Business Matters Autumn 2018

Business

Matters AUTUMN 2018 EDITION

HELPING RENFREWSHIRE GROW & PROSPER

ROCCO 2018 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

INSIDE: ROCCO Shortlist, Members News, Chamber updates & more...

Business Matters Autumn 2018

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President’s Welcome Welcome to the Autumn edition of the Chamber’s Business Matters magazine. I trust you all had a great summer break enjoying the outstanding weather and returned refreshed and ready to do business in the important 4th quarter.

This is a busy time for the Chamber with the ROCCOs, our annual Business Awards, celebrating business success and talent in Renfrewshire. Once more we received over one hundred entries which is a clear indication of the confidence, pride and ambition of our business community. Making the shortlist for a ROCCO Award is hugely competitive and an achievement in itself. Thank you to all who took part and if you were unsuccessful I would encourage you to consider entering next year.

Finalists for 15 of the 17 categories will present to a panel of judges at the end of October. Thank you to all our judging panels, 34 judges have given up their time this year. Their support is crucial to maintain the integrity of the Awards and we believe the process makes winning a Rocco all the more special. All winners will be announced at the ceremony on the 16th November at the Normandy Hotel hosted by Rocco favourite, Fred MacAulay. As ever, demand for tables at the event has been high. Thank you to all our sponsors for 2018 – and special mention to our main sponsor, Paisley. is. who are also sponsoring a new “Excellence in Tourism” award. I have been encouraged at the strength and depth of companies’ entries this new category for 2018.

Scottish Chambers of Commerce, in conjunction with Strathclyde University’s Fraser of Allander Institute recently released their latest quarterly survey which shows a broadly positive Scottish economy, but slowing investment across a range of sectors, and a challenging set of results for the manufacturing sector, suggesting that the need for certainty on the UK’s Exit for the European Union is essential.

Driven by rising costs of raw materials, the manufacturing sector has posted its first negative result for optimism / business confidence since 2016, despite a reasonably strong set of financial results. Expectations in the sector for future revenue and investment both sit substantially lower than for the previous quarter.

The survey has also observed slowing investment trends generally throughout

the third quarter, with all sectors bar retail experiencing a decline in investment relative to the second quarter.

Talking of trends, a recent report seen by the Herald & Evening Times has brought into sharp focus the increasing congestion on the M8 Road network. The study of traffic volume shows an extra 16,000 vehicles a day are using the stretch of road running west from Glasgow city centre. There is, I believe, a clear need for a strategic plan for Renfrewshire to ease transport challenges such as access to and from Glasgow Airport.

The planned rail link needs to be part of that strategic plan with 35000 people employed within a two to three-mile radius of the Airport. Increased pressure on the transport infrastructure can’t be allowed to stifle our competitiveness as an area and a solution is needed to take advantage of sizable future investments such as the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District (AMIDS).

Skills are a key priority for the growth of the economy in Renfrewshire. West College Scotland has recently published the results of the West of Scotland Skills Survey, the first research of its kind to be conducted by a college or university in Scotland.

213 organisations, employing more than 65,000 people in and around the West region took part, including many SMEs and a number of larger employers.

This ground-breaking work identified that workforce planning is the greatest challenge facing our companies and the skills gap is the biggest barrier to improved productivity and economic growth.

It is vital that our education and skills sector is given the resources to be flexible and respond to our work place needs, this will I believe help Scotland on the journey to improve productivity, drive economic growth and foster a culture of innovation.

Still with the College may I pass on my congratulations to Liz Connolly who has been confirmed as Principal & Chief Executive. Liz has been the College’s Vice-Principal Corporate Development since its formation in 2013 following a successful career with Scottish Enterprise.

We look forward to continuing our close relationship with Liz and her team at WCS. Further congratulations are due to Spectrum Service Solutions who have been crowned Scotland Region winners in not one but two categories in the British Chamber Business Awards 2018.

As winners of the High Growth Business of the Year Award and the Customer Commitment Award, they will now go forward to represent Scotland in the national finals, which take place in London. We wish Sara Speirs and her team best of luck on the 29th November.

I look forward to seeing many of you at the ROCCOS. Support your Chamber and your Chamber will support you.

Tom Johnston, President Renfrewshire Chamber

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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A Warm Welcome from our Chief Executive Welcome to the Autumn edition of Business Matters Magazine, packed full of the latest news from our thriving and vibrant business community in Renfrewshire.

Rocco 2018 preparations are at full pace for the chamber team and this year’s event has already sold out. Thank you to everyone who has entered. Yet again the number of entries has surpassed expectations with the quality improving year on year. Thanks also to all our judges who make the process as robust as possible, winning a Rocco is not easy.

Paisley.is has been announced as main sponsor and the destination website is a great place to look at all that is happening throughout Renfrewshire. It is encouraging to see £1.25m has already been added to the local economy so far in 2018 through Renfrewshire’s major events program.

Could you be a place ambassador for Paisley? I recommend you look at “Paisley Welcomes” which is a new online training platform designed to support businesses

within the region as part of the revitalised approach to destination development.

The training is free to access, easy to use and should only take around an hour. The program is suitable for all visitor-facing, customer service staff and volunteers.

You can access through the link on main paisley.is website https://paisley.is/paisleywelcomes.

STEM fortnight 2018 has just concluded with over 450 opportunities on offer to our young people. Thank you to ThermoFisher, Rolls-Royce, West College Scotland, Boston Networks, Doosan, British Airways Maintenance, Renfrewshire Council, Collective Architecture and Lateral North for offering a range of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) related activities for young people to engage in.

Feedback from the participating schools has been excellent and we hope to return in 2019.

Employment Law business mentoring opportunities are available with employment law expert David Hoey of

BTO, a new group starts on the 6th Nov, places are limited to 12 max and if you are interested please contact Mentoring Executive Stuart Murray at Chamber for more information.

Finally details for our AGM 2018 will start to come out in November. As in the past we will hold our AGM at the Glynhill prior to our Christmas lunch on the 13th December.

Thanks & regards

Bob Grant Chief Exec

Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce Bute Court, St Andrews Drive, Glasgow Airport, PA3 2SW t: 0141 847 5450 / f: 0141 847 5499 e: info@renfrewshirechamber.com / w: www.renfrewshirechamber.com Next issue of Business Matters is Winter 2018 Deadline for editorial and adverts is Thurs 6th December, issued pre-Christmas.

Themes are Rocco Winners, Technology, Marketing & PR.

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Business Matters Autumn 2018

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GLASGOW AIRPORT WELCOMES JET2 JOBS BOOST Get inspired at glasgowairport.com/flygla

News that Jet2.com and Jet2Holidays is embarking on a huge recruitment drive has been welcomed by Glasgow Airport bosses.

The airline announced last month that it is to add 150 flight crew, cabin crew and ground positions to support its growing base at the airport.

The announcement followed the airline’s decision to add a further Boeing 737-800 in Glasgow next year, taking their total number aircraft based at Glasgow Airport to seven.

To support this growth and to continue its track record of delivering awardwinning customer service, the company is looking to recruit passionate and talented individuals to fill over 100 Cabin Crew and more than 50 Ground Operations positions at Glasgow Airport, in addition to vacancies in Flight Deck roles.

A recruitment roadshow hosted by the airline at the airport-based Holiday Inn hotels on Wednesday, September 12, gave hundreds of jobseekers an opportunity to

meet with staff and find out more about the roles on offer.

Mark Johnston, Glasgow Airport’s Managing Director, said: “Jet2.com’s decision to create 150 jobs is fantastic news for both the airport and the wider Renfrewshire area.

“The move not only strengthens our position as Jet2.com’s largest Scottish base with seven aircraft, but this significant recruitment drive is also a welcome boost for the region’s economy and provides job-seekers with an amazing opportunity to join one of the UK’s fastest growing airlines.”

The announcement comes as the award-winning airline and tour operator continues its growth strategy, on the back of a bumper summer 2018 programme.

Following Jet2’s biggest ever programme of flights and holidays this summer, the company will again increase capacity at Glasgow Airport by more than 10% next summer with over 950,000 seats on sale. The airline will also launch two

brand new destinations from Glasgow Airport to Bourgas in Bulgaria and Izmir in Turkey.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “This is our biggest ever recruitment drive at Glasgow Airport, and once again demonstrates our commitment to investing in our customers and in people’s careers.

“The success of our award-winning business is down to the hard work of our fantastic colleagues, and we are looking forward to meeting passionate people to join our expanding team.”

In total more than 3,000 Jet2 jobs are up for grabs across the UK and Europe in a variety of positions to support the company’s growth. More than 2,000 jobs are located across the company’s nine UK bases – in Flight Deck, Cabin Crew and Ground Operations roles – and over 1,000 positions are available across Europe in Ground Operations, Overseas Operations, Cabin Crew and free Resort Flight Checkin roles.

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Business Matters Autumn 2018

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Motorway misery 16,000 extra vehicles clogging M8 Get inspired at glasgowairport.com/flygla

A report seen by the Herald and Evening Times has confirmed that thousands more vehicles are clogging up the M8 around Glasgow Airport leading to longer delays.

Drivers trying to get to the airport on the only method of transport available are facing longer delays, especially during peak times. The study of traffic volume on the motorway was carried out for Transport Scotland by transport consultants Jacobs and shows an extra 16,000 vehicles a day are using the stretch of the road running west from Glasgow city centre.

In an article which appeared on 20 September, both the Herald and Evening Times reported that the opening of the M74 extension through the south-east of the city to the Kingston Bridge has led to more traffic from Junction 22 at Kinning Park to Junction 29 just after Glasgow Airport.

While the new road has been successful in taking some traffic away from the M8 in the east of the city and through the oncenotorious bottleneck at Charing Cross, it has had the consequence of adding to problems in the west.

The Jacobs report shows the extra traffic has led to queues of cars and lorries and longer journey times to and from the city centre to the Airport and to the Renfrewshire region.

Using monitoring equipment on the motorway and traffic cameras, Jacobs tracked traffic volume and flow between the interchange with the M73, east of Glasgow through to St James interchange and split it into five sections.

The section with the biggest increase in congestion was the stretch to the Airport.

The report stated: “There has been a constant and relatively significant increase in traffic levels between Junction 22 and Junction 29 from 2011 to 2017, which again is driven by the M74 extension with the traffic attracted on to

Mark Johnston MD, Glasgow Airport

the M8 along this section.

“This has led to a 22% increase in traffic levels on this section between 2008 and 2017, and is consistent with the equivalent decrease observed on the Glasgow East sub-section. This is likely to have had a noticeable impact on congestion.”

The data in the report shows that in the evening peak-time vehicle speeds are reduced, particularly around Junction 26 to Hillington and Braehead. The Jacobs report said it provided some evidence that average speeds have gradually reduced between 2014 and 2017 between 4pm and 7pm.

The report concluded: “The data indicates that congestion has eased to the east where there has been a reduction in traffic, but increased to the west where traffic flow and journey times have shown increases.”

Mark Johnston, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “The Jacobs report confirms what we have known for some

time, and what people travelling to the airport and the wider Renfrewshire region have been telling us for several years and that is congestion has been getting increasingly worse.

“It is not only people flying in and out of the airport that would use the rail link. We know there are 35,000 people employed in and around the airport trying to get to their work every day.

The National Manufacturing Institute is expected to create a further 10,000 jobs, which will be fantastic for the region.

“We need to fix the transport network to the airport as our current options are not adequate. We are not aware of any plans to address congestion on what is one of the busiest sections of motorway in the country, but we do have a plan in place to introduce the rail link. The money for the project is there and the rail link is the best way forward to resolve this and should be fast tracked.

We cannot allow this to drift.”

