Connected Issue 2 Spring 2019

ISSUE 2

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

INTERNATIONAL TRADE IS THRIVING and Dundee and Angus is stepping up to meet global demand PAGES 4-15

INTERNATIONAL NEWS: tips, OVERSEAS GROWTH, launches FROM PAGE 14

BELLA & DUKE: IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN PET FOOD PAGE 23

’WHAT WE LEARNED FROM OUR FIRST FORAY OVERSEAS’ page 48

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01

Chief Executive’s INTRODUCTION The B Word!

I’m writing this knowing the magazine will be distributed on or around the date that was set for the UK to be leaving the EU, and in the 1,000+ days since that fateful referendum we have watched and waited for information to be made available to businesses to plan for their future.

What is clear is that the fairly simple vote by the UK electorate on 23rd June 2016 has not led to a straightforward exit or path forward - and that’s definitely not been good for anyone.

Therefore, we chose to focus our magazine this issue on the best B word we know: Business-as-usual, as uncertainty has become the new norm.

We’re showcasing the very best of internationally focused businesses in our area and telling the stories of many others who are our members: doing amazing things and aiming to carry on, regardless of the uncertainties that surround us.

Our own International Trade Team are supporting a great number of businesses to trade overseas and working with partners to stimulate the ambitions of many others to reach new markets, driving business growth.

In the world of international trade, tariffs, customs documentation, access to a flexible workforce and supply chain issues remain at the top of what is a long list of business critical factors where there are many questions – and few answers to date.

Our International Members Group is a perfect forum for sharing best practice, connecting global businesses to other sectors and reaching out via the Chamber to Chamber links that we have. We meet quarterly: if you are interested in joining in the conversation, please get in touch.

As the membership at Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce continues to grow, that gives us access to a very diverse range of businesses, all of whom want to grow, raise their profile and make connections.

The key reasons for organisations joining the Chamber are: Business Profile/Visibility, Events and Networking.

We surveyed members recently on a wide range of topics and you can read more about the responses on Page 46.

I am particularly pleased that a resounding 93% of respondents felt that the Chamber fulfils its role in connecting members, campaigning and championing the region on their behalf.

This magazine is jam packed with editorial from over SIXTY organisations shining a light on the things that make them such a great part of the Dundee & Angus Chamber community. I’m immensely proud of the work that has gone into the Spring Issue of ConnectED magazine – the home for business news in our region. Enjoy!

Alison Henderson, CEO Want to get in touch? Have comments about the magazine?

Email us on Magazine@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk

CONTENTS

4

cover story: international trade

31

member news: people

14

international news

33

member news: new biz

21

new member news

34

member news: celebrations

23

new member spotlight

36

our partners’ news

25

members’ news

43

key events

48

the last word...

CREDITS Publisher: Volpa Editor-in-chief: Alison Henderson Editor: Gillian Drummond Member News Editor: Dan Cargill Contributor: Irene Duncan, Take My Word Creative Director/Design: Gordon Low Advertising Director: Sarah Young

Published by Volpa Ltd, Rhum Suite, King James VI Business Centre, Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DY. Printed by J Thomson Colour Printers Thanks go to all of our contributors, including the many member photographers we work with to document our lively event programme.

www.dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

02

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03

Meet our international

TEAM...

The Dundee & Angus Chamber International team Meet Daniel Cargill, Hayley Kemp and Lauren McGurk who make up the International Trade team at our Chamber.

Covering a vast array of work supporting businesses who trade or have ambitions to trade in global markets, we have invested in the capability of our team to understand not only the transactional world of export documentation services, but to create a suite of events and training to signpost and build the necessary skills that businesses need to thrive in a global marketplace.

Since launching our full in-house export documentation service in the Summer of 2018, we have seen record numbers of documents pass through our hands with Hayley ensuring a very quick turnaround. She also liaises very closely with the Arab-British and Egyptian Chambers to get documents fully signed to allow exports to those markets.

Dan and Lauren support Hayley in the required second check function for export documentation, and Lauren is designing and delivering a strong programme of International Events & Training.

Dan is leading the team in his new role as Member Services Manager, helping shape the delivery of the International Services, supporting and promoting the export documentation facility.

At a time when the world of international trade is entering uncharted waters, our team are on board with our members, helping with navigation tools and techniques to guide and support, as our members take Dundee & Angus products and services to the world!

take a seat and learn a little more…

HAYLEY KEMP Q: Describe the Perfect Cup of Tea? A: Oooooh: a little bit of sugar, a little splash of milk and quite strong Q:

A:

Whats your favourite thing about Dundee & Angus?

I like that Dundee is on the water and the people are very happy

Q: Favourite place in Dundee & Angus?

A: The Café in Waterstones!

Q: Describe the Perfect Cup of Tea? A: Milky Q: What’s the best part of your job?

A: Meeting people Q: Favourite place in Dundee & Angus?

A: Carnoustie Golf Course Q: Summer or Winter?

A: Summer

Q: Summer or Winter?

A: Winter

hayleykemp@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk

LAUREN mcGurk

DANiel CARGILL

Q: Describe the Perfect Cup of Tea? A: Two sweeteners and a good bit of milk Q: What’s the best part of your job?

A: The variety, and meeting different people all the time Q:

A:

Favourite thing about Dundee & Angus?

I grew up here and really like how the city has developed

Q: Summer or Winter?

A: Summer

danielcargill@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk

laurenmcgurk@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

04

International Trade is Thriving and Dundee and Angus is stepping up to meet global demand

Many companies throughout Dundee and Angus are experiencing great success with export.

Business abroad is buoyant and the good news is there are further opportunities for growth.

In addition, companies based overseas see Dundee and Angus as an ideal location for investment, not least because of its people and the talent pool in this area.

A diverse range of organisations in the region speak to ConnectED and share what’s happening in their market.

Feature by Irene Duncan, Take my Word

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

05

Mackays’ quality products can be found in 94 countries – and it’s spreading its wings even further The company known locally as the ‘Jammy’ is expanding to meet ever-increasing demand.

Mackays’ jam factory, founded in 1938, was originally owned by the Mackay family and was located in Thistle Street, Carnoustie. It was known locally as the ‘Jammy’.

The company was bought by Paul Grant in 1995. He saw tremendous opportunities for Mackays and since he took over it has never looked back.

Mackays also owns the Mrs Bridges brand, which is a premium range.

You won’t see Mrs Bridges in supermarkets as it is considered a luxury purchase. More of an indulgence and a gift item, you’ll find the products in high-end delis and garden centres.

Paul’s son Martin joined the business 15 years ago. He became MD in 2012 and has grown the business from £8m to £19m. He is equally passionate about the products and his loyal workforce.

Back in the early days, 16 people worked for Mackays. The company moved to Arbroath in 2008 and the workforce has grown to 180, the majority of them local.

Although Mackays makes a wide variety of products, there’s no doubt marmalade is its top seller. An incredible 15 million jars a year are produced using the traditional method.

The company is looking to expand. Martin is confident there is room for growth in the short and long-term which involves both the international and domestic markets. It is currently making a huge investment in terms of space and capacity at the plant in Arbroath. This new venture will be fully on stream by April when Mackays’ products will be in hotels and airlines. It’s a whole new exciting opportunity.

International business is vital to the growth of the company and there is a dedicated export team of four full-time staff keeping on top of all the rules and regulations.

Martin is constantly travelling, spending a great deal of time maintaining relationships with international clients across the world.

He still gets a surprise whenever he sees his products across the globe. He remembers vividly walking into a deli in Kolkata, India and finding a jar of Mackays!

Buyers of Mackays’ products vary massively, but one thing unites them all and that is a love of good, quality food and great taste.

Martin describes Mackays as ‘a family business with entrepreneurial spirit’. In today’s world, with the internet and clients in different time zones, it’s non-stop. As Martin puts it, “Someone somewhere in the world is always awake.”

His thoughts on the export business?

“If you can find an international market for your product or service, I would highly recommend and encourage businesses to do so.

It gives the company a huge knowledge of consumer insights with a broader, more-balanced commercial base with opportunities to grow.”

Mackays considers itself custodians of the Dundee Marmalade and are very proud of this heritage.

The company makes more than 20 different types of marmalade in copper pans using whole oranges from Seville in Spain.

Business is not only healthy in the UK, but all around the world; Mackays’ products can be found on the shelves of mainstream supermarkets in 94 countries. Approximately 30 per cent of the firm’s total turnover is international, with 30 per cent of that figure being in Europe.

Bairds Malt in Arbroath plays a major role in its multi-national organisation At almost 200 years old, Bairds Malt is a global success.

Its Arbroath facility plays a crucial part in that.

Bairds Malt was founded in the UK nearly 200 years ago. Fast forward to November 2009 and enter GrainCorp. Since the Australian grain company took over the company 10 years ago it has grown the business.

The company operates malt houses in Arbroath, Inverness, Pencaitland, Grantham and Witham. It also has a barley storage facility in Turriff and a Brewers Select warehouse in Peterborough.

Bairds Malt supplies malt to the brewing and distilling industry in the UK and overseas. Much of the speciality malt is shipped to the US and Canada to the company’s sister company, Country Malt Group, which supplies the large American craft brewing sector.

These speciality malts are shipped as far as Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

The maltings in Arbroath primarily supplies the distilling and export industry. In addition, it plays a major role for the company by handling all the accounts for the UK and logistics.

The malting process never stops; the machinery is working around the clock, seven days a week and 365 days a year. One of the company’s logistical challenges is getting the right containers at the right time from the shipping lines. Bad weather can be a problem as it can affect the loading of the containers and there is a finite time in which you can deliver the product. Orders have to be spot-on in terms of weight to conform to safety regulations and the challenge with overseas deliveries is getting the product to the destination in the same quality it left the plant.

In terms of international business, Bairds Malt is undoubtedly a global success and looking to the future the opportunities are endless.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

06

Jack Ellis continues to expand in the international body armour market This Angus company has become a go-to for organisations including UNICEF and the HALO Trust.

Jack Ellis Body Protection is part of the highly-successful company J&D Wilkie Ltd based in the Angus town of Kirriemuir. The familyowned business was founded way back in 1868 as one of the many jute processing companies based around Dundee. Unlike most of those firms, J&D Wilkie has used its knowledge and experience of advanced textile technology to grow the business into a hightechnology solution provider.

The Jack Ellis business originated in Leicester as a manufacturer of back protectors for horse riders. It later progressed to producing bullet, knife and spike-resistant body armour. J&D Wilkie Ltd acquired Jack Ellis in 2009, moved production up to Kirriemuir and the company has blossomed as a result.

J&D Wilkie Ltd may have been in business for over 150 years but it is forward-thinking. It saw an opportunity to develop and sell armour products – body armour, helmets, plates and accessories – to the UK and international markets and the business is thriving, particularly overseas.

The team at Jack Ellis has grown through successful tendering for security companies such as G4S and Loomis. They specialise in body armour for humanitarian organisations, supplying several of the UN agencies. These include UNICEF, World Food Programme, UNOG, as well as Médecins Sans Frontières and the Scottish de-mining charity the HALO Trust.

The company also provides body armour to media organisations, including the BBC, ITN, Sky News and CNN. About 80 per cent of the company’s business is overseas. Last year, Actor and journalist Ross Kemp wearing Jack Ellis won a large a Jack Ellis jacket as part of his Ross Kemp in Afghanistan TV series. contract for the Hong Kong Police.

It has supplied thousands of vests to the Portuguese National Guard and Police, and continues to supply many of the local police agencies in Italy.

The company continually strives to leverage its advance textile technology to create lighter, thinner, more flexible body armour that means a constantly evolving threat spectrum.

Each customer has different requirements and so requires an armoured vest that provides exactly the right level of protection without restricting the performance of the wearer. The Jack Ellis design and development team uses its skills and experience to create products which exactly match the customer needs at an affordable price.

In a world where conflict is, regrettably, increasing, Jack Ellis is quietly working away trying to make the lives of at-risk professionals safer whilst contributing to the Scottish economy and providing employment in a small corner of Angus.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

US company Cherwell Software is expanding its business in Dundee Dundee is the newest addition to this software company’s slew of international offices.

Cherwell Software is a new business in Dundee that is making its mark locally and is already successful globally.

The company has nine offices in four countries around the world – Colorado Springs, Denver, Tampa, Seattle, Munich and Sydney – plus offices in Reading, Swindon and (the newest) Dundee.

Modern workplaces depend on technology, data and processes.

Cherwell empowers organisations to improve service experience and automate workflows using data that stretches across context and business units. The software is flexible and can be customised according to the needs of clients, who include British American Tobacco, American Airlines and Alliance Trust, which has its headquarters in Dundee.

So why did Cherwell decide on Dundee to expand its UK business? Head of Cherwell Software’s Dundee team.

