Edinburgh Business Stories

Ep88. Bernard Hunter Mobile Cranes - Mark Rafferty

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Mark Rafferty, Managing Director of Bernard Hunter Mobile Cranes and Metal Recycling, a long-standing Edinburgh business operating across cranes, recycling, logistics and storage.Mark shares the realities of running a multi-generational family business, from unusual crane jobs and managing large-scale recycling operations to tackling scrap theft and preserving resources for the future. He also discusses the environmental pressures facing the construction industry, why recycled aggregates are becoming increasingly important, and how Bernard Hunter has evolved far beyond what most people expect from a scrapyard.This conversation covers everything from lifting whales off beaches to the surprising story behind the donkeys living beside the scrapyard, alongside a serious look at sustainability, infrastructure, and the future of the industry.This episode is for anyone interested in family business, construction, sustainability, logistics, or the unseen industries helping keep cities moving. This episode of Edinburgh Business Stories is brought to you by Rathbones, a leading UK wealth manager with a long‑standing presence in Edinburgh and offices across Scotland.Rathbones helps people plan and invest for the future they want, whether you’re building wealth, growing your career, or enjoying the rewards of success. Life can be busy and complex, and having the right support matters. By taking the time to understand what’s important to you, Rathbones helps you invest well, plan well and live well. Wherever you are on your journey, Rathbones is there to help you go further.When you invest, your capital is at risk. For more information visit rathbones.link/edinburgh-business-stories-yt

Ep87. Brewster Brothers - Scott Brewster

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Scott Brewster, Managing Director of Brewster Brothers, a Scottish business turning construction waste into valuable recycled materials.Scott shares his journey from a difficult start in chartered accountancy, where failing exams led to his first major setback, to building a business focused on sustainability, scale, and solving a growing industry problem. He also opens up about the hidden realities of construction materials, from global scarcity and environmental pressures to the rise of illegal “sand mafias” in parts of the world.This episode is for anyone interested in sustainability, construction, or how industry challenges can become powerful business opportunities when approached differently.This episode of Edinburgh Business Stories is brought to you by Rathbones, a leading UK wealth manager with a long‑standing presence in Edinburgh and offices across Scotland.Rathbones helps people plan and invest for the future they want, whether you’re building wealth, growing your career, or enjoying the rewards of success. Life can be busy and complex, and having the right support matters. By taking the time to understand what’s important to you, Rathbones helps you invest well, plan well and live well. Wherever you are on your journey, Rathbones is there to help you go further.When you invest, your capital is at risk. For more information visit https://rathbones.link/edinburgh-business-stories

Ep86. Jera IT - Ally Hollins-Kirk and Austen Clark

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Ally Hollins-Kirk, Managing Director, and Austen Clark, CEO of Jera IT, a technology company helping businesses navigate growth, change, and digital transformation.They share the story behind their merger, why it took time to truly understand what a “true merger” means, and how learning to balance leadership and management has transformed both their roles and their team. They also explore the reality behind the hype of AI, and why businesses need to focus on fundamentals before chasing new technology.Along the way, they reflect on the moments that really define a business, not when things are going well, but how you show up when things go wrong.This episode of Edinburgh Business Stories is brought to you by Rathbones, a leading UK wealth manager with a long‑standing presence in Edinburgh and offices across Scotland.Rathbones helps people plan and invest for the future they want, whether you’re building wealth, growing your career, or enjoying the rewards of success. Life can be busy and complex, and having the right support matters. By taking the time to understand what’s important to you, Rathbones helps you invest well, plan well and live well. Wherever you are on your journey, Rathbones is there to help you go further.When you invest, your capital is at risk.https://rathbones.link/edinburgh-business-stories

Ep85. LOOP Agencies - Vicky Hope and Ed Vickers

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Ed Vickers and Vicky Hope, co-founders of Loop Agencies, a creative agency built around people, culture, and doing things differently. Ed and Vicky share how they landed the Edinburgh Fringe as a client just months after launching, working day and night to prove themselves before they felt ready. They also talk about making the bold decision to become Scotland’s first employee-owned trust at just three years old, choosing long-term culture over a quick exit.We explore what it really means to build a different kind of agency, from putting people first in difficult decisions to creating a transparent and supportive environment. They also discuss how they’re approaching the rapid rise of AI, and why leaning in early has given them an advantage.This episode is for anyone building a business with strong values, navigating growth decisions, or trying to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.This episode of Edinburgh Business Stories is brought to you by Rathbones, a leading UK wealth manager with a long‑standing presence in Edinburgh and offices across Scotland.Rathbones helps people plan and invest for the future they want, whether you’re building wealth, growing your career, or enjoying the rewards of success. Life can be busy and complex, and having the right support matters. By taking the time to understand what’s important to you, Rathbones helps you invest well, plan well and live well. Wherever you are on your journey, Rathbones is there to help you go further.When you invest, your capital is at risk. For more information visit rathbones.link/edinburgh-business-stories-yt

