St Andrew's Book Festival

The Festival is only in its second year, but its spirit runs deep. And in many ways, its journey mirrors our own: deep roots in Scotland yet connected across the UK, driven by a commitment to dialogue, curiosity and meaningful human connection.

This is the story behind the Festival and why it matters to us and to many of our clients.

The St Andrew’s Book Festival is the creation of Susan and Hugh Pym. Susan’s story begins in Dumbarton on the banks of the Clyde – a place known for whisky, generosity and a famously strong sense of community. “Dumbarton was never wealthy,” Susan says, “but people help each other. That’s just the culture.”

Susan and Hugh, from Wiltshire, met through a mutual friend, ultimately both making career moves to London where they set up home and joined St Columba’s Church of Scotland in Knightsbridge. The church quickly became their ‘home away from home’ – a space for connection, shared heritage and just one of the anchors for the thousands of Scots living in the city. Hugh is probably best known as the BBC’s Health Editor.

Through the umbrella group Scots in London, which brings together organisations ranging from the London Scottish Regiment and the Scottish churches to the Caledonian Club and charity ScotsCare, an idea began to form:

Leveraging their experience helping to run the Queen’s Park Book Festival, they brought the dream to life, and in 2024 the inaugural St Andrew’s Book Festival enjoyed unpredicted success – attracting an extraordinary line-up including Sir Ian Rankin, Sir Alexander McCall Smith and Judy Murray. “It felt like a reunion,” Susan explains. “These authors travel the world, but rarely cross paths. The Festival brought them together – and the atmosphere was incredible.”

When the opportunity arose to become a sponsor of the 2025 Festival, the alignment with our values was immediate and clear. “Literary festivals encourage something we deeply believe in – education, debate and respectful conversation,” says Marcelo Rodrigues, Managing Director of TrinityBridge in Scotland. “Those qualities are essential, especially in the geopolitical climate we’re navigating today.”

For many of our clients, the Festival’s Scottish connection is meaningful, too. A significant number of those we support in London have Scottish heritage or business roots. Others simply share a love of Scottish culture, storytelling and open dialogue.

“Partnering with Scots in London and supporting the Festival has allowed us to engage with a wider cultural community,” Marcelo continues. “It’s given us the opportunity to bring our clients into something vibrant, inclusive and deeply connected to values we all care about.”

But this was not just a sponsorship – it was a genuine partnership.

As with all our partnerships our involvement goes beyond branding and financial support. We firmly believe in investing time, energy and care to the initiatives we choose to support. “We’re helping the Festival reach a wider audience – through our networks, marketing channels and client communities,” Marcelo explains. “We supported the Festival launch at Scotland House, and we are actively encouraging participation among clients, families and friends.”

This is particularly important at a moment as the arts sector continues to face challenges. High-profile withdrawals of corporate sponsorship from major book festivals have created funding gaps across the UK literary landscape. “When sponsorship disappears, the cultural impact is real,” Marcelo notes. “Festivals become less able to promote literacy and education. Supporting the St Andrew’s Book Festival is our way of helping ensure these important celebrations of writing and community continue to provide access to everyone.”

It is, at its heart, an investment in ideas.

2025’s programme brought together some of the most exciting voices in Scottish writing and public life. From household names to debut authors and spoken word artists we watched Nicola Sturgeon in conversation with Ayesha Hazarika, enjoyed lunch with journalist and author Sally Magnusson, before spending a day with the literary talents of writer Damian Barr and the exquisite poetry of Edinburgh’s Makar, Michael Pedersen.

Alongside them were emerging Scottish authors, debut talent and guests whose work spans fiction, non-fiction, politics, sport, folklore and social history. One of the most talked-about events featured Claire Mitchell KC and Zoe Venditozzi – known as the “Witches of Scotland” – their book How to Kill a Witch blends legal history, social justice and gripping storytelling. “They were fascinating, funny and utterly compelling,” says Susan.

Marcelo says the breadth of the line-up is just one of the Festival’s major strengths. “There was a real spectrum this year” he explains. “From heavyweight political figures like Jeremy Hunt, whose perspective feels especially relevant given how much the world has changed in the past 18 months, to Nicola Sturgeon, who remains a significant and divisive figure, but an important voice in promoting informed dialogue.”

Marcelo and Susan were equally enthusiastic about the lighter and more cultural elements: the celebration of 100 years of Scottish rugby at Murrayfield, appearances from sporting names like Pat Nevin, and fiction from icons such as Irvine Welsh and Val McDermid. “This year brought a ‘life-uni’ that genuinely offered something for everyone,” Marcelo says.