People: The business diary

New Scottish insurance company Sure Thing! held its launch party at Glasgow’s Riverside Museum, with some good news to mark its first few weeks of trading.

Scottish curling superstar Eve Muirhead. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Chief executive Brendan Devine welcomed guests from around Britain for a night of entertainment, kicked off by comedian Des Clarke, that continued at the Corinthian in the city centre.

Devine disclosed to the People column that in its first month of business the company, based at the Maxim business park alongside the A8, has secured 5,000 customers against 1,500 it had targeted.

Among those attending were Laurna Woods and Chris McGhee of Beattie Communications.

Tasty menu

EVEN before summer arrives, the foodies are salivating over what is being billed as the flagship event of the autumn – Eat Drink Discover Scotland, which will play host to a number of Scotland’s celebrated chefs.

Taking part in the event at the Royal Highland Centre between 12 and 14 September are Tony Singh, Adam Handling, Scott Davies, Mark Greenaway, Neil Forbes and Jacqueline O’Donnell.

With numerous accolades under their belts, they promise to create regional dishes with seasonal produce from Scotland. The star chefs will also lead hands-on masterclass sessions for the public.

Blackwood rehoused

A HOUSING specialist which has helped thousands of Scots to find the perfect property is moving to a new home of its own.

After 30 years in the west of Edinburgh, care and housing specialist Blackwood is relocating to the city centre.

The organisation, which started life as the Margaret Blackwood Housing Association, has refocused under the guidance of new chief executive Fanchea Kelly, who took over the reins six months ago. The move to Dundee Street is seen as the latest big step for Blackwood to meet the challenges of welfare reform and care.

Kelly said: “It will be a very real wrench to uproot and move elsewhere. The building in East Craigs served us well for decades, but we have changed as an organisation – as have our requirements and those of our customers.”

The organisation, which employs around 350 people, works predominantly with people who have disabilities.

Star turn

DAYS ahead of the latest technology investor conference in Edinburgh, it has emerged that one participant has already secured some vital funding.

Scottish Equity Partners is renewing its sponsorship of Olympic curler Eve Muirhead, who is a special guest and speaker at the EIE14 event at the Assembly Rooms on Thursday organised by Informatics Ventures.

Calum Paterson, managing partner at SEP, said: “We are very proud of Eve’s successes over the last 12 months and we are happy to continue as part of Team Muirhead as she leads her team towards its next challenge.

“Eve has brought a new dimension to SEP, strengthened by our shared drive to win. She is a gifted athlete and a fantastic role model for young people across the UK.”

Bissett walks tall

GRAEME Bissett, a director for several companies, is tackling all five of Scotland’s “Kiltwalks” in aid of children’s charities.

The five 26-mile walks in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Speyside involve thousands of people, suitably attired in tartan.

Bissett, who chairs packaging firm Macfarlane Group and the tyre company Blackcircles.com, is also chairman of Children 1st – previously known as the RSSPCC – which is 130 years old this year.

He completed his first walk in Glasgow last week and tackles the next in Edinburgh this Sunday. Anyone wanting to support Graeme’s efforts can do so at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ 5-kiltwalks