INcommerce
THE Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
INTO A DIGITAL FUTURE LANARKSHIRE’S IT PRIDE NEW BRAND AND WEBSITE FOR CHAMBER
THE IRON BURGH
A PROUD HISTORY, A GREAT FUTURE
ISSUE 17
ADVERTISING FEATURE
The New A3 Sportback e-tron Lomond Fleet Team are delighted to now have the new e-tron A3
available to supply, numbers are limited, however we have managed to secure production for the second half of the year and we expect the availability to be limited in Quarter 4 this year. The interest in the e-tron has been phenomenal, with some of our fleet customers now taking delivery and having the pleasure of driving the model, this has enabled us to declare that the vehicle is a success in this car category. The e-tron is different, in that it has both electric and petrol powertrains, this means the engine is capable of both driving the wheels and recharging the battery pack, the engine is a 1.4 TFSI/75kw electric motor, transmission is a six speed S tronic. Tristan Campbell, Fleet Advisor at Chivas Brothers, has a variety of hybrid vehicles in his fleet and is extremely knowledgeable on the finer details in running such a green fleet. We could not miss the opportunity when we delivered the first of Chivas e-tron orders to get a photo opportunity, thankfully it was a sunny day in March and a very prestigious location at the Chivas office in Paisley. For further information please see our website www.lomondaudigroup.com/new-cars/a3-sportback-etron or contact Jacqui Lee on Jacqui.lee@lomondaudigroup.com.
Contents Welcome...................................... 3 News in Brief................................ 4 Chamber launches new branding and website................. 10 Thriving in the Iron Burgh.....12-16 Lanarkshire map of featured towns........................... 17 Five companieskick-off ‘Develop’ programme................ 18 University of the West of Scotland.............................20-23
New Members......................28-29 Into a digital future................30-33 Property is my business.........34-36 Chamber Members’ half marathon challenge.............. 37 I didn’t get where I am today..... 39 Ask The Professionals................. 40 The Political Column.................. 42
Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce Suite 4, West Stand New Douglas Park Cadzow Avenue Hamilton ML3 0FT t: 01698 426882 f: 01698 424699 e: info@lanarkshirechamber.org
For advertising contact DTech on T: 0141 222 2202 E: sales@incommerce.biz Editorial management by Blueprint Media www.blueprintmedia.co.uk E: incommerce@lanarkshirechamber.org
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ello, and welcome to the summer 2015 issue of Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly magazine, In Commerce. With a general election out of the way but another referendum looming – this time on the UK’s membership of the European Union – we certainly live in interesting times. No one said being in business is easy, and, as I am sure you will agree, all aspiring business people need to stay flexible, openminded and able to accommodate whatever chance brings our way. In this issue, we focus on Lanarkshire as a productive location for the burgeoning IT industry. With a range of leading-edge businesses throughout the county, backed by a swathe of smaller, smart operators focused on new applications, there can be little doubt that the IT sector’s local presence is a real source of optimism about the future. Also in this issue we continue our acclaimed series profiling Lanarkshire’s vibrant towns, this time with our focus on Coatbridge, a characterful town at the heart of Lanarkshire whose proud and distinguished history might yet be outshone by its highly promising future. Inside too we look at a range of Lanarkshire’s business success stories, at companies like 802 Events Wi-Fi and Rosslyn Property, fledgling businesses
assisted by Business Gateway, and key business hubs like BioCity, all of which are creating new and dynamic opportunities for employment, especially for the rising generation of Lanarkshire’s young people. We report, too, on your Chamber’s new website which is aimed at bringing the benefits of membership ever closer. In addition, in a new, regular feature, we put the spotlight on the companies, individuals and organisations which have taken up Chamber membership in the last few months. With our regular update from Lanarkshire’s own University of the West of Scotland and a series of contributions from experts in the worlds of politics, human resources and local government, we want you to find our editorial efforts helpful and informative. Please do not hesitate to share your success stories with your fellow Chamber members. We warmly welcome your news and views and remind you that this is your magazine and one that we want to reflect the wide diversity of business achievement in Lanarkshire.
Neil Kennedy Chief Executive, Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce.
Publisher: DTech Distribution: DTech Distribution InCommerce is published by DTech. Suite3.3, Station House, 34 St Enoch Square, Glasgow G1 4DF. Telephone 0141 222 2202. E-mail: info@dtechuk.com. Editorial management by Blueprint Media www.blueprintmedia.co.uk. E: incommerce@lanarkshirechamber.org InCommerce is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be printed 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 gained from 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, nor the publisher or the directors, shareholders and/or employees of DTech Publishing Ltd.
The Chamber is grateful to our partners for their financial support.
lifeSKILLS c e n t r e s
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Clyde extension opens for business.................................26-27
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S WELCOME
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Cash ISAs – are they really a safe haven?............................... 24
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News in Brief...
Get in touch with your stories incommerce@lanarkshirechamber.org
Housing contractor set to save up to £75,000 with mobile app C
Lindsay lights up the room.
