Issue 3 • Autumn 2012
...of business in Dumfries & Galloway
The Growth Issue Our region’s success stories Growing together
Generalist to
Specialist
A growing business needs more than the general advice it first received. We are the ideal business partners to take your growing business forward with specialist advice on strategy, DFFRXQWDQF\ WD[ DQG Ć QDQFLDO SODQQLQJ
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Contact Douglas Russell on 01387 955900
Or email douglas.russell@armstrongwatson.co.uk
Armstrong Watson is registered to carry on audit work by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
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Contents 4 Your Chamber Lunch The highlights of Dumfries & Galloway’s business event.
5 News Business news and information from across our region.
16 Appointments & Achievements Award winning businesses, plus find out who’s moving on and moving up.
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22 Going for Growth Exclusive interview with Jim McColl. PLUS Meet the D&G businesses who are defying the recession, Haas Tek and Process Plant & Machinery, Positive Response and SuperControl.
Publisher: Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce T: 01387 270866 E: admin@dgchamber.co.uk
30 Growing through Collaboration
Editor: Lorna Young T: 01387 263886 E: editor@dgchamber.co.uk Design: Ian Findlay Design T: 01387 252599 E: design@dgchamber.co.uk Advertising: Helen Holt T: 07966 162654 E: advertising@dgchamber.co.uk Print: Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press Photography: Reproduced by kind permission from Allan Devlin, Ian Findlay and contributing businesses. Front cover image courtesy of the Daily Record. Additional images from shutterstock.com The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort is made to ensure the veracity and integrity of the companies, persons, products and services mentioned in this publication and details given are believed to be accurate at the time of going to press. However no responsibility or liability whatsoever can be accepted for any consequence or repercussion of responding to any information or advice given or inferred.
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Business clusters that have come to fruition in recent months.
33 Knowledge Exchange Four Chamber members share their advice and expertise.
36 Learning. Networking. Growing. Forthcoming business events and opportunities.
38 Meet the Member Meet Allan Devlin of South West Images Scotland.
39 Welcome New members of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce.
Partners for Business
South of Scotland Business Solutions: A partnership between Barony College, Borders College, Dumfries & Galloway College, Scottish Agricultural College, Heriot-Watt University, University of Glasgow & University of the West of Scotland
your local magazine for business & enterprise 3
Your Chamber Lunch Our region’s annual business event, the Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce Lunch, took place on 30th October, bringing together business leaders from across our region to this well established celebration of enterprise. Our Speaker im McColl is one of Scotland’s leading entrepreneurs. Chairman and Chief Executive of Clyde Blowers, last year he sold specialised engineering company ClydeUnion Pumps for £750m, having bought it for £45m just four years ago. Clyde Blowers still consists of 85 engineering companies in 27 countries, with a turnover in excess of £1 billion and 6,000 employees around the world. He said: “I am looking forward to the Chamber lunch. Small and medium sized companies are the life blood of the Scottish economy and I am keen to catch up with the developments in Dumfries & Galloway where there is a vibrant community of small businesses.” Read his exclusive interview with The Voice on page 22.
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Menu: Champion Haggis & Local Beef Award winning local haggis with a Bladnoch whisky sauce followed by succulent local beef and a Sulwath Ale sauce, served with locally grown vegetables.
Win: Bespoke Jewellery A design consultation and a unique, handcrafted piece of jewellery will be won in the Chamber lunch prize draw, courtesy of the Galloway Studios Design Room in Castle Douglas.
Supporting: National Society for Phenylketonuria Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare genetic condition checked for by a heel prick test in newborn babies. The NSPKU supports people with PKU, their carers and their families and is the charity supported by this year’s Chamber lunch.
Be part of it The Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce Annual Lunch takes place each year towards the end of October. To make sure you receive information on the Chamber lunch and other Dumfries & Galloway networking opportunities throughout the year, contact admin@dgchamber.co.uk
t: 01387 270866 e: admin@dgchamber.co.uk www.dgchamber.co.uk your local magazine for business & enterprise 4
News
Dumfries & Galloway’s business news digest Email your news to editor@dgchamber.co.uk
D&G Chefs Association Launched group of leading chefs from across Dumfries & Galloway have joined together with the support of Savour the Flavours to launch the D&G Chefs Association. The organisation aims to raise professional standards across the region with training, mentoring and support; encourage the use of fresh, local ingredients by chefs, cooks and caterers throughout Dumfries & Galloway and it will continue to work closely with Savour the Flavours in raising the profile of Dumfries & Galloway as a
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food destination. Ian McAndrew, Chef Proprietor of Blackaddie Country House Hotel in Sanquhar and Chamber member, chairs the group. He says the D&G Chefs Association has the potential to play a transformative role in Dumfries & Galloway’s entire hospitality sector: “A group of eight chefs with the support of Savour the Flavours have been working on plans for this Association for around a year. We wanted to identify how we could best support and promote our industry,
how we could enhance training and skills, how we could develop better links with local suppliers and how we could help raise the standards of food provision across our region. “It’s been a very rewarding process working with such passionate and enthusiastic food professionals to make this Association happen. All of us recognise the integral part that hospitality plays in supporting a strong tourism industry in this
region, and all of us are keen to do what we can to enhance Dumfries & Galloway’s growing position as a food destination.” The founder members of the D&G Chefs Association also include Head Chef of Chamber member Smiths at Gretna Green as well as Douglas Lisi, Tom Kirkpatrick, Tony Budde, Lara Smith, Russell Pearce and Martin Avey. One of the first activities undertaken by the D&G Chefs Association will be a series of specially designed workshops for hotel and restaurant owners as well as cooks and chefs. These workshops will take place on 5th November at Smiths at Gretna Green, 19th November at Threave Gardens near Castle Douglas and on 3rd December at Dumfries & Galloway College’s Stranraer Campus. Business owners, managers, chefs, cooks and caterers interested in receiving information about the D&G Chefs Association should contact liz@savourthe flavours.co.uk or visit www.savourtheflavours.co.uk
Business Premises Wanted in Moffat? he Old Moffat Academy Redevelopment group is assessing the potential demand from businesses for modern premises in the area, in particular for small scale or artisan businesses, as part of the communityled regeneration of the
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former Moffat Academy site in the town. For more information about the proposed redevelopment or to share your views visit www.oldmoffatacademy. org.uk or contact David Major of Let’s Live Local on 01683 221 403.
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01387 250008 6 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
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Glasgow Office 1 Barn Lane, Cambuslang, Glasgow G72 6ZQ Tel: 07867 392650
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Local Businesses Help to Highlight Rural Opportunities
ne hundred and ninety five local business people and other providers headed to Wallace Hall Academy this summer to share their knowledge and expertise about career pathways for Rural Opportunities Day, organised by the Queensberry Initiative. A wide variety of experiences and stalls were available for the children and young people to use for their experiential learning. Pupils were invited to create choux pastry swans, tested
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their fitness against professional trainers’ standards and were able to demonstrate their golfing skills. Several types of honey and a variety of cheeses were taste tested in the marquees and pupils designed a new chocolate for a local chocolatier. Meanwhile in the school playground diggers and lorries were joined by emergency vehicles from the police and fire and rescue service and tree surgeons demonstrated their skills in trees nearby.
Armstrong Watson Becomes a Partner for Business rmstrong Watson underlined their commitment to Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce by becoming a Partner for Business. The company joins five other Partners for Business, Bank of Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Kellwood Engineering, ScottishPower Renewables and South of Scotland Business Solutions, who have all formally recognised the importance of Dumfries & Galloway’s business community and the significance of the work of your Chamber of Commerce by investing in it. Douglas Russell, Lead Partner of Armstrong Watson in Dumfries said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Chamber by agreeing to become a Partner for Business. We recognise the vital role that the Chamber fulfils in supporting and representing local business and encouraging the further development of some excellent businesses in
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South West Scotland. We share these goals as an organisation and look forward to working closely with the Chamber and its members.” Armstrong Watson as a group has 14 regional offices and this year celebrates their 145th anniversary. This network of regional offices offers clients all the specialist services and national reach of a larger firm, but with the ability to deliver at a local level from offices in Dumfries and Lockerbie. The company assists local businesses with a full range of specialist advisory services including holistic personal and corporate tax planning strategies, VAT planning, Corporate Finance and Financial Planning. In addition the MSI international network partners enables support for businesses who export or who are looking for assistance abroad. Partner Tom Riddet, who also sits on the Dumfries &
Douglas Russell and Tom Riddet meet with the Chamber’s Gordon Mann
Galloway Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, says that Armstrong Watson is keen to become an active partner for the benefit of Chamber members. He said: “We will be delighted to give a second opinion on any issues that Chamber members may be facing, or indeed to provide specific project advice. We hope to demonstrate, through informative articles and seminars, our deep knowledge of some of the key financial, taxation and strategic issues facing many businesses, and we hope that Chamber members will benefit from some new ideas and action plans as we look towards preparing for, and
taking advantage of, the economic upturn.” Chamber Chief Executive Gordon Mann welcomed Armstrong Watson’s support of the Chamber: “We are delighted to welcome Armstrong Watson as our latest Partner for Business. As a major accountancy firm they have the scale that allows them to have a wide range of specialist advisers whilst delivering a very local service. We look forward to working with them over the coming years. As an organisation we very much value the support we get from the Partners for Business and we believe that all parties gain from this arrangement.”
