The ethical AI rec-tech has hired D&I heavyweights Emily Lawrence and Rashida Adekunle to grow corporate retention, candidate experience and employer partnerships. 

The firm is also currently going through a £1.2m private fundraising round.

Emily Lawrence has a deep understanding of employee benefits and aims to drive strategic growth to strengthen Clu’s position as an inclusive hiring solution for employers.

As the Senior Customer Success Manager, Rashida Adekunle will work closely with Clu’s diverse partner network to ensure they receive the highest level of service and support. 

Both roles will ensure Clu’s platform meets the evolving needs of organisations and their workforce, to help drive Clu’s target of adding one million socially mobile people to the workforce over the next ten years. 

Joseph Williams, Co-Founder and CEO of Clu, said: “Our two major appointments mark a significant milestone.

“Their wealth of experience and industry knowledge will be instrumental in forging strategic partnerships with employers and expanding our reach.” 

Newly hired Emily Lawrence said: “Clu is revolutionising the way employers engage with diverse talent; using unparalleled data to drive changes to hiring process, empower skills-based talent matching and accelerate social mobility for marginalised groups.  

“Joining Clu was an easy decision, to support the next stage of expansion and eliminate unconscious bias as a barrier to employment.

“Truly inclusive hiring is required at every major corporation in an increasingly diverse workforce, to ensure no one is left behind, jobseeker or employer.” 

Following her appointment, Rashida Adekunle said: “I was truly inspired by Clu’s commitment to inclusivity and eliminating bias, creating diverse and inclusive workplaces and driving positive change in the recruitment industry.

“I am excited to work with an innovative platform prioritising candidate experience, corporate retention, and meaningful employer partnerships.

“Together, we can transform the hiring process and impact the lives of job seekers and employers alike,” Rashida added.

The London-based Clu began trading last year to secure skills aligned work and has a predicted revenue of £12 million by 2026.

Current major business customers include the BBC, ASOS, Warner Bros and Oliver Bonas. 

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John Watson has been appointed as the firm’s new Chair, while Steve Dunlop, who has been Chair for the past two years, will take up the full-time role of Chief Executive.

Founder and former CEO Lindsay Wallace becomes Executive Director Sales & Innovations Europe to continue his work in broadening the reach of new EV charging models.    

The new-look leadership team comes during a significant growth phase for the business, which has seen it launch a new brand and website.

The company plans to install 1,700 EV charge points across 600 sites in Scotland and beyond.

FOR:EV aims to address the challenges of carbon emissions in the UK’s transport sector and has developed a bespoke ‘charging as a service’ model for fleet owners and operators.

The company also wants to focus on publicy available ‘destination’ charging points at shopping centres, businesses, transport hubs and visitor destinations.

This dual focus supports the vision of the business’s key investor and shareholder, the Scottish National Investment Bank, to drive forward Scotland’s transition to Net Zero.

New Chair John Watson previously held a number of executive and non-executive positions globally.

He is an Operating Principal of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and is CEO of one of their companies, Crosswind Developments Ltd, which regenerates excess land at Edinburgh Airport. 

Prior to joining GIP, he was Managing Director of Lloyds Banking Group’s $50bn SME Lending portfolio. 

He is heavily focused on sustainability businesses, also being chair of vertical farming business Intelligent Growth Solutions. 

On his appointment to FOR:EV, John said: “It’s a privilege for me to join the forward-thinking team at FOR:EV.

“We hope to make a major contribution to Scotland’s transition to a Net Zero economy by boosting our electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the country.  

“We know that investors and customers are actively backing those organisations that get commercial EV charging right.

“The fresh approach FOR:EV is taking is simple, low risk and scalable for businesses and easy for consumers to use,” John added.

As he takes on the full-time role as CEO, Steve Dunlop said: “There has never been a more critical time for the private sector to step in and help shape the delivery of the green economy. 

“We urgently need a high-quality, user friendly, accessible EV charge point infrastructure to overcome the current barriers to transitioning to electric vehicles.

“FOR:EV is ready to tackle this challenge and I look forward to helping the country find solutions.”

Andy Clapp, Executive Director – Investment Portfolio Management at the Scottish National Investment Bank said: “FOR:EV shares the Bank’s mission to support Scotland’s transition to Net Zero.

