Your Business Autumn 2021

autumn 2021 £3

the magazine of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

INSIDE: Business Week page 2 What is a Chamber of Commerce? page 5

PLATINUM PARTNERS Ayrshire Chamber wishes to acknowledge the support of the following companies as sponsors of our Platinum Partners programme.

CONTACTS Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry, The Mezzanine, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Prestwick, KA9 2PL Mail enquiries@ayrshire-chamber.org Call 01292 678666 Visit www.ayrshire-chamber.org President.................................... Frank Gormanley Chief Executive.............................. Valerie Russell Development Manager...................Helen McBride

The Chamber in Ayrshire represents businesses of all sizes and all sectors and is particularly effective in representing the voice of businesses at local, national and international level.

The Partnership aims to cement the relationship that companies have with Ayrshire Chamber, making sure they get the most out of membership and in turn contributing to the work of the Chamber, so supporting other business in Ayrshire.

Partnership members have access to a comprehensive package of benefits, while at the same time assist with the development of the Chamber movement.

If you would like to discuss the mutual benefits of becoming a Partner for Business please contact Helen McBride our Business Development Manager.

MAGAZINE Editorial........... aclayton@ayrshire-chamber.org Ad Sales............lstewart@ayrshire-chamber.org Design/Typesetting........advertisingworks.co.uk Print/Distribution.......................brown-bros.com An Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry publication. No part of this magazine may be copied, scanned or reproduced without the express permission of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed in editorial and/or advertising in "Your Business" are not necessarily those of the Editorial Committee of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Articles submitted for publication will be considered at the Committee's discretion and may be subject to editing. Publication is not guaranteed.

BUSINESS WEEK IS BACK FOR 2021

Running from 4th – 8th October Business Week is one of the highlights of the Chamber Events Diary.

Oct 4th

Oct 7th

Oct 6th

Digital Launch Pad Launch Event @ Halo, Kilmarnock with key speaker Marie Macklin OBE This event will provide Ayrshire businesses the opportunity to learn more on the capabilities and digital support available FREE of charge from the Aerospace Digital Visualisation Suite.

Re- Connecting Ayrshire B2B Exhibition @ The Gailes Hotel Sponsored by Business Gateway Ayrshire.

This event will start with FREE Connect networking followed by the exhibition and various workshops throughout the morning.

The event concludes with a networking buffet lunch.

Oct 5th Ayrshire Business Lunch Full Programme available on our website

Ayrshire

Ayrshire Food Network Event organised by Ayrshire Food Network Full details available on our website

Oct 8th Friday Finale – Scottish Net Zero Community and Low Carbon Community Fund.

Hosted at Skypath Training Centre, Prestwick Airport.

Full details available on our website

www.ayrshire-chamber.org/events/ayrshire-business-week

WELCOME BACK TO LIVE EVENTS! The Chamber Team have worked from home since March 2020 continuing to do what we do best – connecting members, stakeholders and other Chambers.

We are now supporting each other to emerge stronger and better equipped to face the future.

There are still challenges ahead and no doubt some bumps along the way, but to know the road ahead, ask those coming back.

In this issue we are taking the opportunity to refresh members on the benefits of their membership.

Enterprise membership starts from the price of a shop bought coffee each week. You will have your favourite I’m sure so please grab your copy and coffee and read more about what is on offer from your Chamber. On the following pages we are particularly highlighting our business services, business mentoring, international trade services, events, Marketplace and much more…

While some of our events continue online, why not join one of our Make the Most of Your Membership sessions or chat to one of the membership team to find out how we can support your businesses.

We are also delighted to tell you that live events are back, from Net-Walking to Business Week right through to the Annual Dinner.

Our members survey showed there was still some nervousness about live gatherings so we are starting small, so everyone feels comfortable.

That doesn’t mean we will compromise on quality and each event will be thoughtfully and carefully managed to ensure enjoyment and networking opportunities. Some events including training will still be a mix of live and online.

VAL RUSSELL Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce CEO

With COP26 drawing closer, continuing some online events also allows us to reduce our carbon footprint – small steps, but we all have a duty to work together towards Net Zero.

the hardest hit due to COVID-19. Thanks to those businesses already signed up to the Young Person's Guarantee. Again, please get in touch with the Team to find out how you can help shape the future workforce in Ayrshire.

Refill your cup and dive into the DYW pages and read how during closure we continue to support Ayrshire’s young people who are amongst

My door is always open and Chamber offices are currently open Monday – Thursday 9.00am – 4.00pm until we transition to fuller opening.

How does a Chamber support your business?

Networking and events are often the most common reasons given for joining a Chamber of Commerce. The opportunity to make new contacts and grow existing relationships remain crucial to business. The pandemic has changed how we all must work, but we are pleased to be re-introducing more face-to-face interactions alongside a hybrid events programme. Our recent Net-Walking event in Largs was a great success and with Business Week just around the corner we are looking forward to getting back out and meeting more of our fantastic Ayrshire businesses.

Here’s what some of our members have to say: About our Foreign Exchange service from Moneycorp: “I’m not quite sure who to send this to, but I’d like to give a big shout out to Moneycorp. I used them recently for a foreign transaction and cannot praise them high enough!

Professional, efficient and flawless – they deal with everything from start to finish so well. I would recommend them to anyone looking to transact in foreign currency.” Carol, Scottish Keepsakes About our business support services: “Can I just thank you for all your time yesterday. The Ayrshire Chamber has provided us, as a member, invaluable business support during this difficult time. I have found the HR service particularly helpful.

There is so much information available online that is all free of charge and readily available to all members. I have also spoken to the helpline where I got very professional advice again free of charge. Ayrshire Chamber

A full list of the benefits and services available with membership can be found on our website at www.ayrshire-chamber.org/member-benefits-services/membership-at-a-glance

provides a business support service that I would really recommend all businesses take advantage of, and I think it is particularly evident at the moment during the difficult time of the pandemic, just how much support the Chamber offers to provide. It is good also to support local businesses, and Ayrshire Chamber has been able to provide details of local businesses that we can use to provide us with the equipment to make our offices safe for our eventual return to work. It is good to work together, support each other and keep the business local.”

Louise, Murphy Scoular About our Members Marketplace: “Being a member of the chamber has given us the opportunity to reach out to other businesses directly via the online Marketplace. It’s a great tool and the chamber offer expert advice and support with promoting your offers. It has helped increase our engagement at the Active Travel Hub”. – Fay, Active Travel Hub, Kilmarnock

3 YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

CEO'S WELCOME

CHAMBER NEWS

CONNECT ME – BUSINESS MENTORING FROM AYRSHIRE CHAMBER Over the years, we have matched many local businesses with an experienced mentor. The journey has proven to be a very positive one and there continues to be a huge demand to support Ayrshire businesses in this way.

Businesses are matched with a mentor who will be there as a confidential sounding board.

Our new and enhanced mentoring programme, Connect Me, supported by a digital platform, highlights the businesses development aims, objectives and ambitions and matches them with a mentor that has the right skills and experience to add value to the organisation.

Mentoring can be anything from a couple of conversations to help guide a specific task or project, to a more in-depth commitment, at the discretion of both parties, for a period of up to one year.

Don’t take our word for it, here are some recent testimonials: “Lisa I would like to thank you for making me aware of the business mentoring programme.

I was really pleased that we were able to find someone specific to my industry within your database that could help us in the first instance.

I was also really impressed and inspired by Martin Muir. He has a great business and one that we would certainly aspire to. Business can be a lonely place and growing your business is hard and can take a lot of energy. You never know if you are getting things right, how other people see your business and you do not want to waste time getting things wrong. Martin was a good listener and extremely easy to talk to. I did not feel coached or like a student, I felt as if we were having a chat as two equal businesspeople, and I certainly felt inspired at the end of it. I will certainly stay connected, and I look forward to the next time we catch up. I realise that

sometimes smaller businesses feel a bit awkward about taking up such a programme. But I would advise any business to use this fantastic benefit provided by the chamber.”

Alan Cadden, Cavetta Consulting "My mentoring is going great. We’ve had 3 meetings so far, and what I have gained already is amazing. I feel Linda is completely impartial and doesn’t judge me in any way and is very good at simplifying steps for me. Linda has helped me get focus & direction on my business and I’m looking forward to continuing to work with her."