your local magazine for business & enterprise 7
News
Dumfries & Galloway’s business news digest. Email your news to editor@dgchamber.co.uk
New Home for Destination Dumfries & Galloway hamber Chief Executive Gordon Mann has taken on Chairmanship of Destination Dumfries & Galloway, the industry led Destination Management Organisation set up three years ago to grow the region’s tourism sector. His appointment marks a new phase in the evolution of the organisation, and a three year funding package from Dumfries & Galloway Council will secure the future of the organisation under the stewardship of the Chamber and will allow a new Tourism Development Executive to be appointed. Councillor Ian Carruthers, Chair of Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Planning, Housing and Environment Committee said: “Our Council recognises that tourism is a key driver to the region’s economy and
this new appointment will contribute to the ongoing development and support of businesses in this vital sector in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council.” Steering the next phase of work for DD&G, Gordon Mann is optimistic about the impact the organisation will now have on the region’s tourism sector. “The Chamber has had a long involvement with tourism through the work of the Mountain Bike Business Network and this will now transfer to DD&G. Both the Board of Chamber and DD&G are determined to play their part in increasing tourism investment and income to this region and this is a great example of getting our sleeves rolled up to tackle this work together. “By combining our resources both organisations
will continue to be independent but much more effective. The Chamber has developed links to the wider business community, effective marketing tools and event management systems, and we are looking to develop that further. All of these services and infrastructure will help the new Tourism Development Executive to effectively support the growth of tourism businesses in our region. “As a region we need to
Quality Assured
service providers. A survey carried out by VisitScotland in 2011 found that the Quality Assurance schemes were an important driver of investment within the industry, raising aspirations among participating businesses. The new pilot scheme, which is already being rolled out across the region, aims to remove some of the barriers to participation for accommodation providers and restaurants, thereby making Quality Assurance more affordable and accessible. Businesses participating in the pilot
will benefit from face to face advice from experienced advisors including advice on improving facility and service offering, a dedicated business manager to help grow business, marketing opportunities to increase visibility and access to additional funding sources. Participating businesses will also benefit from a substantial reduction in QA fees for the first year, capped at £200 as a result of a reduction in VisitScotland fees and significant financial support from Dumfries & Galloway Council. A series of workshops
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umfries & Galloway Council has partnered with VisitScotland in a pilot project to increase the number of accommodation and restaurant businesses in Dumfries & Galloway participating in relevant Quality Assurance schemes. The VisitScotland Quality Assurance schemes have run for around 30 years and are designed to provide the visitor with reassurance of what to expect from tourism
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8 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
pull together to realise that tourism is everyone’s business and in order to create great visitor experiences, we all need to play our part. By working together we can make Dumfries & Galloway a great destination and one that is truly naturally inspiring.” Stacey Paul from Moffat has been appointed to the post of Tourism Development Executive, and she will be based in the Chamber office in Dumfries from mid-November. With a background in marketing Stacey has a solid track record in tourism having worked on a number of tourism projects. She said: “I am delighted to be taking up the post at a time when the organisation is seeking to reconnect with industry. The role is set to be a busy one and I really look forward to working with tourism businesses and community groups to highlight the very best our wonderful region has to offer.”
across the region are now underway (see page 36 for details) and businesses wanting more information about the Quality Assurance pilot should contact Caroline Robertson at VisitScotland on caroline.robertson@visit scotland.com or Mark Geddes at Dumfries & Galloway Council on Mark.Geddes@ dumgal.gov.uk
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your local magazine for business & enterprise 9
News
Dumfries & Galloway’s business news digest. Email your news to editor@dgchamber.co.uk
Grant Applications Sought outh West Environmental Action Trust is urging businesses involved in community projects to apply for funding to maximise the impact of the Landfill Community Fund in Dumfries & Galloway. The South West Environmental Action Trust was established seven years ago to distribute landfill funds and the Trust helps fund, in part or in whole, community projects that are located within 10 miles of the boundary of a landfill site. The positioning of landfill sites across Dumfries & Galloway means that this takes in most of the
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region’s communities. So far SWEAT has helped fund 26 completed projects with many more in progress. Recent awards have included £10,000 for a new conservatory and educational facilities at Logan Botanical Gardens, £5,000 for tennis court refurbishment at Amisfield Tennis Club, £3,500 to develop the garden and play areas at YMCA in Dumfries, £5,000 for the creation of a double walk garden at Midpark Hospital in Dumfries and £2,000 for an outdoor shelter in the educational garden at RSPB Mersehead.
Your Voice, on Air ath Lord-Green from Insight Training, Coaching and Consultancy is looking for local businesses to contribute to her new Friday Magazine
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Renewables Researched umfries & Galloway Council has commissioned a major piece of research to ascertain the impact of the entire renewable energy sector within Dumfries & Galloway. This is the first study of this nature to be undertaken in the region for many years and the findings will directly inform the development of a strategic framework and action plan for the sector. The research will identify the renewables related
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business opportunities which will deliver maximum economic benefits for the region, in particular those with the greatest potential over the next 10 years. It will also identify barriers or reasons why local businesses are not taking up opportunities, and it will determine the business or skills development support needed within the sector. Councillor Ian Carruthers, Chair of the Planning, Housing and Environment
Mike Rae supporting the Double Walk garden project at Midpark Hospital
The committee of SWEAT, which includes Chamber members Mike Rae and Janet Armstrong Hunter of Armstrong Waste Management, Jim Ireland of The Loreburne Centre and Alison Young of Dupont
Teijin Films, are happy to work with all applicants to identify eligible aspects of proposed projects. For more information on how to apply visit www.southwest environmental.org
Show for Alive Radio. Kath is keen to raise awareness of the important role that local businesses play in community life and she’s particularly keen for Chamber members to become involved: “Being a community radio station we like to
involve as many aspects of the community as possible – business being one of them. I like to have a friendly chat that supports local businesses in engaging with local people, it’s very relaxed and informal.” To take part contact Kath on info@insighttcc.co.uk
Committee said: “I am delighted that Dumfries & Galloway Council is taking the lead on important research into the Economic Benefits from the Renewable Energy Sector. This research will identify business opportunities for the region with the greatest potential over the next 10 years. It will also highlight where business or skills development support is required in the renewable sector.” The research team are keen to speak with local businesses across multiple
sectors who already supply, or are interested in supplying, products or services related to or supporting renewable energy. The information gathering stage of the research will be open until Friday 23rd November. Individuals and businesses interested in contributing to the research should contact Shelley Bell, Economic Development Officer on 030 33 33 3000 or Debbie Roberts of EKOS on 0141 353 1994 or at debbie.roberts@ekos.co.uk
10 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
Second Dumfries Whisky Festival Creating a Stir he second Drambusters Whisky Festival, organised by Chamber member TB Watson, is relocating to Easterbrook Hall to accommodate soaring demand for tickets. In addition to being well supported locally the festival attracts individuals and groups of visitors from across the UK and the organisers are keen to support the event’s growth
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as a tourism driver. Organiser Karen Gibson says the first festival held last year exceeded all expectations: “We were thrilled with the interest in the festival last year and we are keen to make this an important annual tourism event for our region, an enjoyable celebration of Scotland’s national drink for local people and a chance to
connect our suppliers with our customers. “Whisky festivals have a strong and loyal following. Last year people travelled from London, Newcastle, Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, a chap came from Turkey as did a group from Bavaria, who have booked again for
this year’s event.” The Drambusters Whisky Festival takes place on 24th November with around 25 different stands showcasing more than 150 products.
Businesses Gear Up to Celebrate the People of the Year umfries & Galloway People of the Year Awards takes place this November and Chamber members are to the forefront as both award sponsors and nominees in the prestigious awards, organised by Dumfries & Galloway Life
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magazine. Now in their third year the awards recognise and celebrate people who play a vital role in their community, in particular noting the importance of business, enterprise, arts and leisure, sport, culture, tourism and
food and drink in community life. People from across Dumfries & Galloway have been shortlisted in 15 categories and the winners will be announced at a celebration lunch on 29th November. Dumfries &
Galloway Life Commissioning Editor, Andrea Thompson, said: “We are looking forward to our biggest People of the Year Awards celebration to date and we have some excellent nominees.”
D&G Chamber’s Scottish Affiliation Renewed he Board of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce have renewed the affiliation of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce for the next three years. The affiliation connects D&G Chamber to British Chambers of Commerce and the world wide network of Chambers. It is a quality standard that guarantees members that they are getting the right level of service. Announcing the agreement of the Board of Scottish Chambers of Commerce to renew the affiliation Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Liz Cameron, said:
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“This unanimous endorsement by the Board is a testament to all the hard work done by the team at Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce. Their growth has been truly immense and an inspiration to chambers across Scotland. The Chamber network is now the largest business representation and support organisation in Scotland. That strength depends on the quality of each of the individual Chambers and the leadership of the local business community. Well done to all involved.” Commenting on the decision Dumfries & Galloway Chamber Chief Executive Gordon Mann
added: “The affiliation process is a rigorous examination of the quality of services, organisation and governance of our Chamber and it is great to know that we have passed this with flying colours. With a small team built up over the past five years the Chamber has a growing membership across the region and it is the only organisation in Dumfries and Galloway affiliated to SCC.” President of the Chamber
Stuart Callander said “In a time of recession it is important that there is a clear voice for business that can be heard locally and in the corridors of power. By being part of Scottish Chambers we have a seat at the table with key politicians and decision makers both in Scottish Government and at Westminster. Never before has there been such a need to make sure that all levels of government create a business friendly environment that recognises the needs of small, local and rural businesses.”
your local magazine for business & enterprise 11
News
Dumfries & Galloway’s business news digest. Email your news to editor@dgchamber.co.uk
New Development Triggers Regeneration Plans S miths Gore has been the driving force behind an enterprising new initiative at Caerlaverock Estate near Dumfries. A new building of contemporary design houses a new tea room and village shop on Glencaple quayside, designed by Smiths Gore architects and opened by HRH Princess Alexandra in September.