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www.malcolmgroup.co.uk

INTEGRATED ROAD, RAIL & WAREHOUSING SOLUTIONS Originating as a family-owned business in the 1920’s, The Malcolm Group has become one of the leading providers of Logistics, Construction and Maintenance services in the UK. Malcolm Logistics, a division of The Malcolm Group, is arguably the UK’s leading independent provider of third party logistics services. Focused on intermodal solutions, Malcolm Logistics offer fully integrated road, rail, warehousing and bonded warehousing services throughout the UK and have a long established focus on operational and service quality which has earned a strong reputation within the industry.

Road

Rail

The division’s road transport operation provides innovative and cost effective transport and distribution solutions, which service a wide range of products, sectors and industries. Malcolm Logistics is now leading the way in providing high quality, dedicated logistics solutions, including its growing specialist walking floor trailer fleet.

The specialist equipment fleet serves customers in the renewables and recycling sectors.

Malcolm Logistics operates over 350 artics and 1100 strong trailer fleet, including over 840 Curtainsiders, over 200 skeletal trailers, and 40 Walking Floor Trailers.

Warehousing

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Head Office: Brookfield House, 2 Burnbrae Drive, Linwood PA3 3BU Telephone 01505 324321

Practical Solutions, Successful Partnerships Malcolm Rail provides a substantial range of intermodal services benefitting a wide range of users in many sectors, typically integrated with road to offer the coverage required by customers.

Rail is an attractive freight option as it can provide an efficient method of distribution for many types of cargo. There are daily train services operated between three terminals nationwide providing a crucial link between ports, production facilities and distribution terminals.

In addition to road and rail transport, Malcolm Logistics provides a 24/7, 365 days per year warehousing operation across key locations from warehousing facilities located in Central Scotland, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Avonmouth

and Northamptonshire – plus management of warehousing activities at customer locations throughout the UK. Current warehousing facilities encompass around five million square feet of warehousing space over ten locations, three of which are rail-side.

Key customer partnerships and alliances have been cornerstones of Malcolm Logistics development ambitions, as has the adoption and implementation of new technologies and the continuing investment in Malcolm’s state-ofthe-art fleet. Together they provide compelling dimensions to the Malcolm Logistics package and the basis for an unrivalled business relationship.

Business Matters Autumn 2018

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AAI - Expanding third-party logistics provider managing your global transportation needs

AAI International Scotland Ltd opened their doors in Scotland in 2010 and owner Stuart McLean has found being part of AAI Holdings Group has certainly been beneficial.

Stuart is a former professional footballer who played over 450 games for Kilmarnock FC (the 2nd highest number of league games) and is a Hall of Fame inductee. Following his professional career in sport Stuart has been involved in the logistics industry for many years and has developed import and export business worldwide.

AAI is a third party logistics provider, managing the transportation of goods

by Sea, Air and road, to and from the worldwide market on a daily basis.

Since 1989, the AAI Group have provided an ever growing system that continues to expand globally and incorporate all the major trade lanes of the world, together with some of the more remote regions.

Our company and its people work hard to cater for our clients ever changing requirements and continue to invest in the latest technology to ensure we are able to provide the most up to date services and systems, regardless of worldwide time zones.

As part of our ongoing development we continue to build strategic relationships with all the major ocean and air freight

carriers serving the world markets. Each day we compete within a strong and aggressive industry and therefore we welcome the opportunity to show the distinct qualities and professionalism AAI companies uphold We also provide clients with arrangements to receive (from production), store, pack and load goods along with in-land transport arrangements (to enable door-to-door solutions). We operate full customs systems from electronic filing to bond warehouse locations worldwide. We and our partners have a vast array of knowledge and experience in all aspects of the transportation industry, to ensure we provide our clients with up to date information on an ever changing world.

We aim to find the most effective solutions for our clients’ needs locally and internationally, involving several aspects including legalities and logistics planning and execution, all of which are encompassed in our services. We continue to operate with a long list of business partners, from Ocean carriers to major Airlines. We are full members of the British International Freight Associate (BIFA) and Fiata.

Owner and founder Stuart said “Like many companies, the Far East and India are the key areas we service for imports

with Brazil not far behind. We operate our own Air and Sea consolidation service with our partners and are currently developing a rail service from China.

Export business is currently experiencing huge growth with our many clients developing new markets which is good news for our economy.

Brexit however may have an impact and it’s a matter of waiting and adjusting accordingly.

AAI are very flexible, and our team is skilled in thinking outside the box and coming up with the right solution for our client. No job is to small, whatever our client requires we will provide the best service at best price. Business is good, and our excellent, experienced team are on hand to support you. They are very courteous, knowledgeable and hopefully enjoy working at AAI. An expansion programme is now under way – so watch this space!”

Contact Stuart and the team at AAI Stuart McLean AAI International Scotland Ltd Suite 2.11 1 MacDowell Street Paisley, PA3 2NB Office: +44 141 404 5484 Website: www.aai-group.co.uk

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Business Matters Autumn 2018

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Get in touch to improve your business and environmental performance and See a Difference.

Please contact us at info@mabbett.eu or call 0141 227 2300 to learn how we can support your business.

Renfrewshire Chamber Member Mabbett recognised for award-winning environmental and health and safety services by Inchinnan manufacturer Or, follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for updates - just search for Mabbett Ltd.

When the Mabbett team are speaking with clients such as site Environmental Managers, Health and Safety Managers, Quality Managers and Facilities Managers, common conversation threads include decreasing capital and operating budgets, how roles are becoming diversified with the wearing of ‘multiple hats;’ the challenge to ‘stay on top of it all’ is becoming increasingly difficult.

A further challenge is the backdrop of the operating environment - increasing utility costs; volumes of EHS legislation; updated ISO management system standards; supply chain and customer sustainability pressures, and a lack of specialised technical resource.

For over 22 years, Mabbett has worked alongside business Environment, Health, Safety and Quality (EHSQ) professionals to support them in delivering on their business objectives to improve business performance.

Local medical devices manufacturing company Terumo Aortic (established

through the integration of Vascutek Limited and Bolton Medical Inc, both subsidiaries of Terumo Corporation of Japan) in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, is one such company whom Mabbett has supported on numerous EHS projects for many years. This year the company launched their first supplier awards, the purpose being to recognise suppliers who have gone that extra mile for the business, to promote collaborative working and to recognise their efforts in the category areas of Innovation, Quality, On-time Delivery and Service.

In May of this year, Mabbett was delighted to be selected as the winner of the first Supplier Recognition Award in the Service category at Terumo Aortic.

Mabbett was honoured to receive the award in a personal presentation by Terumo Corporation’s General Manager, Makoto Fujita, from the company’s headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.

Terumo Aortic’s Environmental, Health and Safety Manager, Diane Rankin stated, “Mabbett has helped our business to

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successfully improve our environmental, health and safety (EH&S) performance.

The team at Mabbett is both personable and technically excellent with a diverse range of EHSQ specialists available who exceed our expectations. I had no hesitation in nominating them for our Supplier Recognition Award 2018 for Service.”

Since inception, our clients and our staff have been and continue to be, at the heart of what we do. We are a team of over 35 highly knowledgeable EHSQ consultants, trainers and engineers. We meet with our clients to understand project outcomes and scope accordingly so we become part of the internal team delivering practical, tailored EHSQ solutions. We want to ensure that our clients See a Difference.

Mabbett is a Member of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, we would be pleased to talk to you to identify how we can support you to improve your business performance. Contact our team on T: 0141 227 2300 or E: info@mabbett.eu

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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ADVANCED FORMING & RESEARCH CENTRE INCHINNAN SECURES £112M IN FUNDING The UK Government has announced an investment of £96m in the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) in Renfrewshire.

The news came as the centre confirmed it had secured £16.5m for a new hot forging research platform.

AFRC is Scotland’s only high-value manufacturing catapult centre.

The catapult network was established by the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, to provide businesses with access to leading research and development facilities.

Announcing the new UK government funding, Chancellor Philip Hammond said: “Today’s £96m investment for Scotland will support innovators across the country to create the technologies of the future and the better, highly-paid jobs we all want to see.”

AFRC executive chairman Prof Keith Ridgway welcomed the news.

He said: “For a number of years the Advanced Forming Research Centre has been at the heart of manufacturing research and development in Scotland,

turning innovative technologies into commercial reality and making manufacturing businesses, of all sizes from across the sector, more competitive in a global market.

“The funding announcement by the UK government means we can continue to build on our capabilities and help even more businesses moving forward.”

The planned hot forging research platform, FutureForge, will be the world’s most advanced facility of its kind.

It will be built next to the existing AFRC centre in Inchinnan and is due to begin operating in 2020.

AFRC aims to transform the forging process for companies in the automotive, oil and gas, energy, nuclear and rail industries via collaborative R&D (research and development) projects.

FutureForge, which will include a bespoke 2,000-tonne hydraulic press, is being backed by the UK Aerospace Research and Technology Programme and Scottish Enterprise.

It is expected to help generate about £40m of new projects over 10 years, creating up to 34 new jobs.

Renfrewshire is fast becoming a major engineering research hub, with an £8.9m Lightweight Manufacturing Centre being established in the former Doosan Babcock facility in Westway, Renfrew.

Last December, it was announced that a £65m manufacturing centre of excellence would be created at Inchinnan, also in partnership with AFRC.

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Business Matters Autumn 2018

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HER MAJESTY’S OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVE IN SCOTLAND PRESENTS QUEEN’S AWARD TO BRIDGE OF WEIR Landmark celebration at Bridge of Weir’s Renfrewshire headquarters attended by automotive executives, partners and shareholders from across the globe • 2018’s award marks the company’s fifth Queen’s Award, equalling the record for a Scottish business • Award presented by Lord Lieutenant Mr. Guy Clark – Her Majesty The Queen’s representative in Renfrewshire Bridge of Weir, Scotland, 17 September 2018 – Bridge of Weir Leather Company has been officially presented with its fifth Queen’s Award for International Trade, following the traditional winners’ announcement earlier in the year on Her Majesty The Queen’s birthday on the 21st of April.

A celebration at the company’s headquarters in Renfrewshire was attended by hundreds of guests from all over the world.

The presentation marks the fifth time Bridge of Weir Leather Company has been named a Queen’s Award winner, always in the International Trade category, with the previous award made in 2012. (Queen’s Award for Enterprise honours were also received in 2000, 1996 and 1985).

Presenting the award, Lord Lieutenant Mr. Guy Clark said: “This award marks a very significant achievement. Substantial increases in overseas sales – 74% in Bridge of Weir’s case – in just three years, is a very rare achievement these days. I am very proud of this company, its contribution to business and the economy in our region and it is a privilege to be back to present the Queen’s Award for 2018.

The award highlights Bridge of Weir among the most respected and successful companies in the UK. It is a success story that has been recognised by Her Majesty, which was further illustrated with the honour of OBE bestowed upon

the company’s chairman Jonathan Muirhead in 2016.

The award is presented not only in recognition of the business’s international trade success, but also for achievements and significant delivery in innovation, sustainable development and (L-R) Lord Lieutenant Mr Guy Clark, SLG Chairman Johnathan Muirhead OBE, BOW MD opportunity. I salute Caps Karen Marshall & Sales Director Jamie Davidson all Bridge of Weir to leather Leather Company manufacture, employees for their contribution to were also invited achieving this award. This company is a to the stage leading light for absolute excellence.” to receive the Receiving the Award, together with Queen’s Award company chairman Jonathan Muirhead on behalf of OBE, and sales director Jamie Davidson, the company. A Bridge of Weir’s Managing Director, Karen commemorative Marshall, said: book was “This award is dedicated to the hard commissioned work of each and every one of our to mark a number of the company’s employees, some of whom have been with employees own ‘Bridge of Weir Story’. A the company for all five of our Queen’s special one-off, especially embroidered Awards dating back to the 1980s. Their Aston Martin seat was also presented continued passion and dedication is an by the luxury carmaker’s employees, inspiration. The award would not be to celebrate the Queen’s Award for possible without our customers, old and International Trade. new – some date back to the early 20th Bridge of Weir Leather Company is the Century and some as new as 2018. We largest automotive leather supplier in the never forget that our customers and longUK, competes in the top 10 globally, and term partners in the automotive world has been at the forefront of innovation have a choice, and we always strive to and quality for over a century. Starting make our product and its delivery better with the Model T Ford in the early 20th today than it was yesterday. Long may century, the company now supplies the all of our customers – and crucially, global automotive industry and its greatest their customers – choose to adorn brands and products that are household their vehicles and sit upon luxurious, names around the world. The company’s sustainable and innovative fine Scottish leather has been a major export from leather from Bridge of Weir.”

