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MID, EAST AND WEST LOTHIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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SPRING2014 ISSUE 3

Arco’s Training and Consultancy Division is dedicated to helping customers achieve and maintain, full health, safety and environmental compliance by providing: • Tailor-made safety and training packages • Fully qualified sector specialists • Safety management solutions • Flexible service delivery

With our Mobile Confined Space Unit we can train your staff on site in confined space, face-fit and breathing apparatus training For more information call the Linlithgow branch on 01506 841510 or visit www.arco.co.uk/services

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Business Launch event at the Mercat Grill

Business Connect is a joint Midlothian, East Lothian and West Lothian Chambers of Commerce publication. ALL EDITORIAL AND GENERAL ENQUIRIES: For Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce Tel: 0131 603 5040 email: dita@thebusinesspartnership.org.uk Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce Moulsdale House 24D Milton Road East Edinburgh EH15 2PP www.melcc.org.uk Chief Executive: George Archibald For West Lothian Chamber of Commerce Tel: 01506 412909 email: brenda.cumming@wlchamber.com West Lothian Chamber of Commerce Alba Centre, Alba Business Park Rosebank, Livingston EH54 7EG www.wlchamber.com

Scotland’s top female cyclists continue the road to Glasgow 2014 at Newbattle Abbey

Chief Executive: Linda Scott

FEATURE EDITORS John Dean & Francis Griss email: deangriss@btinternet.com DISCLAIMER Distinctive Publishing or Business Connect cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur, individual products or services advertised or late entries. No part of this publication may be reproduced or scanned without prior written permission of the publishers and Business Connect.

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Borders Railway delivering for Midlothian

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n Scottish Cycling’s Glasgow 2014 female hopefuls set off on a training ride from Newbattle Abbey.

Scotland’s top female cyclists continue the road to Glasgow 2014 at Newbattle Abbey Scotland’s top female cyclists have tackled a gruelling four-day training schedule in Midlothian as they bid to win a place at Glasgow 2014.

Local hopefuls Claire Thomas, who took part in Delhi 2010, and Jenny Taylor, the reigning Scottish Road Race champion, were part of the ten-strong training squad based at Newbattle Abbey for intensive workouts on Midlothian’s roads ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games. The performance athletes are part of Scottish Cycling, the national governing body for cycling, and trained in and around Newbattle due to its central location and

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because Midlothian boasts terrain that allows cyclists to undertake a variety of testing training rides. Thomas, who now lives and trains in Belgium but whose parents still reside in Edinburgh’s Barnton area, was pleased to come ‘home’ to train. She said: “Staying at Newbattle Abbey with the Scottish Cycling Performance squad was brilliant. The food was excellent, the accommodation was great, and most of all the training routes we used were fantastic, relatively traffic free and quiet. They also had great bike facilities and storage. I am originally from Edinburgh so it was great area, just outside of the city, to be based in for four days.” Thomas is just one of many athletes hoping for success in the Glasgow 2014 selection process, co-ordinated by the Commonwealth Games Council for Scotland, in May.

regularly hosts weddings, corporate events and residential meetings. This is the first time the Abbey, which functions as an adult education residential college, has hosted a sports team in training. Newbattle Abbey College Principal Ann Southwood said: “We are delighted that this group of talented cyclists has chosen to stay at Newbattle Abbey whilst completing their training in Midlothian. Next year will prove to be very exciting for Scottish athletes and we are pleased to have played our part in the preparations being made.” Scottish Cycling has 154 clubs with 8000 members and promotes some 627 events per year. For more information visit www.newbattleabbey.com and www.cgcs.org.uk

Newbattle Abbey is a stunning ‘A’ listed building located just outside Edinburgh and

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Business Launch event at the Mercat Grill n Dorothy Webster of Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber (L) presenting the Joint Runner-up award to Anne Reid of SpeakingLives (R)

A big thank you to Graham Blaikie and the team at The Mercat Bar and Grill who hosted the Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber’s Business After Hours event last November. We had a fantastic networking session - hosted by Colin McKeand and the venue managed to raise over £200 for the children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent. The now named Mercat Bar and Grill in Whitecraig, East Lothian bought by Graham Blaikie, who runs the award-winning ‘The Mercat Bar & Restaurant’ in Edinburgh’s West End, back in August 2013. Over the next five years, Blaikie aims to invest a further six figure sum, into his new, independent venture. The establishment will be completely transformed over the next three years, with a complete refurbishment of the building’s exterior, surrounding grounds, the restaurant and lounge bar. Up to seven bedrooms will

also be created to accommodate tourists looking for quality, traditional, countryside ‘inn’ style rooms. Graham Blaikie said “We have big plans for the Mercat Grill and want to turn it into an award-winning gastro pub, just like our sister venue in Edinburgh. We plan to continually reinvest into the business, create additional local jobs, expand the restaurant, create ‘inn’ style accommodation and a roof top terrace for dining and drinking. “We’ve got a great selection of wines, craft Scottish beers though to speciality teas, coffees and soft drinks. We want to create a destination venue which appeals to everyone from families, couples, business people to tourists who are looking for a friendly, stylish yet homely place to relax, dine, drink and sleep.”

n Alan Paterson of McSence Group receiving the Highly Commended Award for Youth Engagement Company

Business Awards presented to two Chamber members Two local companies were presented with their 2013 Business Awards at the recent Chamber Business Club event in January at Melville Castle. Anne Reid of SpeakingLives received the Joint Runner-up award for Networker of the Year whilst Alan Paterson of McSence Group received the Highly Commended award for Youth Engagement Company. Both members were not able to attend the annual awards ceremony and dinner which took place last October at Eskmills. This prestigious event was one of our largest networking events of the year attended by business people, politicians and local authorities.

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n (Pictured from left to right); Anne Reid (Speaking Lives), Oliver Stevenson (Bright Green Business), Anna Winner (Chiropractor), Jessie Ann Matthew (Captain Tortue), Eddie Caldrow (Green Cartridge Enterprise), Colin McKeand (Business Connector), Roger Thomas (& Coaching), Dita Macfarlane (Midlothian & East Lothian Chamber of Commerce), Graham Blaikie (Mercat Grill) and Lucy Caldwell (Newbattle Abbey College).

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n Hardengreen Viaduct artist impression

Borders Railway delivering for Midlothian In 18 months’ time, Midlothian will once again benefit from a railway, providing fast and regular services to and from Edinburgh and connecting a significant population of the region to the rail network for the first time in more than 40 years. The railway will bring with it significant advantages to the region, the most obvious of which will be the drastically reduced public transport journey times and the increased appeal of Midlothian as a place to work, rest and visit. But the benefits of the Borders Railway to businesses in the area are no longer just pipe dreams, they are already apparent. It has been almost a year since construction on the Borders Railway began and now, with over 1,000 employees working on the project, construction is at its’ peak. Given the size of the project, the Borders Railway relies on the use of sub-contractors to deliver much of this work. Network Rail and the main contractor, BAM, are committed to using local businesses where possible throughout construction.

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Since Network Rail took responsibility to deliver the project in November 2012, over local 450 local businesses from a broad variety of disciplines, ranging from construction contractors to food service suppliers, have benefitted from work related to the construction of the line. During the past 12 months, the project has made significant progress along the route and the railway is beginning to take shape. From the temporary diversion of the Edinburgh City Bypass to the new bridges at Hardengreen and Gore Glen and extensive work throughout the Scottish Borders, the progress is evident to see. The project is on schedule to be completed by summer 2015 but there is a lot of work still to be undertaken. Wherever possible the project has tried to maintain a ‘business as usual’ policy, closing roads or paths only when necessary, keeping the impact on the transport networks to a minimum. Advance communications through the media, project website and Twitter feed as well as localised letter drops allow residents and businesses to make alternative arrangements when necessary.

As the railway starts to take shape, the main civil engineering works will draw to a close and the focus of the construction will be on the track area with ballast being laid in spring 2014 and the tracks being laid in the summer. The project team will then move its focus towards building the new stations which include Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange and Gorebridge in Midlothian. Once complete, the railway line will strengthen transport connections across Midlothian. This will help to maximise opportunities for employment, housing and new businesses. It is also anticipated that tourism and leisure will be boosted in the Midlothian area and beyond. The Borders Railway team is committed to ensuring that both residents and local businesses are kept informed about progress of the works. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us either by email at info@bordersrailway.co.uk or call us on 0845 604 4146.

spring2014

Train in the Grain of the Brain 20th March 2014

Do you want to liven up your training? These workshops shows you how to make you key messages stick and friendly to the brain Venue – Larbert, near Falkirk Cost - £125 per person

Braemore, Marjoribanks Street Bathgate EH48 1QH t: 01506650953 m: 07968233324 e: sheila@sheilafraser.co.uk www.sheilafraser.co.uk

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Scottish Tax: Changes Ahead Chartered accountants Christa Cameron and Carl Bayley are on a mission: to raise the awareness of changes to taxation in Scotland occurring from April 2015. “People do not realise that changes are happening irrespective of the Referendum”, Christa says. “Revenue Scotland is now being set up to take over two major taxes. Changes to our income tax are also being planned. I find that very few people know what is soon to take place and of the impact on both businesses and individuals. It is our intention to highlight the issues to our members.” Carl agrees: “The existing UK legislation (the Scotland Act 2012) is going to bring about some important changes to the way in which Scottish property, Scottish businesses, and Scottish resident individuals are taxed – regardless of the outcome of the independence referendum in September. The referendum will then determine what further changes will take place later: either a whole new Scottish tax system, or further devolved taxation under the existing legislation. He goes on to explain the details here: “The changes which lie ahead therefore fall into three categories: what will happen if the referendum produces a ‘No’ vote; what will happen in the event of a ‘Yes’ vote; and what is going to happen anyway.

