Dunbartonshire issue 28 issuu by dtech

THE DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Business is

ISSUE 28 • AUTUMN 2015

Blooming PAGE 20

10 24

EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE BUSINESS AWARDS NEW MPs’ PRIORITIES

30 46

PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS EVENTS/EVENTS EXTRA

ADVERTISING FEATURE

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Contents From the Editor...................................... 5 SCC Annual Dinner................................ 5 News in Brief....................................... 6-7 Cheaper Insurance Direct Sponsors Dumbarton FC Lomond School Scoops Top Awards New £1.8m Vale Workshops Ready Glenhead Celebrates 10th Anniversary

West College Scotland Student Showcase Success.................................. 8

10-18

East Dunbartonshire Business Awards.............................. 10-18

IRE EAST DUNBARTONSH DS BUSINESS AWAR

Prestige Clients Flock to Silk Blooms... 20-22 New MPs’ Priorities for Business........ 24-25 Scottish Business Performance Remains Strong............................... 28-29 Record Turnout at Pipe Band Championships............................... 30-32 £15m Deal Unlocks Clydebank’s Queens Quay...................................... 32 Celebrating Thomas Muir’s 250th Anniversary................................ 34 Milngavie Office for Rennie McInnes...... 34 Beardmore Rebrands as Golden Jubilee.................................... 35 New Members...................................... 36

Footgolf at Hilton Park.......................... 37 Chivas Brothers Staff Support Kiltwalk..... 39

NEW MPs’ PRIORITIES

Detailed Design for New Dumbarton Council Office....... 40-41 Chamber Team in a League of Their Own....................... 42-43 Working4Business Partnership Launched............................................. 44 Gourmet Treats Growth Enterprise......... 45 Maid Secures £3.8m from Lottery Fund... 45 Events Diary ................................... 46-47 Events Extra Thomas Muir 250......... 48-49

Cover photo courtesy of Silk Blooms.

Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce Whitecrook Business Centre 78 Whitecrook Street, Clydebank G81 1QF.

NSHIPS

PIPE BAND CHAMPIO

T: 0141 280 0272 F: 01389 750005 E: admin@dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk www.dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk For advertising contact D-Tech: T: 0141 222 2202 E: sales@incommerce.biz For editorial contact editor: June Hyslop T: 07944 265126 E: editor@incommerce.biz Publisher: D-Tech INCOMMERCE is published by D-Tech, Suite 3.3, Station House, 34 St Enoch Square, Glasgow G1 4DF Telephone 0141 222 2202. E-mail: info@dtechuk.com. Edited by June Hyslop, Copywrite Editorial, Dumbarton. Telephone 07944 265126. E-mail: editor@incommerce.biz.

46-49

EVENTS/EVENTS EXTR

INCOMMERCE is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be printed nor copied wholly or in part without the written permission of the publishers. The proprietors of this magazine are publishers and not agents, or sub-agents of those who advertise therein. They cannot be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of information contained within this publication. The views expressed by authors of articles published in this magazine are solely those of the author and are not necessarily the views of or shared by the editor, the publisher or the directors, shareholders and/ or employees of D-Tech or Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce.

Photo courtesy of Green Highlander Images.

welcome AUGUST marks the start of a new term both at school and for the chamber. This year my youngest started secondary school. Gone are the bright colours and polo shirts of his primary school uniform, replaced by a blazer in a more sombre black. He also now has to wear a tie each day – it couldn’t be clearer that life has now become more serious and that he will be expected to work. But as I keep telling him, the more he puts into all the activities available at school, the more he will get out of it. Following my re-election at our AGM, August also marks the start of my third year as your president, something that I am honoured to do. The expectation is that I will have work to do too – already my diary is filling up with events such as the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) parliamentary reception at Westminster on 7 September and the Business in the Parliament Conference at Holyrood on 29 and 30 October. Taking part in these events allows me to represent Dunbartonshire businesses at both a UK and Scottish level. We have an exciting programme of events to look forward to, full details of which are on page 48, and on our website. We will also be running our highly successful lunch club which means that there will always be at least one event each month in your area where you can network with fellow members.

RS O T C E DIR ED T N A W

Our manufacturing forum had a very informative meeting at Terasaki in Clydebank, including learning about the kaizen method of production improvement that help make this Scottish-Japanese joint venture a world leader in its field. Finally, the quarterly economic indicator produced by SCC attracts the most responses from Scottish businesses of any such survey. With your help we can build a comprehensive set of economic data for Dunbartonshire which we can then circulate to local politicians. The chamber is in fact similar to my son’s school – the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. So this term, come to our events, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, and please complete our surveys. If we all work together, then we can build a better chamber.

Stewart Rennie President Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce www.dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk www.incommerce.biz

The chamber is looking for two new directors. See page 38 for details.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Photo from Nandos’ archives.

FROM THE

EDITOR editor@incommerce.biz

THIS issue of InCommerce celebrates success with nine pages on the East Dunbartonshire Business Awards plus three featuring awardwinning chamber member, Silk Blooms. Congratulations to David McDaid and Mara Rose Naismith of Silk Blooms on winning the award for Best Use of E-Commerce. The Community Champion award went to Jimmy Watson of Huntershill Village in Bishopbriggs, who are also chamber members. Jimmy is the driving force behind setting up the Friends of Thomas Muir to commemorate the Scottish political reformer’s life and achievements. He is also the national co-ordinator for the 250th anniversary celebrations of Muir’s birth. Muir was born in Milton of Campsie and lived at Huntershill so there is a strong local connection with East Dunbartonshire. Many events are taking place both locally and nationally to celebrate Muir – these are listed in a special Events Extra on pages 48 and 49. Talking of politics, the new MPs for Dunbartonshire, John Nicolson and Martin Docherty, set out their priorities for business on pages 24 and 25. Once again the Scottish Pipe Band Championships at Levengrove Park in Dumbarton were a huge success with a record turnout. As well as being a great family day out, this event provides a huge and welcome boost to the West Dunbartonshire economy. Chamber members have also been celebrating their successes – Glenhead Engineering threw a party for 160 customers and staff to commemorate its 10th anniversary. The Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre continues to notch up awards as it joins an elite list of hotels around the world entering the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame. It is also the only UK Hotel ranked in the top 100 employers in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index. In January next year, it will rebrand and become the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel, building on its success as an internationally recognised conference centre of excellence. Huge congratulations and credit to the team at the Maid of the Loch for securing £3.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to get the iconic paddle steamer sailing again. Last, but by no means least, well done to the chamber admin team of Laura Mills and Linzi Harvey. Their business, Entourage UK, scored with Sir Alex Ferguson when they helped organise a charity fundraising event for Harmony Row Youth Club, where the football legend kicked off his career.

Nando’s Founder is Keynote Speaker at Scottish Chambers Annual Dinner ROBERT Brozin, founder of Nando’s and social entrepreneur, is the keynote speaker at this year’s Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) annual dinner. The event, on 2 December at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow will see businesses of all sizes and sectors attend to celebrate the contributions that they make to the economy and prosperity of Scotland. Host for the evening will be broadcaster, Kaye Adams, while Nora Senior, chair of SCC, will deliver an ambitious speech on the priorities for the Scottish business community. Liz Cameron, OBE, director and chief executive of SCC, said: “Business is great for Scotland – I am excited for Robert to attend and inspire us with his entrepreneurial journey. “He turned Nando’s into a global reality with stores stretching from Rosettenville to Cape Town, Canada to Australia and the UK to Malaysia – what a success story! “From the original concept, there are now over 1,100 restaurants in more than 23 countries. I know his ambition will inspire the Scottish business community to do more. “Our biggest strength is our passion and collective vision for Scotland – book your table today and let’s make the most of it!” Booking forms can be downloaded from the SCC website at www.scottishchambers.org.uk

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Photo courtesy of Cheaper Insurance Direct.

news in brief… Lomond School Scoops Top Enterprise Awards TEAM Dinamus of Lomond School scooped the top prize and three other awards in Young Enterprise Dunbartonshire’s annual competition. Pupils from across Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh battled to become the area’s top young entrepreneurs.

SPONSORSHIP DEAL: (L-R) Dumbarton FC manager, Stevie Aitken, with Alex Couper, director of Cheaper Insurance Direct, and his brother, Ian Couper.

Cheaper Insurance Direct Sponsors Dumbarton FC DUMBARTON Football Club’s home is now the Cheaper Insurance Direct Stadium as part of a new sponsorship deal. An initial two year agreement has been agreed with chamber member, Cheaper Insurance Direct. Company director, Alex Couper, and his brother Ian, are big Sons fans. Alex said: “Cheaper Insurance Direct is excited to be linked with Dumbarton Football Club and to be able to invest in its continued progress. “The decision to sponsor the football stadium was both a head and heart one.

