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Former SNP minister Mark McDonald founded a new consulting company when he was taking his “next step” after leaving Holyrood.

Mr. McDonald, who resigned his role as childcare and youth minister in November 2017 over harassment allegations, started Square Peg Consulting.

It offers advice on political and public engagement as well as coaching for public speaking.

Former Aberdeen Donside MSP said he is in discussion with a number of potential clients.

“I have publicly addressed the problems I faced more than once, including in my closing speech in the plenary hall, and I am grateful for the support I have received from former colleagues and also from people who were there.” get in touch about using my services, ”he said.

Nicola Sturgeon, Mark McDonald and Alex Salmond.

Mr McDonald, a former Aberdeen city councilor, spent a decade in Holyrood, representing the Northeast Region from 2011 and then the Aberdeen Donside constituency from 2013 until last month when he stepped down in the elections.

He resigned from the SNP in 2018 and then served a one-month suspension from the Scottish Parliament after an investigation by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland found that he had sexually molested a member of parliament.

Mr. McDonald was found to violate the Code of Conduct by sending Twitter messages to a woman who created an “intimidating, humiliating, degrading or abusive environment” and which included “sexual harassment”.

He was acquitted of other allegations and “apologized unconditionally” to those involved, including during an emotional farewell speech in Holyrood in March.

When asked about his new business, he said, “I thought for a while what my next step would be before resigning, and I decided before the May elections that I would go the way of starting my own business.

At this stage, I’m just trying to build the business and hopefully that will happen over time. “

“I did some explorations and started at the beginning of June. I am talking to a number of potential clients and I also work on behalf of a number of clients.

“At this stage I just want to build the business and hopefully that will happen over time.”

Mr. McDonald said the name “Square Peg Consulting” refers to “the idea that solving difficult problems is usually not easy”.

Mark McDonald.

The company’s website states, “Our founder, Mark McDonald, has 20 years of experience in local and national government.

“With this experience in Scottish politics, Mark has significant insight into how political and public engagement strategies and techniques work.

“We believe that every client needs an individual approach and we work with you to understand your needs and provide tailored advice, support and guidance to help you maximize the impact of your work.”

The website states that the consultancy helps in gathering and engaging stakeholders, responding to local and national consultations, providing written evidence to parliamentary committees, preparing oral evidence before parliamentary committees, advocacy effectively, building a successful campaign , public involvement and consultation, public speeches and presentations as well as moderation of meetings.