The Certainties “The first two changes are due to take place on 1st April 2015 and will go ahead whatever the result of the referendum. Stamp Duty Land Tax (‘SDLT’) will cease to apply to all property located in Scotland and will be replaced by the new Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (‘LBTT’). We do not yet know the rates or thresholds for LBTT (these will be announced towards the end of this year), but we do know that the major difference between SDLT and the new tax will be that LBTT will not be subject to the same step changes as SDLT. The rate of SDLT applying to the entire transaction is determined by the overall total purchase price. LBTT (or any increase

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in the rate of LBTT) will only apply to the amount in excess of a statutory threshold (or thresholds). Different rates of LBTT are likely to apply to commercial and residential property. The other change taking place on 1st April 2015 is that a new Scottish Landfill Tax will replace the existing UK Landfill Tax for disposals to landfill in Scotland on or after that date.”

No Go Area “If the referendum produces a ‘No’ vote, the Scotland Act 2012 provisions will bring a third devolved tax into force from 6th April 2016: the Scottish Rate of Income Tax (‘SRIT’). Scottish taxpayers will pay SRIT in place of the top 10 pence of their current UK Income Tax liability. The rate of SRIT will be set on an annual basis by the Scottish Parliament. There are several important differences between SRIT and its predecessor, the Scottish Variable Rate: there are no limits to the rate of SRIT which may be set; it will replace the top slice of all existing UK Income Tax rates; and, perhaps most importantly, the Scottish Parliament must set a rate for SRIT every year.

in Scotland but it is likely that the changes would be a gradual process with Scottish taxation progressively veering away from the system in the rest of the UK over many years. The new Government would not be absolutely free to alter Scottish tax in any way it wished, however. Remaining in the European Union would mean having to meet the requirements of European law and there would also be the practical necessity of cooperating with key trading partners: most notably the rest of the UK!” (C) Carl Bayley 2014 “The questions are just starting,” Christa concludes. “This is all new and there are many issues for Revenue Scotland to solve on its way to putting these changes into practice.” To further the mission of ‘spreading the word’, Christa and Carl held a Tax Presentation evening in Haddington last February. The event went well and received good feedback from local business people. Christa and Carl are planning to hold a similar event in Edinburgh in the near future.

SRIT will apply to nearly all forms of income received by Scottish taxpayers, except for dividends, interest and a few other forms of investment income. Whether an individual is a ‘Scottish taxpayer’ will be based on where their main residence (home) is. For most people this will be obvious, but those with homes in both Scotland and elsewhere in the UK, or who relocate to, or from, Scotland part way through the tax year, will need to start counting days.”

Independence “A ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum is expected to lead to independence in March 2016. LBTT and Scottish Landfill Tax would remain in place, having commenced the previous year, but SRIT would be shelved. Ironically, this would initially mean less change in Scottish taxation than in the event of a ‘No’ vote, since it is understood that no significant changes will be made to the tax system in Scotland as a consequence of independence until at least April 2017. Thereafter, the new independent Scottish Government would begin to change taxation

Carl Bayley

Carl Bayley is the author of several plain English tax guides available from www. carlbayley.co.uk, including “Small Business Tax-Saving Tactics”, “How to Save Property Tax” and “How to Save Inheritance Tax”. Christa Cameron is principal of C A Cameron ACA Chartered Accountants in Haddington, East Lothian working with small and medium-sized owner-managed businesses and assists through BAS (Business Advice Service) with ICAEW and is a Director on the board of the Midlothian and East Lothian Chamber of Commerce.

Christa Cameron

spring2014

CENTRAL SCOTLAND’S LARGEST REMOVALS AND STORAGE COMPANY If our name sounds familiar, it’s probably because since 1960, we have been moving homes and businesses both large and small from one end of the UK to another with the quality of care, service and skill you’d expect from a family run company. Full nationwide coverage Complete domestic, commercial and overseas moving service Full and part loads worldwide Containerised and self storage facilities

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Scott Wallace

Securing your financial future

Insurance Myths MYTH: Your vehicle is worth what you paid for it, not what it costs to replace FACT: If your car is stolen or damaged beyond repair, the insurer will pay you the market value of the vehicle at the time of the loss or damage; not what you paid for it, as most vehicles lose value over time. MYTH: If your house suffers subsidence it will become uninsurable FACT: Subsidence (as well as landslip and heave) will usually be covered by buildings insurance. Should you have problems getting subsidence cover there are insurers who operate schemes for such situations. An insurance broker can help you find these. MYTH: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a substitute for travel insurance FACT: Replaced the E111 card in 2006; this is not an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or costs such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, being flown back to the UK or lost or stolen property. It is therefore important to have

both an EHIC and a valid private travel insurance policy. Some insurers insist you hold an EHIC and may waive their excess. MYTH: Online insurance comparisons always return the best insurance option FACT: Make sure that the policy you buy covers you for what you need, do not choose on price alone and ensure you compare like-for-like cover. An independent broker would provide advice on what cover is suitable for you, based upon your needs and requirements. Also remember, not all insurers are on comparison sites and if you have specialist requirements, it may be more suitable to contact insurers directly. MYTH: There is an ‘Act of God’ exclusion in insurance policies FACT: Insurance policies do not contain this exclusion. The policy will set out what is insured and what the main exclusions are. If loss occurs from an event covered, then the insurer will pay out, in accordance with the policy terms and conditions.

Insureness sets itself apart by offering a personalised service which is not readily available within the insurance broker sector. With clear vision and enthusiastic, motivated and eager staff, they provide the personal touch of an independent broker, coupled with the ability to deal with complex commercial insurance. For more info contact Stephen Stormonth, Insureness Insurance Brokers on 0131 665 2536 or email Stephen.stormonth@insureness.co.uk

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We all go to work and try to make a better future for ourselves and our families. But when did you last carry out a comprehensive review of your financial strategy? e.g, Can you confidently quantify in money terms how much income you will have in retirement? Or have you thought about the specific financial consequences on your family or business should the main breadwinner suddenly die or be unable to work through ill health? These can have a profound impact on one’s financial wellbeing and it is important to seek professional advice. Many people arrange insurance and an annual MOT check-up on their car. But why do they not carry out the same annual health check on their financial plans …. or insure the thing that creates money? Themselves! Following 25 years broad and extensive experience, Scott Wallace decided to set up Wallace Financial Planning Ltd last year. They recently opened their new office in 36 Market Street, Haddington with private meeting facilities. Wallace Financial Planning focuses on helping individuals and businesses: to improve the returns on their savings; with all aspects of pensions and retirement planning; to ensure adequate financial protection for their family and business partners and; with estate planning and inheritance tax planning. With the introduction of the Retail Distribution Review in 2013 (the new set of regulatory rules which govern the scope and cost of financial advisers service), access to high quality face to face financial advice has severely diminished. Many of the traditional providers, such as banks and some IFAs, no longer operate in this market. For more info visit www.scottwallace.co.uk

spring2014

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spring2014

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Starting a Small Business has never been so easy Starting a small business has never been so easy – even within the current economic climate. That’s the message from young entrepreneur Sam Lock. The 24-year-old runs a very successful graphic design business in Loanhead, Midlothian. And since kick-starting Sketch Gremlin Studios with help from Midlothian Business Gateway– the youthful business owner has never looked back.

place of people who could help take my business forward. I also received advice on networking and building contacts. “It’s a lot easier than people think to start a business. It’s fairly simple with the right support networks in place.” Councillor Jim Bryant, cabinet member for communities and economy, said: “Well done to Sam for making a go of his business. He is proof that there is help out there for anyone who needs support and solid business advice. We want all our businesses to thrive, building a brighter and stronger future for everyone.” For more information on Business Gateway visit www.bgateway.com/localoffices/midlothian/

The creative company has gone from strength to strength attracting both local and national customers, including big names like Vodaphone. Speaking about his experience, Sam said: “I began the business out of necessity. I was told it wasn’t the best time to set up but it worked for me. “After I graduated I couldn’t find a job and was working in retail, which wasn’t what I went to university for.

We’re bringing our advisors to you to make it easier for you to access high quality support. Find Business Gateway at the following locations throughout Midlothian.

“But after a little research I realised I could go alone and contacted Midlothian Business Gateway. Through their advice I spotted an opportunity to progress my career in the way I wanted.” Midlothian Business Gateway is run by Midlothian Council and offers a fantastic range of services to new and established businesses. The organisation also runs local workshops and networking opportunities. Sam continues: “After speaking to business advisors from the Council and the Princes Youth Trust I was able to adapt. I set up an information pool in

Start Up Advice sessions held at: Monday McSence Conference Centre 32 Sycamore Road, Mayfield, Dalkeith EH22 5TA Tuesday The Wallace Building Roslin BioCentre, Roslin EH25 9PP

High Growth and New Enterprise Allowance advisors are based at: Fairfield House 8 Lothian Road, Dalkeith EH22 3ZN High Growth advice is often delivered at the premises of our customers. It’s now even easier to get an appointment with our team. By making that appointment, you are taking the first step to securing a better future for your business.

Wednesday The Crystal Centre Eastfield Industrial Estate, Penicuik EH26 8HJ

Please call 0131 271 3377 to book an appointment, or contact us via email bg@midlothian.gov.uk

Friday

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8 Lothian Road, Dalkeith EH22 3ZN

For more information visit www.bgateway.com

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Fairfield House 0845 609 6611

0845 609 6611 www.bgateway.com 0845 609 6611

www.bgateway.com 0845 609 6611

www.bgateway.com

Business Gateway services are delivered by Local Authorities, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government with the support of associated partner organisations. Business Gateway services are delivered by Local Authorities, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government with the support of associated partner organisations. Maximum call charge from BT landline is 3p a minute. Maximum call charge from BT landline is 3p a minute.

0845 609 6611

Business Gateway services areofdelivered by partner Local Authorities, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government with the support of associated partner organisations. Business Gateway services are delivered by Local Authorities, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government with the support associated organisations. Maximum call charge from BT landline is 3p a minute. Maximum call charge from BT landline is 3p a minute.

www.bgateway.com

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spring2014 Business Gateway services are delivered by Local Authorities, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government with the support of associated partner organisations. Maximum call charge from BT landline is 3p a minute.