Natalie Anderson, Helen Selina Skincare “For me, it’s been invaluable. As a business, we are beginning to grow quite rapidly. My calls with Brian have been great to help me think outside the box, as well as how to implement strategy. I’m really thankful for the programme, it couldn’t have come at a more perfect time for me.”

Sally McIntyre, Training First Safety

Full details of the programme and how to register can be found on our website www.ayrshire-chamber.org/supporting-business/business-mentoring

CHAMBER EVENTS

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

Business Week returns for 2021

4

It’s been a busy few months here at the Chamber as we prepare for returning to live events and face-to-face training! You’ll see on page 2 we’ve been preparing a full schedule of events for Ayrshire Business Week and we’re really looking forward to seeing as many of you as we can. On 6th October we will be spending the morning at The Gailes Hotel for FREE Connect networking, a fantastic Re-Connecting Ayrshire B2B exhibition, sponsored by Business Gateway. This year the stand fee includes lunch for two and entry to one workshop! Check out our website and book early to avoid missing out.

Richard Campbell, Business Gateway Ayrshire said: “Business Gateway Ayrshire is delighted to be working in partnership again with the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and being the Principal Sponsor of this year’s B2B Exhibition as part of Ayrshire Business Week 2021. The exhibition has always been a popular event in the business calendar and we look forward to being able to participate again this year and supporting businesses from all over Ayrshire.”

Annual Dinner 2021 This year we are delighted to bring back our prestigious Annual Dinner on Friday 19th November at Lochgreen House Hotel & Spa in Troon.

Our principal sponsor will once again be The McCulloch Group along with supporting sponsors who include, Adworks, Aldomak, Taste of Arran, Brown Brothers, William Grant & Sons and DWAV. With exclusive use of this smaller venue we hope you will enjoy the return of this in person celebration of Ayrshire business.

To find out more about sponsorship opportunities please contact yvonne@ayrshire-chamber.org

CHAMBER OF SECRETS? What is a Chamber of Commerce?

Although many people believe they know, this is something we are often asked and most people are surprised by the answer.

When answering this question, the first thing we normally have to address is peoples misconceptions, because what we are NOT is a government or political organisation.

Chambers of Commerce are a network of non-profit organisations run for the benefit of its members. We can uniquely draw from the experience of this UK wide network as part of both the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the British Chambers of Commerce. As it is said, there is strength in numbers and what being part of this large network allows, is for us to lobby governments on behalf of our members about what matters to business most.

Conversely, this does not mean that our members are just a number. We are a local organisation based in Prestwick with a small team of dedicated staff who support local Ayrshire businesses of all sizes from all sectors.

The days of the ‘all boys network’ are a very distant memory and we pride ourselves on our personal, friendly, inclusive style and open-door attitude.

Why should I be a member?

Not a ‘one size fits all’ approach, we offer a tiered membership model which allows organisations to choose for themselves what benefits and services are most suitable to fit the needs of their business. More details can be found throughout this edition on services such as Business Mentoring, International Trade and Customs Documentation, Training and Events.

But one of the most valuable benefits of Chamber membership is the one that is most often overlooked, the four essential services provided by our service providers Quest.

Included in all tiers of membership, Chamber Legal and Chamber HR provides a 24/7 telephone advice line and online library of documents for legal and HR support. Chamber Tax and Chamber H&S similarly provides the same although during office hours. All four services can be accessed by the same number 01455 852037 or online via www.chamberhr.co.uk

Lhyam for Berserk Computers said: “I totally forgot about the Chamber HR service.

However, I was speaking with an HR consultant who was going to help set up staff policies and procedures for my first employee, and the Chamber HR actually had the whole lot... this saved me £250!!”

Business Promotion There are many ways in which the Chamber can help promote your business, Be that through our popular business magazine, our online Members directory, social media, sponsorship opportunities and Members Marketplace.

Our social media channels have a combined following of over 15,000 and depending on your membership tier, they can be used to share your own news, promote your business and provide job vacancy marketing.

ALL THESE SERVICES ARE INCLUDED WITH YOUR CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP ADVICE LINES

WEBSITE

LEGAL EXPENSES INSURANCE

HR / Legal / Health & Safety / Tax / VAT

750+ free downloadable template

Employment Tribunal cover - to

documents

cover legal fees and awards

Knowledge Hub – loads of free info

£1,000,000 of cover

Newsroom – articles keeping you up

£100,000 per claim

Unlimited access HR and legal lines are 365 day a year access

to date in HR and H&S developments

Need help with HR and Health & Safety compliance?

ALL CHAMBER MEMBERS ARE ENTITLED TO A

FREE ONE2ONE REVIEW FOR MORE INFORMATION OR BOOK YOUR ONE 2 ONE REVIEW PLEASE EMAIL ONE2ONE@QUESTCOVER.COM

5 YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

CHAMBER NEWS

CHAMBER NEWS

INTERNATIONAL TRADE SERVICES Ayrshire Chamber have for many years provided support to businesses looking to export and grow their business internationally.

Our documentation team are fully trained by the British Chambers of Commerce in Certification and International Trade Procedures.

Pre-Brexit we provided Certificates of Origin and EUR1 Certificates, document verification and legalisation services and a Letter of Credit service. All of these services have been amended where necessary to facilitate post-Brexit requirements. In addition, we now offer Customs and T1 Transit services.

ChamberCustoms is a customs broker that provides import and export declarations and payas-you-go T1 transit documents delivered through

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce.

This service offers traders a high level of compliance with HMRC procedures and offers a direct link for customs clearance through all sea, air and road ports and terminals in the UK. With our extensive knowledge, reputation and first-class service in facilitating international trade, we can take the hassle out of your hands when it comes to exporting and importing goods.

The service is offered direct to businesses ensuring that customs clearance is accurate, timely and avoids additional costs through delays or errors.

With direct links to the HMRC Customs handling system and all inventory linked ports, we can ensure that your goods, no matter where they enter or leave the UK, will be cleared for onward transportation smoothly.

We can help you keep your time-sensitive supply chains, moving efficiently and economically.

International Trade Training Courses A range of training courses are available throughout the year for those trading internationally who wish to learn more about the processes involved. Delivered by Exporter Services, we have two remaining this year, Incoterms on 6th October and Methods of Payments & Letters of Credit on 17th November.

Following Brexit, some funding support may still be available to help with the cost of International Trade Courses. Visit www.gov.uk to find out more.

For more information or to book, email: jcoulter@ayrshire-chamber.org or visit www.ayrshire-chamber.org/events/ international-trade

On 1st January 2021, the way businesses export and import goods changed.

ChamberCustoms is the customs advisory, training and brokerage service delivered through Chambers of Commerce across the UK. As part of this network Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce can help you and your team navigate the new rules and border controls.

We provide specialist customs advisory services A HMRC compliant brokerage service that you can trust for all your import and export declaration requirements. We’re the only customs broker in the UK to offer a ‘One Stop Shop’ with direct links to all sea, air, rail and road ports and terminals.

We can train your people ChamberCustoms has developed a range of training courses designed to prepare businesses and trade professionals for the future of trade. All our courses are eligible for HMRC Customs Intermediary Funding.

www.ayrshire-chamber.org/international/chamber-customs

chambercustoms@ayrshire-chamber.org

SEPTEMBER IS CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Every day in the UK, 12 children and young people will receive the devastating news that they have cancer. Of those 12, 2 will not survive. Of those lucky enough to survive, many will have long-term side-effects that may significantly impact their lives forever. This Childhood Cancer Awareness month, Whiteleys Retreat is asking for your help to give every child the chance to grow up and fulfil their dreams.

Get involved and change the future for children with cancer. Why not take part in the Kiltwalk in Glasgow on Sunday 26th September and raise vital funds for Whiteleys so they can support local families in the community.

Whiteleys Retreat is located near Alloway and offers free therapeutic respite breaks and extended support for children, young people

REGISTER and their families with cancer or a life altering illnesses. In 2021/22, they are also developing their Young Shoulders Programme, Bereavement Breaks and Sibling/Carers Weeks throughout the year and they need support to continue to provide the services they offer to families in their time of need.