Helenburgh’s Dinamus won the Campbell Dallas Award for the Best Overall Company, the Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce Award for the Best Company Report, the Polaroid Eyewear Award for the Best Trade Fair Stand and the YED Award for the Most Innovative Product or Service. Running them a close second for the top spot was Dumbarton Academy’s Sassy Baggage, who also took the University of Strathclyde Award for the Best Marketing Strategy, and the Aggreko UK Ltd Award for the Best Presentation. Kirkintilloch High School’s team, Diligent, received the YED Award for the Most Environmentally Sensitive Company. Team Dinamus recycled old vinyl records reshaping them as clocks, picture frames and other items with a distinctive 50s theme. Jack Rudram chairman of the YED board, said: “Each year the young people of Dunbartonshire never fail to surprise us with their creativity and ingenuity, as well as providing an impressive display of hard work and commitment. “The standards they set themselves are extremely high and this year was no exception. All the leading teams had excellent products, good business plans, and tremendous determination to make their companies a success.”

“I am confident from the response we’ve had so far that this will prove one of the best marketing decisions we have made.

www.yes.org.uk Photo by Audoire Images.

“I grew up a Dumbarton supporter in the early 70s thanks to my dad who took me to my first match when I was nine years old.

“The club has been absolutely first class and can’t do enough to help us.” Sons chief executive, Gilbert Lawrie, added: “We see this opportunity as a great deal for this club and for our new sponsor. “This collaboration is aimed at establishing sustainability for all concerned with a successful future being the ultimate goal.” Due to steady growth, and an increase in its range of products, since starting in 2001, the Dumbarton East-based business formerly known as Cheaper Car Insurance Services, has rebranded as Cheaper Insurance Direct. www.cheaperinsurancedirect.com SIMPLY THE BEST: Lomond School’s Team Dinamus managing director, Harris Hameed, accepts the chamber award from president, Stewart Rennie.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Photo courtesy of West Dunbartonshire Council.

TO LET: Michael McGuinness, WDC economic development manager, and Stuart Gibson, assets co-ordinator at the new workshops.

New £1.8m Vale Workshops Ready THE new £1.8 million workshops at the Vale of Leven Industrial Estate are now ready to let.

jointly funded by WDC and the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant.

The 13 units, which range in size from 500 to 1000 square feet, offer small and growing businesses the opportunity to move into modern, purpose-built accommodation.

Richard Cairns, executive director for housing, environmental and economic development for WDC, said: “Having identified the need for new premises in the area, these spacious units offer an ideal location for local businesses wishing to move or to expand.

West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) economic development manager, Michael McGuinness, and Stuart Gibson, assets coordinator, visited the workshops just prior to completion to check on progress The workshops were built on an area of land at the industrial estate which had not previously been developed. They were

Glenhead Celebrates 10th Anniversary GLENHEAD Engineering celebrated its 10th anniversary with a fun day out for customers and staff.

“We are look forward to these workshops bringing jobs and economic benefits to the area.” Interested parties should contact the council’s business support team on 01389 737777 for more information.

The Clydebank–based chamber member offers precision engineered products manufactured to high tolerances and also provides a design and problem solving service. It serves a wide range of industries including aerospace, automotive, defence, electronic, energy, food and drink, and medical and scientific. www.glenheadengineering.co.uk

Centre stage was a live band providing entertainment throughout the day. The popular cake and candy stall raised £430.40 for the Macmillan Cancer Support charity. Operations manager, Sharon Colvan, said: “It was a fabulous day, the weather was great, and there was lots of good feedback from customers and staff. “Everyone enjoyed themselves and the kids had a ball with the bouncy castle and entertainment.”

Photo courtesy of Glenhead Engineering.

Around 160 guests enjoyed a barbeque, free bar, ice cream van, children’s entertainer, face painting and a bouncy castle.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Photo courtesy of West College Scotland.

HOSPITALITY ON PARADE: WCS students (L-R) Ehia Aka, Kirsty McLevy, Clare Hall and Fiona McInally.

West College Scotland Student Showcase Success WEST College Scotland (WCS) students hosted a series of events to showcase what they have to offer employers. The events, which were held across Clydebank, Greenock and Paisley campuses, were a great success with more than 50 hospitality, travel and tourism employer representatives attending, as well as college students and staff. Hospitality, tourism and languages students prepared a welcome lunch, provided a tour of college facilities, presented on their educational experiences and hosted an interactive question and answer session.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

The employer representatives took part in discussions on how they could become more involved with the college, specifically looking at placement and recruitment opportunities. Jim McAllister, head of sector for hospitality, tourism and languages, said: “These employer events have laid a very good foundation from which we can move to complement this growing sector of the Scottish economy in a coordinated, efficient and planned way.” www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk

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You’ll meet someone who has substantial experience in their area, who will listen and who will then give you practical advice. We specialise in advising owner-managed businesses and can help you with company law, commercial contracts, employment law and leases. We can also handle your personal affairs, be it buying a house or making a will. Whatever the situation, our people can help you do business.

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Photos courtesy of East Dunbartonshire Council. continued

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

The East Dunbartonshire Council would The East DunbartonshireCouncil Councilwould would East Dunbartonshire The East Dunbartonshire Council would like toEast congratulate the winners ofwould the 2015 The Dunbartonshire Council like to congratulate the winners of the 2015 to congratulate the winners of the 2015 East Dunbartonshire Councilofwould like East to congratulate the winners the 2015 Dunbartonshire Business Awards like East to congratulate the winners of the 2015 the 2015 Dunbartonshire Business Awards East Dunbartonshire Business Awards East Dunbartonshire Business Awards East Dunbartonshire Business Awards Awards

Fleming Buildings Limited Business of the Year Class4Kids Start Up of Business of the Year Fleming Buildings Limited Business the Fleming Buildings Limited Business of theYear Year Fleming Buildings Limited Business of the Year Perceptive Communicators Growth Business of the Year Class4Kids Start Up Business of of thethe Year Class4Kids Start Up Business Year Class4Kids Start Upof Business of the Year Fleming Buildings Limited Business of the Year Fleming Buildings Limited Business the Year Silk Blooms Best use of E-Commerce Perceptive Communicators Growth Business of the Year Perceptive Communicators Growth Business of the Year Perceptive Communicators Growth Business of the Year Class4Kids StartIndependent UpBusiness Business ofthe theYear Year Class4Kids Start Up of Billington’s of Lenzie Retailer of the Year Silk Blooms Best use of of E-Commerce Silk Blooms Best Use E-Commerce Silk Blooms Best use of E-Commerce Perceptive GrowthBusiness Businessof ofthe theYear Year PerceptiveCommunicators Communicators Growth Electronic Security Services and Fire Protection Service Business of the Billington’s of Lenzie Independent Retailer ofYear Year Billington’s of Lenzie Independent Retailer ofthe the Year Billington’s of Lenzie Independent Retailer of the Year Silk Blooms BestUse use E-Commerce Silk Blooms Best of E-Commerce Nonna’s Kitchen Hospitality, Leisure & Tourism Business of the Year Electronic Security Services and Fire Protection Service Business of the Year Electronic Security Services and Fire Protection Service Business of the Year Electronic Services and Fire Protection Service Business of the Year Billington’s ofofLenzie Independent Retailer theYear Year Billington’sSecurity Lenzie Independent Retailer ofofthe Fleming Buildings Limited Large Employer of the Year Nonna’s Kitchen Hospitality, Leisure & &Tourism Business Year Nonna’s Kitchen Hospitality, Tourism Business ofthe the Year Nonna’s Kitchen Hospitality, Leisure & Business of theof Year Electronic SecurityServices Servicesand andFire FireProtection Protection Service Business of the Year Electronic Security Service Business ofLeisure theTourism Year Bearsden Ski and Board Club Social Enterprise of the Year Fleming Buildings Limited Large Employer of the Year Fleming Buildings Limited Large Employer of theBusiness Year Fleming Buildings Limited Large Employer of &the Year Nonna’s Kitchen Hospitality, Leisure Year Nonna’s Kitchen Hospitality, Leisure &Tourism Tourism Businessofofthe the Year Vittoria Capaldi, The Honeybee Young Business Person of the Year Bearsden Ski and Board Club Social Enterprise ofYear Year Bearsden Ski and Board Club Social Enterprise the Year Fleming Buildings Limited Large Employer ofofofthe Year Bearsden Ski and Board Club Bakery Social Enterprise ofthe the Year Fleming Buildings Limited Large Employer the Lynn Martin, Martin Veterinary Centre Women in Business ofthethe Year Vittoria Capaldi, The Honeybee Bakery Young Business Person ofYear Year Bearsden Ski and Board Club Bakery Social Enterprise of Year Vittoria Capaldi, The Honeybee Young Business Person of Bearsden Ski and Board Club Social Enterprise ofthe the Year Vittoria Capaldi, The Honeybee Bakery Young Business Person ofthe the Year Huntershill Village Community Champion of the Year Lynn Martin, Martin Veterinary Centre Women in Business of the Year Vittoria Capaldi, The Honeybee Young Business Person of the Year Lynn Martin, Martin Veterinary Centre Women in Business of the Year Vittoria Capaldi, The Honeybee Bakery Young Business Person of the Year Lynn Martin, Martin Veterinary Centre Women in Business of the Year Lynn Martin, Martin Veterinary Centre Centre Women ininBusiness ofofthe Huntershill Village Community Champion ofYear Huntershill Village Community Champion ofYear the Lynn Martin, Martin Women Business the Year Huntershill VillageVeterinary Community Champion ofthe theYear Year HuntershillVillage Village Huntershill

Community CommunityChampion Championofofthe theYear Year

The East Dunbartonshire Council would to the thank the following sponsors for their The East Dunbartonshire Council would to thank the following sponsors for their East Dunbartonshire Council would likelike tolike thank following sponsors for their The East Council would like tocould thank the following sponsors forittheir their The East Council would like to thank the following sponsors for their support ofDunbartonshire the which the event could not have been the success was. support ofDunbartonshire theevent, event,without without which the event not have been the success was. support of the event, without the event could not have been the success it it was. East Dunbartonshire Council would like to thank the following sponsors for support of the event, without which the event could not have been the success it was. support of the event, without which the event could not have been the success it support of the event, without which the event could not have been the success itwas. was.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

AD7502 East Dunbartonshire Council-DPS.indd 3

21/10/2015 10:03

The Winners BUSINESS success was celebrated at a glitzy gala award ceremony in East Dunbartonshire at the end of May with Fleming Buildings of Lenzie taking the top prize for both Business of the Year and Large Business of the Year.

