Growth feature

There’s a lot to smile about in Dundee and Angus. The past year has been a hugely exciting period for the region, with growth seen across a range of businesses, from SMEs to long-established organisations.

DACC is excited to be going on this journey of growth with its members and provide support in the growth of your businesses.

The following pages are from our members, sharing their stories, ambitions, tips, love of their region and how the Chamber has impacted their ability to grow.

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no

meaning.” Benjamin Franklin

Before that, our CEO Alison Henderson provides a special introduction…

“Since our last magazine was published, around seventy new members have joined our Chamber, with over 1,500 people attending our events to grow their network, grow their skills and grow their use of Chamber benefits. Our news channels remain consistently busy, with our online news reaching over 700,000 hits in the last three months.

“We ran another successful ‘Making the Most of your Membership’ session, did two Hard Hat tours of the Earl Grey Building in the heart of Dundee Waterfront and held a Business Round Table with The Rt Hon Stephen Barclay MP, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. I was delighted to chair a very successful discussion with members and a large group of Directors of Communication from various Whitehall departments, led by Alex Aiken, Executive Director for Government Communication, from the Cabinet Office.

“Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce is here to help members Connect, Communicate and Develop. We represent our members’ views and use our collective voice to influence opinion makers. We are passionate about Dundee and Angus and promote it as a world-class destination, helping the local business community to thrive.

“In this issue, we’ve been talking to members about how they have seen the Chamber grow, develop and give real benefits to their businesses and the local community.

“The rest of the magazine is packed with many stories of growth, business success and economic impact – we hope you enjoy reading it!”

"Networking is so important

“Building relationships is vital and the Chamber can play a major role in that.”

Andy Simpson, Founder and Managing Director of Angus 3D Solutions, explains why he decided to launch his own business and how Chamber events have helped and inspired him as he grows his business.

“Before setting up my business, I worked in the Oil & Gas industry in Aberdeen. I ran manufacturing facilities in Abu Dhabi, Russia, Germany, Great Yarmouth and Arbroath. When the Oil & Gas downturn kicked in, my job changed and was involved in shutting down several of these factories. This was very unpleasant and ultimately affected my overall wellbeing.

“To gain control of my destiny, I set up Angus 3D Solutions at the start of 2017 as I could see the potential use of additive manufacturing in Scotland. This turned out to be a great decision.

“The business is growing and we’ve just taken on our first employee, which was been a major step for us.

“The business’ growth is on plan, which involved the purchase of the latest technology in 3D metal printing. This technology is called ADAM (Atomic Diffusion Additive Manufacturing). We’re the only provider of this technology in Scotland and it’s the only machine commercially available in the UK.

“Being located in Brechin has been ideal as we can visit customers easily throughout the Dundee and Angus area and also customers in Aberdeen.

“We have a diverse customer base – from individuals and general manufacturing to Oil & Gas, medical, automation, heart surgeons and satellite manufacturers, which reflects the diverse businesses in the region.

“It’s fantastic being a member of the Chamber. I think it’s particularly beneficial at the start of building a business, as the events they run are both informative and very social. Networking is so important and it’s vital to have the right people attending which is the case at the Chamber events. The Chamber helps make one-to-one introductions to other Chamber members as well.

“Working on your own can be quite lonely. Meeting other like-minded people, even just for a coffee, is beneficial and the Chamber events provide this opportunity.

“I found the Business Growth Mentoring Group first class. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to develop as an individual, develop their business and learn with other like-minded people. It’s a great way to do this.

“My biggest piece of advice to anyone who wants to set up a business is never hesitate to ask for help. Building relationships is vital and the Chamber can play a major role in that.

“It’s handy to be able to pop into the Chamber and have a coffee and a chat. You never know who you’re going to meet or find out relevant information for your business from.

“The Chamber is such a positive place – very upbeat and welcoming. There’s a tremendous energy about the team who are always there to help in any way they can.”

