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Enterprise and Entrepreneurship in an economic downturn

Skene House opens its doors to management group

A leading Aberdeen businessman and visiting professor of entrepreneurship at an Aberdeen University will welcome members of a north-east professional industry group for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of his company next week.

Entrepreneur Charles Skene will show members of the Aberdeen City and Shire branch of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) round Skene House Hotel Suites on the city’s Rosemount Viaduct on Thursday, May 12.

The tour will give CMI members the opportunity to see the conversion of St Paul’s Church into 37 one-bedroom suites and modern conference rooms in the arches under Rosemount Viaduct.

Mr Skene will then talk to the group about the history and operations the Skene Group and how they reacted to the economic downturns of 1986 and 2008/9.

The business was established by Mr Skene in the early 1970s and has expanded to include a range of hotel services; suites and serviced accommodation and including the first continuing care retirement community in Scotland on Royal Deeside.

Mr Skene has seen his company grow over the years following significant investment in both property and employees.

He said: “Members of the Aberdeen City and Shire CMI branch will see round our property on Rosemount Viaduct and also make use of one of our conference suites which have been an excellent addition to our business.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the group and sharing my company’s history and operation with them. Hopefully they’ll find the visit useful and use the opportunity to increase their management knowledge from a successful local business.

“Effective management is, after all, one of the most important factors for a business to run and grow successfully.”

Mr Skene will speak about how he has managed his companies through two recessions, and will discuss Joseph Schumpeter's belief that regular recessions are important for new business growth and specifically how the Schumpeterian theory of "Creative Destruction" creates new businesses and therefore, ultimately, wealth.

The businessman is a generous benefactor of the Charles P. Skene Centre for Entrepreneurship at The Robert Gordon University's Aberdeen Business School and has championed youth enterprise as the key to regenerating the UK economy.

Regional co-ordinator for the Aberdeen City and Shire CMI branch, Emma Grant, said: “We are delighted to have organised the visit to Skene House which is sure to be a very informative evening. Charles Skene is regarded as one of the country’s leading entrepreneurs and there will be plenty to learn from the tour and his talk.

“We have an active group of members who attend our regular meetings which include visits and talks from leading business and management professionals from across the north-east.

“We’re always looking for new members to support and attend our meetings and are happy to provide information about the branch for those who would like to find out more.”

CMI events are open to network members and other interested parties. For more information about the Skene House event and to book a free place, please contact Peter Kennedy by email at peter.kennedy@gmx.co.uk

For more information about Skene House please visit www.skene-house.co.uk

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