Scientist Lindsay launches children’s science entertainment venture
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xtracting DNA from fruit, making slime and watching custard powder explode, are just some of the diverting means by which Lindsay Murphy, a 35 year old scientist from Wishaw is helping engage children with science. Her business, Be Experimental, which specialises in science entertainment workshops for schools, youth groups, children’s birthday parties and even adult cocktail parties – where she creates “experiments in a glass”, was launched earlier this year. Already Lindsay has been inundated with bookings and has appeared at the Dunbar Science Festival and numerous parties, schools and after school clubs. A former science presenter for Edinburgh University’s SCI-FUN educational outreach programme and at Glasgow’s Science Centre, Lindsay came up with her business idea when she decided to communicate her scientific knowledge to a wider audience. She said: “People think you have to be extremely clever to be a scientist when really all you need is someone to spark your interest in it. “From working at Glasgow Science Centre I knew it had more outreach enquiries than it could handle, so the idea for the business never left me and now, I am delighted to say, it is up and running”. To find out more about Be Experimental visit www. facebook.com/beexperimental.
oatbridge-based Hotcake Digital Media is set to save social and domestic housing contractor McTear Contracts, a Wishaw-based business, an estimated £75,000 over the next two years thanks to its development of a new mobile app. The app will empower McTear’s 100 strong staff with an easy and quick way to log work, providing the company with a ‘paperless’ audit trail when booking jobs, filling out daily worksheets and inspection sheets, updating check lists and obtaining electronic signatures for all jobs completed. Jamie Mowat, McTear’s Operations Director, said: “The app will help save time and money as well as increasing efficiencies and freeing up vital resources.” Hotcake Digital Media MD Sean McKeown said: “McTears wanted an app that would reduce the amount of paperwork its employees had to fill out with each job, saving them time and money as well as providing them with increased transparency.” “We are currently providing time and money savings apps for a range of businesses. Our apps provide our clients with high-end back office software and a front end individually designed to meet their needs regardless of what sector they are in.” For more information on the app visit www.hotcakedigitalmedia.com or free phone 0800 689 3483.
Sean displays his app.
Both businesses were assisted by Business Gateway. Visit www.bgateway.com/lanarkshire for more information
Holiday Inn East Kilbride gets a £1m plus upgrade A
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Above, The Holiday Inn fitness suites and, below, its sumptuous hospitality.
£1 million plus investment is set to transform the Holiday Inn East Kilbride into a stunning new venue for business travellers and local people seeking high-quality hospitality and fitness facilities. In a staged programme which has already seen the Holiday Inn’s event and meeting rooms and bathrooms upgraded, the current focus is on having all of its 101 bedrooms fully refurbished and re-opened before the end of summer this year. Bruce Robbie, General Manager, said: “This hotel was opened in the early 1990s as the West Point before it became part of the Hilton hotel chain. It was branded as a Holiday Inn in 2005. “The hotel is used primarily by business customers during the working week but it is popular at week-ends with people on leisure breaks, hen parties and the like, partly because of its proximity to Glasgow and also because of its highlyregarded leisure facilities, including our swimming pool and fitness facilities. “I am particularly pleased by the upgrade of these leisure facilities where we have all new cardio and resistance equipment as well as new spin studio bikes. Our new changing rooms too, I hope, will impress our customers.” The local community is also well-served by the Holiday Inn which hosts a regular calendar of sportsman’s dinners and tribute nights as well as enabling people to gather together in quality environment for christenings, funerals and family events. For further information speak to Bruce or one of his staff at the Holiday Inn East Kilbride, Stewartfield Way, G74 5LA, telephone 01355 236300.
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Furnace & Induction Heat Treatment Ltd was established in December 2013 after Caldervale Forge went into administration. New owners purchased the company and all the assets with investment in new process’s and machinery, utilising the existing skilled workforce have managed to stabilise the business and secure jobs. We are conveniently located just off the M8 @ Newhouse between Glasgow and Edinburgh. We offer a quick cost effective turnaround to meet the current demands of our customers. HEAT TREATMENT PLANT Offer the following processes:QPQ, Carburising, Carbonitriding, Harden and Temper, Stress Relieving Post and Pre weld (under protective atmosphere if required), Normalising, Annealing, Induction Hardening, MPI Testing (NDT) shotblasting and beadblasting.
ROCKBREAKER STEEL TOOLS We manufacture hydraulic steel breakers for various industries for Civil Engineering, Rock Breaking, Excavation & Mining. We are still the only Scottish Manufacturer of the New Caldervale Rockbreaker Steel Tools from our facility in Airdrie. We have the capability to manufacture tools for various types of hammers for example:Soosan Montabert Atlas Copco Rammer JCB Accreditations Furance Induction Heat Treatment Ltd is fully accredited to BS EN ISO 9001:2008 for the Quality Systems. We have been approved to carry out work for Weatherford’s and awaiting final approval from Halliburton.
Furnace & Induction Heat Treatment Ltd (formely Caldervale Forge) Units 4/5 Caldervale Business Park, Dunrobin Road, Airdrie, ML6 8LS T: 01236 763388 • F: 01236 761184 • E: tech@fiht.co.uk • W: www.rockbreakersteels.co.uk
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News in Brief...