“[The company] has a robust pipeline of locations across Scotland to install fast and rapid EV charging infrastructure, as well as providing an innovative ‘charging as a service’ model for fleets of all sizes.

“We look forward to seeing the company grow the availability of charging points across Scotland in the coming years.”

FOR:EV’s founder Lindsay Wallace concluded: “With initial investment from Scottish National Investment Bank in place we have been able to supercharge our capabilities.

“[We] will be targeting installation at multiple sites across Scotland in the next 12 months, as well as investigating other funding sources that will support our ambition to roll out 100% green energy charging across the rest of the UK and beyond.

“With Steve and John on board, and our initial funding beginning to make a real impact, we are perfectly positioned to achieve our goals.”

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Formed in 1940, the club known locally as Hutchie Vale supports the development of over 400 young girls and boys with regular training opportunities, coaches, and club matches.

The Kids School programme is held every Monday for young players looking to enhance their skills and gain invaluable experience on the field. 

Hutchison Vale has a track record of nurturing talent to bring youth players into the professional league, with club alumni including Edinburgh City striker Ryan Shanley and Paul Hanlon, defender and club captain for Hibernian FC. 

Headquartered in Fife, Pinpoint develops, manufactures, and installs staff alarm systems for high-risk environments where employees may need to call for assistance urgently. 

The Leven business has sponsored the semi-professional football club East Fife FC, whose grounds are just a stone’s through away from Pinpoint’s headquarters, for over 15 years.

Now, the family-run organisation is increasing its support of amateur players in the Edinburgh area. 

Daniel Waring, Pinpoint CEO, said: “Pinpoint is keen to make a positive impact on the community.

“We’re big believers in the importance of sport in building young people’s confidence, teamwork, discipline and respect.

“When a member of staff shared that their children’s football club was on the lookout for sponsors, it felt like the perfect fit.

“We look forward to attending club matches and cheering on ‘Hutchie Vale’!” Daniel added.

Tam Smith, leader of Hutchison Vale’s Kids School, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Pinpoint for their sponsorship of the Kids School.

“Their support will help us to provide enhanced training and match opportunities for the Kids School to nurture the best out of our young people.”

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The collaboration between EnerMech and TSI, an integrated turn around services firm involved in Indonesia’s oil and gas sector, is part of EnerMech’s expansion in the Asia Pacific market.

The partnership aims to deliver business solutions that cater to the unique demands of the region with a focus on enhancing operational efficiency and quality.

The two businesses have worked together on various projects since early 2022.

The new entity, called ‘EnerMech Titian JVA’, will leverage EnerMech’s technology and equipment fleet with TSI’s understanding of the Indonesian market.

To ensure its employees share the same standards for skills and competency, training solutions provider 3t EnerMech will help upskill its Indonesian personnel to become accredited trainers.

With bases in Jakarta and Batam, its workforce is headed up by EnerMech’s regional director for Asia Pacific, Garry Ford.

Garry said: “We are thrilled to officially join forces with TSI and establish a strong presence in Indonesia through this strategic JV.

“Our collaboration represents a significant step forward in our commitment to delivering excellence across all the sectors and countries we operate in.

“We will also be training the local workforce through 3t EnerMech to ensure we have more accredited trainers to be able to deliver the training courses locally.

“TSI has proven to be a trusted partner and by combining strengths, we are creating a powerful synergy that will enable us to deliver unparalleled value to our clients in the Asia Pacific market.”

Tanta Tarigan, managing director from TSI said: “We have a shared vision with EnerMech to drive innovation and foster sustainable growth across Indonesia and the wider Asia Pacific region.

“Through this partnership and training support for the locals on our team, we aim to establish a global benchmark for project execution and delivery.

“The new partnership delivers a truly differentiated experience for our clients,” Tanta added.

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The latest data from the Knowledge Bank revealed that 89% of shoppers would like to buy more food and drink produced in Scotland when shopping for food to eat at home.

Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight is an annual opportunity for individuals and businesses to champion all that Scotland’s larder has to offer.

The Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight campaign, which is now in its 14th year, takes place from Saturday 2 to Saturday 16 September.

The event celebrates the producers, manufacturers, retailers, foodservice, hospitality, Regional Food Groups and Food Tourism Ambassadors that work to get Scottish produce on shelves and tables throughout the year.

MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands Mairi Gougeon said: “It is no secret that Scotland produces some of the finest quality food and drink in the world.

