In the run-up to one of the most crucial Budgets in recent times, a record number of business professionals gathered in Glasgow last week to explore ways of maintaining and driving forward business momentum.

More than 200 key people from enterprises all over Scotland attended the Scottish Growth Seminar, organised by the award-winning sales leadership and training franchise Sales Geek Scotland, at Glasgow’s Hampden Park Stadium on Friday the 21st of November).

More than 80% of Scottish business professionals questioned in a pre-Budget survey believes that weeks of speculation and apparent U-turns on tax rises have had a negative effect on business confidence.

On top of this, 83.33% said they felt that constant floating of tax raising initiatives had been harmful. Only 16.67% felt that they had had no effect.

A significant minority – 33.33% of respondents – conceded that the Chancellor may have acted for reasons of political integrity, but the majority, 58.33%, felt it was driven by fear of the political effect.

The Scottish Growth Seminar was the latest event of its kind led by Sales Geek Scotland franchise co-owners and experienced senior sales professionals Peter Barclay and Davie Sneddon, and this year focused on the importance of sales in uncertain political and economic times.

On a day of seminars and networking opportunities, business leaders and executives also heard inspirational advice from successful Scottish business winners, Mike Scott and Ross Anderson.

Davie Sneddon, Director of Sales Geek in Scotland, said: “The drip-feed of potential revenue-raising measures in an unusually long period leading up to the Financial Statement have clearly unsettled business people who ask for, and depend on, stable conditions.

Business people are looking for inspiration on resilience and the growth mindset and Government policies designed to foster that would go a long way to alleviating current and ongoing concerns.”

Peter Barclay, Director of Sales Geek in Scotland, said: “In a difficult period for business people and entrepreneurs who want to build success, it was very heartening to see so many people looking for inspiration on resilience and the growth mindset.

This year’s theme was Build Momentum: Growth Through Collaboration, and those attending were keen to explore ways of embedding a problem-solving, relationship-focused, results-driven sales culture into businesses up and down the country.

The event is designed to provide insight, connection, and collaboration as well as focussing on the critical importance of sales to every commercial organisation and leading through change.”

Motivational speaker Ross Anderson, a consultant and psychologist, told delegates about how he overcame a troubled early life to specialise in helping people to realise their full potential and live fuller lives.

Mike Scott told attendees about the rollercoaster journey of founding Hydrogen, scaling it into Scotland’s largest social media agency, and navigating the pressures, pitfalls, and payoffs of subsequently selling the business in 2022 to PA Media Group.

The seminar was partnered by NatWest METTLE, RBS, IOD Scotland, Scottish Business Network, Scottish Asian Business Chamber, Scottish Women in Business Network (SWIB), the Tectonic Night Summit network and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Building on its presence in Glasgow and Edinburgh since 2022, the recently founded Scotland-wide Sales Geek operation delivers a range of sales director support, including part-time and “fractional” services, for SMEs along with affordable bespoke training, mentoring and strategic sales analyses for companies of all sizes.

Established in 2017, Sales Geek is a global franchise network operating in the UK, the USA, India and elsewhere, and is the largest provider of part-time sales directors in the world.

By combining local market understanding with the systems and innovations developed at Sales Geek HQ, Peter and Davie are transforming how regional businesses access senior-level sales leadership and growth support.