The Team

The Urquhart Partnership is a Human Resource, Training and Recruitment Consultancy with offices in Aberdeen and Manchester. The company is 16 years old and currently employs just over 20 people. We strive for excellence in sourcing, managing and developing people for our clients.

Over the last 16 years, I have gained a broad range of experience in a number of HR related delivery areas such as recruitment and selection, psychometric testing, training and mentoring. I have combined this with a sound understanding of all aspects of running a business including sales and marketing, finance, IT systems, website development etc. My natural strengths are as a creative thinker with strong problem solving / lateral thinking skills.

I am also a Director of cushydoos, an HR related event management company and Advisory Board Member of Geomec, a Norwgian Geomehcnichs company. Served on the Board as Vice Chair of the Cancer Charity CLAN for 4 years.

Shona Hendry is an account director at The BIG Partnership, the UK’s largest PR agency outside London, with clients including urological cancer charity UCAN and Northsound’s Cash for Kids. She is a former journalist and was assistant news editor at the Press and Journal.

Iain is Learning and Development Director and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility for Chartered Accountants, Johnston Carmichael. Johnston Carmichael has a strong and active presence within the sphere of CSR.  The company are currently fundraising for and helping to promote the work of Alzheimer Scotland.  We are continuing with our focus on environmental issues, measuring our impact and doing something about it.  We’ve partnered Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) to provide pro bono Accounting and Tax advice to their member organisations. For more details of our CSR activities please click here.

Following the success of Celebrate Aberdeen 2011, we are delighted be involved again and help make ‘CA 2012’ even bigger and better.

I lead the Enterprise & Sustainability Unit for ACVO – the Third Sector Interface for Aberdeen. ACVO exists to develop, support and represent voluntary and community organisations, charities and social enterprises working or based in Aberdeen City of which there are approximately 4,000. Within my role I provide Funding & Business Planning Support – one-to-one, through delivering training, through brokerage and signposting etc. and through special projects such as Celebrate Aberdeen and Business Know How. My team is actively engaged in supporting the Third Sector’s contribution to the reshaping of public services for the City and manages the Aberdeen Impact programme initiated through Celebrate Aberdeen 2011.  I am a member of the local Steering Group of the Common Purpose leadership development programme and a judge of the Trend Magazine Life with Style Awards. I have been in this post for 5 ½ years after 33 years working in charity development, fundraising and media relations in London and the North East and have been volunteering since I could walk. 

Celebrate Aberdeen is a project of ACVO – Scottish Charity SC03685 Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations and will receive 100% of net proceeds.

I have been Communications Officer with Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations (ACVO), the Third Sector Interface for Aberdeen City for over ten years now. My role covers one of our six core activities – ‘Communicating the Sector’ and ensures that the most up-to-date and relevant news is circulated to and about the Third Sector in Aberdeen City. This includes working with the media, production of various information sharing tools, most importantly, the ACVO E-Bulletin which is sent out every week to over 2,000 subscribers in Grampian, maintenance of over 60 third sector and community planning partner websites and organising events to showcase the work of the sector and encourage partnership working.

Scott Baxter is Deputy Chief Executive with Aberdeen Cyrenians and Interim Chief Executive with Instant Neighbour. Over the last 25 years Scott has held many senior roles within the Statutory, Private and Voluntary Sector with local and national organisations. In addition to his work with Aberdeen Cyrenians and Instant Neighbour, Scott runs his own training business Solutions of Substance and is also an active musician regularly playing at events and festivals.

Andrew is a Communications officer for Robert Gordon University, working primarily within the Faculty of Health and Social Care. He is responsible for delivering integrated public relations campaigns to promote the university, its research, expertise and teaching to a broad spectrum of media, plus external and internal stakeholders.

Aberdeen based web specialists Red Evolution are a Recommended Agency Register (RAR) approved company who offer web design, web development and search engine optimisation services to businesses throughout the UK. Managing Director Dave Robinson is a Chartered Engineer and Chartered IT Professional who enjoys bridging the gap between the geeks and non-geeks.

Adrian has been workin in the Graphics / print / sign industry in Aberdeen for over 20 years. Firstly, he ran his own Franchised Kall Kwik design and print business for 17 years before leaving and setting up Eyecandy Graphics & Signs 3 years ago. Now based at Waterloo Quay in the Harbour the business is continues to grow help business of all sizes with all their Design, Print and Sign needs. Adrian said; "I was delighted to get involved with Celebrate Aberdeen in 2011 and work with all the Sponsors and Charities to help make it the great day it was.."