The Art of Asking Questions with John Sturrock KC
In partnership with EICC Live we explored the art of asking questions with John Sturrock KC and former BBC journalist Clare English.
Past event: 6 November 2024
This event was a fascinating session, brought to you by EICC Live and the David Hume Institute, where we considered the art of asking questions.
John Sturrock KC, Founder & Senior Mediator of Core Solutions, shared insights on how to ask purposeful questions. John discussed valuable techniques to take your skills to the next level and achieve better outcomes in your professional and personal life.
John has spent much of his career exploring how to ask questions in all sorts of settings, firstly as an advocate in his former career at the Scottish Bar, then as a mediator, facilitator and negotiation adviser in the worlds of business, politics, policy and sport, as a trainer on questioning skills for members of each of the parliaments in the UK, and as a father, spouse and friend.
The ability to ask great questions can make a real difference to all we do, especially in difficult situations in our work and home lives.
Watch the event recording to hear John explore the art of asking purposeful questions and discuss with former BBC journalist Claire English, why this is so important.
Image credit: EICC
Read Reflections on the event from Graham Boyack, Director of the Scottish Mediation Network
Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker - May 2024 Insights
Catch up with results and insights from Wave 11 of the Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker (USET) - a quarterly survey of over 2000 people in Scotland.
This event launched the latest findings in our quarterly research series. Our regular survey with the Diffley Partnership helps us to understand and monitor changes in economic attitudes and public opinion over time.
Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager at the Diffley Partnership, presented the latest findings. The recent data shows that healthcare and the cost of living are at the forefront of voters’ minds ahead of the General Election.
We were delighted to be joined by Sebastian Burnside, Chief Economist at NatWest Group and João Sousa, Deputy Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute who give their reflections and insights on the results.
The event was kindly hosted by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Video credit: Allan Lloyds, Live to Air.
Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker - November 2023 Insights
The Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker, produced in partnership with the Diffley Partnership, marks its second birthday, showing many Scots continue to take extreme measures to navigate turbulent economic times.
This briefing of the latest results Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker, produced by the David Hume Institute and the Diffley Partnership, marks its second birthday, showing many Scots continue to take extreme measures to navigate turbulent economic times:
Mark Diffley, Director of the Diffley Partnership and Scott Edgar, Senior Research Manager present the top ten insights from the latest tracker results and with reflections on the long term implications of the data:
1 in 6 people (17%) report skipping meals
1 in 5 people are using ‘buy now pay later’ payment plans
2 out of 3 people (67%) are not putting the heating on to reduce costs
For many, the ongoing challenges with the cost of living are dominating their lives with:
3 in 10 (29%) Scots tell us they are losing sleep due to their personal finances
Many Scots are living with severe financial precarity:
3 in 10 people (28%) are not confident of covering a £100 emergency expense – up three percentage points since February 2023.
This rises to 1 in 2 (49%) for an emergency expense of £500.
The survey also shows 8 in 10 Scots perceive the economy as favouring the wealthy (78%), while 53% believe it primarily serves business interests. Only 1 in 10 (10%) believe that the economy works in their own interest.
Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker May 2023
Find out more about our Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker discussion from May 2023.
This in-person event discussed the latest insights from the Understanding Scotland quarterly survey of economic attitudes and expectations and was hosted by Ashurst.
Our regular survey tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion. Mark Diffley, from the Diffley Partnership shared the latest data and analysis providing vital information for decision-makers across all sectors. We then heard reflections from Junaid Ashraf of the Scottish Asian Business Chamber and Victoria Carson from The Wise Group.
Mark Diffley is a researcher and political pollster with over 20 years’ experience. He founded The Diffley Partnership in 2017. The company delivers research, insight and evidence-led recommendations for clients across the public, private and third sectors in Scotland and further afield.
Junaid Ashraf is co-founder of the Scottish Asian Business Chamber, an organisation established with the support of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce to improve ethnic minority inclusion in the wider business community. He is formerly a Councillor in North Lanarkshire and a race equality advocate based in Scotland.
Victoria Carson is Director of Engagement at leading social enterprise, the Wise Group. Prior to the Wise Group she led the Scotland Office of the General Medical Council and has held senior roles at the British Library and the Care Quality Commission.
Understanding Scotland: public perceptions of the economy
Catch up with the February 2023 findings of our quarterly research series, Understanding Scotland: Economy, which tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.
Past event: 1st March 2023
On Wednesday 1st March 2023 we discussed the latest insights from our most recent Understanding Scotland quarterly survey of economic attitudes and expectations. Our regular survey tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor public opinion.
For this event we were joined by Mark Diffley, Shona McCarthy and David Eiser. The conversation brought to life what is valuable data and essential information for decision makers in all sectors.
Mark Diffley is a researcher and political pollster with over 20 years’ experience.