Celebrating its 25th anniversary since being awarded university status, Abertay University’s Head of Business Engagement, Lorna Edwards, shares what her role involves, the university’s special relationship with the business community and how that has been strengthened by the Chamber.

“In plain language, my role is to make sure the university is as useful as possible for the business community. I run the events team and work on some of the big projects with business input. I also run the student enterprise and entrepreneurship hub, called Bell Street Ventures. It’s a new initiative for the university which is really exciting. There’s a lot of very positive overlap with the Chamber.

“Our student population is in the region of 4,500 students who come from all over the world. They are predominantly Scottish, but there’s a fair proportion from the rest of the UK.

“Our growth in terms of reputation is excellent – Abertay University is recognised globally as a leader in computer games education. We have a big reputation in Games Design, but we also teach Computer Arts, Sound and Music for Games, Production Management and Computer Games Technology and Analytics. InGAME is a research collaboration helping games companies benefit from cutting-edge research.

“Abertay is a teaching intensive university – most of our income comes from the teaching of students rather than research. Our graduates are our most important product, so it’s important that businesses want to employ them and work with them.

“Computer games is strong and we’re growing in cyber security. We were the first university to offer degrees in Ethical Hacking and have an excellent international reputation, which has been recognised through the inclusion of the Cyber Quarter within the Tay Cities Deal.

“There’s a huge choice for students. Mental Health Nursing, Counselling and Psychology are strong and we have a good reputation in this area. We do a lot in Sport Science as well as Law, Marketing and Finance at the business school. A lot of our students come from college – there are lots of ways to find yourself at Abertay, no matter how far away from university you think you might be.

“We also have a lot of expertise in food and drink innovation. On the campus we have a pilot food production plant and a consumer testing facility. We work with companies to test recipes, as well as packing and production techniques.

“Being a Platinum member of the Chamber has been great. It helps embed us with the local business community.

“The thing that surprises me most about Abertay University is what we are rather than what people expect from a university. We are small and friendly, with a real and genuine willingness to help – from individual students to small businesses to the whole community.

“We want to continue to be part of the creation of the new Dundee. There’s an obvious connection between Abertay University and the digital economy where the availability of smart and well-educated people is fundamental to success.

“We work with the Chamber to support potential entrepreneurs setting up businesses during or after their studies.”

“We’ve held joint events with the Chamber and also send staff to present at events – this year we’ve already done a business breakfast on cyber security, which got great engagement. We work with the Chamber to support potential entrepreneurs setting up businesses during or after their studies.

“Alison and her team are fabulous. They are always there helping to promote opportunities and putting Dundee on the map which highlights Abertay University. The university is all about recruiting students and making them ready for their future – whatever that may be.

“The support from the Chamber is enormous and is such a positive relationship.”

Graeme Mackay is a Director at Begbies Traynor who offer financial advice to companies and individuals facing difficulty. With over 30 offices in England, five in Scotland and another in Belfast, the Dundee branch has been in operation for over 10 years.

Joining the Dundee office just over a year ago, Graeme is enthusiastic about the business and its connection with the Chamber. His advice for any company having problems is to seek advice as soon as possible.

“We realise people are often fearful of the potential costs involved, but there is no charge for our initial consultation. There are all sorts of reasons why businesses face difficulties. Sometimes markets can literally disappear.

“I would always recommend people get in touch with us as soon as they think there may be an issue. The longer you ignore a problem the bigger it becomes. It can be a very lonely place when you own a business and something goes wrong. The emotional and mental stress can be enormous. We can do a lot to help.

“It’s a great feeling when you’re able to save a business or lessen the stress. People are always very grateful to get help and have someone to offload on.”

Graeme has advice to give to everyone thinking of launching a business.

“The Chamber is constantly thinking of different ways to help businesses. It’s not the same old, same old.”

“When launching a business, you need to know your market and ask yourself why you’re getting into the business. I ask people where they ultimately want to be and work back from that. It’s all about understanding why they want to be in business.

“If it’s a hobby someone wants to turn into a business they have to ask themselves if it’s sustainable. Basically, can they earn enough to live? It may be a well-paid hobby but not a sustainable business.