Get in touch with your stories incommerce@lanarkshirechamber.org
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Coatbridge Knowledge Transfer Hub meeting brings businesses together
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he first Knowledge Transfer Hub (KT Hub) meeting to be held in Coatbridge has been hailed a success with more than 50 local businesses attending a business breakfast at the town’s 101 Park Street conference venue. Organised by New College Lanarkshire, the KT Hub was established more than five years ago to offer a meeting place for businesses large and small working across Lanarkshire and Scotland’s central belt. The Knowledge Transfer Hub event followed the success of similar events hosted at New College’s Motherwell and Cumbernauld Campuses. It hosts an event every month during the academic year and aims to cover topics that enable transfer of knowledge from business to business. Deborah Grant, Commercial Development Manager, said: “There was a fantastic turn-out at our event with a great opportunity for businesses across various sectors to forge strong business links through networking and the transfer of knowledge.”
The next event will be held on Wednesday, 23rd September at the Coatbridge Campus, featuring a presentation by the Supplier Development Programme on how it can provide free support and information to help SMEs work with the public sector. KT Hub membership is free. Those interested in attending any future events should email kthub@nclan.ac.uk.
802 Event WiFi ready to help Lanarkshire businesses and towns seize the opportunities of superfast broadband
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eading UK WiFi expert, Coatbridge-based 802 Event WiFi, is offering Lanarkshire SMEs a unique window of opportunity to dramatically increase their broadband speeds and, as a result, help them operate better, more profitable businesses. As the only Wireless Technology Approved Installer in Scotland for the Connection Vouchers Scheme (CVS), it is positioned to bring superfast wireless broadband to companies, multi-tenant business premises and even entire towns across Lanarkshire and the rest of Scotland. CVS is a UK government financial incentive to bring poor broadband connections up to speed with the rest of the country. However, there is less than a year left for companies to benefit from the scheme; after 1 April 2016, the grants will no longer be available.
As 802 Event WiFi chief executive Felix Gibson explained: “Take-up of the scheme has been limited because the grants of up to £3000 for SMEs and charities apply only to the installation and capital value. “It does not cover monthly rental expenses and companies are finding that their rental costs for up to 40mb of superfast download speed are likely to increase substantially if they subscribe to the scheme. “802 Event WiFi, however, can deliver the scheme through wireless connectivity – rather than fibre or copper – and use the grant to install a wireless service which is likely to reduce significantly the businesses’ monthly rental costs and make the scheme more attractive.” The clock is now ticking for business to take advantage of the CVS. On April 1 this year, the Government allocated another £40 million to extend the scheme to include Glasgow, Aberdeen and Stirling. 802 Event WiFi is now targeting multi-tenant premises such as business centres, where landlords could offer business tenants a hugely improved broadband capability at very little cost to themselves. The company is also able to deliver town-wide superfast access for small communities where businesses are close together and centrally located. It is also able to roll out much higher broadband speeds to individual hotels, restaurants and retail outlets. Mr.Gibson said: “we want to help SMEs and charities to take advantage of this excellent initiative, but it is time-limited, and they must act fast to gain superfast speed and future-proof their businesses.” The CVS installation is one of the latest major projects for 802 Event WiFi, which has already installed wireless systems at Hamilton Park racecourse, Perth Concert Hall and the shopping precinct at Milngavie.
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Felix Gibson, chief executive of 802 Event WiFi.
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Chamber launches new branding and website
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anarkshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce that it has re-branded and launched a new website. Over the past few months, you will have seen the brand integrating to InCommerce magazine and now this has extended to our latest online facility, which you can find at www.lanarkshirechamber.org. Working with the creative and development team at Advanceworx Creative Communications, a Lanarkshire Chamber member organisation, the new brand reflects the developments within the chamber. For Business, the new brand strapline, is exactly what the chamber offers – a chance for all members to network and create healthy, profitable business relationships. The new website provides the platform for the Chamber to communicate with members and keep them updated on member support services, events, latest news and introduce members and corporate sponsors. The Chamber encourages members to make the most of this great facility, share ideas with it and make it a resource for developing organisations within the Chamber. Commenting on the new brand and website launch, Neil Kennedy, Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce president, said: “The time was right. Lanarkshire Chamber, over the past year, has grown and developed significantly within the Lanarkshire community. The website is its window to Lanarkshire and beyond and will also offer our members a great platform to engage with the Chamber, its members and the wider community. “Members can find support ranging from export and import documentation to funding and training, sitting alongside regular news and event updates. “The Chamber is keen to hear from members on anything they would like to see featured within the website. Our news section is an area that offers the facility to share developments, member offers and community events.” Anton Lang, of Advanceworx Creative Communications, said: “Our project delivery has seen us develop the new Chamber branding and associated offline collateral, as well as directing the strategy, design and development for the new website facility. “Developed and built as a full Content Management System, the Chamber now has full control to add and update the website as they and their members progress. It is future proof. “As a fully responsive website, it also means that any visitors to the site, no matter what device they are viewing from, will be presented with the best possible and most accessible visitor experience.” As part of the new Chamber delivery, Advanceworx is offering all Chamber members the opportunity of a free marketing and communication consultation. Mr Lang said: “We are providing all Lanarkshire Chamber Of Commerce members the facility to discuss their business and communications with us and we will provide them with a strategy report that they can use to develop their own communications. This is something normally only developed on commission of client projects but, in partnership with the Chamber, we are keen to offer something back to members.” Members can take up the free marketing and communication offer by emailing anton@advanceworx.com.
