Scotland’s Leading Business Podcast: Scottish Entrepreneurs Sir Tom Hunter & Lord Willie Haughey Discuss Business and Chat to Kirsty Allan, Performance Director of City Access Scaffolding.

Episode Notes and Highlights US Current Affairs: Discussion on the controversial statement from Trumo about migrants and pets.. Comments on Kamala Harris’s performance and how she managed to rile Donald Trump. Political Commentary: John Bolton questioning Trump’s fitness to be commander in chief. Expression hope that Trump will not be president again.Comments on Trump’s claims about the war in Gaza and Kamala Harris’s remarks about President Xi and Putin. 04:35 Andrew Carnegie: References Andrew Carnegie in the context of current events concerning US Steel. 07:00 Declaration of a New Labour government and the scrutiny over a £20 billion black hole. Opposition’s demand for more details and the government’s lack of forthcoming information.  Sir Tom Hunter questions the decision to cut pensions and suggests more time should have been taken to find alternative savings. Labour Party’s handling of pension cuts statement and the lack of announcement of increased payments to pensioners. Discussion on the media’s focus on pensioners’ hardships and the potential negative headlines. 08:20 Public Service Salaries: References a Freedom of Information request revealing high salaries for civil servants in Scotland. Concern over the number of senior public servants earning over £100,000. Value for Money: Emphasises the importance of paying public servants well if they deliver results. Comments on the Scottish Government’s allocation of taxpayer money. Public Sector Employment and Outcomes: Highlighting the unsustainable nature of employing many people without improving outcomes. . Public Sector KPIs: Discussion on the lack of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the public sector compared to private businesses.  Pension Cuts: Suggests that deeper analysis could have prevented pension cuts and the resulting public backlash. Civil Service Issues: The civil service is broken and mentions the impact of COVID-19 on the system. Emphasis the need for strong leadership and accountability in the public sector, with appropriate compensation for good leaders. Discussion on the increase in civil service numbers in Scotland and their effectiveness. Financial Concerns: Highlighting the discrepancy between increasing employment and the existing deficit, calling it a recipe for disaster. 15:20 Celebrating 25 Years of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Strategy 25th anniversary of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Strategy at Strathclyde University. Background: The Centre was founded by Tom Hunter after selling his sports business. Inspired by visits to top entrepreneurship centers in the U.S., including Babson College. The Centre combines academic knowledge with practical entrepreneurial experience. Key Highlights: New Leadership: Nigel Mackenzie is the new director. Mission: Focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and strategy. Research and Practice: Emphasis on practical ideas, influencing government policy, and making a difference in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Achievements: The Centre has grown significantly over the past 25 years. It has become a leading hub for entrepreneurship research and education in Europe. Future Plans: Continued focus on combining academic and practical entrepreneurial insights. Upcoming 25th-anniversary celebration event. Economic Insights: Discussion on current economic trends, including interest rates and inflation. Positive outlook on long-term economic indicators. Conclusion: Recap of the Centre’s journey and achievements. Excitement for the future and upcoming celebrations.   17:30 Economic Trends, Football Finances, and Leadership Insights Economic Trends: Inflation and Deflation: Current US deflation rate at 2.5%, with positive economic indicators. 18:30 Football Finances: Financial Losses: Discussion on recent financial losses in football, including a £113 million loss. Jim Ratcliffe: Insights into Jim Ratcliffe’s business approach and the financial challenges in f