Dr Ronnie Palin, Life Sciences sector manager at Skills Development Scotland, explains how Scotland’s skills and learning system is responding to the COVID-19 crisis. News of the recent breakthroughs of COVID-19 vaccines and announcements of significant growth in testing capacity are hugely encouraging and represent a striking reminder the crucial role Scotland’s life science sector […]

Written by Nicola Andereson – Fintech Scotland The past few months have been unprecedented, and as we continue to hear the developing views of what’s being described as the ‘new norms’ it’s likely we’re going to continue to experience more turbulent and unchartered times ahead. The impact of COVID-19 is being felt far and wide […]

Dragon or Yes Man: what type of investor are you? Active managers can be selective Have you ever watched Dragon’s Den, where hopeful participants pitch business ideas to panel of millionaire entrepreneurs, seeking financial backing?  Each entrant is systematically grilled on every aspect of their business, on sales, revenues, the growth forecasts, environmental impacts.  If […]

Think longer term and avoid the market noise The world’s five biggest companies used to be the US giants of oil & gas, soft drinks and pharmaceuticals.  Now, all five of the world’s biggest companies are tech-related companies and have become household names and part of everyday life.  The relentless rise in technology related companies […]

The latest ‘tech innovation’ may seem compelling, until you leave the group think echo chambers of London’s ivory towers. Head of multi-asset investments David Coombs considers how looking beyond the M25 can help us see what’s going on in the real world.  Another UK ‘tech name’ bites the dust. Laundrapp, backed by NEX Group founder […]

I read the news today. Bong – the UK leaves the EU. Today is Independence Day or Isolation Day depending on your persuasion. My family were totally split with half voting remain and half to leave. We have never fallen out over it, but respected each other’s views. Who was right and who was wrong? […]

There is little doubt that data volumes in Life Sciences and Healthcare are growing, and indeed, growing to a huge extent. New data sources abound. However, what is perhaps hidden behind the volume growth is how it manifests. Organisations today must deal not just with data volume growth but also increasing variety of data sources […]

More than 750 life sciences companies call Scotland home, with the industry employing over 37,000 people and turning over in excess of £5.2 billion in 2016 (a figure which is predicted to rise to £8 billion by 2025). Scotland has been, and continues to be, responsible for some of the greatest innovations in the life […]

It’s no big secret. You have a fight on your hands. The ongoing shortage of homegrown STEM students has been further exacerbated by the implications of Brexit. Add to that the fact Scottish working-age migration is predicted to fall by a total of 73% through to 2022, significantly shrinking the country’s talent pool, and the […]