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Cover story
Get in touch if you have a cover story idea incommerce@lanarkshirechamber.org
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Thriving in the Iron Burgh
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Main Street, Coatbridge.
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oatbridge is a town with a reassuring Scottish solidity about it. The stone buildings which still stand as a legacy of its proud Victorian heyday give this Lanarkshire community a sense of gravitas and dependability.
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Coatbridge has built on its industrial past to create a bustling, modern town
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
New College, Lanarkshire
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Blairhill Dundyvan Parish Church, Blairhill Street.
Coatbridge Municipal Buildings.
Built on the road from Airdrie to Glasgow, and with the Monkland Canal still running through it, the town has an industrial heritage second to none and a bustling business spirit which maintains the spirit of enterprise to the present day. It is close to Airdrie and a visitor unfamiliar with the area might think that the two towns run into each other in a contiguous conurbation, but residents regard them as being quite separate, each with their own unique attributes and historical resonances.
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At the turn of the 19th century, Coatbridge was the eighth largest town in Scotland, shipping ton after ton of the high quality iron it produced in its belching furnaces to the furthest corners of the Empire
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And the history of Coatbridge is dramatic. In a few short decades towards the end of the 18th century, it was transformed from a loose collection of rural hamlets – in which Robert Burns would have felt quite at home – to a throbbing, smoking, pulsing industrial powerhouse known as the Iron Burgh. The Statistical Account of 1799 described Coatbridge as having “the appearance of an immense garden. Here are produced luxuriant crops of every grain, especially wheat. The rivers abound with salmon in the proper season and trout of every species”. Forty years later, the story was slightly different. “There is no worse place out of hell than that neighbourhood. At night, the groups of blast furnaces on all sides might be imagined to be blazing volcanoes . . . and the pounding of many steam hammers seemed to make even the very ground vibrate under one’s feet.” At the turn of the 19th century, Coatbridge was the eighth largest town in Scotland, shipping ton after ton of the high quality iron it produced in its belching furnaces to the furthest corners of the Empire. And, while economically the Industrial Revolution changed the town out of all recognition, it is generally accepted that it came at a significant social cost, with workers being imported in their thousands and housed in conditions at which we would be aghast today. Nicola and Sarah of Eugene’s Barbers, Main Street.
Time Capsule
The past is brought to life with a robust vigour in the Scottish Museum of Industrial Heritage at Summerlee, known as “the noisiest museum in Scotland”, which benefited from a £10 million redevelopment in 2008 and further recent investment. The main exhibition hall, created in the late 1980s from the former Hydrocon Crane works, now provides an excellent space for the museum’s displays and working machinery, including a huge winding engine from the former Cardowan Colliery. For more up-to-date fun, the Time Capsule leisure centre offers visitors and families ice skating and hockey at Ice Age, and the Waterworld leisure fun pool takes the bather through a landscape of steam, tidal waves, geysers, canals, waterfalls, a volcano, prehistoric monsters and plants.
Summerlee Scottish Museum of Industrial Heritage.
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But, with typical Victorian breeziness, many were determined to see a bright side. Bremner, on the industries of Scotland in 1869, said of the burgh: “For half-a-mile round each group of furnaces, the country is as well illumined as during full moon, and the good folks of Coatbridge have their streets lighted without tax or trouble.” Post-industrial is how the town must be regarded now, but it has preserved the best of its past while creating an attractive and characterful present. It has pleasant shopping centres with wellfurnished pedestrian streetscapes, which contrast with the spires and turrets of its many churches and municipal buildings. The Boundary Shopping Village, Lanarkshire’s newest retail attraction has a rich variety of locally-run specialist shops offering everything from home improvements and restaurants to clothing and fashion.
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Drumpellier Country Park, gifted to the town by D.W.R. Carrick Buchanan in 1919, is popular for a number of recreational activities including walks, jogging, boating, and angling, as well feeding the multitude of swans, geese and other birds. But none of these attractions would be sustainable without a business base to create wealth and employment and Coatbridge has replaced the metal-bashing of the past with modern enterprises which benefit from an energetic and highly-skilled workforce. Torishima, the global pump manufacturer which was founded in Osaka in 1919, chose Coatbridge for its service arm, which supports customers of its worldwide network of facilities working in very demanding environments. It also operates a state of the art oilfield coatings facility whose products are used to rebuild, protect, repair, and seal general equipment, offering engineering longevity and flexibility. Another major Coatbridge-based engineering firm, KRG Industries, which has been operating for 35 years and provides precision engineering services to the oil and gas and aerospace and defence industries, was acquired last year by Aberdeen-based Proserv in a multi-million pound deal.