To register for the Kiltwalk and join the team of Whiteleys Warriors, visit https://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk/ scotlandskiltwalk or contact Gillian McNeilly, Head of Fundraising, at Whiteleys for additional information on fundraising@whiteleysretreat.com

AN INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENT 4.0 - A NEW WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES DELIVERING REAL RESULTS

Who says there must be a tradeoff between addressing the Environment and delivering measurable business results?

Enter Environment 4.0.

Booth Welsh and its company brand iTech have collaborated to coin the term ‘Environment 4.0... This is an extension of their technology offering to show businesses the opportunities in using emerging technology to deliver tangible results in efficiency, performance, mitigation, and waste reduction, whilst also delivering a positive impact on profitability.

Post-pandemic, businesses are looking for new ways to grow their businesses and achieve their goals. With Environmental awareness being at the forefront of discussions as we see

businesses align to UN sustainability goals, introduce new legislation such as Net Zero and global events such as COP26, we believe Environment 4.0 will support in the transition to sustainable business.

Both Booth Welsh and iTech have been working with Industry 4.0 technologies over the last 4 years and believe technology has a key role in developing solutions for current environmental challenges and will provide businesses with longlasting solutions and tools to mitigate emissions, save energy, resources, money, time, and wastage. Alongside the defined pillars of Industry 4.0, the companies believe we are now starting to see the emerging pillars of Environment 4.0 which utilise several cost-effective market technologies including industrial internet of things devices, Robots & Cobots as well as remote site support utilising immersive reality tools.

Booth Welsh Head of Business Development, Chris McComb, comments,

“Now is the ideal time for businesses to invest in the future with Environment 4.0. Launching our latest service offering at the SMAS Conference was exciting and well-received by businesses.

With opportunities for significant ROI and funding, there is a strong incentive to focus on the environmental goals. As we know Glasgow will be on the global stage later this year with COP26 and this too brings new opportunities and growth for industry.”

Booth Welsh and iTech recently presented the launch of their Environment 4.0 technologies at the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) Conference. Hundreds of Scottish manufacturing businesses attended the virtual event to hear inspiring keynotes, company stories and support available to help the manufacturing industry in Scotland build back better postpandemic.

For more information, reach out to the team via webenquiries@boothwelsh.co.uk

7 YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

MEMBERS NEWS

MEMBERS NEWS

GREEN HOME SYSTEMS APPOINTS NEW SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM TO ACCELERATE GROWTH Leading energy efficiency specialist, Green Home Systems, is delighted to announce the appointment of Alastair Macphie as Managing Director. The role includes overall responsibility for Green Home Systems and to lead the senior management team alongside Operations Director, Steven Porch, as it accelerates its expansion for the year ahead.

Alastair became Finance Director of Green Home Systems in August 2020 working alongside former Managing Director and Co-founder, Steven Easton, who will remain part of Green Home Systems as Chairman and Board member. Alastair has over 20 years’ experience in senior positions and assumed the role of Managing Director in July 2021 to lead the company’s ambitious growth plans in the green economy.

Steven Porch joined Green Home Systems in October 2020 having previously held senior positions with national property contractors and will support Alastair by providing a key leadership function at a time when the company is evolving its service offerings and expanding its geographical reach. Steven Porch replaced Co-founder, Peter Easton, who will continue to provide entrepreneurial leadership as a Board member.

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

The Ayrshire based company also recently welcomed Graeme Kerr as Sales Director who

8

joined Green Home Systems from a national trade specialist merchant where he held business development roles and will help to drive the company’s development and expansion into new markets.

Alastair Macphie, Managing Director of Green Home Systems, said: “I am delighted to take on the role of Managing Director at Green Home Systems. I’d like to thank Steven and Peter for their support and guidance, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as a member of the board.

It’s an exciting time to be involved in this industry, with the opportunity to move into new products and markets and to contribute towards the UK’s ultimate net zero emissions target.

Recent appointments have added to an already strong team, and we have a great foundation on which to continue the expansion of the business.

Our ambition is to become a leading provider

of energy efficiency services. Everything’s in place, we now just have to get on and do it.”

Steven Easton, Chairman and Co-founder of Green Home Systems, said: “It really is a wonderful thing for me to witness the next stage of Green Home Systems’ development. When Peter and I conceived the idea of starting an energy efficiency business we had a clear desire to build a company of real scale and value that could provide outstanding levels of service to its customers, and the leadership that has been embedded with the appointment of this senior management team will ensure that our original ambition will continue to be met. I would like to congratulate Alastair on his appointment, and I wish him and Steven Porch all the very best in their new roles. Both Peter and I remain committed to Green Home Systems and will continue to support the strategic aims of the business as dedicated Board members.”

Immerse yourself in our stunning new spa.

RELAX | REJUVENATE | RENEW

T: 01294 316090 E: spa@gaileshotel.com gaileshotel.com

• Thermal Suite • Spa Lounge • Rasul Mud Experience • Champagne & Cocktail Bar • Deep Relaxation Lounge • Outdoor Hydro Pool • ESPA and Ishga Treatments

Tax support Vital for you, central to what we do.

Leading the way with tax advisory and compliance services in the West of Scotland.

The tax team at William Duncan + Co believe that taxation advice and service should be front and centre of the client relationship. This is why, over the past few years, they have invested in and now boast a dedicated tax team which includes 5 Chartered Tax Advisers, who between them have over 100 years of experience and provide expert support on advisory and compliance matters. Alongside this, the practice have invested in the latest technology to ensure clients needs are matched with the ever changing demands of HMRC and their “Making Tax Digital” programme.

The Team offer advice on all areas of taxation including: • Personal & Company Tax • Capital Gains & Inheritance Tax • Residency & the mobile workforce • VAT & LBTT • Reorganisations and restructures • Employment taxes • Share schemes/incentives Venture Capital Schemes (EIS/VCT/SEIS) • HMRC enquiries and compliance

Kevin Ottley Director and Head of Tax at William Duncan + Co commented, “Our main aim is to ensure our clients’ tax liabilities are minimised where possible. That is why we work in close partnership with our clients to ensure we understand their business and personal circumstances and ultimately what they want to achieve.

Really listening to our clients is key, alongside having real time financial information and the technical support to deliver the service”

For more information, please visit WD + Co website where you will find a range of information on taxation services.

Ayr 01292 265071 Kilmarnock 01563 626000 Glasgow 0141 535 3133

williamduncan.co.uk

MEMBERS NEWS

CHAMBER MEMBER COLLABORATION DESIGNS GREAT RESULTS 2021 has been another year of change and this Summer new Ayrshire based landscape artist Sarah Plant joined forces with Advertisingworks Scotland Ltd. Sarah made her second career change in April with the opportunity to fulfil her passion of painting full-time as Sarah Louise Artist. Accompanying her new business venture Sarah required a professional brand and a contemporary website.

In May they shared the new company logo incorporating the beautiful skyline of Straiton village and monument which was inspired by one of Sarah’s own oil paintings in shades of green and purple.

Having approached a number of design agencies and utilising the Ayrshire Chamber Members Directory, Daniel, Managing Director of Adworks, was the first to promptly reply and offer time to meet virtually.

A fabulous new 6-page website followed in June with a gallery of Sarah’s artwork and details about her landscape commission service. The excitement continued and in August the online shop was launched offering originals and prints to suit a variety of budgets.

Sarah originally had planned to integrate a separate marketplace webpage to sell her artwork. Having explored options with Daniel, Sarah realised she was best to invest and manage her web content all in one place.

Their collaboration commenced.

Sarah proudly told us “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Daniel and his team, they have been very attentive and quick to respond to my queries. The design process has been a joy and I would not hesitate to recommend Adworks.”

Sarah’s new website can be found at www.sarahlouiseartist.co.uk

NEW AND EXCITING ECO-CABINS ON THE ISLE OF CUMBRAE "Two cousins from Largs are launching a new and exciting Eco-Cabin business on the Isle of Cumbrae, later this year.

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

Daniel and Adam Jack have travelled the world staying in weird and wonderful accommodation, and are set to bring their unique concept back home to North Ayrshire.

10

Their new family business, Jack’s Alt-Stays, is planning to tap into the upsurge in the staycation market and provide a major boost to tourism in the area.

Daniel, 28, said: “Adam and I share a passion for adventure, quirky stays and the environment.”

“Each of our Alternative Eco-Cabins come with their very own theme and story. People can expect clever interior design and a one-of-a-kind artist’s wall mural.

