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Edinburgh-Based mys Living Earns B Corp Status
mys Living, values-led investment and operating specialists in the shared living sector, is proudto announce that it has achieved B Corp certification, the first of its kind for the PBSA industry. Founded in 2023 by Murdo Mcilhagger and David Mathewson, mys, an Edinburgh basedbusiness, achieved […]
Startups
mys Living, values-led investment and operating specialists in the shared living sector, is proud
to announce that it has achieved B Corp certification, the first of its kind for the PBSA industry.
Founded in 2023 by Murdo Mcilhagger and David Mathewson, mys, an Edinburgh based
business, achieved B Corp Pending status within just four months of launching. This rapid
progression underpins their commitment to sustainability, community and ethical business
practices from the outset.
Leading the way for sustainability in student accommodation, mys was founded on the desire to
create social good as well as profit, and to nurture a generation of students who share their
ambition for the future.
Prioritising their values from the very beginning, even the name of the business has been
thoughtfully considered inspired by a Scandinavian philosophy centered around wellbeing. The
Swedes call it “mys”, which means taking time for relaxing and enjoying the good life, simply. It’s
about the feelings that evoke cosiness: good times with friends and family; a sustainable life in
balance with the planet.
The company’s commitment also extends beyond just environmental initiatives with their
commitment to supporting the National Living Wage and providing an ambitious education
programme including Carbon Literacy training.
David Mathewson, co-founder said, “The B Corp certification is something that has been
fundamental to our business model, and we are absolutely delighted to have met the standards
set out by B Lab. We don’t just want to provide accommodation; we want to change behaviours.
And that starts with us.”
In order to achieve B Corp status, businesses must first ‘meet high standards of social and
environmental performance, transparency and accountability.’ The certification process is
rigorous, with companies required to reach a score of 80 points in the B Impact Assessment
while providing evidence of responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water
use, worker compensation, diversity, and corporate transparency. A business must also legally
embed their commitment to purpose as well as profit in its company articles.
“Achieving B Corp status is a validation of our philosophy to ‘do, better’ and reflects our ongoing
commitment to create communities that have a positive impact on people and the planet.”
Murdo added. “We are incredibly proud of our teams hard work and dedication to creating a
positive impact. A particular thanks goes to Neelum, our director of finance who led the
project.”
mys achieved a score of 85, comfortably above the B Corp pass mark of 80.
Chris Turner, executive director of B Lab UK, says: “We are delighted to welcome mys to the B
Corp community. This is a movement of companies that are committed to changing how
business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that mys is
going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation
forward.”
Biffa Acquisition Expands Food Waste Offering
Biffa, the UK leader in sustainable waste management, has today completed its acquisition of KeenanRecycling, a commercial food waste collections provider operating across England, Scotland andWales. Keenan Recycling was established in 2003 and provides food waste collection services for businesses,waste management companies and councils, as […]
Startups
Biffa, the UK leader in sustainable waste management, has today completed its acquisition of Keenan
Recycling, a commercial food waste collections provider operating across England, Scotland and
Wales.
Keenan Recycling was established in 2003 and provides food waste collection services for businesses,
waste management companies and councils, as well as operating a composting and biofuel facility in
Aberdeen.
The acquisition improves the Group’s capabilities in food waste collection services ahead of the
implementation of the forthcoming Simpler Recycling legislation.
The legislation mandates the separation of dry recyclables into designated containers as well as the separate collection of food waste. Simpler Recycling will take effect for most businesses across England from March 2025, households from March 2026 and micro businesses from March 2027.
The acquisition marks the latest step forward in Biffa’s ongoing commitment to enabling the circular
economy, helping businesses and consumers reduce waste while supporting the UK’s journey to Net
Zero.
Recent acquisitions, including L&S Waste Management, Hazrem Environmental Ltd and
Renewi’s UK municipal business, have further enhanced Biffa’s capabilities to improve the sustainable
management of construction, hazardous, and household waste.
Keenan Recycling will complement Biffa’s end-to-end food waste solution which spans surplus redistribution through to the collection and recycling of food waste through Anaerobic Digestion, a sustainable process that generates liquid fertiliser and biogas.
Keenan Recycling collects around 56,000 tonnes of food waste each year from across 21 nation-wide
depots. The company operates a fleet of 80 state-of-the-art collection vehicles made up of diesel and
HVO and uses industry leading route optimisation software and bin-weighing capabilities to minimise
its carbon emissions.
Maxine Mayhew, Chief Operating Officer, Biffa Collections and Specialist Services, said: “Keenan
Recycling has built an outstanding reputation as a leader in commercial food waste collections, and
we’re delighted to be welcoming the expertise of 140 colleagues into the Biffa family.
“By integrating Keenan Recycling’s offering with our wider infrastructure and resources, we see
tremendous potential to enhance our ability to meet the requirements of Simpler Recycling legislation
mandating separate food waste collection.”
