rural economy plays a vital role in Scotland’s success.