The £450,000 development which was funded through private investment from the estate and grants from SRDP has secured six jobs and created a further seven, with expectations of new posts being created in the near future. Richard Henderson, Partner at Smiths Gore, says: “This has been a significant project for us, and more so for Caerlaverock Estate. It is a clear demonstration of their commitment to the local area and the local community to have, over many years, not just retained the local village shop and post office but
now provided this striking building to be both a landmark and a new hub for the community.” The development has already become the catalyst for a range of other new commercial initiatives including the sale of local
12 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
meat, fish and game, exhibition space for local artists and plans for two new caravan sites nearby. The investment has also triggered the development of a phased plan for the regeneration of the quay.
Solway Centre Opens T he University of Glasgow has launched a new interdisciplinary research centre that is the first of its kind in the UK. The Solway Centre for Environment and Culture brings together natural scientists with cultural specialists, creating truly interdisciplinary courses. Valentina Bold, the Director of the centre said: “I was delighted to see such goodwill towards the Solway Centre from Dumfries & Galloway, with over 100 people attending, from Stranraer to Langholm. The Chamber was well represented, alongside delegates from the Council, Museums, Scottish government, Scottish Natural Heritage, the National Trust for Scotland,
Leader, local heritage societies and organisations and our campus partners the University of the West of Scotland, Dumfries & Galloway College and Scotland’s Rural College. “The Solway Centre has three research themes; rural landscape management, sustainable tourism and landscape, memory, place. It seems we are at a point when the relationship between environment and culture is absolutely crucial, as all around us we are aware of the impact of environmental change on the landscape, from windfarms to biodiversity loss and climate change – having the Crichton Carbon Centre as our neighbour will be hugely important. “We have links with some
Dr Valentina Bold (centre left) at the launch of the Solway Centre in October
of the most exciting developments locally, from the Galloway & Southern Ayrshire Biosphere to work across the Solway. We welcome guidance and approaches from Chamber members in terms of our future directions, and contributions to building the knowledge base around issues such as sustainable rural tourism and approaches to land management.” Eight University
researchers comprise the core team based at the Dumfries Campus, working with an additional seventeen academics from the University of Glasgow and beyond. Initial research includes a project studying the impact of a spate of wildfires across the UK in the spring of 2011 and an archaeology project encouraging the local community to find out more about hidden, local archaeology.
your local magazine for business & enterprise 13
News
Dumfries & Galloway’s business news digest. Email your news to editor@dgchamber.co.uk
Biosphere Means Business T
he Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere, officially added to UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme in July, is urging businesses to get involved in the project at an early stage. Biospheres are the only globally recognised accreditation for world-class environments that promote and demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature, valuing conservation and sustainable development on a regional scale. Covering an area of 5,270 km2 the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire biosphere includes 95,000 inhabitants, 5,000 SMEs, 8,000 selfemployed individuals and
has a GDP of £2bn. Development Officer Nick Ward says that rather than stifling business, Biosphere status offers new commercial opportunities for individuals and businesses. “Most obvious, perhaps, will be the benefits for tourism. Already an important sector for this region, data from established
Biospheres, such as Entlebuch, suggest that this figure will rise as designation becomes better known. However, evidence also suggests that positive impacts on business go wider than tourism. “Inward long-term investment as a result of the enhanced profile for the area is reported by North Devon Biosphere, whilst the ability
14 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
to attract educated, skilled workers and entrepreneurs is reported by Kristianstads Vattenrike Biosphere. Some Biospheres report increased opportunities for social enterprises to flourish. In this region possibilities might include creating markets for micro renewables, establishing local food produce and service networks, and developing opportunities to preserve traditional rural skills and crafts.” Nick is keen to hear from and involve local businesses in the Biosphere activities at an early stage: “Successful Biospheres are those where businesses and communities actively collaborate; sharing ideas and best practice. Working together to develop mutual understanding and for common purpose can help develop new ideas and better, more joined up ways of working, which themselves can better focus existing resources and attract additional resources.” To find out more contact Nick Ward at nick@sup.org.uk or register your interest on www.gallowayandsouthern ayrshirebiosphere.org.uk
Work Ready Project Piloted acquies Beauty in Dumfries is piloting a new programme with Dumfries & Galloway College to equip students with the skills, attitude, knowledge, experience and ambition to succeed in the real world of work. The Work Ready project was developed following feedback from local employers at a Business Breakfast hosted by Dumfries & Galloway College earlier this year. The project seeks to define more clearly the skills required to make College students more work ready, and to identify how these skills can be incorporated into course delivery and work placements with local employers. Following an application and interview process, four students have been selected to take part in the innovative project, joining Jacquies Beauty for ten weeks from the end of October. Jacquie Brown was delighted with the enthusiasm and determination of the
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selected students. “Each of the four students is committed to perfection; they want to be the best they can be and they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Their attitude is a great fit with our commitment to quality and natural beauty. We’ll share our commitment to quality with them and we’ll give these students the tools to make them stars of the beauty industry. “Their ten week programme will include a full day of shadowing, plus weekly 3 hour mentoring
with myself where we’ll arm these youngsters with the understanding of what real life will ask of them within the workplace. They’ll be styled by our stylist, will learn about the business, understand our clients and they’ll see the reality of what a real beauty salon is all about.” The pilot project has been facilitated through the South of Scotland Knowledge Transfer Partnership project (SoS Business Solutions) with funding provided from the Scottish Funding Council
and European Regional Development Fund. Dumfries & Galloway College has worked closely with Jacquies Beauty in planning and developing the project with Lorna Carr, College beauty lecturer, providing advice and support regarding the technical element of the work placement. The findings from the pilot project will support the development of teaching at the College and interaction with local employers across all sectors of industry. Carol Turnbull, Principal of Dumfries & Galloway College believes that this pilot will prove successful in equipping students with the skills and experience required to excel in the world of work. She added: “The College continuously seeks to improve its service to learners and employers and in this project we will work directly with employers which will provide an invaluable insight into the skills and attributes required to enhance the employability and employment prospects of our learners.”
Jacquie Brown and Salon Manager Wendy Paton with Eva Milroy from SoSBUS and the successful candidates
Graduate Recruitment Incentive Launched D
umfries & Galloway Chamber is one of only four Chambers in Scotland to be selected to run a pilot project for the Scottish Government to help small businesses recruit a new graduate. Running from now until March next year the Graduate Recruitment Incentive provides four monthly payments up to a total of £3,000 to help pay extra costs while the graduate learns the ropes.
Gordon Mann said: “The scheme has been designed to keep employers in the driving seat with as little bureaucracy as possible, and it’s a scheme that offers real benefits to businesses and fantastic opportunities to graduates.” Employers interested in recruiting a graduate through the scheme should outline a job with a minimum salary of £14k per annum. Once approved
recruitment can take place and the eligibility of all candidates will be checked at the shortlisting stage. If you prefer a candidate that is not eligible for this grant then you are free to employ them but of course you will not receive the payments. Gordon added: “If you have not been involved in setting up a graduate position or gone through a recruitment process then we can help
you with that as well. If this is the first time you have taken on any staff then the Chamber can help you set up all the necessary employment policies through our ChamberHR service which is completely free to members. “We want this to be a permanent position to help local businesses grow but if things do not work out then you will not be asked to repay the grant.”
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Appointments & Achievements
Double Award Win for Minerva inerva People has won two prestigious awards at the annual Scottish Training Federation Awards Dinner; ‘Success in Partnership’ with Dumfries & Galloway Council and the Federation’s highest accolade, ‘Provider of the Year’. The company were also finalists in the category ‘Innovation in Training’. The Scottish Training Federation is the main representative body for learning providers in Scotland and the aim of the awards is to recognise and highlight inspirational training providers and employers. Colin Dalrymple, Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish Training Federation, said: “I was delighted to see Minerva People scoop the double achievement. These were particularly noteworthy awards, given the exceptional numbers and
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the overall quality of all those who entered. The work undertaken is quite outstanding and Minerva People should feel proud of their dedication to being the best they can be. “This is not a one-off achievement and the company is recognised for its work with a host of organisations and individuals in and around Dumfries & Galloway. Their pursuit of excellence in all aspects of their business is an aspirational model for others to follow. Tricia Hunter, Managing Director
of Minerva People, leads by example and her team has responded magnificently to help achieve this outstanding success.” Tricia Hunter acknowledged the contribution of her staff and thanked them for their hard work and professionalism. She said: “We were quite amazed to be announced as the overall winner of the STF Provider of the Year. To be recognised in this way by our peers is a huge accolade. “I believe our success can be largely attributed to
listening to our customers and focusing our offering on the needs of each individual company or client. We are known for the passion of our team and an innovative approach to providing solutions. “We have fantastic individuals on our staff and we recognise the potential and strengths of achievement as a team, working in partnerships with other groups and companies to mutual advantage, in multiple sectors right across Dumfries & Galloway.”
Let’s Live Local Award he pioneering vegetable bag scheme Let’s Eat Local has received a prestigious Green Apple Award for its work in delivering local and sustainable organic fruit and vegetables. Jane Gray and David Major of Let’s Live Local were presented with the
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trophy in September at a ceremony in Edinburgh Castle. The UK Green Apple Awards are run by The Green Organisation. The awards recognise companies, councils and communities that have introduced measures or activities for environmental benefit. David Major and Jane Gray of Let’s Live Local
16 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
The
specialist recruitment and employment provider
Minerva Recruitment aim to add real value to your business through the provision of a complete recruitment service. Whether you want expert advice, help with part of your own recruitment process, temporary workers, or a completely tailored permanent recruitment solution, contact Minerva Recruitment today.
As an integrated training & recruitment company, Minerva People is best placed in D&G to recruit, develop & support your team.