Scotland for 70 years, with 90% of its Ten employees, representing the product now sold overseas to more than company’s remarkable long service 30 countries spanning the globe. record and multi-generational dedication

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Whisky Galore!

Renfrewshire is not unfamiliar to the whisky world. With both Chivas and Diageo, operating out of Renfrewshire, whisky is at the heart of employment and industry in the county. These gargantuan multi-nationals, however, aren’t the only players on the scene.

Scotch Whisky Auctions, owned and managed by Renfrewshire local, Thomas Gardiner, has long since taken the whisky world by storm.

While Diageo and Chivas deal primarily with trade customers, SWA bring Scotland’s most famous export to whisky collectors all around the world. Nearly a decade ago, Gardiner saw the potential an online whisky auction could have.

At the time, Gardiner wanted to create a means of making the whisky auction more democratic and accessible. The accepted practice was to offer variable commission rates, seemingly dependent upon favouritism. But why accept common practise when it was excluding many from the whisky market? Gardiner dreamed of creating an auction site which traded transparently and equally, having

fixed premiums for all. And so, that’s what Gardiner did. Delightfully, in 2014, SWA were able to offer 0% commission for sellers for the very first time, making selling whisky and being a part of the whisky auction scene more viable for more people. Bottle by bottle the auction grew, and now SWA hosts auctions with on average 6000+ bottles per month.

Now the world’s biggest online whisky auction site, SWA has both saddled the growing internet trends and the world’s whisky boom.

Along with Gardiner, SWA employs Renfrewshire locals, who enjoy returning to beautiful Renfrewshire at night.

Remarkably, despite its conception in the midst of a recession, SWA continues to grow its staff, both training them and inspiring them to use their gifts and abilities. From administrators to packers, photographers to financial wizzes, the opportunities for employment and development are vast. Bottles are sent in from all over the world and once checked-in begin their journey within the SWA eco-system. Carefully passed from

Owner Thomas Gardiner

department to department, the bottles are checked, evaluated, photographed, stored, auctioned, packed and dispatched. SWA grow from strength to strength, and are determined to continue being the best at what they do.

Angela Job Commercial Manager Scotch Whisky Auctions T 0141 243 2585 E Angela@ScotchWhiskyAuctions.com

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Business Matters Autumn 2018

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What a difference a plan makes …decisions planned by you …not made for you Passing on the family business can be both rewarding and challenging, but for owner and successor, being part of the decisions is crucial for both individuals and business. It’s not just about making decisions, for some it’s making decisions you can live with.

Planning succession, assessing exit options, structuring ownership and management, decision making, and management development, are key issues for owners and successors.

Although this seems like ‘mission impossible’, an effective plan provides shared purpose yet allows individual involvement and commitment.

This is where perception gives way to understanding, personal goals encounter collective impact, family needs meet business needs, a future takes shape, and choices are enabled.

For some, this can seem sorted already but may not stand the test in practice. To others, such shared vision seems unattainable. Nevertheless, an effective plan, very practically, blends personal, collective, and business needs.

Starting this conversation, while sounding simple, is not the same as easy.

Frequently Asked Questions, might be - When to leave, How to leave, What to leave, Who will own, Who will lead, How will they work together,

or - Should we take over, How could we take over, How will we manage it, How will we work together, Where will we get help. These questions ‘though, are often not asked, or at least not out loud. Sensitivity to individuals and circumstances often hold them back leading to: Frequently Assumed Answers, like: They will want it - They won’t want it - Their futures are better elsewhere - They’re not up to it - It’ll lead to conflict - or They won’t retire, They won’t hand over or sell, They won’t discuss it, They won’t leave us to manage, We won’t have the means.

Such absence of ‘the conversation’ can limit and prevent the inclusion of owners and successors in the outcome and impact of transition, leaving some family business futures fraught, and others unfulfilled. So, it’s not so much ‘mission impossible’, as ‘mission essential’, to enable this conversation to properly find expression.

The transition plan balances family and business needs and aspirations where core plans and outcomes can be simply understood. Four key areas of business transition would be - Exit, Succession, Ownership, and Management. Together, an example of outcome might be – An affordable and secure retirement, livelihoods and future prosperity, financial and legal ownership structure, and business and

Billy Andrew

personal readiness for management.

So, the difference a plan makes is a recipe for the continuity, prosperity, and sometimes the survival of family dynamic and business. The ingredients are certainty, clarity, unity, wealth, peace of mind, and enjoyment – in as full a mix and measure as possible.

Owner and successor therefore, consider where you are and where you want to be, and how to build a plan for and from the best of everyone. Wishing you good planning.

Billy Andrew, Consultant Family Business Solutions Ltd, the business consulting arm of Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP To explore this topic further or arrange an informal discussion, please get in touch on 0141 222 2820, or email: enquiries@ukfbs.co.uk.

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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PRACTICAL HELP FOR

FAMILIES AND OWNERS IN BUSINESS CERTAINTY

CLARITY

UNITY

WEALTH

PEACE OF MIND

ENJOYMENT

The type of services we offer: • Family business review

• Succession planning and support: • Ownership succession • Management succession

• Business review

• Business strategy development

• Ensuring a shared purpose amongst the owners/family and the management team

• Supporting owners to bring structure to, and results from, board and management meetings.

• Developing a profit focus

• Management development program.

CONTACT THE TEAM

Mark Bradford

Billy Andrew

Susan Hoyle

mzb@ukfbs.co.uk

ba@ukfbs.co.uk

sjh@ukfbs.co.uk

@FamBizSolutions | tel: 0141 222 2820 Family Business Solutions Ltd, 302 St Vincent St, Glasgow G2 5RZ Family Business Solutions Ltd is the consulting arm of Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP. Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA reference number 231170.

ukfbs.co.uk ukfbs.co.uk

Business Matters Autumn 2018

18

The Courtyard by Marriott Glasgow Airport has had a spectacular year so far!

We’ve added 56 brand new bedrooms to the hotel, along with fully refurbishing all existing bedrooms, public areas and conference rooms.

The refurbishment and rebranding to a Marriott has driven huge growth through the hotel.

Following on from customer feedback we have decided to launch some new packages.

Our Coffee loyalty cards has proven really popular with our corporate clients who now visit the hotel on a regular basis, our Out of Office package is also extremely popular and why wouldn’t it be, £10.95 for unlimited Starbucks tea/ coffee, express lunch, work station, WIFI and car parking. Introducing these packages has outperformed even our expectations it is always a pleasure to see new clients turn into regular clients.

In June Courtyard Corporate Club was launched. This has been another huge success for the hotel! We did not want to follow protocol and only offer corporate rates to large blue chip clients

or companies that drive volume into the hotel. Our own private club allows smaller companies who have a need for bedroom and meeting rooms to receive the following discounts: • • • • •

10% off Accommodation 20% off our Bistro Menu 10% off Express Lunch £22.00 Day Delegate Day Access to Fitness Suite

No joining fee is required to join this corporate club, we only require the member to have a registered company,

and then they can enjoy all the benefits at the only 4 star property on Glasgow Airport Estate.

Tom Sharp, the hotel’s Sales Manager said: “I am very proud of how far the hotel has come and what we have achieved together, hosting 4 main teams including team GB road cyclist for the European Championships has been a personal success for myself, this played a part of the hotel achieving the best August to date! We were very fortunate to have received investment which sees us now operating an ultra-modern 4 star 170-bedroom property.

Our success will not stop here, we are already moving on to the next exciting projects, we are growing our local connections with the local area and the airport to help us achieve our goals.

We are all very excited to see what the rest of the year and 2019 has in store for the hotel.”

To find out more about the hotel visit www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/glacacourtyard-glasgow-airport/.

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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You will benefit from our volume purchasing discounts and will not have to worry about future residual values or unexpected vehicle repair costs.

Business Matters Autumn 2018

ARC Vehicle Rental offers Fleet Operators Brexit Solution CALL US ON 01475 742255 or 0141 404 4300 OR EMAIL INFO@ARCFLEETSERVICES.CO.UK

WWW.ARCFLEETSERVICES.CO.UK

BUSINESS MATTERS ad 180X130.indd 1

The Effects of Brexit and rising interest rates are likely to prompt Fleet Operators to switch to vehicle rental packages meeting today’s business needs.

Rental companies such as Arc Vehicle Rental are expecting a boost in long term rental deals as fleet operators look for ways to avoid new lease accounting rules. These rules will require vehicles to be reported on balance sheets. With the effects of Brexit being so difficult to forecast, increasing interest rates and economic uncertainty long term rentals are becoming even more attractive.

Ian Moffat, Managing Director of Arc Fleet Services believes “fleet decision – makers are deeply concerned about

24/09/2018 15:21

impending changes to the accounting treatment of leased company vehicles, which will see them appear on company balance sheets for the first time. With interest rates on the rise and the uncertainty of what is around the corner with Brexit companies will not want to enter long term lease arrangements or use valuable capital to purchase vehicle they may not require if business takes a downturn”.

From January 1, 2019, the International Accounting Standards Board will require companies to identify leased assets on their balance sheets and incur a liability for future rental payments.

With many local companies now seeing

the benefits of flexible rental as a way of acquiring a new van or company car, Ian believes demand for medium to long term rental is likely to receive a boost in demand as it did throughout the major recessions of 1999 and 2008.

Before taking the plunge find out how Arc Vehicle Rental can meet your vehicle requirements today and in the future without the need to burn valuable capital.

For more information contact: Ian Moffat, Managing Director t. 0141 404 4300 t. 01475 742255 e. ian.moffat@arcfleetservices.co.uk w. www.arcfleetservices.co.uk

WORRIED ABOUT BREXIT & HOW IT WILL AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS?

Before taking the plunge and committing your business to capital expenditure or long-term leasing deals for vehicles, can you be sure how Brexit will impact on your business?

Arc Vehicle Rental offers a range of vehicle procurement options tailor-made for YOUR business needs. Whether you are a major fleet operator, limited company or sole trader, operating the right vehicle(s) can make an important statement about your organisation.

At Arc Fleet Services we fully appreciate that our customers require different solutions and we will work with you to find the best fit.Your fleet budget can have a major influence on your decision making and we will be aim for the best value provision.

You will benefit from our volume purchasing discounts and will not have to worry about future residual values or unexpected vehicle repair costs.

CALL US ON 01475 742255 or 0141 404 4300 OR EMAIL INFO@ARCFLEETSERVICES.CO.UK

WWW.ARCFLEETSERVICES.CO.UK BUSINESS MATTERS ad 180X130.indd 1

24/09/2018 15:21

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

Atelier Eva Art Happy clothes for happy kids - handmade with love just for you!

With 20 years of experience in fashion design, Eva Arnaudova is the passionate and creative founder behind kids clothing brand Atelier Eva Art. Her newly established business in Paisley aims to provide something new and unique, to help happy kids expressing their individuality and have fun.