Are Are You you?

Struggling with your tax return? n Struggling with your tax return? Looking for an accountant who will help n Looking for an accountant who will help you make more profit and pay less tax? you make more profit and pay less tax?  Starting out in business? n Starting out in business?  

We can help. Barrie Scott & Co is a firm We can help.

of Chartered Barrie Scott & Co isAccountants a firm of Chartered Accountants and Registered and Registered Auditors with Auditors offices inBathgate Falkirk, and officeswith in Falkirk, Bathgate and St Andrews. We audit, offer St Andrews. We offer audit, accounts, andtaxation taxation services accounts, and services together with business support and together with business support advisory services to a wide range of and advisory services clubs, to a owner managed businesses, wide range of owner managed associations, charities and individuals.

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businesses, clubs, associations,  Taxation charities and individuals. For more information contact Barrie Scott & Co on: T: 01506 656345 | F: 01506 634696 jillianso@barriescott.co.uk | www.barriescott.co.uk 30 Mid Street, Bathgate, EH48 1PT

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T: 01324 637654 • F: 01324 635678 • 16-18 Weir Street • Falkirk FK1 1RA office@barriescott.co.uk • www.barriescott.co.uk

6th May 2014 Do you want to liven up your training?

Ask Dorothy This little tool is very popular in workshops and coaching conversations. DEAL WITH IT! Describe what is happening that needs to change Explain the impact of the behaviour Acknowledge their intent/position/emotions Let them know what they need to do in the future We are good at the first and last point but usually miss out the middle two. Explaining the impact on the business ensures that the message comes over business focused rather than personal Acknowledging what is happening ensures that the person feels valued and is more likely to listen

So a simple translation of an issue into DEAL format could be: Issue -Individual is always talking over everyone and side tracking things at meetings

These workshops shows D – When you take the meeting off the point r advert proof carefully forto content and key layout. It is the customer’s responsibility to check and approve the content you how make you E – We aren’t able to resolve the issue we came to discuss colours shown in this advert areand given as an indication of colour only - the printed copy may vary from those messages stick friendly A – I can that this approval sheet, you agree that the copy is correct and that you accept that the advert is approved forsee print in you have some really valid comments to to the brain make your advert requires any alterations whatsoever, please contact us to advise of the changes required, preferably L – However let’s keep those until after we close the key Venue – Carronvale House Cost - £125 per person issue Practice putting your point across in this way so that it becomes natural to you. You will find it much easier to address issues and the response you get will be more positive.

D-Tech Publishing Limited, 20 East Argyle Street, Helensburgh G84 7RR. Sales: 01436 671133 Enquiries: 01436 678808 or Email: sales@dtechuk.com Give it a go and let me know how you get on. Braemore, Marjoribanks Street Bathgate EH48 1QH t: 01506650953 m: 07968233324 e: sheila@sheilafraser.co.uk

For more details on how to undertake the difficult conversation or any other conflict issue contact Dorothy on: dorothymckinneyhr@gmail.com or via www.dorothymckinneyhr.com or 07850410980

www.sheilafraser.co.uk

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Does Andy Murray also benefit from coaching? Ross MacDonald is the director of Click-let in Edinburgh’s Leith Walk, a company managing properties in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife. Click-let was founded in 2003 believing that the purpose of a managing agent is to build a mutually beneficial relationship between landlords & their tenants. Our portfolio has grown exponentially since and the retention of an established team means that our primary objective remains the same today as it was then.

The situation that coaching helped with Over the last few years increased tenancy regulations and more competition made us reflect on how best to operate the business. We felt the company required internal restructuring to: maintain growth, develop staff, adapt to comply with regulation changes, continue to meet our customers’ expectations and grasp future opportunities.

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My experience of being coached Initially I thought getting coaching help would be seen as a weakness – I wasn’t keen for others in the company to be aware of my weaknesses – though it’s likely they were already aware of some! However, watching Andy Murray win Wimbledon last year changed my thinking. He has shown real dedication to achieve his ambitions of winning grand slam events – this has only been possible with the help and assistance of his coaching team. They helped him come to terms with his weaknesses, build on his strengths and focus on the vision for his career.

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I found working with Roger very enjoyable and extremely rewarding. In a competitive sector it is very easy to be drawn into the detailed day-today operations rather than focusing long-term on the business, your staff and your customer’s needs. Being coached allowed me to focus on the “bigger- picture” by: 1. Understanding what motivated me and those around me, 2. Understanding differences in thinking styles and motivational drivers 3. Understanding the need to take time to focus on the long-term objectives

What was the result Roger’s coaching helped me re-evaluate my priorities, develop a coaching style which encouraged staff empowerment and re-focused the direction of the company. I personally found it hugely beneficial and the results benefited the whole of the company. Would I recommend it? Yes, but coaching shouldn’t be viewed as a short-term fix to problems within your business. Effective coaching should be encouraged as a key driver for sustained success. Did Andy Murray sack his coach after winning Wimbledon? No, Murray and his team seek continual improvement which makes him an inspiration to us all and demonstrates the effectiveness of good coaching. 123 Leith Walk, Edinburgh. EH6 8NP Call Roger on 07776 152020 or at roger.thomas@andcoaching.com

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C R E A T I V E

M E D I A

• corporate branding • logos • websites • leaflets • brochures • magazine design • marketing • social media

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United Airlines to Launch Non-stop Service Between Edinburgh and Chicago Seasonal service from May 2014 will be the first between the two cities. United Airlines will introduce non-stop flights between Edinburgh and its Chicago hub, O’Hare International Airport, during the period May 23 to Oct. 6, 2014 (both dates westbound), subject to government approval. It will be the first scheduled non-stop service between the two cities. The frequency of the service will be five times weekly during the period May 23 to Jun. 12, daily between Jun. 13 and Sep. 2 and four times weekly between Sep. 3 and Oct. 6 (all dates westbound). The Edinburgh-

Chicago flight, UA119, will depart Edinburgh at 10:25 a.m., arriving in Chicago at 1:00 p.m. the same day. The return flight, UA118, will depart Chicago at 6:00 p.m., arriving in Edinburgh at 7:45 a.m. the following day (all times local). Flight times will be eight hours 35 minutes westbound and seven hours 45 minutes eastbound. “Having recently celebrated 15 years of operations in Scotland, we’re delighted to expand our schedule with seasonal non-stop service to Chicago, United’s home town,” said Bob Schumacher, United Managing Director Sales – U.K. & Ireland. “Next year’s

Homecoming Scotland promotion and Ryder Cup at Gleneagles make it the ideal time to launch these flights, which will offer our customers an increased range of travel choices and opportunities.” The new flights are conveniently timed to provide connections beyond Chicago to more than 125 destinations across North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. For more information and to book flights visit united.com or call 0845 6076760.

Environmental Placement Programme can help companies improve their bottom line Mozolowksi and Murray, based in Kinross, design and manufacture bespoke hardwood conservatories. In the summer of 2013, the company engaged with the Environmental Placement Programme taking on a student for 12 weeks to help them design and implement an environmental management system. Will, a third year Geography student from the University of St Andrews, successfully managed to develop environmental policies and procedures which led to the company achieving Phase 3 of the Green Ticks Scheme (BS 8555). Mozolowksi and Murray will be pursuing with ISO 14001 later this year. Will also identified over £5,000 of annual savings through resource saving initiatives such as a Switch-Off Campaign.

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Will went on to receive the award for Most Enterprising Green Student at the National Final Ceremony for his efforts. Nikky Miller from Mozolowski and Murray says, “Will’s involvement with the company throughout this project has exceeded our expectations. We have been very impressed by his ability to initiate things despite a lack of information in the beginning and tailor his work methods to fit in with our timescales and employees.” If you would like to know more about EPP, please visit our website www. brightgreenplacements.org.uk or contact Becky Leach, Project Coordinator, on 0131 603 5040 or email Rebecca@thebusinesspartnership.org.uk

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They’re simply the best! The West Lothian Business Excellence Awards are host to some of the most enterprising and successful businesses in West Lothian recognising achievement and commitment to enterprise. On 29th November 2013 West Lothian successes were celebrated in style at the prestigious Macdonald Houstoun House Hotel, Uphall. This prestigious event was a sell out with over 220 guests coming together to pay tribute to all the finalists for these awards. There were seven different categories for the awards including Best Business, Shona

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Sibbald Women in Business, Best Tourism Business, High Growth, Customer Service, Entrepreneur & Business Start Up and Enterprising School. Each category was supported and sponsored by a different organisation, illustrating their commitment to business excellence. The sponsors this year included Davidson Chalmers LLP, Sibbald Ltd, Visit West Lothian, ShinEtsu, West Lothian Economic Growth Plan, The Centre and Business Gateway West Lothian.

West Lothian. Businesses may nominate themselves for an award and can enter more than one category. By entering the Awards, businesses receive a higher profile within the local business community. Employees receive recognition for their hard work and achievements while current and future customers are impressed at their business success and commitment.

