Top Scottish Businessman Inspires Glenalmond College Pupils

Glenalmond College pupils gained a unique insight into the world of business and finance at a lecture at the school by Lord Smith of Kelvin, Chairman of the Weir Group, Scottish and Southern Electricity and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

After being introduced and welcomed by the Warden of Glenalmond, Gordon Woods, Lord Smith started his lecture by telling the pupils, "All of you will be leaders and influencers wherever you go." Lord Smith gauged his audience perfectly, and the pupils found the lecture both interesting and inspirational. He told the pupils something of his own career background, starting out as a young chartered accountant and ending up rising to the highest levels of banking and finance. "Don't be afraid to get involved in new ventures, and don't be afraid of change," he explained.

Describing his involvement in the development of the National Museum of Scotland as his favourite of all the projects he had been involved in, Lord Smith went on to explain his role as Chairman of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and talked about the immensely detailed logistics that will be required to bring the Games to fruition and the lasting legacy they will hopefully create.

Lord Smith ended by telling the Glenalmond pupils, "The only advice I would give you is to do the best you can, and to make the most of your lives, not only in terms of your careers, but also by doing something to help your community."

The lecture was well received by the pupils, who ranged in age from 13 to 18. As Patrick Galbraith, a lower sixth-form pupil remarked, "The audience was unanimous, Lord Smith was undoubtedly the most fascinating and accomplished man we had ever had the pleasure of hearing speak."