Tim Allan, Class of ‘84, returned to the College at the end of February to talk to Higher and Advanced Higher pupils studying Business Management, Accounting and Economics. Tim is a private equity and property entrepreneur with a broad range of philanthropic roles. Tim is a founding shareholder and director of MFG, the largest forecourt owner and retailer in the UK, and he owns Tricorn Capital, a diversified private investment company with venture capital, private equity and commercial property interests. Tim became chair of the V&A Dundee in August 2019 and served recently as President of Scottish Chambers of Commerce from 2017 to 2021. In addition, he serves as a member of Court at the University of St Andrews since 2016, where he acts as board director too for the Eden Campus project at Guardbridge. Tim is a director of the Edinburgh based Archangels angel investment syndicate and has invested widely in early stage Scottish technology businesses. Tim was awarded a CBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours, holds The Queen’s Award for Enterprise, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and serves as a Deputy Lieutenant for Clackmannanshire.

Clare Johnson, Head of Business Studies, comments: "We were delighted to welcome Tim Allan to the Business Education department. The pupils were fascinated by his journey from Robert Gordon's pupil to the Army, then onwards into the Finance sector, development of Dundee City Quay area and his many other entrepreneurial ventures. Mr Allan had sound advice for our pupils about how to get themselves noticed when applying for jobs or university places. He also highlighted the need for adaptability and a willingness to learn in the face of the rapidly changing business environment."

Advanced Higher pupil, Adi H (S6) said: "It was really interesting to hear about the experiences and challenges overcome by Mr Allan throughout his career. It was eye-opening to see his transformation from a once RGC pupil to a very successful Scottish Entrepreneur." Higher pupil, Lucy H (S5) commented: "Mr Allan's visit was so interesting as we gained insight into the ever-changing world of business and how we can best adapt to these changes."