Tel: 01387 248244
www.minervapeople.co.uk
Your Voice. Here. Advertising from ÂŁ101. To advertise in The Voice contact Helen Holt on 07966 162654 or advertising@dgchamber.co.uk your local magazine for business & enterprise 17
Appointments & Achievements
‘Employer of the Year’
Magnox Achieves Investors in People Gold agnox, the operator of Chapelcross site, has been awarded Investors in People Gold Standard, putting the company in the top four per cent of accredited organisations in the country. Andrew Donovan, Human Resources Director at Magnox, said: “Investors in People is all about recognising our employees and the way that we support them. We are immensely proud of everyone who works on our sites delivering safe and efficient electricity generation and decommissioning on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. “Magnox is a diverse business, operating in three countries, with sites at all stages of the nuclear lifecycle. We manage lots of transitions and this accreditation is recognition of the importance that Magnox places on looking after its people and supporting their future development.” Investors in People is a process designed to improve business performance through its people. It is designed to act as a critical friend, ensuring a focus on continuous improvement.
rmstrong Watson has beaten off competition from the world’s largest payroll bureaux to scoop the ‘Employer of the Year’ award at the ninth national annual Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) Payroll and Pensions Excellence awards in early October. The national awards ceremony presents the payroll industry’s most prestigious awards for individuals and organisations working in the payroll and pensions professions. It’s the first time this has been achieved by a regional firm such as Armstrong Watson. Douglas Russell, Lead Partner at Armstrong Watson in Dumfries, said: “Winning this award is a fantastic achievement for Armstrong Watson. Our payroll team have worked hard to deliver the highest standards possible and this national accolade rewards that effort. Armstrong Watson is committed to providing a broad range of services to businesses in south west Scotland and providing high quality payroll services is one element of that.”
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The award winning design by David Major
Creating the Rural Development of the Year hite Hill Design Studio’s David Major is the architect behind a housing development near Lockerbie that recently won Rural Development of the Year at the Scottish Home Awards. The Dormont Estate development is the first of its kind in rural Scotland and sets a new benchmark of energy efficiency for commercial house building. The 2 and 3 bedroom houses have been built to the very exacting certificated PassivHaus standard of energy efficiency, which is increasingly being recognised as a key ingredient of zero carbon homes. David said: “Our philosophy is to adopt a ‘fabric first’ design approach, using in particular passive solar design and advanced levels of insulation and air tightness to reduce energy demand and create comfortable buildings. “Many of the themes and
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ideas on which the practice was originally based are starting to become more mainstream, being embedded in national policies and adopted into the developing local planning policies. “The houses were to be built and retained for affordable rent for 30 years, and it was important to adopt a design standard that would ensure these houses would have a low energy demand throughout their lifespan. “The successful completion of Dormont PassivHaus Development has shown what is achievable now, and has helped to develop skills and capacity locally and within Scotland. With the rapidly changing landscape of environmental legislation and in particular low-energy design in buildings, our focus remains on helping clients deliver advanced ecological and sustainable design to meet their specific requirements.”
18 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
Brian Stenhouse of Armstrong Watson receives the award
80 pupils from 10 regional secondary schools competed
including Chamber members WeeSleekit, Alba Printers, West Sound and Dumfries & Galloway Life Magazine. Sanquhar Academy won the overall award after gaining the category prizes for the best magazine feature, the best photograph and the best teamwork. Caroline Bell, Marketing Manager at UWS said: “This is a fantastic event, it’s extremely hard work for everyone who takes part and extremely tight deadlines
but the final results are amazing. It is brilliant to be able to provide so many young people with an opportunity to take part in a challenge like this and to work with the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust on a live project added a new dimension to the challenge. “We couldn’t do it without the tremendous support of our sponsors and media partners who willingly commit so much time and enthusiasm to this event. It is great to see the business community engaging with the senior pupils in this way and to offer the pupils such an invaluable experience which I know they really enjoy.”
level 2 candidate as part of our in house apprentice scheme has recently been completed. “In 2009 I completed a level 5 in business management, a challenge no doubt but one I would recommend as an effective tool for personal development. It not only gave me the opportunity to review and improve my
business management but also business operations at Easterbrook Hall. The MA program has created an appetite for learning across the team and the results of this are positive for both staff and clients.” The Scottish Apprentice Awards final will be held at the Science Centre in Glasgow on the 21st of November.
Sanquhar Academy Wins UWS Enterprise Challenge 2012 anquhar Academy was the overall winner of the UWS Enterprise Challenge 2012, beating 9 other regional secondary schools to win the top award. 80 pupils representing Dumfries Academy, Castle Douglas High School, St Joseph’s College, Maxwelltown High School, Langholm Academy, Dalbeattie High School, Wallace Hall Academy, Sanquhar Academy, Lockerbie Academy and Moffat Academy spent two
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days at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) in Dumfries, each creating a promotional campaign to present their business ideas to a panel of judges. This year the event was organised in association with the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust and pupils were tasked with developing and promoting their ideas to create a Centre for Children’s Literature in Dumfries. Throughout the two days the pupils received tips from a variety of local businesses
Modern Apprenticeship Awards Finalist asterbrook Hall is one of two finalists in the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Awards in the category of Medium Employer (50-249 employees). Organised by Skills Development Scotland the awards showcase employers who have demonstrated initiative, enterprise and outstanding commitment to the improvement of skills development for the Scottish economy. Angela McIntyre of
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Easterbrook Hall said: “Modern Apprenticeships underpin the culture of training and development here at Easterbrook Hall. Working closely with Minerva People we have seen 13 candidates complete or be working toward qualification from level 2 to level 5 in business management, customer service and in hospitality. The Modern Apprenticeship program has become an integral part of our day to day work and our first
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Appointments & Achievements
Aftersales Excellence T
he Service Team at Grierson & Graham Honda in Dumfries have been awarded the Regional Honda CSI Award for Aftersales, which recognises dealerships who go the extra mile in providing excellent customer service. The award was presented to Service Manager Ian Wright and Karen Grieve, Service Advisor, by Steve Bloomer, the Northern Area
Customer Manager for Honda (UK). Steve said: “Ian and his team have always had very loyal Service customers, who appreciate the efforts of the dealership’s Honda factory licensed technicians in maintaining their car. The extra focus and commitment of the team recently however have seen them rise to 9th in the UK league table for Aftersales Customer
Service, with a tremendous 96.5% Customer Satisfaction rating. “I felt that Ian, Karen, the technicians and the valeting
staff all deserved the award and this was supported by the Honda (UK) Head Office team who reviewed the nominated dealerships.”
£265,000 Awarded to The Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust he Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust has been awarded a development grant of nearly £220,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland to develop its plans for a centre for children’s literature in Dumfries, and a Creative Scotland award of £45,000. Together they will allow the Trust to determine the future design and content of their plans to restore Moat Brae House and Garden in Dumfries. Announcing the award, Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in
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Successful Start for Christine hristine McCubbin has joined Minerva People as Recruitment Co-ordinator to support the growth of the recruitment side of the company, completing her Certificate in Recruitment Practice in September. Andrew Hunter welcomed Christine to the company, saying: “Christine is proving to be a great asset already to Minerva, and her previous experience of working in local businesses and understanding the challenges of local SMEs means that she is perfectly placed to understand the needs of Minerva’s clients.”
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Scotland, said: “Moat Brae and its gardens have an important place in the history of Dumfries. A new breath of life has the potential to transform them into a visitor attraction that could boost the town’s tourist economy and inspire children today and tomorrow.” The Trust’s patron, Joanna Lumley, greeted the news, saying: “These grants will make a sensational difference to Moat Brae and the plans for the future of the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust. It means that we can move swiftly towards our goals of restoring the house in readiness for its role in the literary life of children in Scotland. What a thrilling piece of good news!” The grants will allow the Trust to produce designs for the final development of Moat Brae House and gardens, including exhibition space within the existing building and a
20 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
proposed new development, adjacent to the property, to house modern visitor facilities. Following news of the awards Project Director Cathy Agnew said: “We have a lot of work ahead of us but these grants will enable us to tease out the detail of how we will achieve our vision and to research the wide range of literary and cultural activities we plan to promote. “This has given us the opportunity to refine and hone our ideas and build robust partnerships with other national organisations who will want to play their part in the future of Moat Brae. We will then apply again to both HLF and Creative Scotland for further funding towards Phase B capital works.”
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Going for Growth Four years into recession and with the pain of fiscal austerity and debt reduction biting we have become all too used to news agendas saturated with gloomy economic forecasts. Which is why it has never been more important for Scotland’s business community to become an engine for growth. Going for Growth meets those business leaders who have bucked the trend and finds out how they did it.
Growing ambitions
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im McColl is guest speaker at the 2012 Chamber Lunch. Chairman and Chief Executive of Clyde Blowers, last year he sold specialised engineering company Clyde Union Pumps for £750m, having bought it for £45m just five years ago. Clyde Blowers still consists of 85 engineering companies in 27 countries, with a turnover in excess of £1 billion and 6,000 employees around the world. This staggering rate of growth was achieved whilst most of the western world was ensnared in recession. The Voice spoke with Jim McColl to ask him why growth matters for Scotland.