The guest speaker for the evening was Nora Senior, Chair of Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the event was hosted by Liz Clark. A Charity Prize Draw and Auction was held on the night and altogether raised almost £2500 for local charity Donaldson’s, Scotland’s national school for children who are deaf or have communication difficulties. The West Lothian Business Excellence Awards is open to all businesses trading in

spring2014

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Best Business Award Winner: Sibbald Ltd - Sponsored by Davidson Chalmers Sibbald Ltd based in Armadale have being providing construction and plant training for over 40 years, often in very challenges economic times, as well as being a strong supporter of the West Lothian community. Joint Runner-up: Robbie Fluid Engineering & Food Options UK

Shona Sibbald Women in Business Award Winner: Images Face and Body Studio - Sponsored by Sibbald Ltd Images Face & Body Studio based in Bathgate offer clients 5 star treatment and services, ensuring they always feel valued. Runner-up: Hilly Cow Wigwams Highly Commended: MickMick Designs

Best Tourism Business Award Winner: Linlithgow Canal Union Society - Sponsored by Visit West Lothian Linlithgow Union Canal Society, run by volunteers, promotes and protects a key local attraction which is part of West Lothian’s heritage. Runner-up: Kingsfield Leisure Highly Commended: Crosswoodhill Farm Holiday Cottages

High Growth Business Award Winner: Food Options UK - Sponsored by West Lothian Economic Growth Plan Food Options UK an independent foodservice distributor, have through investment, diversification and strategic marketing successfully overcome significant challenges in recent years. Runner-up: The Cashroom Highly Commended: Robbie Fluid Engineering

Customer Service Award Winner: Lush - Sponsored by The Centre Lush focuses on good quality products and services for their customers; staff offer friendly advice and pamper opportunities, making the customer feel special. Joint Runner-up: Beaverbrooks & Game

Entrepreneur & Business Start Up Award Winner: Shand Cycles -Sponsored by West Lothian Council Business Gateway Shand Cycles is a West Lothian based bicycle manufacturer provided high quality hand-built custom and production bikes. All inspired by Scotland’s roads, trails and mountains. Runner-up: Scoffable Highly Commended: Sheephouse Nursery

Enterprising School Award Winner: St Ninians Primary - Sponsored by ShinEtsu St Ninian’s Primary & Nursery School has introduced various successful projects, throughout the school, to encourage and develop enterprise in a fun and interesting way. Runner-up: Armadale Primary School Highly Commended: Pinewood School

spring2014

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Build Your Ideal Workforce Local employers in Midlothian and East Lothian are being offered support to build their ideal workforce. The Our Skillsforce website has been developed by Skills Development Scotland with other public sector partners to provide a wide variety of valuable advice and practical assistance. Employers can find out what national and local funding is available to recruit and train staff, access information on national and local labour markets and hear from business and sector leaders on the skills issues affecting their industry. If you are an employer in the area you also have access to your very own Employer Engagement Adviser who is on hand to support you in recruiting, developing and planning your workforce. Local Adviser Pam Ralston said: “Your business is only as good as the people working for it and it is essential that employers have the tools and knowledge to

recruit the right staff and ensure they take advantage of training opportunities. “I can offer information and advice about taking on a Modern Apprentice, skills and learning and flexible training courses, along with a whole host of other support to help you grow your business. “We’ve also got lots of exciting events coming up including Scottish Apprenticeship

Week, which sees employers host events to raisie awareness of apprenticeships and opportunities within their business.” If you want to find out more about getting involved in Scottish Apprenticeship Week or advice on developing your work force you can contact Pam directly on 01896 662 461 or visit www.ourskillsforce.co.uk

Bush House Serviced Offices Bush House is a fully-refurbished period house at the heart of Edinburgh Technopole, set at the foot of the Pentland Hills amongst 126 acres of mature parkland. It us within easy walking distance of Pentlands Science Park, Roslin Institute and The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine.

l Fully furnished offices with broadband internet and direct dial telephone connections l Mailroom with a full range of office equipment and services at a small extra charge l Free car parking – one dedicated space per workstation

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Manned Reception with occupier directory CCTV and 24-hour access Shower/changing and kitchen facilities Offices cleaned daily

For further information please contact Judith Sanderson on 0131 445 8600 or visit www.edinburghtechnopole.co.uk

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spring2014

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Customised Awards – as unique as your business

Why create your own qualification? Businesses benefit from a qualified workforce. If staff are trained and qualified they tend to be motivated and more productive. Having your learning formalised within your own qualification can provide you with certification and quality assurance from a renowned awarding organisation. By creating your own qualification, you can give your staff learning formal recognition outside your business, enhancing your corporate image. Your staff will also receive their own unique certificate, featuring the SQA logo and that of your business.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is Scotland’s national accreditation and awarding body. Although we’re well known for delivering Scotland’s school exams, a major part of what we do is working in partnership with businesses of all shapes, sizes and sectors across the UK and beyond. At SQA we pride ourselves on providing products and services that are tailored to our customers’ requirements. Nowhere is this commitment better demonstrated than with our Customised Awards. With SQA’s Customised Awards, your business can create its own unique, certified and quality-assured qualifications that are sharply focused on its needs and ambitions. SQA Customised Awards are truly bespoke, so learning follows precisely the route you choose.

The benefits for your business Precision is at the heart of our Customised Awards. Above all, they’re about delivering exactly the qualification you want. Focused on achieving your business objectives, your Customised Award challenges and motivates your employees, enhancing skills, standards and productivity and giving you a competitive advantage. Having a Customised Award will also provide recognition and development opportunities for your staff, leading to increased staff retention. As well as recognising talent and rewarding achievement, each award fulfils SQA’s rigorous quality assurance criteria. That means you can be confident of qualifications that are robust enough to stand up to scrutiny and could help you meet regulatory compliance.

and it will sit alongside comparable qualifications. SCQF provides a clearly defined view of what your award delivers – great news for your employees’ career progression and for demonstrating competence to customers, stakeholders and other third parties. An SCQF credit rated Customised Award protects you too; it can’t be used by others, although you can choose to offer your qualification to other businesses.

Tailored to you For a truly bespoke offering, flexibility is key – and it’s a huge part of SQA’s Customised Awards. As well as providing you with plenty of space, scope and support to design your qualifications, Customised Awards are flexible to fit your circumstances. So whether you’re building on and formalising existing in-house training, or even starting entirely from scratch, our integrated Customised Awards process is always ready to go.

Supporting your business from day one SQA is well-versed in supporting our Customised Awards customers. From day one you’ll be working with SQA’s experts. These include your own locally based Business Development Manager and a team of specialists ready to advise you about every aspect of developing your learning and assessment materials. Learn how SQA’s unique Customised Awards can work for your business. Get in touch with our Business Development Team today.

Choose to have your qualiﬁcation universally recognised by having it credit rated on SCQF (Scottish Credit and Qualiﬁcations Framework)

Business Development T: 0303 333 0330 E: mycentre@sqa.org.uk W: www.sqa.org.uk/customised

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Positive Musselburgh – open for business Everybody seems to know Musselburgh – the harbour, the banks of the Esk and the racecourse are the things that spring to mind. In fact Musselburgh, in many ways is a secret gem. How many people REALLY know about the town. What makes it a desirable place to do business? Business base In common with most of Scotland and Britain in general, Musselburgh has lost its major manufacturing industry – the extensive factories of former years, including wire, net and paper mills, have followed the local fishing industry into oblivion, as has coal mining. Notwithstanding this, the population of Musselburgh continues to increase and currently stands at over 24,000; representing 25% of the total population of East Lothian and making the Burgh the third largest town in the Lothians, only exceeded by Edinburgh and Livingston. Extensive new house building developments continue to add to the local population and to provide a more affordable alternative for family accommodation than most areas of Edinburgh. Fast & frequent transport links provide easy access to & from Edinburgh city centre as well as to local and national road and rail networks. Edinburgh airport is within easy reach via the local direct link to the Edinburgh bypass. Queen Margaret University chose Musselburgh as its new campus, contrasting with Loretto, Scotland’s oldest boarding school. Parts of the former mill complex now house offices and manufacturing units, alongside the new Health Centre and retail park which complements the traditional shopping areas in the High Street and North High Street. East Lothian’s population centres around six main towns which are expected to provide retail and other key services

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to the community. Musselburgh is the county’s largest town and experiences double the number of visits per person per week compared with the other towns (Musselburgh Profile, September 2013). The size of Musselburgh provides a solid base for industry and trade. Additionally, the Musselburgh area has a higher concentration of people of working age than East Lothian as a whole. However, the majority of economically active residents of the Burgh are obliged to travel outwith the Musselburgh area to find employment. It is a stated priority of the local Structure Plan to provide new development opportunities to support local economic growth and reduce the need for residents to commute out of the area to work. According to the Musselburgh Profile, published by East Lothian Community Planning Partnership in September 2013, over 20% of the population of the Musselburgh area is considered to be income

deprived; significantly higher than for East Lothian (11%) and Scotland as a whole (13%). 11.5% of the population of the Musselburgh area is considered to be employment deprived; higher than for East Lothian (10%) as a whole although lower than the figure for Scotland (13%).

Development & Promotion Musselburgh needs jobs for our young people and that can only be created by business and economic expansion. It is essential we cultivate growth through marketing the Town. Local concerns about these issues have prompted local individuals and organisations to promote the development of a self-help initiative to promote the attractions and amenities of Musselburgh to a wider audience. Musselburgh & Inveresk Community Council undertake various events and activities during the year and organisations such as The Waterfront Group are starting to make some changes, but many people would like to see some more positive marketing of what is one of the oldest towns in Scotland with many 1st’s e.g. oldest racecourse, golf course. Accordingly, a small group of active local people got together in the autumn of 2013 to discuss a possible strategy to promote local enterprise. East Lothian Council had previously stated that there was funding to be made available to redevelop the Old Town Hall area in the centre of Musselburgh, but this has now

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• Establishing a town centre information Hub to provide a centre for the gathering and dissemination of news and information about local attractions and events; • Creating and publishing a dedicated Musselburgh website to enable wider knowledge about the Town and its attractions. Our model to develop a more vibrant Musselburgh is firstly to open up a Hub, a drop-in centre where visitors and locals can get much needed information and advice on tourist attractions, accommodation, local organisations, businesses, activities and events. Information will be provided about the Town’s remarkable history of 1sts – golf, racecourse and other points of interest, together with maps, souvenirs, postcards, locally produced artwork, etc.

been put on the back burner, according to Positive Musselburgh. This prominent area is currently blighted by the state of disrepair of the former Musselburgh Arms Hotel. We wanted to see if it were possible to form a community business and use the hotel to train and give employment to young people in Catering, Tourism and Hospitality. There is no hotel within Musselburgh itself and the former Musselburgh Arms is now being developed into flats. No hotel in a town of 24,00 people which includes a famous large boarding school (oldest in Scotland, where some parents have asked about a place to stay) & a well-used race course.

