Ryden has made three senior promotions. Nick Armstrong based in the Investment team in Edinburgh and Eddie Fiddes who works in Aberdeen Property Management have both been made Partner. Mark Thom has been promoted to Associate within the Valuation, Lease Advisory & Rating team in Edinburgh. All three joined Ryden in the early stages of their property careers.
The promotions take Ryden’s total number of Partners to 43. The firm is predicted to hit fee targets at financial year end despite the difficult trading conditions of the past 12 months.
Nick has worked in the Edinburgh Investment team for over 10 years building strong relationships with clients. His most recent transactions include the purchase of Prestonfield Park Industrial Estate on behalf of Ribston and the purchase of 43-45 George Street on behalf of Thistle Property. Eddie has led Ryden’s Property Management team in Aberdeen since 2013 and has worked with local and national clients including Knight Property Group, GSS Developments, Gilcomston Investments and Freshwater Group. Mark began his career as a graduate in Aberdeen before relocating to Edinburgh where he provides valuation, rent review, lease restructuring and strategic advice for clients such as The Robertson Trust and Scotmid.
Dr Mark Robertson, Ryden Managing Partner, said:
“Ryden has maintained a strong business focus during the extended periods of lockdown to ensure that we support our client-facing teams and sustain our market-leading positions. Our people work extremely hard for their clients and the promotions we have made are individuals who have built their career with us and reflect our appreciation of their dedication. Ryden is in a strong position to support clients through the next stage of the commercial property market cycle which is picking up pace in Q2.”
Barclays has completed the provision of a major new banking arrangement with Edinburgh headquartered private investment company Murray Capital.
The family-run business manages investments across a range of asset classes. The new deal sees Barclays take over as the sole banker for the organisation’s day-to-day requirements following a longstanding relationship with its previous provider.
David D. Murray, Director of Murray Capital, commented: “The new banking arrangement with Barclays represents a step change for the business as we plan for future growth. It allows us more flexibility in our finances and Barclays’ collegiate approach impressed us throughout the process. We see this as a strong financial partnership to guide Murray Capital’s ongoing success.
“We have invested in a healthy pipeline of strategic land assets across central Scotland, as well as trading businesses, and will continue to welcome opportunities in both.”
Jamie Grant, Head of Corporate Banking for Barclays in Scotland, said: “Murray Capital has diversified and grown over the past few years and was looking for a bank that shared its future vision. We worked closely with the management team to understand their requirements; this relationship approach underpins all of Barclays’ services.
“The changing economic landscape can pose challenges for Scottish businesses and we are keen to work with ambitious companies like Murray Capital to navigate uncertainties and maximise their potential.”
A multi-million-pound investment deal is helping energy and water efficiency company SaveMoneyCutCarbon expand its Scottish operation.
The company, now in its fifth year of operation, aims to become the go-to people for homes and businesses that want to reduce their energy and water bills.
It does this through its leading website, partnerships with major manufacturers and a team across the UK that offers a unique end to end service in the field.
The innovative approach has successfully delivered energy and water-saving projects for businesses across the UK and in Scotland that have saved many thousands of pounds, but up until now this has had to be managed from its Southern offices.
The potential for further rapid growth as energy and water bills continue to rise was identified as a key driver of the successful conclusion of the £3.2 million investment round by IW Capital. SaveMoneyCutCarbon CEO Mark Sait said the funding would grow the company’s Scottish presence on the ground to deliver savings, payback and peace of mind.
Kyle McGuigan, who recently joined the company to head the sales development in Scotland, said: “There is huge potential here for businesses, organisations and homes to save millions of pounds through effective energy and water saving solutions and we now have the support and backing from our head office to grow the business and the local support we can offer our customers here in Scotland.
“It’s a fact that many Scottish businesses and other organisations such as schools have yet to take advantage of the immense financial benefits from reduced energy and water consumption. We are committed to driving awareness and partnering with them to reap the rewards of becoming a sustainable operation.”
Kyle added: “We are now looking to find the best partners to help promote and create awareness of the savings and carbon reduction message across Scotland.
The Scots development, with Shane Marshall leading the technical side and the installation teams, is focused on rapid expansion in a range of commercial areas from large hotels chains, warehousing operators, schools, hospitals and public-sector organisations.
Shane Marshall said: “Many businesses and organisations have used our expertise to take advantage of efficiency surveys to identify savings opportunities and then to select proven products for fully-managed installation projects. We emphasise the savings first with the added benefit of carbon reduction with peace of mind coming from our manufacturer partnerships and delivery of over 400 successful projects for high profile clients.”
The company also optimises how its customers use online search, its unique website responding to search enquiries by building type. It attracts customers big and small as a platform for knowledge, products, manufacturer partners, savings solutions and support.
Flexibility and responsiveness is key to the company’s success as a digital one-stop-shop marketplace for energy, water savings and sustainability harnessing both e-commerce and a consultative project business.
For more information contact:
Kyle McGuigan – Mobile 07795 950789. Email: kyle.mcguigan@savemoneycutcarbon.com
Shane Marshall – Mobile 07881 303950. Email: shane.marshall@savemoneycutcarbon.com
Website: www.savemoneycutcarbon.com
Commenting on the transport investment strategy announced by the Department for Transport today, Jane Gratton, Head of Business Environment at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:
“Infrastructure projects, both large and small, give business communities across the UK real confidence. A long-term approach to improving productivity and connectivity is welcome but businesses have seen strategies come and go, the real proof comes when they see diggers in the ground.
“Investment in local roads will be particularly well-received by businesses who often express frustration at the capacity and quality of the current system. While ‘A’ roads are of national strategic importance, local areas are best placed to identify how those assets may be enhanced to promote growth opportunities and should be given the flexibility to do so.
“UK businesses want to see progress on major projects such as Heathrow and HS2, but action on smaller schemes such as local road and rail maintenance unlocks access to major cities and create new paths for communities in all parts of the country.
“Businesses will want this strategy to represent additional and better-focused investment to provide the UK with a quality infrastructure system that supports business growth. Transport projects ‘crowd in’ additional investment, generate jobs on site and across supply chains, and support greater connectivity between businesses and their markets, suppliers and customers.”
The Bank of England is walking a very narrow line on monetary policy and a rise in interest rates may come sooner rather than later following the narrow vote to maintain interest rates at 0.25% and the onus is now on Government to take steps to bolster demand and investment.
Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
“This week’s higher than expected inflation rate has undoubtedly been a significant factor in a much more evenly balanced decision by the Bank of England to keep interest rates on hold this month. It seems clear that as the Consumer Price Index edges towards 3%, there is a strong case being made for interest rates to rise in the near future to keep prices under control.
“The problem that the Bank of England has that there are as many threats in terms of raising interest rates as there are in letting the inflationary pressures run their course. Expectations remain that inflation will remain above target for much of the next three years, but whilst the rate of inflation is not high by historic standards, it remains a problem because it is outpacing wage growth which, in turn, is being held in check by low productivity.
“As we have been saying for some time, the Bank of England has very little left in its arsenal to stimulate growth and that is why it is Government that must now come forward for a plan to stimulate investment and demand and get our economy back on track.”
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