Scotland’s Leading Business Podcast: Scottish Entrepreneurs Sir Tom Hunter & Lord Willie Haughey Discuss Business and Chat to Andrew Marshall, Founder of the Carlowrie Group

The Go Radio Business Show - Season 10, Episode 3 In this episode of The Go Radio Business Show, Sir Tom Hunter and Lord Willie Haughey discuss various topics related to business and the economy. They highlight the recognition of three Scottish tech companies in The Sunday Times list, debate the role of government in running businesses, and critique the Scottish Government's handling of ScotRail. They also discuss the economic outlook from Davos, the housing crisis in Scotland, and innovative initiatives like zero-bills homes by Octopus Energy. Special Guest: Andrew Marshall, Founder Carlowrie Group   Episode Highlights: Government and Business: [00:00:29] Debate on the role of government in running businesses. Critique of the Scottish Government's handling of ScotRail and the financial implications. Discussion on the importance of government setting the right tone for business growth.   Economic Outlook: [00:04:27] Insights from Davos and the potential for interest rate cuts. Discussion on the impact of government policies on business confidence and growth. Housing Crisis: [00:06:50] Highlighting the issue of homelessness in Scotland, with 90,000 children deemed homeless. Call for urgent action to address the housing crisis. Innovative Initiatives: [00:09:21] Introduction of zero-bills homes by Octopus Energy in partnership with Homes for Scotland. Discussion on the potential impact of such initiatives on the housing market and sustainability. Business Reality TV: [00:14:11] Announcement of a new business reality TV show, "The House of Unicorns," by James Watt. Discussion on the concept and potential impact of the show on the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Small Business Survey: [00:19:20] Encouragement for small businesses to participate in a survey by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to share their views on the business environment in Scotland. Visitor Tax: [00:20:09] Introduction of a visitor tax in Edinburgh and the potential implications for tourism and local businesses.   Special Guest Interview: [00:21:08] Andrew Marshall shares his entrepreneurial journey, from starting a lifestyle concierge company to founding Carlowrie Group. Discussion on the importance of combining profit with purpose and the impact of social initiatives.   Board You Can't Afford: [00:41:01] Craig Neilson, founder of Fayre Play, discusses his business and seeks advice on managing business expansion. Sir Tom and Lord Haughey provide insights on the importance of building a strong team and retaining talent for business growth.   Keywords:  Go Radio Business Show, Sir Tom Hunter, Lord Willie Haughey, business and economy, Scottish tech companies, The Sunday Times list, government role in business, ScotRail critique, economic outlook Davos, housing crisis Scotland, zero-bills homes, Octopus Energy, innovative initiatives