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FP BUSINESS

MOGULS

CONTINUED

Ross Laing (2006) Michael Rose (2007)

In a nutshell, tell us about your journey imperative as it can change your life if you tends to be 7 days a week but when it’s on What persuaded you to start your own Did Heriot’s impact your decision to a Chief Audit Executive from a world leading
to become a business owner. are doing something you’re truly passionate your own terms and involves pushing a recruitment business? become a business owner and if so, how? company based in the other side of the world
I have been on a long road to finding about. project you care about then flexible working I started Five One Recruitment in a bid to I always enjoyed Business Management at reaches out to me based on a discussion they
happiness and have had many businesses Did Heriot’s impact your decision to patterns are easier. For example, the thought focus on adding real value to my clients which school, learning about how different had with one of my other connections. That
over the years. The pandemic put a stop to become a business owner? of helping the fire service through drone very few recruitment agencies focus on. This companies work, why some areas of the feels very rewarding because it means I have
all of my previously successful businesses (a I left George Heriot’s with a very mixed usage and solutions is amazing - hopefully, approach means I can partner with my clients business world are the way they are. added value to the person who referred me
marketing and construction company) but it skillset but went on to study marketing, one of my designs or supply items can save and build long term relationships with them I remember having a conversation with and that for me is success.
did allow me the rare opportunity of a restart enjoying a great few years of further a life or help find someone during a search and it is rather enjoyable to watch so many Mr Wyllie (former Principal) and he made Do you have a specific learning takeaway
and I grabbed it with both hands. As such, education. After graduating, I opened a and/or rescue. It’s an incredibly gratifying people grow as a result of that. We mostly it clear that he believed I would make my from Heriot’s?
the Edinburgh Drone Company Ltd was born business called Radar Marketing. Alongside position to be in, especially when the current recruit Internal Audit professionals for world- own way in life and be successful. That has Sometimes what seems like a small thing does
in December 2020. The first 6 months or so the business, I also had a handyman feedback is so positive and we can see the leading companies and we do almost no work always stuck in my head and I remember actually matter. When I look back on my time
have been a complete whirlwind but we are enterprise, Radar Handyman. results in that many lives are now improved within the UK. It is exciting to work with so that conversation like it was yesterday. at Heriot’s I really value all of the learnings
growing from strength to strength. by the use of drones. many cultures. Our projects have been located Although the target he set out for me has not around respect and pride. I possibly did not
I joined Heriot’s in P7, very low in confidence
We are proudly working with Scottish Fire academically. Within one year, the school’s What are your achievements as a in many countries: USA, Brazil, Mexico, been hit yet, there is still plenty of time. value it so much at the time, being younger.
and Rescue to offer current drone technology dedication and support gave me the boost I business owner? Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and I also remember Sir Tom Farmer came to do However, today even something as small as a
and we are also designing the next needed and provided the foundations to Our top achievements have to be working many more. We only do business with world a talk one day. It was hugely motivational to top button being done up makes so much
generation of autonomous drones. We have excel. I had a slightly different experience to with military and emergency services in the leaders in their industry like Schlumberger, hear him share his story and be honest about more sense to me. It is the same in business,
linked up with a top university in Edinburgh most as my dad, George Laing, was the UK. Supplying items that help people is The Kraft Heinz Company, Philip Morris his success and also his failures. these small things can be the difference of
to offer this R&D project, which is incredibly graphic communication/practical skills rewarding, designing a product that helps International and ArcelorMittal just to name He answered so many questions and really you being hugely successful or failing.
exciting, and are now a top drone repairer in teacher (woodwork and metal work for the people is even better. a few. made us realise what is possible. Any top tips for pupils wanting to start
the UK. We have created a UK drone older individuals amongst us). The school Top tips for pupils wanting to start their What’s the best and worst parts about What are your two top achievements as a their own enterprises?
manufacturing company in Edinburgh and and my family gave me the opportunity to own enterprise? being a business owner? business owner? Do not be afraid of failure! The most
have many current R&D projects on the go want to learn and push what’s possible in Do it! Do what you love and the passion will The freedom. I get to pick my children up My first top achievement as a business owner successful people on this planet have failed
at various stages; we will have our own life. I believe that’s how I have managed to show through. People can tell when you from nursery every day, spend time with would be getting through the first tough year more times than most of us to get to where
inspection drone out later this year. get to where I am today and am grateful for ‘fake it’ so focus on what makes you tick. them through the week and be there for my we had which was actually the second year of they are. The fear of rejection and failure
Reflecting on the last few years, I understand the values I learnt at Heriot’s. After that, aim for the top - there are no family. It also means that I can in some the business. That was one of the hardest should never stop you from going after what
how important your work choices are to your What is the best bit of being a business excuses so go take it. Also, the weirder and cases choose my hours and be more flexible. experiences of my professional life and my you want to achieve. If you go after it you will
entire life. I wake up wanting to start work owner? more niche the better! Be brave and bold! It also means that every success we have wife was pregnant at the time so the pressure at some point fail and be required to learn
on a Monday morning. Being a business directly impacts my family which is to survive was paramount. I look back on that from it before trying again, but the failure is
At the Edinburgh Drone Company, I work
owner is empowering – it gives you the rare rewarding. The worst headache of being a experience with pride because I have learned guaranteed if you do not try at all. I have
hard but I work when I want to work. This
opportunity to love your work which is business owner is that if you don’t make that it is easy when everything is going well actually learned more from failure than I have
money you don’t get paid, you do not get yet the true test is when it feels like everything from success. Do not worry about what others
paid for taking holidays and even when you is against you. will think or say. As long as you have a goal
do go away with your family you will always My second top achievement as a business and believe in yourself then welcome failure
have work to do. You can’t really ever switch owner has been building my own personal because it is part of the journey and will help
off and if I could change that I would. reputation within the internal audit profession you to grow more than you realise.
globally. I still to this day find it amazing when
www.edinburghdronecompany.co.uk www.fiveonerecruitment.com