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What does it mean to build a successful business while considering the impact on people, communities and the environment?

In this episode of Recruitment and Beyond, Ewan Anderson is joined by Jayne Saywell, sustainability consultant and founder of Black Skies Blue, to discuss the growing role of B Corp certification and why sustainability is becoming a key business consideration rather than a standalone initiative.

Drawing on her background in banking, accountancy and sustainability, Jayne explains how businesses can move beyond treating ESG as a tick-box exercise and instead use it to better understand risks, opportunities and long-term growth. She also shares insight into Edinburgh B Corp 500, an initiative aiming to create a thriving network of purpose-driven businesses across the city.

The conversation explores why sustainability is increasingly becoming a commercial issue, how organisations can embed it into everyday decision-making, and the role finance professionals are playing as reporting requirements continue to evolve. Jayne also highlights the connection between employee engagement, retention, governance and business performance, and explains why building a better business does not have to come at the expense of growth.

Whether you're a business leader, finance professional or simply interested in how organisations can create lasting impact, this episode offers practical advice on where to start and how small changes can lead to meaningful results.

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What does it really mean to be your authentic self at work, and why is it so difficult early in your career?

In this episode of Recruitment and Beyond, Gill Ogilvie, Managing Director at Will Rudd, shares her experience of navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Gill shares her journey through a traditionally male-dominated industry, reflecting on the pressures many people feel early in their careers to fit in rather than stand out. From trying to blend in on construction sites to ultimately embracing what makes her different, she offers a powerful perspective on why authenticity is not always easy but is essential for both personal growth and organisational success.

We explore the relationship between confidence and authenticity, the influence of early experiences and societal expectations, and why creating environments where people feel able to express themselves is so important. Drawing on insights from Brene Brown, Gill discusses ideas such as vulnerability, trust, and standing on your own sacred ground as a foundation for leadership and culture.

This episode offers practical reflections for leaders and individuals alike, from having difficult conversations and setting boundaries, to building networks that give you the confidence to make informed career choices.

If you want to build a more inclusive, high performing culture, or gain the confidence to be yourself at work, this episode offers practical insight you can apply straight away.

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What does it take to build a world class business and a strong culture from day one?

In this episode of Recruitment and Beyond, we speak with Andy Hadden, Founder of Lost Shore Surf Resort, a £60 million development on the edge of Edinburgh that is redefining destination leisure in Scotland.

Andy shares the journey from concept to launch, including how he turned an ambitious idea into one of the UK’s most exciting new ventures. At the centre of the conversation is a challenge faced by every growing organisation: how to build and protect a meaningful company culture.

We discuss:

• Why culture cannot be bought and takes time to develop
• Hiring in a startup environment and why mindset often outweighs experience
• The pressure growth places on culture
• The role of leadership and governance in maintaining standards
• Practical ways to keep teams engaged as organisations scale

This episode is essential listening for founders, HR professionals and leaders thinking seriously about culture in high growth environments.

Andy Hadden - LinkedIn

Lost Shore - Website

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In this episode of Recruitment and Beyond, Ewan sits down with Andrew Nicholson, CEO of Kulea, for a straight talking and genuinely useful exploration of what a modern recruitment and HR tech stack should look like. The conversation digs beneath the surface of AI and automation and tackles the practical realities that leaders, recruiters and HR teams face when trying to make technology work in fast changing organisations.

Andrew explains why data quality is the quiet foundation that determines whether any of these tools succeed. He shares how AI amplifies poor data, how false engagement signals from email bots can skew automated workflows, and why so many businesses unintentionally undermine their brand through irrelevant or misdirected communications.

The discussion also covers where automation genuinely adds value, why companies often fail to see productivity gains even after introducing new systems, and the role of thoughtful human oversight in keeping everything on track. Ewan and Andrew break down the misconceptions surrounding AI, including what it can and cannot do, and explore how upcoming regulation will push organisations to be more transparent about how machine assisted decisions are made.