The Town of Musselburgh clearly requires investing in being efficiently marketed. Where other parts of East Lothian seem to have either revived or introduced various events and seem to be marketing themselves, e.g. Three Harbours, Mural Walk, North Berwick Festival etc., Musselburgh seems to be lagging behind. It would seem to be the case that Musselburgh possibly suffers in this respect from being on the doorstep of Edinburgh. However, as the old Musselburgh song says – ‘Musselburgh was a burgh when Edinburgh was nane……….’.

Initial discussions and consultations have suggested that it may be possible to encourage a Hotel Group to do a feasibility study with a view for a new hotel to be built in the Burgh. In many small towns a good hotel is vital for businesses and acts as a catalyst to put vibrancy into the business community. The success of a hotel venture depends upon people being encouraged to visit and stay in the area. We then started to look at other positive things we could do to make the town more vibrant by improving and marketing the obvious assets, such as the Harbour, the Old Golf Course, Public Park, Riverside, Brunton Theatre and Lagoons as well as the interesting historic buildings at Newhailes House, Pinkie House and Inveresk Village. The Town has a wonderful history, including a remarkable sporting history, not least as the cradle of golf.

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Proposal How can we improve on the positive experiences Musselburgh can offer visitors to the Town? There are a number of things we must do. We have identified two initial steps to get our initiative underway:

It is proposed that the Hub will also include communal space for local craftsmen to display their goods made locally. The Hub will be manned by local volunteers and also volunteers from Arts and Craft groups who in turn can display their works for sale. There are many artists in and around the Town and we do not have an Art Gallery, therefore encouragement is necessary for people to develop their talents and to provide outlets to share their work with others. We also propose to develop a professional dedicated website for the Burgh. The site will provide comprehensive information about the Town’s history and the many good things we have to offer, as well as local events. Their will be a link to local businesses to allow them to advertise and network with each other. It will be necessary to raise funding to complete this initiative but we have already received encouraging advice regarding the availability of assistance to support this. The success of this venture depends upon the level of support and participation by local businesses, organisations and individuals. It is clear that we cannot rely on others to get out and tell the good story that is Musselburgh – if local people want to see the Town thrive then we have to get involved in promoting it. It is vital to work with all local businesses, public bodies and voluntary groups in order to attract more visitors to the town and so that local employers can employ more local young people. Investing in Musselburgh is investing in a strong community. Musselburgh has a hold in the past, but with an eye on the future. Alan Hay, Keith Simpson, Jan Wallace for Positive Musselburgh

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MEANER CLEANER JAGUAR XF R-SPORT FROM £33,995* ON THE ROAD. With its muscular, dramatic body styling, the new XF R-Sport is sure to make an impression. And those sporty lines are complemented by a range of powerful, efficient engines. The R-Sport 3.0 litre V6 Diesel 240PS is capable of 0-60mph in just 6.7 seconds; alternatively, the 2.2 litre 163PS model achieves 57.7mpg and C02 emissions as low as 129 g/km. Whichever you choose, meaner looks and cleaner emissions come as standard.

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Official fuel economy figures for the XF range in MPG (l/100km): Urban 16.7–48.7 (16.9–5.8). Extra Urban 32.8–64.2 (8.6–4.4). Combined 24.4–57.7 (11.6–4.9). CO2 emissions 270–12

these figures are for comparative purposes only. *Business users only. Based on a 36 month Jaguar Contract Hire agreement on a 14 model year XF DIESEL SALOON 2.2d (163PS) R-Sport 4dr Auto If you are able to claim back VAT for VAT qualifying cars only, assuming some private use of the vehicle, VAT is reclaimable at 100% on service and 50% on hire elements resulting in an effective re mileage when vehicle returned. Finance subject to status. Guarantees/indemnities may be required. This promotion cannot be used together with other manufacturer’s promotions and is subject Hire is provided by Lex AutoLease, trading as Jaguar Contract Hire, Heathside Park, Heathside Park Road, Stockport SK3 0RB. Written quotations are available on request. All details are correct a

29 g/km. The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation. A vehicle’s actual fuel consumption may differ from that achieved in such tests and o, standard specification, a mileage of 10,000 miles per annum (30,000 miles in total), non-maintained. Initial payment of £1,093.26+VAT in advance followed by 35 monthly rentals of £364.42+VAT. ental of £400.86. Current tax list price £33,940.01 subject to manufacturer price changes. Excess mileage charged at 15p per mile. May be subject to further charges depending on the condition/ t to availability at participating dealers only, for new vehicles ordered from 1st January to 31st March 2014, while stocks last. Certain categories of business user may be excluded. Jaguar Contract at time of publication and are subject to change without notice. We work with a number of creditors to provide finance to our customers, including Jaguar Cars Finance.

biginterview

Successful career began as a teenager Successful entrepreneur Linda Scott can trace her career back to when she was aged just sixteen and started her first business in the food sector. The brave move, which launched a career which has been sprinkled with its fair share of stardust, was actually driven to a large extent by necessity. Her teenage years had seen her develop into a successful show-jumper, riding horses

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at a high level, but the realities of life meant that she needed to bring in a wage.

fishing trips, many of them attended by the aristocracy and celebrities.

Now the owner of Gourmet Events Scotland Ltd, Linda said: “My mother said that I needed to bring in some income so I decided to start my own business. I was only sixteen at the time.

For more than seven years she worked on large Scottish Estates all over Scotland, cooking for some of the country’s most prestigious families and their guests, including Frances Shand-Kydd, Princess Diana’s mother, Prince Andrew and the fashion designer Jeff Banks.

“I borrowed £600 from my great uncle, bought a fridge and a cooker, and started In the Mood for Food in Invergordon. Initially, I was making cakes for coffee shops and doing dinners for friends and the business kept growing and we opened our own coffee shop.” In time, Linda’s reputation spread and she was asked to cook for Scottish Estates, working in lodges for events such as salmon

Linda said: “The experience stood me in good stead. Everything I cooked in the lodges was high quality and for many years I produced the finest of home-cooked food using only the best local produce. “That experience formed the foundation and vision of what Gourmet is all about today and going into the future.

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biginterview

Linda Scott

Founder Gourmet Events Scotland CEO West Lothian Chamber of Commerce Gourmet Events Scotland was formed in 2002 in Edinburgh and West Lothian and employs two full-time staff but can hire up to 40 casual people for the events it runs, which range from banquets to more intimate dinners, always at clients‘ properties, many of them stately homes. Linda, who set up the business after a spell back riding horses, said: “Gourmet draws on my experience working in the lodges. It is based on the idea that guests can enjoy the kind of food served to lords and ladies, it offers a flavour of the gentry life. “That is how we set out ourselves, that we produce high end, high quality food. We make it very clear that we are a high end company and that has allowed us to grow rapidly in the twelve years since we started out.

“When we run large events it can be like a military operation; we organise everything from scratch, and our business philosophy has remained unchanged, to provide a quality service and a personal and individual touch.” The company’s commitment to quality has paid off; no less an authority than restauranteur and chef Albert Roux OBE, praised the grouse served by the company at one recent event. Such testimonies are crucial. Linda said: “We have grown largely through word of mouth. “Indeed, we have cut back the amount of advertising we do because most of our work comes to us because people hear about our reputation. “We also turn work down, taking on only the biggest and best events, which allows us to maintain our reputations. That has allowed us to win some significant contracts. That included the much-prized contract with Gosford House, the stately house in East Lothian, now a venue for a range of events, including banquets and dinners for clients from all over the world, and which saw the Mid, East & West Lothian Chambers of Commerce come together to host a

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prestigious golfing event in conjunction with the Open Championship in Muirfield last summer Linda has also found time to support the work of the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, initially as a Board member and, since December 2012, as CEO, working two days a week. She said: “Our big vision for the Chamber is to encourage more small and medium-sized businesses to export goods and services, to look at the international market and not just restrict themselves to the domestic market. “A lot of smaller businesses are frightened about exporting but we have found that, once you take the first step, it is quite easy. “What we are doing is putting together a package that will help small businesses to export more by taking them step by step through what is required. We will also be offering to do their documentation for them. “There are markets out there for them and we wish to help them take advantage of them.”

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IOSH looks at RIDDOR The former schedule of 47 “industrial diseases” is replaced by eight categories of reportable work-related illness. These include occupational dermatitis, various musculoskeletal disorders, asthma and cancer, as well as diseases due to work exposure to biological agents, which were previously listed as major injuries. Unlike the previous rules, where a disease needed to be linked to a specific work activity or occupation to be reportable; under the new rules, diseases are reportable due to exposure to the hazard, regardless of occupation type. The catalogue of dangerous occurrences that have to be reported in all industrial sectors has also been shortened and simplified. No longer on the list are those involving the carriage of dangerous substances by road, failure of fair- ground equipment, and failure of load bearing parts of freight containers.

Richard Jones, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Head of Policy and Public Affairs summarises the latest changes to accident reporting regulations.

The beginning of October 2013 ushered in the second set of revisions to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) in less than two years. They are billed as an improvement that should make life easier for employers and simplify reporting. The latest changes arise from the 2011 Löfstedt regulatory review, Reclaiming Health and Safety for All, which recommended that RIDDOR and its associated guidance should be amended to provide more clarity for business. They follow RIDDOR revisions in 2012, which raised from over three days to over seven the ‘incapacity for work’ time triggering the duty to report an accident.

What’s changed? In place of the old schedule of 10 major injuries, RIDDOR 2013 has a fresh list of eight “specified injuries”. It includes references to crush injuries, scalping and injuries arising from work in an enclosed or confined space.