“The cabins are aimed at couples and small family groups seeking a premium, relaxing island retreat."

The cousins want to use the latest digital marketing skills they’ve gained from their time at the University of Strathclyde to promote their venture.

Daniel said: “We want to take a ‘destinationfirst’ marketing approach, promoting the island experience first, then our eco-cabins second.

“We’ve been working hard creating high quality blog and video content related to Cumbrae and going forward we’ll be working closely with the Cumbrae Tourist Association.”

Adam, 24, added cabins will be sympathetic to the natural surroundings and built from sustainably sourced materials where possible.

“They’ll be powered by 100 per cent renewable

energy and we’ll have 10 trees planted for every booking made.”

“We’ve had a fantastic response from the local community and businesses so far.”

“People have said it’s exactly what the island needs, and we look forward to becoming valued members of the community.”

The cousin co-founders are working towards launching their business towards the end of 2021.

Jack’s Alt-Stays contact details below: www.jacksaltstays.co.uk contact@jacksaltstays.co.uk 0141 488 1559

Great careers start with great choices.

Switch to The McKinstry Company today.

PROPERTY LAW • BUSINESS LAW • WILLS & ESTATES • FAMILY LAW • LITIGATION • ACCIDENT CLAIMS • AGRICULTURE

Queen’s Court House 39 Sandgate Ayr KA7 1BE

enquiries@mckinstry.co.uk

146-148 Dalrymple Street Girvan KA26 9BQ

01292 281711

www.mckinstry.co.uk

01465 713118

Feeling We can shed lost & some light. confused Access free 1:1 business with your adviser support and resources for business? online a brighter future.

You know your business better than anyone, but Business Gateway could help shed some light on critical business issues and support.

• Our experienced business advisers can be a sounding board & key asset to your business plans & ideas • We can help you access specialist support from Business Gateway & our partners • Our market research and sector reports can help you get to know your customers & competitors • We can advise on funding & financial planning. Helping you restructure where needed.

1:1 Advisers

Workshops & Events

Research

Online Resources

Routes to Funding

Exporting

Connect with us.

Visit bgateway.com or email ayrshire@bgateway.com

Ayrshire

PL

Returning to work – post Covid workplace

PARATTNINUM ER

Returning to work has been uppermost in many employers and employees minds with some opting to remain fully remote; others returning to the workplace and many operating a hybrid model. A new chapter is emerging presenting a range of challenges and opportunities.

A recent study undertaken by the Definition Group (global research agency) which surveyed 504 CEOs/Board members at major UK companies highlighted the following pros and cons of hybrid working: • 33% agreed that it offers a better work-life balance for staff, leading to increased productivity

Chamber Members Working Together: Innovec and Monarch Financial Services Launching in September 2020, Monarch Financial Services has quickly grown to become one of Ayrshire’s leading mortgage advisers. Based in Kilmarnock, the business has grown to 11 staff within its first 12 months of trading, is about to open a second office in Glasgow City Centre, and has recently been nominated for the ‘Best Regional Broker Award – Glasgow’ at this years’ Scottish Mortgage Awards.

Since April of this year, Monarch Financial Services has enlisted Innovec, the Ayr Based IT & Telecoms Managed Service Provider, to support their expansion by ensuring they have the right combination of technology and local, proactive support to allow them to focus on serving clients and growing the business without worrying about IT issues or spiralling costs.

Innovec initially provided some consultancy to optimise the existing set-up and provide a ‘safety-net’ of basic support. Since then, alongside Monarch’s growth, the Innovec team have implemented a new VoIP phone system, improved networking, and assisted with the provision and set-up of IT for the new staff and office location alike.

With offices in Ayr and Glasgow, Innovec support almost 200 businesses in Ayrshire and the West, specialising in providing reliable, affordable, local IT & telecoms solutions for growing and established family, and owner-run businesses. www.innovec.co.uk www.monfs.com

• 29% seeing financial savings through reduced real estate costs as a benefit • 29% concerned about the adverse impact on productivity by a disengaged workforce • 29% indicated greater challenges around training and career progression • 26% highlighted a potential to create a two-tier workforce with negative impact on morale Source: Business leader article 18th August

Our new hybrid world requires different mindsets and skills for employers and employees and in particular, leaders and managers. How do you effectively lead and manage distributed teams? How do you communicate and motivate? How do you get the best from your people particularly those less visible in the workplace? How do you ensure strategic productivity? How do you make collaboration work?

During Covid-19, leaders and managers have had a crash course in resilience, navigating unchartered waters and adapting to a volatile environment. Now with a new chapter ahead, another shift is required and a need to upskill and reskill to develop emotional intelligence and resilience to manage hybrid teams and create an environment where team members can thrive and trust each other and ensure remote workers do not feel isolated.

Over the past 18 months, the Business Growth team has flexed and changed, offering a range of courses tailored to suit the needs of leaders and managers and wider employees and relevant to our new word. Our existing portfolio is being refreshed to reflect the changes that lie ahead such as hybrid working, green economy and Industry 4.0 – even more relevant than it was before.

With new funding opportunities such as the Flexible Workforce Development Fund coming on stream, we encourage all employers across Ayrshire to consider their training needs and access support. Reskill and upskill to survive and thrive.

13 YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

MEMBERS NEWS

AIMING TO MAKE YOUR BUSINESS MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY? We work to make workplaces greener and healthier through active travel What the Hub offers Information and support • Personal travel planning, advice on funding streams and support with applications to fund cycling facilities and pool bike schemes.

• Assistance and support in achieving Cycle Friendly Employer status.

• Local business support to encourage and facilitate employees to travel actively.

Training • Workplace Walk Leader and Ride Leader training.

Workplace activities and events • Step challenges, cycle skills and confidence sessions, bike security marking, cycling and walking buddies.

The Active Travel Hub Kilmarnock Kilmarnock Station Community Village, Station Brae, Kilmarnock, KA1 2AF

athkilmarnock

active_travel_hub_kilmarnock

Travelhubkk

info@activetravelhubkilmarnock.org

ENVA TO KEEP SCOTRAIL ON RECYCLING FAST TRACK Enva is pleased to announce the extension of its contract with ScotRail, providing over 40,000 waste collections a year to more than 200 ScotRail locations including stations, depots and offices.

From its 8 Scottish sites, including Irvine in Ayrshire, the Enva team cost-effectively and sustainably manages over 4,000 tonnes of waste from passengers and operations comprising general waste, mixed recycling, food, glass, wood, green waste, WEEE, confidential material, fluorescent tubes, scrap metal and hazardous waste.

“The extension of our contract with ScotRail recognises the excellent working relationship that has been developed over the years,” said Enva’s Sales Director, Stephen Cameron. “With the continued hard work and commitment of our account managers and ScotRail’s Sustainability Team we are confident that we will further

improve recycling rates and develop increasingly sustainable practices to support the development of Scotland’s circular economy.”

Since starting to work with ScotRail over 10 years ago, Enva’s partnership approach has resulted in 100% of non-hazardous waste serviced in-house being diverted from landfill and a 10% increase in material recovery rates taking recycling rates to over 80%. This has all been achieved alongside year-on-year cost savings as we seek to recover even more economic and environmental value from the waste managed.

These improvements have been driven by a number of collaborative initiatives to drive

efficiency savings, including analysis and tailoring schedules to requirements (particularly relevant during COVID restrictions), and to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill through increased source segregation and recycling.

Providing accurate data and management information enables both parties to benchmark site recycling performance, identify trends, measure against agreed objectives, accurately forecast waste spend and identify cost reduction opportunities.

For further information visit enva.com or contact Tom Horner at Irvine Depot, T. 01294 315 200 or M. 07908 548 849.

INVESTING IN GROWTH WITH SPACE TO TRAIN Training First Safety has taken the next step in their growth journey by hosting training in their new dedicated training room.

TFS is always thinking about the future.

Their growth, consistency, and investment in health and safety, will always be their driving force and they want to help their customers do the same!

Despite having customers based throughout the UK, since moving into their office space in Munro Business Park, the TFS team are now able to further support local businesses closer to home.

Organising onsite training is considered more cost effective for businesses, however TFS recognises that not everyone has the space to accommodate an instructor for a full day.

The training room, which is suitable for up to 10 delegates, so far has been used for various courses including First Aid, Work at Height, Asbestos and Site Safety Plus.

