More than 60 Highland business people gathered at the Glenmoriston Town House Hotel, Inverness, on Monday 12th March 2012 to hear about what it takes to have the winning formula. The event was organised by Harper Macleod LLP (the legal adviser to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games) and saw Inverness Caledonian Thistle Manager, Terry Butcher, and Scottish Olympian and Glasgow 2014 hopeful, Kathryn Evans, share their tips and experiences on what it takes to succeed. Delegates also heard from Business & Sports Language Behavioural Strategist Consultant, David Yeoman, and racing driver, Dave Newsham.

The event was fittingly held on Commonwealth Day and many of the delegates wore their trainers in support of Glasgow 2014’s ‘Sport Your Trainers’ campaign.

During the event, Terry passed round the official green crushed velvet cap he received after playing for the English national football team. There was also guidance on how businesses can benefit from the Games by registering on the Glasgow Business Portal for alerts on potential business opportunities and Glasgow 2014-related contracts.

Professor Lorne Crerar, Chairman of Harper Macleod, said: “As the legal advisers to Glasgow 2014, we’re keen to engage the Highland business community in the Commonwealth Games and explore together the opportunities it presents. Since we began advising on this momentous sporting event, we have come across many synergies between sport and business. Our Winning Formula event was about exploring these synergies, such as focus, motivation and competitiveness. We hope our delegates left the event feeling inspired.”

Kathryn Evans said: “I thought the night was a great success for me as an athlete and for the businesses involved, to see how each other works. The parallel between business and sport is very much on par. Set your goals and hopefully reach your targets! I found the whole evening an absolute pleasure to be a part of.”

Delegate, George Fraser, Chief Executive of Tulloch Homes commented: “I thought the event worked very well with Harper Macleod’s support of the Commonwealth Games. I see the Games both from a sporting excellence point of view but with the obvious spin off for the wider business community. Hopefully, going forward, we in Scotland will be able to put a greater emphasis on sport, as the big prize for our society is the massive social benefits it will provide through health and community involvement.  Harper Macleod’s guests last night would be an inspiration to every bright up-and-coming sport or business person.”

Harper Macleod was the first central belt law firm to open an office in the Highlands and has advised on some of the most recognisable developments in the area such as Scrabster Harbour, one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the north. The firm also organises the country’s leading renewables event, the Scottish Highland Renewable Energy Conference which will next take place on 26th April in the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness. Its clients include Forestry Commission Scotland, Inverness College, G&A Barnie, Tulloch Homes and Loch Lomond & Trossachs and Cairngorm National Park Authorities.

Highland companies keen to explore business opportunities connected to Glasgow 2014 can get more information at: http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/businessportal