Her limited edition collections of high quality handmade kids wear, accessories, personalised baby blankets, interior accessories and gifts are now available at InCube Shop, Paisley and online. Only top quality materials are chosen – these include cotton, certified organic cotton and linen from UK designers and suppliers - perfect for those timeless heirloom gifts. Every item is made to bring you joy and happy memories throughout the years.

Services • bespoke clothing • personalised blankets, bags and accessories • coordinating outfits for twins, mother & child, child & doll • ready-made limited collections For more information contact Email: atelierevaart@gmail.com Website: www.atelierevaart.com

21

Broadband Cloud Solutions Nowadays you need to deliver excellent customer satisfaction to survive. More and more that comes down to how you utilise digital technology, Broadband Cloud Solutions (incorporating BCS-Studio. com) provide a full range of services that helps to ensure your customers receive the experience you want for them.

• BCS specialise in 3 main areas • Web and application hosting • Digital design and development • IT support Each of our specialisms covers aspects that all good businesses need to address nowadays. Areas such as branding, website design, web hosting, email, application and server management, cloud systems, data protection, disaster recovery and more.

Our teams of experts can ensure your business delivers on the technology front. We are Microsoft Accredited Partners and specialists in Amazon Web Services hosting systems so you know that the infrastructure behind your business is the same technology that powers a lot of popular cloud applications such as Spotify, Netflix and AirBNB. To learn more about what Broadband Cloud Solutions can do to help your customer experience contact us on info@bcs.solutions Tel 0141 585 6363 www.bcs.solutions

Business Matters Autumn 2018

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Give them the gift of everything We all know too well the dread of the last-minute gift shop. The uncertainty as you contemplate the perfect present.

Here at intu Braehead and Soar we can help you give the best gift of all: the gift of everything. The intu Braehead Gift Card lets them pick exactly what they want, meaning that stressing about personal preferences or picking the wrong gift is a thing of the past.

There are a wide range of ways to use an intu Braehead Gift Card that are unique to businesses and can help you to gain an advantage. Whether you want to use it as a staff reward for loyalty or whether you want to use it to help with customer acquisition and retention; you get to choose how you use it and they choose how to spend it. For the recipient, they

can spend it at a huge array of stores, restaurants, cafés and leisure facilities here at intu Braehead.

Gift cards can be loaded with as little as £5 or as much as £1000 and can be used at top retailers like Primark, New Look, Monsoon, MAC and many, many more!

The gift card can also be used in our wide range of restaurants and cafés, including but not limited to, Tony Macaroni’s, TGI Friday’s, Starbucks and Pizza Express.

Lastly, you can also use the gift card at our premier leisure facilities at Soar at intu Braehead, as well as our Curling Rink, Ice Rink and our Arena. Whether it’s shopping, dining, skiing, climbing, or jumping: the intu Braehead Gift Card has everybody covered.

The cardholder can use the card as

Shop with us: in centre | at home | on the go

Be a Superboss Give your team a super choice and reward them with an intu Gift Card.

It can be used in 120 stores, restaurants, cinema and even on the slopes! It really is the gift that everyone wants!

many times as they like until the balance is exhausted (or blow it all in one exhilarating splurge!). The card will be valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

Giving the recipient plenty of time to get everything that they might want all in one convenient location.

Gift cards can be purchased online and we offer a wide range of shipping options depending on the urgency, value and number of gift cards in your order.

Alternatively, you can purchase the gift cards using click & collect or buy them at our customer service desk on the second floor of intu Braehead.

The intu Gift Card is truly the gift of choice. For more information visit intubraehead.flex-e-card.com/information/ corporate-orders

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Giving Scotland’s Entrepreneurs the EDGE Last month, Scottish EDGE celebrated its most successful funding round launch to date, receiving 285+ applications from businesses throughout the country, each hoping to pitch for a share of the £1 million prize pot on offer.

Since its inception in 2013, Scottish EDGE has grown to become the largest small business funding competition anywhere in the UK, with awards on offer of up to £150,000 and an average winner count of 25-30 businesses per round.

By anyone’s measure, EDGE has played an important role in the fostering of a new spirit of entrepreneurship in Scotland in recent years. Having awarded over £11 million so far, it boasts a winner roster of over 300 businesses who in turn have generated £104m in turnover and created over 1300 jobs.

With the likes of pizza oven giant, Ooni; sleep pillow geniuses, Trtl; and craft beer social change makers, Brewgooder all included in EDGE’s impressive list of high-achieving alumni, this Social Enterprise is certainly leaving its mark.

The competition consists of three competition categories: Scottish EDGE for companies of all sectors and stages, Young EDGE for businesses with directors aged 18-30, and Wild Card EDGE for pre-trading businesses. In addition, it offers three specialist awards: Higgs EDGE for STEM focused businesses, Creative EDGE for Creative Sector businesses and Social Enterprise EDGE for Social Enterprises.

The finalists in the latest round will pitch their business ideas

to a panel of expert judges at the live Scottish EDGE final in Edinburgh on 6th Dec in front of an audience of 300. Tickets to the event, available at scottishedge.com/tickets, are free of charge and in addition to some great networking opportunities, keynote speakers and business exhibitors, it gives any would be future applicants a flavour of what a typical EDGE panel looks for in a business.

The application window for Round 14 opens in late January 2019 and requires an online application and 3-min video pitch.

Find out more at: Scottishedge.com

Handmade Mill Magazine Moments Mill is a brand new free bimonthly culture and lifestyle magazine for the people of Paisley and Renfrewshire.

Every glossy, compact-sized issue is packed with engaging and diverse features covering beauty, fashion, food, travel, music, art, property, interiors, upcoming events and much more.

There’s so much going on in Paisley and Renfrewshire.

There are so many people trying to make the region a better place in which to live and work. Mill will bring all of these different people and organisations together to show our readers that this is a great place to be.

We will spotlight local talent, retailers and businesses.

We want you to know what is happening on your doorstep and who the people behind it are. We want to show our readers that Paisley and Renfrewshire is a positive place to be, and a place that will keep improving.

Our economy and reputation continues to grow in the right direction, so let’s make the most of it.

For more information or to advertise, please contact paul@millmagazine.co.uk. www.millmagazine.co.uk.

I’m the owner and creative mind behind Handmade Moments and sewing is my heritage. I’m from Paisley and have a long family history in the various mills of Paisley. I even use vintage threads from those very mills.

I design and make unique, fully jointed, Harris Tweed teddy bears in a variety of colours. I then use the offcuts to make jewellery and accessories such as cufflinks and pendants.

I aim to be as sustainable as possible, upcycling and recycling where I can. This is reflected in my recycled packaging which can be recycled again.

I am working on my Paisley Collection due for release late September at the InCube Shop, Paisley. This will feature a collection of Harris Tweed bears in stunning autumnal colours with coordinating Paisley Pattern fabric, and matching jewellery and accessories. Look out for Buddy the Bear who will be a unique part of the collection!

Business Matters Autumn 2018

24

ROCCO 2018 Shortlist announced Renfrewshire Chamber is delighted to announce the 2018 shortlist for their annual business awards, the ROCCO’s.

Now in their 15th Year, the ROCCOs are the premier business event in Renfrewshire. 17 winners will be announced at the ceremony hosted by ROCCO regular Fred MacAulay (16th November at the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew). Main Sponsor is Paisley.is Commenting on the awards – Chamber chief executive Bob Grant said “thank you to all the organisations that entered, this year we have seen a large volume of entries. As always the standard of entry was high so I know many people that are not shortlisted will be disappointed – we hope you will consider entering again next year. 15 of the 17 awards will require the shortlisted organisations to present to our judging panels w/c 22nd Oct at the Chamber Business Centre, Glasgow Airport”.

The full shortlist is:

ROCCO Award for Excellence in Customer Services

ROCCO Award for Developing the Young Workforce West

sponsored by the Scottish Leather Group:

sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce West: • Clark Contracts • Morrison Construction • NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Workforce Employability Team

• Glasgow Airport Ltd • Polly Rose Ltd • Wholesale Domestic Equipment Company Ltd

ROCCO Award for Innovation & Technology sponsored by Creation IP:

ROCCO Award for Excellence in Manufacturing

• Etellect Ltd • Rolls-Royce Plc • Terumo Aortic - Vascutek

Sponsored by University of the West of Scotland:

ROCCO Award for International Trade

Invest in Renfrewshire ROCCO Award

sponsored by Glasgow Airport:

sponsored by Invest in Renfrewshire / Renfrewshire Council:

• Abergower Ltd • Angelwax Ltd • Bridge of Weir Leather Company Ltd

• Diageo Plc • NCT Leather and WJ&W Lang Ltd • Rolls-Royce Plc

• Carli’s Kindergarten Ltd • Ingliston Country Club & Hotel • J.G.B Steelcraft (UK) Limited

Running a growing

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper business in Renfrewshire?

25

Make us part of your plans For any successful business a network of trusted advisers is vital. Business Gateway Renfrewshire provides practical support and advice to growing Renfrewshire businesses every year.

ROCCO Award for Most Promising 0141 585 6353 New Business www.bgateway.com sponsored by Business Gateway:

• Consilium Contracting Services Ltd • Shore Wraps Ltd • Starkstrom Scotland Ltd

ROCCO Award for Excellence in Tourism sponsored by Paisley.is: • Ingliston Country Club • Scottish Opera • The Experience

“ I’d like to update my professional qualifications ”

Business Gateway services are delivered by Local Authorities, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government with the support of associated partner organisations.

West College Scotland offers a range of professional training and development courses to help you update your skills.

ROCCO Award for Family Business of the Year

ROCCO Award for Young Business Person of the Year

sponsored by the Malcolm Group:

sponsored by West College Scotland:

• Ingliston Country Club & Hotel • Ingram Brothers Ltd • Wholesale Domestic Equipment Company Ltd

• Andrew McMillan & Ryan McIlravey - FE Live Audio • Stephanie Formisano & Caroline Gillies - Pawz & Co • Euan McIntosh - Starkstrom Scotland Ltd

THE ROYAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

INSTITUTE OF SCOTLAND

First Aid

Clydebank Campus 0141 951 7555 Greenock Campus 01475 553 044 Paisley Campus 0141 581 2121

ROCCO Award for Employer of the Year sponsored by Rolls Royce:

t

0300 600 6060

w www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk

ROCCO Award for Community Champion of the Year

• Ingliston Country Club & Hotel • RAMH recovery across mental health • Wholesale Domestic Equipment Company Ltd

sponsored by Engage Renfrewshire & Royal Bank of Scotland:

ROCCO Award for Outstanding Business <=5 FTE staff

ROCCO Award for Outstanding Business >5 & <25 staff

sponsored by intu Braehead:

sponsored by Renfrewshire Council:

• Aillum Ltd • C Allan & Son Accountancy Services Ltd • FE Live Audio Ltd

• Allstaff Ltd • Paisley Autocare Ltd • Scotch Whisky Auctions

ROCCO Award for Outstanding Business >25 staff

ROCCO Award for Business Leader of the Year

sponsored by Terumo Aortic

• Stephen Rowland - Director, RDA Consulting Ltd • Jonathan Hinkles - Managing Director, Loganair Ltd • Kuldeep Badesha - General Manager, Courtyard by Marriot Glasgow Airport • Simon Hannah - Managing Director, JW Filshill Ltd

• Glasgow Airport Ltd • Spectrum Service Solutions Ltd • Wholesale Domestic Equipment Company Ltd

• Klas Care C.I.C. Ltd • RAMH recovery across mental health • The New Tannahill Centre Limited

sponsored by Diageo, shortlisted nominations are:

The winner will be announced on the night

ROCCO Award for Renfrewshire’s Favourite Business sponsored by the Paisley Daily Express: • Affluent Financial Planning • Coco Childrenswear

• Paisley Physiotherapy Centre • Pandamonium Playcentre

• Tastebuds Paisley • YellowSlate Design

Top 6 voting will open soon online with the Paisley Daily Express. The company with the most votes by 25th of October will be crowned the winner and announced on the night.