With its own dedicated parking, breakout space, and easy access for multiple public transport options, customers have found it to be a solution to a problem they did not have the resources to solve.

The additional space has also supported the TFS team with their own development. As the team continues to grow, they are now able to complete all internal training, including inductions, in a dedicated learning space.

MD Jenny McIntyre says: “This year really has seen things move from strength to strength for us here at Training First Safety. It’s not come easy and we’ve put in a lot of hard work, but we are harnessing the momentum and drive to push things forward once again. The training room has been the perfect addition to the services we are currently able to offer and the feedback on courses has been fantastic.” www.trainingfirstsafety.co.uk

15 YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

MEMBERS NEWS

It’s time to get a quote for your business insurance At Blue Rock Insurance Brokers, we will continue to support our clients through the highs and lows of your insurance journey. Call us on: 01292 269505 or visit www.bluerockinsurance.co.uk

MEMBERS NEWS

RESTRUCTURE AT EUREKA SOLUTIONS HAS CLEAR FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE GROWTH A GREAT PLACE TO WORK As one of Ayrshire’s leading law firms, The McKinstry Company provides the highest quality legal service to people and businesses. For over 35 years, the firm’s objective has been to establish lasting relationships with clients, consolidating itself as ‘a law firm for life’ for so many in the local community.

The partners are also committed to making The McKinstry Company a great place to work. Policies and IT systems are designed to empower colleagues to deliver a first-rate client experience. The firm has long been seen as an attractive place to work in the legal industry, attracting several solicitors from city firms in recent years.

Supporting local charities has always been important to the firm, most recently raising £13,500 for Whiteleys Retreat. This year, a charity group has been formed and staff are working on fundraising events and volunteering opportunities over the next year for other local charities.

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

The partners take pride in ensuring that staff have a positive experience and are constantly reviewing how this can be improved.

Offering exciting training and development opportunities is central to their success and they have recently taken on Trainee Solicitor, Melissa MacAskill who has started a blog to share her reflections on her experience of working with us.

18

Melissa summarised her first few weeks of working at The McKinstry Company as saying that before she started, she was concerned that she “would get the dregs of the work that the more senior solicitors didn’t want to do”. However, she expressed her delight that on starting, “she was not chief of photocopying”, but was getting “involved in client meetings, drafting Wills and Power of Attorneys, and being hands-on with the work”. Melissa also expressed that having a supportive environment to develop her knowledge and skills will help her to have a successful traineeship. www.mckinstry.co.uk

As a tech business, focusing all efforts towards delivering on only two key principles may seem a little basic, but the growth of member Eureka Solutions has proven that if those two things are the right things – namely being technically excellent in your field and delivering outstanding customer service - it can be a recipe for success!

Eureka Solutions has grown from being a small business in 2004, supporting SMEs with their financial systems. Now the business is a leading UK Sage partner – implementing, developing and supporting Sage 200; Oracle NetSuite UK Partner of the Year for the UK and Ireland – implementing, developing and supporting the world’s number one cloud ERP; and has launched proprietary tool Cloud Data Exchange to the global market – connecting disparate systems that wouldn’t otherwise ‘speak’, primarily accounting software, ecommerce platforms and CRM systems, saving small and large businesses alike time and resources.

Eureka Solutions has restructured, and the new Leadership Team comprising David Lindores, C.E.O., and Gillian Livingstone, C.O.O., has teams laser-focused on customer success.

The nature of the products and services Eureka Solutions provides has leant itself perfectly to the challenges businesses have faced during 2020 and into 2021 – cloud-based systems accessible from anywhere that give real-time financial visibility and the ability to adapt and make fast decisions, combined with the ability to connect key systems to streamline processes and take pressure away from often strained resources. Increased demand has led to the recent recruitment of a number of experienced staff as well as new graduates, bringing the latest employee count to an impressive 65. www.eurekasolutions.co.uk

MEMBERS NEWS

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

FORMER CEO OF BLACK & LIZARS JOINS URQUHART OPTICIANS AS CHAIR The former CEO of one of Scotland’s largest, independently owned optical chains, Black & Lizars, has joined Urquhart Opticians in Ayr as non-executive Chair.

Mark Ross is also currently CEO of Vets Now and brings a history of working with ambitious brands through periods of growth.

communities we serve. He has already been instrumental in helping us identify and develop colleagues who share that commitment.”

Peter Telfer, Managing Director of Urquhart Opticians, took over the Ayrshire-based company in 2015 with his business partner, Alistair Duff, and said, “Mark has been on our radar for some time; first as an informal mentor to me and to Alistair, and now by bringing his wealth of knowledge to our Board.

Established in Dreghorn, Ayrshire, in 1916, Urquhart Opticians currently has five offices in Kilmarnock, Ayr, Troon, Prestwick and Kilwinning.

The company employs thirty people and supplies premium frames, including Gucci, Tiffany & Co and Tom Ford.

“Most importantly, Mark shares our values.

We seek to grow through building meaningful relationships with both clients and the

It is an active supporter of the local Ayrshire community and has recently launched a dedicated Care & Community Fund to support local initiatives. Peter is also a non-executive

Director of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce.

He says, “Alistair and I know the Ayrshire market really well, having been friends since Mauchline Primary. We believe in offering the very best selection of frames available but never at the expense of clinical excellence. The standards we set are deliberately high, as is our commitment to working in and around the community where we live.

“We believe the people of Ayrshire deserve nothing but the best.” www.urquhart-opticians.co.uk

LAUNCH DIGITAL WINS ANOTHER AWARD Ayrshire Chamber ‘Platinum Partner’ Launch Digital were delighted to win an award for the ‘Best Logo Design 2021’ for their work with Wallace Whittle, a leading UK and International independent environmental building service consultancy.

International Company, Wallace Whittle recently went through a rebrand and required a marketing agency to help re-introduce their name into the industry. Launch worked alongside the team to firstly develop a strong brand and logo to give the company a distinctive, professional identity.

Launch’s Creative Director, Richard Longmuir stated: “The Wallace Whittle brand was designed to be disruptive in the world of bland and boring engineering companies. It mixes the culture of

Scotland with its mountainous landscape with the strong angles of engineering and the structure of the building industry as well as showing off the company initials (WW).

We chose to represent Scotland not only because the company originates there but because of the proud engineering legacy and world renown skills Scotland has. The brand has been well received internationally and ensured that Wallace Whittle are back with a punch.”

19

PLA

PARTTNINUM ER

Following the new brand, Launch designed and developed a new, dynamic, cutting-edge website to fully portray the success of the company and showcase their global achievements and large-scale projects. The new website was built with direct focus on design and functionality to provide a great user experience across all devices. Launch also assisted Wallace Whittle in the announcement of the new company name with social media banners, press releases and continue to work with the team on further marketing requirements including brochure designs.

Read more about the award: www.designrush.com/best-designs/logo/ wallace-whittle-logodesign Wallace Whittle: www.wallacewhittle.com Launch Digital: www.launchscotland.com

SA FELY

MEMBERS NEWS

Google Guarantee is a program used by local businesses in the home segment sector to assure service. Launched in Canada and cover heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) services, plumbers and locksmiths, Google Guarantee offered these businesses the chance to receive a white checkmark.

The white checkmark in a green circle creates confidence in consumers, as Google promises to reimburse the amount paid if the customer is unhappy with the service received.

To offer this guarantee, Google commits to a screening process of background checks,

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

WHAT IS GOOGLE GUARANTEE? verification of insurances and licences. The businesses must also have general liability insurance to gain the Google Guaranteed badge.

The benefits for the consumer are significant.

Businesses have been adding fake reviews, and the rating received in Google-led reviews cannot be verified. While the consequences here are for Google users, Google is keenly aware of the importance of its reputation in offering highquality search results.

The benefits for the business are also significant. The white checkmark in the green circle could be more powerful than the reviews.

It is an instant assurance to consumers of this business’s credibility. Consequently, it could lead to significant lead generation. It also boosts these search results to the top of SERPs, giving

ARI POURNARAS MD & Head of SEO - Big Pond Digital

prime real estate on the internet to businesses who have chosen to go through this process with Google.

Google Guarantee has started rolling out for certain industries in the UK, a clear win for local businesses that qualify.