Grant Keenan, Managing Director at Keenan Recycling, said: “We’re extremely proud of the
remarkable growth we’ve achieved over the past 20 years, evolving from a small, independent
operation into one of the UK’s leading organics recycling and food waste collections businesses. We’d
like to thank BGF who backed us to grow the business and have supported us with both investment and
advice over the last 9 years.
“Keenan Recycling is now perfectly positioned for even greater expansion, especially with the
upcoming mandatory food waste collections in Wales and England. Biffa brings a wealth of expertise,
infrastructure and resources for accelerated growth and we are confident this acquisition will take our
business – and the UK’s food waste recycling efforts – to the next level, helping to further reduce
environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.”
Scotland Food & Drink announces the appointment of two Non-Executive Directors to its board
Scotland Food & Drink has announced the appointment of two Non-Executive Directors to its board. Stuart McCallum, currently a Partner with RSM based in Glasgow and John Dalley, previously Finance Director at Scottish & Newcastle International and CFO of Scotmid will join the board from […]
Startups
Scotland Food & Drink has announced the appointment of two Non-Executive Directors to its board. Stuart McCallum, currently a Partner with RSM based in Glasgow and John Dalley, previously Finance Director at Scottish & Newcastle International and CFO of Scotmid will join the board from 30th October.
John and Stuart, return the board to full strength and replace Susie McIntyre, MD of Kettle Produce, whose tenure as board member has come to an end.
Iain Baxter, Chief Executive of Scotland Food & Drink said: “It’s important that we bring expertise from across both the food and drink sector and other industries to help deliver our strategy of Sustaining Scotland, Supplying the World. Both Stuart and John come with a huge amount of sector and professional experience that will be an asset to our board. “
Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, Chair of Scotland Food & Drink said: “The Board are looking forward to working with Stuart and John, both of whom bring strong finance, sector experience and passion for the industry to the table. Their counsel will be invaluable as Scotland Food & Drink continues its journey, to foster resilient and sustainable growth across the industry.
On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Susie McIntyre for her unwavering commitment and valuable contribution to Scotland Food & Drink over the past eight years, and we wish Susie all the very best.”
Mr McCallum is a member of ICAS and is currently a Partner with RSM based in Glasgow.
He completed his BA in Accountancy at Glasgow Caledonian University.
His career has covered international M&A, full suite of corporate finance advisory skills, and corporate finance funding experiences.
Current role at RSM involves supporting family businesses/small corporates with strategic financial advisory support and being part of the senior leadership team at RSM in Glasgow. Additionally, he is leading regionally on developing Client Finance Functions by introducing digital tools and data analytics. Also heavily involved in talent development across Scotland and attracting best-in-class colleagues to RSM.
He is also National Head of Food and Drink sector at RSM which has been a sector theme throughout his career. He has worked with a wide range of food and drink sub-sectors supporting funding, M&A, strategic growth and international expansion plans.
Mr McCallum has previously been an External Trustee at GCUSA and is currently a member of ICAS Audit and Risk committee and Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee / External Trustee at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
John Dalley
John Dalley has over 25 years Board level experience in Scottish food and drink companies. This includes 6 years as Finance Director at Scottish & Newcastle International and 18 years as CFO of Scotmid. He also has sector-related experience of start-ups acting as board advisor to The Start-Up Drinks Lab Ltd and Product Guru Ltd.
Currently he is a Non-Executive Director with Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Melville Housing Association and Student Co-op Homes.
A qualified Chartered Accountant with an in-depth knowledge of the principles and the practical application of corporate governance in a variety of different membership organisations.
Burges Salmon advises The Electric Car Scheme on major new investment as the business records 160% year on year growth
Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has advised The Electric Car Scheme, a UK-based electric vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice provider on its latest funding round. The finance was made available by a consortium of investors, led by UK-based venture capital firm 13books Capital, with participation from Triple […]
Startups
Independent UK law firm Burges Salmon has advised The Electric Car Scheme, a UK-based electric vehicle (EV) salary sacrifice provider on its latest funding round. The finance was made available by a consortium of investors, led by UK-based venture capital firm 13books Capital, with participation from Triple Point Ventures, Seedcamp, Adjuvo, Ascension and Bayern Kapital.
The fundraising comes on the back of an impressive year for The Electric Car Scheme which saw it deliver 160% year on year growth. The investment will accelerate the company’s ambitions to scale, helping to meet a substantial increase in demand for both its new and used EVs and increasing awareness of the benefits its innovative salary sacrifice scheme offers to consumers and businesses. The funding also allows for further investment into technology to boost product innovation and develop wider Net Zero transition offerings.
The Burges Salmon team advising on the transaction was led by associate Niall Mackle and partner Alex Lloyd with support from solicitor Manahil Qadir, all from the firm’s Corporate and M&A team. The firm has a longstanding relationship with The Electric Car Scheme and advised the business last year on an innovative asset-backed lending facility and one year prior on its £2.5 million seed funding.
Edinburgh-based Niall Mackle comments: “Having worked with The Electric Car Scheme for the past few years on a number of investments, the success of the business from start-up to scale-up is nothing short of impressive. This latest investment round is another example of the high investor confidence in the business and a recognition of the important role it plays in encouraging sustainable behaviours and championing carbon free transport. We’re confident the business will only continue to go from strength to strength.”