Engineering Fraser Patullo, who hails from Kirriemuir, explains: “There was a major change in 2017. The company brought in Steve Rodda as Chief Product Officer. He had spent some time working in Scotland before moving back to Colorado. Steve and I had worked together at a company called LOGICnow and he asked me to come on board. He felt he could get the right people in Dundee and was confident in my ability to grow the team.

“We now have a team of 17 software developers. Some are from Dundee, others are from Fife and we have a developer who works remotely from his home in Huntly. We do remote working to effectively increase our talent pool.

“Our focus is on working between the UK and the US in Colorado.

It’s a transatlantic business. We work closely together and are constantly in touch on a daily basis working on continuous evolution of the product.”

Over the next two years the company is looking to broaden its base even more. In Dundee, it is moving to bigger premises in its building and adding 26 new positions.

Says Fraser: “The people we need are in very short supply because we’re looking for specific skills. Finding good candidates is a major challenge.

“The Dundee office has grown significantly since opening in July 2018 and we’re looking for this to continue in 2019. It’s good to be part of such a thriving organisation.”

07

From Kingsmuir to Tokyo, Angus company Nutscene is a global success When this Forfar company reinvented itself, it blazed a trail in a highly profitable new sector.

Nutscene originated in Dundee and was a spin-off from the jute industry.

The company had a small warehouse in William Street, just off Victoria Road, and a factory in Chapel Street, Forfar.

The company is called Nutscene because when the green twine was first introduced to market and tied around plants it literally was ‘not seen’. To patent that the company decided to call it “Nutscene”. Since its early days, Nutscene has gone from strength to strength and there have been many changes, although they still use the original winding machinery.

Thirty years ago, when Shona Young first joined the company, business was good and there was some export business, but it was limited.

Globalisation was a real threat, the biggest concern being cheap imports from China.

The company felt there had to be an opportunity to do something different. Everything changed when Managing Director Shona Young literally had a light bulb moment. Going through the company archives, the original ‘vintage’ artwork struck her as the way forward in terms of re-inventing the brand.

Nutscene, now based in Kingsmuir just outside Forfar, became leaders in vintage in the garden market, using it on its products years before vintage became cool.

The company took its vintage-style products to a major exhibition in Birmingham and it catapulted them into a different market – the gift market. The show was finishing and suddenly an American buyer stopped by the stand and exclaimed: “Wow! What is that?” The product was Nutscene twine in a tin. Without any hesitation, he immediately placed a huge order. His name was Frank Oliver and the company was America’s Garden Supply Co, based in Vermont. From that moment, the company built on this success.

In 2007, Nutscene made the brave decision to do the Chelsea Flower Show and the team drove to London in a truck. Once there, they were nicknamed ‘The Borrowers’ as they were ill-prepared for the significance of what they were doing and kept having to ask to borrow items from other stand-holders. The next year, though, they were fully-prepared and won a top award for their stand presentation.

‘The Borrowers’ have since gained many top awards for their stand presentation, met some very famous people and even managed to appear on radio and TV. Meanwhile, a four-page article in Country Living sent website sales through the roof, with phones ringing off the hook.

Currently, more than 30 per cent of Nutscene’s business is international. Germany is the biggest market in Europe but there has also been new business in Sweden, Norway and Switzerland.

The company’s next goal is China.

Shona regularly gives motivational talks on exporting to encourage businesses to look at the international market.

She tells the attendees about her own experience – it’s hard work but it’s fun and very rewarding. The reception has been absolutely positive.

Where to see Nutscene Its USP is that it is ‘not seen’ around the plants it is used with. But it’s hard to miss the Kingsmuir-based product when it comes to its brand presence.

•

Nutscene is probably most associated with gardening but the craft market has presented many new opportunities, enabling significant growth. Hobbycraft is now a major client for Nutscene.

•

The firm also works with many artisan businesses and is involved in the fashion business, with top menswear designer Nicholas Daley using its products.

(Nicholas currently has a display of his latest creations at the V&A in Dundee.)

• Nutscene has featured in Agatha Christie’s ABC of Murders and in the movies Hot Fuzz and Atonement. It has also received many orders from Pinewood Studios.

The brand’s reinvention was inspired by a dig through company archives and vintage artwork.

Internationally, Nutscene has expanded hugely in the American market with products going to Alaska, Hawaii, New York, Ohio and California. But its biggest export market is Japan.

At the company’s first international show in Tokyo, Nutscene had an enormous queue and the level of enquiries was “phenomenal”, says Shona.

“a four-page article in country living sent website sales through the roof.”

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

08

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DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

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09

NCR is number one in the world Client care and the continuing search for new business mean a great deal of travelling for Neill and Adam. And in today’s digital first world, NCR technology even helps them when flying as it is used for mobile boarding passes.

A new product range called the SelfServ 80 Series, launched in 2017, delivers far more functionality than the original ATMs. Much like tablets or iPads, you can pinch and zoom to increase the size of screen details, sign your name on screen, talk to a live bank teller, or simply tap and go with your card or mobile phone to withdraw cash.

It is capabilities like these that make the 80 Series look and feel more like a tablet or mobile rather than a traditional ATM.

Banking is going increasingly digital and NCR in Dundee is playing a major role in that shift.

NCR is a global supplier and its Dundee hub is at the forefront. From its base in Dundee, NCR ships to 180 countries and seven continents around the world.

NCR was founded by John H. Patterson in Ohio way back in the 1880s.

The business expanded and set up in Dundee in the late 1940s.

Today, NCR Dundee plays a major role in the local and global economy. In the last five years, the local workforce has grown from 400 to 500. Since 2017, there has been a great effort with the graduate programme which has been hugely successful.

Vice President Adam Crighton joined the company more than 30 years ago. He says one of the attractions of opening in Dundee was its people. “There’s a steely determination about the Scots in terms of work attitude that attracts employers. We also have a site in Edinburgh. It started with 20 employees and now has over 100.”

The first ATM made in Dundee was in 1975. Since then, NCR has been manufacturing and shipping globally. It now ships to 180 countries and all seven continents, going to the most northern part of Norway and as far south as the South Pole.

NCR is best known for producing ATMs, but there is a great deal more happening at the site on Kingsway West which has contributed to the company being number one in this highly-competitive industry.

Protection plays a huge part in the business. Security is vital from both a software and a hardware perspective. Trust in the channel is essential from a consumer point of view.

As NCR looks to the future of banking with increasingly digital services, Dundee will be a big part of the company’s future innovation as more and more customers prefer to bank on mobile and self-service machines like ATMs. The company is very family-focused. Over the last two or three years it has reached out to the community, going into schools to talk about engineering and taking part in charity events.

Adam and Neill are proud to work for an organisation that is number one in the world, but say that having competitors keeps you on your toes. The major challenge is evolving the portfolio to keep relevant.

The aim is to be best in class from a hardware point of view.

NCR is happy to be buoyant – but Adam and Neill say there are still opportunities for growth.

4 fast facts about the ATM 1. The ATMs NCR makes are very robust, with enhancements in place to mitigate problems. This is essential as the machines are targeted by criminals across the globe.

2. The lifespan of an ATM is five to seven years, but they have been known to last twenty.

3. The vast majority of ATM users are very trusting of the machines.

Very few people check they’ve been given the correct amount of money when it comes out.

4. In the early days of ATMs the attitude of the banks was one of caution, but life has moved on at a tremendous pace. In today’s world we use money in so many different ways whether it’s online, phone banking, using cash or plastic.

Source: NCR

NCR in Dundee plays a vital role in the overall business. It is the central hub in the $6.4bn company. The strategic part of the business is driven from Dundee. There is software, hardware and service – from traditional break-fix to professional services.

The Kingsway operation has more than 9,000 customers across the globe. Major clients include the Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Bank of Scotland and Nationwide. However, Marketing Director Neill Harris is keen to stress that NCR’s smaller clients are equally important.

“Customer care is very important to us. We learn a lot from our clients as to their needs. We design for a wide demographic. There are global standards we need to adhere to. There are common themes for them all, but they can be measurably different in certain markets and countries.”

“The first ATM made in Dundee was in 1975. Since then, NCR has been manufacturing and shipping globally.”

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

10

Export is 95 per cent of Low & Bonar’s business This jute factory dating back to 1903 is now a worldwide business with an exciting new brand.

Low & Bonar was originally a jute factory founded in Dundee back in 1903.

It is now a worldwide leader in fabric technology with factories in Hungary, China, Europe and America.

The Dundee factory, located in St Salvador Street, exports 95 per cent of everything it produces to Europe, the Middle East, the USA and South America.

The company’s Dundee plant has changed dramatically over the last two years. The sale of its artificial grass business in 2015 left a gap which had to be filled. Today, the plant concentrates on carpet yarn but also does a great deal of recycling, turning waste into carpet yarn.The recycled material is made from Polypropylene, which is used to make a variety of products – including the dashboard of your car. The material is bought both locally and internationally.

In 2018, the company recycled 500 tons. This year that figure will increase to 600 or 700 tons – and there is opportunity to increase that even more. In the last two years, the business has grown its carpet yarn by 16 to 17 per cent.

Low & Bonar Dundee has plans to extend its offering. It is looking to divert into technical yarns which can be used for civil engineering and is currently running trials for this product.

Last year it launched a twine called The Twine Cellar which can be used for various applications, such as gardening, packaging and DIY. The twines are water, mould and fungus resistant as Polypropylene is completely inert and very strong.

Twine Cellar is manufactured in four different colours: black and green from recycled Polypropylene, yellow and white from virgin polymer. Currently, the twines are sold via eBay or directly from the factory in Dundee. However, the company has just negotiated a contract with one of the multiples.

Low & Bonar in Dundee is constantly exploring new ideas, with the team regularly having brainstorming sessions.

In order to grow the business internationally, the company believes it is essential to maintain and develop relationships. This involves extensive travelling and attending trade shows. The main ones are in Germany and China. Attending these events is definitely good for rekindling business and finding further opportunities, says the team.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

Staying ahead of the times all around the world: Low & Bonar’s success stories 1

Empire State Building – Installing a green roofing system on three floors of this New York City architectural icon has reduced air conditioning and storm water run-off, enhanced its green space and cut energy use by 38%.

2

Volgograd Arena, Russia – L&B provided the 80,000 sq metre architectural membrane for this new arena, built to host the World Cup.

3

University of West Oahu – A new roof system across five buildings of the campus addresses corrosion and cooling issues and has halved rainfall noise.

4

New Orleans – A pre-fabricated vertical drain helped the city repair broken flood levees after Hurricane Katrina.

11

The Chamber supports its members in all aspects of worldwide trade. Please contact the team if you have any questions.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

12 SPONSORED CONTENT

Business, marriage and the hazards of unintended consequences If you run your own business or have a stake in a family firm, you may need the input of a family law specialist when taking decisions about ownership, share transfers or tax-planning

Another recent example concerns a family business jointly owned by a couple and their son. On his marriage, they gifted his new wife shares in the company.

If you or your family own a business, your business and matrimonial arrangements may be more entwined than you think. In particular, your business may be hit hard by divorce or separation.

Later, when the younger couple divorced, there was a dispute about whether the shares were part of the matrimonial assets and how much they were worth. They had to call in forensic accountants, and the bill ran into thousands.

The risks If a marriage breaks down, earlier decisions taken to make the business more tax-efficient or to ensure a smooth succession can produce unintended results. These can include spouses having to hand over up to half the value of their business; or small companies paying thousands in accountancy costs.

A recent example is a sole trader who had built up his business before his marriage.

Subsequently, his accountant advised him to run the business as a limited company, as it would be more tax-efficient. By this time, he was married.

Jennifer Gallagher Partner

jennifergallagher@lindsays.co.uk

Following incorporation, he carried on doing the same work for the same clients, and didn’t consider that much had changed as far as the ownership or status of his business was concerned.

“Even straightforward steps like converting from a sole trader to a company or transferring shares can turn your business into a matrimonial asset. But good advice upfront from a family lawyer can protect the business assets.”

Unfortunately, when the marriage broke down, he found this wasn’t the case. The decision to incorporate post-marriage meant his shares in the company were ‘matrimonial assets’, and his spouse was potentially entitled to 50% of their value.

Duncan Mackinnon Partner

duncanmackinnon@lindsays.co.uk

lindsays DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

Dundee | Edinburgh | Glasgow 01382 224112 lindsays.co.uk

Take precautions Certainly, protecting your business against family breakdown shouldn’t drive all your commercial decisions. But solutions such as prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, or ringfencing a spouse’s interest in a family business, could have prevented these situations.

With this in mind, if you’re taking any decisions involving shares in a family business, or even just getting married, the experienced eye of a family lawyer could well safeguard the future of your business.