Fleming Buildings Limited

Chamber members, Bearsden Ski and Board Club, Huntershill Village, and Silk Blooms, won prizes in the Social Enterprise, Community Champion and Best Use of E-Commerce by a Business categories respectively.

START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Now in their second year, the East Dunbartonshire Business Awards attracted 40 nominees.

Perceptive Communicators

Once again, the awards were hosted by The Eagle Lodge in Bishopbriggs, and included a fundraiser for local good causes, with more than £8,500 raised by a raffle and auction on the night. East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) organises the awards to reward inspirational and successful businesses throughout the region and 2015 saw an increase both in the number of categories and in nominations. The judging panel included representatives of the council, local business community and James Richardson, director of Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce. Councillor Alan Moir, EDC’s convener of development and regeneration, said: “Congratulations to all the winners of this year’s awards – they have shown the innovation, determination and hard work that are vital to East Dunbartonshire’s economy. “It was an excellent night and a great opportunity to speak to the nominees about the good work taking place locally.

Class4Kids

GROWTH BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

BEST USE OF E-COMMERCE BY A BUSINESS

Silk Blooms

INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Billington’s of Lenzie

SERVICE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Electronic Security Systems and Fire Protection Ltd HOSPITALITY, LEISURE AND TOURISM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Nonna’s Kitchen

LARGE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

Fleming Buildings Limited SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR

Bearsden Ski and Board Club YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Vittoria Capaldi, The Honeybee Bakery

“The awards offer a valuable opportunity to showcase the inspirational range of businesses, entrepreneurs and enterprises in East Dunbartonshire.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

It’s very much the case that every business and entrepreneur who entered was a winner in their own right. Well done to all.”

COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

Councillor Moir thanked all the companies, enterprises and organisations which partnered the council to sponsor the 2015 awards and local businesses for donating items for the raffle and auction, which was once again conducted by the chamber’s Robert Wilson. Sponsors included A J Balfour, Alarmfast, Business Gateway, Caulders Garden Centres, CMS Windows, East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action, Ewing Somerville Partnership, hub West Scotland, Kenwil Print & Design Ltd, MAST Architects, Nonna’s Kitchen, The Eagle Lodge and Tillicoultry Quarries.

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Lynn Martin, Martin Veterinary Centre Huntershill Village

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Ronnie Burrows of Fleming Buildings Ltd. with Councillor Alan Moir and council leader, Rhondda Geekie.

START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Jiveen Lal of Business Gateway, Nikki Th’ng of Class4Kids, Councillor Moir, and Conor Curtis, of Class4Kids. continued DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

GROWTH BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

East Dunbartonshire Council chief executive, Gerry Cornes, Julie Moulsdale of Perceptive Communicators, and Councillor Moir, with Lesley Ferguson and Emma Fair, of Perceptive Communicators.

BEST USE OF E-COMMERCE BY A BUSINESS

Rahul Randev of sponsor, The Eagle Lodge, Councillor Moir, David McDaid and Mara Rose Naismith of Silk Blooms.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ AUTUMN 2015

INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Robert Gibson of sponsor, Caulders Garden Centres, with Councillor Moir and Sue Billington of Billington’s of Lenzie.

SERVICE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Award presenter, Councillor Vaughan Moody, Arthur McErlane of Electronic Security Systems and Fire Protection, Councillor Moir, and Richard Dunsmore, of Electronic Security Systems and Fire Protection. continued DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

HOSPITALITY, LEISURE AND TOURISM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

James Richardson of Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce with Peter Ciacca of Nonna’s Kitchen, and Councillor Moir.

LARGE EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR

Ronnie Burrows of Fleming Buildings Ltd. with Councillor Moir and Angeline Robertson, of sponsor hub West Scotland.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR

Gilbert Grieve of sponsor EDVA and Jeanette Patton of Bearsden Ski and Board Club with Councillor Moir.

YOUNG BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

Kenny French of sponsor, Kenwil Print & Design, with Vittoria Capaldi of The Honeybee Bakery, and Councillor Moir. continued DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

WOMEN IN BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Peter Ciacca of sponsor, Nonna’s Kitchen, with Lynn Martin of Martin Veterinary Centre, Councillor Moir, and Thomas Glen of East Dunbartonshire Council.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

Jimmy Watson, Lorna Campbell and Alex Watson, of Huntershill Village, with Provost Una Walker.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

NEED HELP WITH YOUR BUSINESS?

We can help East Dunbartonshire Council work to support the local economy through delivering business support projects which aim to attract businesses to the area, help new businesses develop and existing businesses grow within East Dunbartonshire. Come and talk us about programmes we have that can assist your business • Fully funded advice from one of our experienced experts • Funding to support to start or grow your business • Small grants to assist you develop an e-commerce enabled website or take on your first employee or a long term unemployed person • Advice on tendering with the public sector • Business loans to hep grow your business • Help with business planning • Workshops to develop your business skills • Support to relocate your business to East Dunbartonshire

For more information on any of the activities of the East Dunbartonshire Council to support businesses go to www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/business, or call Economic Development at East Dunbartonshire Council on 0141 578 8530.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Photos courtesy of Silk Blooms.

Prestige Clients Flock to Silk Blooms for Floral Displays PRESTIGE clients such as Estée Lauder, Givenchy, Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Disney are flocking to Bishopbriggs-based Silk Blooms for their upmarket, customised artificial flower displays. Estée Lauder, specifically their Jo Malone brand, has a monthly order which is shipped all over the world – to Athens, Barcelona, Brussels, Dubai, Helsinki, Madrid, Munich, Palma, Zurich and even St. Petersburg in Russia, as well as to London, Edinburgh and Manchester in the UK. Company director, David McDaid, explains: “They are always looking for floral arrangements and always have a very specific theme for the month. July was apple blossom, for example, and the month before that it was hydrangea, then lemon trees and lily-of-the-valley.

Harvey Nichols also has an account with Silk Blooms – they use each set of display flowers for around five months and then replenish them with new, seasonal arrangements. Disney didn’t even approach the firm but simply placed a large order for Silk Blooms’ turquoise/jade coloured orchids via its website. David commented:” I’m pretty sure we’ll be the only company selling these – it’s because we colour match them – you simply can’t buy these colours elsewhere. continued

“The list goes on, but they always have come to us as we are able to replicate any floral arrangement from a photograph or brief. “We can Pantone®colour match the flowers. They send us photos each month with a description on what’s required and in August it was mimosa displays in ginger vases which proved to be a challenge.”

We provide superior displays which often look nicer than real flowers and the advantages are really clear. Harrods’ buyer was so impressed by the quality of the displays that they recommended them to colleagues and friends. They are now looking for more flowers for the store’s basement rooms and for the consoles outside the elevator doors.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

“Colour matching the flowers is definitely our USP and just having these unusual flowers on our website is getting us found on Google for anyone carrying out specific, long-tail searches. “Companies can match the colour of their logo, their décor or even their individual products at point of sale. “We specialise in modern and bespoke floral displays made from premium artificial flowers. We don’t use the cheap silk flowers that people stigmatise when they think of artificial blooms. “We provide superior displays which often look nicer than real flowers and the advantages are really clear. “They save money on fresh flowers as they will not wilt or die, they last and last and don’t need watered or trimmed. They don’t have any of nature’s flaws or blemishes and their durability means we’re able to be far more creative with them. “One of the main advantages though, is that you can put our flowers in rooms where fresh flowers would never survive. Fresh tulips or gerberas for example would only last hours in artificial lighting. “The fact that they can have our flowers in dark, dimly lit rooms with no natural lighting is a massive advantage as they’re able to brighten these rooms with our arrangements. “Our displays are popular with designer boutiques and department stores – they’re also fantastic for hotels, spas and restaurants too.”