22 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
“The biggest barrier to growth is a poverty of ambition in the leaders of businesses,” said Jim McColl, widely recognised as one of Scotland’s most successful entrepreneurs. “Many people are happy going along doing as they have always done and view growth as risky. However products and services have lifecycles as do markets, so it may be a greater risk for a business to stand still.” McColl’s understanding of the drivers of growth is undeniable. Starting his career as an apprentice at Weir Pumps after leaving school aged 16, he carved a successful career as a business leader, going on to buy his
former employer in 2007. He then set about capturing market share, disregarding the impact of the global economic crisis through a determined focus on growth. “Population growth and growth in the wealth of the different populations, also scientific and technology development, all create an abundance of opportunities to grow. The key driver of growth is a decision by the key manager or owner of the business to focus on growth. “The current recession is mainly focussed on the Western economy. Overall global growth is still relatively healthy. In any case 99.2% of companies in Scotland are SMEs – who by definition have a tiny share of the global market for their products and services. The market could half in size and they would still have a fabulous opportunity to grow.” Sitting on the Scottish Council of Economic Advisers Jim McColl is held in high regard by Scotland’s decision makers, and his positivity about Scotland’s economic potential is inspiring. “It is important to understand the contribution that small businesses make to the economy of Scotland. Businesses with less than 250 people dominate our economy accounting for 99.2% of the business landscape, 53% of the jobs and 37% of turnover. “The business community are a key member of society in Scotland and have a responsibility to contribute to the wellbeing of that society. In particular the economic wellbeing. They should be encouraged to raise their growth ambitions to capitalise on the enormous opportunities in the global market.” Making growth happen in Scotland’s SMEs is a step by step process, driven by ambition and realised by determination. Jim added: “First requirement is to fully understand the size of the market for your products and services and identify where the key markets are. Then measure their turnover as a percentage of the market in each key region, the market share. This analysis will reveal an abundance of opportunities and where these opportunities are. It will also reveal what a small share of the global market we have. The next step is to make the decision to grow and to create a clear vision of how much you want to grow and in which selected market. Then put together a plan to
growth “ is extremely
important ... the number one priority
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drive toward your new growth vision. “It is important to understand that in most cases you will have to finance a growth strategy ahead of getting a return. There is likely to be a negative effect on cash flow initially before the returns start to flow. It is important not to underestimate the impact on cash flow and to carefully manage the case of growth. “The private sector is 100% responsible for all wealth generated to fund the public sector creating jobs and supporting all public services, health and education. In order to improve the quality of life for all Scots we need strong growth in our private sector. We need more companies and we need existing companies to grow. Growth is extremely important. The number one priority.”
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Increasing market share Haas-Tek Services Ltd and Process Plant & Machinery Ltd
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all of my working life I’ve always tried to improve and grow
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im Bell, Managing Director of Lockerbie based companies Haas-Tek and Process Plant & Machinery, has planned for growth since he first established Haas-Tek 14 years ago. Principally involved in the installation and relocation of plant and machinery, food processing systems and project managing complete industrial plant rationalisation programmes, Haas-Tek has grown from a zero base in 1998 to now being recognised as a national leader in this field. Sister company Process Plant & Machinery (PPM) was established in 2003 after the potential worldwide market opportunity for the procurement and sales of new and used process plant was identified. Between them the two companies employ around 55 people in Lockerbie and are experiencing sustained growth in the region of 10% per annum, with a small dip last year as industry became reluctant to release capital. That dip has been shortlived. In recent months contract wins have secured more than £3.5m of external work and sales, with the forecast for 2012/13 anticipating a combined group turnover that will exceed £10m for the first time, with increasingly rapid growth expected for PPM. Growth has been driven by increasing market share, partnerships and joint ventures, acquisition of complementary businesses, diversification and strategic investment. Throughout the development of his companies Jim has focussed on strict control of revenue expenditure, exploiting a rapidly changing market place and a capital investment plan, aimed at maximising recoveries and retaining more activities within the company. Jim says the dynamic
24 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
between Haas-Tek and PPM provides multiple benefits, encouraging cross client introductions and contact, a high level of labour efficiencies and providing clients with a uniquely seamless turnkey service. “We are very focussed on the sectors we work in, and that has been very important,” he said. “Right from the start we decided to stay away from general contract engineering which is a very competitive market, to focus on the food, beverage and pharmaceuticals sectors, which allows us to provide exceptional specialist service to our clients.” That focussed approach has paid dividends and Haas-Tek has an impressive client list dominated by large multi-nationals such as Nestle, Uniq Foods, Arla Foods, Wiseman Dairy, Dairy Crest, Procter & Gamble, Kraft, E-on, Carlsberg Tetley, BAE Systems and GSK. Clients are spread across the world in India, Pakistan, South Africa, Europe, USA, Australia, Ghana, Sri-Lanka, Mexico and Brazil. The next phase of Jim’s growth strategy is the development of a new Industrial Food Park directly adjacent to their existing Lockerbie site. This ambitious plan for a new manufacturing and storage complex, plus three food processing and packaging units, will enable PPM to showcase plant in a real working environment where prospective customers can experience the functionality and the capability of the equipment. Jim said: “The first slice of investment in the Food Park is taking equipment, refurbishing it and putting it into a real manufacturing environment so that customers can visit and view the plant in operation. This phase will be completed by November 2013. The
second phase is to bring potential customers right onto our doorstep with the creation of three new food units.” Jim’s ambition for the businesses is evident and he is very optimistic about the future: “All of my working life I’ve always tried to improve and grow. I want to create facilities here that will provide jobs for the youth of tomorrow, and when you want something you’ve got to focus on it and work hard to make it happen. Our business would never have been the size it is now if we hadn’t steered towards internationalisation. A lot of people think that Dumfries & Galloway’s location inhibits export but for us our location makes us geographically central to the whole of the UK and Ireland, sitting next to the M74 is very convenient, especially for customers calling in to view equipment. “Of course there are obstacles and frustrations to achieving growth, including an outdated and slow planning process, a volume of unnecessary central government red tape and the desperate need for standardisation of systems and procedures in areas of staff training, safety and environmental management, which can frustrate the ability of companies to respond to and take advantage of market dynamics and opportunities. “What we are doing to realise our growth potential is focussing on delivering the highest standard of customer care, continuing to invest heavily in our staff, equipment and premises, diversifying into new industry sectors and expanding our international reach. The growth potential, particularly for PPM, is huge, and we’re going to make sure we secure it.”
Developing more successful suppliers critical component in many growth strategies is improving success rates in competitive tender processes. Dumfries & Galloway Council has committed to the national Supplier Development Programme which encourages SMEs to grow and diversify through public sector procurement. Scotland’s public sector awards contracts with a value of £8 billion each year, £240 billion across the UK, and increasing Dumfries & Galloway’s share of that work will significantly benefit the region’s economy. Following a business survey to assess what type of support local businesses were looking for, Dumfries & Galloway Council is organising three Supplier Development Programme events, the first of which takes place on 23rd November with two taking place early next year. The goal of the programme is to help local businesses to increase their confidence, either individually or collaboratively, in securing more public sector contracts. Councillor Ian Carruthers, Chair of the Planning, Housing and Environment Services Committee said: “I am delighted that Dumfries & Galloway Council is able to support businesses to gain greater confidence and knowledge when bidding for public sector contracts. The event will increase businesses understanding of the public sector market place.” Full details of the Supplier Development Programme events can be found on page 36.
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Creating a new product Positive Response Communications Ltd
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dentifying an entirely new market and solving real business issues through innovative use of technology is seeing Positive Response achieve 100% year on year growth. “At its very heart what we do at Positive Response now is exactly what we did when I started it fifteen years ago; using technology to protect people,” says Pat Hobson, Managing Director of Positive Response. “The big difference is in the way we apply that technology.” Positive Response has its origins in the telecare sector when Pat, frustrated by public sector inefficiencies, set up her own business to provide a private sector alternative to local authority care phones. The business quickly grew and diversified into complementary services such as door entry
we adapted existing “ technology to create a completely unique staff monitoring system
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systems, intruder alarms, access control and lift monitoring before StaffSafeTM transformed things entirely. Pat said: “It became clear to us that the technology we used to monitor people in domestic situations could be applied to a work environment. At that time no-one was talking about staff safety monitoring, particularly lone worker monitoring, in the workplace. We adapted existing technology to create a completely unique staff monitoring system. The challenge then was explaining to customers the reasons why staff safety monitoring was so vitally important.” StaffSafe is a proactive, dual direction, audio safety monitoring system that has proven particularly useful in customer facing, lone worker environments. It is especially effective in dealing with anti social behaviour and in serious incident handling, where swift information relay to
Financing Growth arah Marshall, Local Business Manager at HSBC Dumfries explains what she looks for from businesses exploring financing growth. “Growth and expansion should always be an exciting time for any business. That said it can also be very daunting. Before embarking upon a growth strategy businesses should consider the following: • Timing – this will have a real impact on the strategy. • Markets – which markets do you want to access? Local, national and international all need to be considered. • Finance – get close to the numbers.