EVERY SEARCH IS LOCAL! We deliver results for local & global clients.

Scale your SEO & Google ads

Reach your target audience

Generate more revenue

Google Ads Certified

Based in Ayrshire

Claim your free consultation today!

01292 844 899

21

www.bigponddigital.co.uk

MEMBERS NEWS

CCL SPARKS FURTHER GROWTH FOR AYRSHIRE CANDLE COMPANY Last year Ayrshire candle company Darceys saw record growth, powered by its business process improvements. Here its supply chain partner, CCL Logistics & Technology, explains how it helped Darceys increase throughput with myCCL One Click Dispatch.

How it started Founded in 2012 by Jackie Dalziel, Darceys has seen year-on-year growth, which has enabled it to remodel its premises, employ over 8000 sales representatives and expand its customer base.

While consistently growing, Darceys faced seasonal fluctuations in their volume of orders and initially had a system of processing goods manually, which created a backlog, putting pressure on their warehouse, and causing delays in getting orders out on the day of packing.

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

With orders increasing to over 200 per day, Darceys urgently needed to automate their warehouse packing and dispatching from its manual, paper-based process.

22

In 2019, Jackie pursued business process improvements to help Darceys respond to peaks, and scale long-term. She consulted CCL, to trial its multi-carrier shipping platform myCCL, and it’s One Click Dispatch feature.

How One Click Dispatch Helped Darceys established dispatch stations with PCs, label printers and scanners, to allow the packing team to scan goods and run businessrules generating shipping labels, based on the most cost-effective method. This eliminated manual data entry error and ensured the correct carrier and service were selected every time.

Using One Click Dispatch, labels are generated

once goods have been picked and packed, so weights are known. This means the correct delivery charge is paid, and customers won’t receive underpayment fees.

Preventing mistakes at this stage saves money, time and effort having to re-label goods.

This means all orders picked and packed can be dispatched on time, and reach customers when expected, protecting hard-won relationships.

This efficiency appealed to Darceys, as it soon found that using One Click Dispatch it could double its capacity to meet order demand, without additional labour. Since adopting myCCL One Click Dispatch, Darceys has been able to process 10 orders in the time it used to take to process one.

This means Darceys has been able to expand into new markets, for example Europe, without additional staff training and minimal disruption to the warehouse.

One Click Dispatch has supported the

growth of businesses across sectors including manufacturing, garden furniture, PPE, powertools and lighting, to name but a few. Having worked with customers from a range of backgrounds, CCL understands that no two are the same, so works with businesses from consultation, to on boarding and operational phases, making the integration painless.

If hiring extra help, myCCL and One Click Dispatch makes training simple, as it’s one platform to learn and log into, and users can just scan the barcode, check details and click to book dispatch.

Darceys Director Jackie Dalziel said: “Our team have adapted quickly to using One Click Dispatch and I’m really pleased with the time it’s saving, especially during peaks, as our business is growing fast."

Find out how One Click Dispatch can fuel business growth by improving productivity at ccl-logistics.com/oneclick

IMPROVE WAREHOUSE PRODUCTIVITY Dispatch orders 10x faster with CCL’s One Click Dispatch solution Increase throughput Reduce costs Eliminate errors

Visit ccl-logistics.com/oneclick to find out more and arrange a demo.

MEMBERS NEWS

Committing To The Real Living Wage Bowman Rebecchi Letting is celebrating after being accredited as a Living Wage Employer.

The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at Bowman Rebecchi Letting receive a minimum hourly wage of £9.50 in the UK or £10.85 in London. Both rates are significantly higher than the government minimum for over 23s, which currently stands at £8.91 per hour.

Since 2011 the Living Wage movement has delivered a pay rise to over 250,000 people and put over £1.3 billion extra into the pockets of low paid workers.

The property firm, based in Gourock, is within a region where nearly a fifth of all jobs (17%) pay less than the real Living Wage - around 380,000 jobs. Despite this, Bowman Rebecchi Letting has committed to pay the real Living Wage and deliver a fair day’s pay for its employees.

“This is an important commitment that we are making, and we would encourage more businesses to sign up for this important pledge and investment. Being certified as a Living Wage accredited employer is something that all of our team believe strongly in and we will continue to champion in the coming months and years.

We have a fantastic team at Bowman Rebecchi Letting and making this pledge will ensure all current and future employees will see and feel the benefits.”

The real Living Wage is the only rate calculated according to the costs of living. It provides a voluntary benchmark for employers that wish to ensure their staff earn a wage they can live on, not just the government minimum.

Andrew Bowman, Director of Bowman Rebecchi Letting said:

Laura Gardiner, Director, Living Wage Foundation said: “We are delighted that Bowman Rebecchi Letting has joined the movement of over 7,000 responsible employers across the UK who voluntarily commit to go further than the government minimum to make sure all their staff earn enough to live on. They join thousands of small businesses, as well as household names such as Burberry, Barclays and many more who are making the move to support their workforce.

These businesses recognise that paying the real Living Wage is the mark of a responsible employer and they believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay." www.bowreb.com

The countdown has begun!

In two months, the United Kingdom will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, from Monday 1 – Friday 12 November.

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

Ayrshire Connect

24

Thanks to Scottish Town Partnership Resilience funding from the Scottish Government and in partnership with Chamber member Plan B – Ayrshire Connect has been developed. The aim is to create an Ayrshire wide digital presence built from the communities outwards and upwards with the ambition to cover as many town centres as possible.

The content, managed by the Chamber, will give every business, not just member businesses, the opportunity to add their own details, offers and promotions to drive more footfall and tourists.

This is just the beginning for Ayrshire Connect as it becomes much more than a website. Looking at the current situation facing all of us it will help create specific business development strategies along with businesses, community groups and councils.

Get involved at www.ayrshireconnect.co.uk or contact connect@ayrshire-chamber.org for more information.

We are very excited that the 127 Chambers worldwide have united to launch our new #ChambersUnite for #GreenerFuture campaign, featuring a range of activities to engage business and drive #ClimateAction for a successful COP26. Our plans include: • Creating awareness of COP26 and its goals, and how business can contribute to a successful COP26; • Promote inspirational stories from our members to motivate others to take #ClimateAction;

• Sharing policy asks of members with key stakeholders, to ensure business and government work together.

The Chambers of Commerce Network across the world has a huge reach with 53 UK Chambers and 74 international Chambers of Commerce, reaching 7 continents and 65 countries. Together we represent 80,000 businesses across the world.

We look forward to building a successful COP26 together with you and uniting for a #GreenerFuture!

HANSEL COMES OUT OF LOCKDOWN WITH A BRAND NEW LOOK

Creating a Safe Space Many may see a hospitality venue as somewhere to go when the working day is done, to relax and recoup after a log day at the office.

But what if you haven’t been to the office in a while, or don’t have an office to go to anymore? The Urbanist are all too aware that the circumstances of many will have changed over the last 18 months.

Whether it is due to changes in the workplace, or perhaps confidence in being amongst more people and they want to help.

Ayrshire based, Hansel has emerged from lockdown with a brand new look as the leading social care provider gets set to expand its services and the support it offers.

Despite the organisation facing unprecedented challenges over the past eighteen months, Hansel has taken the opportunity to refresh its communication to ensure it remains at the forefront of care and support for people with additional support needs, and their families.

The new branding is an adaptation of the familiar Hansel figure incorporating a soaring bird and features the strapline ‘Freedom to Live’, reflecting the vision and values of the organisation. The design and colours were specifically selected to be easily recognisable by people with sight impairment.

At the official launch Managing Director, Gerry Lindsay, was joined by Heather, Jodie and Jill, who receive support from members of the Hansel team.

Gerry said, “The world has changed and we need to be part of that change by ensuring that we communicate with the people we support and the wider community in the best ways possible, and continue to be at the forefront of social care and employability support in Ayrshire.

“It has been the most tumultuous period in our history but our 450 strong staff team and those we support have been stoic in their endeavour to get through these difficult times. We still remain cautious and have to consider safety at all times but positive changes are gradually being made to once again improve our everyday lives.

“As we enter a new chapter, we want to harness the positivity that has emerged and our new branding is a reflection of that and represents the fresh start we all want.