Silk Blooms Grew Faster Than Expected

www.silkblooms.co.uk SILK Blooms started out as a sideline for civil engineer, David McDaid, and his partner, Mara Rose Naismith. Initially, the couple worked from home but when the flowers took over their dining room and then kitchen they knew they had to relocate to commercial premises. David set up the company website himself at very little cost and didn’t realise how quickly the business would grow. He looks after the internet side of things and corporate clients while Mara deals with design and staff. “It grew much faster than we expected and is now full time for us,” he said. “Mara wasn’t a florist but she has an eye for it and at co-ordinating colour and putting things together – we make a good team.” The company, which has only been in business for three years, won the award for Best Use of E-Commerce at the East Dunbartonshire Business Awards. It was founded by David and Mara in 2012 to fill a gap in the market for luxury artificial flowers that combine art with functionality.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Mobile marketing and software originators company Hotcake digital media have developed a mutli-sector platform which can work virtually for any business in any sector, from a simple marketing and communications tool application to a full blown suite of tools used in their latest project. The Bellshill business have developed an App for Social housing contractor award winners McTear contracts and they expect to save around £75,000 over the next year by using this new mobile app developed by them. Following the completion of a successful pilot scheme earlier this year, Hotcake has tailored its app to give McTear Contracts an easy and quick way to log work and provide the company with a paperless audit trail, coupled with a workflow integration platform including: • customer engagement-phone-face2face-Tenant portal, payment systems • repairs and maintenance – lower cost and improve workforce scheduling, send jobs straight to operatives and instantly notify relevant authorities • smarter office processes – be mobile be flexible and intuitive with work processes and process information anywhere anytime.

This complete social housing software is to revolutionise the public-sector contractor’s 100-strong workforce to complete daily worksheets and inspection sheets, update check lists and obtain electronic signatures for all jobs completed. By giving our operatives smart devices, we have cut the time they spend travelling to and from the office to check diaries and paperwork. Instead, they have access to automated diaries, reducing cancelled or forgotten appointments from over 40 per cent to below four per cent. “Another advantage of communicating via a Smartphone app is the low cost, at just a tenth of the cost of traditional communications, and the immediacy of it, helping to reduce missed appointments.” A profiling exercise of users of the council’s housing services found that people aged 60+ rated the previous service as excellent, but those aged 16-24 rated their satisfaction with the services at less than 50 per cent; they didn’t like the bureaucracy and wanted to be able to interact through Smartphones and social media. “Through the mobile app, a tenant diagnosing and reporting a housing repair can place a request in the hands of a contractor within just 15 seconds. They can also track the status of their request. Therefore, as well as replacing paper-based schedules with electronic schedules, this has removed the need for repairs inspectors to visit the office and enabled them to initiate works directly from their Smartphone.” Sean McKeown CEO and founder said, “as a young new start its vitally important to win new business and quickly, this has allowed us to gain fast credibility with the glowing endorsements particularly around this very in-depth project. Our business strategy is clearly defined on the mobile apps front – Everyone’s got an app surely? Nope, many companies are put off having an app because they think you have to pay a developer bundles of cash to build one for you but that’s no longer the case, at Hotcake digital media we have built a very extensive platform which can be tailored to the specifics of any business.” For a free consultation please call us on-0800 689 3483 or mobile 07917444193.

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Dunbartonshire’s New MPs on Their Priorities for Business JOHN NICOLSON

I am proud and honoured to represent the constituency, but it would be disingenuous to suggest that East Dunbartonshire doesn’t face considerable challenges.

EAST Dunbartonshire is well known as a prosperous area, scores consistently highly in measures of the most desirable places in Scotland in which to live, has the longest life expectancy of anywhere in the country, and low levels of crime. It also boasts one of the highest percentages of university graduates thanks to its excellent state schools. I believe strongly that unfettered access to education is the key to social mobility and that a well educated workforce can only benefit business. I am proud and honoured to represent the constituency, but it would be disingenuous to suggest that East Dunbartonshire doesn’t face considerable challenges brought about by poverty, inequality and unemployment.

Photo by Joyce Martin Photography.

Hillhead, Twechar, Lennoxtown and Harestanes East are identified as being areas of significant deprivation

John Nicolson was born in Glasgow and studied at Glasgow University where he was the Scottish and world student debating champion. He graduated with an honours MA, winning a Kennedy Scholarship and Harkness Fellowship to Harvard. He was subsequently recruited by Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, of New York, as a speechwriter on Capitol Hill. John returned to Glasgow to present Open to Question for BBC Scotland, before joining On the Record in London as a political correspondent. He went on to report for some of the BBC’s most high profile programmes including Newsnight, Panorama, and Public Eye. He was the main presenter of BBC Breakfast for a number of years. John was actively involved in the referendum campaign and returned to Glasgow University to debate independence with other former world debating champions for STV. He hosted Nicola Sturgeon’s tour of Scotland including the Glasgow Hydro event.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Such relative poverty within our midst is a challenge for all sectors of society and, along with other agencies, the business sector has a pivotal role to play in tackling the issue. We cannot solve these problems without money and it is business which generates the finance we need to make a difference to the lives of people blighted by poverty. It is to business that we look to offer opportunities to our young people, it is to business that we look to ensure our society, both in East Dunbartonshire and throughout Scotland, prospers and it is to business that we look to generate growth. With this in mind, it is incumbent on all political representatives to promote and support business, both large and small, throughout our communities, to encourage innovation and help businesses prosper so that we all benefit from the jobs created. I will work with all groups in East Dunbartonshire, including businesses, the council, councillors, MSPs and the chamber of commerce, to promote the area, and will also ensure that the interests of local business are represented at all levels of government. Sitting on the Westminster Select Committee for Culture, Media and Sport, gives me the opportunity to push for improvement in the quality of broadband throughout East Dunbartonshire and Scotland as a whole, as poor broadband provision can inhibit local enterprise. The Scottish Government has promoted a business-friendly environment with initiatives such as the Small Business Bonus Scheme, and, going forward, I hope we can all work together to help our area flourish.

THE general election in May saw the Scottish National Party win a landslide 56 of 59 Westminster seats, taking 40 from Labour and 10 from the Liberal Democrats. Both East and West Dunbartonshire now have SNP Members of Parliament, John Nicolson and Martin Docherty, respectively. In the first issue of InCommerce since the election, they set out their priorities for the area.

MARTIN DOCHERTY

WEST Dunbartonshire is an area with a rich and vibrant history as an industry powerhouse from the banks of the River Leven to the shores of the River Clyde.

The biggest issue we have going forward across Scotland, but particularly in West Dunbartonshire, is poverty. Such is the complexity of the issue that not one sector, public, private, or third, can make things better on their own. Business will play a key role as part of a multi-faceted approach to tackling poverty. At the most basic level, businesses provide jobs for people, but more than that, they are an integral part of our communities, sponsoring and promoting local events and giving real, practical help to community groups. As your member of parliament, part of my job is to promote the area as a place where people can do business and make sure that people looking to invest in the area find it easy to network with the key stakeholders in West Dunbartonshire, including the chamber of commerce. But just as important, I want to ensure that people already established in the area, with businesses large and small embedded in our communities, have the practical support they need to continue trading and serving the communities of West Dunbartonshire. MPs, MSPs and councillors can help companies in a very practical way, making connections with public bodies and officials and representing local businesses at every level of government, putting your concerns front and centre and raising issues on your behalf directly with the people who can help resolve them. The Scottish Government has put in place a number of measures to support businesses and grow our economy, including business rates relief to help small companies, and changes to procurement processes to help make it easier for organisations to bid for public contracts. By combining the Scottish Government’s strategic approach to economic development with tangible support from elected representatives, we can work together with businesses and improve the lives of people across Dunbartonshire and Scotland as a whole.

While we can be proud of our heritage, we must also look to the future and to what we can do to improve our communities.

Photo courtesy of Martin Docherty, MP.

While we can be proud of our heritage, we must also look to the future and to what we can do to improve our communities.

Martin was born in 1971 and brought up in Clydebank. He joined the SNP in 1991 and, aged 21, was elected as Scotland’s youngest councillor to Clydebank District Council in 1992. Martin worked from the age of 16, but returned to education, gaining an HND in Business Administration at Glasgow College of Food Technology in 1997. He went on to obtain a politics degree from the University of Essex, and, in 2004, studied for a master’s in Art and Design in an Organisational Context at Glasgow School of Art. He was the first member of his family to attend university. He returned to Clydebank and spent almost a decade working for West Dunbartonshire Community and Volunteering Services (WDCVS). This gave him first-hand knowledge of the issues facing the community he came from and has worked in. Martin continued to be involved in front-line politics, returning to local government as an SNP councillor for Glasgow City Council in 2012.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

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Local Entrepreneur takes invention to market Around two years ago, architect Gillian Logan came up with a fun, handson drawing kit to provide the basis of an architecture project for her son’s class at school. Appealing to the children’s idea of the absurd and bizarre it was based on famous buildings like London’s Gherkin and Glasgow’s Armadillo. The kids loved it - and Skinny Sketcher was born! Gillian’s design background guided her very strong ideas when it came to developing the new product range. Conscious that over reliance on technology can mean that a child’s fine motor skills can be neglected or under-developed, it was critical that drawing was at the heart of the product. Wanting to appeal to a wide a spread of interests, she developed six drawing kits with subjects from famous landmarks to campervans. A major breakthrough came about after attending the Inventor’s Workshop, an annual event run by the industry’s trade magazine ToyNews. Gillian got the opportunity to pitch to the world’s leading toy companies and Skinny Sketcher was showcased at the London Toy Fair in January 2015. From the beginning Gillian worked closely with the local Business Gateway to get her business off the ground. ‘My adviser, Bob Donaldson, has been on hand to offer advice and support on growing my business. We have worked on business planning, strategy development, marketing, intellectual property protection and using social media effectively to grow sales.