“Consumers at home and increasingly around the globe know that every element of the production process is handled with the utmost care and expertise. 

“Food & Drink Fortnight is an excellent opportunity to celebrate all that Scotland has to offer and I hope that it encourages more and more people to discover what is available right here on their own doorstep,” Mairi added.

Over the next two weeks, Scotland Food & Drink is working closely with its Regional Food Groups and Regional Food Ambassadors to promote a line-up of regional events.

The events aim to spotlight produce from across Scotland that is stocked everywhere from shops, restaurants, cafes and bars to delis and markets.

Fiona Richmond, Head of Regional Food at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Scottish food and drink is world-renowned.

“The country is home to some of the best quality produce in the market with innovative and determined individuals working hard to make our sector such a success story.

“The Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight offers the whole industry the opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the nation’s best producers, and celebrate the achievements of our home-grown brands.

“I’d encourage everyone to use the Fortnight as an opportunity to explore the fantastic producers on their own doorsteps,” Fiona added.

Anybody can get involved in Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight by joining the celebrations on social media using hashtags #ScotFoodFort23 and #DiscoverWhatsOnYourDoorstep.

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The report by Edinburgh-based digital technology company Forrit reveals that the data breaches occurred through the firms’ contenent management systems (CMS).

It explores issues identified by marketers around using a CMS and offers tips to overcome challenges with security, regulation, branding, integration, efficiency and ease of use.

The report also notes that using more than one CMS – as 88% of the organisations surveyed do – could result in an increased security risk.

Peter Proud, CEO of Forrit, said: “Given the highly sensitive nature of information and extensive regulatory requirements in the financial services sector, we know security and compliance are paramount.

“Options like a cloud-based CMS that integrates with the rest of your system and using templates can help marketers be confident they’re reducing security risk while increasing compliance.”

Forrit commissioned Censuswide to survey 254 heads of marketing working in the banking, financial services, insurance, reinsurance and wealth management sectors across the UK in June.

Its subsequent report found that the banking and wealth management sectors were more likely to have suffered a data breach through their CMS in the past three years.

It also notes that three-quarters (75%) of marketers do not consistently use templates, which makes it more difficult to maintain compliance and brand consistency.

Meanwhile, the report also found that over a quarter (27%) of marketers do not localise content for different countries, which could cause compliance issues.

Other issues identified by financial services marketers across the board included ease of use (47%), enforcing brand guidelines (38%) and difficulty integrating with other systems (34%).

Peter Proud continued: “Nearly all the issues senior marketers identified in our research could be mitigated by using a single CMS platform, regardless of the organisation’s size.

“An astonishing 88% of organisations in the financial services sector are using many platforms, which can only be contributing to their challenges.

“A single platform which is secure, flexible, easy to use, and scalable is the simplest way to overcome all the pitfalls marketers identified around their CMSs.

“It’s more secure and can develop alongside your organisation as it grows,” he added.

Founded in 2014, Forrit is an Edinburgh-based digital technology company that has developed enterprise CMS software.

Its full report, titled The Content Management System market in 2023: what marketers in financial services really think, is available to download on the Forrit website.

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Craig Lennox, an accomplished businessperson who has held a variety of senior positions, has joined the STEM charity. 

Craig has more than 30 years’ experience and has led major energy, infrastructure and IT services businesses and is recognised as an instinctive strategist and leader.

He also has a Masters degree in Applied Artificial Intelligence.

Speaking about his appointment, Craig said: “Science impacts our lives every day. Whether…in the energy transition, medical advancements…or understanding our changing climate.

“Inspiring the next generation of scientists is key to all our futures. I am honoured to have been appointed as the chair of Aberdeen Science Centre.”

The new chair is Aberdeen Science Centre’s second board appointment of 2023, with Laurence Findlay, head of education and children’s services at Aberdeenshire Council, having joined the board in January. 

Craig will take over from interim chair Sandy Morton, while Sandy will return to his role as treasurer with immediate effect. 

Bryan Snelling, chief executive officer of Aberdeen Science Centre, welcomed the news of Craig’s appointment. 

“Our goal [at Aberdeen Science Centre] is to unleash the power of curiosity for every age group and to inspire a lifelong interest in science.

“Craig’s appointment further strengthens our board. He has a breadth and depth of skills and experience which will be key to our future development.