From personalisation at scale to the dangers of automating a broken process, this episode offers clear, practical insights for anyone reviewing their tech stack or planning a digital transformation. Andrew brings real world examples from across the recruitment landscape, along with advice on future proofing, building connected best of breed solutions and developing teams with the skills and mindset to thrive in a more automated world.

It is an open, engaging and often eye opening conversation that helps leaders cut through the hype and understand how to get real value from their technology.

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This week, we spotlight community impact with Aberdeen FC Community Trust. MINDSET Development Officer Murray Collie explains how the Trust uses the power of football to deliver a 12-week programme that helps pupils aged 10 to 14 build confidence, manage anxiety, take positive risks and strengthen their support networks.

We dig into the structure of winning words, how teachers weave sessions into PSE, and why early, preventive work matters. Murray shares outcomes schools are seeing, including more pupils seeking help when they need it and a stronger understanding of empathy and resilience, plus how the programme could scale with other club foundations across Scotland. If you are in HR, in education, or care about youth wellbeing, this is a must-listen.

Guest: Murray Collie, MINDSET Development Officer, Aberdeen FC Community Trust.

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What happens when a professional executive coach looks at the leadership development gap and decides to do something about it at scale?

In this episode, Ewan is joined by Kirsty Bathgate, founder of Gearing for Growth and co-founder of Bravyn, an AI-powered coaching platform designed to bring meaningful leadership development to the people who need it most — early and mid-stage leaders who rarely get access to coaching at all.

Kirsty makes a compelling case: 80% of new leaders receive no formal leadership training. 70% of people who leave jobs leave their manager, not their company. And disengaged teams are costing the global economy close to a trillion dollars a year. Bravyn was built to tackle that problem head on.

But this isn't a story about replacing coaches with chatbots. Kirsty is an accredited executive coach of 15 years, and she's built Bravyn to coach — properly coach — using accredited competencies, rigorous ethics standards, and technology that asks the questions rather than hands out the answers.

In this conversation, Ewan and Kirsty cover:

• Why AI coaching done badly is making people worse at thinking for themselves
• How Bravyn personalises every coaching conversation to the individual's goals, role, and employer
• The trust and data privacy considerations that matter to HR leaders
• How organisations can measure real ROI from coaching at scale
• Kirsty's three must-ask questions before adopting any AI coaching tool
• If you're in HR, lead a growing team, or just want to understand where AI fits in the future of leadership — this one is well worth your time.

Connect with Kirsty on LinkedIn or visit bravyn.ai to find out more.

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In this conversation, Ewan and Daniel get practical about mental health at work: the real drivers of stress and burnout, the hybrid balance, and why visibility beats the classic “open door policy”.

You’ll hear how to use the Wellness Action Plan, build manager confidence, and measure impact beyond absence, plus ideas for smaller teams without big budgets.

You’ll learn:
• Visibility vs accessibility (and why it matters)
• Simple early‑warning check‑ins that feel safe
• Practical tools: Wellness Action Plan, HSE stress toolkit, peer networks
• What leadership can do tomorrow to set the tone

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and leave a review, it really helps others find the show.

Resources

• https://www.samh.org.uk/get-involved/workplace/workplace-wellness-action-plans
• https://www.samh.org.uk/about-mental-health/samh-publications/publications-workplace

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Wellness at work continues to dominate conversations in HR and leadership, but many organisations are still missing the point.

In this episode of Recruitment and Beyond, Fiona McKee, founder of The HR Practice, joins us to discuss why wellbeing at work remains a challenge in 2025 and why surface-level solutions often fail. Fiona shares insight into the real drivers of stress and burnout, including job design, workload pressure, management capability, and organisational culture.

We explore common misconceptions around mental health at work, the limits of wellbeing perks, and what it truly means to create a human-centred workplace. Fiona also explains the commercial impact of getting wellbeing wrong and why leaders and managers must take ownership, rather than passing responsibility to HR alone.

This episode is packed with practical insight for leaders, managers, and HR professionals looking to build healthier, more sustainable workplaces where people feel supported and able to perform at their best.

Fiona McKee

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-mckee-5312508/

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