Power On Media celebrates its first anniversary after a remarkable year of growth and resilience

Edinburgh-based web design company Power On Media has marked its first birthday in style — with a successful presence at two major business expos and strong recognition from across the local business community. One fellow exhibitor even admitted to having “stand envy” after seeing the Power On stand, a moment that summed up a year of creativity, progress and reflection.

For founder Martin Kay, this milestone represents far more than business growth — it marks a personal triumph after two years of hardship.

Following the loss of his father and godmother, two job losses, a redundancy, and a late ADHD diagnosis, Martin found himself a single parent trying to rebuild. Starting a business wasn’t part of the plan. “It was more a leap of faith when everything else was uncertain,” he says. “I had no roadmap, just a belief that things had to change.”

That belief turned into Power On Media, a creative web design company built around Martin’s passion for helping small businesses grow online. Combining his sales background — from YTS trainee to Account Executive at a leading global cybersecurity firm — with a lifelong creative spark, Martin channelled his energy into building something meaningful from the ground up.

A key turning point came through Business Gateway, when adviser Lee Briggs introduced Martin to a grant scheme that could help fund early growth. The paperwork initially felt overwhelming due to ADHD-related challenges, but Lee stepped in and offered to complete the forms together. Two weeks later, the funding was approved — enabling Martin to invest in a Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber of Commerce membership and a professional exhibition stand. Those decisions proved invaluable, opening new doors and raising the company’s profile.

Fast forward 12 months and both Martin and Power On Media have undergone a remarkable transformation. The business is now flourishing, attracting larger clients while continuing to serve start-ups and small enterprises — the very audience Martin cares deeply about. Word-of-mouth referrals have become a major source of growth, driven by his hands-on approach and personal commitment to every project.

Relocating to a new office has also helped fuel creativity and focus, something Martin credits to his ADHD “superpower.” “Hyperfocus can be intense,” he says, “but in design, it’s a gift. My ADHD gives me an authenticity and energy that clients respond to. I see it as my edge, not my obstacle.”

Reflecting on the past year, Martin is both humble and proud. “I’ve powered through some very dark days. A year ago, I didn’t know if I’d manage to turn things around — but here we are. Power On Media has grown beyond what I imagined, and I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who believed in me.”

Martin also pays special thanks to Business Gateway for their continued guidance. “Without their support, I might not have had the confidence to push forward,” he adds. “They helped me take that first real step, and I’ll always be thankful for it.”

As Power On Media moves into its second year, the message is clear — resilience, creativity and self-belief can turn even the hardest challenges into something powerful.

For more info on Power On Media visit

www.poweronmedia.com 

New Talent Joins the Thomson Cooper Team

Picture from left to right – Lia Fletcher, Rowan Speed, Kelda McKenzie, Andrew Aitken, Aaron Whiteford, Alina Botiz and Joanna Blackwood

Thomson Cooper Accountants is proud to announce seven new starts are joining the team as part of their annual trainee intake. Coming from a variety of backgrounds, these talented individuals have been hand-picked from high schools, universities, and industry. They are joining Thomson Cooper Accountants across the firm’s accounting, audit, outsourcing, insolvency and agri departments.

Their training will involve examinations with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), with the trainees working towards a range of qualification levels, including Modern and Graduate apprenticeships.

To set them up for success, the trainees are all directly supported by the senior colleagues within their team. All are on unique training programmes specifically tailored to elevate and enhance their technical knowledge and skills within their respective roles. Their training has a focus on working together with different departments, promoting Thomson Cooper’s values and culture of providing a client-centric service.

Alan Mitchell, Managing Partner, said “The new team members mark another step in our continued growth as a business. We look forward to providing a fully supported training and development programme to allow each to achieve their career training ambitions.”

MouldAway UK Launches in Scotland with groundbreaking anti-mould solutions

East Lothian–based business MouldAway UK is officially launching on Thursday 18th September 2025, at Eskmills Venue, Musselburgh, bringing innovative mould remediation products to Scotland’s housing sector.

Founded by Jeanette and Charlie Hamill, MouldAway UK has rebranded from Inducoat UK and is now the exclusive distributor of Inducoat Fungi, a revolutionary anti-mould coating system. Backed by over 20 years of scientific research and widely adopted across Europe, Inducoat Fungi eliminates mould and prevents regrowth for at least five years, making it a game-changer for landlords, housing associations, and local authorities.

The launch event, held in East Lothian, will feature guest speaker Mike Frankhuizen, CEO of Inducoat BV in the Netherlands, alongside the MouldAway UK team. Attendees will also experience the MouldAway Challenge, a live demonstration kit showing mould growth halted in its tracks. Jeanette Hamill, Director of MouldAway UK, said: “Scotland faces a growing challenge with damp and mould in homes. Our mission is to protect tenants, reduce costs for housing providers, and help meet the new legal standards. The launch of MouldAway UK marks the start of a mould-free future for Scotland’s homes.”

The launch signals an important step for housing providers ahead of upcoming legislation such as Awaab’s Law in England and anticipated Scottish housing reforms. For press enquiries or to attend the launch, contact: 📧 jeanette@mouldaway.co.uk | 🌐 www.mouldaway.co.uk

Gilson Gray

When there’s a will there’s a way ahead

Anderson Strathern

Changes to ‘fire and rehire’ must not be dismissed by employers

Gilson Gray boosts real estate team with new partner

Full-service UK law firm Gilson Gray has strengthened its real estate division in England with the appointment of Shuhel Ahmed as partner.

Shuhel joins the firm from Pepperells Solicitors, where he spent the last decade specialising in commercial property, both in solicitor and director roles. His expertise includes the sale and purchase of businesses and investment properties, as well as dealing with all aspects of transactions such as leases, conditional contracts and financial arrangements.

Based in Lincoln but covering all of England and Wales, Shuhel joins Gilson Gray’s growing real estate specialism to support the development and expansion of the team. Just last month, the firm appointed experienced real estate and property lawyer Rajan Shori as the new head of the English division.

Now with over 450 employees offering a full suite of legal services across offices in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, East Lothian, Aberdeen, Lincoln, and Angus, Gilson Gray is one of the fastest-growing law firms in the UK.

Glen Gilson, chair and managing partner of Gilson Gray, said: “Shuhel is a welcome addition to our real estate team and another key hire to support the growth of the division. Our presence in England continues to go from strength to strength, and we look forward to further expansion during the months ahead.”

Shuhel added: “The ambitious and entrepreneurial spirit that is reflected throughout Gilson Gray’s achievements to date is what sets it apart from the crowd, and in my view, it is an incredible opportunity to join the team for the next chapter. My experience spans both business development and people management, which will help us to become a key player in UK property.”