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I was also lucky to get a place on Entrepreneurial Spark business accelerator where I had access to a network of mentors.’ West Dunbartonshire Council provided a Business Start Up Grant and look forward to supporting Skinny Sketcher’s future growth.

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Currently, Skinny Sketcher is selling on Amazon and also through physical toy and gift shops throughout the UK. Because it’s an activity product, they have been holding lots of in-store demos and they’ve been a big hit, especially during the summer holidays. ‘It has been hard work and not all plain sailing. My biggest piece of advice to other designers and inventors is to not work in isolation. Collaboration and support are essential for creativity.’ www.skinnysketcher.com

Scotland’s New Employer Recruitment Incentive (SERI) WHAT’S IT ABOUT? The Scottish Government have launched Scotland’s Employer Recruitment Incentive with the aim of encouraging employers to recruit young people aged 16-29 into sustainable employment, including Modern Apprenticeships and to help unemployed young people who are facing significant challenges.

HOW CAN MY BUSINESS BENEFIT? A payment of up to £3963 is available with an additional £500 also available where an employer pays the Living Wage.

SOCIALPRISE ENTER ENGE CHALL up to

£15,000 grant a a rd for the w b businesesst ideas!

Could you run your own business… and help your community along the way? We want to hear from you! Are you interested in starting a social enterprise business that will make West Dunbartonshire a better place to live with better services, new jobs, more training opportunities and openings for volunteers?

! E G N E L L L A I A C SO RPRISE CH £15,00 ENTE 0

WHO CAN APPLY?

A business can access the fund where a young person:-

Aged 16-24 enters a Modern Apprenticeship with a small/ micro business of less than 50 employees. Aged 16-29 with barriers to employment enters employment or a Modern Apprenticeship with any size of employer (excluding Public Sector).

Could you runUSED? your HOW CAN IT BE

If you have energy, enthusiasm, commitment and the ambition to help your community, our partner agency Firstport, will work with up to If you you to develop your business idea. don’t have an idea, they help you find gracan n t awrunning. ard one to get your business forup and

own business...and help your The incentive will be available use asway? a contribution to the community alongtothe We want to hear from you!

additional costs of recruiting and sustaining a young person Are you interested in starting a social enterprise business that will make West Dunbartonshire in employment for up to 52 weeks. It could be utilised in a better place to live with better services, new jobs, more training opportunities and openings a for number of ways including additional supervisory costs, volunteers? training, equipment, initial travelcommitment to work costsand or the wages. If you have energy, enthusiasm, ambition to help your community, our partner agency, Firstport, will work with you to develop your business idea. If you don’t have an idea, theyDO can help you find one to get your business up and running. WHERE I FIND OUT MORE? West Dunbartonshire Council Employability Team Tel: 01389 608018 To find out more

th busine best e ideas!ss

contact West Dunbartonshire Council on 01389 737777 Email: business.support@westdunbarton.gov.uk

To find out more contact West Dunbartonshire Council on 01389 737777 Email: business.support@west-dunbarton.gov.uk

Scottish Business Performance Remains Strong WHILE overall Scottish business performance is strong, the effects of low oil prices are being felt. The Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) Quarterly Economic Indicator revealed how businesses were doing in the second quarter of 2015. The findings, released in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde’s Fraser of Allander Institute, show a positive trend, with reliable growth, albeit slower than hoped for. The main exception to this overall pattern is the oil and gas service sector, where the performance and outlook of businesses was noticeably below the levels reported in other service sector firms. This was true of businesses not just in the North East of Scotland but across the country, where oil and gas was the main focus of their business. It is clear that low oil prices, which have been a feature of the economy throughout 2015, are having a marked impact on Scotland’s oil and gas sector The construction sector appears to be continuing to enjoy buoyant trade although it is noticeable that the balance of contracts continues to shift away from the public sector towards private work.

Photo and graphic courtesy of Scottish Chambers of Commerce.

While SCC considers this to be good news overall, it urges governments to look to identify where large scale public sector construction work will come from once projects such as the Queensferry Crossing and Edinburgh-Glasgow rail electrification are complete.

Manufacturing looks much more positive in the second quarter of the year, with strong trends in both sales and orders. Almost half of respondents indicated that they are increasing investment which SCC says is an encouraging sign both for the sector and the wider economy. Although the majority of respondents were recruiting staff, almost a quarter of these businesses had experienced difficulties hiring. This underlines the importance of urgent action to tackle emerging skills shortages in our economy in this and other sectors.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

With unemployment at 5.5 per cent, access to suitably skilled staff is vitally important for sustained business success, increased productivity, and growth. Liz Cameron OBE, director and chief executive of SCC, said: “Last year was a very successful year for Scottish tourism and this year will determine if the shop window it created can be used to generate further success. “Of course, our tourism offering in Scotland must be competitive with other markets internationally and that is why we support industry calls to level the VAT playing field with Europe by introducing a lower rate of VAT for accommodation, tourist attraction admission and restaurant services.” The Quarterly Economic Indicator engages with five of Scotland’s key business sectors – construction, financial and business services, manufacturing, retail and wholesale, and tourism. www.scottishchambers.org.uk

With unemployment at 5.5 per cent, access to suitably skilled staff is vitally important for sustained business success, increased productivity, and growth.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ AUTUMN 2015

Record Turnout at Scottish Pipe Band Championships

continued

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

THERE was a record turnout of around 27,000 for the Scottish Pipe Band Championships in Dumbarton. A total of 129 pipe bands and 49 drum majors from across the UK and Ireland competed for a number of prestigious titles at the event hosted by West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) in partnership with The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association. The honour of Grade 1 title went to the St Laurence O’Toole Pipe Band from Dublin, who pushed last year’s winners, Field Marshall Montgomery, into second place.

The Dublin band also scooped the Grade 1 drumming title under leading drummer Stephen Creighton. The winner of the adult drum major competition was Brian Wilson of Lomond and Clyde Pipe Band. The Highland dancing competitions also proved popular with a number of local performers winning prizes. West Dunbartonshire Provost and Chieftain, Douglas McAllister, said: “It was another absolutely fantastic day for West Dunbartonshire (WD). With the sun shining on Levengrove Park, the sight of all the pipe bands in the shadow of Dumbarton Rock performing the march past at the end of the day was something to behold. “Hosting the Scottish Pipe Band Championships is a real honour for the area and to have a record number of visitors come along to watch just proves how popular this event has become over the years. “A great deal of credit must go to all the staff from the council and WD Leisure who put in an amazing amount of effort to ensure everything ran smoothly on the day.” Continued on page 32

Photos courtesy of West Dunbartonshire Council.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Vital £1.7m+ Boost to West Dunbartonshire Economy RESEARCH shows that the Scottish Pipe Band Championships plough at least £1.7 million into the West Dunbartonshire economy.

Director of communications, June Hyslop, said: “They are a vitally important, major event which has a significant and welcome impact on the local economy.

As the numbers attending the event have increased by 6,000 since it was carried out, it is likely that sum has since been exceeded.

“Thousands of people visit the area to attend and bands come from all over the UK to take part.

According to the independent research commissioned by West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) two years ago, every £1 it invested in hosting the event saw a return of £27.85 of net additional expenditure into the local economy, and £11.36 into the national economy. This is the 16th year the event has been hosted in Dumbarton and the chamber of commerce was asked by the Evening Times newspaper to comment on its economic impact.

£15m Deal Unlocks Clydebank’s Queens Quay Potential

“The increased footfall is a boost to businesses in Dumbarton as the event is hosted in Levengrove Park near the town centre. “It also benefits hotels, B&Bs, bars and restaurants, as many people, including band members, stay in the area and spend time here before and after the championships.”

In return, the council will recoup its investment from a share of the financial benefits of any future land sales at the site, and in the economic benefits this will bring to the area. Clydeside Regeneration bought the site in 2004 but was unable to attract infrastructure investment due to difficult market conditions.

Image courtesy of West Dunbartonshire Council.

“They are a great showcase for West Dunbartonshire and it is the only event in the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association calendar where entry is free.

The work is expected to commence early in 2016 and be fully completed at the start of 2018. This will allow the developer to push ahead with a master plan which includes proposals to build a mixture of more than 1000 new homes, both private and social housing, a local retail unit, pub/diner, hotel, and public space, with a boulevard leading from Clydebank town centre to the riverside. The former John Brown’s shipyard in Clydebank, famous for building some of the world’s greatest ships, is set for further development following the signing of an ambitious £15 million deal.

Unlocking the potential of Queens Quay is forecast to bring construction jobs and apprenticeships, to boost the local and national economy, and attract more people to the area.

This will enable essential infrastructure and ground works to take place at the site which will pave the way for more than £250 million worth of private investment.

WDC plans to build a new £19 million Clydebank Health Centre with Scottish Government funding, and for a £10m care home, are well under way.

The once thriving industrial yard was famous for building ocean liners, the QE2 and Queen Mary, but the majority of the site – now known as Queens Quay – has been derelict for decades.

Patrick McGlinchey, WDC convener for infrastructure and regeneration, said: “This deal sets Clydebank up for the most exciting period the town has enjoyed for decades.

Almost 30 years after the closure of the shipyard, West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) is investing £15.62m to fund the repair of quay walls and create a new road layout.

