Property agent brings in veteran

Property agent Cushman & Wakefield has expanded its Scottish team by hiring heavyweight Bill Colville as head of office development.

Mr Colville, who joins with more than 30 years’ experience of major ­development and leasing projects, was previously chairman of DTZ in Scotland and most recently a consultant at CBRE.

He will join as a salaried partner working alongside partners Andy Cunningham in Glasgow and Angela Lowe in Edinburgh on both existing mandates and on identifying new opportunities.

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So we have cause to celebrate; Scotland now has over 2.6 million people in employment. That is 59.8% of our population aged 16 and over. As covered in the August update, I highlighted that this was being driven by increased hiring in the corporate sector alongside a rise in people being self-employed.

Youth unemployment is now at its lowest level in over six years. Government statistics tell us that 29,000 less 16 to 24 year olds are out of work, but 72,000 still remain on the ‘dole queue’. That is still way too high, which is why a few months ago we announced an employer initiative to offer more jobs to this age group.

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Watson to head debt advisory service

CHARTERED accountant Simon Watson is to develop a debt advisory service for property businesses for BTG Financial Consulting, part of Begbies Traynor Group.

Watson, who worked for the “big four” accountancy firms before setting up a property development business in Glasgow, has experience of the sector. He spent six years working on distressed properties with both Clydesdale Bank and National Australia Bank.

His new role will focus on debt advice for solvent and performing property and licensed trade businesses across Scotland. Mr Watson said: “Our aim is to work with clients to help them articulate and present their position in the best possible light to banks/funders in order to achieve a market leading, enhanced refinance offer.

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August marked the end to summer and the ramp up in political mud-slinging in the run up to the Scottish independence referendum.  In all this distraction you may have missed some of the updates on the state of employment in Scotland.

Recent government statistics for Q2 2014 said there were 2,614,00 people in employment in Scotland.  An increase of 3.7% for the same period in 2013.  However more detail will reveal that this growth is being created in the private sector which has long been prophesised to compensate for the losses in public sector.  Certainly in recent months this prophecy has held true.

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Shepherd and Wedderburn promotions

LAW firm Shepherd and Wedderburn has promoted four solicitors to associate level after excelling in their practice areas.

The new associates are Gavin Charlton (corporate), Lucy Hall (banking), and Susan Fergusson and Lauren Thomson (both property and infrastructure).

Chief executive Stephen Gibb said: “I am delighted to announce these well-deserved promotions.

“Our new associates are talented lawyers who will continue to make valuable contributions to the firm as a whole and also in their particular areas of expertise.”

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New commercial director for Ogilvie

New commercial director for Ogilvie

OGILVIE Construction has boosted its senior team by hiring George Mackie as commercial director.

Mr Mackie, a construction sector veteran, will oversee estimating, pre-construction and surveying in his new role.

He joins Ogilvie with a track record of more than 35 years in the industry, having held boardroom positions in the last 13.

Donald MacDonald, managing director of Ogilvie Construction, said: “I’m delighted to welcome George to the business. His appointment is part of our strategy for continued growth and development of our operations as we continue to see some signs of a recovery in the construction sector.

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