Brendan Dick, Director of BT Scotland, has been appointed the new Chair of Scottish Business in the Community [SBC], one of HRH Prince Charles’s charities in Scotland. Brendan Dick succeeds George Borthwick CBE, who is retiring after a decade in the role.
 
Scottish Business in the Community represents over 7% of the Scottish working population and is a key facilitator for companies wanting to broker relationships which benefit their operations and also benefit the economic sustainability of the communities in which they operate.
 
Accepting the invitation to Chair the organisation, Brendan Dick urged Scottish businesses to accept that responsible and sustainable business behaviour will be core to a successful Scottish economy, and that businesses have a key role in tackling major issues such as climate change and poverty.
 
He took up the role at SBC’s AGM on December 3rd, where over a hundred guests - including SBC Member companies, public sector representatives and other partner organisations met for a business breakfast on the theme “Better Business for a Better Scotland”- a call to Scottish businesses to consider how they are going to grasp the unprecedented challenges and opportunities facing businesses.
 
“Better Business for a Better Scotland’ is about finding new ways of delivering effective wealth creation that simultaneously supports the economic, social and environmental health of Scotland.
 
Brendan Dick said: “SBC is leading the thinking on this in Scotland and delivering change through innovative partnerships and projects. I look forward to building on the success and working with our recently appointed Chief Executive, Jane Wood and her team, at an exciting time for us.”
 
Outgoing Chair George Borthwick CBE echoed Brendan Dick, urging businesses to, “look forward to see how we can all play our part in creating a better, more sustainable and responsible economic success in Scotland.”
 
Jane Wood welcomed Brendan to his new role, and also paid tribute to outgoing Chair George Borthwick CBE, and The Honourable Mark Laing, Vice Chair, who is also stepping down from the board.  “George and Mark have worked tirelessly for 20 years, and they have played an enormous role in the development of responsible business practice in Scotland. Brendan is an excellent choice for continuing to drive this change.”
 
Frank Blin, the regional Chair for Price Waterhouse Coopers and SBC Company of the Year, and Robert Carr, chairman of law firm Anderson Strathern and HRH The Prince of Wales’ Ambassador in Scotland for Corporate Social Responsibility, also spoke about the challenges and opportunities for business in Scotland in the face of Climate Change, social changes, and from the emerging economies, particularly with a backdrop of economic turbulence.
 
Minister for Housing and Communities Alex Neil said:
 
“The leadership of SBC is a critical one in taking forward the role that the private sector plays in the economic, social and environmental success of Scotland.
 
“The Scottish Government and its agencies already work in partnership with SBC and we look forward to working with Brendan on some of the key issues affecting Scotland at this time, including positioning Scotland’s economy for recovery.”
 
Looking back over progress in the past year Jane Wood said: “SBC, along with our member companies and partners, can be justly proud of the achievements we have made in the past year. As we push the boundaries still further in the coming year, partnerships between the private sector and the Scottish Government are increasingly important as we realise the need to look at different ways of re-invigorating the economy without the availability of investment finance. Crucially, we need to find ways of doing this without compromising our social and environmental integrity. This is exemplified by The Prince of Wales’ May Day Network, Scotland’s largest business network working with the government to tackle Climate Change. As we approach the summit in Copenhagen, this way of working is an excellent example of how we can deliver a “Better Business for a Better Scotland.”
 
 
 
Notes to Editor:
 
SBC I the lead organisation in Scotland in responsible and sustainable business in Scotland. Member led, SBC work in partnership with organisations in all sectors to support sustainable business practice, while addressing the wider economic, social and environmental issues. For more information www.sbcscot.com
Brendan Dick biography: A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, much of Brendan’s early career was spent in information technology.
His external interests are many and varied. Currently Brendan is Chair of the Edinburgh Business Assembly, a board member of both the Scottish Council for Development and Industry and Scottish Business in the Community, a member of the CBI Scotland Council, the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Business Delivery Group and a business representative on the Lowland Reserve Forces Regional Employer Support Group. He has also just completed a role as HRH Prince Charles’ Ambassador for Corporate Responsibility in Scotland, theming on environmental matters. Previous appointments include board membership of SCVO and the Edinburgh International Science Festival plus being on the advisory panel of Common Purpose.
 
 
 
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Further Information:
David Forsyth
Benchmark Media
0131 225 0780