The founding leader of one of Scotland’s most successful global energy businesses will deliver the 2013 Absoft Entrepreneurship Lecture at Robert Gordon University next week (Thursday, February 14.)
Roy MacGregor OBE, executive chairman of oil and gas contracting and service company Global Energy Group will share his entrepreneurial story with an audience of up to 300 students at Aberdeen Business School.
Mr MacGregor, who was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise in 2011, will also co-host a round-table discussion with his son, and chief executive of Global Energy Group, Iain MacGregor, for a group of students – giving them further insight into his career while answering questions one-to-one.
The prestigious lecture series is now in its 18th year and has been sponsored by leading independent SAP software consultancy Absoft since 2002.
Ian Mechie, managing director of Absoft, says: “Mr MacGregor is rightly recognised as one of Scotland’s most successful businessmen, with an impressive entrepreneurial record spanning 35 years. Having a guest lecturer of such calibre is an exciting opportunity for students at RGU.
“It is important to promote the development of entrepreneurial skills among the next generation of business leaders and I have no doubt that listening to Roy’s story will be of great value to all who attend the lecture, myself included.”
Mr Mechie, who co-founded Aberdeen-based Absoft in 1991, will join the Global bosses in the round-table discussion after the lecture.
Mr MacGregor, who is himself a business degree graduate from RGU, adds: “I am honoured to have been asked to share my story and hope I can in some way help to inspire a new generation of RGU students to strive for success by developing their skills and working hard.
“I look forward to sitting down with them at the round-table and giving them the opportunity to quiz me on my career, including transforming Global Energy Group from a modest beginning – when we were two men, and a dog, in an office – into a business employing more than 4,500 people globally, while also hearing about their own career aspirations and ideas.”
Professor Heather Fulford, academic director of RGU’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, said: “Events like this are an important way of enhancing our entrepreneurship learning programmes as they increase students’ understanding of what it takes to be an entrepreneur.Â
“We are very grateful to business leaders like Ian and Roy for giving time to share their knowledge and experience with our students.”
The event will take place in room 225 at Aberdeen Business School, Garthdee campus, from 12.00pm-1.30pm. There will be a short career and enterprise fair in the main Atrium for students after the lecture. Â All RGU students and staff are welcome to attend the lecture, prior registration is not required.
