A very slick presentation from Edinburgh Chamber

FRASER Doherty and Jamie Coleman were the guest speakers at a well-attended Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce dinner and awards ceremony at the Sheraton last week, though some felt the star of the show was the woman who helped organise it, Sian Downes.
The opening of Krispy Kreme in Edinburgh last year led to remarkable scenes. Picture: Ian GeorgesonThe opening of Krispy Kreme in Edinburgh last year led to remarkable scenes. Picture: Ian Georgeson
The opening of Krispy Kreme in Edinburgh last year led to remarkable scenes. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Doherty, the young entrepreneur behind Superjam, and Coleman, the head of the TechCube project, went down a treat with the audience, though it was the chamber’s events executive who kept guests amused with her Marilyn Monroe-style poses for the awards photographer.

Downes says in her Linkedin entry that her “super power skills” are being “creative and able to get people profoundly excited about events”. She certainly deserved her bouquet at the end of the evening.

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Coleman, who gave a slick presentation on Edinburgh’s current technology boom, is soon to announce that the TechCube project is moving from Summerhall near the Meadows to Argyle House in Lady Lawson Street because it has already outgrown the facility only a year or so after opening.

Ready to get on the ball

Plenty of time to brush up on all things sporting ahead of this year’s Sportschallenge quiz, which will be hosted by former Scottish international footballer Alan McInally and Sky Sports colleague Jim White.

The popular charity fundraiser is tipped to be a sell-out with 60 teams already signed up, according to headline sponsor Simmons & Company International, the energy finance adviser.

Maggie’s Aberdeen and Children’s Aid are two of the charities selected to receive funds raised by the Question of Sport-style quiz, which coincides with a black tie dinner at the Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre in September. Sportschallenge 2013 raised in excess of £100,000.

Some tables are still available for bookings. Call Emma Anderson on 01224 202300 or e-mail [email protected].

Like father, like son

talk about practising what you preach. Roger Pedder, president of the European Family Businesses lobby group was in Edinburgh last week for a speaking event on the virtues of keeping it in the family.

Pedder is based in Brussels and was accompanied by his son William when he called in to see The Scotsman. It turns out that Pedder junior is the membership director of the Institute for Family Business, the UK version of dad’s organisation.

Still nuts for Krispy Kreme

Congratulations to Krispy Kreme’s Edinburgh outlet on reaching its first birthday. Last February’s opening triggered scenes of near-hysteria with mile-long queues of cars snaking towards the City Bypass. A visit last week by one sweet-toothed member of the business desk provided ample evidence that demand for the firm’s chocolate dreamcakes and cookie crunches hasn’t waned – though that may have had something to do with the launch of the love doughnut to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

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There is no word yet on the brand spreading its sugary wings into other Scottish locations, but a source at the company’s Hermiston Gate outpost assures us that a number of Tesco stores in the capital will soon be sporting Krispy Kreme counters.

Young and thinking big

Two Scottish entrepreneurs have agreed to lend their expertise to the next generation of big-thinking business people.

Dundee-born Tony Banks and Edinburgh’s Josh Littlejohn are the judges for this year’s Young Innovators Challenge.

Former paratrooper Banks is the chairman of Balhousie Care Group and sits on the board of the Entrepreneurial Exchange. He also appeared on the Secret Millionaire.

Littlejohn specialises in social innovation. He is the organiser of the prestigious Scottish Business Awards and owns the Social Bite cafes in Edinburgh.