“We will undoubtedly see changes in social care and employability opportunities, and we are constantly reviewing our services to ensure that we are helping to drive that change. For example, we are looking to invest in developing volunteer resourcing, offering new ways for people to support our work more directly, or gain work experience in preparation for a rewarding career within our sector.

“We’re looking forward to a brighter future and our new branding is just the start for us”.

Designed by social enterprise, Bold, the new logo was the result of a series of consultations with team members, people receiving support and key stakeholders and was unanimously selected. www.hansel.org.uk

The key message of The Urbanist has always been about being part of the community and that also means supporting the businesses nearby.

Meeting with so many people that are looking for somewhere they can go, meet, get a couple of hours away from the working from home routine, reconnect with others and feel engaged is something than comes up time and time again.

A safe space has been created for lone workers, team meetings and events, or simply for somewhere to meet a colleague for a much needed catch up. With a warm atmosphere, it feels like a home from home, except you don’t have to make your own coffee!

It seems that it will take time for us all to know how the future will look in our working lives. The Urbanist are pleased to offer a solution, even in the short term. www.urbanistkilmarnock.co.uk

25 YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

MEMBERS NEWS

01292 678666 info@dywayrshire.com

The Young Person's Guarantee is a Scottish Government initiative to see what needs to be done and what is being done to support the nations young people after the pandemic. By making a ‘work inspired video’, taking on work experience, offering apprenticeships, being a mentor, you could be doing your part in helping young people get back on track after a tough year for recruitment, employability and training. To find out more contact Stephen on smcnab@ ayrshire-chamber.org or Jane on jmcfadzean@ayrshire-chamber. org

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce

“

Richard Healey Removals

As a small business, based in Kilmarnock, we are extremely passionate about supporting youth employability throughout Ayrshire. We want to promote Health & Safety Training as a career path for young men and women and are really looking forward to supporting young people in any way we can over the next 12 months and beyond!

“

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce

Joining Training First Safety in signing up to Young Person’s Guarantee includes:

Brownings The Bakers

– Sally McIntyre, Business Development Coordinator, Training First Safety Ltd

Allneeds Recruitment Auchrannie Hotel & Spa Ayrshire Blinds Ltd Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Barefaced Food Begg & Co Bridgend Motor Group Collins Aerospace Dillon Bookkeeping Dustacco Friends of the Broadway IMT Aviation J&D Pierce LCS Workwear MOR Construction QTS Group Richard Healey Removals Ryanair (PAML) Shire Housing Solutions On Demand The Ayrshire Community Trust Thistle Help Trump Turnberry Wallace McDowall Woodward AES Prestwick Visit Arran Young Enterprise Scotland

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN SPRING 2021 2021

LEARN ABOUT THE WORLD OF WORK AT HOME

26

Nationally, Developing the Young Workforce have developed a range of sector specific virtual resources for S1s, S2s and S3s across Scotland.

The resources are for educators to be able to use within their virtual classrooms or for young people and parents to

learn about the world of work at home.

We have focused on the following four industries in the first instance: • Tasty Careers • Energising Careers • Healthy Careers • Build Your Future

For each industry, there are industry insight films, career insight films, activity ideas, quizzes and other resources to inform and inspire pupils.

You can access these resources on the DYW Scotland website: www.dyw.scot

If you would like to arrange any live vir tual employer engagement opportunities such as a career talk or workplace tour in any of the above sectors, please contact info@dy wayrshire.com

WORK PLACEMENTS WORK EXPERIENCE PLACEMENT PROGRAMME – ACADEMIC SESSION 2021/2022 Developing the Young Workforce Ayrshire’s ambition is that education and employers work closely together to equip all young people with the skills and knowledge they will need to flourish in work, and to support diversity in the workforce.

We understand that 2020/2021 has not been the year that any of us had anticipated and we are aware of the severe impact that it has had and continues to have on each and every business daily.

With this in mind, we have been looking at new and innovative ways to support our young people of Ayrshire who have also been impacted in their education and the opportunities available to them post school.

There are currently a number of ways young people can develop skills for work, this includes Work Placements. Work Placements are an important part of young

people’s education, providing them with the opportunity to try activities in a real working environment and often helping them to plan their future career.

Whilst our focus has always been on physical/face to face placements we are also seeking virtual placements that can be done remotely. We are hopeful that the 2021/2022 school session will be a much more opportunistic year, but we are seeking a blend of physical and virtual placements to still allow our pupils to gain some valuable work experience in a way that works for both the employer and the young people.

Nothing can fully replace physical/face to face placements both for the young person and for the employer. We are hopeful that these can return as soon as both education and employers can support this safely. We would

encourage you show your intention offering placements if you can.

This could be reviewed with you closer to the time. However as with everything 2020/2021 has brought, advances in online classrooms, video calling and conferencing has opened up many more opportunities in the virtual world. Virtual work placements might be a short fix for some employers until physical placements can return.

If you do not currently offer a Work Placement but would like to, then please contact our Business Liaison Officers Steven & Natalie for more information at smcblain@ayrshire-chamber. org or nrobertson@ayrshirechamber.org

DYW SUMMER LEAVERS PROGRAMME 2021 DYW Ayrshire was involved in The DYW Summer Leavers Programme 2021 which kicked off on Monday 12th July 2021 and ran for 4 weeks. Similar to last year, there was the opportunity for school leavers to access industry video content, E-learning modules and online skills sessions where hints and tips could be gained for cover

letters and CVs, performing well in an interview and gaining key entrepreneurial skills.

Parents and Carers who wanted to find out more about the options available for a young person or wanted to help a young person make an informed decision about their future also had access to last year’s Scotland’s Biggest Parent’s Events.

For more information regarding the Skills Academy 2021 Summer Leavers Programme, please contact the team – info@dywayrshire.com

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

27

01292 678666 info@dywayrshire.com

UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND DELIVERED SUCCESSFUL VIRTUAL TASTER EVENT University of the West of Scotland invited all senior pupils from Ayrshire schools to attend their annual Taster Event. This year was a little different than previous years as this event was delivered virtually. Hosted by UWS the young people and teachers who attended received a virtual tour of the campus and information on how to apply and secure funding was also explained. The various routes into university were discussed and accounts from previous students helped facilitate the conversation during a Q&A session.

Skills Development Scotland also attended the event, explaining to young people the on-going support that is on offer.

This was a great and well attended information session for young people who are thinking about their options for higher education. This hour long session was also recorded and can be available upon request to all teachers within Ayrshire.

In previous years, young people who attended this event would benefit from a morning at Ayr campus. They would be shown around the building, its facilities and hear accounts of what university life may be like for them. Also, the young people would opt in to take part in a 90-minute workshop choosing from Nursing, Primary Education,

Sports Coaching & Development or Performance, giving them an understanding of what studying their chosen subject at university would be like.

Thank you to UWS Ayr campus for continuing to support Ayrshire’s young people. We look forward to visiting you again in person soon.

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN SPRING 2021 2021

DYW #NOWRONGPATH 2021

28

On Tuesday 10th August, results day in Scotland, DYW Ayrshire supported the #NoWrongPath campaign. #NoWrongPath is a social media movement which aims to provide inspiration and reassurance to young people receiving their results.

We recognised that some young people may have been disheartened by their results this year particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption that has been caused, so #NoWrongPath demonstrates to young people that many people in interesting job roles across Scotland may not have taken a straight, obvious or traditional path to get there. The campaign shows young people the options that are available to them and that exams results are not necessarily the key to unlocking future success.

We'd like to extend our thanks to everyone who contributed this year, DYW are extremely grateful for the number of people who got involved. Until next year!

For more information on the above please contact info@dywayrshire.com

PROJECT SEARCH NEW CREW AT CULZEAN CASTLE Project Search is a work-based programme designed to support young people with additional support needs make the next step into permanent employment. The programme is designed to, as best as possible, mimic the workplace and give the students (our interns) the most realistic real world, workbased experience as possible.

At Culzean Castle we have been running since 2018 and are now into our fourth year of students.

As with everything in the world right now the Covid 19 pandemic has had a huge impact on our programme.

The new intake started with us in February, but like many education courses we were totally online initially. As the lockdown restrictions started to ease; we were incredibly fortunate to get our new cohort back out to Culzean and start their first full work rotation.

Keeping the new regulations in mind we did a little bit of jiggling with having half out at a time and entirely working outdoors with the Ranger and Gardens teams.

