2016 in review: Murray Carmichael-Smith, bcsAgency

At the end of the another busy year for his business, Murray Carmichael-Smith, director at Nottingham based integrated agency bcsAgency, tells us how he sees the last 12 months.

What has been your highlight of the year?
Business-wise a highlight for me would be Emma Durant joining bcsAgency as partner. She has been awesome for us and her global strategic marketing skill set has helped us increase our relevance (and revenues) with key clients and attract new ones. Personally, my boy Callum landing a superb apprenticeship position in Spring which sees him through university whilst working as a quantity surveyor having been made redundant in February.

And your lowlight?
We’ve had some late payments which have hurt us cashflow wise, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Ohh, and Chris Evans’ awful performance on Top Gear.

How do you think 2016 will be remembered?
Blimey, where do you start?! It’s been a huge year of change and I don’t just mean Hammond and May (Government not Top Gear this time) but on a global perspective.

Hero of the year (business or otherwise)?
No brainer business wise: Elon Musk – does anyone not want a Tesla? Personally, my lovely wife Adele who is simply amazing.

And villain?
Whoever in Government is still allowing the huge proliferation of the highly addictive Fixed Odds Betting Terminals across the UK. For full disclosure I have worked on the StopFOBTs campaign for years but the more I have discovered this year of the damage these things are doing to society the more aggrieved I get. That’s it, rant over.

What’s your New Year’s Resolution?
Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.