Business Matters Autumn 2018

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SPECTRUM SERVICE SOLUTIONS WINS TWO CATEGORIES IN THE BCC AWARDS Business Matters A4 Advert.pdf

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Providing contract cleaning and facilities management services throughout the UK from our headquarters in Paisley

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Services: Cleaning Facilities Management Event Cleaning Waste Management & Recycling Janitorial & Hygiene Security & Marshalling

Tom Johnston RCC, Jill Keenan & Sectors: Cara Duff Spectrum Service Solutions, Bob Grant RCC

Educational Facilities Plants Leading RenfrewshireManufacturing based Soft Facilities Management company, Stadiums and Sports Facilities have been Spectrum Service Solutions Clean Room crowned Scotland Region winners Environments in not one but two categories in the Industrial2018.

Facilities Chamber Business Awards As High Street Retail winners of the High Growth Business of the Year Award andBusiness the Customer Parks Commitment Award , Call Spectrum Centres Service Solutions will now go forward Commercial Offices to represent Scotland in the national Distribution Facilities past year, and to encourage and inspire they continue to show their adaptability, finals, which take place in London in others to follow in their footsteps.” resilience and strength.

November.

Bob Grant , CEO said “Congratulations “Every year our judges are impressed Now in their 15th year, the Awards to the whole team at Spectrum on by the calibre of entries, and this year are a highlight of the business calendar, www.spectrumservicesolutions.com winning two categories of the Scottish was no different. All our finalists should recognising the key role that local Marchfield Drive Westpoint Business Park PaisleythisPA3 2RB given Email: region finals. This is a rare achievement be proud to reach stage theinfo@spectrumservicesolutions.com businesses play in 1driving the UK and is testimony to their recent growth stiff competition among our diverse and economy. Talking about the awards, with new office openings in Aberdeen enterprising pool of applicants.

Francis Martin, President of the British & Edinburgh and their ongoing “The Chamber Business Awards Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said, commitment to outstanding customer are the perfect opportunity for us to “Businesses are the engines of the care. We wish the team every success at celebrate our business communities’ UK economy – creating opportunities the British Chamber Awards National achievements, to take stock of the great and prosperity in our towns, cities and Final on Thursday 29th November”. performances of UK businesses over the counties. Even in these turbulent times,

0141 887 5000

fti

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

27

New Members

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Chamber staff we would like to welcome onboard the following new members.

Alwurk Electric

Paisley Book-Keeping

Electricians Peter Graham 07910654485 petergr1@hotmail.com

Book-keeping & Payroll Services Andrew Shields 07981 361 589 info@paisley-bookkeeping.uk

Atelier Eva Art

Paisley Housing Association

Artist - c/o InCube Iva Arnaudova 0141 618 4116 atelierevaart@gmail.com

Broadband Cloud Solutions Ltd

Charity / Housing Sandra Marshall 0141 889 7105 sandra.marshall@paisleyha.org.uk

Pace Theatre Company

IT & Internet Kenny Roy 0141 585 6363 kroy@bcs.solutions

Theatre & Media facilities Grant Mason 0345 130 5218 grant@pacetheatre.co.uk

Fast Forward Freight

Terumo Aortic (Vascutek Ltd)

Freight Services Nicola Lawrie (0)1698 532970 n.lawrie@fastforwardfreight.com

Fletch Design Ltd Publisher & Graphic Designer Paul Dickson 07739 989969 paul@fletchdesign.co.uk

Handmade Moments Jewellery Lisa Mitchell 0141 618 4116 lisa@handmademoments.co.uk

Manufacturer of Vascular Prostheses Gillian Winning 0141 812 5555 general@terumoaortic.com

Gryffe Advertizer Magazine Rona Simpson, Anna McGeachie 01505 613340 Info@Advertizer.co.uk

Noble Property Solutions Ltd Construction Industry Euan Bennett 0141 260 9094 euan@nobleps.co.uk

Renfrewshire Carers Centre Charity Christine Melville 0141 887 3643 enquiries@renfrewshirecarers.org.uk

Digby Landscaping & Maintenance Ltd Landscaping Stephen MacDonald 0773942 7988 donnie.macdonald@ digbylandscaping.co.uk

Obsidian Ore (Textile Design) c/o InCube Textile Design Geraldine Donnelly 0753 1282263 geri@obsidianore.com

Advanced Refurbishment Contracts Ltd Office Fitters / Refurbishment Works Cheryl Harkin, Gordon McDonald 0141 887 2244 info@advancedrefurb.co.uk

Business Matters Autumn 2018

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CarpetworksUK recommends Chamber Business Mentoring Program Irrespective of the size of your business there will no doubt come a time when you struggle to identify where to go next.

“As owner of CarpetworksUK Ltd I had reached that point. Business had gone well for a number of years but turnover had plateaued and I struggled to come up with ideas of where to go next. Whilst at a Chamber event I shared this frustration with Jill Carrino. Having listened to my dilemma, Jill suggested a business mentor and put me in touch with Stuart Murray. Although unsure at first, I had nothing to lose so agreed to participate in the business mentor programme.

Stuart assigned me a mentor and although it is still early days, I cannot overstate the benefit. Having someone with business experience to talk to and explore ideas has been a significant turning point.

The intangible benefits are what has helped most, my confidence in myself and my business has increased and I am sure this rubs off on to potential customers. One real achievement is the clarity I now have with how to take the business forward with the resulting number of new orders.

I have no hesitation in recommending the business mentor programme and as a thank you to the Chamber I am offering a special discount of 10% to any member requiring supply and fitting of

Alistair Donnell MD Carpetworks with mentor Michael Clerk of Basics & Beyond Ltd

flooring from now until the 30th November 2018. CarpetworksUK Ltd supply and install all types of commercial flooring including carpet, carpet tiles, safety vinyl and matting for the office, retail, hospitality, healthcare and industrial sectors.”

The business mentoring program is funded by Scottish Enterprise and is delivered in partnership with Scottish Chambers of Commerce.

The program has a pool of over 800 talented business people who can support your growth and is free to participate.

To find out how the program

can help your business grow and prosper please contact our Mentoring Executive Stuart Murray on 0141 847 5458, mobile 07525 323500 email: smurray@ renfrewshirechamber.com Stuart Murray commented “The Business Mentoring Programme offers businesses and social enterprise in Renfrewshire a great opportunity to access valuable help and guidance. A mentor can support your development by giving feedback to reinforce the business’ strengths and to help focus on those areas where you want to develop and grow.”

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

Chamber

29

Up & Coming

Pictures Events See our events section on our website: www.renfrewshirechamber.com 0141 847 5450 events@renfrewshirechamber.com October Networking Lunch Thurs 25th Oct with Evelyn McDonald CEO Scottish Edge Fund. Glynhill Hotel.

Members £25+ Vat, Non Members £35+ vat.

Meet the Leader: RCC Council Leader Iain Nicolson, Tom Johnston & Bob Grant RCC

September Pitch & Roll with Hillington Park

Cll Leader Iain Nicolson

Members Event Program with Campbell Dallas 25th Oct: How to create high performing teams. Free for members.

New Employment Law Business Mentoring Group with David Hoey, BTO Solicitors Session 1 Tues 6th Nov • Session 2 Tues 20th Nov • Session 3 Tues 4th Dec, 8.30am-10am, Chamber Biz Centre Contact Stuart Murray, smurray@ renfrewshirechamber.com Pitch & Roll Networking Breakfast.

Innovation Centre Hillington Park.

Wed 7th November 8am – 9.15am

Aug Lunch: Lynhurst Hotel

Pupils from Renfrew High with Alex Reedjik Scottish Opera

ROCCO 2018 The Normandy Hotel Friday 16th November 6.30pm until late. With Host Fred MacAulay November Networking Lunch Thurs 29th Nov with Professor Craig Mahoney. Principal & Vice-Chancellor University of the West of Scotland.

Ingliston Country Club

Aug Speaker Derek Provan CEO AGS Group with Tom Johnston

September Networking Lunch

AGM 2018 Thurs 13th Dec 11.30am-12pm **free, members only event** Christmas Lunch 12pm- 2.30pm Includes Entertainment & Raffle.

Glynhill Hotel, Renfrew facebook.com/renfrewshirechamberofcommerce Follow the chamber:

Pupils from Johnstone High

Sept Speaker Alex Reedjik General Director Scottish Opera

twitter.com/renfrewshirecoc

Business Matters Autumn 2018

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Dismissal: what dismissal?

With Christmas fast approaching, excitement builds and guards are lowered. But it is important to bear in mind what can happen if an employer fails to maintain appropriate control. Why? Well, implied into every contract of employment in Scotland is a term that neither party will, without just and proper cause, act so as to destroy the trust and confidence that should exist between an employer and an employee. There are no limits on the types of conduct that can be relied upon by an employee to argue that the trust and confidence has been destroyed.

Indeed in a recent English Tribunal case, an employee surreptitiously recorded 2 senior staff who made disparaging comments about her and disclosed they wished “to get rid of her” and “make her redundant”. The Tribunal decided that this conversation was enough to breach the implied term and trust and confidence. This meant that the Claimant was able to rely upon that breach to claim constructive unfair dismissal.

There is no requirement for the employer to intend to terminate the employment.

A constructive dismissal can occur even when an employer is keen for the employment to continue or is unaware that it is in breach. For the claim to succeed, three conditions must be met: • There must be a fundamental breach of the contract by the employer

- of an express or implied term; • The employee must resign in response to the fundamental breach; and • The employee must not delay too long in resigning.

A breach of the implied term of trust and confidence will always be a fundamental breach and an employer who has committed a fundamental breach of contract cannot “cure” the breach by subsequent actions. Therefore if an employer takes steps to rectify matters, while the employee may decide not to resign, that is the employee’s choice. Further, a fundamental breach may be based on the cumulative effect of a series of acts, relying on a final act as the “last straw”. It is not necessary for each act in the series, or even for the last act, to be a fundamental breach of contract in its own right, provided the last straw is not something innocent.

Employees ordinarily need least 2 years’ continuous service to claim unfair dismissal but there are some exceptions. Claims can be costly, not just in management time and legal costs but in terms of awards, which could be in excess of £80,000 or a year’s salary (whichever is the lower).

This is a timely reminder that employers need to ensure compliance with the contract of employment both the express but also the implied terms. It’s not about taking the fun out of work, just making sure claims are minimised. Have a wonderful break when it comes!

David Hoey, Partner, Accredited Employment Law Specialist

Lesley Grant Associate

Lesley Grant Associate For BTO Solicitors LLP 48 St Vincent Street Glasgow

G2 5HS T: +44(0)141 221 8012 F: +44(0)141 221 0288 www.bto.co.uk

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Chamber Member takes over Presidency of the Rotary Club of Paisley 518

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The Rotary Club of Paisley celebrates its 90th Charter year with longstanding member and former Chamber director Scott Fleming at the helm.

There’s so much you can do…

Rotary offers Chamber members the chance to put something back into the community. You can help us organise fundraising events, supporting local & international charities.

We are looking for Men & Women of all ages and backgrounds to join us either as volunteers, members or both. You can use your time, talents, professional skills and energy to improve the lives of people in our local communities and around the world. You can enjoy meeting new friends, having a great deal of fun and experiencing the fulfillment that comes from achieving something worthwhile.

Whether you are volunteering by helping your local community set up a foodbank or responding to local and International disasters there is a project or activity to suit everyone. By volunteering with Rotary, you know that you will be changing people’s lives for the better.