13

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DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

14

INTERNATIONAL

NEWS...

Young people from Dundee and Germany forge ties for the future The end of 2018 proved to be quite an adventure for a group of young Scots, including two from Helm Training in Dundee. They joined other young people from around Scotland to visit their counterparts in Germany, after hosting their new German friends for a tour of Edinburgh.

The exchange was a collaboration between Youthlink Scotland and UK-German Connection and proved to be a big success for all participants.

Andrew Walker, an instructor at Helm Training, escorted the group in both Berlin and Edinburgh. He said: “Projects like this bring people together to share cultures and create lasting and productive relationships with other European people.”

Chocolate and Love continues to expand its export reach Scottish company Chocolate and Love is celebrating improved export sales with a new product launch - an all-vegan giftbox.

In 2018, export sales to Germany more than doubled, France continued to be a high growth market and the brand added new export markets in Iceland, Romania, Cyprus, Ireland and Lithuania.

Chocolate and Love can be found as far afield as China and New Zealand.

Chocolate and Love was established in 2010 by Richard and Birgitte O’Connor. Leaving behind corporate jobs - Richard was a surveyor in Scotland, Birgitte was a lawyer in Denmark - the couple followed their passion for chocolate and their desire to develop a brand they could feel good about. Nine years later they have won 31 awards for taste and are now exporting to 40 countries.

The company’s newest addition, Pomegranate 70%, is celebrated in the brand’s newest all-vegan giftbox, launched in time for Easter and Mother’s Day.

new launch for Montrose Rope and Sail Montrose Rope and Sail is working on a new product range and brand aimed at growing into international markets.

The manufacturer of technical textile products based in Montrose, Angus plans to take the heritage of its 230-year-old company, its quality hand manufacturing skills and craftsmanship, and refine them for a high-end luxury Scottish bag brand.

The 40 young people, half from Scotland and half from Germany, were given the opportunity to show their local pride by hosting visits to their nations’ capitals, Berlin and Edinburgh.

Helm student, Steven Dewar, said the opportunity was life-changing.

“It was a great experience. We found we all have similar aspirations, hopes, and dreams. I was proud to show off Scotland, and Berlin was amazing.”

The purpose of the exchange is to build and sustain productive relationships among young people, and raise awareness of other EU cultures. The excursions include team-building exercises, cultural highlights, and focus groups.

Helen Sykes, CEO at Helm Training, a charity which provides a creative, supportive learning service for people, said: “We are delighted that we could offer Dundee young people this opportunity to explore new places and people, to develop their character and social skills, and to participate as citizens of an international community.”

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Montrose Rope and Sail traditionally hand manufactured ropes and hand sewn sails for the local fishing industry. Today it manufactures bespoke tarpaulin covers for industrial equipment and quality, weatherproof kitbags for the oil and gas industry. It sells products online under its sub brand, Montrose Bag Company.

The new launch follows a two year Knowledge Transfer Partnership project

by Montrose Rope and Sail in collaboration with Grays School of Art, Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Knowledge Transfer Network through Innovate UK, and a graduate designer.

Montrose Rope and Sail already sells kit bags under its sub brand, Montrose Bag Company.

15

Digital Expert Zudu working with Discovery Point on pioneering solution to welcome Chinese visitors A Scottish-based specialist in Chinese marketing is teaming up with Dundee Heritage Trust to make it more appealing and accessible to the ever-increasing numbers of tourists from the world’s second biggest economy.

Zudu, the first Scottish company to focus on digital strategies for breaking into the lucrative Chinese sector, is working closely with DHT, who manage Discovery Point, home of RRS Discovery, and Verdant Works, a jute mill turned social history and textile museum.

Discovery Point, on Dundee’s waterfront, is aiming to pique the interest not only of Chinese visitors to the UK but also the UK-based Chinese population.

Zudu has created a unique digital marketing initiative for Discovery Point which can also help other Scottish and UK visitor attractions, hotels and restaurants to harness the power of Chinese digital platforms in the UK. The digital tour guide can be easily accessed through the simple scanning of a QR code. The guide allows visitors to access translated information throughout the exhibition. It will also be used in the hospitality facilities where, with a quick scan of the QR code, the Chinese visitor will be taken directly to a translated menu.

Zudu Managing Director James Buchan explained: “The Chinese digital landscape is completely different to that of the UK. More than half the population – up to 900 million people – use WeChat, the most popular social app in the country.

Mark Munsie, Operations Director for Dundee Heritage Trust, said: “We are always looking at ways to enhance the visitor experience.

We hope that, after this work has been carried out, Chinese visitors will find Discovery Point even more appealing.”

Entrust Resource Solutions embarks on an international growth strategy Entrust Resource Solutions is increasing its international reach through an aggressive growth and acquisition strategy.

The UK office of Horton International has joined Entrust Resource Solutions in a move to boost the international profile of the Group. This initial acquisition is part of a five-year growth and acquisition strategy which aims to achieve a turnover of £10 million.

Horton International (UK) is a specialist Executive Search provider with a global network of offices across 27 countries. It joins like-minded Dundee-based resourcing agency Entrust People in the Entrust Resource Solutions Group.

The internationally recognised brand of Horton International (UK) allows the Group to offer a stronger proposition to clients across the globe, while the experience and knowledge of the combined team will enable the Group to offer a wider range of resourcing solutions for both clients and candidates.

James Buchan (left) with DHT’s Mark Munsie.

Selling abroad Scotland ‘punches a breeze thanks above its weight’ in business to new tech Working with international businesses has been easy for Dundee-based business Tayside Virtual Assistant.

The firm, established in 2014 and offering everything from sales to financial services, says the Internet and apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Skype have helped it grow business for clients outside of the UK. Among Tayside Virtual Assistant’s overseas clients is a team building and entertainment company based in South Africa. Said owner Pam Angus: “We can’t wait to welcome onboard many more international clients this coming year.”

There’s never been a better time to trade in Scotland, according to tax experts EQ Accountants.

A growing number of international businesses are recognising the benefits of investing in Scotland, with many choosing Scotland as their global headquarters, says the firm.

David Morrison, Head of EQ Taxation, said: “Notwithstanding the current Brexit challenges, Scotland constantly punches above its weight and there’s never been a better time to trade in Scotland.”

He cited low corporate tax rates, R&D tax relief, grant assistance and access to highly skilled workers as reasons to choose Scotland to do business.

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Dundee and Angus welcomes ITWORX are excited to announce expansion of their IT and Communication Services into Dundee and Angus as the company continues to grow. Established in 2010, ITWORX are proud of the strong and long-term relationships built up over the years with both clients and key industry partners.

As part of the growth strategy, ITWORX are delighted to have Miles Riley join the commercial team in the role of Business Development Representative. Located in Angus, Miles brings a local focus to the Business Development activities through knowledge and understanding of this area.

ITWORX further strengthened its competency and expertise in Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, having achieved Blue Partner status through the Datto Global Partner Program. ITWORX is the first IT company headquartered in Scotland to achieve this top tier partnership level, joining the top 5% of Datto partners worldwide.

With statistics continuing to show the risk of cyber-attack on the increase, ransomware protection remains at the forefront of many business owners’ security roadmaps.

Through their collaborative partnership with Datto, ITWORX continue to bring market leading BCDR technology to their client base. With a team of highly skilled engineers, ITWORX work closely with the Datto team in supporting business globally through their managed back-up service and Datto Total Protection Platform.

Alison Stewart, Commercial Manager, said: “It was imperative to continue to further strengthen ITWORX competency and expertise in Business Continuity Disaster Recovery to ensure all our clients remain protected with optimum data recovery solutions.

Our clients can now benefit from ITWORX access to Datto VIP Technical Support Team. In one call to the ITWORX service desk, our engineers can have your business systems back up and running in significantly less time than traditional methods, resulting in minimal downtime and commercial impact in the unfortunate event of an attack.”

ITWORX look forward to integrating into the local business community through membership of the Dundee and Angus Chamber.

ITWORX are a leading IT and Communications Specialist headquartered in Aberdeen.

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17 INTERNATIONAL NEWS CONTD.

International talent and collaboration is the key for growth of dundee-based Catesbi A collaborative approach and a pool of international talent could help Dundee become the first city in Scotland to deliver innovative, world-class programmes of behavioural support.

That’s according to Catesbi, a Dundee-based organisation which is making a difference to children with autism and from deprived backgrounds.

Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) Tina Patterson, from Nashville, came to Dundee in September 2018 to deliver two workshops and to assess starting the first behavioural intervention programme in Scotland for five-year-old children from deprived backgrounds who exhibit dysfunctional behaviour.

Scotland. The organisation would like to focus specifically on working with schools to encourage positive behaviour. It has already explored using positive behaviour support with Harbour Master Ryan Porteous, to help reduce suicide attempts.

Catesbie’s research director, BCBA Brandon Umphrey from Nevada, used to live in the UK and his findings have demonstrated the need for behaviour support in Scotland. He helped to set up Catesbi Community Interest Company and is on standby to deliver training and behaviour support in schools and social care settings where challenging behaviour has been identified.

Erin Moorad, originally from New York, is a behaviour analyst and special needs teacher working with Catesbi to deliver three workshops for teachers from Tayside. The organisation’s team share the same vision for highly trained staff to help reduce the number of expelled children in Dundee’s schools and to enable children to achieve positive results.

Schools in England and Wales who use behavioural principles are regularly judged as ‘Outstanding’ by OFSTED and Catesbi believes that this is achievable for schools in Dundee and Tayside.

Susie Repova, Catesbi and Tina Patterson, Clinical Supervisor.

She and her husband, a renowned producer, both recognise that living and working in Dundee is an exciting opportunity for them.

Over three weeks last year, Catesbi’s team explored how to use positive behavioural support to set up world-class services for

Catesbi’s work also involves extensive collaboration with local universities such as Abertay University, and it is continuously working with them as well as utilising extensive contacts from Universities across the globe.

It hopes to help make Dundee the first city to deliver behaviour analytical programmes in Scotland and enhance its educational base, helping to transform Dundee into a city with an enviable reputation for innovation, both nationally and worldwide.

Scottish Justice Secretary meets with ‘Explore all Al- Maktoum College ATP students your options’ when selling a business Overseas students from Al-Maktoum College were pleased to meet with Scotland’s Secretary of Justice, Humza Yousaf, in Edinburgh in February.

As representatives from 13 different educational institutions based within the UAE, Egypt and Malaysia, the students are currently taking part in the Al-Maktoum College Academic Training Programme based in Dundee.

Mr Yousaf (pictured) said: “It is a real pleasure to welcome students from Al-Maktoum College here today. I hope you have a really good time in Scotland.

I’m sure you will really enjoy being in Dundee especially. It’s a beautiful city and one that I am very familiar with myself.”

Acting Head of College, Dr Abi Abubaker, said: “Mr Yousaf’s continuous support for the College and its programmes is something we are extremely grateful for, and we look forward to meeting with him again in the near future.”

During the visit to Edinburgh, the students also received talks from Scottish Parliament Education Services and took part in a live broadcast viewing of the First Ministers Questions, in Macdonald Holyrood Hotel.

Over the course of the next few weeks they visited a number of Scottish attractions as well as attending lectures, seminars and debates within the College.

If you’re thinking of selling your business, explore all options. That’s the advice of David Keddie, Senior Partner Practice of St James’s Place Wealth Management in Dundee.

David points out the role played by specialist merger and acquisitions advisors like BCMS, who have delivered more than 600 business sales in the last decade alone and who actively create a market of competing bidders.

Around one in three BCMS deals are cross-border – such as Arbroath-based Macintyre Chocolate Systems, Ladco, which sold to German acquirer Probat.

“Time spent today exploring your exit options is invaluable,” says David. “In this market, understanding how to approach a sale – and how to manage the proceeds of that sale - should be high on the to-do list of every business owner.”

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

18 SPONSORED CONTENT

8 -9

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ACHIEVE THE IMPOSSIBLE WITH THE 2019 CATERAN YOMP Scheduling an outdoors goal as part of your officebound working life isn’t as daft as it sounds!

Teams from companies all over the UK including William Grant & Sons (pictured), Oracle, Barclays, HMRC and HSBC are committed to taking part in outdoor challenges to generate a sense of achievement with colleagues away from the office.

The military themed team-building experience that hundreds of professionals have rated as a great way to promote camaraderie, fitness and determination within their companies can be found right here on our doorstep!

The Cateran Yomp event, held across the stunning but tough environment of the Perthshire Hills and Angus Glens is encouraging Dundee and Angus business professionals to sign up to discover just how much they can achieve.

ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is a registered charity in England & Wales (1146420) & Scotland (039189)

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

JUNE 2019

“It doesn’t matter what you think you can or cannot do,” says Sandy Hennis – one of six women to ski across Antarctica unsupported – who is now ambassador for the Cateran Yomp.

