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Kevin carried out a small but useful piece of work for Forest Research, helping a nascent technology idea. One interesting snippet that came out of this study is that trees, even in plantations of Sitka spruce, are basically 'free range'. Genetic variations mean that two trees, growing next to each other in an identical microclimate, can have vastly different timber characteristics and economic value.

Straight back from Ljubljana, Kevin headed for Crieff Hydro, and a summer school run for students in Life Science, Medicine, and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Students working with Kevin were subjected to a 'Networking for Shy People' game, the 'Biotechnology Stock Market' simulation, and finally a guided walk to the top of the nearby hill. Despite all this, the students responded with enthusiasm, and three teams have announced an intention of entering Biotechnology YES this year. That now makes a total of at least six teams inspired by three workshops over the last month. Good news, as statistically it looks like entering BioYES or a similar competition increases your chance of becoming a successful entrepreneur by 2-3 times.

In the third week of May Kevin was back in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, for the first time in 11 years. He presented a paper to the Global Borrowers Forum, where development organisations like the World Bank meet the treasury official from the main bon-issuing countries. As well as presenting a paper to the Forum, Kevin was able to re-visit Danfoss-Trata, who were KKI's very first client back in 1993-4. Trata is now thriving as the centre of Danfoss's business supplying to the district heating business, especially in China and Eastern Europe. Lets hope it doesn't take another 10 years to get back there!

Kevin has been delivering BBSRC funded training (thanks Donald!) to bioscience students at the Universities of Sheffield and Dundee. In each case the aim is to enthuse as well as educate, and it looks like each University will have at least one team in Biotechnology YES. I always enjoy going to these cities, and not just for the enthusiastic and likable students. The weather is usually good in Dundee, which means the sun shines spectacularly on the river Tay. And Sheffield seems to contain a diverse mix of people, of all ethnic origins, all speaking with a Yorkshire accent and all prepared to take the time to have a few minutes friendly chat with a lone visitor. And unlike Edinburgh their tram system is finished!

At the request of Young Company Finance, Kevin wrote a chapter for their special report on renewables in Scotland. This is being launched at the Aberdeen Energy Conference this month. Did you know that China is the biggest user of HEP in the world (think of all those dammed gorges) and will soon be the second largest wind user? Or that Russia is contemplating the two largest tidal barrage schemes, and that the US could get much of its power from 'hot dry rocks'? Did you also know its going to take investment around $1 trillion a year for the next 30 years to really shift the world to greener energy? E-mail for a copy of the report.

Along with Michael Mainelli of Z/Yen, KKI recently completed a carbon pricing model for the Think-tank 'Tomorrow's Company'. This model, which will be available from the Tomorrow's Company website, allows businesses to analyse not just their carbon footprint but the likely cost of that footprint under different carbon trading regimes. At present the EU is set on introducing pricing to reduce carbon emissions by 20% by the year 2020. However, it has offered to impose much steeper cuts (30-40%) if a multilateral agreement can be reached at the post-Kyoto Copenhagen conference in 2010. Carbon prices could approach 100Euros/tonne and electricity prices could increase by 50-100%. Watch this space!

Kevin braved the elements in snowy south east England at the beginning of February. His course 'Financial Literacy in a Day' received rapturous delegate feedback (perhaps because of the 'Dunkirk spirit' engendered by the difficulty of travel). An increasing number of people in the building management industry are now using the KKI 'design a budget from scratch' template.

KKI has awarded the contract to develop its new website to Designlike of Inverness. Early feedback on Designlike's concepts has been very positive.