Ian Traill
ian@businesstoursscotland.com
Tel: 0141 639 6404
International: +44 141 639 6404
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I have a passion for small countries - especially Scotland, arguably the “best small country in the world” - and for their economic history, finding out how they work and what makes them tick. |
In the course of a long and varied career following a degree from Aberdeen University and an MBA at Glasgow Business School, I’ve worked in banking, retailing, health care, engineering and economic development. I helped locate the North Sea Oil industry in Aberdeen and managed rural projects in the Highlands before joining the Scottish Development Agency ( later becoming Scottish Enterprise) where I set up the European Desk, encouraging trade and technology transfer between Scotland and Europe.
Another passion is Europe. I spent three years working for the European Commission in Luxembourg, one of the smallest countries of the European Union, and then became Director of the Euro Info Centre in Glasgow providing information on European legislation, funding and contracts to companies and other organisations. This often involved welcoming European business visitors to Scotland and showing them the special features of Scotland’s business environment.
With EU Enlargement occurring in 2004 I took the opportunity to start my own business, The Eurotactics Consultancy, (www.eurotactics.com) which focuses on building links with the New Member States such as the Baltic States, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Malta.
This background has enabled me to build a vast and detailed knowledge base on Scotland’s industrial and economic development, set in its European context, and it’s my pleasure to make this available to visitors seeking an insight into “Scotland with the lid off”.
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Irene Sime
irene@businesstoursscotland.com
Tel: 0141 337 6893
International: +44 141 337 6893
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Since leaving my family’s drawing office supplies business in 1985, I have worked in retail management, public relations and event organisation. Companies that once employed me, are my clients today. |
My first involvement with event organisation was as a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce (JCC). The JCC was responsible for arranging the Lord Provosts Procession in Glasgow and I was part of the small team that produced the spectacular in 1988.
However, it was as assistant to the Project Director for the Forth Bridge Cenntennial in 1990, that I really became interested in the full aspect of event management and learnt so much about the importance of attention to detail.
I was the Visit Services Contractor at Scottish Enterprise (www.scottish-enterpsie.com) for over 7 years -planning media visits to Scotland for international journalists and TV crews, in addition to arranging visit programmes for business & academic groups, politicians and diplomats.
One of my voluntary posts is Chairman of the Edinburgh Green Belt Trust. I work closely with the Chief Executive to raise the profile of the charity and gain financial support for our projects. www.egbt.org.uk. As founder members of Greenspace Scotland, we are very involved with the Greenspace for Communities Initiative and will shortly make a transition to work in urban areas in addition to the Green Belt. The trust will then become the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust.
Another of my other charitable roles is as a fundraiser for Cancer Research UK. www.cancer.org.uk. Hosting a breakfast for approx 60 people as part of Britain's Biggest Breakfast, a Pretty Pink Lunch for friends and colleagues during Breast Cancer Awareness month and a summer Petanque Tournament are three of the events that I organise for the charity.
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