“On my return from Antarctica, I vowed to inspire people to get out there and do things they wouldn’t normally attempt.

“Our record- breaking Ice Maiden expedition proved to me that, with training, courage, commitment and teamwork, we can all achieve much more than we ever think possible.”

To sign up a team for the 2019 Cateran Yomp supporting ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, or for more information about business sponsorship and support opportunities, visit www.soldierscharity.org/yomp or call 0207 811 3223

19 INTERNATIONAL NEWS CONTD.

McIntosh is agent for top German brand Monifieth company McIntosh Interiors is proud to be the sole agents, approved stockists and installers in Dundee and Angus for Kuhlmann Kueche, one of the leading suppliers of kitchens in Germany.

The award-winning Kuhlmann Kueche features multi-corner and multi-level cabinets and a unique portfolio. McIntosh manages refurbishments and repairs through to major redesign and new build installations.

Apex Hotels: Putting Dundee on the Map Since the grand opening of the V&A Museum, the city of Dundee is no stranger to the spotlight.

Group MICE Sales Manager at Apex Hotels, Phil Bailey, has been making the most of the limelight, travelling the globe to make sure the world knows why the City of Discovery can’t be beaten when it comes to hosting your next conference and event.

Carnoustie Golf Links launches Golf and Dine offer Carnoustie Golf Links, a tourism hub and one of the largest employers within Angus, has launched an offer to attract more national guests to Angus and Tayside.

The package allows guests to enjoy three days of unlimited golf at Carnoustie with two lunches and two dinners in The Rookery restaurant for £240 per person. Carnoustie Golf Links hopes the campaign will encourage families, in particular, to visit Carnoustie, Angus and Tayside and make use of its hotels and guest houses.

In the past few months Phil (pictured) has clocked up around 18,312 miles travelling to exhibitions promoting Dundee in America, Barcelona, Frankfurt and London. He has showcased Apex’s signature ‘warmer welcome’ at IMEX in America & Europe, IBTM Barcelona, and at the Association Congress & BNC shows in London.

Also keen to showcase the city on the ground, he has enjoyed hosting key conference and convention buyers at Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa, with a view to bringing their world-class events to the city.

Finally, no stranger to a presentation or two, he has attended more than 34 showcase presentations and is working hard to educate event buyers in promoting Dundee as a destination.

Carnoustie Golf Links, which plays a key role in engaging with the local community as part of its charitable objectives, is actively encouraging more women and families into the game with schemes such as Ladies and Junior Golf Programmes, opportunities to hire clubs for free, and public use of its state-of-the-art indoor practice facilities.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

20 INTERNATIONAL NEWS CONTD.

Arbroath company proud to return to Afghanistan

“afghanistan holds many memories and emotions for the ied team, ...”

Arbroath-based IED Training Solutions has become the first UK training consultancy to deliver IOSH-approved courses in Afghanistan.

IED Training, founded by former Royal Marine Ian Clark, was commissioned by a Scandinavian-based logistics organisation to facilitate delivery of 11 IOSH-approved Working Safely and Managing Safely courses. The courses are for employees working in a number of locations throughout Afghanistan, including Kabul, Kandahar, Mazar-i-Sharif and Herat.

The company supplies clients with fuel management solutions and related logistical requirements while operating in challenging environments worldwide. Its team includes personnel from a wide range of areas, including transport, logistics, and operations.

IED Training’s Managing Director Ian Clark (pictured) served in the Royal Marines for 22 years including three tours of duty in Afghanistan. He was first approached by the Scandinavian company last year.

“Afghanistan holds many memories and emotions for the IED team, including those of pride, of the friendships forged and the teamwork, as well as great sadness for those colleagues who didn’t return home with us or who were injured.,” said Ian. “It is incredible to think that we now return to that country to facilitate nationally recognised health and safety training with the aim of ensuring people remain safe in the workplace.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

“We were able to work with them to ensure that the training could be delivered in-country, by IOSH-approved trainers and administered by IED. The benefits have been a significant reduction in the company’s financial outlay as well as ensuring that a minimal amount of time is spent away from job roles. It has also been able to take ownership of the training and ensure quality assurance throughout.”

IED Training works with clients across the UK in a wide range of sectors.

Ian said: “It is always very satisfying to support anything to do with the military, especially the ongoing effort to maintain peace and stability in that region. We are very proud to be involved in the delivery of IOSH training courses in Afghanistan.”

21

new member

news

St Andrews Brewing Co brings bar venue to Dundee St Andrews Brewing Co is set to open its latest bar venue in Dundee this month.

Situated in the Caird Hall units on Shore Terrace, the 8,000sq.ft. space has been transformed into a multi-use bar restaurant to showcase the best of St Andrews Brewing Co beers as well as local producers such as 71 Brewing, Verdant Gin and Arbikie Spirits.

The premises have been designed by Dundee architects Andrew Black Design and the fit out managed by contractor Steam Punk Fit Out from Blairgowrie.

There are two bars on the premises - a beer bar with 20 taps of Scottish craft beers, gins, whiskies, spirits and cocktails and table service and takeaway coffee, and a wine bar with an extensive selection of world wines.

The venue is a versatile space which can be separated into small, intimate zones or rented as a whole for weddings, as a nightclub or event. A private dining space doubles as a hi-tech boardroom, classroom or private cinema/screening room.

St Andrews Brewing Co has developed a reputation for great quality food set in comfortable and unpretentious surroundings

at affordable prices. As well as serving coffee, it features an All Day Menu and, at 5pm, a dinner menu featuring Angus beef and lamb, Perthshire game, North Sea fish and West Coast shellfish.

Using cultural awareness to build business bridges Companies and organisations in Angus are, more than ever, looking at the international arena, both inside and outside the EU, in order to develop and expand their businesses. Gerry Higgins (pictured) of Communicating Culture shares how they can build business bridges through cultural awareness.

Whether a business is ‘going International’ from an outward perspective (for example, exporting products or services), or has an inward perspective (seeking investments in Scotland or perhaps welcoming the ever growing number of visitors here), understanding a customer’s culture can be a key element in business success.

Knowing how your client or business partner views deadlines, contract negotiations or simply understanding their preferences when it comes to meeting etiquette can make all the difference in ensuring a smooth and productive business experience.

So, how do businesses navigate a cultural landscape that might be very different from their own, to avoid misunderstandings, minimise confusion and help maximise those business results?

Well, training the team who will be dealing with different cultures to be aware of the client’s cultural preferences is a great start.

A typical scenario where training has made all the difference was when a Scottish Company was responsible for contracting the manufacture of pipelines in Japan.

Here we had two parties coming from very different cultures.

One example of the different cultural approaches was that the Japanese preferred that all decisions were first agreed in their team before any meetings took place and a meeting was merely an opportunity to explain all the decisions that the team had made. In contrast, the Scots viewed meetings with the Japanese as a chance to brainstorm and explore new ideas and approaches.

By highlighting and explaining these different preferences early in the project to both parties, misunderstandings were minimised.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

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DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

23

new member

spotlight...

Bella & Duke is about pet health, not just pet food Every time the magazine comes out, we feature a new member… but there’s a catch! To get your business into the running for this spot, we’ll be carefully watching for the most engaged new member posts that we see on our social media channels.

When a business joins our Chamber, we put out welcome posts and tag the new member - those businesses who get the biggest number of likes, retweets, shares and overall engagement across the channels will get a full page in the next magazine to showcase what they do! We’re proud to welcome everyone and delighted to be showcasing Bella & Duke this time around… well done!

We’re looking forward to seeing who gets the most engagement next time.

Bella & Duke is built around a single big idea:

that dogs should be fed better food if they are

to enjoy optimum physical and mental health.

We are not a food company but a pet health company. It just so happens that we have started with food since nutrition is the fundamental building block of health.

Mark and Tony founded Bella & Duke in 2017, after the deaths of their dogs from

illnesses which, they now believe, were absolutely avoidable. If only they had nutritionally optimised food available to them! We have a nutritionist, behaviourist and vet on hand to determine the science behind our food, which ranges from Bonnie Bone Broth (for dogs and cats) to Beef Kidney Krisps. There is also a range of supplements and natural remedies.

We produce and deliver frozen raw dog food to the door. We source all the ingredients individually from UK suppliers and farms. We then blend the ingredients in our own kitchens. All those ingredients have to meet human-grade quality.

We have created recipes designed to combine a wide range of different proteins, minerals and amino acids to meet 100% of the nutritional requirements of each dog. We have even created food ranges enhanced specifically for puppies, working dogs and older dogs, which are balanced to meet their different nutritional requirements.

We are going to a few exciting events this year. You can come and visit us on 8th September at the Glamis Castle, Canines at the Castle event. You will also find us at the Perthshire Canine Club show on Sat 8th May or the Dog Lover Show in Glasgow 7th - 8th September.

The Bella & Duke Facebook group is the place to be for anyone wondering about raw dog food. With 5000 members, it is a super

helpful and very friendly space for dog

owners to ask advice and get support.

Cutting-edge science helping dogs thrive not just survive!

BELLA & DUKE

is celebrating its DACC members hip with a promotion for all DACC me It is offering them 50% off their mbers. first order.

Please use the code DACC50 on the website www.bellaandduke.co m

A word from Mark Scott, Company Founder of Bella and Duke “The Chamber organises so many fantastic events and networking opportunities that becoming a member was a no-brainer. We wanted to increase our visibility and activity levels in the local community too.

Joining the Chamber will help us to achieve this.”

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

24

Supporting Business in Dundee and Angus Supporting Business in Dundee and Angus e: sales@jtcp.co.uk www.jtcp.co.uk e: sales@jtcp.co.uk || www.jtcp.co.uk 000000 THOMSON A3_Volpa-JTCP 198x140 landscape AD.indd 1

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Malin Court Care Home at Turnberry

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25

members’

NEWs...

V&A Dundee explores Rules of Play V&A Dundee has unveiled a colourful new installation inspired by the principles of learning through play, and the possibilities created by exploring a back-to-basics approach to design.

Designed by Gabriella Marcella, founder of Glasgow print studio RISOTTO, Rules of Play asks visitors to consider if limitations on form and shape help or hinder creativity.

Made up of 200 enlarged toy planks in five bright colours, the new installation celebrates the work of educational pioneer and inventor of the kindergarten system, Friedrich Froebel. It runs until June 23.

Gabriella Marcella (pictured) said: “It seems obvious to us now, but Friedrich Froebel was one of the first people to recognise the true value of play and how it can help explain the world around us.

I became intrigued by the idea that simple tools and forms can help us understand complex ideas.”

V&A Dundee Project Curator Lauren Bassam said: “Play is often our first introduction to design, and it’s important to appreciate the value and joy of things as simple as building blocks or planks of wood.”

Rules of Play is the first major change in programme since the museum opened in September. During that time the museum has attracted over 400,000 visitors from across the UK and as far afield as Argentina, Australia and Japan. Global coverage of events such as the museum’s official opening by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and recognition in awards from international design and architecture publications, have drawn worldwide attention to the £1 billion transformation of the Dundee waterfront.

Redevelopment continues at Dunsinane The re-development and improvement of Dunsinane Industrial Estate continues with further building on both sides of Dunsinane Avenue.

The latest development sees eight purpose-built, small industrial units being commissioned by Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce member Winter & Simpson Print on the vacant land adjacent to their premises.

The units have been designed to be suitable for a variety of uses and would make ideal starter units. They have been designed with the environment in mind and each unit benefits from solar panels. There will also be electric vehicle charging points on site.

V&A Dundee’s 2019 exhibition programme will celebrate the design and culture of contemporary videogames with its show Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt, from 20 April to 8 September 2019. It will then go on to examine the current boom in robotics with the exhibition Hello, Robot. Design between Human and Machine from 2 November 2019 to 23 February 2020.

“Play is often our first introduction to design, ...”

Dundee One to join fast-growing co-working sector Dundee One, a landmark office building set amid Dundee’s waterfront, will have its own cutting-edge designs to match the very best in the world, say the owners.

Serviced offices and co-working is the fastest growing sector in commercial property worldwide and the traditional office is outdated, says Dundee One. Jute Properties has redefined the conventional workplace to create an environment suited to modern working lifestyles.

At Dundee One, private fixed office spaces for concentrated bursts of work and a series of formal meeting rooms and phone booths sit alongside social spaces designed for engaging with both colleagues and clients.

The spaces, all with the latest technology, also include breakout areas and a coffee bar, and views over the Tay. The space will be ready from May. Pre-lets are being taken now.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

26 members’ NEWS CONTD.

MSP Jamie Hepburn meets Springfield’s up-and-coming workforce

Jamie Hepburn (centre) with Heather Henderson (third from left) and Springfield staff.