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The past is brought to life with a robust vigour in the Scottish Museum of Industrial Heritage at Summerlee, known as “the noisiest museum in Scotland”
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The Trojan Group, started in 1993 as a family business, has grown into a major employer sending teams of trained and highly-skilled engineers and technicians to provide a huge variety of property maintenance and repair services throughout Central Scotland. Evans Halshaw Ford Coatbridge, just across the road from Albion Rovers Football Ground on the main road, is part of a national dealership which sells Britain’s bestselling car of all time, the Ford Fiesta as well as the rest of the Ford range. It can access more than 20,000 vehicles and, as well as keeping Coatbridge on the move, it provides a great number of high quality jobs. Tannoy is a brand name that can be found not only in the homes of discerning hi-fi enthusiasts across the globe, but in some of the most prestigious audio installations throughout the world, such as the Sydney Opera House, the London Palladium and the Bellagio and Hard Rock Hotels in Las Vegas. The company’s Scottish factory HQ is located in Coatbridge, where it has been based for the past 35 years. Indeed, all Tannoy products are still conceived, designed and developed at its UK base to this day, as well as extensive manufacturing. Another venerable enterprise is Lees of Scotland, established in 1931, which produces Lees snowballs, teacakes, snowcakes, meringues and seasonal biscuits at its modern factory in Coatbridge. It also produces the world famous Lees Macaroon Bar. With businesses like Lees in the town, the prospects for Coatbridge are likely to remain sweet. Summerlee Scottish Museum of Industrial Heritage.
LANARKSHIRE
Where we have featured
InCommerce is more than halfway through a series profiling Lanarkshire’s principal towns. So far, as the map indicates, we have shone the spotlight on East Kilbride, Hamilton, Cumbernauld, Motherwell, Airdrie, Strathaven and Coatbridge. If you would like to access any of these profiles you can do so online through the Chamber’s new website.
Where we will be featuring
Lanark will be the focus of the next issue of InCommerce so please get in touch via email incommerce@lanarkshirechamber.org if you would like to see your business considered for inclusion.
INcommerce ISSUE 13
INcommerce
THE Lanarkshire
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
THE Lanarkshire
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BUSINESS MAGAZINE
CUMBERN AULD A POSITIV E FUTURE
BUSINESS MAGAZINE
ISSUE 17
INTO A DIGITAL FUTURE
LANARKSHIRE’S IT PRIDE NEW BRAND AND WEBSITE FOR CHAMBER
Linking-up Lanarkshire’s roads Lanarkshire’s confident companies News from UWS
INcommerce
THE Lanarkshire
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
BUSINESS MAGAZINE
ISSUE 15
THE IRON BURGH
AIRDRIE
A PROUD HISTORY,
ISSUE 17
Agriculture a growing concern
ISSUE 15
INcommerce CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CWR getting youngsters ready for work
CUMBERNAULD
ISSUE 22 THE Lanarkshire
LOOKS TO THE FUTURE
ISSUE 13
A GREAT FUTURE
BUSINESS MAGAZINE
ISSUE 14
AIRDRIE COATBRIDGE
BELLSHILL
INcommerce ISSUE 11
ThE Lanarkshire
ChAMBER OF COMMERCE
BUSINESS MAGAZINE
EK-OK
MOTHERWELL
ride Eas t Kilb foc us on
ISSUE 14
WISHAW
ISSUE 19 EAST KILBRIDE
also inside Get HMRC to pay your ion business for innovat Investing in our young people’s future in Life sciences drive Lanarkshire
HAMILTON LARKHALL
ISSUE 11 STRATHAVEN
INcommerce
THE Lanarkshire
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
LANARK
LESMAHAGOW
BUSINESS MAGAZINE
ISSUE 12
HAMILTON PROUD HISTOR Y, VIBR ANT PRESEN T
• Procurement – are you getting your share from local government? • New era dawns for your Chamber of Commerce
THE QUEEN’S AWARDS
Lanarkshire’s excellence in exporting
ISSUE 18
INcommerce ISSUE 16
THE Lanarkshire
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
THE TOWN WITH A SMILIN G FACE
ISSUE 12
BUSINESS MAGAZINE
WORKSHOP COUNTY
ENGINEERING SPECIAL + LOTS MORE INSIDE
STRATHAVEN SPECIAL
ISSUE 16
ISSUE 20 ISSUE 21
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Dr Diane Harbison: “Delighted to launch the programme.”
