Housing Crisis, Donaldson Family Business Legacy & Beauty Brand Growth

Air Date: June 29th 2025Hosts: Sir Tom Hunter & Lord Willie HaugheySpecial Guests: Andrew Donaldson (CEO, James Donaldson Group) & Laura Porter (Founder, Fab Salons)   Episode Summary In this season finale, Tom and Willie tackle Scotland’s housing emergency, business rates disparity, and the future of clean energy. They’re joined by Andrew Donaldson, CEO of the 165-year-old Donaldson Group, who shares insights on solving the housing crisis through innovation and collaboration. On the ‘Board You Can’t Afford’ Laura Porter, founder of FAB Salons and FAB Skincare, discusses scaling a beauty brand post-COVID and launching a teen skincare line.   Timestamps & Topics [00:01:33] Housing Levy Controversy Willie challenges a proposed builder tax. Urges alternative funding for remediation post-Grenfell. [00:04:10] Green Energy Progress Gren’s district heating project on the Clyde. DFYNE named UK’s fastest-growing private company. [00:05:52] BuzzWorks Management Buyout Kenny Blair leads MBO. Plans to scale to £100M turnover. Business rates disparity between Scotland and England. [00:11:56] Tea Fraudster Sentenced Fraudulent “Scottish-grown” tea scam lands 3.5-year sentence. [00:13:45] Derek Pierce’s Expansion New £15M factory in Bellshill. Hundreds of jobs created. [00:14:42] Housing Emergency – Still No Action Frustration over lack of progress since May 2024. Urgent need for a national housing plan. [00:16:18] Nuclear Power & Energy Costs Advocating for nuclear as part of clean energy mix. UK’s high industrial energy costs vs. Europe. [00:19:27] Redundancies to Tackle Budget Deficit Scottish government eyes civil service cuts. Call for efficiency over taxation.   [00:22:24] Guest Interview: Andrew Donaldson, CEO of Donaldson Group Legacy & Leadership 6th-generation family business, founded in 1858. 50 sites across the UK, 1,500+ employees. Timber & Sustainability 75% imported timber; 25% homegrown. Challenges with UK-grown timber for structural use. Housing Crisis Solutions Donaldson Group operating at 50% capacity. Advocates for standardised house types to cut planning costs. Collaboration with Octopus Energy for zero-bill, carbon-positive homes. Family Business Governance Strong governance and decentralised leadership. Preparing the next generation with no pressure to join. [00:46:21] Board You Can’t Afford Interview: Laura Porter, Founder of Fab Salons and FAB Skincare. Entrepreneurial Journey Launched post-COVID with no prior business background. Grew from salon treatments to a 14-product cosmetic line. Scaling Challenges Self-funded growth using salon profits. Plans to launch a teen skincare range. Advice from Willie Grow within your means. Consider smart money from strategic investors. Never overpromise to large buyers. [00:54:43] Season Wrap-Up Sir Tom and Lord Haughey reflect on the season’s impact. Encouragement for Scottish businesses. Looking forward to a refreshed return after summer.   Join the Conversation  What did you think of this episode?  Email: [email protected] Follow us @thisisgoradio on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Tik Tok  For more Go Creative Podcasts, head to: https://thisisgo.co.uk/podcasts/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ATeQD... Scottish housing crisis 2025, Donaldson Group timber solutions, BuzzWorks management buyout, Scottish business rates vs England, Fab Salons Glasgow, Laura Porter cosmetics, Go Radio Business Show podcast, Andrew Donaldson interview, Family business governance UK, Zero-bill homes Scotland