Midlothian restaurants hoping to serve up success with UK curry awards’ VIPs

Two of Scotland’s most decorated Indian restaurants, Itihaas and The Radhuni in Midlothian, have been named as finalists in this year’s UK Curry Life Awards, an event which attracts top politicians and celebrities.

They are nominated for the Best Restaurant and Chef of the Year categories at the event, to be held on 12 October at the Marriott Hotel in London’s Grosvenor Square.

Itihaas, opened in 2007, is in Dalkeith and The Radhuni, launched in 2011, is in Loanhead. Both have won a series of UK, Scottish and regional titles. The Radhuni is one of only a handful of Indian-style restaurants in Scotland to have gained an AA Rosette for culinary excellence.

‘To be nominated once again on a national stage is a true honour,” said Matin Khan, founder and Executive Chef of both restaurants. “While accolades are not new to us, this kind of recognition never loses its significance — it energises both our team and our guests.”

A stellar audience of 500 is expected at the Awards. Guests last year included UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting and many other MPs. Among those who have attended previous events are Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former Home Secretary Priti Patel. Hosts have included broadcasters Jon Snow, Adam Boulton, Cathy Newman and Angela Rippon.

Matin Khan added: “For this latest recognition I’m deeply grateful to our loyal customers and above all to my incredible team — from the organic producers and delivery drivers to our kitchen porters, chefs and front-of-house professionals. Without them, none of this would be possible.”

Organiser Syed Belal Ahmed said the Awards aimed to highlight best practice in the estimated 10,000 curry restaurants across the country and recognise some of the industry’s greatest achievements.
Matin’s son Habibur, Managing Director of both restaurants, commented: “Itihaas and The Radhuni represent not just exceptional Indian cuisine but our family’s lifelong commitment to quality, community and hospitality.”

Instant Visual Notes for Students

Dunbar based chamber members ivvi Assistant Ltd are delighted to be one of the companies starting the prestigious AI Accelerator at the University of Edinburgh this September.

ivvi is an AI-powered note-taking software that creates real-time visual notes in the form of mind maps. This innovative solution is transformative for students and professionals with dyslexia,.

The AI Accelerator is an intensive six-month program hosted at the Bayes Centre in Edinburgh. It offers a comprehensive blend of workshops and mentoring, along with invaluable access to investors, industry experts, and cutting-edge research opportunities. The competition for a spot in the Accelerator was exceptionally high, with over 200 applications and only 12 companies selected.

Jo Lee, co-founder of ivvi, expressed her excitement, stating, “The Accelerator is an amazing opportunity to access world-leading expertise and input into our business, and we can’t wait to see where this takes us.”

There is more information about ivvi here: www.ivvi.app

Brand Satellite launches the ‘Brand Mindset Quiz’ to help small business owners unlock their true potential

Melrose, Scottish Borders – Midlothian & East Chamber of Commerce member Brand Satellite, the brand consultancy known for helping small businesses gain clarity, confidence and courage, today announces the launch of its new online Brand Mindset Quiz, designed to help small business owners assess how ready they are to build a brand that lasts.

Why now?
Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, yet too many never reach their potential. Research shows:

• Around 50% of new UK businesses cease trading within three years. Experian

• Around 70% of UK small businesses don’t make it past their tenth birthday. Forbes

These statistics aren’t just depressing numbers; they represent dreams unrealised, energy wasted and businesses closing before ever hitting their stride.

What causes failure?
Research indicates that most small business failures are not due to a single problem but a combination. The economy, identifying, hiring and retaining good staff, attracting customers and targeting business opportunities, and financial stability and cash flow are often cited as the biggest challenges.
An article published on Forbes “Eight Common Reasons Small Businesses Fail” Forbes mentions that the reasons include:

• No vision: When you don’t have a clear vision, it’s like taking a road trip without a map. You don’t know where you are going, so you end up wasting a lot of time, money and energy trying to get on the right path.

• No niche: One of the most common reasons for business failure stems from having a poorly-defined niche. If you try to make your business attractive to everyone, it will end up being attractive to no one.

• No marketing plan: You should have a defined marketing plan identifying how you plan on reaching your target audience. You should also have a marketing budget and a way to calculate your ROI for each marketing method employed.

• No consistency: Consistent action is one of the most important habits to cultivate if you truly desire business success. You must be committed for the long-term, because it’s going to take time to build your business.

The power of a brand
When done right, investing in your brand doesn’t just make you look good, it can change outcomes. Some of the positive impacts for small businesses include:

• Greater clarity and alignment internally: Brand strategy gives direction for marketing, services and customer experience decisions.

• Clear differentiation: In a crowded market, a clear brand helps you attract customers who align with your values.

• Higher customer loyalty and trust: A cohesive brand can lead to better retention, more customer referrals and more stable revenue.

• Ability to charge more: Strong brands justify premium pricing.

• Resilience during challenging times: Businesses with a strong brand tend to navigate downturns better because their audience understands what they stand for.

Why mindset matters
Growing a small business is as much a mental and emotional journey as a commercial one. Key mindset elements that correlate with success:

• Clarity: Knowing what you do, who for and why it matters.

• Confidence: Being clear on the right messages to connect with the right people.

• Courage: Being prepared to ‘show up’ confidently and consistently.

• Willingness to adapt: Markets change, customers change; the ability to adapt is vital.

• Long-term thinking: Building a brand is not an overnight fix; it takes consistency and patience.

• Resilience: Being able to bounce back when things go wrong and learn from mistakes.