“Since I came on board in Dundee I’ve attended a number of Chamber events which is a great opportunity to raise our brand awareness. Getting to meet other businesses is definitely beneficial. I find the events are very varied which is good and the networking is excellent.

“The Chamber is a great support, particularly for young people starting out in business.

“It’s a lively office and very friendly. The team are regularly in contact and make you aware of the benefits of membership. The Chamber is constantly thinking of different ways to help businesses. It’s not the same old, same old. They have the right level of engagement – not too much and not too little. There’s a great sense of community within the Chamber.”

"Being part of DACC means you have a voice"

Graham Huband, Deputy Editor of the Courier, underlines the importance of the Chamber in reflecting Dundee’s new-found confidence and “phenomenal growth”.

“I remember the former Dundee Chamber when it was based in Meadowside. The organisation worked hard, but didn’t have the presence DACC has today. The new set-up mirrors Dundee as a city and its renaissance and it is definitely having a positive impact on the business community.

“The city is more confident and DACC is the fastest-growing Chamber in the UK. That alone demonstrates just how far the city has come from the post-industrial malaise days of the 1990s and early 2000s.

“Growing networks is vital for business and the Chamber does this really well. It connects people and companies who wouldn’t have obvious links otherwise and it is bringing new people to the party all the time – the more who come to the party the better. There’s been phenomenal growth in recent years.

“Dundee needs an organisation where businesses can have a work space, a coffee and a chat. The Chamber definitely fulfils this role. It’s also a conduit to the wider Chambers in Scotland.

“The Courier has a business desk whose role is to reflect what’s going on in the commercial community locally. The Chamber is at the heart of that community and every member has a story which we believe could and should be told. DACC is a central hub for the business community. The Scottish economy is more than 90 percent SME based and many small businesses work in isolation.

“The Chamber gives those traders the opportunity to get out, make new connections, talk business and, ultimately, to grow.

“When you are a one-man-band business it is incredibly difficult – if not impossible – to influence the policy decisions which directly impact upon your business.

“Being part of DACC and the wider Chamber network gives you that voice. Dundee and Angus Chamber is very active in promoting its member companies and raising the fears and concerns they have with decision makers. That approach is working and is reflected in its ever-increasing number of members.

“Twenty years ago, there was very little inward investment into Dundee. Today it’s a different story. The regeneration of the city is phenomenal. We now have investors looking at the city in a way they never did before – they are turning their heads towards us rather than away from us.

“Another phenomenal resource is the more than 30,000 students studying at college and university in Dundee during the academic year – that’s roughly one in four of the population.

“We need to harness this talent within the city and the wider region and we need to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

“We now have investors looking at the city in a way they never did before – they are turning their heads towards us rather than away from us.”

“DC Thomson is proud to be a Platinum partner of DACC and, like the Chamber, is part of the growth story of this city along with the likes of Elevator, the Prince’s Trust and many others.

“The Chamber plays a strong role in supporting businesses, regularly hosting tremendous events featuring decision makers and influencers. It cares passionately about its members and there is regular communication. It’s also incredibly helpful.

“The team don’t always have the answers, but will always point a member in the right direction for support or help.

“The entire Chamber team is fantastic. Alison is pro-active, visible and has a vision to grow the Chamber even more. It’s also good to see young people joining the team, gaining experience and contributing to its overall success.”

"Really helpful, friendly and professional"

Graham Parker is full of praise for the Chamber.

In his previous role as Client Manager at Murray Taylor’s Arbroath office Graham oversaw the smooth running of the compliance and bookkeeping departments. He was the main point of contact for clients and says it’s vital to build strong relationships.

“Trust is massively important with business and people definitely trust us. We had a lot of clients who had been with us for many years. We encouraged them to keep in touch as a regular connection helps build trust.”

“Murray Taylor joined DACC in 2016. Their team is great – really helpful, friendly and professional. The Chamber has definitely had a positive effect on the business. It helps to make good connections as there’s a broad range of events. Their 123 Lunches are excellent for catching up and networking.