Housebuilder Springfield Properties welcomed MSP Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, to its Dykes of Gray village, Dundee recently to see first-hand the variety of career and development opportunities the firm offers young people.

The Minister spoke with apprentices, students hired through work experience and employees who are in full- or part-time further education. Springfield aims to support 20% of staff as apprenticeships, modern apprenticeships or further education. At 21%, Springfield exceeds this target with 57 craft apprentices, 31 Modern Apprentices, 20 technical apprentices and 23 staff in further education or training.

Group HR Director Heather Henderson said: “Training and development is a key part of the Springfield ethos. We’re a learning organisation, good at developing people and giving them a chance to flourish. Our development programmes help us future proof the company and contribute to maintaining the skills base in the wider industry. Internal programmes make sure we have the right people, with the right skills to support growth, and working with external partners brings in new talent.

“springfield employees can benefit from a wide range of on-the-job learning opportunities.”

“There are lots of talented, hardworking young people in Scotland and these types of programmes help them find and further their careers. In 2018 alone, we hired eight young people following successful placements and apprenticeships. We are working to keep this valuable momentum going.”

She added: “Springfield employees can benefit from a wide range of on-the-job learning opportunities. We have established relationships with schools, colleges, universities and local authorities to offer a range of programmes to young people before, as well as after, they enter the working world full time. These include work placements and student sponsorships. Participants are given clear responsibilities and get thoroughly involved in a range of projects. It’s a productive way to help students find a vocation they enjoy, while further developing their skill set and highlighting that people can still build a great career in their hometown with a local company.”

“It’s great that Mr Hepburn has taken an interest in the support Springfield offers and the relationships we have established to help young people find and develop their career.”

Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, said: “I welcomed hearing first-hand how Springfield’s innovative recruitment and training initiatives are providing employees with the right skills and training to meet current and future business needs. It was evident that recruiting and developing Modern Apprentices is key to Springfield’s recruitment strategy as demonstrated by its ambition to support 20% of its staff as apprentices or on further education.”

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

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27 members’ NEWS CONTD.

Wells Gibson launches new portal and app WG Connect Wells Gibson is launching WG Connect, a secure web-based portal and mobile app designed to give clients the opportunity to see their entire financial life in one place.

The app will be compatible with Apple/iOS and Android devices and will give clients 24/7 access to their banking, property, pensions, savings, investments, mortgage, credit cards and insurances.

As well as providing a real time view of the client’s finances, the portal and app will allow clients to see their total net worth and spending via interactive and animated graphs and will provide a store for documents such as insurance policies and wills.

Two-way document sharing and instant messaging alerts will make collaboration between clients and Wells Gibson secure and easy. With an intuitive interface and familiar Facebook type notifications, it is also designed to make staying in contact with Wells Gibson simple.

Wells Gibson is one of the first advisory firms in Scotland and the first in the East of Scotland to launch the portal and app in partnership with moneyinfo.

Dundee Cake Gin - a truly collaborative product Dundee Gin has always worked together with other partners, but it is particularly proud of the strategic alliances formed to launch the new Dundee Cake Gin. The firm worked with Goodfellow & Steven, Clark’s bakery and The Butcher The Baker on the new product. Labels were designed by Creative Graffix while Tradeprint printed the leaflets.

At a recent DACC event in Hotel Indigo, the Dundee Gin team met Paul Caruana from PWK Marketing. Says the company: “We really took to him and he has came up with a truly excellent peace of graphic work for us.”

Dundee Gin has already personalised some of its Dundee Cake Gin bottles for a charity event.

It was recently asked

by The Soldiers Charity to support them in the D-Day anniversary dinner in Edinburgh. thedundeegin.com

Businesses can reap rewards from expert support, says Business Doctor Scottish businesses are reaping rewards from Chamber of Commerce networking groups and expert support thanks to a new fund secured by Business Doctor Wicus Van Biljon.

Entrepreneurs from all industries are being encouraged to embrace a new way of thinking and adopt fresh ideas to help take their businesses to new levels.

Most owners get too close to ongoing daily activities, says consultancy service Business Doctors. They become consumed by the minutiae of day-to-day tasks and lose sight of longer-term goals that once excited them.

Countless case studies now highlight the benefits of investing in specialist consultation services that pay for themselves and map out a clear path to future success.

Dunfermline businessman Jonny Bisset from JDB Decorating and Property Services has renewed focus since engaging with another chamber member. The partnership between Business Doctor’s Wicus Van Biljon and Jonny is showing results for his company already.

Jonny said: “People are fully committed to their business, but don’t put goals in place and don’t step away. They’re on a permanent hamster’s wheel. In three years’ time we’re looking to hit a certain target, and there’s now a plan on how to get to that target. I found that having Wicus on board was a platform to getting help.”

The funding accessed by SMEs like JDB helps realise genuine value from consultation. A series of structured interactive planning sessions enable business owners and their management teams to super charge growth, productivity and profits. The programme is tailored to suit each business owner.

DRAPERS MENSWEAR BRAND OF THE YEAR NOW AVAILABLE AT MCCALLS McCalls is now stocking award-winning menswear designer Marc Darcy.

A selection of the brand’s high-quality three-piece suits for men and boys is available from McCalls’ Dundee, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Elgin stores.

The brand, voted Drapers Menswear Brand of the Year for 2017/18 and 2018/19, features traditional craftsmanship techniques with a modern design twist at affordable prices.

It includes tweeds, checks and plainer style and is suitable for work suits to weddings.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

28

Rising to the Challenge!

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almcollege.org.uk DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

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29 members’ NEWS CONTD.

Could employee ownership improve your business and succession planning?

Employee ownership offers diverse benefits – such as resilience, staff retention, tax breaks and a smooth exit strategy. And there is flexibility over the extent, pace and structure of the deal, says Peter Tweedie, Partner in the Corporate and Commercial team at Lindsays.

Employee ownership continues to be big news. The Scottish Government is backing a plan to make Scotland the ‘best country in the world for employee-owned (EO) businesses’ and wants to increase the number of EO businesses fivefold by 2030.

According to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, “All the evidence tells us that employee ownership delivers benefits to business performance, the people who work in them and the places in which they are located. … We want to make it easier for companies and workers to find out more about this model.”

Moreover, support for employee ownership comes from all parts of the political spectrum, both north and south of the border – certainly a rare thing in business and politics.

More than an exit strategy Employee ownership is sometimes pigeonholed as an exit strategy or succession planning. It’s certainly true that it’s an excellent solution here, but it’s more than that, as the Scottish Government has usefully highlighted. Numerous studies have shown how EO businesses outperform other types of business.

There are also tax benefits for both owners and employees. Owners who sell more than 50% of a company to employees receive capital gains tax relief (as long as certain conditions are met). And staff in an EO business are eligible for a tax-free annual bonus of up to £3,600.

Take-up of the model is accelerating, according to Sarah Deas, a director at Scottish Enterprise and head of Cooperative Development Scotland (CDS) which supports businesses to move to employee ownership.

Deas reports that CDS has been working on a deal a month on average in the past year: “Our client pipeline is expanding too, indicating take-up of the model will continue to accelerate”.

The Scottish Government wants to have 500 EO businesses in Scotland by 2030. To support this, Co-operative Development Scotland offers businesses three days of free support to help them explore the options.

Different types of employee ownership There are three types of ownership available, each with its own pros and cons: Direct employee ownership, where employees become individual shareholders; Indirect employee ownership, where shares are held collectively on behalf of employees, normally through an Employee Ownership Trust; Hybrid ownership, combining an employee share scheme and some of the shares being held by a trust.

Increasing popularity

All decisions about moving to employee ownership also need to be made in the wider context of tax, employment law, protecting The Scottish Government’s intellectual property and other assets, and the overall financial plan involves funding an climate and landscape for raising finance (either through mainstream industry leadership group lenders or other sources). If the business is family-owned, there may to drive growth in this area, be relationship and succession issues to factor in as well. Therefore, but there’s no need to wait We are an award-winning full-service any move towards EO should be made with advice from EO advisers, for its work to be finished. There arelaw already over 100 EO businesses firm that provides legal advice lawyersand and accountants who have expertise in this area. in Scotland, generating combined turnover of around £940 million.

estate agency services for businesses, individuals and families.

Opportunities for artists and designers In the heart of the city

Opened in November 2018, the store offers a unique way of selling, based on a concept If you are a business, our legal store in Amsterdam. A designer can either rent advice can help you achieve a space to sell their work, keeping any money your business objectives. If made from sales, or agree to a commission you are an individual, we can charge on each sale. support you and your family as you journey through life. of the store in Edinburgh, There are variations Glasgow, Wakefield in Yorkshire, Groningen in The Netherlands and Connecticut, U.S.A. Dundee Design Project, a store for local artists, designers and makers to showcase their work direct to the public, has had an excellent first few months.

Dundee Design Project is at 19 Commercial St, Dundee.

Contact us: Caledonian Exchange 19a Canning Street Edinburgh EH3 8HE T:0131 229 1212

Demand is high for offices at Water’s Edge

Stormcloud Games have all secured space in the building, which has been extensively refurbished by Tayforth Properties Ltd.

Water’s Edge, Dundee’s high-tech new office development at the city’s waterfront, has secured another four tenants.

There are just three units left in the 15,000 sq ft of office space, which has original features retained and also includes co-working space and meeting rooms. Tenants have access to ultra-fast broadband, car parking and cycle racks.

Seabraes House 18 Greenmarket Dundee DD1 4QB T: 01382 224112

Renewables company Pure Energy and games development companies Puny Astronaut, Earthbound Games and

They join a host of firms which have set up home at Water’s Edge, including 4J Studios, Scottish Power and Broker Insights.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

30

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31

members’ news

people...

International

intern brings fresh perspective The team at the Malting House Design Studio in Dundee often receive requests from students for work placements and internships, usually from aspiring graphic designers seeking a summer job. Creative Director and business owner Wendy Maltman tries to accommodate them where possible.

However, when a request came in from Vanessa Kleinheinz, a 2nd year Business management student at the University of Dundee seeking a marketing internship in 2019, Wendy passed it to colleague Debbie Hutchison, Marketing Director at the busy company, who was immediately struck by Vanessa’s international background and potential.

Debbie explains: “My degree was in International Business so I really champion the subject as I appreciate the broader perspective that those who have worked and lived overseas can bring to the workplace.

Marketing Intern Vanessa outside the Malting House “At The Malting House we have a number of clients who are working in international markets Design Studio. Vanessa and Debbie hard at work. so it makes sense to develop this perspective in our practice. When I read Vanessa’s CV I was impressed with her blend of German and UK education and work experience, along with a great skillset and professional attitude. I recommended to Wendy that we help her secure some worthwhile work experience here.”

Over the past month Vanessa has been working on a number of marketing tasks, including strategy and planning, a social media audit and competitor research. The team says it has been impressed with her contribution and that Vanessa is well placed to pursue a stellar international business career” at the end of her studies.”

Judy Murray steps into new role on Kiltwalk board

New Dundee Signing For Converged

Judy Murray has been appointed a trustee of Britain’s fastest growing charity event, the Kiltwalk.

IT company Converged Communication Solutions has recruited a new member of staff to help lead its growth across Tayside.

The mother of tennis superstars Andy and Jamie Murray answered Sir Tom Hunter’s invitation to join the board ahead of the 2019 campaign.

The independent firm, which specialises in providing Internet connections, telephone systems and IT support services, has appointed Keith Haggart to the role of account manager.

His appointment bolsters the firm’s business development team, which continues to grow across the north-east.

Last year, 20,082 walkers helped to raise £3.6million for 1,156 charities across Scotland.

A 40% top-up by The Hunter Foundation brought the total raised to more than £5 million.

Pictured (left to right): Susanne Morrison and Paul Cooney from Kiltwalk, Judy Murray OBE, philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter, Kiltwalk’s Gillian Alexander.

Judy took the first step on her Kiltwalk journey last September when she walked the Edinburgh Kiltwalk for the Judy Murray Foundation, which aims to bring tennis to rural and disadvantaged areas in Scotland.

Judy said: “The stories of the people I met at the Kiltwalk last year were humbling.

I knew right away I wanted to lend my support.

A familiar face in Dundee, Keith has worked in business development and commercial roles over the past 15 years, most recently in the design and print sector. He is best known for his time at Dundee United and then Dundee FC where he successfully led the growth of both clubs’ commercial arms.

“I want to encourage more charities to take advantage of the Kiltwalk’s incredible fundraising model, which tops up walkers’ fundraising efforts with a 40% boost from The Hunter Foundation. Every penny raised, and more, goes to charity.

“I’ll be walking once again to raise funds to help make tennis more accessible to everyone, no matter their age or background. What’s special about the Kiltwalk is that I’ll be walking alongside thousands of others raising funds for causes close to their own hearts.”

