IoD Scotland launches South of Scotland Group

Paul Houlden

The Group – which is the eighth regional group within Scotland – has been established to ensure business owners based across the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway have a voice and can benefit from a variety of local events and networking opportunities.

Plans are underway for a series of in-person and virtual events to reach the breadth of members in the region. 

Speaking about the launch of the Group, Paul Houlden, IoD South of Scotland Chair and Chair of the College Development Network, said: “Having launched and chaired the IoD’s Highland and Island’s Group for almost a decade and now being a business owner in Dumfries and Galloway, I completely understand the challenges facing businesses who are based away from Scotland’s big commercial districts.

“However, companies across the region are critical for the future success of Scotland and its my aim to bring as many Directors together to look at ways to make the area more commercially successful by increasing partnerships and relationships.”

To coincide with the launch of the new group, the IoD Scotland has also extended its Director of the Year regional categories to give businesses in the south of Scotland their own category for the first time. The ‘South of Scotland Director of the Year’ category has been added to recognise and celebrate the strength of leadership in the region. The awards are open to all Director’s to enter with no need to be an IoD member.

Mr Houlden, who lives in Newton Stewart, added: “The addition of the South of Scotland to the Director of the Year awards recognises the greatness within businesses and I believe that we should be more forthcoming with the business gems that exist from across the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.”

Director’s from across the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway can enter the South of Scotland category until 28th February 2019.

More information about the awards and submission requirements can be found here: www.iodawards.com/scotland