Experience

The Productivity Institute

• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chair, Productivity Institute Scotland

  • Oct 2020 - Present

  The Productivity Institute is a £32m investment by the Economic and Social Research Council and additional partner support. Based on the premise that the long-term underperformance of productivity in the UK threatens a future of excellent economic performance and shared prosperity, The Productivity Institute’s mission is to lay the foundations for an era of sustained and inclusive productivity growth. Led by the University of Glasgow, our research in Scotland identifies a digital technology skills gap, low rate of business start-ups and adoption of technologies, and low proportion of businesses that export as some of the key factors contributing to Scotland’s slowdown in productivity. Innovation from new products and services, and digital adoption are other areas where Scotland lags behind. The research also highlights areas where productivity is flourishing including professional services, knowledge intensive services, the oil and gas sector and the finance sector. Further findings include Scotland having one of the most highly educated workforces, yet also the highest number of adults in the UK without any qualifications. There is a wide variation on productivity across Scotland and business investment in capital such as machinery and equipment, buildings, ICT, research and development has been chronically low. Plus there is huge potential for Scotland to transform its oil and gas sector into green energy. Work is already underway on a digital adoption project to enable more businesses to capitalise on the power of digital and best use technology to support growth. In addition, a masterclass on practical productivity has been delivered by Mark Logan, former Skyscanner Chief Operating Officer, start-up advisor and investor. The masterclass provided businesses with a framework and range of tools to tackle enduring business constraints and boost efficiency. Research by the Institute will inform and guide more work to assist businesses and boost productivity.



Queen Margaret University

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Entrepreneur In Residence

  • Aug 2021 - Present

  As entrepreneur in Residence at Queen Margaret University, I will be focusing on fusing the latest university-led innovation with business opportunities. Supporting staff, students and the general population at large to try out starting up a business. A key element of my role will be to progress our shared ambition to establish a physical women's business centre, providing the expert support to mitigate the specific challenges women face when starting and growing their own businesses. A women's business centre model will help to ensure women's business aspirations are realised and, importantly, begin to create a more diverse business landscape in Scotland and the UK. Currently women-led employer businesses are just 14% of the business base, a notable gender gap in enterprise participation. As gender diversity drives novel innovation, supporting more women to start and grow their own businesses is critical for our ability to innovate and compete globally as a nation. We will be using our years of research and data-led insights to target investment to build a strong, supportive infrastructure to power transformative change. Unlocking more business creativity to boost our national competitiveness and productivity and lead economic recovery. Our first women's business centre events programme starts in Autumn 2021. The events are digital, free to attend and open to all.



Women's Enterprise Scotland

• United Kingdom
• Research Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive, Women's Enterprise Scotland

  • May 2018 - Present

  As CEO of Women's Enterprise Scotland, I am responsible for setting the vision and strategy, in addition to managing the day to day operation. This includes delivery of project, training, research and policy work across the world, in collaboration with a variety of strategic partner organisations. At WES we have an ambition for women-owned businesses - and our work includes providing support for early stage business creation right through to scale-up, growth and exit. The model of support developed by WES in Scotland, is acknowledged as leading the way internationally. I give expert evidence to parliamentary committees on enterprise and economic matters, chair conferences and speak at events and in the media. I am particularly keen to see more women represented in the media and I have worked with both BBC and STV to train more women to speak as business experts on the news and other programmes.The work of WES is supported by a range of public, private and third sector organisations. In addition to our role model Ambassadors - women who have started up and grown their own businesses and generously share their stories, expertise and insights at events and in the media to support and inspire the next generation of women and girls.

• Chief Operating Officer

  • Sep 2015 - Apr 2018

  As Chief Operating Officer, my work included strategic planning; the creation of an innovative culture; the application of innovation; design and delivery of global leading new products and services; risk and operational management; financial management; programme management; strategic partnership development and the provision of expert gender-specific consultancy, research and training.Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES) works to create a business environment where women-owned businesses can flourish. Women-owned businesses are just 20% of all businesses, yet these businesses contribute £8.8bn into the Scottish economy every year and have created over 230,000 jobs.The model of support developed by WES in Scotland (the "Scottish model"), is acknowledged by business organisations in the UK and internationally as leading the way in unlocking the economic potential of women-led businesses. WES works with international partner organisations to support women in business in the UK, across the EU and beyond.See www.WEScotland.co.uk for the current range of training and consultancy services and our strategic partnership work.



University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Strategic Advisory Board Member

  • Jan 2019 - Present



NatWest Group

• United Kingdom
• Banking
• 700 & Above Employee

• Head of Women in Business

  • Jun 2009 - Mar 2015

  I co-founded and launched the women in business initiative, researching and guiding the development of the proposition across the RBS and NatWest brands. Achieving many firsts in market, including training staff to better understand and meet the needs of women-owned businesses. Growing the team of specialist bank staff to over 200 across the UK. As Head of Women in Business I had responsibility for setting the strategy and commercial activity across this multi-billion pound sector. Building the proposition from scratch to global acclaim. I was called on to support policy development, including submitting papers to the World Economic Forum in Davos, addressing the Global Banking Alliance, providing expert consultancy to No10 Downing St and UK Government taskforces.