Shona McCarthy joined the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society as Chief Executive 7 years ago. Shona has championed the Edinburgh Fringe as the world’s leading performing arts festival and expo, founded on the principles of open access and freedom of expression.
David Eiser, is Director of Research, Analysis and Investigations at Consumer Scotland, the recently established statutory organisation for consumers in Scotland.
Image credit: sharing thumbnail image by Emil Kalibradov free from Unsplash on 08/01/2025.
Understanding Scotland: public perceptions of the economy
Catch up with the November 2022 findings of our quarterly research series, Understanding Scotland: Economy, which tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.
Past Event: 22nd November 2022
On Tuesday 22nd November 2022, we launched the latest findings in our quarterly research series, Understanding Scotland Economy. Our regular survey with the Diffley Partnership tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.
Mark Diffley discussed the new data with Professor Mairi Spowage, Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute, and Shan Saba, Director of Brightwork.
Mark Diffley is a researcher and pollster with over 20 years experience. After 10 years as Director of Ipsos MORI in Edinburgh, Mark set up a new business in 2017, delivering research and insight for clients across the public, private and third sectors in Scotland and further afield.
Mairi Spowage is Director at the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde. Previously, Mairi was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Head of National Accounts at the Scottish Government. She has over a decade of experience working in different areas of statistics and analysis.
Shan Saba is Director of Brightwork, an established multi-sector recruitment agency with an outstanding reputation. Shan is also the Founder of Scotland Against Modern Slavery, Board Member at Refugee Survival Trust and Advisory Committee Member of Show Racism The Red Card.
Click to view Mark’s slides.
The Great Risk Transfer: have we got the balance right?
Catch up with this event about our latest research The Great Risk Transfer: have we got the balance right? published in partnership with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
Past event: 3rd October 2022
This David Hume Institute event heard findings from our latest research The Great Risk Transfer: have we got the balance right? published in partnership with the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.
The research explores what Scotland’s people feel about the shift in the balance of risk from institutions, such as employers and the State, to individuals. From managing pensions to insurance and housing. The discussion provided a chance to reflect on the research and discuss who is benefiting from the new levels of choice in managing the risks in their lives?
Lead researcher, Shelagh Young presented the findings and was joined for reflections by John Taylor, past president of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and Mubin Haq, Chief Executive of the abrdn Financial Fairness Trust.
Click to view Shelagh’s slides separately from the event recording.
Understanding Scotland: public perceptions of the economy
Catch up with the August 2022 findings of our quarterly research series, Understanding Scotland Economy which tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.
Past Event: 30th August 2022
On Tuesday 30th August 2022, we launched the latest findings in our quarterly research series, Understanding Scotland Economy. Our regular survey with The Diffley Partnership tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion.
Mark Diffley discussed the new data with Dr Samuel Mwaura from University of Strathclyde and Aveek Bhattacharya, Chief Economist with the Social Market Foundation. This free in-person event was kindly hosted by Brodies.
Mark Diffley is a researcher and pollster with over 20 years experience. After 10 years as Director of Ipsos MORI in Edinburgh, Mark set up a new business in 2017, delivering research and insight for clients across the public, private and third sectors in Scotland and further afield.
Dr Samuel Mwaura is lecturer of entrepreneurship at the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Strathclyde Business School. Samuel’s recent work has focused on innovation and its impact on productivity, SME financing, the link between entrepreneurship and household wellbeing (including household wealth).
Aveek Bhattacharya is Chief Economist at the Social Market Foundation. Prior to that, he was Senior Policy Analyst at the Institute of Alcohol Studies, researching and advocating for policies to reduce alcohol-related harm and as a strategy consultant, advising clients across a range of sectors including retail, consumer goods, software and services.
Understanding Scotland: public perceptions of the economy
This online event heard insights from Understanding Scotland’s quarterly survey of economic attitudes and expectations.
DHI was joined by researcher and pollster Mark Diffley, Director of the Diffley Partnership, and Rachel Statham, Associate Director at IPPR.
Past event: May 2022
This online event heard insights from Understanding Scotland’s quarterly survey of economic attitudes and expectations.
This new, regular survey tracks economic confidence and buying intentions over time, as well as helping us to understand and monitor economic attitudes and public opinion. Mark Diffley, from the Diffley Partnership shared the latest data and analysis which is vital information for decision-makers across all sectors. Rachel Statham, Associate Director of IPPR, joined Mark in discussion to reflect on the wider context of the findings.
Mark Diffley is a researcher and pollster with over 20 years experience. After 10 years as Director of Ipsos MORI in Edinburgh, Mark set up a new business in 2017, delivering research and insight for clients across the public, private and third sectors in Scotland and further afield.
Rachel Statham is Associate Director at IPPR, where she leads the institute’s research across employment, health and care, education and social security.