“It is the biggest and most influential project the council has ever been involved in as we look to transform the former John Brown’s yard into a bustling community hub.”

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Your business is amazing… … isn’t it a shame no-one can see it here? InCommerce is read by business owners and decision makers … people who buy all kinds of services … if you’re not in here they won’t be contacting you! It’s too late for this issue but there’s always next time Call our Advertising Team on 0141 222 2202

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DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Celebrating Thomas Muir’s 250th Anniversary

Thomas Muir 250 HUNTERSHILL is at the centre of celebrations for the milestone 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Muir. Numerous events have been organised locally and nationally in honour of the prominent Scottish radical, known as the ‘father of Scottish democracy’, who was born on 24 August 1765.

Chamber member, Jimmy Watson, of Huntershill Village in Bishopbriggs, is the national coordinator for the celebrations, and the driving force behind setting up the Friends of Thomas Muir to commemorate the leading reformer’s life and achievements. Anyone who wants to find out more and/or join the Friends of Thomas Muir can do so online at www.thomasmuir.co.uk.

Photo courtesy of Dennis Robertson MSP for Aberdeenshire West (pictured).

Highlights include a reception at the Scottish Parliament in September, a Democracy 250 Walk from the Martyrs Monument in Caltonhill to the Scottish Parliament with Milngavie Pipe Band in October, and the unveiling of the Thomas Muir memorial window at Cadder Church in Bishopbriggs. A specially commissioned painting ‘The Trials of Thomas Muir’ by renowned artist, Ken Currie, will be on display from 10 – 31 October at the Auld Kirk Museum, Kirkintilloch. October sees a symposium and exhibition, followed by a memorial concert in November, all at the University of Glasgow. Pupils from across Scotland will also take part in a schools question time debate at the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh on 24 November.

Photo courtesy of Rennie McInnes LLP.

Milngavie Office for Rennie McInnes Joining Stewart in Milngavie, is Aileen McInnes, who deals with private client and conveyancing, and Lucinda Hunter, the firm’s employment lawyer.

ON THE MOVE: Aileen McInnes, Stewart Rennie and Lucinda Hunter in their new office.

CHAMBER member, Rennie McInnes, LLP, has moved into a new office at Douglas House in Milngavie. The move was not without its challenges as the previous tenants had left the premises full of dismantled furniture. Partner and chamber president, Stewart Rennie, realised some of it could be salvaged but said ‘it was like doing a large jigsaw puzzle without any instructions’.

Aileen said: “Since starting the business five years ago, I have found chamber events invaluable, both in terms of networking and also in building up my knowledge of the issues affecting local businesses.” Stewart added: “We have always aimed to provide Dunbartonshire businesses with the quality of advice they might otherwise have to go to a large city-centre firm for. “Our new office features a specially fitted out meeting room with state-of-the-art technology such as a VOIP (voice over internet protocol) phone system that allows us to hold multiparty conference calls and provides an ideal environment to meet our clients’ requirements.” www.renniemcinnesllp.co.uk

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Beardmore Rebrands as Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel CLYDEBANK’S Beardmore is rebranding itself the Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel in January 2016. This supports the hotel’s vision to continue developing as an internationally recognised conference centre of excellence which will be at the heart of the Golden Jubilee Foundation – the new brand name for the family of facilities at the site. These include the Golden Jubilee National Hospital, the Golden Jubilee Research Institute and the Golden Jubilee Innovation Centre. Director of the Beardmore, Bronagh Bell, said: “This marks the next stage in our evolution as a provider of first-class meeting and hospitality services.

“Our shared campus means that our clients, guests and delegates not only have access to our custom-built facilities, but to state-of-the art research and clinical skills suites, live audio-visual links and our new Innovation Centre. “We are delighted to be a core part of the Golden Jubilee Foundation, which will allow us to keep finding pioneering ways to support high level international, medical and innovative conferences and events.” This will round off a year of success for the Beardmore which saw it join an elite list of hotels around the world, by being welcomed into the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame. This is awarded to hotels which have been given the travel website’s prestigious Certificate of Excellence for five consecutive years. It also received its sixth consecutive Gold Standard Accreditation from VenueVerdict for exceptional customer service and support to conference and meeting clients. It is one of only 32 venues to achieve this standard following evaluation of more than 20,000 pieces of feedback from 360 venues throughout the UK from July 2014 to June 2015. Last year it became the only UK hotel to be ranked in the top 100 employers in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index. This measures how well an organisation meets the needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual staff members, and is widely accepted as a good indicator of progress against equality targets.

Photo courtesy of the Golden Jubilee National Hospital.

www.thebeardmore.com

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

New Members HILTON PARK GOLF CLUB

HILTON Park Golf Club boasts two James Braid designed courses set in rolling moorland, surrounded by beautiful countryside on the outskirts of Milngavie.

Photo courtesy of Hilton Park Golf Club.

It is the only 36-hole course in the area and has an ordinary or intermediate membership with no joining fee at present, as well as special introductory and student memberships. Fees can be paid through the club’s direct debit scheme with no charge or through the Fairway credit scheme. Visitors are welcome, groups by prior arrangement, with a range of golf and catering options on offer. Serious golfers can participate in a variety of competitions and play at other courses

in the area where the club has reciprocal arrangements at attractive rates. The club recently introduced Footgolf, which has proved very popular, and can be used for corporate days out and team building events. It has also launched a sponsorship scheme for tees & teams and a member-to-member business directory. Hilton Park Golf Club Auldmarroch Estate, Stockiemuir Road, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 7HB. T: 0141 956 4657 E: office@hiltonpark.co.uk W: www.hiltonpark.net @hiltonparkgolf

JOIN NOW TO ACCESS A RANGE OF BENEFITS INCLUDING: WORKING FOR BUSINESS

• Legal expenses cover up to £670,000 plus 24-hour advice line* • Human resource service including ACAS compliant policies plus health and safety advice and updates • Saving on private medical insurance • Cost effective primary health plan with 10 benefits plus diagnostic scans • FREE business mentoring opportunities • Networking and events • Influencing and lobbying at local, national and EU levels

Can you afford not to join? Entry level membership at less than 40p a day is cost effective and excellent value for money. *Terms & conditions apply.

Download your application NOW at www.dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk or call our admin team on 0141 280 0272. 36

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2015

Photos courtesy of Hilton Park Golf Club.

‘Fantastic Response’ to Footgolf at Hilton Park HILTON Park Golf Club has had a ‘fantastic response’ to its new Footgolf sessions aimed at attracting more business.

“The response has been fantastic considering we are only doing this at our quiet off-peak times.

The football/golf hybrid sport has been introduced on a trial basis at the club and is attracting a younger age group.

“Feedback has been very positive across the board with high levels of satisfaction and hopefully that will result in repeat business.

“Most players are male between the ages of 18 and 35 and probably footballers rather than golfers,” explained the club’s Craig Bell. “Demand has been such that we have now released some more time for Footgolf during the week. “Players have come from as far afield as Edinburgh, Fife and Ayrshire, so there appears to be widespread interest. “We introduced Footgolf, to help develop a new revenue stream as generally golf clubs are experiencing reducing membership numbers hence the need to diversify.

“This summer has been poor weather but it does not seem to be a problem for Footgolf as they tend to be outside sports people. “We are fortunate having two 18 hole courses so even when Footgolf is on the members still have 27 holes available. This is because the Footgolf can be contained within one of our nine hole loops.” Craig added that the new sport would be ideal for team building days and also that the club had introduced a corporate sponsorship scheme which can be tailored to any budget or personal requirement. www.hiltonpark.net

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

S R O T DIREC D E T N WA DUNBARTONSHIRE Chamber of Commerce wants to appoint two new directors to its board. Directors assist in recruiting members, in representing the chamber, particularly on local government committees, and help in the general running of the chamber. In addition, directors are expected to attend regularly monthly board meetings and events held by the chamber. Knowledge of the local area and experience of running your own business is essential. The position is voluntary but directors’ benefit by playing a vital role in the local business community and can make extensive contacts within it. Last, but by no means least, it’s fun! Studies have shown that volunteering is one of the best things you can do to benefit your own sense of well-being and self–esteem. It is good to give something back.

INTERESTED? Then please e-mail

admin@dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk in the first instance and we will be in touch.

www.dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk

Photo courtesy of Chivas Brothers.

JUMPING FOR JOY: Local Chivas Brothers employees (L-R) Gregor Tilley, Alex Malcolm, Adam Purdie and Alan Barron celebrate their Kiltwalk charity donation.

Chivas Brothers Staff Support Kiltwalk Charity CHIVAS Brothers staff have chosen The Kiltwalk as their charity of the year. Workers at the Scotch whisky company’s Dumbuck and Kilmalid sites in Dumbarton, and at its Dalmuir site in Clydebank, voted for The Kiltwalk.

Charities of the Year are nominated by employees, before a shortlist is created and voting takes place. Lead volunteer, Allan Stewart, said: “The award was the highlight of a very exciting and rewarding year. “Our involvement included delivering 60,000 bottles of water to more than 40 pit stops across five events, manning registration desks, setting up start and finish lines, picking up injured walkers and much more – all in Chivas Brothers company vehicles, which our manufacturing director kindly gave us permission to use.” Head of corporate relations at The Kiltwalk, Gemma Branney, said: “Chivas Brothers has been fully committed to supporting us to help Scotland’s children. “Their volunteering efforts have been second to none and now to be selected as their 2015 charity is simply tremendous.