Our new crew have been absolutely outstanding with nothing fazing them; they got stuck straight in to working hard and formed a tight knit unit. We have had the opportunity to run a couple of projects getting jobs done on site that have had to take a back seat over recent years. For the group to see these projects from start to finish has been a really valuable opportunity, they got immediate feedback from staff on site as well as being able to see the progress they were making with the work.

First up was a project to create a path to follow off one of the trails and around the Fire Pond above the deer park at Culzean. The interns worked to scrape away the top level of vegetation and then cover the new exposed ground with hardcore.

The task seems simple enough but requires a fair bit of effort to get the old vegetation away and the new hardcore shovelled into

FINISHED PATH place. However, the crew took it in their stride and in a couple of weeks, through working in small teams, had created a new path that will allow visitors to come off the beaten trail and explore another bit of the country park.

Following on from this we were tasked with tidying up the area that surrounds the Gas House down by one of the beaches in Culzean.

This area sees many visitors walking along the paths and on and off the beach and is currently home to a Kraken that was installed by a local artist. Making this area look presentable was a job our interns took on with immense pride. They cleared olds walls and platforms of moss and vegetation, cleaned out a drainage channel to help expose some magnificent Victorian engineering and replaced hardcore to form a level surface for visitors to walk on.

Our next challenge, which we have only just begun work on, is to help restore the garden area around the Stables Coffee Shop.

Something we are really looking forward to seeing come to fruition check back with us for more updates and follow our progress on Twitter @projsearchsayr and Facebook – Project Search South Ayrshire

GAS HOUSE AREA

BEFORE

AFTER

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

29

MEMBERS NEWS

Celebrating Great Team Work Active Spinal Care are very excited about the coming year ahead.

Although many restrictions have been lifted in Scotland, the chiropractic clinic is classed as healthcare and as such is still following all COVID-19 protocols.

This is viewed as a positive by the clinic, as it keeps both clients and staff safe with the nature of work that they do, they will welcome the lifting of these restrictions when the time is right to do so.

Next year, they will be celebrating as two members of the team will have served 20 years as Chiropractic Assistants. Many Chiropractors will agree, that to do the job well, you need the support of a great team behind you, and this is certainly the case at Active Spinal Care. Hazel Wilson, Practice Manager, has been serving the community of Ayr for all this time. Her history of the clinic is second to none and they are so grateful to have her. Barbara Bennie, Chiropractic Assistant, although 20 years in the job, has been

with the clinic 4 years and together they make up a fantastic team along with Saturday assistant Becky Chalmers. There will certainly be big celebrations next year.

Active Spinal Care focus on getting people back to health, work and sport/hobbies etc. Many have suffered with working from home, and they have seen an increase in back pain, neck pain and headaches, which is something they can help with. Many Chamber members have Westfield Health Insurance, which is redeemable at the

practice. It is important to invest in your health now more than ever.

With a commitment to help the local community Active Spinal Care collect for a local South Ayrshire school who run a food bank. They help many families within South Ayrshire, and it really does make a difference. Patients and staff can donate food items, clothing and toys. Hazel says, “What we do is very small compared to their operation, however every little helps.” www.activespinalcare.co.uk

TAMFEST – REACHING PARTS THAT OTHERS CAN’T YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

Singing, dancing and performing your way back from a pandemic doesn’t sound too bad a strategy.

30

Tamfest is well established as an Ayrshire artistic showcase; bringing together talent and tourism across Ayrshire, this year still largely in a virtual sense but widening to encompass the footfall of visitors again as soon as pandemic uncertainty allows.

Professional musician, Meredith McCrindle, is the driving force behind Tamfest, and says one of her primary motivations was to draw people to Ayr town centre and to Ayrshire in general, using music and Burns as a hook.

A report commissioned in 2018 by the Scottish government, by Professor Murray Pittock of Glasgow University, suggests Scotland may be only scratching the surface of the international value of the Burns brand. The report estimated the value of Burns to the Scottish economy generally as just over £200 million. To put this in context, the report simultaneously estimated the value of Mozart to the Austrian economy at around five billion dollars.

Meredith says the international appeal of Robert Burns and Tam O’ Shanter provided the original idea for Tamfest but the festival continues to grow and has now exceeded its

annual Halloween focus to include events all year long.

“We expect to welcome over 200,000 virtual guests overall this year. Next year we hope to be able to run events in person again and to welcome up to 10,000 visitors to Ayr itself. “ Gordon Smith, Regional Director, VisitScotland said: “Events like Tamfest are an important part of the visitor economy in Ayrshire & Arran. It is estimated that events brought a direct spend of £6 billion to Scotland in 2019.”

All upcoming events can be viewed at

www.tamfest.co.uk

The Board of Directors is delighted to welcome the following companies as recently joined members of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry: 3D FITNESS Ayr Diane Steel 3dfitness2015@gmail.com

GOLPHIN LTD Irvine Calum McPherson info@golphin.co.uk

MACDONALD HOTELS East Kilbride Karyn Fraser laura.murphy@macdonald-hotels.co.uk

TAMAERO LIMITED Prestwick Thomas Maughan tommy@tamaero.co.uk

BLUEBIRD CARE Prestwick Jane Perry Ayrshire@bluebirdcare.co.uk

ISLE OF CUMBRAE DISTILLERS Millport, Isle of Cumbrae Bronwyn Jenkins-Deas info@isleofcumbrae-distillers.com

MCA HEATING SOLUTIONS Kilmarnock Thomas MacAnally thomas@mcaheatingsolutions.co.uk

THERAPY HAND LTD New Cumnock Lynette McGinn hello@therapyhand.co.uk

CANCER RESEARCH UK London Amanda Harris amanda.harris@cancer.org.uk

JACC'S THE FOOD & DESSERT CO Ayr Stewart Bell stewartbell91@icloud.com

MILLER STEELS (2000) LTD Mauchline Stephen Miller info@millersteel.co.uk

THE WAY FORWARD 2045 Cumnock Wendy Pring wendy@thewayforward2045.com

CARBON ECOSSE Kilmarnock Ian McInally info@carbonecosse.co.uk

JACK'S ALT-STAYS LTD. Largs Daniel Jack contact@jacksaltstays.co.uk

OUR HELPING HANDS SERVICES LTD Troon Jimmy Sheppard Ourhelpinghandsuk@hotmail.com

CARDHU GIFTS & INTERIORS Troon Jenny Goudie info@cardhugiftsandinteriors.co.uk

JAMIE AGNEW PHOTOGRAPHY Ayr Jamie Agnew jamieagnewphotography@gmail.com

PINE MARTEN PLANTS Largs Reece Ewart pinemartenplants@gmail.com

CIRCA 78 CREATIVE LTD Stewarton Jamie Haining info@circa78.net

KCP INDUSTRIAL SERVICES LTD Cumnock Margaret Weir info@kcpltd.net

PRESTWICK FLIGHT CENTRE LTD Prestwick James Menzies info@prestwickflightcentre.co.uk

CORSEHOUSE COMMERCIALS LTD Stewarton Barrie Sutherland barrie@corsehouse.co.uk

KEN NAIRN LTD Ayr Ken Nairn kwnairn@gmail.com

RAINBOW INK CO. Kilmarnock Stewart Sinclair info@rainbowink.co.uk

CP SPORT AND FITNESS Kilmarnock Callum Corbett-Peters cpsportandfitness@gmail.com

LAIRDS OF TROON Kilmarnock Mark Laird sales@lairdsoftroon.com

RDS AUTOCAYR Ayr Daniel Maguire rdsautocayr@outlook.com

FORBESGURU LIMITED Kilmarnock John Forbes consult@forbes.guru

LARGS GOLF CLUB Largs Jim Callaghan secretary@largsgolfclub.co.uk

SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE Ardrossan Paul Blackwood Paul.Blackwood@firescotland.gov.uk

We want to recruit more members to strengthen your business network and create more business opportunities for you. We are asking you to help by referring companies you know to us. When they join, we’ll reward you with a choice of special offers to help your business.

Call the membership team on 01292 678666 or visit the referral page on our website.

31 YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2021

NEW MEMBERS

We make brands fly.

Create a brand that is out of this world!

Get noticed with inspiring graphic & logo designs from Launch that will definitely attract more customers.

@launchscotland