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Being part of Rotary is more than just giving back to the community by volunteering. It is also about you bringing your skills, experience and enthusiasm to help it thrive, whilst making some great friends along the way. Our club is a friendly place we invite speakers from a wide range of backgrounds to share their knowledge, increasing our social and cultural understanding. Members also share their common interest in friendship and if you visit any other clubs around the UK or beyond you will immediately feel the sense of camaraderie.

Rotary provides the chance to develop personal skills with a better awareness of the problems that face the local community and the world today and can improve your business skills in: Leadership/Public Speaking & Networking.

Give something back, join us, make a difference The Rotary Club of Paisley meets Wednesdays between 12.45pm - 2pm in the David Lloyd Club, Arkleston Road, Paisley PA4 0RA

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Scott Fleming, Rotary President

If you cant make Lunchtime meetings…

The Rotary Club of Paisley Satellite Group meets from 7-30pm on the first and the third Thursday of each month in Bianco e Nero, 27 Gauze Street, Paisley PA1 1ES www.paisleyrotaryclub.org or contact us on 0141 533 1920 for further information.

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Deal or No Deal?

Brexit and Employees – what next?

The UK Government has published its guidance about what workplace rights are if there is no Brexit.

It reminds us that before 29 March 2019, workplace rights and protections covered from EU law include Working Time Regulations, including rights to paid annual leave, holiday pay and rest breaks; a maximum working time in a week; some family leave entitlements, including maternity and parental leave; certain requirements to protect the health and safety of workers; prevention of, and remedy for, workplace discrimination, harassment and victimisation based on sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, and race or ethnic origin; TUPE; protections for agency workers and workers posted to the UK from EU states; protection of part-time, fixed-term and young workers; information and consultation rights for workers, including for collective redundancies; and legislation about administering redundancy related payments to employees in case of insolvency.

If there’s ‘no deal’ after 29th March 2019 In line with the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the guidance says that EU Directivebased powers for workers in the UK will continue as currently under UK law. Amendments will be made to UK regulations to reflect that the UK is no longer an EU country but they will not change existing policy. The intention is that employment rights remain unchanged, including the employment rights of those working in the UK on a temporary basis, with a few limited exceptions.

The guidance says that ‘No deal’ withdrawal will impact on participation in agreed arrangements with the EU which benefit all EU countries in relation to making claims in the case of employer insolvency for UK and EU employees. UK law provides protection for all UK, EU, and non-EU employees working in the

Katy Wedderburn, MacRoberts

UK, provided that certain other criteria are met. There is no intention to change this as a result of exiting the EU. Also, the statutory framework that applies to European Works Councils would require a reciprocal agreement from the EU for them to continue to function in their present form within the UK. UK Regulations will be amended including that no new requests to set up a European Works Council or Information and Consultation procedure can be made.

Settlement of EU citizens The UK Government has also published an employer toolkit to equip employers to support EU citizens and their families to apply for settlement in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme.

Current ‘right to work’ checks (e.g. EU passport and/or national ID card) apply until the end of 2020. There will be no change to the rights and status of EU citizens living in the UK until 2021.

The accompanying Briefing Pack

explains that if EU citizens want to stay in the UK beyond 31 December 2020, they and their close family members will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to allow them to continue to live and work in the UK. Eligible applicants will need to be an EU citizen or a non-EU family member of an EU citizen who must be resident in the UK by 31 December 2020. If they have been a resident in the UK for more than 5 years they will be eligible for settled status. If they have been a resident for less than 5 years, they will eligible for presettled status. Exclusions apply to persons who are a serious or persistent criminal or a threat to national security.

The Settlement Scheme will be phased in and will be fully open by the end of March 2019.

This is just a brief outline – if you need help with any particular case, please do not hesitate to get in touch with MacRoberts’ Employment team on 0141 303 1100.

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Skills Gap Biggest Barrier to Business Growth Research conducted by West College Scotland has found that the skills gap is the single biggest barrier to business growth in the West of Scotland.

This is one of the main findings of the West of Scotland Skills Survey, the first research of its kind to be conducted by a Scottish college or university. Launched earlier this year, the survey gathered employers’ perspectives on their workforce planning and business needs.

231 organisations, employing a workforce of more than 65,000 people, in and around the region responded to the sector-leading initiative. In doing so, respondents have identified the challenges they face, their priorities for the future and how the College can best support them.

Participating employers, who ranged from micro businesses to FTSE 100-listed companies, identified workforce planning as the biggest challenge in the year ahead and the skills gap heads the list of barriers to growth.

The College will use the unique insight offered by industry to inform its work in futureproofing its curriculum – helping to build a modern workforce.

Launching the Our Workforce, Our Future report, West College Scotland Principal and Chief Executive, Liz Connolly, said: “Our research findings, combined with the uncertainty surrounding Brexit, reinforces the need for educators to be responsive to the needs of our economy and employers. It also shows the importance of continually upskilling the existing workforce and offering the opportunity to reskill to people looking to take on a new career.

“Employers have told us that workforce planning is the biggest challenge facing them today and the skills gap heads the list of identified barriers to growth. The College can undoubtedly support employers to overcome these formidable challenges.

“When asked what they want from a modern college, employers are unequivocal. They want more engagement, greater collaboration and continued flexibility. We are committed to working with industry and our partners to tackle economic challenges, prepare our students for the world of work and help build a modern workforce for our region.”

Ronnie Quinn, Interim CEO of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, welcomed the Our Workforce, Our Future report, adding: “SCDI welcomes West College Scotland’s new report and shares its commitment to building a modern workforce.

“Scotland has the opportunity to be a frontrunner nation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and ensuring we have a skilled workforce, aligned to the demands of the future economy, is vital.

“Employers have told us that workforce planning is the biggest challenge facing them today and the skills gap heads the list of identified barriers to growth.

The College can undoubtedly support employers to overcome these formidable challenges.”

Liz Connolly, Principal and Chief Executive, West College Scotland “By working together, colleges and employers can create opportunities for up-skilling and re-skilling that will support current and future workforces, and increase productivity and inclusive economic growth in Scotland.”

For more information and to download the Our Workforce, Our Future report, please visit westcollegescotland.ac.uk/OWOF

0300 600 60 60 www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk Like us on Facebook

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Business Matters Autumn 2018

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Influencer marketing for small businesses: Worth the investment?

Gary Ennis, Founder and Managing Director of NSDesign Ltd

Influencer marketing for small businesses is a relatively new concept, but one you shouldn’t ignore. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the idea and highlight the key benefits/pitfalls to help you work out whether it’s worth considering for your business.

What is influencer marketing for small businesses?

The exact definition is a little woolly.

However, influencer marketing for small businesses basically means having someone with a huge following advocate for your product or service via social media.

Originally, these influencers were mainly your run-of-the-mill YouTube stars; big on social media, but relatively unknown in terms of TV coverage etc. However, with the practice gaining in popularity and influencers pocketing some serious cash, celebrities have looked to get in on the act.

Influencers are usually well known within a particular field, or to a specific demographic. The size of the online community means that – despite their relatively niche appeal – they still have the power to change the minds of thousands

(or even millions) of potential customers.

Famous examples (for better or worse) and their specialisms include: • Zoella: Fashion/beauty • PewDiePie: Gaming • Kim Kardashian: Fashion/lifestyle • Logan Paul: Travel/sport/music • El Rubius: Gaming As you’ve probably guessed, most influencers are Millennials or even part of Generation Z. They gain their immense influence by speaking to people their own age about the things they love and in a language they’re fluent in.

Obviously, the ultimate goal would be to produce something so amazing that influencers will talk about your business free-of-charge. But, let’s face it, the majority of us would just have to pay for the privilege.

What are the potential benefits/ pitfalls of influencer marketing for small businesses?

Here’s a quick introduction to the key benefits and pitfalls of using influencer marketing for small businesses: 1) Benefits You could extensively magnify your reach and influence within a particular sector/among a specific demographic You could change or enhance your brand’s reputation by gaining representation from certain influencers Millennials and other young folks have lost faith in traditional advertising, whereas influencers still cut through Influencer content can generate 11 times the ROI of traditional digital campaigns, and return around seven times the amount you invest 2) Pitfalls You’ll need to invest a significant amount to get them on your side, which makes the method a bit of a gamble The concept is still young, so regulations are changing fast (ASA just imposed rules demanding all paid influencer endorsements are visibly classified as ads) Some influencers aren’t as popular as they claim (it’s possible to buy fake followers), which can disrupt your strategy and results Your reputation will become entwined with theirs; so, if they do something controversial (as has happened frequently in recent months) your brand will suffer by association So, is influencer marketing for small businesses worth the investment? Well, influencers undoubtedly have the power to transform the fortunes of brands. But, whether it’s right for you will depend on your products/services, target market, existing online presence and a whole host of other factors.

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Hillington Park Innovation Centre Friday 23rd November 2018: 9.30am – 4.30pm £150 per person (+ VAT)

EMBRACE THE SPACE NS DESIGN helps businesses do things better online.

Our next social media masterclass takes place on Friday 23rd November at Hillington. We believe every business can get what they want from Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and the rest in less than 20 minutes a day. ‘Embrace The Space’ will show you how.

More details at www.embracethespace.co.uk

Business Matters Autumn 2018

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PHOENIX RISES AGAIN! Squarestone have continued to make improvements to St James Business Park since acquiring the four pavilions in 2015.

Following a £400,000 restoration programme of St James Business Centre Squarestone relaunched the newly refurbished building in November 2016.

Since the relaunch, the business centre has welcomed several new local and national businesses and worked with many existing tenants to accommodate their business expansions.

Owners Squarestone have recently refurbished Pavilion 1 on the park and provide flexible modern office space ranging from 100 – 5,400 sq ft.

Renfrewshire Council granted planning permission for the development of a Tim Hortons Café and Bakery on St James Business Park in 2017, which is now close to completion. The amenities of the Park will be greatly improved once open in November 2018 and will improve consumer choice south of Linwood Road for the local community.

In addition to the employment created through the development, the opening of the coffee shop and drive through on Linwood Road will boost local employment by creating 25 direct new jobs for the community.

Yasemin McClelland, Asset Manager of St James Business Park commented: The development of the new Tim Hortons Café and Bakery adjacent to the Business Centre is one of many steps we have taken to provide an attractive home for national companies and local businesses. The creation of 25 new jobs because of the new development will undoubtedly have a positive impact on local employment.

The refurbishment of the business centre and works in the wider park have led to a number of new businesses

selecting St James Business Park as the home for their companies, while existing tenants have committed to the park by expanding their businesses at the location. We are delighted that national companies and local businesses continue to choose St James Business Park as the home for their companies.

Providing a range of flexible modern office space at competitive rates with no hidden costs and free parking, St James Business Park is an obvious choice for local and national businesses. We can

accommodate anything from a 2-person office to a 5,400 sq ft HQ office across our four buildings.

With our proximity to the motorway and Glasgow Airport, we are certain that the addition of a Tim Hortons on the park will make St James an even more attractive offer for businesses looking to be located in Renfrewshire and we are delighted that Renfrewshire Council shared our vision to put Linwood back on the map as a prospering economic area.

Current availability schedule of all inclusive suites: Room

Floor

Location

Size (sq ft)

Quoting Rent (pcm)

29

Ground

West

190

£320

104

1st

West

192

£320

105

1st

West

187

£310

143

1st

East

182

£310

147

1st

East

187

£235

151

1st

East

188

£320

152

1st

East

195

£325

140-141

1st

East

365

£605

127

1st

Centre

347

£575

128-129

1st

Centre

692

£1,150

Pavilion 3

2nd

Suite 3

506

£925

Pavilion 3

2nd

Suite 4

321

£585

All rents are quoted exclusive of VAT. In addition to the above suites offered on an all-inclusive basis, we have 5,400 sq ft of newly refurbished modern office space available on flexible terms. For more information please contact the joint letting agents, Cushman and Wakefiled, McNicol Property Consultants or call Squarestone directly on 0141 887 45 45.