Dates have been announced for the 2019 events, with Dundee’s walk taking place on August 18, Glasgow on 28 April, Aberdeen on June 2 and Edinburgh on September 15.

For more information or to register visit www.thekiltwalk.co.uk

Steve Smith (left), Business Development Manager with Keith Haggart.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

32 SPONSORED CONTENT

University of Dundee apprenticeships “challenging the myths” and boosting local community

are, most people think of apprenticeships as for teens straight out of school. In fact this is open to people of all ages, and all academic backgrounds. They could be graduates, have just left school, or have significant work experience.”

UoD first teamed up with Skills Development Scotland in 2017, but this is its largest number of Graduate Apprenticeships to date.

The hunt is on for employers across Dundee and Angus to take part in UoD’s biggest graduate apprenticeship programme to date.

While most people associate apprenticeships with teens straight out of school, one local programme is proving that’s not always the case.

In its biggest Graduate Apprenticeship programme to date, the University of Dundee is offering 110 places to people of all ages and academic backgrounds for the academic year 2019-20.

The scheme is being run in partnership with Skills Development Scotland (SDS), which is funding the initiative. And with courses starting this September, UoD is on the hunt for employers to collaborate.

Kirsty Scott, Industrial Liaison Officer at the University of Dundee says: “We’re looking for employers across the Dundee and Angus region to make this programme available to relevant members of their workforce.”

The UoD will work with employers to provide qualifications in subjects covering business, IT and engineering. The five courses with places are: Business Management; Engineering, Design and Manufacturing; Civil Engineering; IT: Management for Business; and IT: Software Development.

“Participants can combine their tuition at UoD with an employer relevant to that sector of study. It’s a perfect balance and one that we believe is an important boost to the community,” says Kirsty, adding: “It’s a programme that challenges the myths of what apprenticeships

Jonathan Clark, Director of Service Design and Innovation at Skills Development Scotland, said: “The success and growth of Graduate Apprenticeships demonstrates that they are supporting employers to upskill their workforce and giving individuals more opportunities to learn and develop their career whilst in employment.

Universities and colleges across the country are widening their choice of Graduate Apprenticeships and Skills Development Scotland will continue to develop subjects that focus on a range of sectors where there is a need for highly skilled jobs.”

Applications are open now until July 2019. For more information, employers and prospective students can contact Kirsty Scott, Industry Liaison Officer at the University of Dundee, on 01382 384787 or ga@dundee.ac.uk

Maximise potential by combining 4 days per week work-based learning and 1 day per week of high quality education. #MakeItCount8020

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

Launching the latest University of Dundee Graduate Apprenticeship programme are, from left to right: Joe Fitzpatrick, MSP for Dundee City West; Kirsty Scott, Industrial Liaison Officer, University of Dundee; Dr. Karen Petrie, Associate Dean for Learning & Teaching, School of Science & Engineering, University of Dundee.

33

members’ news

new Biz...

Launch It Dundee arrives and is looking for business mentors

Launch It Dundee, formerly known as Youth Support Trust Scotland, is opening its Dundee Enterprise Centre right in the heart of the city.

Kandahar House on Meadowside is soon to become the first local start-up incubator providing space and support primarily to young people who are in the early stages of setting up their own businesses.

Renovations are underway and the Centre is due to open in early March, with the official launch scheduled for May 2019.

Launch It Dundee works primarily with 18– to 30-year-olds who are unemployed, underemployed or otherwise facing barriers to conventional employment.

Launch It’s Dundee Enterprise Centre has space to accommodate up to 16 businesses, as well as a large communal space for networking and events. The organisation intends to open up this resource to other local organisations working with young people on enterprise and employability, to offer them an affordable city centre venue for training and events.

Launch It Dundee is currently looking for experienced business mentors to support its young clients through the early stages of their entrepreneurial journey. The organisation is particularly looking for local people in all sectors who have experience of setting up their own businesses.

If interested please contact shabana@lyst.biz for more information.

Intona unveils new company videos on visit to Blackadders in Dundee Well-known timber preservation and asbestos services firm Intona Limited has unveiled four short company videos.

Launched at a meeting of the Training Academy of Blackadders LLP Solicitors in January in Dundee, the videos give an overview of the company as well as covering: what to look out for in timber preservation areas (wet rot, dry rot and woodworm); what is involved in fire and flood damage; and how to recognise and deal with asbestos, including the legal requirements such as asbestos registers, and the various types of asbestos surveys available.

Intona holds the prestigious UKAS accreditation for its asbestos surveying services.

Director Ron Mitchell, pictured showing samples of decayed timber to the attendees, said: “Each video is specifically designed only to be a few minutes in length to keep the viewer’s attention, and covers all the salient points involved in these important areas.

We were delighted to visit Blackadders and give them an overview of the various elements of timber preservation and asbestos. Many of the Blackadders staff will come across these topics frequently in their jobs within the contents of home reports.”

For further details or to arrange a presentation at your premises, contact Bob Paterson at Intona Limited on bob.paterson@intona.co.uk

Avian and Loch Duart Salmon build international brand credentials When independent salmon farm Loch Duart appointed Dundee’s leading design consultancy Avian as its new marketing agency, the brief was comprehensive.

Avian was asked to revitalise and reposition Loch Duart’s brand and communications message to its worldwide audience. Loch Duart exports a massive two thirds of its award-winning salmon to more than 20 countries around the world.

Working closely with Loch Duart, Avian has created multilingual marketing initiatives to fit the brand’s international audiences and deliver customised experiences around them.

Scott McCallum, Avian’s Managing Director, explains: “Everything about the company is extraordinary - the scenery, the farming methods, the people and their approach. Avian developed a new creative platform and tone of voice for the company and has completed several location film and photographic shoots establishing a suite of stunning imagery and assets.”

The Loch Duart brand is now synonymous with high quality, taste and texture and has been used by leading chefs such as Bruno Tison,

Raymond Blanc and Gordon Ramsay. Loch Duart Salmon appeared on the menu for the wedding breakfast of HRH Prince William and Kate Middleton and was also featured at the premiere party for the award-winning TV series Game of Thrones in Los Angeles.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

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members’ news

celebrations...

Call for volunteers as Breakthrough rolls out to remaining Dundee schools Young persons’ mentoring charity Breakthrough is celebrating a major milestone as its programme is rolled out in the final remaining Dundee secondary schools.

With increasing numbers of young people asking for a Breakthrough mentor, the charity is calling for more local people and businesses to get involved and help shape young lives across the city.

m3 Networks raises the bar for IT companies with ISO accreditation m3 Networks has recently become one of few IT companies in the industry to achieve ISO 9001:2015 accreditation.

The Perth-based IT provider is in its 10th year of business and has established a strong client base in the Perth and Dundee area. Managing Director Mark Riddell said: “We felt the timing to implement ISO 9001 was right for us. We have always set our own high standards for the quality of service we deliver to clients and the ISO 9001 quality management system shows our commitment to managing and improving those standards as we continue to grow.”

The m3 team has reached double figures in the last six months and added two modern apprentices. Recent expansion into Edinburgh, along with a strong focus on delivering managed Cyber Security services to clients, is set to position m3 Networks as a leading provider in the managed IT support and Cyber Security sector in Scotland.

Established in 2017, the charity has supported more than 100 care experienced and vulnerable young people in six schools through group work, one to one mentoring and providing immersive work and learning taster sessions.

Volunteer mentors are carefully matched with young people and mentoring sessions take place in schools for one hour each week during term time, with mentors agreeing to commit to their mentee for between one and two years. The charity supports a diverse mix of young people and need mentors over the age of 18 from a variety of backgrounds with a wide range of life experiences and interests. Every mentor receives comprehensive training and ongoing support from the Breakthrough team.

The charity is thankful for the support of employers including Arnold Clark, Dundee City Council, Abertay University and DC Thomson who are backing Breakthrough by agreeing to free up their staff for an hour each week during school hours to enable them to mentor a young person and also offer work taster sessions. They are looking for more local organisations to make a similar commitment.

If you would like the opportunity to join the growing community of local people who want to make a real, lasting difference in the lives of young people in Dundee by becoming a Breakthrough mentor, find out more here: www.breakthroughdundee.co.uk/mentor

“the charity supports a diverse mix of young people from a variety of backgrounds...”

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

Tayside Children with Cancer & Leukaemia celebrates 25 years with anniversary ball Tayside Children with Cancer & Leukaemia (TCCL) is celebrating its 25th Anniversary with an anniversary ball.

Held on Saturday 25th May in the Apex Hotel, Dundee, the evening will begin with a drinks reception followed by a three course meal. There will be a raffle, silent auction and auction. DACC members who would like to offer prices for raffle and auction are asked to get in touch.

For tickets and raffle queries contact Hazel Melrose on hazel.melrose@btinternet.com

35 members’ NEWS CELEBRATIONS CONTD.

Tayside and Fife Social Enterprise Partnership celebrates success The winners of the inaugural Tayside and Fife Social Enterprise Partnership were announced in February at a ceremony held at DC Thomson’s Dundee headquarters.

The awards celebrated the activity of Social Enterprises across the Tayside and Fife Region and their achievements in giving something back.

A large number of Dundee Social Enterprise Network members picked up awards, including: Showcase the Street, highly commended in the Innovation Award for a new Virtual Reality facility; Scrapantics and Uppertunity, finalists in the Growth category; Dundee and Angus ADHD Support Group and Dundee International Women’s Centre’s Rise and Shine Childcare service, recognised for their Social Impact; LeHands which received a New Start award for its enterprise that teaches Makaton to ensure people with communication difficulties are included and supported; and Dundee City Pipe Band, highly commended award for new start-up.

Dundee swept the floor in the Young Social Entrepreneur category with all three places going to young founders who operate in the City.

The winner was Danielle Gaffney du Plooy of Uppertunity. The finalists were Ross Inglis of the inclusive Dundee City Pipe Band and Deborah Chapman of How it Felt.

Lynne Short, convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, said: “The valuable and important contribution that social enterprises make to the economy of the city and the wider country should never be underestimated.

Income, jobs, economic growth and other positive outcomes all come from social enterprises and these awards recognise the enterprise element of their activities, as well as the social component.”

“...these awards recognise the enterprise element of their activities,...”

CATAX celebrates business wins and further support of Dundee & Angus Catax, experts in specialist forms of tax relief, is celebrating two significant business wins as it strengthens its presence in Scotland.

first and foremost - your interests

The company recently worked with a business in the agriculture sector which had sought an advance in technology by building a robustly designed machine with weight distribution capable of working on steep hillsides and undulating ground. With Catax’s help, the company claimed back over £21,000 in tax relief.

Catax also completed a claim with an engineering business which is a leading provider of offshore solutions specialising in designing and developing complex custom designs. The tax benefit the company received was more than £55,000.

The opening of Catax’s new head office in Glasgow last year means it is better placed to serve the Dundee area going forward, the firm said.

A spokesperson said: “Within Dundee and the surrounding areas, there are many different industries within which a large majority are most likely carrying out R&D activity. The relief that a business could claim could help them to invest in additional innovation and fund further growth.”

“With catax’s help, the company claimed back over £21,000 in tax relief.”

Estate Planning • Wills • Executries • Powers of Attorney Guardianships • Estate Agency • Conveyancing Family Law • Civil Claims • Employment Tribunals Commercial Property and Leases • Business and Companies Court Services

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DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

36

our partners’

news...

Abertay strengthens China partnership Abertay University has strengthened an international videogames education partnership with one of China’s largest creative enterprise companies.

Abertay and Perfect World have been working to offer degree courses in China and Dundee since 2016, with the signing of a 10-year strategic partnership.

The number of Chinese students coming to study at Abertay has more than trebled since the relationship began, with a 100% employment rate for the first cohort of graduates within four months of graduation last year. Such has been its success that that a new work-based MProf degree is now being rolled out in Beijing, helping those already working in videogames to gain qualifications.

A delegation from Perfect World Education & Technology visited Abertay this Spring to discuss the partnership’s expansion. Abertay Director of Recruitment Lesley Balfour said: “Our new work-based MProf opens up an opportunity for Chinese games developers to tap into Abertay’s internationally-renowned academic expertise. We are delighted that our partnership with Perfect World continues to grow and look forward to collaborating on many more exciting opportunities.”

‘Healthy’ careers advice for young School pupils from across Dundee and Angus were given a unique insight into healthcare professions as part of a Careers in Health Care Day event at Dundee Science Centre in March.

The event, which included practical activities and chats with healthcare staff, was arranged in partnership with NHS Tayside, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) Dundee and Angus, and the University of Dundee School of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Pupils got the chance to take part in practical activities and get an insight into different careers and pathways into work in a variety of specialities such as dentistry, radiography, blood sciences, nursing and estates.

