Meticulous planner reveals his strategy

Despite having taken on arduous adventures – including the record for cycling round the world, completing his 18,000 mile route in 78 days – endurance athlete and partner at Eos Advisory Mark Beaumont, pictured above, insisted to delegates that he is “not a risk taker”.

Taking part in a fireside chat with host Kim Mcallister at the Scotsman Investment Conference last week, Beaumont explained his belief that risk taking in adventure is akin to “climbing without a rope”.

However, his approach to life is much more prepared, describing himself as a “meticulous planner”.

He said: “I’m not the best bike rider in the world… it’s about having a different plan.”

He added that he had never failed on an adventure because he quit, he has only given up on something if he believes it isn’t safe, giving the example of not completing a climbing expedition in Chile because of his safety concerns.

He now mixes his experience of “adventure” with his current role in “venture” with investment firm Eos Advisory.

Beaumont highlighted to conference delegates the massive opportunity to build a global network and bring more capital into Scotland. He explained that his firm spots opportunities that have the potential to benefit the wider economy.

He said: “A rising tide does float more boats. We want the entrepreneurial ecosystem to thrive.”

He believes there shouldn’t be an assumption that potential inward investors already know what Scotland has to offer, and work has to be done.

Having travelled the world, Beaumont said that he wants to invest in Scotland in organisations that can make an impact: “It goes back to expedition planning. It’s about understanding behaviours.”

His aim is to help entrepreneurs scale their ambition to the level at which their endeavours deserve to end up.