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

Your awaits Yournew new office office awaits All-inclusive ÂŁ250+VAT +VATPCM PCM All-inclusive suites suites from from ÂŁ250 Superb wireless fibre broadband, 24/7 access,

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Modern refurbished office space on flexible terms Modern refurbished office space on flexible terms For or to toarrange arrangea aviewing viewing please Formore moreinformation information or please contact lettingagents agentsoror call 0141 887 4545 contactthe the joint joint letting call 0141 887 4545

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Business Matters Autumn 2018

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China’s 1st Official Training Partner In Scotland In the first instance of its kind in Scotland, University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has been recognised as an official training partner for China after receiving accreditation from China’s State Administration for Foreign Expert Affairs (SAFEA) earlier this year.

This endorsement has meant that UWS becomes the first organisation in Scotland to be accredited as part of an elite group providing foreign expertise and technical and managerial training to organisations in China.

SAFEA is the Chinese government agency responsible for certifying foreign experts to work in mainland China and for organising overseas training for Chinese professionals.

Accreditation as an Overseas Training and Collaborative Organisation (OTCO) enables UWS to deliver and share training to Chinese partners in a broad number of areas of UWS expertise, including: • Creative Media: cultural diplomacy, media practice • Environmental Health: waste management, circular economy, food safety • Global Tourism: rural tourism, cultural heritage and regeneration, global branding • Healthcare: elderly people care and dementia care, midwifery and newborn care, community healthcare

• Immersive Teaching: transformational education, VR/AR technology in teaching • Integration between education and industry: Modern Apprenticeships, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships • International Innovation and Entrepreneurship: enterprise education • Science & Technology: Thin films, 5G technology, Smart City technology, aircraft engineering • Sport: football coach training UWS’s SAFEA accreditation marked the first official link between China and Scotland focused on training and helps open up new opportunities for partnership working in commerce, industry and business between the two countries, both in Scotland and in China.

The announcement came earlier this year as the First Minister embarked on a trade mission, led by SDI (Scottish Development International) which incorporated visits to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.

At the time, Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister, said: “UWS has a strong track-record of positive engagement and cooperation with partners at a national and international level.

This accreditation from China’s State Administration for Foreign Expert Affairs will help to further strengthen Scotland’s academic and cultural links with China,

enabling our two countries to continue to share expertise and best practices in a broad number of areas.”

University of the West of Scotland currently has links with 40 Chinese educational partners, which sees students coming to UWS from China to build on their studies, and enabling joint research and knowledge transfer activity.

The University’s accreditation follows a lengthy process of review by the State Administration which began in 2016.

As an official OTCO, UWS was also the first Scottish organisation to attend the Conference on International Exchange of Professionals in Shenzhen, China (14-16 April). UWS representatives had the opportunity to meet and explore collaborative opportunities with counterparts from technical and management roles in Chinese universities, public sector organisations and companies interested in overseas training.

Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal & Vice-Chancellor, UWS said: “UWS has a long and proud history of friendship with China. We are absolutely delighted our already strong foundations of partnership and collaboration have been further strengthened through this important accreditation by the Chinese State Administration. This will have significant importance for the University and for Scotland as a whole, and open up new and impactful areas of activity.”

UWS CONTINUES TO CLIMB TIMES HIGHER EDUCATION’S WORLD UNIVERSITY RANKINGS University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is celebrating its third year in the Times Higher Education’s (THE) World University Rankings.

The latest results have seen the University jump 12 places from joint 60th in the previous league table to joint 48th out of 98 in the UK this year.

Globally, UWS has also moved up a category and is now ranked 401-500 out of 1,258 institutions worldwide, increasing from last year’s position at 501-600 out of 1,000. This, in turn, improved on the University’s original listing of 601-800 out of 980 when it was first included in the THE World University Rankings 2017.

Amongst the performance indicators used by the THE World University Rankings, UWS ranked in the top 250 universities worldwide for citations, revealing the scope of UWS’ research influence by capturing the number of times a university’s published work is cited by scholars globally.

We are also recognised for our international outlook, which measures the ability of the University to attract international students and staff, in addition to levels of international research collaboration.

Commenting on the latest results, Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal & Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said: “I’m immensely proud to see UWS continue to climb the rankings, especially when we

take into account the scale and global weighting of the THE World University Rankings. Furthermore, our UK position has also significantly improved, jumping 12 places from joint 60th in the last listing to joint 48th this year, which is a considerable achievement for the University.

“Our new position in the THE World University Rankings is testament to the continual hard work put in by colleagues and students across the institution, particularly with regard to the impact of our research activity and work on internationalisation, as is reflected in our top scores. I want to express my real gratitude to everyone at UWS, and our partners, who have all played a role in this fantastic and important achievement.”

THE World University Rankings are now in their 15th year, and have published a ranking of over 1,250 universities from 86 countries, making it its biggest international league table to date.

The organisation cites the rankings as the only global performance tables that judge research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook, and are said to be the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, which are trusted by students, academics, university leaders, industry and governments.

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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New multi-million pound Lanarkshire campus opens doors University of the West of Scotland’s (UWS) new multi-million pound Lanarkshire campus has opened its doors to all students.

The culmination of a two-year project and a £110 million investment, the campus, which stretches over 85,000m² is situated in one of Scotland’s most successful business parks.

UWS Lanarkshire represents a stepchange in the way learning and teaching is delivered in Scotland, and its various spaces have been designed to be open, multifunctional and collaborative, in a move to revolutionise traditional higher education pedagogy.

The campus is home to some of Scotland’s newest and most cutting-edge research facilities, including Scotland’s highest-specification environmental chamber – one of only two in the country – and Scotland’s newest simulated nursing and midwifery teaching environment.

Based within Hamilton International Business Park, UWS Lanarkshire is co-located alongside over 80 local, national and international businesses, including HSBC, Babcock and John Lewis. Its location provides a wealth

of opportunities for collaboration with students, graduates and academics, and the campus is open for companies to use its first-class facilities, which include a 236-capacity auditorium and a conference space for up to 128 people.

A priority has been placed on sustainability, making UWS Lanarkshire one of the UK’s greenest university campuses, powered exclusively by renewable energy from the nearby Blantyre Muir wind farm.

Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said: “The opening of the UWS Lanarkshire campus is a momentous occasion in our University’s history, and has been delivered on time and on budget – an extremely proud moment for everyone involved in the highly-ambitious project.

“The new campus will give students and staff access to some of the most advanced teaching and research facilities in the UK. It will also have a tremendous impact on the local community, with estimates suggesting the campus will result in a £443 million boost over the next 25 years.

“The way students learn is changing.

With direct access to knowledge at their

fingertips in the form of smart devices, students need a campus which is flexible and responsive to learning in all its forms – UWS Lanarkshire is equipped with first-class facilities to support the changing nature of learning and teaching higher education.

“Every element of the campus has been carefully considered to ensure it is modern, connected, collaborative, sustainable and that it provides significant opportunities for research and enterprise activity.

“As we welcome students to the UWS Lanarkshire campus, we hope they will relish the opportunities it presents and be proud of their new university facility.

We want all our students to use the new space, shape it, and make it their own.”

www.uws.ac.uk

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Business Matters Autumn 2018

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Renfrewshire Council Updates:

Major events programme brings £1.25m into Renfrewshire economy in 2018

Renfrewshire’s major events programme has created a £1.25m boost for the local economy so far in 2018 as the ongoing work to use the area’s cultural and heritage story to transform its future continues to deliver results.

More than 70,000 people have come to the area from across Scotland and beyond to attend big days with April’s Paisley Food and Drink Festival, May’s British Pipe Band Championships and Sma’ Shot/Weave festival in July, each attracting five-figure crowds.

Those three events alone created more than £850,000 of local spend plus almost £400,000 of spend by visitors to the area – boosting the coffers of local businesses.

This year also saw Scottish Opera bring a unique outdoor production of Pagliacci to a specially-erected tent in Seedhill Playing Fields for five sold-out nights in July, which also attracted a five-figure crowd and Scotland-wide profile.

The council and its partners have agreed to use the resources set aside during the town’s UK City of Culture

sharp rise in the numbers of creative businesses seeking funding and support in the past few years;

bid to host the title had Paisley won on projects which will deliver on its vision and aims, and create long-term economic, social and cultural benefits for the whole area.

Other key achievements so far this year include: • the push to promote the area as a visitor destination continues through the area’s new destination brand and website www.paisley.is, which has already smashed its first-year target for views; • work to build the area’s creative business sector, which has already – thanks to the work of the council’s business incubator InCube – seen a

Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “Paisley’s UK City of Culture bid did a huge amount to lift the town’s profile, reputation and selfconfidence, but it was only ever one part of a major plan designed to use culture and heritage to make us a destination and drive new footfall.

“We said that journey would continue – and the numbers attending major events in the area are one of many ways we can now demonstrate that.

To have £1m pumped into the local economy so far this year will have had major benefits for traders throughout Renfrewshire.

“We’ve also a new fund designed to build capacity among local creative groups as well as investment to transform key outdoor spaces and transport links as part of the £100m investment in Paisley town centre over the next few years.”

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Renfrewshire Council Updates:

Invest in Renfrewshire We know you’re always on the lookout for the right candidate – and the Invest in Renfrewshire team is here to make sure you get them.

With dedicated support for different sectors of Renfrewshire’s economy, the Invest team aims to help your business source the employee you need.

A series of new sector-specific courses have been developed to make sure local people have the skills and attributes needed to work for you. And the team have Service Co-ordinators in place who specialise in support for various sectors – we’ve provided contact details below.

You can find out more about employability services at www.investinrenfrewshire.com • Business & ICT Karen Callaghan 0141 618 6780 / 07985 708998 business@renfrewshire.gov.uk

• Childcare, Social Care and Health Care Christine McGuire 0141 618 5780 / 07985 742376 care@renfrewshire.gov.uk • Creative Industries Laura Neill 0141 618 7786 / 07976 590882 creative@renfrewshire.gov.uk • Construction, Manufacturing, Security and Logistics Darren Conway 0141 618 5176 / 07966 146830 construction@renfrewshire.gov.uk • Customer Service Leanne Wilson 0141 618 4048 / 07985 709026 customerservice@renfrewshire.gov.uk Case study “Carli’s Kindergarten has been providing

childcare in Erskine and the wider community for over 10 years. As part of this journey, we have developed a great relationship with Invest in Renfrewshire; their support has been invaluable to us in relation to business guidance and employment opportunities.

“As a local company and winner of the ROCCO award for Invest in Renfrewshire, we are committed to supporting the people of Renfrewshire into employment.

“Invest in Renfrewshire’s professional staff team has given Carli’s Kindergarten and their employees continued support through their mentoring and financial programme and we cannot thank you all enough for this.”

Gayle Millar, Carli’s Kindergarten A new six-week training course preparing individual for entry-level jobs in the care sector starts next month – for more information, call 0300 300 1180.

Invest in…

Creative Industries

Business & ICT

Childcare, Social Care and Health Care

Construction, Manufacturing, Security and Logistics

Customer Service

Jobs | Training | Skills | Recruitment

Business Matters Autumn 2018

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Renfrewshire Council Updates: Paisley bid legacy plans are moving forward Ambitious plans to realise the vision behind Paisley’s bid to be UK City of Culture 2021 have now taken several big steps forward.

The four-year £42m transformation of Paisley Museum into an international-class destination telling the story of the town’s pattern, heritage and people is now under way, with the building closed to allow work to start.