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IOSH head of policy and public affairs Richard Jones “To help employers with reporting, IOSH was pleased to contribute to the new HSE online guidance and we’ve also called for reinstatement of the phone-line for lost time injury reporting. One further suggestion we’ve made is for a small reminder for employers to report to be put on the ‘fit note’.” But IOSH and several other safety organisations believe the latest changes have missed a key opportunity to address fundamental flaws of the old rules, meaning that some key risks are not being given the priority they deserve. Occupational road risk is a good example. Practitioners would argue that for many employees, driving for work is one of the most risky daily activities they undertake. Employers are obliged to manage this risk with the same care as their other risks, but RIDDOR 2013 only includes very specific types of road accident as reportable, such as those involving road works, dangerous goods and loading and unloading. IOSH also worries that the removal of some major injury categories - such as dislocations, of which there are 1300 a year, as well as electric shocks and “any other injury leading to resuscitation or hospitalisation” - will lead to loss of important data; as such incidents may not be captured under the specified injuries headings. However, IOSH does welcome the new scalping, burn and crush categories. It is also pleased the government has dropped some of the original proposals in the consultation, for example that only high-hazard industry dangerous occurrences should be reportable.

Richard closed by saying “It’s really important to collect reliable, real-time data on workplace failures, so that lessons can be learned and scarce resources targeted. This is how we can all help to ensure that further work-related deaths, injuries and diseases are prevented”

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) First Aid training legislation is changing. This will affect YOUR business in Scotland. On 1 October 2013, the HSE will no longer be responsible for approving First Aid training providers. This means you are free to look around for a training provider that best suits your company’s needs but beware, you will also now have the responsibility of ensuring this training meets a quality standard and delivers the most up to date information. On it’s website, the HSE has provided guidance to businesses on how to do this. HSE suggest you find ready made assurances from organisations such as St Andrew’s First Aid Training and Supplies LTD. Welcoming the changes, Jim Dorman, Operations Director of St Andrew’s First Aid says: “Employers must now choose carefully when selecting their First Aid training provider. The changes mean employers are now liable and must conduct full due diligence on the provider. It is no longer the case that HSE will approve the training provider - the responsibility now lies with the employer.” Providing advice on the considerations employers should take in selecting their First Aid training Jim added: “It is important to have a good understanding of your First Aid needs in the workplace. Do you have people with specific medical conditions such as allergies? What sort of injuries or illnesses might typically be present in your organisation? Do you have or require specialist equipment such as an AED or Evac-Chair? These are all now factors that must be considered by any employer to comply with new First Aid legislation.”

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Preventing workplace accidents and work-related diseases is much better than having to cope with the consequences. The problem is that a less-than-healthy mind and body is more likely to suffer accident or disease. The solution is regular health status checks with ongoing lifestyle risk management programmes. Where there is a culture of corporate wellbeing led by the bosses there is also a healthy, safe and productive workforce. CORE HEALTH can help you achieve that wellbeing - from top to bottom!

Lifestyle Medicine Centre, Drem, East Lothian EH39 5LN Telephone: 01620 842004 email:admin@core-health.com www.core-health.com

Development and Compliance Training - Audit & Consultancy

Our principal consultant, Graham Exley, is an experienced Chartered Health & Safety Practitioner & Environmental Practitioner on the Government backed scheme of registered consultants, The Occupational Safety & Health Consultants Register (OSCR). He is also a qualified Lead Auditor (HS&E) SERVICES WE OFFER INCLUDE: 3 Policies, Procedures & Arrangements 3 Workplace Inspections & Premises Safety Audits 3 General Risk & COSHH Assessments 3 Fire Risk Assessment & Fire Safety Plans 3 Method Statements & Safe Systems of Work 3 Asbestos Testing & Asbestos Management Plans 3 Pre-contract HS&E Questionnaire Support 3 CHAS or Safecontractor Assessment Support 3 Training & Development Plans 3 Construction Competent Person Services 3 HACCP Management and Food Safety Plans 3 Food Safety and Hygiene Inspections 3 ‘Food Hygiene Ratings/Information Scheme’ Support 3 Temporary ‘Competent Person’ Placements 3 Accident Investigations & Compliance Reporting 3 Monitoring and Compliance Visits

info@24-7safety.co.uk | 01289 303333 spring2014

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5% or 75% chance of survival? You decide. Your guide to defibrillators and the massive difference they make The harsh truth is the chance of survival from a cardiac arrest across Europe is 2-5%. With the average UK ambulance taking eight minutes to arrive on location, add to that set up and shock, even with ongoing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) from the very start the chance of survival for a casualty across Europe is between 2-5%.

their chance of survival rockets up to potentially 75%(between 49-75% in a time frame of 3-5 minutes). The European Resuscitation Council (ERC) guidelines provide these statistic. Without defibrillator on site = 2-5% Chance of Survival With a defibrillator on site (3 minutes shock time) = 75% Chance of Survival

How does a defibrillator work?

The generally accepted formula for surviving a cardiac arrest is the Chain of Survival

In the UK there is a real push to trying to have all these links coming together as soon as possible. If you call 999 for a casualty in cardiac arrest you will be given advice over the phone on how to perform CPR. With the emergency services called and the CPR on going and the advanced care being coordinated by the paramedics you have achieved 3 out of 4 of the links in the Chain of Survival. However with a missing link creating an incomplete chain, the casualty ends up with 2-5% chance of survival. Even though this horrifying set of statistics demonstrates how difficult it is to survive a cardiac arrest it also provides hope. Hope in the form of rapid deployment of a defibrillator. If you can defibrillate a casually within 3 minutes

Typically Cardiac Arrest is caused by a Heart Attack. This Heart Attack creates a section of the heart that has little to no blood supply as a result of a blood clot. The cells that are without oxygen send a distress signal and the heart can quickly become confused and make areas of the heart contract out of synchronisation. This rapidly becomes out of control and the heart begins to quiver and stops beating all together. This is called Ventricular Fibrillation. We need to defibrillate: a controlled shock that takes this chaotically quivering heart and completely resets it. The shock causes the heart to STOP for a fraction of a second, this momentary pause affords the heart and the brain the opportunity to regain control and beat normally in effect, in essence returning the heart to “factory default”.

What do you need to consider when purchasing a defibrillator? Making the right purchase – Cost of ownership – Some defibrillators have pads that need replaced very 2 years some every 5. Batteries are much the same typically 5 years. Warranty – Most defibrillators have 5 year warranty some have up to 8. Dust and water proof – Ingress Protection (IP) ratings are the standard. IP55, typically is the highest some are lower. It is worthy of consideration if you are looking at a factory or poolside placement. Increased shock energy – although

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not specified in the guidelines there is a recommendation that if they have the capacity to increase the energy after an unsuccessful shock they should. CPR Feedback – In the 2010 ERC guidelines there was a specific mention on the capacity for defibrillators to provide CPR help and coaching telling you if you CPR is deep enough. Fully or Semi-Automatic – Although no official guidance is given it was found the untrained nurses made less mistakes with fully automatic defibrillator. It’s down to personal preference.

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Additional Considerations Reporting after use â&#x20AC;&#x201C; It is good practice to complete the Resuscitation Council UK form Event Report Form. This will help with research in cardiac arrest survival.

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Training â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The HSE point to the Resuscitation Council UK as the reference point for training courses. It is good practise to look at a 4 hour course that considers many eventualities of a cardiac arrest not just how to work the defibrillator. A real focus should be on getting High Quality Minimally Interrupted CPR ingrained in the delegates, with this fact to consider The Resuscitation Council UK recommend the training be carried out annually or more often. It is important to consider these factors and to be very familiar with what you are trying to achieve here:

A high chance of survival for a casualty who goes in to Cardiac Arrest. Implementing a defibrillator programme will make a life changing difference to someone, their colleagues, friends, community member and family. 5% or 75%? The decision is yours.

Get in touch - Stefan Hickman email:aed@albacare.co.uk Tel: 0800 852 7043

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businessnews highlight areas where the process was not working effectively and could be improved. In essence this gave a very clear view of all the value adding activities and the timeline that was needed to execute them as well as all of the non value adding activities that where inherent in the day to day processes. From this some key areas for improvement which led to the following actions: n Re layout of the workshop to ensure that product and material flowed within a more effective process n New racking, work benches and work stations implemented to assist with product flow and improve the workplace organisation n Key kit identified that would reduce lead time and an investment plan prepared to procure this

Business on the road to success Shand Cycles have been building bikes for 10 years. But the makeup of Shand now bears little resemblance to the previous decade. For the first four or five years, business owner Steven Shand was building made to measure full custom bike frames, mostly in his spare time. Never more than about 10-12 per year. It was a hobby, a sideline, something that never really made any money. The next four or five years, was much more focused, more care about processes and not just building the bikes but also developing the way they were built. Everyday was a school day. Fast forward to now. No longer is it just Steven working away in his home-workshop in the middle of night, but has now been joined by business partner Russell Stout and two employees making a team of 4 in a nice big space. There will probably be more bikes built this year than Steven built in the first 8 or years put together. Shand have invested in marketing, tooling, people and space, all so the company can build the volume necessary to make this a sustainable business. And everyday is still a school day.!

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The challenge for SHAND as a growing business was to focus on improving efficiency and productivity to release capacity which would allow them to service and sustain the increasing volume of business that they are forecasting. Cash-flow was also an issue with money tied up in inventory and reducing this through a more balanced and effective manufacturing process using Lean and Flow principles of Lean to ensure that overall process lead time were reduced. In terms of their processes there was an opportunity to establish key value stream processes and identify the key steps needed to ensure that process maturity was enhanced. Ultimately Shand wanted to develop a sustainable business model which would allow them to embed and sustain good manufacturing practices to allow the business to grow, fulfilling customer service and in a profitable manner. At this stage Shand owners met with Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) to give them an understanding of their current position through reviewing their strategic objectives and how they were going to meet them. From this SMAS proceeded to carry out a full process mapping exercise with the team to map out the value streams within the business, understand the key steps that were required to fulfil them and

The process mapping activity acted as process verification for the team and resulted in a mindset shift as the waste within the process became very clear. The timeline of all the processing activities was also used to produce a financial model for the business which allowed them to assess and understand the financial impact in terms cost of building a bike of lead time, inventory and capacity that they currently had and what was required to achieve and sustain planed growth. Shand also developed a planning and scheduling tool which allowed them to capture customer demand much more clearly and then track this through all of their operations so they could manage capacity and maintain customer service Ultimately the team moved from fire fighting to a much more proactive operating model which gave confidence in their ability to fulfil customer order on time and in full. As a result of this working partnership with SMAS the business owners have experienced outcomes such as: n Improved customer service, proactive vs reactive. n Error proofing processes to ensure right 1st time approach n More effective manufacturing processes focusing more on the value adding activities and reducing non value adding activities n Improved financial management better handle on cashflow and capital investment required n General ‘organisation’ - a better, more professional feeling about the business!