Five companies kick-off BioCity’s ambitious ‘Develop’ programme
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ioCity Scotland, the Newhouse hub which supports growing life sciences organisations, is launching a unique coaching and support programme which aims to fast-track the success of selected companies. Five life science companies – Link Technologies, BioAscent, Glimpse, TeraHertz Power and Chitopolymers – have been chosen to take part in BioCity’s nine-week ‘Develop’ programme, which could provide them with the opportunity to receive £100,000 of investment. The programme – sponsored by North Lanarkshire Council – provides business start-ups, early-stage or developing companies in the life sciences sector with intensive support and one-to-one support from a network of coaches. Coaches help participants challenge and test ideas for new products, services and business areas and guide them to designing a business model which has the best chance of success. Those who successfully complete the ‘Develop’ programme then have the opportunity to move onto the ‘Launch’ programme which will offer businesses one-to-one coaching followed by the chance to pitch to BioCity Scotland and Gabriel Angel Syndicate for up to £100,000 of investment. Dr Diane Harbison, Managing Director of BioCity Scotland, said: “Too many business start-ups fail early. It’s easy to get carried away in the emotion of starting a new venture – particularly in an industry such as life sciences, where there is the potential to make a significant difference to people’s lives. “The concepts of ‘lean start-up’ and ‘evidence-based entrepreneurship’ are becoming well established in the digital technology arena, but BioCity, through the ‘Develop’ programme
are adapting and applying these techniques for start-ups in the complicated world of healthcare. “That’s why I’m delighted to launch the programme, which has a proven track record of success at our sister company BioCity Nottingham, where it has already helped 70 business start-ups in just 18 months. “I am confident that ‘Develop’ will be just as productive here in Scotland, where there is a wealth of talent just waiting to be nurtured using this winning formula.” Since its launch in 2012, BioCity Scotland has quickly become the focal point for Scotland’s life science industry. BioCity provides high spec laboratories and office space, as well as access to expertise, finance and a community of like-minded people, making it a hothouse for biotech, pharmaceutical and healthcare businesses to start up and thrive. BioCity Scotland will be running another ‘Develop’ programme later this year. If you are interested, please visit www.biocity.co.uk for more information or contact +44 (0)1698 539 600.
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UWS led study to aid UK’s flood response
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WS recently headed up a national collaborative project which is set to aid the UK’s flood response and in turn reduce the impact of flooding. This £50,000 project, which ran until 30 April 2015 and was funded by Research Council UK’s Digital Economy Theme (Sustainable Society Network+), came in response to the fact that the incidence of flood events in the UK has increased as a consequence of climate change. Flood events cause serious disruption, enormous financial costs and, in some cases, loss of life. The six month project, which was headed up by Dr Chunbo Luo and Dr James Nightingale of University of the West of Scotland’s School of Computing, comprised five projects partners and two advisory board members spanning the UK. This multi-agency study saw the investigation of suitable Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for flooding disaster management; the preliminary development of an experimental UAV platform; and the development of visual and infrared imagery technologies for use on UAVs during flooding. The development of a flood response system, based on innovative remote sensing, communications networking and cloud computing technologies could have massive benefits not just for society, but also the wider UK economy, by improving the response rate to floods and in turn significantly reducing the devastating impact floods can have. Employing the use across the UK of UAV technology developed in this project would enable relevant agencies including the Natural Environment Research Council’s Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (NERC CEH), the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), local authorities, utilities companies and emergency responders to gather their own real-time data and imagery and transmit it electronically to a central processing and dissemination platform. A central platform, which is at the preliminary stages of its development as part of this project, would in real time, collate, verify and process incoming data against flood models and infrastructure maps to disseminate a common view of the unfolding situation to all agencies, greatly benefiting both incident managers and responders on the ground. Dr Luo of UWS said: “The system proposed as a result of this project would have substantial societal impact by facilitating a faster, better coordinated response to flood events. In the longer term, data collected and processed by this system would lead to improved flood models and help to inform future flood prevention strategies. “We are looking to build on the outcomes of this study and secure additional funding to further develop the successes to create an integrated flooding management system.”
The development of a flood response system, based on innovative remote sensing, communications networking and cloud computing technologies could have massive benefits not just for society, but also the wider UK economy.
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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
UWS exploring partnership opportunities with leading US regional university R
epresentatives of the University of Wisconsin Platteville (UW-Platteville) in the US undertook a three-day visit to University of the West of Scotland recently to share best practice and discuss areas of potential partnership working. UW-Platteville, which has been excelling in education for almost 150 years, is one of the United States of America’s leading regional universities. This visit, which ran from Tuesday 17 to Thursday 19 March 2015, built on an initial trip last year by representatives of UWS to UW-Platteville. Both universities share a number of similarities in terms of curriculum, student population, and approach to learning and teaching. This visit saw both UWS and UW-Platteville further explore possible opportunities for partnership working. UWS and UW-Platteville are currently investigating the possibility of online collaboration where students in Scotland and USA could collaborate digitally on joint projects, which in turn may lead to opportunities for student from both institutions to study at the partner university.
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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
QAA quality mark for UWS
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he Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) has confirmed the quality and standards of provision at University of the West of Scotland following its review in December 2014. A team of QAA reviewers visited UWS and judged that it has effective arrangements for managing academic standards and enhancing the student learning experience. The review identified a number of examples of good practice. These include: well-established relationships with schools and • the colleges that help students from non-traditional backgrounds make a successful transition to the University; development of a culture of personalised learning • the support for students in which a range of activities are undertaken to help improve student progression, retention and engagement.
UW-Platteville has an excellent ‘development’ function, which encompasses sponsorship, alumni, and fundraising and this visit saw UWS learn more about their approach in this important area. “We are very excited about fostering a long term relationship with University of the West of Scotland. This inter-institutional collaboration will benefit students, faculty, and our local communities as well as promote international understanding,” said Dennis Shields, Chancellor, University of Wisconsin-Platteville. UWS prides itself on being a truly international university, which advances diversity, promotes global citizenship and provides a springboard for all learners to contribute both locally and internationally. Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said: “We were delighted to welcome Dennis and his colleagues to UWS. Our universities share similarities and this visit has afforded us with an invaluable opportunity to discuss both approaches to higher education and to identify areas of joint working that will be mutually beneficial.”