On the same day, DYW hosted Scotland’s Biggest Parents’ Evening event as part of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, when apprentices and companies including Caledonia Housing Association and Interplex PMP shared their experiences.

Pictures show students showing their work to Perfect World Head of Global Cooperation, Hu Kai, and Abertay lecturer Ken Fee in Abertay’s UK Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education.

Major Investment in BHGE’s Subsea Manufacturing Campus

Things are shaping up at Baker Hughes, a GE company’s (BHGE) new Centre of Excellence for subsea manufacturing and R&D in Montrose.

BHGE is investing £31m into the facility - including £4.9m funding from Scottish Enterprise - which will be responsible for producing technologies for oil and gas developments around the world. The facility will be fully operational later this year, and will incorporate some of the latest in advanced manufacturing tools and processes, from 3D printing to virtual reality and automation.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

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Takeda collaboration to boost Alzheimer’s fight The University of Dundee’s Drug Discovery Unit has announced a partnership with Takeda, Japan’s largest pharmaceutical company, to develop possible new therapeutic treatments for tau pathology, an underlying feature in several forms of neurodegeneration including Alzheimer’s disease.

Tau pathology occurs when the normal cellular protein, tau, misfolds and forms insoluble fibrils.

It is found in the brains of sufferers of more than 20 different neurodegenerative diseases, of which Alzheimer’s disease is the most common.

Recent studies demonstrate that tau pathology can spread from diseased to healthy cells in a “seeding” process, which is the focus of this collaboration.

innovative life science research and drug development in areas of unmet clinical need, and Alzheimer’s disease is at the top of the list.

our platinum & Enterprise partners...

“With support from Medical Research Council we are able to work with leading investigators such as Dr Will McEwan in Cambridge and Dr Leo James at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology to deliver programmes that are ready for industry to take forward. Teaming up with Takeda means we’ll get further, faster – bringing a potential treatment for this debilitating condition one step closer.”

Alzheimer’s disease affects 50 million people worldwide, yet there are currently no disease-modifying treatments.

Working in collaboration with Dr Will McEwan at the University of Cambridge and Dr Leo James at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, the Drug Discovery Unit has identified drug-like molecules that prevent seeded misfolding of tau.

Dr David Gray (pictured), Head of Innovative Targets at the Drug Discovery Unit, said, “Our mission is to bridge the gap between

Dover Fueling Solutions reduces queues on forecourts Dover Fueling Solutions is using its Fairbanks™ Station Manager web portal to revolutionise the fuel management process for retailers.

The power of Station Manager 365 comes from centralising and interpreting data from many sources, giving a comprehensive insight into many aspects of fuel management. Using intelligent software and data collection techniques, Station Manager 365 is able to alert site operators to potential issues on the forecourt, as well as assist with reconciliation – something that has historically been difficult to manage effectively.

DFS delivers advanced fuel dispensing equipment, electronic systems and payment, fleet systems, automatic tank gauging and wetstock management, Recent advancements in technology have seen a rise in customer expectations within the fuel industry, says DFS. They want instant access to information

presented in an uncomplicated manner in order to make fast, informed decisions which optimize the operation of their site or network.

In addition, fuel retailers now demand more insight into consumer behaviour, pump activity, competitor pricing, margin management and historic sales trends.

Contact the Chamber if you would like to become a Platinum Partner

Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce is proud to work with all of our Partners and we very much appreciate their support.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

38

SAVE THE DATE June 18, 2019 Prepare to be inspired at the inaugural Courier Business Conference featuring a host of top speakers from across Courier Country and beyond.

Full details coming soon in The Courier.

For early bird tickets, please contact Sharon Methven at smethven@dctmedia.co.uk

• CONNECTED | SPRING 1 2019 CourierDACC Business Conference.indd

13/03/2019 10:24:15

39

our partners’

news in brief...

New Principal for University of Dundee

An international partnership to remember

Professor Andrew Atherton is the new Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee. He took office from the beginning of January.

Dundee and Angus College recently completed a European funded two-year Erasmus+ project aimed at developing learning and teaching resources for dementia care for use in higher education and clinical settings.

Professor Atherton, formerly Vice Chancellor at Lancaster University, is an expert in SME policy and China and a Mandarin Chinese speaker.

He has advised national and regional government as well as major bilateral and multilateral agencies on enterprise and small business policy development and implementation.

He said: “Dundee is establishing itself as one of the UK’s best universities, based on an outstanding student experience and research that genuinely transforms and saves people’s lives. Our outlook is international, with staff and students from over 150 countries and research and academic partnerships around the world.

“The University is working hand-in-hand with the city and local business and other organisations to raise Dundee’s reputation globally.”

The project, entitled Memory Media, arose from research which found that art- and multimedia-based approaches are having an impact on dementia care.

This international partnership, led by D&A College, spanned the United Kingdom (D&A College and Forth Valley College), Spain, Sweden and China.

The Memory Media app can be used to aid those living with dementia or their carers.

It allows storage of information in relation to a person’s life story which can be shared with family and friends.

When you have young adults struggling to find work and a hospitality sector looking for a labour supply, it sounds like a perfect combination. That’s where uNEET comes in.

This innovative approach matches NEETs (young adults Not in Education, Employment and Training) with the recruitment needs of the hotel, restaurant and catering sector in North West Europe.

The project, which began in 2018 and is due to last three years, consists of Dundee and Angus College alongside two partners from the North Hessen area in Germany, a partner from Île-de-France, two partners from Ireland, and Fife Council.

Partners at a co-creation week in Fife.

A project can’t progress until there’s an array of Post-It Notes!

Dundee and Angus College and Dundee Alexandria Twinning Association (DATA) are partnering to sponsor two students for a study trip this Spring to Virginia, USA. Social Science student Catriona Taylor and Digital Arts student Ciaran Campbell will attend North Virginia Community College (NOVA), the largest institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia, USA. Catriona is being sponsored by DATA with D&A College matching funding for Ciaran. As well as the educational experience within the College, the students will get a real flavour of everyday life in Virginia as they will be living with local families during their trip.

D&A College will also be welcoming two NOVA lecturers, Dr Sue Jean Cho and Dr Martha Davis, this Spring. With focuses on History and Performing Arts, the visitors will meet staff and students from D&A College, give guest lectures and visit Morgan Academy and Abertay University whilst learning about the city and culture.

It includes a website, research findings, teaching and learning materials, and a peer teaching course plan for health professionals, carers or relatives.

D&A College – proud to be part of a ‘neet’ idea

Interreg North West Europe (InterregNWE) aims to align continual vacancies through the development of a digital platform that provides training delivery for the learners linked to a jobs portal for industry.

Students to get taste of life in USA

D&A College International Manager Anne Cant accepting a cheque from Dundee Alexandria Twinning Association.

A century and a half of the world’s best “Friend” The world’s longestrunning weekly women’s magazine celebrated 150 years of publication in January 2019. First published in 1869 from Dundee, The People’s Friend set out to “instruct and entertain” its readers.

A century and half later, it continues to be a loyal “Friend” to readers across the globe.

The DC Thomson magazine has a current weekly readership of 400,000, with 20,000 copies exported each week to recipients in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.

To mark the anniversary year, a symposium on The People’s Friend will take place in April at Glasgow’s Mitchell Library as well as an exhibition of original cover art at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh in May.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

40

National trail, national recognition for your business Would you like to get involved in the first nationwide public art trail, taking place in Scotland this summer?

The ARCHIE Foundation is looking for companies and organisations to support Scotland’s children by sponsoring a sculpture for Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail. The trail will take to the streets of Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh for 11 weeks this summer and will unite the country as it raises awareness and funds for Scotland’s national children’s hospital charities.

The ARCHIE Foundation supports Tayside Children’s Hospital in Dundee as well as Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and the Highland Children’s Unit in Inverness, while Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity and Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity support sick children in their respective cities.

Sponsorship is a fantastic way to support Scotland’s children’s hospitals while boosting your brand among your customers, and the charities’ supporters.

Among the benefits for your business: • • • •

•

•

Being associated with Scotland’s first national arts trail Positioning your business on a national platform Increasing brand awarenss and market value throughout Scotland Direct exposure to thousands of your target customers and clients through associated media coverage Maximise your CSR with this high-profile event – opportunities for teambuilding and engagement with your employees Facilitate new key stakeholder relationships through invitations to associated high profile events

Arnold Clark have signed up as the Headline sponsor, with Citylink onboard as the Discovery sponsor and Dundee design firm Avian the Design Partner.

During the last Bucket Trail in Dundee in 2016, there was a 40% increase in retail sales and more than 4,000,000 people were reached on social media. If you would like to sign up or find out more about the benefits of becoming a sponsor, email sarah@archie.org

Blue2 Appointed App Development of Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail Blue2 Digital have been appointed by Wild In Art to design and develop the ‘App’ for Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail! Blue2 are an award-winning agency based in Broughty Ferry, Dundee that specialise in digital design, web development, app development and digital marketing. Blue2 work closely with sister company Avian, who were recently announced as Design Partner for Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail and will be providing the trail team with all brand graphic design and communications support.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

41 Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail will hit the streets of Scotland on June 17 and run until August 30. Around 200 sculptures of Scotland’s favourite son in different designs will be on show across the country’s five main cities – Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Creative people from all over Scotland and beyond have submitted their ideas for Oor Wullie’s famous dungarees and bucket and the best of these are presented to sponsors at Art Selection events in the cities, pairing up businesses, artists and designs.

Once the statues are painted and out on the streets, there will be maps and an app available for families to check off the statues one by one, bringing communities together to raise awareness and funds for Scotland’s children’s hospital charities.

Schools and community groups are also involved as part of a mini trail.

Every sponsor of a full-size statue gets a smaller one to gift to a school or

SPONSORED CONTENT

“schools and community groups are also involved as part of a mini trail.” group near them, and these will be decorated by the children and taken to nearby libraries or community hubs to be displayed during the trail, before being returned to the schools or groups after the trail has ended.

At the end of the summer, there will be farewell events that will see each city’s Oor Wullies brought together in one place for everyone to see, before they are auctioned off to raise as much as possible for Scotland’s sick children.

Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce are delighted to once again support The ARCHIE Foundation by sponsoring an Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket trail sculpture.

Chamber members are invited to join us in supporting the first nationwide trail by co-sponsoring our sculpture.

Oor Wullie will be located outside the Chamber offices at 37 City Quay for the duration of the trail giving exposure to all our co-sponsors with branded vinyls sitting nicely on the windows behind him.

Last year over 20 Chamber members came together to support the Maggie’s Penguin Parade and co-sponsored Penguinstein who resided outside the office from June to September. Over the duration of the trail we hosted a Family Fun Day, which saw over 300 visitors through the doors at 37 City Quay, held a sponsor’s drinks reception at Malmaison after visiting the Farewell Parade and brought members together to produce a short video to tell our stories on why we were supporting such a great cause.

Not every company in the region will be able to commit to the full sponsorship outright. However there are many out there who will be able to contribute a smaller amount and take the opportunity to support this exciting campaign.

Chamber members are asked to contact Sarah Young, Events and Marketing Manager, to find out more about the co-sponsorship opportunities. There will only be a limited amount of opportunities available so please act quickly if you want to be involved. sarahyoung@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

42

dacc members’

benefits...

We work hard for our members and provide them with the connections and opportunities they need to flourish.

RAISE YOUR PROFILE

JOIN US TO PERSUADE & INFLUENCE

> Promote your services through our communications channels - website, e-news, social media, business magazine.

> Persuade and influence opinion makers - being part of our Chamber will provide you with real clout and the opportunity to get your voice heard.

> Free entry in the Chamber of Commerce Angus & Dundee Online Business Directory. > Use of the Proud to be a Chamber Member logo on your own promotional material. > Automatically become part of the Scottish Chamber of Commerce network, which represents 26 Chambers, 12,000 businesses and their half a million employees providing a powerful voice for business at a national level.

JOIN AND ATTRACT MORE BUSINESS > Meet with the right people at our networking events to establish or raise the profile of your business, including referrals and introductions to other local businesses, decision makers and suppliers. > Password access to the Chamber Members area of our website for the current full members contact list at any time. > Opportunity to network at our lively and popular events - all at low or no cost.

JOIN US AND IMPROVE & INVEST IN YOUR ORGANISATION > Free Business Mentoring on the highly successful Scottish Chambers scheme.

> Have your say on issues affecting business at events via our active engagement with the media and by participating in Chamber business surveys.