And Renfrewshire Council has agreed number of measures to bring new life to Paisley town centre and harness the power of culture to change lives for the better, including: • formal approval for a new cultural organisational development fund of £360,000 over the next three years to support the area’s creative sector to grow their operations and reach; • transforming key outdoor town centre sites in Abbey Close and County Square by expanding capacity for major events and creating spaces which encourage

residents, visitors and students to spend time; • improvements to major road junctions to improve road safety, allow traffic to flow better, and open up key gateways to the town centre; The council’s leadership board also agreed to consider a report at their next meeting which would look at how the cultural legacy will reach towns and villages throughout Renfrewshire.

The investment in outdoor spaces and roads forms £10m of a £100m investment in Paisley town centre over the next few years - to create homes for the increased events, festivals and cultural activity the area is already attracting.

That includes the Paisley Museum redevelopment, expected to quadruple current visitor numbers when it reopens in 2022, plus £22m plans to preserve Paisley Town’s Hall’s place at the heart of life in the area and turn it into a landmark

performance venue.

Bob Grant, chief executive of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce said: “We welcome this investment in the next stage of the journey to deliver the vision of the 2021 bid.

“Enhancing our key cultural assets and public realm will we believe drive visitor numbers and increase economic spend, presenting opportunity for businesses to capitalise on our growing profile on the national and international stage.

“Cultural development and the legacy fund will encourage creative organisations to upskill, build their operations and shine a spotlight on the reinvigorated vision for Paisley and Renfrewshire.”

Businesses can keep up to date on what is happening in Paisley town centre over the next few years by signing up to the Renfrewshire Council’s new email news service via www.renfrewshire.gov.uk and clicking on ‘sign up for e-alerts’.

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SCHOOL UPDATES: Trinity Pupils Visit British ‘I Can Do Anything Day’ Airways at Glasgow Airport The ‘I Can Do Anything Day’ on the 15th June Pupils of Trinity High School had a recent visit to the British Airways overhaul base at Glasgow Airport.

They were given a tour of the base, getting the opportunity to board 2 aircrafts which were at two different stages of the overhaul process. The first Airbus A319 was in the middle of a service and was completely stripped back, allowing pupils to see the different skills and trades required.

The second aircraft was at the end of the overhaul process and pupils watched many of the final checks being carried out prior to the aircraft leaving the hanger. This trip was made very special down to all the staff at BA giving up their time to discuss and explain many aspects of the overhaul process.

Castlehead High School

Having fun and developing our skills!

Recently in Castlehead, S1 and S2 pupils visited Thermo Fischer in Inchinnan to take part in a STEM workshop. All pupils loved meeting new people and being given a chance to develop different skills by engaging with various activities. Some girls in S3 have also been involved with STEM activities recently. They visited UWS and had a chance to try out lots of different activities. Meanwhile, senior pupils are looking forward to attending the Skills Scotland event at the SEC Glasgow. This is always a worthwhile event for pupils who are looking at college and apprenticeships.

was a Whole School Employability Event which was aimed at promoting as many different careers as possible for pupils when they leave Gryffe High School.

All pupils were involved in the day.

Primary 7 pupils along with S2 were involved in a Careers Day with over 30 speakers delivering workshops to them.

S3 and S4 alternated between Heart Start Training, where they all gained a certificate, and Team Building.

S5 took part in a Careers Day at the Church Halls where 16 speakers came in to deliver workshops including Bridge of Weir Leather, Skills Development Scotland, ATOS, the Army and the Police amongst many others. S6 were supporting the day with jobs such as meeting and greeting visitors and being PA’s to our outside speakers.

TODHOLM CAREERS FAYRE Todholm Primary are holding their second Careers Fayre on 9th November and have a host of local businesses attending. Some of the businesses include NHS, Police Scotland, Nationwide, Paisley Physiotherapy, Quarriers and more. We are still looking for other volunteers, so please get in touch :) Our pupils are so excited to learn about the World of Work and all the opportunities available to them.

Linwood High School Employability Update Huge thanks to our business partners who have supported the following activities in our first term. S2 loved their visit to Doosan in Renfrew for STEM Fortnight where they saw how underwater pipes are tested for corrosion.

S3 STEM Girls group got so much from their day at West College Scotland finding out about the skills for STEM careers and taking part in a range of workshops. Thanks to Michael Moran at Renfrewshire Council and West College Scotland. S4 Modern Studies visited the Sheriff Court in Paisley, and thanks to Sheriff Harris for delivering the perfect lesson on Sentencing and allowing us to watch his morning court session.

Thanks to the Glasgow Science Centre for the Chemistry workshop for S3 and to our work experience providers for our S6 Employability pupils....WH Malcolm, Hyundai, Barnardos, Linwood Community Childcare and The Bobbin Mill. Finally, congratulations to our S6 pupils who have organised The Next Generation Concert at the Tweedie Hall on Friday 12th October. 120 pupils from Linwood High, East Fulton Primary and Woodlands Primary took part in a musical and dance extravaganza to celebrate the Year of Young people 2018 and the creative talent in Linwood.

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Gleniffer High School – Believe and You Will Achieve S4 Practical Woodwork IOSH Following the success of a previous program where a group of our senior Lab Skills pupils competed a full IOSH Health and Safety qualification, Fred Cullum from Enable Safety will again be coming into the school and delivering a series of Health and Safety lessons to our S4 Practical Woodwork class leading to all of them gaining a professional certificate. Once again, we are the only school in Scotland to offer this opportunity and our thanks go to Fred for developing and organising this fully funded, bespoke program for our pupils.

S2 Traditional Building Skills In September a group of our S2 pupils once again took part in the Traditional Building Skills in Paisley Abbey in conjunction with Paisley THI, West College Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland.

The pupils had the opportunity to take part in traditional building skills workshops including Stone Letter cutting, Plumbing & Leadwork, Carpentry and Natural Roofing. The event also included a tour of Paisley Abbey where pupils could see how the skills they were developing were being used to maintain the historic building. Mr. Jagger (Technical) who took the group commented: “The kids really enjoyed themselves, two could have lined up apprenticeships if they were a bit older!”

S3 – Professional Skills in Construction Just after the S2 event, S3 pupils attended an event set up with speakers from the construction industry explaining their route from school to where they are now and then a group task with all school

pupils mixed up and asked to build a Lego tower considering time management, profit and costs. The pupils gained valuable insight into career pathways into the construction industry as well as a greater focus on the skills required.

City Gate Construction During the new term we are also looking forward to a new partnership with City Gate Construction where our pupils will be undertaking a ten-week programme with one of their joiners in order to bring construction to life. City Gate Construction have kindly offer to fully fund the course including all the materials and time commitment from their team.

Crisis are Winners of the 2018 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service We are delighted to announce that Crisis Counselling are Winners of the 2018 Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. We have an amazing team and many have stayed with us through thick and thin over many years. Our volunteers help in so many ways and are the backbone of every organisation. We have been so lucky to have the skill, compassion and gift of others time and expertise throughout the years…Thank you!

The unique UK national honour was created by Her Majesty to mark the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and to recognise the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups of volunteers.

Tracey Crouch, Minister for Sport and Civil Society, said: Everyone who has received this award should be incredibly proud. Their service, commitment and care has a profoundly positive impact on communities throughout the country and I am delighted they have been recognised

with this prestigious award.

The record number of recipients this year is testament to the strength of the voluntary sector and I am sure this trend will continue into the future. If you know any organisations that deserve to be recognised, make your voice heard and nominate them for next year.

Crisis Counselling provides an early intervention volunteer counselling service that is not time limited or in any way geographically constrained.

The group is unique among counselling services because it provides, at very little or no cost, rapid support to people who find themselves in life changing situations and for whom the wait to access statutory services would often result in considerable deterioration in their mental health.

There are currently 93 Crisis Counselling volunteers and it is not possible to overstate how important they have become over the years in providing a vital resource that is a lifeline for so many vulnerable individuals from every

section of the community.

Crisis Counselling Ltd. Riverside Hosue, Old Ferry Road, Erskine, Renfrewshire PA8 6AX 0141 812 8474 Email info@crisiscounselling.co.uk web: www.crisiscounselling.co.uk

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Boston Networks to deliver transformational £6m IoT Scotland Network Boston Networks to lead £6m project to build and operate the most advanced Internet of Things (IoT) network in the UK The new network, called IoT Scotland, will provide a wireless sensor network for applications and services to collect data from devices and send that data without the need for cellular or Wi-Fi, supporting businesses develop new and innovative applications, changing the way they work.

The network will enable all businesses and public sector to have the ability to monitor the efficiency and productivity of their assets, equipment, scheduling maintenance and improving production.

For example, IoT Scotland could support wider use of smart bins that wirelessly inform local authorities when they require emptying, ensuring best use of bin lorries but also helping to reduce carbon emissions. Similarly, the network could monitor office environments to lower costs by saving energy, while reducing carbon footprints of buildings.

The three year project includes investment from the public and private sector with the Scottish Government investing £2.7 million, with the remaining investment coming from Boston Networks, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy, Kate Forbes said: “The Internet of Things is set to transform every sector of our economy, from manufacturing to agriculture and presents an exciting opportunity to revolutionise the way businesses and the public sector across Scotland work.

“Our £2.7 million investment in this project underpins our vision of a Scotland that stimulates innovation, welcomes investment and promotes its digital industries. We want Scotland to be recognised internationally as a natural test bed for innovation in connectivity which is why we are investing in our digital infrastructure.

boston networks

L to R: Scott McEwan - Boston Networks, Theresa Swayne - HIE, Kate Forbes - Scottish Government, Linda Hanna Scottish Enterprise

“As the network is rolled out across the country, it will enable companies to innovate, providing low-cost access to next-generation connectivity, helping organisations develop new solutions and devices with global export potential.”

“We made a commitment in the 2017/18 Programme for Government to invest in a new wireless sensor network.

This network supports full commercial use of IoT in Scotland and will help transform the potential for businesses and the public sector to explore sensor and imaging applications, to pilot their ideas and then launch proven, sustainable products and services into the global market.”

Falk Bleyl, Chief Technology Officer, Boston Networks stated: “Boston Networks is excited to be leading the pioneering project to build and operate the IoT network which will

drive the commercialisation of the Internet of Things across Scotland.

The wide reaching network, which will be the most advanced in the UK, has the potential to revolutionise the use of smart technologies and will be rolled out in cities, towns and rural areas across the country. The network will allow a wide range of users, from small IoT startups to multinationals to focus on the deployment of sensors and applications, rather than network build.”

Ian Reid, CENSIS CEO commented: “It is forecast that there will be 25 billion IoT devices connected by 2025 and only a small number will be connected to the internet using 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi. Low power wide area networks like IoT Scotland are going to become increasingly important – they have the potential to be as disruptive to businesses as the internet has been already to our daily lives.”

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DYW West Update New ways for industry to engage with educationâ&#x20AC;Ś There are 2 new resources available to industry to use to support young people at school and college.

Marketplace is an online resource developed by Skills Development Scotland and DYW Edinburgh, being rolled out across all regional groups in Scotland. Marketplace allows industry to upload opportunities aimed at young people / teaching staff, such as a challenge, tour, career insight etc. The system is free to use and opportunities uploaded by industry are taken up by schools who see them online and book them via the system.

Founders4Schools (F4S) is another free resource that is part of the DYW family whereby teachers at schools / college seek people from industry to come in and support their events, such as give a class talk. It requires business people to sign up and the resource integrates with your LinkedIn profile to show your skills & experience with educators.

Marketplace & Founders 4 Schools for educators is accessible via MyWorldofWork Industry can access Marketplace via www.ourskillsforce.co.uk and

Founder4Schools via https://dywscot. founders4schools.org.uk/partners/dywwest/ We encourage business people of all ages & sectors to sign up to both and give your support to young people. Your time brings the curriculum to life and helps young people understand more about the world of work and life after school / college.

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