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Professor Malcolm Foley, Vice-Principal and Pro ViceChancellor (Education) at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), said: “We are delighted that the quality of our learning and teaching has been recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education in its recent Enhancement-led Institutional Review (ELIR). The University is committed to providing studentcentred, personalised and distinctive learning and teaching experiences underpinned by professionally relevant research, knowledge exchange and enterprise. “It is particularly pleasing that this review highlighted the support that we provide our students to help them reach their full potential – at UWS we are extremely proud of the positive and encouraging learning environments on all of our campuses throughout Scotland.” A successful review means that UWS can display the QAA Quality Mark, indicating to UK and international students that the University meets national requirements for standards and quality.
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Dennis Shields and Prof Jeanne Keay, Vice-Principal & Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) of UWS.
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Cash ISAs
THE
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
– are they really a safe haven?
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any Chamber members may have built up significant sums in deposit-based Individual Savings Accounts, or ISAs, with our banks or building societies over the last few years. ISAs attract no income tax and, over the years, have been a boon to savers. An individual’s ISA allowances now stands at £15,240 each tax year and this means that a married couple is able to save £30,480 annually without any tax on interest earned. The benefits, at least on paper, are substantial. But are we making the most of this opportunity? With interest rates currently showing little signs of increasing from 0.50 per cent and most savings rates lower than this, all too many cash ISA accounts will be standing still and losing value in real terms over time. There are, however, alternatives to these low rate deposit available for savings and many investors have been surprised at the options available. It has never been more important to undertake a regular financial health check with your adviser to ensure that you fully understand the options open to you to help savings keep pace with inflation.
For further information on your options please contact SFS Investments on 01698 269977 or email sfs@southernfinancialservices.
David McAleese of Southern Financial Services.
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
dtech designers
& publishers
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Clyde extension opens for business
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lyde Wind Farm opened its doors on Thursday 2nd April to welcome local businesses and people interested in a career in renewable energy construction and maintenance. The Clyde Extension: Opportunities for local businesses, suppliers and labour drop-in event provided information on possible opportunities available through the build of the recently consented Clyde extension wind farm, situated between Biggar, Abington and Moffat on the South Lanarkshire and Scottish Borders boundary. The extension is due to begin construction this summer. The event was supported by South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Borders Council, Lanarkshire Chamber and Lifeskills
Ltd and hosted by SSE and principal contractors for the site, Balfour Beatty and Siemens. The 54 turbine extension is expected to have a generation capacity of around 172MW, depending on turbine rating. The site is located to the north-east of the 350MW operational Clyde wind farm creating an infill between the north and central sections of the existing site. During the construction phase, it is estimated that Clyde Extension could contribute as much as ÂŁ120m to the Scottish economy and is expected, on average, to support around 500 jobs in Scotland through supply chain contracts.
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Clyde extension is expected to bring significant local benefits through direct and indirect employment, skills training and over £20m of long-term support for community projects from the community benefit fund.” Further information on the Clyde extension project can be found here: www.sse.com/clydeext For those who were unable to attend the event, but are interested in opportunities through the Clyde Extension project, please contact Kirstanne Land, SSE Community Liaison Manager on 0141 224 7569 or email Kirstanne.mcdowall@sse.com
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Murdo McGhie, SSE Director of Onshore Renewables said: “We thoroughly enjoyed meeting local businesses, and those who are interested in skills training opportunities made possible through the wind farm’s construction and we were impressed by the range of skills and services on offer. For many, it may be the first time they have visited the Clyde operations building and is an excellent chance to see first hand the extent of investment and opportunity the wind farm has created locally. “We would like to thank Scottish Borders Council, South Lanarkshire Council and Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce for their support in organising the event. The construction of
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he Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce is the premier business representation organisation in Lanarkshire, fighting always to improve the business climate for Lanarkshire-based businesses both big and small. The Chamber is your organisation and we greatly welcome new members to help give us an even stronger voice where it matters.
It’s easy to join and, with a range of benefits, from networking events, export documentation support and any number of events, membership is a must for all Lanarkshire businesses. Have your business appear in our new members’ slot which we will be carrying in each issue of this magazine by contacting Anne Kennedy at the Chamber on 01698 426882.
Radstone Hotel
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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Formerly Shawlands Park, The Radstone Hotel situated in South has undergone extensive refurbishment. Tucked away in rural Lanarkshire within the picturesque Clyde Valley, the hotel is set in its own extensive grounds, situated on the A71, just off the M74. With 44 bedrooms including spacious suites, the hotel can accommodate single, double, family and group bookings. With meeting rooms, private dining and a function room, the largest in South Lanarkshire and which can accommodate up to 350 guests, the hotel caters for guests’ every need. Its Opal Bar & Restaurant has a varied menu from which to choose. The Radstone is part of the RAD Hotel Group that includes the award-winning wedding venue Lochside House Hotel near New Cumnock, the Carlton Hotel Prestwick and The Royal Hotel located in Cumnock town centre. Owners Robert and Vivien Kyle, who won the award for Scottish Independent Hotelier of the year 2015, have a genuine passion to make their service, dinning and accommodation the very best it can be. Their attention to detail, quality of interiors throughout their venues and determination to always exceed customer expectations set them apart from the rest. For further information please visit www.radstonehotel.com.