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Do you have access to the funds that you need? Keep in mind that increased turnover doesn’t automatically mean more profit. • Training – do you have the right level of skills and experience? If not where can you access it? • SWOT – taking a serious look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that your business is exposed to is always a great place to start. “Think about how you want to grow. You can either take the organic route which can take time or you can force it a little quicker, but this will undoubtedly mean spending more
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cash. Either way it’s much easier to grow if you are currently making a profit and are using that profit in addition to any other sources of cash to fund the growth. “Sound business practice around managing the day to day cash and robust ways of collecting invoices will give a solid base on which your growth strategy can be built. “When speaking with businesses about growth, in the main what I really want to see from a successful growth or expansion strategy is how you are going to do it and how you have mitigated any risks that have been identified.”
the police has safeguarded staff and been critically important in the arrest and conviction of armed robbers. StaffSafe was rolled out initially with Threshers, the off license chain who were one of the early casualties of the 2008 economic crash. The demise of Threshers wiped out a third of Positive Response’s turnover overnight but Pat was undaunted. “It was a very difficult time,” she said. “We found ourselves watching a business that we had extremely strong links with simply unravel and cease to exist. There was no quick fix to the situation we found ourselves in. Threshers was by far our biggest client and we monitored around 2,200 stores in the group. So we drove the customer acquisition process forward, converting interest into trials, trials into sales and sales into full-scale roll out across chains.” That focus on client acquisition has paid off dramatically and the company’s client list now reads like a map of the high street; McDonald’s, Greggs, William Hill, Tesco, Morrisons, Lloyd’s Pharmacy, WH Smith, Spar just a handful of numerous household brand names. Pat believes it’s their approach to working with clients that is making StaffSafe such a sought after system. “StaffSafe is a monitoring product which, on the face of it, looks quite simple but we use it to solve tricky business problems by continually changing the way it interacts with our customers and our monitoring centre. Every one of our new customers has had a specific logistical, security or operating problem that we’ve been able to solve by working in partnership with them and evolving the product.” Technology developments have caught up with StaffSafe’s aspirations, enabling visual monitoring and the integration of sophisticated sound systems. StaffSafe is now being actively recommended by the world’s major brands and the system is specified at the design stage for many new builds. The recent planned for growth is now being compounded by unplanned
growth due to customer recommendation. Turnover for the company will double this year and it’s likely to do at least the same next year. Pat added: “When McDonald’s recommend your product to KFC and William Hill recommend it to Coral, the scale of growth is very exciting but it can actually start to become problematic in terms of cashflow and capacity. Anticipating, managing and planning for this period of rapid growth is my focus for the next few years. “The growth of the company also means helping current members of staff manage a greater volume of calls, as well as increasing staff numbers, so recruitment and training is constant. When you consider that our induction training programme lasts a full year, it’s clear that staffing forward planning is absolutely critical. “We have also had to realise that we are no longer small players. We are trusted suppliers to the biggest names in the high street and so we are currently investing in a programme of rebranding that will help us secure a confident, professional market position, poised and ready in the near future for international roll outs.”
the scale “ of growth is very exciting but it can actually start to become problematic
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Economies of scale SuperControl
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service and information at the speed of life
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elinda and Robert Kennedy took online booking software they’d developed for their own self catering business and transformed it into a sought after product that’s delivering exciting growth prospects for the business. Their software company SuperControl has recently moved to new premises in Castle Douglas to support the rapid growth of the business. While parent company SuperWebs was established in 1999, it was the launch of SuperControl, an online accommodation booking system designed specifically for self catering businesses, in 2007 that has been the catalyst for growth. Frustrated with high agency fees Melinda and Robert developed a booking system for their own self catering properties, Orroland Holiday Cottages, and soon identified widespread frustration from other self catering holiday businesses. At that time most booking systems on the market were hotel systems adapted for self catering, which failed to flexibly accommodate selfcatering business and pricing models. Robert and Melinda’s innate understanding of the industry, combined with market research, informed the development of SuperControl and the success of the system is delivering significant rewards for the company. SuperControl now handles bookings for 12,500 properties across 30 countries and the system has accommodated more than £6 billion of bookings – five per minute during August – staffing numbers have grown from 4 to 12 and year on year growth of turnover during the past 4 averages 31%. Notably the year on year growth in profits is an
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impressive 70%, achieved through a subscription based business model whereby infrastructure remains relatively static as new clients come on board. Melinda Kennedy says that increasing market demand is having a big impact on the business: “For customers online booking is a completely mainstream requirement yet the majority of self-catering businesses in the UK have no online booking service. Customers now have limitless information, choice and freedom. They want speed and ease in their lives; lives that are less complicated, not more so. Websites have to make life simpler to beat the competition because nobody wants to wait, they want service and information at the speed of life.” SuperControl can handle volume bookings with ease, providing users with supportive functionality, and users of the system are seeing the positive impact of increased online bookings on their own business performance. As a result client satisfaction and retention is extremely high and referral and recommendation account for almost a third of all new business. To convert property owners to the concept of online booking SuperControl products were tailored to three different market entry points. Melinda said: “More than 70% of owner-operated selfcatering businesses have 1-3 properties so we have an entry level product which appeals to this market, and an attractive upgrade path encourages owners onto our more fully featured product as their confidence in SuperControl and the principle of online booking grows. “We target our marketing efforts strongly
towards selling SuperControl PLUS, our core product, aimed at owner operators. This provides online booking for the owner’s website and behind the scenes it enables them to manage their customers, bookings, housekeepers, payments and marketing as well as monitoring business performance. Users of this product are our most profitable clients, normally owning 3 to 10 properties, the owners are more aspirant and tend to view technology as an investment rather than an expense. “Letting agencies are a key area of growth for us going forward. We are currently revising our setup and training processes for letting agencies to streamline the way SuperControl is brought into their business which will make them very profitable for us to work with. SuperControl’s product for agencies is excellent and has fewer competitors. Marketing preparations are afoot to target this client segment in particular.” By understanding the marketplace SuperControl has developed a bespoke product and service which takes advantage of a clear market opportunity: “SuperControl is ultimately all about the people who train and support the clients rather than the software. We work hard to avoid jargon and provide an approachable, friendly source of information so we’re more like trusted advisors than software engineers,” Melinda added. “We play this card strongly because it’s a real weakness of several of our major competitors.”
Seed enterprise funding opportunity imon Burton of Johnston Carmichael explains why the new Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme is an interesting financing route for businesses in Dumfries & Galloway planning for growth. “The introduction earlier this year of the new Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS), which is primarily targeted at small, early stage companies, presents an opportunity for many new businesses here in Dumfries & Galloway. This is a potentially very valuable initiative, designed to stimulate and incentivise SME funding amongst what are referred to as ‘qualifying investors’. In broad terms, this means someone who is not an employee of the company in which the investment is being made or does not hold a significant shareholding. “Investments of up to an annual limit of £100,000 will attract income tax relief at 50 per cent. On top of that, any future sale of the shares can be completely tax free. For the first year of the scheme there is also a one-off opportunity to use the investment to exempt any other capital gains – potentially increasing the value of the relief to a heady 78%! “As these rules are intended to benefit new companies, there are some stipulations to be followed. It is aimed at companies with gross assets of less than £200,000, making it primarily focused on start-up companies. Other key requirements include a condition that firms must not have been carrying on the trade for more than two years before the qualifying shares are issued, the company must be solvent at the date of issue of the shares, have fewer than 50 employees and it cannot control another company nor be controlled by another company. “Overall, it is a great incentive which has potential to help encourage investment into a range of businesses across Dumfries & Galloway. SEIS provides powerful tax breaks for investors and it should provide some help to encourage more investment into SMEs. Although fiendishly complex it should certainly be considered carefully as part of any investment deal.”
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letting “ agencies are a key area of growth
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Growing through collaboration
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we are working together to support the development and promotion of Dumfries
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Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Creative Clusters project may have recently come to an end, but the results of its work are still bearing fruit with three new business clusters launched within the last few months. group of luxury hotels, a cluster of retailers and Dumfries’ business tourism service providers have all recently launched new projects designed to support their collective business growth. Councillor Ian Carruthers, Chair of Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Planning, Housing and Environment Committee said: “It’s really encouraging to see so many businesses benefiting from the Creative Clusters Project. Over the last three years
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30 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
this project has been instrumental in setting up nearly 20 collaborative groups of businesses and has offered assistance to a further 10 individual businesses within the Creative Sector.” While the Creative Clusters project is now completed, assistance is still available to individual businesses under the South of Scotland Business Competitiveness Project, particularly businesses involved in tourism, food and drink, renewables, rural and land based businesses.
Together Cairndale Hotel, Aston Hotel, Premier Inn and Easterbrook Hall are marketing Dumfries as a business tourism destination
Conference Dumfries
Luxury Galloway
Celebration Street
our Chamber members have joined forces to increase business tourism to Dumfries by setting up the region’s first conference bureau, Conference Dumfries, which will be launched in November. The Cairndale Hotel, Aston Hotel, Premier Inn and Easterbrook Hall are working collaboratively on the new constituted group which gives event and conference organisers a single point of contact and a seamless booking process. Angela McIntyre who chairs Conference Dumfries said: “Conference Dumfries is in its infancy but we have created a platform for partnership working within the business tourism sector. It is our intention to market Dumfries as a central point, geographically, to attract new business meetings into the town using all of our competitive selling advantages. “We are working together to support the development and promotion of Dumfries and the surrounding area as an attractive destination for business tourism, delivering a single point of contact for conference, meeting or training bookers which will allow us to compete on a national level with other destinations. “An internal communications platform has been created and the launch of our website in November will constitute our first marketing step. We have a plethora of other activities we intend to undertake to help us achieve increased awareness for Dumfries as a town to host conferences of all sizes, increasing the appeal of Dumfries to the lucrative business tourism market.”
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hamber member Blackaddie Country House Hotel is one of five independently owned and run, award winning hotels in Dumfries & Galloway who have come together to launch a new tourism website called Luxury Galloway. The hoteliers between them have a wealth of hospitality experience from top hotels and restaurants and they anticipate that the luxury message will have strong appeal for tourists seeking a country retreat. Angus Fordyce of Cavens Country House Hotel who chairs Luxury Galloway commented: “We felt that for Dumfries & Galloway to get the recognition it deserves for the quality of the food and the charm of our hotels we needed to work together. The members of Luxury Galloway employ up to seventy people, with a capital value of £7million in property added to which our businesses attracts thousands of visitors.”
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wo Chamber members are leading a new independent retailer group that is encouraging people to shop in Dumfries for special occasions and celebrations. Anderson’s Kilts and Devorgilla Gallery have joined with six other businesses on Church Crescent and Academy Street in Dumfries who all offer products and services that have particular appeal for special occasions to market the area as Celebration Street. The group is comprised of a mix of well established, successful local businesses as well as several start-ups and the initiative was launched with a wedding fair at Greyfriar’s Church. The long term goal of the cluster is to give the area a distinct identity, highlighting the wealth of special occasion goods and services available from independent retailers and service providers on the edge of Dumfries town centre.