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Lawnmower Service and Repair Your Lawnmower will last you years if you look after it. We fully service and repair both electrical and petrol lawnmowers of any size.

Tool Repairs We fully service and repair all kind of tools including garden, electrical and power tools. All our repairs are carried out by fully qualified, experienced engineers. Pickup and delivery service available throughout Midlothian.

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Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) Getting to the root of the problem

into the wild. Today, Japanese knotweed is recognised as one of the most invasive species present in the UK and it is notorious for rapidly spreading and causing substantial damage to areas where it grows.

By Graham Rudd, Co-Founder & Business Manager, Invasive Weeds Agency Ltd

What does Japanese knotweed look like?

Since 1981, it has been illegal in the UK to plant or otherwise cause to grow Japanese knotweed in the wild yet it has only been in recent years that the public has become aware of this non-native invasive weed. Banks and building societies have taken notice of the problems that Japanese knotweed can cause and as a result many of them restrict or refuse to lend money for properties affected by this plant. As a consequence, many property sales have fallen through and people have become increasingly frustrated by Japanese knotweed. A myth has been perpetuated that it is nearly impossible to kill and that it will spread so quickly that it will smother everything in its path. As a result, there has been a recent surge in companies claiming to be experts and purporting to know a magic formula for eradicating this weed. The prices being quoted for treatment of Japanese knotweed in a garden could be anywhere from £100 to more than £1 million. With astronomical prices being estimated nationwide by unqualified tradesmen, it is time learn more about Japanese knotweed and the ways to tackle it in order to protect your own or your client’s investment.

What is Japanese knotweed? Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is a rhizomatous, perennial plant that grows throughout much of the UK. As its name suggests, Japanese knotweed is a native to Japan and it was introduced to the UK during the mid 19th century for its ornamental value. Due to its desirability, gardeners planted Japanese knotweed at locations all over the British Isles. By the start of the 20th century, the knotweed’s invasive nature was observed as the species escaped the confines of gardens and spread

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Japanese knotweed emerges as small asparagus-like shoots that are red/green in colour. As the plant develops it produces small red/green shield-shaped leaves growing from the stem’s many distinct raised nodes or ‘knots’. Once mature, the leaves become a vibrant green colour reaching lengths of up to 120mm. The red/ green stems of adult Japanese knotweed have a hardy bamboo-like appearance and grow in thick clumps or ‘stands’. During the months of August, September and October, creamy white flowers are produced, growing in clusters at the end of the stems. After flowering, the plant sheds its leaves and dies off, the stems become hollow brown skeletal remains that are brittle and easily broken. The dead stems often remain upright amongst new growth during the following season.

designated landfill sites licensed to receive this weed. Removing Japanese knotweed from a site requires a waste carriers licence therefore domestic homeowners cannot simply dig it up and take it to a landfill site. Other legislation surrounding Japanese knotweed includes: Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011 (asp 6) Part 2-Wildlife under the 1981 Act Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA 1990) Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994

What damage can Japanese knotweed cause?

Why is Japanese knotweed a problem? Being a non-native species in the United Kingdom, Japanese knotweed is able to grow rapidly and in many cases dominate its surrounding environment. Unaffected by natural controls such as predators and diseases that target the native flora, Japanese knotweed infestations can quickly spread. Japanese knotweed is classed as an invasive weed in the UK and is listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, making it an offence to ‘plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild’. Japanese knotweed is classed as controlled waste, which means disposal is restricted to

Japanese knotweed is able to colonise a variety of urban and rural environments as it will grow in most soil types and it is fiercely competitive with surrounding species. Due to its ability to exploit weaknesses in construction material, such as concrete and tarmac, new knotweed growth can cause damage to structures and roads thus affecting the value of property as it rapidly develops. Japanese knotweed grows particularly well along riverbanks and it is

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advertorial How much will it cost to eradicate? The calculations below are based on an area of Japanese knotweed 5m x 5m, excavated to a depth of 2m with an additional 4m buffer zone around the perimeter. An insurance backed guarantee for work may be an additional charge depending on the duration of guarantee required.

able to colonise large areas because the waterways act as a distribution route for stems and rhizomes as they get carried downstream. Damage to flood defences may occur and there have been instances of Japanese knotweed restricting waterways resulting in flooding. Ecosystems can be disrupted by the presence of Japanese knotweed as it can starve the surrounding native plants of resources, seriously impacting on the delicate balance of local food chains. The financial damage caused by Japanese knotweed has increased dramatically over the past few years with many mortgage applications being refused due to the perceived threat that Japanese knotweed may have to properties in close proximity to an infestation. It is commonplace for house sales to fall through as a result of surveyors identifying Japanese knotweed, sometimes inaccurately, at a property; however, this situation can be resolved by appointment of a specialist company to eradicate the infestation. In 2003, DEFRA estimated that it would cost the UK more than £1.5 billion to eradicate Japanese knotweed on a national scale.

How can you eliminate Japanese knotweed? Japanese knotweed infestations can be controlled and eliminated through a variety of methods, depending on factors such as timescale, location of the infestation and its surrounding environment. Due to the potentially high costs involved with some methods, often the main factor governing the control strategy is money. The main methods of control are:

Treatment

Timescale

Cost (£)

Herbicide treatment

1- 3 years

2,000 – 4,000

Off Site Disposal

1 Day

8,000 – 10,000

Screening

2 Days

4,000 – 5,000

Burial

2-3 Days

5,000 – 6,000

Bund (relocation & herbicide)

2 Days

4,000 – 5,000

Cutting

5+ years

Not commercially viable

Burning

1-2 Days

6,000 – 8,000

Biological

Unknown

Not commercially viable

How do I prevent Japanese knotweed spreading? Japanese knotweed spreads through fragments of rhizome and cut stems, capable of producing new shoots and roots when buried in soil. It only takes a piece of rhizome 0.7g to generate into a new plant, however, not all rhizomes this small will regenerate. This vegetative material can be carried far and wide, completely un-noticed on the sole of a shoe or the tracks of construction vehicles. If Japanese

knotweed growth has been discovered it is important not to attempt to move or break the stems or uproot the plant. Take measures to prevent access to the infestation.

Can I eliminate Japanese knotweed myself? It is highly recommended that any attempt to control Japanese knotweed should only be carried out by trained and qualified persons. Due to the highly invasive nature of the plant, its complete eradication may require the use of potentially harmful chemicals that could put the user and the surrounding environment at risk if incorrectly applied. If the control relates to the sale of a property it is usually necessary to appoint a professional contractor who offers an insurance-backed guarantee to ensure funding by a mortgage lender.

Where can I find a qualified and competent company? Invasive Weeds Agency is has achieved the highest standards for weed control- BASIS Amenity Assured and BASIS Advanced Contractor Certification Scheme. IWA is a member of The Invasive Non-Native Specialists Association (www.innsa.org), the trade organisation for Japanese knotweed consultants and contractors. IWA offer insurance backed guarantees for Japanese knotweed eradication, ensuring the client’s peace of mind once the work has finished.

Where can I find out more about Japanese knotweed? The Internet has a wide range of information on Japanese knotweed but beware of scare-mongering! Visit www.japaneseknotweed.com for identification, treatment options, videos, news, legislation and more.

n Herbicide Treatment n Off Site Disposal (Dig & Dump) n Screening n Burial n Bund (Relocation & Herbicide) n Root Barrier n Cutting n Burning n Biological Control

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Colin Linton Management Consultant Dear Sir or Madam, Twenty years ago Colin Linton attended Napier University, where he pursued a research project with the outcome of the European Union to 2010 with the moral support of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce who shared the material obtained from other European institutions. Seeing all the results are coming true he has projected further forward to 2020. Prior to all of this research he made it a point of going to America three times in 1990 and additional two years in London and the South East of England. Where he got involved with change, creativity, marketing new opportunities and politics, which will help people and small businesses prosper for long term strategies from his present experience of the bookbinding industry . He has decided to open a small consultancy business which would benefit your organisation in the long term and develop long lasting relationships. He looks forward to your reply Yours sincerely Colin Linton

Flat 2, 135 High Street, Dalkeith EH22 1BE

Phone 0131 660 5019

E-Mail colinlinton283@btinternet.com

M ACDONA LD HOUSTOUN HOUSE HOTEL

Easy to access and with ample free parking, we offer unique meeting and events facilities, luxury accommodation, superb dining and are the perfect choice for your next event whether it be a board meeting, gala dinner or conference. • Conference facilities for up to 400

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We’re passionate about print! Looking for a printer for your next print project? Then look no further, with Charlesworth Press you can expect … • Competitive pricing on brochures, catalogues, magazines, corporate literature, & much more • Full colour printing from short runs up to thousands of copies • Wide range of binding options including soft bound, hard bound, wiro & spiral bound • Dedicated Account Manager to help & advise throughout the process • Accredited to ISO 9001 Quality standards • Environmentally friendly ISO 14001 & FSC production • PLUS lots of care & attention to detail!! Working hard to support Chamber Members throughout Edinburgh & Scotland

Contact us to find out how we can make a difference to your next print project Tel: 01924 204830 Email: sales@charlesworth.com

Charlesworth Press ...evolution in print

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West Lothian Abstract Admin Donna Robertson 0776 9290066 info@abstractadmin.co.uk www.abstractadmin.co.uk