“The fact you can use their rooms for meetings is excellent – and the rates are very reasonable. We used the Chamber as a client drop-off point which was really useful.

“We were looking to expand business in Dundee and being a member of the Chamber made a difference. Since joining, my LinkedIn Connections has grown from 180 to over 600.”

“Their 123 lunches are excellent for catching up and networking.”

Graham was with the company for 13 years. They put him through his training and continue to take on trainees straight from school, which works well for both parties.

He is looking forward to continuing his relationship with DACC and their members as a trustee with Skilz Academy.

Accountancy firm Murray Taylor has been in operation for just short of 30 years. Tom Murray and Steve Taylor set up the company in 1990. They were both sole traders who met at a party and then came together to form the business. Not your average way to go about things, but their meeting of minds that night has resulted in great success.

Today, Murray Taylor employs 30 staff – 20 based at the Montrose office and a further 10 in Arbroath. This year, they’re aiming to surpass previous targets as they look to grow in Dundee.

"DACC events are very important to the business"

Emma Miller is the local Business Growth Enabler at the Royal Bank of Scotland. Having worked at the bank for 14 years, Emma has seen how it has benefited from networking at Chamber events. She tells us why she has the best job in the bank and is pleased to report business growth.

“I love my role. I cover a wide area from Montrose to Pitlochry, up to south Aberdeenshire, plus parts of Fife and central Scotland. What I love about my role is that no two days are the same.

“Some days, I could be running an event in the morning where I bring in an expert speaker and in the afternoon I could have a mentoring session. Others, I could be attending an event and then helping someone with a lending application. It’s totally diverse. The Business Growth Enablers run the Boost Your Business programme which is all about running value add events, networking and connecting people.

“I’m pleased to report business growth is good. We’re in a much better place than we have been in the past and that’s due to feedback from customers and continual changes to the way we operate. We listened to what the customers wanted and paid attention to their feedback. My role is all about being out and about in the business community. Face-to-face communication is really important.

“Networking opportunities are essential. I attend as many Chamber events as I can and I’ve never been to a bad one yet. They are extremely well organised and relevant to my business.

“The Chamber is very pro-active in supporting businesses.”

“I meet a lot of valuable connections at DACC events, so they are very important to the business.

“I would say the Chamber runs like clockwork. All the team are great – they have the perfect balance of friendliness and professionalism. You’re always made to feel very welcome and if I ask them to do anything they always deliver.

“Since I started in my role there are far more businesses starting up, particularly with young people. They have the confidence to go for it! There are definitely more women going into self-employment and more women-led networks which is fantastic to see. The Royal Bank has just launched a special lending fund for women-owned or women-led businesses called Back Her Business which is aimed at helping more women to start up in business. There’s definitely a growing economy in Dundee with a wide variety of businesses opening up.

“For small businesses, being able to rent Chamber rooms is fantastic. When businesses are starting they don’t necessarily need their own permanent premises, but sometimes require a meeting place. The Chamber rooms are in a good location and are reasonably priced.

“The Royal Bank does a lot in the community and supports several charities. The organisation gives each member of staff five paid days off a year to support a charity which is brilliant. Furthermore, the bank matches whatever money is raised with the community cashback initiative.

“The Royal Bank does a great deal to support new and existing businesses. For start-ups there are no charges for the first two years on day-to-day banking. For all Royal Bank business customers we offer FreeAgent – which is a cloud accountancy based software, subsidised by the bank and is available free for the lifetime of their business account, which is a significant saving. We’ve also launched MentorLive, an online HR platform. This is also free to all Royal Bank customers as part of the business banking proposition.

“I would say the Chamber is very pro-active in supporting businesses. They recently contacted me to run an article on the bank’s Back Her Business initiative and are always looking to support their members in any way they can.

“I’m a massive advocate for the Dundee and Angus Chamber. There’s a real buzz about the place and I haven’t met anyone who hasn’t found it fantastic – and that’s down to Alison and her amazing team.”