The company has already donated £5,000 to the charity which holds a special place in the hearts of a group of employees at the company’s Kilmalid site in Dumbarton as they recently won an Unsung Hero award for their hard work volunteering at The Kiltwalk’s events.

“I know I speak for everyone involved with The Kiltwalk when I say I am greatly looking forward to working with the team from Chivas Brothers throughout the year ahead.”

The Kiltwalk is an organisation that runs annual walking events in aid of a host of children’s charities – including Yorkhill Children’s Charity, CHAS, Debra and the NSPCC Scotland.

There are four regional Chivas Brothers charities of the year in total. The others are: Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club (Paisley, Glasgow and Ayrshire region), The Jake McCarthy Foundation (London and Plymouth region) and the Scottish Network for Arthritis in Children (Northern Scotland region).

This year is its biggest yet, with events in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee and Speyside – home to 13 of Chivas Brothers’ 14 malt whisky distilleries.

www.chivasbrothers.com www.thekiltwalk.co.uk

@ChivasNewsRoom @thekiltwalk

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Detailed Design Stage for New Dumbarton Council Office

WEST Dunbartonshire Council’s new state-of-the-art headquarters is now progressing to the detailed design stage. Having recently been given initial approval , planning permission and listed building consent applications have been submitted for its new office in Dumbarton. The project, which should help regenerate the town centre, will see the 5,455 sq metre building provide new offices, meeting spaces and civic facilities in the former Dumbarton Academy building. It will retain, repair and restore the 150-year-old Grade-A Listed William Lieper façade to form a new administrative centre with a main entrance and one-stop shop on the ground floor which will have civic space and training rooms on the upper level.

The brick envelope of the extension will complement and reflect the blonde sandstone of the academy building, while the design incorporates a number of expansive views to Dumbarton Rock. Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, WDC convener for infrastructure and regeneration, said: “I am delighted that the plans for the new council offices in Dumbarton are continuing to move forward. “As well as renovating one of the most iconic buildings in the town centre, the move will help to revitalise the High Street by bringing increased footfall to the shops.” Keppie’s commercial director, Richard MacDonald, added: “It is a privilege to be involved in a project that has the opportunity to retain William Lieper’s academy façade and integrate it into a significant new project in the regeneration of the town centre.”

Designed to achieve an excellent BREEAM® rating, the project incorporates a central atrium space creating a link between the old and new, providing a social heart to the workplace with naturally ventilated, open plan office space. BREEAM is the world’s foremost environmental assessment method and rating system for buildings which sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation. An enhanced public realm on Church Street will provide the setting for the restored façade with a new, terraced, landscaped amenity space formed off Castle Street.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

PROJECT FACTS AND FIGURES Client: West Dunbartonshire Council Development partner: hub West Scotland Architect/Interior Design/Landscape: Keppie Contractor: Lend Lease Structural Engineer: Curtins Quantity Surveyor: Doig & Smith Contract: Design & Build Value: £14.6M Floor Area: 5455 sqm

Images courtesy of Keppie.

It is being delivered by hub West Scotland in partnership with WDC, architects Keppie, and main contractor, Lend Lease.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Chamber Team in a League of Their Own, Says Sir Alex

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

THE CHAMBER admin team are in a league of their own, according to Sir Alex Ferguson. The football legend thanked Laura Mills and Linzi Harvey of Entourage UK (pictured above with Sir Alex) for their contribution to the success of a charity fundraising event at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel. Sir Alex, who kicked off his football career with Harmony Row Youth Club in Govan, returned to celebrate its centenary with An Evening with Sir Alex Ferguson which raised £35,000 for the charity. Club patron, Sir Alex said, “I can’t stress enough how important the foundation given to me by Harmony Row has been and I have never forgotten my time there. “It’s time for Harmony Row to have better facilities for the 21st century and I’ll be doing all I can to make sure we raise the necessary money.” Entourage UK were appointed to provide event management services for the glitzy night out. Linzi explains: “We were responsible for attracting sponsorship to fund the event, without which it couldn’t go ahead. “Traditionally we deliver corporate dinners and business awards so this was a new market for us which was great. “We met Sir Alex and his management the evening prior to the dinner. He was a genuinely nice man who is clearly very well respected and also very proud of his history with Harmony Row and Govan.” More than 550 guests attended the event which was hosted by comedian and broadcaster, Fred MacAulay (pictured left). However, the highlight was undoubtedly the live interview of Sir Alex conducted on stage by television’s Jim White. Linzi added: “We spent some time with Sir Alex following his interview on stage. He was pleased with the way the event had gone and thanked us both for our hard work.” www.entourageuk.com www.harmonyrowdevelopments.com

Photos by Derek Fett Photography.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Photo courtesy of West Dunbartonshire Council.

Radical Working4Business Partnership Launched

PARTNERSHIP: (Back L-R) Derek McCrindle, Scottish Enterprise; Brian Hermiston and Danny Logue of Skills Development Scotland with Stewart Rennie, Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce; (Front L-R) Liz Connelly, West College Scotland; Peter Barry, WDC; Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, WDC, and Lynn Hammill, Department for Work and Pensions.

A RADICAL new partnership aimed at boosting business has been launched in West Dunbartonshire. Working4Business provides a single place for businesses to get all the support they need to help them grow and create new employment. For the first time it brings together West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC), Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Jobcentre Plus, West College Scotland, Investors in People Scotland and Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce. The joined-up approach means that businesses can access all the services provided by these organisations through a central website and brochure. This includes start-up support, free help with recruitment, advice on growing existing businesses, improved employee training and access to major investment.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Deputy leader of WDC, Councillor Patrick McGlinchey, said: “I’m delighted to see the launch of Working4Business which will help us to increase business growth in West Dunbartonshire and create more employment. “Today’s economic landscape means that we need to do everything we can to support companies in our area, and to fight to attract other businesses to relocate to West Dunbartonshire. “This brilliant Working4Business partnership brings together every aspect of modern business under one simple contact point. That should put us in a great position to maximise the assistance we can give people from accessing grants to taking on subsidised apprentices.” www.working4business.com

Gourmet Treats Growth Enterprise Photo courtesy of West Dunbartonshire Council.

MALLOW and Macaron is just the sort of growth enterprise that will benefit from Working4Business support. Susan Heycoop, of Bowling, (pictured) started the business in 2014 when she retired after 27 years as a tour director and decided to capitalise on her flair for baking. She produces all natural, gourmet marshmallows and French macarons in almost every flavour imaginable. Susan has already received advice on a business plan and secured funding to help get things moving. Orders have increased to the point where she is now looking to take on a member of staff and potentially open a shop. “The Business Gateway team has been a great support with my plans and funding. I’ve also found their free workshops very useful.”

Maid of the Loch Secures £3.8m from Lottery Fund THE Maid of the Loch has secured £3.8 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to help get the iconic paddle steamer sailing again. The Loch Lomond Steamship Company (LLSC) now needs to raise another £1.7million to make it happen.

“It’s good to know I can pick up the phone anytime I have an issue,” she said. www.mallowandmacaron.co.uk

Meantime, the charity can go ahead prepare all the necessary technical surveys, drawings and specifications for the ship’s rebuild. This vital first stage of the overall project is worth £230,400 and means consultants and marine experts can begin work immediately to get costs ready for spring 2016. This will include a huge push to get people involved, and to record and publicise the various stages of the rebuild. The revamped ship will meet the latest marine safety standards and have a lift to enable access for everyone. All being well, it is anticipated she will sail on Loch Lomond again in 2018. John Beveridge, director and founder of the charity, was understandably over the moon: “All our volunteers, sponsors, and supporters have been wonderful over the years. “Now having the support of the HLF, we will transform the Maid from a static venue to an historic icon for West Dunbartonshire and Scotland.

Photos by Rosie Jake Photography.

“We can provide training, jobs, and investment. The Maid will make the Bonnie Banks come alive and give visitors an experience of Loch Lomond – and Scotland – they will never forget.” LLSC has raised and invested over £1.9 million and committed more than 80,000 hours to restoring the ship MSPs, Jackie Baillie and Stuart McMillan, were among the first to congratulate the volunteers. www.maidoftheloch.org ALL ABOARD: The charity’s volunteers, flanked by MSP’s, Stuart McMillan and Jackie Baillie, celebrate the news of £3.8 million of lottery funding.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Events Diary... September

November

Thursday 24 September 12 – 2pm

19 November 6 – 8pm

The Impact of the Canal Corridor on Leisure and Tourism

St Andrew’s Night Celebration Twisted Thistle, 316 Dumbarton Rd, Old Kilpatrick G60 5JH.

The Stables, Glasgow Bridge, Kirkintilloch, G66 1RH.

Photos courtesy of Scottish Canals.

£20 members/£30 non members (+ VAT).

Join us for a traditional St Andrew’s Night celebration and the chance to network in a relaxed, social setting. £20 members/£30 non members (+ VAT).