Participating hotels launch Luxury Galloway
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Your new HSBC branch has arrived The new Dumfries branch is open. Find us at: 46 High Street Dumfries DG1 2JA
Issued by HSBC Bank plc. X1008 10/12 AC24903
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Please contact John Edwards, on 01387 702211 or Neil Macgregor, on 01387 702500 or email lettings@crichtonbusinesspark.co.uk 32 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
Knowledge Exchange Harnessing the knowledge and expertise of Chamber members, Knowledge Exchange shares advice, ideas and suggestions to help you do business better in Dumfries & Galloway.
The Joy of Networking ohn King of Waggle Marketing explains how to get more out of networking. Although I have worked in marketing for two decades I had never been to a networking event until about a year ago. Now networking is a mainstay of my marketing and vital to my business.
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Why? When I set up my own business and moved to Castle Douglas, I needed to find customers and suppliers. So I joined the Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce and started networking like crazy. The joint Chamber events have been particularly effective and this is where I met my biggest customer who is from across the border in Carlisle. I sell a service which is based on my experience and expertise. Unless someone has met me and had a chat it is
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very unlikely that they would consider me for their business. People always buy familiar things and networking is a good way to become familiar.
Contract Complexities
Top 10 Networking Tips 1 Elevator pitch. Be clear about what you do and how you are different from your competitors. 2 Do you mind if I join you? This is the magic sentence for joining what looks like an impenetrable group. 3 Smile and be yourself – unless you are naturally very grumpy, try to relax and be yourself. Make an effort to be outgoing and start conversations. Other people will be grateful you took a lead. 4 Ask questions. Everyone likes talking about themselves. Find out about their business so that you can clearly understand how you might help them. 5 Tell stories. Everyone likes to hear a story if it is amusing or interesting. You can use stories about your customers and their successes to help them understand the value of what you offer. 6 Fantastic business cards. Unprofessional business cards say bad things about you and your business. 7 Mingle. Don’t just chat to your friends where you feel most comfortable. 8 Keep going. After an hour of networking it can start to feel tiring, particularly at speed networking events but you never know who you might meet in the last five minutes so stick at it. 9 Be persistent. No one has given me business on first meeting me, I have always asked for a follow up meeting. Reluctance doesn’t mean that they don’t need your services. 10 Follow up. I categorise the people I meet at networking. Some I ring and try to get a meeting. Some I email and give my details and some I connect with on LinkedIn. If you don’t follow up then you won’t get the most out of the event.
ndrew Edgar of communications experts 8020 Ltd warns what you should beware of in mobile and fixed communications contracts. Over the last 15 years I’ve met many businesses to advise them on mobile and fixed communications contracts. Whilst in the main, I think the telecoms industry is getting its act together, the difference between some providers’ Terms & Conditions can be huge and it still surprises me how many sharp practices are around when it comes to contracts.
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Here are some areas to look out for to avoid falling foul of penalising contracts: • Probably sounds like stating the obvious, but please make sure that all salesmen’s promises are confirmed in writing. • Ensure you get a copy of the contract you are signing and never sign a blank contract for the salesman to complete later. • Ensure you have a full copy of the terms and conditions associated with your contract and that the duration of the contract is clearly stated. Be aware of quarterly contracts, 24 payments can easily be misinterpreted as a two year deal, however if it’s a quarterly contract you’ve just signed a six year deal! • If you’re re-signing your existing contract, say at the halfway point, make sure it’s clearly stated when the new contract will run to. Some two year mid-term re-sign contracts start at the end of your current contract so you may actually be signing in to a three year deal. • Be clear on the conditions that apply to any equipment you are supplied – who has title of it and what happens to it at the end of the minimum contract term. The same goes for any hardware fund, airtime credits or other incentives that are used to encourage you to sign. • Minimum spend clauses can only ever benefit one party and it will never be you. Your supplier should be committed to reducing your costs where possible, not penalising you for not spending enough. • Automatically Renewable Contracts, whereby you only have a short timeframe at the end of the contract to tell the provider you don’t want to continue, are another one to watch out for. Thankfully OFCOM have made a move to completely remove these contracts from the market by December 2012, so if you’re on one now then speak to your provider about it. The golden rule is that you get nothing for nothing and if something looks too good to be true then it usually is.
34 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
Google Places for Businesses
Towards the Paperless Office
ohn Temke, Copywriter and Researcher at SuperControl, explains the business opportunities offered by Google Places. We have all been there – half way down a nameless country road while ticking off directions half remembered or jotted down onto a scrap piece of paper. Standard maps can help but don’t give your destination’s exact geographical location. Sat-Navs are another step up but not everyone has one and they can, on occasion, send you down non-existent roads. Enter Google Places. A comprehensive source of information at your fingertips, and businesses who use the opportunities it offers can realise significant benefits. A Google search is where most customers begin when it comes to finding a certain type of business in a particular area. Google Places can be used as a great platform for standing out from the crowd; you may already have a basic listing with just your location and phone number but your listing could have a link to your website, opening hours, payment options, photos, videos, reviews and any extra information. After paid listings and adverts; Google Places markers are the next search results to appear and it’s also free! You will need a Google Account to begin setting markers for your business. With this completed visit the Google Places homepage to start the marking process. Use the “Find your Business” option to add additional information to a basic listing if one already exists for your business. You may find that the information they have for you is incorrect which could have been costing you custom! Next fill out your business’ basic and extra details to make your business stand out. Now all that’s left is to preview, verify and publish your listing. Verification can be done by phone or by post with the latter taking up to 2 weeks. Congratulations! The world now knows exactly where to find you and your business. With this service being entirely free and having plenty of practical applications it’s definitely worth using. It will greatly benefit both you and your customers and will do so with subtlety. Change of circumstances or details? You can update your listing at any time so that your property is always easy to find. Have any problems setting it up? Google has plenty of help pages which go into the set up in great detail. You may wonder what Google gets out of this but it’s your input that keeps their service up to date meaning it’s a winwin situation for both sides. Easy, greatly beneficial and completely free – what are you waiting for?
ugald Macleod, a Chartered Accountant offering accounting and tax services based near Dumfries, discusses the benefits of converting to digital filing. One of my least favoured tasks is searching for an old paper document. First there is the question of where to start looking – inaccessible shelves in dark places where files may have lost all logical order. Old files take up so much valuable floor space and the search can be time-consuming, unpleasant and stressful. Contrast that to a computer search. With the entry of a few key words and the click of a mouse, several possible results are presented. I can browse from the comfort of my desk and print off the one I want. The advantages of electronic document storage and retrieval are enormous. But is it practical, or legal, to replace paper files with electronic files? The answer to that question depends on the user – will the person who needs the document accept a printout instead of the original? We keep files so that we can re-create history when we need to. We might need to do this to refresh our own memory, to resolve a dispute, to show an audit trail or to prove a point to the authorities. In each case it is vital that all parties accept the integrity of the document, confident that it has not been altered or tampered with in any way. The law in this area is still evolving, however in general originals need not be retained unless the appropriate regulatory body has made a specific exception which requires the original to be kept. Documentary evidence can be stored in an electronic format as long as a copy, which is equivalent in every relevant legal respect to the original, is capable of being produced from it. An organisation needs to be able to prove that the content of a particular electronic document or data file has not changed since the time of storage. If you are self employed, in partnership or a Limited Company, as a general rule, you should keep your accounting records (including prime documents such as invoices or mileage records) for seven years. In the case of Capital Gains Tax, you might need records considerably older. You need to be able to re-create any figure on your tax return and back it up with documentary evidence. What to do if your business has been running for many years and you have a large number of old paper records? Converting to digital storage takes time and manpower. Each document will have to be scanned into the system, dated and labeled so that it can be found easily. It’s a lot of work but the results should make the effort worthwhile.