JOIN US FOR EXCLUSIVE MEMBER SERVICES > Chamber HR. > Chamber Health & Safety. > Chamber Legal. > Chamber Tax. > Chamber Foreign Exchange. > Free use of COBCOE Connects online portal - a fast-growing digital platform that gives members a trusted environment for business growth. > Chamber Westfield Healthcare – discounted dental, optical care plus hospital stay payment for you and your employees. > Free use of Members Lounge at City Quay offices and discounted Room Hire. > 50% discount on export certification – comfortably covering the membership fee for regular exporters. > Chamber Fuelcard. > Chamber Car Benefit Scheme.

> Improve your business skills at our popular training events.

Contact us: 37 City Quay, Camperdown Street, Dundee, DD1 3JA. Telephone: 01382 228545 www.dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

43

key

events...

2019 has gotten off to a great start with the launch of our Leading Ladies and Connect 4 series of events. January saw a Leading Ladies masterclass with Ann Johnson of Blaze Manufacturing Solutions. Hearing about Ann’s journey with her husband Howard having founded the company in a garden shed to what is now a global business was inspiring and, at times, truly hilarious!

We also hosted our inaugural Connect 4 series with experts in the room from Jigsaw Media, The Story Edge, Moovi and Avian speaking to attendees about digital comms and marketing.

Attendees learnt more about telling their story, marketing strategies, movie content and how to build a brand with some great take-aways for them to start putting into practice in their own organisation.

Another inaugural event which took place in the first quarter was our Connected Conversations Business Breakfast where attendees heard from two leading experts in the field of Cyber Security.

Professor Karen Renaud from the Division of Cyber Security at Abertay University and Mikey from the Scottish Business Resilience Centre both gave informative and thought-provoking presentations with attendees benefitting from their expert knowledge to start putting into place measures to protect themselves and business against cyber attacks. The event was kindly sponsored by m3 Networks who were there on the day providing attendees with Dark Web scanning allowing businesses to get ahead of the game by knowing their password has been breached and proactively dealing with this before their identity or data is stolen or, even worse, their business systems are breached.

Once again we’re looking to engage all members through a variety of events and we’ve highlighted a few below, keep an eye on the website for the most up to date information.

connected rate card MEMBERS AdvertISING Rates: Back Page: Inside Front/Back: Full Page: Half Page: Quarter Page:

£600 £550 £500 £275 £175

NON-MEMBERS AdvertISING Rates: Back Page: Inside Front/Back: Full Page: Half Page: Quarter Page:

£750 £650 £575 £350 £250

Advertorial rates:

POA

April – June • 2 april - DACC123 - North East Sensory Services & Kirrie Dumplings • 4 april - Leading Ladies with Catriona MacInnes, Editor, The Courier • 24 april - Networking at the Races • 7 may - Connect 4 – PR & News • 14 may - DACC123 - Sharp Furniture Solutions • 23 may - DACC AGM & Speed Networking • 4 june - DACC123 - Mackie Motors Brechin • 26 june - ChamberFORCE Stretch • 27 june - Chamber champion Dinner

sponsorship...

Looking to raise your brand awareness and benefit from the excellent attendance rates, professional event management and exposure that the Chamber events programme brings?

Why not speak to a member of the team about sponsorship of a forthcoming event?

Send an email to Sarah Young, Events and Marketing Manager sarahyoung@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk to find out more.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

44

pick of the pics...

Here’s our round-up of Chamber events.

Can you spot yourself?

Chamber golf day

Chamber Golf Day held at The Duke’s, St Andrews, photos by Foremost Golf Photography, 21 September 2018.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

45

Dunhill links business breakfast

pionship Course.

the Cham The daunting 1st tee on

Dunhill Links Business Breakfast with guest speaker Michael Wells, Chief Exec at Carnoustie Golf Links, 4 October 2018.

B2B: Circular by Design event with Open Change, DACC November 2018.

Delegates gathered to find out how businesses can collaborate with others to take advantage of the Circular Tayside Initiative.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

46 pick of the pics CONTD.

CIRCULAR TAYSIDE EVENT with james hutton institute

The visit included a tour of the vertical indoor farm at James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie.

Delegates gathered to hear how the James Hutton Institute is championing the Circular Economy.

DACC SURVEY AND RESPONSES In January 2019 Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey allowing members to have a voice in how our organisation is run.

We wanted to make sure that our members were utilising their membership to their best potential, with services provided to align with members’ needs.

As we look ahead to the rest of 2019 and into 2020 we’ll be taking the results into consideration and aligning our services and events calendar with what our members want.

The survey was completed by 97 individuals who represented 94 different member organisations.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

CONTACT WITH MEMBERS WHO HAVE JOINED IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

1

CONNECTING MEMBERS A resounding 93% of respondents felt that the Chamber fulfils its role in connecting members, campaining and championing the region on their behalf.

THE CHAMBER’S LOBBYING 58% of respondents were comfortable with the Chamber’s Lobbying. However, 39% weren’t aware of the work the Chamber do on behalf of members to the appropriate Politicians/ Government.

Of the 61 respondents who had joined within the last 12 months, 92% felt that we had maintained regular contact and were aware and utilising the benefits of membership.

8

7

3

EY SURVONSES RESP

6 5

50% of members requested more information regrding the member services such as Business Mentoring, Chamber HR, Legal, Tax Health & Safety. The most popular request for further information was for the Members Lounge and Room Hire at 37 City Quay.

DACC NEWSLETTER & E-COMMUNICATIONS 90.5% of members felt that our communications are aimed at all Chamber members, regardless of size, with 65% keen that they remain a weekly occurrence.

4

MEMBER SERVICES

79% of members are interested in Networking Events, with around 50% interested in Training, Key Business themes, High Profile Speakers and Business Showcase.

2

FUTURE EVENTS Coming in a joint first was Networking and Training Events at 48% followed by Key Business Themes and High Profile Speakers at 39.5% and 38% respectively.

WHAT TYPE OF EVENTS ARE OF INTEREST TO YOU?

DO YOU FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA?

Just 68% of members follow us on social media with 7.5% not aware of our social media presence.

Join over 9,000 followers @dundeeandangus

47 SPONSORED CONTENT

DP&L Travel Management, experts in business travel, explain that there are plenty of reasons to outsource your travel plans:

6 reasons to change the way you travel for your business Using a travel management company can benefit your business in lots of ways.

Do you travel for work? Have you thought about using a travel management company, but are unaware of how it could benefit your business?

Travel has become more accessible over the years, with cheaper fares and better connections making it easier to get to the other side of the world within 24 hours. However, many businesses arrange their own travel without really knowing the benefits of using a travel management company.

1

MONEY

2

TIME

3

DUTY OF CARE

4

INVOICING

5

GLOBAL SUPPORT

6

CONSULTANCY

Being members of The Advantage Focus Partnership and WIN Travel Network, we have access to exclusive discounted global airfares and additional amenities that aren’t available online.

Our knowledgeable and experienced staff can efficiently tailor a travel itinerary to suit your business needs, allowing you and your staff to concentrate on more productive activities confident in the knowledge your travel arrangements are being professionally organised and managed.

Travel with peace of mind. DP&L’s emergency 24/7 service means you’ll always have assistance when you are travelling.

Travel costs and expenses on one invoice! You will receive one invoice per booking . That saves you time searching through charges when the credit card statement or staff expenses comes through. We also offer credit facilities.

We have travel partners in over 70 countries providing overseas support for your business, not just in Dundee and Angus.

With an average of 20 years’ service, DP&L’s travel experts can provide advice and tailored solutions for your business travel needs.

More at www.dpandltravelmanagement.co.uk or call 01382 204848

the (non International) take a seat with Dundee & Angus Chamber team

You’ll have read on Page 3 about our International Team, with a sneak peak at some of the things which make them tick. Read on below to TAKE A SEAT with the rest of the team: Dominykas Stoncius

sarah young Q: Describe the Perfect Cup of Tea? A: Peppermint Q: What’s the best part of your job?

A: The variety…and meeting lots of different people Q: Favourite thing about Dundee & Angus?

A: The opportunities, the ‘oomph’ in people just now Q: Favourite place in Dundee & Angus?

A: Boozy Cow because they’ve got our Penguin!

Q: Summer or Winter?

A: Ohhhhh Summer, providing its nice!

donna bell Q: Describe the Perfect Cup of Tea? A: Oh…I’m not a big tea drinker: Earl Grey Q: What’s the best part of your job?

A: Meeting people Q: Favourite thing about Dundee & Angus?

A: How diverse we are and although we feel quite a big city, we’re still a wee village too Q: Favourite place in Dundee & Angus?

A: Lunan Bay Q: Summer or Winter?

A: Summer, every time!

If you’d like to take part in your own TAKE A SEAT, please drop us an email to news@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk

Q: A:

Describe the Perfect Cup of Tea? Tetleys tea bag [side note: other brands of tea are available ;)], boiling hot water, but make sure to put the milk in first. Leave the tea bag in about 2 minutes, so its golden. Also, not too much milk, so it’s not (horrified face) white but it’s, like, golden, like caramel.

(This was the most specific answer to any of the questions!)

Q: A:

What’s the best part of your job?

Receiving news and finding out new things from members, what they’ve been up to etc

Q: Favourite thing about Dundee & Angus?

A: The air quality! (Simon spent lots of his time in London, Dubai and Aberdeen – he now enjoys outdoor sports & living in Angus so we can certainly see why he remarked on the local environment.)

Q:

A:

Favourite thing about Dundee & Angus?

Hard question for Dom, because he lives in Fife and travels into Dundee every day by bus – that’s’ dedication for you! He likes the shops, and the variety of people that are here.

Q: Summer or Winter?

A: Summer

Q: Summer or Winter?

A: Summer

simon rolfe Q: Describe the Perfect Cup of Tea? A: Earl Grey, freshly boiled water, splash of milk – Simon had brought his usual cuppa in to answer the questions and we’ve definitely not got his favourite blend in – better get shopping!

Q: What’s the best part of your job?

A: Meeting new companies & people

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

48

the last

word...

In the latest article in our new comment section, Ann Johnson of Blaze Manufacturing explains that expanding into international markets is not always as glamorous as it sounds.

What we learned from our first foray overseas “Communication, logistics, customs and even the Ebola virus posed concerns.”

Internationalisation and breaking into new markets overseas may conjure up images of travel to far flung destinations, racking up the air miles and business meetings in exotic locations. We have found that the reality is, however, somewhat different.

Our first proper foray into international markets came from a telephone call from an agent in Zambia, for work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The enquiry was related to a project at Mutanda, an open-pit copper mine operated by Glencore. Working with the agent, Blaze developed a bid to carry out a survey at the project site.

We recognised that this project ticked every box on the risk matrix for Blaze, a provider of fire safety protection, detection and loss prevention solutions in harsh and challenging environments.

This was a new customer in a new hostile environment; there would be restricted movements within the country and visa considerations; and, of course, safety was the number one concern.

Howard, my husband and Blaze co-owner, took the decision to travel to undertake the survey himself. Applying hostile environment expertise from other industry sectors, he carried out a two-week survey (extended to six weeks) on-site to provide a solution. Our digital 3D survey capability proved to be a major differentiator, as it avoided the traditional, time-consuming and expensive scanning method and meant our

Ann Johnson

designers and engineers were able to complete the project without having to travel to the site.

However, challenges were abundant: getting visas was problematic and the remoteness of the mine made access difficult and dangerous.

Communication, logistics, customs and even the Ebola virus posed additional concerns.

Our ability to make decisions and take risks, allied to our determination and courage, were vital for success and earned additional work on the project, meaning the contract scope grew quickly.

It wasn’t quite the glamorous international location we had in mind; Howard stayed in basic accommodation (pictured) and avoided the sun, while the air was thick with sulphuric acid.

It was a massive learning curve for Blaze

but one that has led to us pursuing more

overseas projects and taking our export

business to around 60 to 70% of our turnover.

As a result, in 2018 we were awarded three

accolades by the Energy Industry Council;

for exporting, for diversification and for

business of the year. Blaze has also been shortlisted for an export award at the Offshore Achievement Awards in March. Even Ethiopian Airways proved to be as good as BA (except for the lack of those air miles!)

Every issue we ask a member for their views on a hot topic in the business world. Want to share your views with us?

Email: magazine@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019

Save the Date Thursday 27 June Apex Hotel City Quay & Spa

Chamber Champion Dinner Join us as we celebrate Chamber Champions with the launch of the Chamber Business Champion Award and a chance to win ÂŁ7,500 worth of advertising with STV Dundee.

Individual tickets will be on sale in April.

Table bookings are already being taken.

To book your table today or be one of the first to hear about our early bird ticket offer please email sarahyoung@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk

Sponsorship opportunities for the dinner are still available, please contact Sarah Young (email above) to find out more.

Programme Sponsor

Drinks Sponsor

Unicorn Property Group are delighted to sponsor the drinks on behalf of Coca-Cola 5by20 Dundee.

DACC • CONNECTED | SPRING 2019