Ep84. The Lighthouse - Andy Hadden

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Andy Hadden, founder of The Lighthouse Business Centre.Andy shares how spotting a simple gap in North Berwick led to building a workspace designed around what the town actually needed. We talk about the rise of hybrid working, why community matters more than just office space, and how thinking differently about design and construction is shaping the future of workspaces.He also reflects on leadership, and why understanding people’s strengths is key to building teams and businesses that thrive.This episode is for anyone building something from scratch, rethinking traditional industries, or looking to create something people genuinely want to be part of.This episode of Edinburgh Business Stories is brought to you by Rathbones, a leading UKwealth manager with a long‑standing presence in Edinburgh and offices across Scotland.Rathbones helps people plan and invest for the future they want, whether you’re buildingwealth, growing your career, or enjoying the rewards of success. Life can be busy andcomplex, and having the right support matters. By taking the time to understand what’simportant to you, Rathbones helps you invest well, plan well and live well. Wherever you areon your journey, Rathbones is there to help you go further.When you invest, your capital is at risk.For more information visit rathbones.link/edinburgh-business-stories-yt

Ep83. Paper Tiger - Michael Apter

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Michael Apter, CEO and Managing Director of Paper Tiger, one of Edinburgh’s most recognisable stationery and gift brands.Michael shares his journey from a Christmas temp at HMV, where his passion for music and retail first took shape, to opening Paper Tiger on Lothian Road at just the right moment for growth. He reflects on how early retail experiences shaped his approach to leadership, the story behind the name Paper Tiger, and why building a strong, capable team has been central to the company’s success.This episode is perfect for anyone starting a business, growing a team, or looking to turn passion into a thriving enterprise.

Ep82. Component Sense - Kenny McGee

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we sit down with Kenny McGee, CEO and Founder of Component Sense, to explore what it really takes to build a global business from nothing.Kenny shares the brutal honesty of the early days; trying to survive on £50 a day, racking up £65,000 in credit card debt and being told by family to “just get a job”. But through the pressure, doubt and financial strain, he believed the business had scale and long-term potential.The conversation then moves beyond profit, into purpose. Kenny explains why solving the global issue of electronic waste is far more complex than he first imagined - and why real change will require collaboration from the world’s biggest manufacturers.This episode is a powerful insight into resilience, risk, focus, and thinking bigger than the balance sheet.

Ep81. Wilkinson & Associates - Guy Gracie

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Guy Gracie, Managing Director of Wilkinson & Associates, to explore what it really means to build a people-focused recruitment business.Guy shares how recruitment became more than just a career, why matching the right people with the right roles has always mattered more than commission, and how visible progress helped fuel his motivation in the early days. He also reflects on the journey from employee to owner, the influence of family and timing, and the importance of being willing to grow into leadership.We talk about the value of long-term relationships in recruitment, where candidates can become clients and clients can become candidates, and why trust is the true measure of success. Guy also discusses the need to keep evolving as a business, developing skills, staying relevant, and ensuring what you offer continues to meet the needs of the market.This episode is full of insight for anyone building a service-led business, navigating leadership for the first time, or looking to grow something sustainable through relationships, learning, and purpose.

Ep80. Campion Homes - Susan Jackson

Ep79. Rutland Square Spirits - Nishant Sharma

In this episode of Edinburgh Business Stories, we’re joined by Nishant Sharma, founder and CEO of Rutland Square Spirits.Nishant shares his journey from starting with just £500 from family to building a fast growing spirits brand, and the mindset shifts that shaped him along the way. He speaks candidly about living with ADHD, learning to pause before speaking, and how self awareness has become one of his biggest leadership strengths.He also opens up about a life changing moment when the pressure of the business nearly cost him his life, forcing him to rethink success, health, and what really matters. Alongside that, Nishant talks about meeting a billionaire investor, the power of honesty over image, and his long term vision for building a sustainable whisky distillery in Scotland.This episode is full of raw honesty, ambition, and perspective for anyone building a business, chasing big goals, or learning how to lead without losing themselves in the process.