As we return to work and clear away the clutter of Christmas, there is something symbolic about turning the calendar from one year to the next. It is a time of renewal when we reflect back on the year just gone, what we achieved, what mistakes we made, and what we got right.

I recently attended a business conference and heard a variety of business owners and leaders saying how challenging it is at the moment. What is interesting is it was not always about the economy or their sector being slow or there being no growth, but more about securing funding for the growth or getting enough of the right talent to make their plans happen.

On the Knoydart peninsula, one of the most isolated parts of Scotland, The Old Forge pub has recently reopened after refurbishment.The pub serves not just the small population that lives here, but visitors who make the seven mile crossing by boat from Mallaig or who walk for two days over hills and moorland to this remote and beautiful spot.

Family businesses inhabit every street of our towns and cities and are prevalent in rural communities, especially in the Highlands & Islands. Their contribution, financially, socially and spiritually, and the stability those businesses create cannot be underestimated. In today’s turbulent times, they are a hidden lever as a force for good in so many ways.

With the season of goodwill in full swing, it’s a poignant time to reflect on how important it is for businesses to embed social value at the heart of everything they do. This has certainly become a strong part of Cruden’s culture over our 80-year heritage as one of Scotland’s leading housebuilders and developers.

Long-term regeneration projects are often made up of a consortium of multiple businesses, across several teams and dozens of people. Therefore, communication will play a central role in managing reputations, maintaining relationships and achieving collective goals.

This week celebrates World Science Day on 10 November. Working with many science clients, this is a sector close to our hearts. This date gives a chance to celebrate the incredible advancements in science, including Scotland’s achievements and ambitions in precision medicine.

With just two weeks to go until Scotland’s annual event for innovation in business, the CAN DO Innovation Summit, I’ve been reflecting on how to best support start-ups and small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to implement innovation to boost productivity for economic sustainability and social value.

With over 358,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Scotland, accounting for over 99 percent of all private sector firms, SMEs are crucial for the economic and social success of this country.

Many believe that our current society allows women to access all jobs and positions, and that it is inconceivable to pay a man more than a woman to do the same job. The reality is far from that; while there is an increasing number of successful women in the construction and property industries, the percentage of women in construction still only sits at 15.4%; the gender pay gap is 23%, and only 2.7% of apprentices are female, so the industry has far to go to achieve gender parity.

Have you ever thought about starting your own business? Maybe on a Sunday evening when the fear of work on Monday starts to seep into your bones, or after a particularly difficult week and you're offloading with friends down the pub?

Industry awards, no matter your sector, can be a bit like marmite – you either love them or hate them. As specialist communicators in life sciences, built environment and technology, we are firmly in the love camp….

Family-owned Muir Group has appointed Martin Smith as their CEO. Martin joins the Fife-based company from ISG where he was Director of Operations for Major Projects.

The Barbie movie has just smashed The Dark Knight’s 15-year-old box office record. Barbie’s marketing budget was colossal, but its fundamental strategies can be used by organisations of any size, even those with the smallest of budgets.

According to the Construction Skills Network, the UK needs an additional 225,000 workers to meet construction demand by 2027. Finding enough people with the right skills has been plaguing businesses large and small and ultimately holding back the industry for years. But there remains immense untapped potential in women.

Glasgow-based communications specialist, Perceptive Communicators, has been shortlisted in three categories for this year’s industry-renowned PRide Awards. Hosted by CIPR, the annual awards shine a light on the best PR teams and campaigns across the UK.

Proving your business is sustainable financially was historically always the key point when dealing with investors and trying to get your business off the ground. Of course, this still remains the most fundamental pillar of any investor's decision. But nowadays, many investors want to know that their money is going into a project that they can be proud of, and is supporting a well being economy that prioritises people and planet.

As a female founder, it was a welcome opportunity to be a panellist at an event at the Scottish Parliament encouraging the diversity of contributions at Holyrood. Organised by Women's Enterprise Scotland and the Institute of Directors is event is part of a wider mission to ensure all voices are heard at the Scottish Parliament, including at Cross Party Groups (CPGs).

As Chair of the Precision Medicine Scotland Innovation Centre I clearly have a vested interest, but precision medicine offers a unique opportunity to save lives, improve our economy and reduce our environmental impact. Precision medicine is the opposite of a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment, instead tailoring healthcare to the individual. This powers better treatment and diagnosis, including earlier interventions, more effective medicine development and aims to prescribe the right drug, first time.

Just a couple of months ago on International Women’s Day, my Twitter feed was full of companies publicly posting support, encouragement and thanks to their female staff. I also follow the Gender Pay Gap Bot (which automatically retweets all IWD tweets along with the actual gender pay gap for that company) and the hypocrisy was clear for all to see. When you consider that the first IWD was in 1911, it’s exhausting that we are still seeing the stark disparity that remains. Over 100 years of shining a light, but clearly, there is still more to do.