Livingston Youth Foundation Scott Millar 01506 403341 info@lyf4football.org.uk www.lyf4football.org.uk

Pretty White Ltd Sharon Rintoul 01501 744924 info@prettywhite.co.uk www.prettywhite.co.uk

Affinity TV Liz Clark 0844 358 2469 info@affinitytv.co.uk www.affinitytv.co.uk

Mountcastle Services Neil McLaren 07983 448158 www.mountcastleservices.co.uk

The Wine Experience Ian McNeill 07769 588726 ian@thewine-experience.co.uk www.thewine-experience.co.uk

Business Advisory Scotland Jamie Newall 0141 530 4152 jamie@advisorysupport.co.uk www.advisorysupport.co.uk Energy & Property Solutions Katarzyna Stradowska 07501 412171 info@epsbureau.co.uk www.epsbureau.co.uk IDSIT.com Michael Judge 01506 203 551 idsit@idsit.com www.idsit.com

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myeasylunch.com David Holman 01506 238225 info@myeasylunch.com www.myeasylunch.com Neptune Kitchen & Bathroom Installations Keith Barclay 07921 004556 keith@neptunekb.co.uk www.neptunekb.co.uk

Universal Appeal Limited Alan Stewart 07729 911858 info@universal-appeal.com www.universal-appeal.com West Lothian TV Dave McDougall davemcdougall@btinternet.com www.westlothianondemand.com

Pertemps Scotland Michelle King michelle.king@pertemps.co.uk www.pertemps.co.uk

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Midlothian and East Lothian Alex Ewing Photography Alex Ewing (Owner) 07931 681187 alex@alexewingphotography.co.uk

Colin Linton Consultancy Colin Linton (Owner) 0131 660 5019 colinlinton283@btinternet.com

Alex F Noble & Son Nissan Gordon Campbell (Sales Manager) 0131 4405353 gordon.campbell@afnoble.co.uk www.alexfnoble.co.uk

CrĂ¨me Soda Julia Miller (Account Manager) 07872 615349 alex@cremesoda.co.uk www.cremesoda.co.uk

Becketts Financial Services Brian Wailes 07766078642 Waileswise@aol.com

Digital Bird Ltd Colin Henderson ( Director) 07771 956691 digitalbirdfilms@gmail.com www.digitalbirdfilms.com

Beijing Banquet Rui Lin (Director) 0131 663 6999 linloanhead@googlemail.com www.beijingbanquet.com

Keith Robson Consultancy Keith Robson (Owner) 07809 740470 keith_robson@hotmail.co.uk

Bunzl Cleaning & Hygiene Supplies Colin Minto (Sales Executive) 07771 957288/0131 657 6890 colin.minto@bunzlchs.co.uk www.bunzlchs.com

Green Cartridge Enterprises Eddie Caldow (Owner) 07875 578801 eddie@green-cartridge.co.uk www.green-cartridge.co.uk

Clerwood Legal Services Gavin Tosh (Principal) 0131 467 7611/07932 501022 gavin.tosh@clerwoodlegal.com www.clerwoodlegal.com

Home Instead Senior Care Brian Johnstone (Managing Director) 0131 273 5252 / 07738 384937 brian.johnstone@homeinstead.co.uk www.homeinstead.co.uk/eastmidlothian

Mark Neillings Financial Management Mark Neillings (Owner) 07725 325244 mark.neillings@sjpp.co.uk www.markneillings.co.uk NetworkRail (Borders Railway Project) Sarah Duignan (Communications Manager) 0845 604 4146 info@bordersrailway.co.uk www.bordersrailway.co.uk Organically Yours Julia Leyden (Owner) 0788 3836988 julia.leyden@yahoo.com Private House Stays Cassandra Bouverie (Managing Director) 0131 202 1348 / 01620 893 238 cassie@privatehousestays.com www.privatehousestays.com Slic Inc Stuart Perkins (Owner) 07577 708450 sliccafe@yahoo.co.uk The Paper Mill Karen Calvert (Director) 0131 663 1412 karen@thepapermill-lasswade.co.uk www.thepapermill-lasswade.co.uk Travelpods Alistair R White (Director) 01620 894990 / 07092 870 224 alistair@travelpods.com www.travelpods.com

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Welcoming all our new Members to Mid, East and West Lothian Chamber of Commerce

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Kinder care. Friendlier faces.

01875 616666

DO YOU NEED HELP TO LIVE AT HOME? Allan-Ross Nursing & Homecare Ltd has been providing a range of care, nursing and support services in East Lothian since 1998

www.allan-ross.co.uk reception@allan-ross.co.uk Dewar House, 1a Loch Road, Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland EH33 2JX

DO YOU NEED AN OFFICE SPACE TO WORK FROM BUT DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T WANT THE HASSLE OF HIGH RENTS AND TRAVEL INTO THE CITY? Look no further for affordable office space in Midlothian!

At the Vineyard Business Centre, we provide modern business offices in an idyllic setting. Our countryside location, which is easily accessible from the A7, A68 and the Edinburgh City Bypass, provides the perfect alternative from which you can effectively conduct your business. Accessible office spaces in the beautiful Scottish countryside Finding an office in the Midlothian area can be tricky business. You have to secure a commutable location and then there's the cost. At The Vineyard Business Centre, our office spaces are ideal for small to medium sized businesses. Located in the countryside, our prices are incredibly affordable. All our offices are modern and internet capable, ensuring that we always meet all your business needs. The Vineyard Business Centre has the following features: n Modern offices in a rural, yet accessible location with ample free car parking n Two buildings offering up to a total of 6000 sq ft n All our offices are Cat 5 wired for internet and local networking n Offices from 270 sq ft to 718 sq ft in size n Meeting room and kitchen n Professional cleaners on site n Potential storage space options also available n Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round

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Why it is important to look to your people The one commodity that all companies have in common is always the most important – its people. So why is it often the last thing we update?. We spend fortunes on fancy tools to help us do our job but considerably less on developing our people.

So why should you develop your people? I prefer to look at it as investing in your people. It’s true that your people are the lifeblood of your company. Even if you work on your own its still true, you need to be at the forefront of your industry to be able to compete.

So what’s in it for you as an employer? The simple answer is a lot, too many to mention but I have listed a few below. • Increased productivity

So what’s stopping you? For most companies it’s the cost. It is simply too difficult to justify the cost of development, however there is a much greater cost to not investing in your people. As we mentioned before there are several benefits to investing in your people, the opposite is true to not investing in them. It’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to paying for development. There are several grants you can apply for. There are certain criteria you need to meet however the application process is extremely easy and having had some money last year to gain a specific qualification I can tell you it works. Skills Development Scotland offers partial funding for Scottish companies with fewer than 100 employees to assist with their development. It’s called the Flexible Training Opportunities funding. If you want to find more look here www.skillsdevelopmentscotland. co.uk/our-services/flexible-training-opportunities/ By adding 1 qualification to my CV I have been able to add more services that have increased my bottom line by 15% in the last quarter – and thanks to Skills Development Scotland I only paid for half of it. Craig Cornwall Director at The Learning & Development People

• Reduced staff turnover saving recruitment costs • An engaged workforce which leads to; • People being happy in their work • People working harder because they want to • People willing to go the extra mile • Your staff feel they belong • Your company image is represented in a positive way

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MEMBER CLOSE-UP Company Name: wow-a2z.com Name: Debbie Davis Position: Founder of wow-a2z.com Website: www.wow-a2z.com

What are the main activities of the business? wow-a2z is a small Business Support System, what’s special about it is that members have a shop and other handy tools to help them connect with an international market, other businesses, each other and also find potential partners by their skills etc. Our main activity is making sure the site is busy and running well, networking and promoting our members and having a strong social media presence. Are you enjoying what you do everyday? Yes, very much! The thought of making it easier for others to take steps into Self Employment makes me very happy. As a business person, describe your three main qualities?

Photo: Thomas Haywood

What is your favourite way to unwind? Singing. If you could choose anyone, who would be your fantasy dinner party guests and why? A Dinner Party? Lol, I’d have to ask my husband…he’s the cook What advice would you give to others who trying to be successful in business?

I’m passionate, committed and always willing to learn more.

Find the right people, and businesses that have the skills and services you need to surround yourself with. Work collaboratively, barter, do what you have to. Most of all believe in your business and don’t be afraid of challenge.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business?

Where do you see yourself in 10-years?

Hearing the difference I’m making to members who are kind enough to write to me and let me know. It was really special the first time it happened. It was a lady from USA. What do you see as your job’s biggest challenge?

Although we have international members already, I’d like to develop the website to see more global collaboration and Skillsharing facilitated between Scottish visionaries and international ventures i.e. bringing and sharing Skills in Scotland. I think and hope that everything will be different in 10 years time.

Having enough time in the day! If you could turn the clock back, what would you have changed about your business career? I’d have started making the journey into Self Employment much earlier

businessconnect

spring2014

THE BUSINESS BASE CELEBRATES ITS 20TH BIRTHDAY THIS YEAR Providers of bookkeeping, payroll and business management services, The BUSINESS BASE commenced life in Market Street, Haddington in the tender care of Barbara Young and Lesley Peebles Brown. After some nine years Lesley departed to explore the world equipped with a bicycle, tent and her husband. Barbara continues the business from offices at Dovecot, Haddington. The BUSINESS BASE offers bespoke services, tailored to the needs of your business. We can assist you in setting up record keeping procedures to suit you and your business as well as legislative requirements. We work with your accountant to ensure a seamfree transfer of your records for the production of annual accounts. Barbara trained in the days of pen, paper and double entry systems, tax tables and calculators. Today Sage Software is employed. We provide training for Sage 50 Accounts and Payroll Software, the initial setup of the software designed to provide the management information to assist your business.

For more information call

01620 826412 barbara@thebusinessbase.co.uk The BUSINESS BASE, Dovecot, Haddington, East Lothian EH41 4HA

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