“It was important to find the right person…I would like to thank Amanda McCulloch and the team at TMM Executive for taking the time to fully understand our requirements,” Bryan added.

Aberdeen-based TMM Executive, which specialises in executive search, supported Aberdeen Science Centre to find the right person.

Amanda McCulloch, chief executive at TMM Executive, said: “It is very rewarding to have supported [ASC] with its search for a new chairperson. Craig is a great fit for the role.”

Based on Constitution Street near Aberdeen beach, ASC is home to almost 65 interactive exhibits, allowing visitors of all ages to discover topics including Space, Energy, Life Sciences and Engineering. 

Open seven days a week, Aberdeen Science Centre offers exclusive venue hire as well as room hire for corporate, social and private events.  

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The signwriter, originally from Stockport, has meticulously painted the names of the school’s Captains and Champions by hand since the 1970s – almost half of its entire history. 

What began as a job in the army quickly became a passion for signwriting that took Frank’s skills from the sides of tanks to cars, lorries, buildings and the walls of the Perthshire boarding school for half a century.

Now 88 years old, Frank says he still loves every day of his job.

“I should be retired really but well, it makes me happy, I’d rather keep doing this than sit at home.”

Headmaster of Strathallan, Mark Lauder, said: “Thanks to Frank, there are thousands of names in Gold on our walls.

“What a fantastic contribution and service to the school – for many more years too I hope!”

Strathallan is about to enter this academic year with the largest school roll ever in its 102-year history.

The school is welcoming five- and six-year-olds for the first time this September, meaning Frank could be kept busy for years to come with the names of its youngest ever pupils. 

With plans to develop the school already with Perth and Kinross Council, Strathallan School offers education to girls and boys from 5 to 18 years old.

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Situated on Dundas Street, the new practice features four treatment rooms and will offer services including GP appointments, health screening, cosmetic treatments and sexual health services.

Established in 2003 in Edinburgh’s Dean Village, YourGP promises “affordable, friendly & local GP services.”

Locals are being given the opportunity to join the launch day celebrations and be amongst the first to see the new practice and meet some of the team at the new practice open day.

Taking place on Friday 1 September, 12pm – 4pm, entry is free and there is no obligation to register at the practice or to book an appointment.

Visitors can pick up an exclusive goodie bag while stocks last, enjoy 20% off GP and cosmetic services, and enter a prize draw to win a Health MOT worth £495.

Ahead of the open day, YourGP Clinical Lead, Dr Cathrow, said: “During my time in healthcare over the past 20 years I have seen a hugely positive shift in patients’ attitudes.

“Especially since the pandemic, people are more attuned to general wellbeing and are looking for a more holistic approach to their healthcare.

“Focus has moved more to prevention as opposed to simply looking for cures,” she added.

Dr Cathrow continued: “We are seeing a much more engaged population who are taking control of their health and wellbeing in a more proactive manner.

“In response to this and to mark our 20th anniversary, we are delighted to expand our
offering and launch YourGP at Dundas Street which will give Edinburgh residents better
access to friendly, affordable local GP services.

“In so doing, YourGP can continue to support people to take charge of their wellbeing and
enjoy life-long good health.”

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The Stonehaven-based business, which designs, manufactures and installs timber systems, has appointed Kirsten Bell as finance director.

Kirsten has held the role of ERP (enterprise, resource planning) project manager with Deeside Timberframe for 18 months.

She was previously finance director of sister company, Bancon Construction, for almost six years.

With 16 years’ experience in finance in the construction industry, Kirsten held financial controller roles with Chap Group Ltd and Mansell before joining Bancon Construction.

Her appointment is part of a realignment of the senior management team aimed at delivering the firm’s growth plans.

Derek Wann, former commercial director, takes on the new role of UK business development director while former operations director, Stewart Ferguson, has been appointed contracts director.

Meanwhile, John Cain has been appointed to the new role of national sales manager as Deeside Timberframe looks to push into the English market.

David Crawford, managing director of Deeside Timberframe, said: “We’re thrilled that Kirsten is taking up the role of finance director after transforming our systems and reporting.

“Our restructured senior management team is now fully aligned with our business plan which seeks to deliver significant growth.”

Aberdeenshire-headquartered Deeside Timberframe, part of the Bancon Group, has been providing timber frames for over 40 years.

The company works with housebuilders, housing associations, construction firms and self-build customers to design, manufacture, and install timber systems.

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