Thom Groot, Co-Founder & CEO of The Electric Car Scheme, adds: “We are incredibly excited to work together with our brilliant team, and forward-thinking investors to deliver on our mission to make Net Zero simpler and cheaper to become the obvious choice. We’re very grateful to Burges Salmon, the team has supported us from our early start-up stage, and we value their legal expertise immensely, which they always articulate with clarity and straightforward advice.”
Burges Salmon has a strong Corporate practice in the UK. The team is known for handling high value and complex transactions on behalf of large corporates and fast-growing companies, combining legal, transactional and sector expertise to give tailored solutions to clients. Much of the firm’s work has an international element, helping overseas clients expand into the UK and supporting UK-based businesses grow internationally.
Popular Aberdeen furniture store could be Britain’s best
A family-run furniture store in Aberdeen says their commitment to customer service and strong staff team is central to the business being nominated for a national award. Annie Mo’s on Union Street in Aberdeen is one of the city businesses nominated in a national UK’s Favourite […]
Startups
A family-run furniture store in Aberdeen says their commitment to customer service and strong staff team is central to the business being nominated for a national award.
Annie Mo’s on Union Street in Aberdeen is one of the city businesses nominated in a national UK’s Favourite Local Business competition, sponsored by Miconex, and backed by the Aberdeen Gift Card.
Run by mother and duo Judith and Emily McDonald, Annie Mo’s was founded by former theatre nurse, Judith in 1991 with retail management RGU graduate Emily joining the business in 2014. Emily said they each have their own strengths:
“Annie Mo’s is a furniture shop but it’s also a lifestyle store with accessories and lots of unusual pieces. The store itself is full of character and personality. We’ve been in our current store on Union Street for 19 years, and I’ve been a part of the business for 10 years now. I tend to be in the shop more, plus look after the social media side whereas my mum is more behind the scenes looking at buying and online sales. We each have our own strengths.
“We try to go above and beyond for our customers, such as encouraging customers to show us pictures of the space they are buying for so we can offer personalised advice. With our home styling service, we’ll give advice on what will work directly in a customer’s home, arriving with a van load of furniture so we can see what fits the space. We start off doing one room and often move on to another, that’s how customers end up with an entire Annie Mo’s house!
“We’re fortunate to have a fantastic team, many have been with us from the start, and have a great delivery team too. Customers get to know the team and vice versa. Our community is important to us, whether that’s having a chat with a customer who’s popped in to say hello, or engaging with our customers on our social media channels.”
Annie Mo’s is part of the Aberdeen Gift Card from Aberdeen Inspired. Emily says the gift card gives recipients choice and locks spend into the city:
“The biggest challenge as a business is getting people through the door. The Aberdeen Gift Card is really good at doing that and keeping money local. It’s much better to give an Aberdeen Gift Card that gives the recipient the freedom to spend with lots of local businesses than a gift card for a single shop, it’s more flexible.
“It makes a massive difference to our business when people support local, and I think it’s a better experience for customers, especially with a product like furniture so you can see the size and the scale. We’re so chuffed to know that people have nominated us to be the UK’s Favourite Local Business and it would be amazing to win.”
Shops, restaurants, salons, hotels and attractions in Aberdeen– and right across the UK– are all eligible to be the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2024. People can nominate their favourite local business in the competition free at lovelocalwin.co.uk, giving the name of the local business they think deserves to win and a reason.
The UK’s Favourite Local Business will be the business who has the most nominations and will win a £500 Town & City Gift Card, such as the Aberdeen Gift Card, with one person who nominated the winning business receiving a £1000 Town & City Gift Card.
Other Aberdeen businesses nominated so far include Finnies The Jewellers, Al Fresco Italian Restaurant, Thistle Tavern, Signature 2, Mackie’s 19.2, The Green House and Highland Moss. Businesses can find out more about the competition online.
Adrian Watson, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired said: “We’re pleased to see nominations flying in for Annie Mo’s, a well-respected city business, in this national competition, alongside nominations for many other businesses. It’s also heartening to see a range of sectors represented in the competition, including jewellers, restaurants, fashion retailers and even a garden centre, which also reflects the diversity on offer through our local gift card.”
Fintech Miconex, founders of the Town & City Gift Card concept, is sponsoring the UK’s Favourite Local Business 2024. Over 20,000 local businesses are part of Miconex’s local gift card programmes around the world with over £30m spent locally through the cards.
Colin Munro is the managing director of Miconex and said: “Aberdeen is renowned for its strong selection of local businesses, and its strong gift card proposition with over 320 businesses part of the initiative. In the run up to the key Christmas trading period, showing your support for local by shopping in the city, voting for your favourite business in the competition, or purchasing the Aberdeen Gift Card are all ways to play your part in keeping Aberdeen thriving.”
Enter the UK’s Favourite Local Business competition free at: www.lovelocalwin.co.uk
The competition closes on the 31st October 2024.