About the Brand Mindset Quiz
Brand Satellite’s new Brand Mindset Quiz is a free interactive tool that helps small, service-based business owners self-assess where they are in terms of readiness to build a brand. It covers areas such as:

• Clarity of purpose and values
• Understanding of target audiences
• Marketing and messaging confidence
• Ambitions and priorities
• Pricing confidence

By taking the quiz, business owners will get a snapshot of their current mindset, areas to work on and practical suggestions for next steps to move from thinking like and business to thinking like a brand.
Giles Etherington, Founder of Brand Satellite, said:

“I have been working with small business owners for nearly 20 years. So many of them have amazing ideas, passion and drive, but they don’t always have the mindset or the clarity needed to turn those ideas into a brand that lasts. That’s why I built the Brand Mindset Quiz. I believe that starting with the right mindset, followed by the right strategy and a clear brand, small businesses create much better opportunities to thrive.”

What next?
The Brand Mindset Quiz is now live at https://brandmindset.brandsatellite.co.uk/ Brand Satellite will follow up with guidance, workshops

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Anderson Strathern grows senior team with 12 new appointments

Independent Scottish law firm, Anderson Strathern, has announced the appointment of five partners and seven directors – strengthening its services across several growth areas.

The three new recruits and nine internal promotions will bolster the firm’s rural, energy, employment, litigation, and public and third sector teams.

Partners

• Iain Baird joins the firm’s energy team as a new hire. An experienced real estate lawyer, he has spent more than 16 years exclusively within the renewables sector, acting for developers, landowners and funders across a diverse range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, hydro, biomass, solar and battery energy storage. He has extensive experience of advising on all stages of renewable energy generation projects through from initial site selection, diligence, land acquisition, operation and repowering. His experience includes advising on the largest offshore wind, onshore wind and battery storage projects in Scotland.
• Experienced litigator Scott Flannigan has previously been recognised as the Legal 500 Dispute Resolution Rising Star of the Year. Scott has built a wealth of experience across various areas of dispute resolution, including commercial litigation, public law, intellectual property, defamation, competition law, licencing, and criminal defence. One of his specialisms is contentious trust and executry disputes – an area he will drive in his new role as partner.
• Russell Laughland handles all aspects of private client work including administration of estates, preparation of wills and powers of attorney, estate and succession planning. Russell is also a Notary Public and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
• Tim Macdonald is part of the firm’s rural team. Specialising in all aspects of property law, he is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a Specialist in Agricultural Law. He also offers a wealth of experience in renewable energy transactions – representing developers and landowners – including tripartite agreements involving farming tenants.
• As part of the firm’s private client team, Laura Murray specialises in providing family office services to high net worth clients. A Notary Public and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, Laura has extensive experience advising individuals, families and trustees in areas including tax, trusts, succession and estate planning as well as wills, powers of attorney and estate administration.

Directors

• Specialising in agricultural and rural law, Douglas Reid rejoins Anderson Strathern having previously spent 11 years at the firm as a Senior Associate in his early career. He brings more than two decades of experience in private practice, advising landowners, tenants, and rural businesses across Scotland on tenancies, land reform, succession, and business planning. Douglas is also a non-executive director at Cairn Housing Association and Castle Community Bank, and returned to law following a period in ordained ministry.
• New recruit Rhona Delaney is set to enhance Anderson Strathern’s public and third sector offering. Throughout her career, Rhona has built a wealth of experience in corporate, commercial, governance, and charity law. She has worked in the sector for nearly a decade, supporting charities and public bodies on incorporations, governance, mergers, cross-border registrations, and major infrastructure projects.
• Danielle Stevenson is a specialist in family law as well as being an accredited family mediator and is collaboratively trained. Throughout her career she has advised clients in separation, divorce, cohabitation and pre-nuptial agreements, and child law issues. As a court appointed child welfare reporter and curator-ad-litem, she also prepares reports in cases involving adoption and ongoing care arrangements.
• Kate Bond is part of the firm’s rural team, with more than a decade’s experience of representing landowners and occupiers across rural Scotland. She advises clients on a wide variety property work in Scotland’s rural sector. She has acted in several significant transactions involving the sale and purchase of farms, estates and forests. She also offers expertise in telecoms and renewable energy projects.
• Accredited specialist in employment law, Jemma Forrest, has a wealth of experience in all aspects of contentious employment issues including unfair dismissal, discrimination, equal pay and whistleblowing. She provides strategic advice to employers on large-scale change projects as well as advising on non-contentious issues and employee relations matters. Jemma is also a trained and experienced mediator providing her mediation services to clients and contacts.
• Eilidh MacEwan is a member of the firm’s commercial litigation team, with more than 10 years’ experience in the area.  She has a particular interest in insolvency and a strong background in tax litigation.  Eilidh is a solicitor advocate and often represents clients at hearings in the Court of Session, Sheriff Courts and Tribunals.
• Part of the firm’s high net worth team, within the private client department, Emma Read advises on all aspects of private wealth and tax matters including tax and estate planning as well as the preparation of wills and powers of attorney, and the administration of trusts. Emma is dual qualified to practise in England and Wales as well as Scotland, and is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

The new appointments bring a mix of expertise to the table to significantly enhance Anderson Strathern’s specialist services and support client growth across various sectors.

Murray McCall, managing partner at Anderson Strathern, said: “Our new hires each bring their own unique experience and skillsets, enabling us to strengthen our rural, energy and third sector offering with new specialisms – while continuing to deliver unrivalled services to our clients.

“Making nine internal promotions is a real testament to the knowledge, dedication and hard work of our team, and I’m exceptionally proud to see them progress to the next stages of their careers. We’re thrilled to recognise those who are helping shape the future of Anderson Strathern.”