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Learning. Networking. Growing. Business events in Dumfries & Galloway
Recipe for Success 5th Nov, Smiths Hotel, Gretna Green, 10:30am – 3:30pm. 19th Nov, Threave Gardens, Castle Douglas, 10:30am – 3:30pm. 3rd Dec, Stranraer Campus, Dumfries & Galloway College, 10:30am – 3:30pm A series of workshops designed for hospitality business owners / managers and chefs / cooks. Recipe for Success is organised by Savour the Flavours with the support of D&G Chefs Association. The workshops will give practical support to help those attending build more successful and more profitable businesses. Cost: Free. To book contact Liz Ramsay on 01644 430 109 or email liz@savourtheflavours.co.uk Dumfries & Galloway Quality Assurance Project 6th Nov, Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries, 10:30am – 2:30pm. 15th Nov, Waterfront Hotel, Portpatrick, 10:30am – 2:30pm. Find out more about the pilot Quality Assurance project in which Dumfries & Galloway Council has partnered with VisitScotland to increase the number of accommodation & restaurant businesses participating in relevant Quality Assurance schemes. A reduction in VisitScotland fees and financial support from Dumfries & Galloway Council through the project could allow your business to participate in Quality Assurance for less than half the normal price for the first year, capped at £200. For information about the scheme please
36 The Voice of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce
contact Caroline Robertson at VisitScotland on caroline.robertson@visitscotland.com or Mark Geddes at Dumfries & Galloway Council on Mark.Geddes@dumgal.gov.uk Cost: Free. Register online at http://qadumfries.eventbrite.com or http://qaportpatrick.eventbrite.com Disciplinary Hearings Workshop 8th Nov, Grierson House, The Crichton, Dumfries 9:30am – 1:00pm Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with Acas Scotland to deliver a half-day training event on Disciplinary Hearings. This event will examine the process of carrying out disciplinary and appeal hearings with an emphasis on the use of discussion and practical exercises to help you understand the principles involved in conducting fair hearings and making sound disciplinary decisions. This session is suitable for all managers and HR professionals interested in developing the knowledge and skills relevant to disciplinary hearings. Cost: £45 +VAT for members, £55 +VAT for non-members. Book online at www.dgchamber.co.uk. Women in Business Discussion Group Meeting 14th Nov, Cream o’ Galloway, Gatehouse of Fleet 5:30pm – 7:30pm This facilitated discussion group will be very informal (no PowerPoint or presentations) and will comprise a small group of business women, one from each business and is an opportunity for women to discuss ideas, and share knowledge and experience. Our speaker this evening who will ‘get the ball rolling’ will be Wilma Finlay of Cream o’ Galloway who will talk about her business, what she has learnt over the years and the pitfalls she’s faced. The event will include a buffet and time to network. Cost: £10 +VAT for members, £15 +VAT for non-members. Book online at www.dgchamber.co.uk Network 530 20th Nov, Kings Coffee Shop, Dumfries, 5:30pm – 7:30pm The very popular informal networking session provides an opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new contacts in a relaxed atmosphere. The evening starts with a short interesting non-business talk to get things going and then it is over to you to meet, chat and enjoy! This time we ask you to buy your coffee and homebakes from the great range of fair trade coffees served by Kings. By doing this, the event is free to attend whether you are a member of Chamber or not. Please take the time to register so that we know who will be there and make sure that everyone has a badge. You will also see who has registered on the booking site, and you can share this with your Facebook friends or on Twitter. Cost: Free. Online registration via www.dgchamber.co.uk
Is the Public Sector for You? 23rd Nov, DG One, Dumfries, 9:30am – 12:30pm Organised by Dumfries & Galloway Council as part of the Supplier Development Programme, this workshop is designed to provide you with enough information to decide whether supplying the public sector is right for you. It also provides an overview of the tendering landscape and some tips on successful tendering. This seminar is designed for companies and third sector organisations that have had little or no experience of tendering and would like to become ‘tender ready’. The workshop will include topics such as understanding the public sector market place, why certain processes are necessary, deciding if your business is ready for tendering, the assessment of tenders and the bidding process, improving your company’s chance of success and the buyer’s perspective. Cost: Free. Online registration via www.sdpscotland.co.uk Quality Management Policy Workshop Jan to March 2013: Date to be confirmed Organised by Dumfries & Galloway Council as part of the Supplier Development Programme, this half day workshop is designed for companies and third sector organisations that do not have the standard required policy documents in place. These workshops are also relevant for companies wishing to update their existing policies. The objective of this workshop is to show the standard of your business processes in relation to carrying out a contract and to improve your ability in the tendering process on the basis of quality management credentials. The workshop will include topics such as ISO 9001, policy, standards and legislation, implementing your system, choosing your certification body and quality tender questions and how to answer them. Cost: Free. Online registration via www.sdpscotland.co.uk Find It, Win It, Keep It Jan to March 2013: Date to be confirmed Organised by Dumfries & Galloway Council as part of the Supplier Development Programme, this two day programme is designed for companies and third sector organisations that have some experience of tendering with varying success but would like to become more proficient. The training aims to debunk myths and present, in a practical way, the opportunities that you can access once you master prequalification and the invitation to tender process. The training will include topics such as the procurement lifecycle, public sector reforms and policy, Public Contracts Scotland and other portals, defining your own capability and capacity, the Prequalification Process, framework contracts and much more. Cost: Free. Online registration via www.sdpscotland.co.uk
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Meet the Member llan Devlin of South West Images Scotland has been a professional photographer for twelve years undertaking commissions for events, press and PR photography for a range of clients. His stock photographic library contains hundreds of images of Dumfries & Galloway’s landscapes, events and towns.
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Allan, who is based in Lockerbie, also writes about walking and photography for magazines including Dumfries & Galloway Life, TGO and Outdoor Photographer. Tell us about the history of South West Images Scotland? I have always wanted to work for myself and I used to make wooden toys to sell when I was a teenager. Photography initially started as a hobby and eventually I made the transition to being professional, which was a bit of a shock to the system when I realised the long hours that would be needed to get the business up and running. Tell us about some of the changes the business has seen since it was established. Photography over the last decade has changed dramatically, ten years ago I was using film and getting it developed at Simpsons in Dumfries. Today you can take a photo with a digital camera and it can be online and around the other side of the world in minutes. The advances in technology has been a double edged sword, far greater opportunities to sell and market your works but it’s a struggle to keep up to date with the technology whilst trying to work out where photography is going in the future. The type of photography I’m doing has changed too. I started mainly doing stock
photography selling to calendar companies and book publishers and this has now changed to doing more commission work. What are the challenges and rewards of working as a sole trader? Keeping myself motivated and driven, especially when business goes quiet. Luckily for me business usually goes quiet in the summer when I manage to squeeze in some holidays. How has your location shaped your business? To make a living as a photographer staying and working in Dumfries & Galloway I believe you have to have a number of strings to your bow, press photography, stock photography and writing are my main sources of income. What 3 things do you consider vital to business success? Self motivation, drive, to enjoy the successes and more importantly to learn from the mistakes. I always want to improve as a photographer technically and pictorially. What’s your favourite part of day / week / year and why? Cup of coffee first thing in morning just as you are about to start a fresh new day, a new day in which you are never quite sure what you will be doing or who you will meet.
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Can you tell us something surprising or unexpected about your business? I once sold a photo for £4500, after the agent took his cut, and the biggest surprise to me was that it was just an abstract photograph of ice! Why does membership of D&G Chamber of Commerce matter to you? Being a sole trader is a lonely business and it’s nice to meet and exchange ideas with other like minded business people. Tell us about a business highlight. I had two landscape images picked out of 6000 for the 2011 Scotsman Calendar of which only a total of 12 are selected. Any famous / notable customers or supporters? One of my photographs was once given to Princess Anne at the official opening of DG One. Unfortunately it was not one of my nice landscapes photographs – it was actually a framed picture of DG One!!! What’s the best thing about your job? Being able to work for myself and being able to undertake a rich variety of work. I recently photographed the Nith Inshore Rescue at Glencaple which involved a memorable trip up the River Nith on their high powered ridged inflatable boat, great fun!
Welcome
A warm welcome to new members of Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce. Our full membership directory is available on www.dgchamber.co.uk
CFH Cleaning Services Gretna Contact: Stephen Marchetti Tel: 01461 339955 www.cfh-cleaning.co.uk
Henry Schein Animal Health Dumfries Contact: Ross McDermid Tel: 01387 262626 www.hsanimalhealth.co.uk
Church Court Dental Practice Dumfries Contact: Catherine Colwell Tel: 01387 256550 www.ccdental.co.uk
Devorgilla Gallery Dumfries Contact: John Young Tel: 01387 256444 www.devorgillagallery.co.uk ocussing on accessible contemporary Scottish art, Devorgilla Gallery is Dumfries’ leading commercial gallery showcasing the work of some of Scotland’s most sought after artists such as George Birrell, Daniel Campbell and Davy Brown. Special Occasion Commissions is a unique new service offered by the Gallery. Perfect for a wedding, anniversary or retirement gift, a commissioned painting can capture a special place or moment forever through the artistic interpretation of a range of Scottish and local artists.
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Creatomatic Annan Contact: Kit Allen Tel: 01461 205437 www.creatomatic.co.uk reatomatic is a fastgrowing web design and development company based in Annan town centre. We offer planning, design, development and marketing for businesses around the UK. Our fulltime team can help your business grow online, whether optimising your existing profile, developing effective sales channels, or building websites from scratch. Our Site In A Day workshops are a popular choice for new startups or established businesses on a timescale – check our website for more info.
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Crichton Foundation Dumfries Contact: Bruce Clarke Tel: 01387 702047/8 www.crichtonfoundation.org
Dugald Macleod Chartered Accountants Dumfries Contact: Dugald Macleod Tel: 01387 820570 www.accountantsdumfries.com
Paterson Engineering Dalbeattie Contact: Sam Paterson Tel: 01556 611033 www.paterson engineering.co.uk
Galloway Studios Ltd Castle Douglas Contact: Paula Gibson Tel: 01556 288086 www.scottishdesigner jewellery.com e champion Scotland’s jewellery design talent, specialising in unique and affordable handmade jewellery, destined to be treasured forever. We represent Scotland’s foremost jewellery designers and we can bring your own ideas to life, designing everything from a simple pendant for a special occasion to that dream diamond engagement ring. Our design team is available for relaxed consultations by appointment at our design room and studio in Castle Douglas and our collections can be purchased online.
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Elegant Originals Cargenbridge Contact: Caroline Townsend-Sawley Tel: 01387 279812 www.elegantoriginals.co.uk
Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust Dumfries Contact: Iain Wilson Tel: 01387 255549 www.peterpanmoatbrae.org
First Point of Contact Security Contact: Simon Robertson Tel: 07773 798963 www.fpc-security.co.uk
St Andrew’s First Aid Glasgow Contact: Helen Forrest Tel: 0141 332 4031 www.firstaid.org.uk
ne of the UK’s leaders in high quality laser cutting and fabrication solutions, offering a comprehensive service from design through to final finish. Paterson Engineering adopt a flexible partnership approach to guarantee a precision finish and excellent service response and we have invested heavily in innovative processes for converting a wide range of metals and other materials cost effectively. Services include design and prototyping, CNC pressing and bending, high performance laser cutting, CNC sawing, CNC shearing, fabrication, welding and assembly.
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White Hill Design Studios LLP Moffat Contact: Jane Gray Tel: 01683 221898 www.whitehilldesignstudio.com
Affiliate Members: Let’s Live Local CIC Moffat Contact: Jane Gray Tel: 01683 221403 www.moffatonline.co.uk
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