December Thursday 17 December 12pm – 2pm

Chamber Christmas Lunch Cameron House, Loch Lomond, Alexandria G83 8QZ. £30 members/£40 non members (+ VAT). Celebrate the festive season at the always popular, annual chamber Christmas lunch. Join directors, fellow members and guests for seasonal fun, a delicious meal and informal networking.

Book early to avoid disappointment!

Business Lunch Club Diary Dates Tuesday 8 September & 10 November 12 – 2pm; Virgin Active Milngavie, Strathblane Road, Milngavie G62 8HJ Tuesday 13 October & 8 December 12 – 2pm Casa Italia 1 Montrose Street, Clydebank G81 2JF Members and guests £10 – payable direct to venue. No speaker, no agenda, just networking! Chris Breslin of Scottish Canals will examine the impact of the canal corridor on leisure and tourism in Dunbartonshire highlighting current developments at Bowling, Clydebank and Kirkintilloch, which are key sites.

Meet chamber members, guests and directors for a two-course lunch. Hosted alternately in East and West Dunbartonshire. Please note that you must still register for this event by e-mailing admin@dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk.

to book chamber events Call our events team on 0141 280 0272 or e-mail: admin@dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk For updates and the latest events information, check the chamber website and social media.

www.dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Other events Wednesday 2 December 7pm for 7.30pm

Scottish Chambers of Commerce Annual Dinner Hilton Hotel, 1 William Street, Glasgow, G3 8HT. Dress Code – black tie/cocktail dress

Business Gateway East Dunbartonshire Wednesday 9 September 9.30am – 12.30pm McGregor House, Kirkintilloch

Mastering Selling Skills Improve your selling skills and increase sales

Tickets for 1-4 guests £100 + VAT; Tickets for 5-9 guests £95 + VAT.

Wednesday 30 September 9.30am – 12.30pm

Table of 10 £950 + VAT; Table of 12 £1140 + VAT.

Milngavie Enterprise Centre

Book your table to hear from social entrepreneur, Robert Brozin, founder of Nando’s.

Bookkeeping

Photo courtesy of Nandos archives.

Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage your finances and comply with regulatory and legal requirements using a relevant bookkeeping system. Wednesday 14 October 9.30am – 12.30pm McGregor House, Kirkintilloch

Marketing Your Business Create a realistic marketing plan, improve how you market your business and increase sales. Wednesday 4 November 9.30am – 12.30pm McGregor House, Kirkintilloch

Bookkeeping From humble beginnings in Johannesburg, Nando’s has grown to 1100 restaurants in 23 countries with stores stretching from Rosettenville to Cape Town, Canada to Australia and the UK to Malaysia. Nando’s is an internationally recognised brand and Nando’s founder, Robert Brozin, will share his entrepreneurial journey.

To book call 0141 887 6181 or email info@entourageuk.com

Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage your finances and comply with regulatory and legal requirements using a relevant bookkeeping system. More information at www.bgateway.com/local-offices/eastdunbartonshire/local-events/ unless otherwise indicated.

To book call 0141 578 8530 or visit www.edbusiness.net

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Events Extra... Thomas Muir 250 Autumn 250th Anniversary Thomas Muir Exhibition Edinburgh Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EG. FREE An exhibition to commemorate Thomas Muir’s 250th anniversary. Contact the library for more information on 0131 242 8000.

Unveiling of Cadder Church Thomas Muir Memorial Window Cadder Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow G64 3JJ. FREE Glass artist, Anita Pate, has designed and engraved a memorial window. Thomas Muir was an elder at Cadder Church and successfully defended the congregation’s right to choose its own minister. Contact Cadder Church for more information 0141 772 1363 or 07551 967007.

September

Wednesday 23 September 5.45pm – 8pm

Reception at the Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament, Holyrood, Edinburgh EH99 1SP. FREE – booking essential by 12 September A reception to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of Thomas Muir’s birth with contributions from historians and school pupils. For more information contact Jimmy Watson of the Friends of Thomas Muir on 07980 767666. Email admin@thomasmuir. co.uk to book a place.

October Saturday 3 October 8.10am then 9.45am – 11.30am approx

Commemorative ‘Democracy 250 Walk’ from the Political Martyrs’ Memorial to the Scottish Parliament Old Calton Burial Ground, 27 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3BQ. FREE – Bus £TBC

Commemorative 250th Anniversary Exhibition

Formal walk through the streets of Edinburgh via North Bridge and the Royal Mile to the Scottish Parliament, led by Milngavie Pipe Band. Assemble at the memorial in Old Calton Burial Ground at 9.45am for a short memorial service before proceeding to the Scottish Parliament for an 11.15am arrival. For more information contact Jimmy Watson on 07980 67666. A bus will depart from Huntershill Village, Bishopbriggs, at 8.10am and return after the walk.

William Patrick Library, 2-4 West High Street, Kirkintilloch G66 1AD.

Saturday 10 – Saturday 31 October 10am – 1pm; 2pm – 5pm (closed Mondays)

FREE

‘The Trials of Thomas Muir’ a new portrait by Ken Currie

Monday 7 September – Saturday 3 October Monday to Thursday 10am – 8pm; Friday – Saturday 10am – 5pm

The story of Muir’s life and times, featuring items from the Thomas Muir collection held in East Dunbartonshire’s archives and in local studies. Contact East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust for more information on 0141 777 3142.

Auld Kirk Museum, Cowgate, Kirkintilloch G66 1HN. FREE This specially commissioned work, unveiled at the Lillie Art Gallery in Milngavie in August, is on public view at the Auld Kirk Museum. Contact East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust for more information on 0141 777 3143.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Thomas Muir 250 Sunday 25 October 2pm – 3pm

Thomas Muir – A Contemporary of Robert Burns Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Murdoch’s Lone, Alloway, Ayr KA7 4PQ.

Saturday 14 – Saturday 28 November M-F 9.30am – 5.30pm; Sat 10am – 5pm

East Dunbartonshire Schools Thomas Muir Art Competition Finalists Display Thomas Muir Coffee Shop, Huntershill Village, 100 Crowhill Rd, Bishopbriggs G64 1RP.

FREE FREE Talk by Jimmy Watson of the Friends of Thomas Muir. Contact the Burns Birthplace Museum for more information on 01292 443700. Friday 30 October 1pm – 5pm – tea and coffee from 12.15pm

University of Glasgow Thomas Muir 250 Symposium

The overall winning portrait will be gifted to the Scottish Parliament.

November Friday 20 November 7.30pm – 10.45pm

Centre for Robert Burns Studies, University of Glasgow, G12 8QQ.

Thomas Muir 250 Memorial Concert

FREE – booking advised

University of Glasgow

The Centre for Robert Burns studies, in association with the Friends of Thomas Muir, commemorate the 250th anniversary of Muir’s birth. Papers by Colin Kidd, University of St Andrews; David Brown, National Records Office Scotland; Gordon Pentland, University of Edinburgh, and Rhona Brown, Gerard Carruthers and Satinder Kaur, all University of Glasgow. Contact the centre by emailing robertburnsstudies@glasgow.ac.uk for more information.

£15 – booking advised

Friday 30 October 9am – 5pm

Schools Question Time Debate on Thomas Muir and his Legacy.

Thomas Muir Exhibition

Artists/performers include Dick Gaughan, Rallion, Kirkintilloch Male Voice Choir and John McLaughlin. See www.thomasmuir.co.uk for more information or book tickets online with Eventbrite. Tuesday 24 November 2.30pm – 3.30pm

Level 12, University of Glasgow Library, Special Collections, Hillhead Street, Glasgow G12 8QE.

Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Weston Link, National Galleries of Scotland on the Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL.

FREE

A commemoration of the 250th anniversary of Thomas Muir’s birth. Contact the Centre for Robert Burns Studies by emailing robertburnsstudies@glasgow.ac.uk for more information.

Pupils from across Scotland come together to debate in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Muir by exploring issues relating to the development of democracy. Contact the Portrait Gallery for more information on 0131 624 6200.

See www.thomasmuir.co.uk for more information and to book tickets, unless otherwise indicated.

DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015

Honour the ones who didn’t come home.

Help Erskine care for the ones who did.

Erskine has been providing care, accommodation and employment for ex-Service men and women in Scotland since 1916. We depend heavily on the generosity of people like you to continue doing our valuable work.

Please support our country’s veterans. To donate, please fill in the coupon below or call free on 0300 123 1203.

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Send your completed coupon to: Fundraising, Erskine, Bishopton, PA7 5PU. Scottish Charity Number SCO06609

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SQA JOURNEYS FOR SCOTLAND’S FUTURE Scotland’s future is our young people – the workforce of tomorrow. SQA qualifications prepare them for work, and give them the skills employers like you are looking for. Find out where SQA Journeys can take your business.

www.sqa.org.uk/journeys

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

Want to grow your business to the next level? We can help.

Ambitious young company or already well established in East Dunbartonshire? Business Gateway can offer you access to a range of professional services designed to help take your business forward: • Mentoring from our team of industry-experienced advisers. • Peer support and networking opportunities. • Market research and insights. • Information-rich website full of resources to help with financial planning, recruitment, training, expanding into new markets and more. • Programme of local workshops and training events. Just some of the reasons why more and more businesses are turning to us as their gateway to business expertise.

0141 578 8530 www.bgateway.com

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.