Alumni and Friends

Few can offer such personal insight into the recent banking crisis as Andrew McLaughlin, Social Sciences ‘90, Group Chief Economist and Head of Communications of Royal Bank of Scotland. In an incisive interview with Adelle Hopkins, (BA (Hons) Communication & Mass Media ’07, currently studying an MA in Multimedia Journalism), Mr McLaughlin discusses his personal experience of the collapse of RBS, and offers his views on both the causes of the credit crunch and the prospects for economic recovery.

Tell us what you think about the banking crisis!

Click the links below to listen to Andrew

Has public faith in banks dwindled?

What has happened over the last 2 years?

Who has benefited from current economic crisis?

Who can we trust?

Could the crisis have been avoided?

Is there risk of the recession happening again?

What are the root problems of this current crisis?

The latest edition of the alumni magazine, Caledonian+, will be hitting your door mats in the next few days.
If you do not recieve any communications from the Alumni Department then please update your details here

GCU graduates David Forbes, BSc Psychology ’00 and Stewart Kerr, MSc Rehabilitation Science ‘08 took part in Bank of Scotland International Badminton Championships in Glasgow last in November. The doubles pair reached the second round of the tournament before losing out to an Austrian duo. David and Stewart have been playing together for 4 years and have been capped for Scotland 5 times.

Tom Moffett leads the project for the construction of the HMS Defender warship at BVT Surface Fleet, Glasgow. But what many don’t know is that Tom is a former Power-Lifting Champion and current world record holder! Tom, B.Eng (Hons) Business and Manufacturing Engineering ’99, represented Scotland in the 2009 World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation (WDFPA) Deadlift Championships finishing a close 2^nd behind Ireland.

The World Championships, held in Bradford in September, attracted the best power-lifters from over 30 countries. Tom said; “I am a bit disappointed to finish second but I am happy with my performance and it was great to see my friends and competitors from around the world.”  Tom has now started training for the Scottish Championships and the European Championships in Moscow next year, whilst of course, working on the HMS Defender.

The recession has hit many small businesses, but business is booming for environmentally friendly taxi firm, GOGREENCAR. Owners David Peters, Business Studies ’01, and Andrew Laughlan, Multimedia Technology ’02, have seen an increase in clientele over the last year as Senior Executives and Managing Directors have moved away from their high-end chauffeured limousines to a more eco-friendly hybrid alternative.  The taxi firm, based in heart of London, has seen its fleet of hybrid Toyota Prius’s grow from 5 to 40 in a space of 18 months and are still adding new vehicles every month. “The current economic downturn has been good to us” said Andrew. “We are competitively priced and as blue chip companies cut back on spending we are the and environmentally friendly alternative.” The firm looks capitalise on the current economic climate by helping more businesses and residents across London reduce their carbon footprint, through their new eco-friendly vehicles.

For further information, visit: www.gogreencar.co.uk

The Alumni Office has teamed up with the Magners Glasgow International Comedy Festival to offer our alumni a chance to win tickets to Frankie Boyle’s sold-out show!
To celebrate the relaunch of www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com, the festival team is offering you the chance to win a pair of tickets to Frankie Boyle’s sold-out festival show at the King’s Theatre on Saturday 20th March 2010, a night’s luxury four star accommodation at Marks Hotel, dinner for two at the hotel’s One Ten Bar & Grill restaurant and complimentary Magners.
To enter, just register your details on www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com before 11th January 2010!

** Caledonian+ Competition **

An innovative new brand is set to make its mark on the headphone market. By focusing on style as well as substance, Audio Chi’s W-Series range is set to revolutionise the world of personal audio.

Audio Chi’s design team have also solved the two major headphone headaches; tangled cables and faulty connections. The woven and colour co-ordinated outer fabric ensures the end of annoying tangles, whilst their detachable connection eliminates faulty connections.

Gavin Muir, BSc Chemistry with IT & Instrumentation ’02, Director at Hunter Reid and an investor in Audio Chi added, “The team have breadth of talent across the business from engineers to fashion marketing and are also running an intern programme which is great, especially in the current economic climate”.

Julie McNicol, BA Hons Fashion Business ’09 who recently joined the company’s marketing communication team said, “The energy and passion within the business is incredible. It’s great to be part of Audio Chi and be working with such enthusiastic and talented people”.

We have a set of fantastic Audio Chi headphones to give away (worth £70), answer the following question: What colour are Audio Chi’s W7 headphones? (hint) visit www.audiochi.com. Answers to alumni@gcal.ac.uk

To view the latest edition of Caledonian+

 The World Economy and what does 2010 hold?

In the winter ’09 edition of Caledonian +, we talk exclusively with the Chief Economist of RBS, Andrew McLaughlin, (Social Sciences ’90) about the recent economic meltdown and what the future holds for the banking sector.
(Interview conducted by MA Multimedia Journalism student, Adelle Hopkins)

*** Exclusive video interview coming soon! *** 

To view the latest edition of Caledonian+ Click here