Glasgow Huddle: Square Sausages, Digital Borders, and the Power of the Hive Mind

Stuart and I arrived in Glasgow ready for a day packed with Global Mobility conversations, networking, and problem solving. It is safe to say the Scottish Expat Academy network did not disappoint! The day kicked off with breakfast networking and our usual icebreakers, where I quickly learnt that deep-fried Mars Bars are "so last year" and that Square Sausage Rolls are the new local delicacy. Due to a super early flight, I didn't manage to track one down this time, but a trip to the bakery is officially top of my list for the next visit!

Our first Huddle session focused on compliance and audits in a digital world. We explored the shift toward e-visas, digital borders, and automatic notifications to tax authorities. While we have all heard the "horror stories" of the changing landscape, it was a relief to find that no one in the room had faced a full audit just yet. We focused on preparation by discussing practical solutions like running mock audits to find the gaps, overhauling digital filing systems for better accessibility, and refreshing employee protocols. This included the vital art of knowing exactly what not to say to authorities to avoid unnecessary complications.

A massive thank you goes to the members who provided our corporate updates. Hearing how GM programmes work in the real world is always a highlight for the team and our members alike. Carla Kerr from CMS highlighted how agility is the ultimate skill in her world, where every day brings unique and surprising challenges. We were just glad she could come to the Huddle for a bit of a rest! Tommy Mann from Clyde & Co also shared his journey, and the room was genuinely stunned by his achievements over the last few years. He has truly built a Centre of Excellence from the ground up. We rounded off the morning with Hot Seat questions, where the hive mind tackled everything from tax equalisation and Middle East moves to evolving GM operating models.

After lunch, we got stuck into an interactive problem-solving session. We presented the room with three tricky case studies, tasking them with building the ultimate GM solution. From compliance hurdles and policy selection to the minefield of exception management, our members had to navigate the complete global mobility conundrum. We are pleased to report that all three moves were well thought through and approved by our "board".

David Field from RSM then led a session on the evolving role of Global Mobility. We discussed our expanding footprints, how to align GM strategy with talent management, and the permanent fixture of remote work. The deep dive into flexible working arrangements and policies provided several takeaways that members could implement

Our final session tackled the "mythical" beast of Return on Investment (ROI). We wanted tangible, practical answers, so we broke it down into strategy, tracking, and communication. We explored how to set clear goals from the start, how to measure the right data points, and the importance of tailoring the message to different stakeholders. By the end of the session, we hope ROI felt a little less like a legend and a lot more like an attainable reality for everyone in the room.

I want to say a huge thank you to the Scottish Expat Academy community for bringing such incredible enthusiasm and making the day so interactive. Thanks also to our sponsors, RSM and Santa Fe, and of course the Expat Academy team who always help to make these events happen.

Until next time, Scotland: have a square sausage roll for us!