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WHEB Credit Union Based in Burnbank, Hamilton, since 1995, WHEB Credit Union’s name derives from the neighbourhoods of Whitehill, Hillhouse, Earnock and Burnbank. It has 2100 adult savers and 830 junior saver members in the locality There are three full-time staff, supported by a team of volunteer workers and directors. Last year WHEB supported its members with more than 800 affordable loans.
Fiona Taylor Fiona Taylor, author of Discovering Your Voice – 7 Ways to be Heard Loud and Clear, is an independent property investor in North Lanarkshire and Glasgow whose background is in professional training and coaching. Fiona has trained more than 40,000 people worldwide on how to use their most valuable free asset, their voice, “to live the life they have dreamed of”. She worked for five years as a voice coach in a call centre and for the last 20 years as a professional voice and speaking coach. Fiona can be contacted on 0771 516 7426.
Inspire Scotland
PR Print and Design is a family business established in 1987. In addition to traditional print services it offers its clients an environmentally-friendly solution for their print requirements. By way of introduction, PR Print is offering all Lanarkshire Chamber members a guaranteed 15% saving on their current print costs. Its flexible print options are designed to suit customers’ specific needs, offering cost effective, short print runs as well facilitating large print jobs. “We are conscious that some of our clients work to tight deadlines and we consistently respond to time sensitive requirements,” said general manager Karen Glen. The company also provides a free online Print Management System which is accessible 24/7. Customers can view all their orders and quotes – see all their artwork at any time. To secure your discount, contact Karen Glen on 0141 556 5414.
New Chamber members, Taggarts, firmly believes itself to “be welcoming, innovative, trustworthy, inspiring and ambitious”. Taggarts Motor Group, a well-known name in the Scottish motor trade, was founded by James Taggart and his friend Robert McMillan in 1896. From its early days as a cycle shop in Motherwell, the company has grown to become one of the most important dealerships in Scotland. In 2003 Taggarts was acquired by Lookers plc, one of the UK’s leading motor groups. Today, the company offers a diverse range of quality brands in state-of-the-art showrooms in Glasgow and Motherwell covering the franchises of Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, Nissan, Hyundai and Peugeot along with a group body shop and parts wholesaling business.
Volopa Volopa is a recently-launched foreign exchange (FX) solutions and international payment provider which guarantees it can beat the foreign exchange quote of any bank or broker. Volopa, which is based in Glasgow and London, says its customers enjoy a number of unique benefits as a result of its four guiding principles, value, security, transparency and simplicity. These, it says, differentiates the business from its competitors and reinforces its commitment to give its customers more money every time. You can learn more about Volopa at www.volopa.com or by calling 0333 400 1287.
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
PR Print
Taggarts Peugeot
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Inspire Scotland provide opportunities for young people to “be the best they can be” and to “improve their future life chances”. The organisation engages with young people from throughout Scotland who have complex needs. It aims to see them through care, and into adulthood. Inspire Scotland supports all aspects of children’s and young people’s lives, doing ‘whatever it takes’ to help them engage in their communities by education, work and all the relationships those include. Inspire Scotland believes in partnership working; with families, professionals and all those with whom the young person is involved.
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Into a digital future
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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Lanarkshire companies once again embrace change to take full advantage of emerging technologies
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t is a truism to say that the one constant is change, but it is unarguable that Lanarkshire has seen more change than most areas of the UK, not just in the last few decades but in the preceding centuries. A traveller in the bucolic landscapes of the county might be forgiven for thinking that this is an environment which has endured from the long gone times when Scotland was a simple and uncomplicated rural economy. But Lanarkshire’s burgeoning centres of population have undergone a continuous process of economic change, from small market towns to world-leading industrial hubs and from towns grown up vigorously on the spillover from Glasgow to communities which are embracing the new knowledge economy. Lanarkshire was always going to be fertile ground for the growth of information and communications technology enterprises, with an entrepreneurial base which has proved itself willing to adapt to changing circumstances and a well-educated and flexible workforce keen to seek new opportunities.
Castle Offices.
“Companies that do not transform to digital infrastructure will struggle to compete with those applying a combination of digital solutions.” John Prendergast
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The Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, born out of the old National Engineering Laboratory, was something of a statement of intent when it was established in 1948 to promote publicly funded research and development. Initially focussed on mechanical engineering, it quickly specialised in electrical engineering and now comprises 34 hectares of buzzing, blue-sky, high-tech innovation which has hosted some of Scotland’s most exciting companies. Now home to around 100 enterprises and employing more than 1200 skilled staff, the park has attracted an increasing number of SMEs keen to take advantage of its excellent facilities and flexible lease terms. But technology never stands still, and Lanarkshire companies which have successfully negotiated the transition to e-commerce, the cloud and the hypercloud are now embracing digital transformation on their way to the Internet of Things. Digital transformation is all about broadband and streamlining business infrastructure so that physical assets become secondary to digital automation and the ability of enterprises to connect people who want something with people who have it. The Internet of Things refers to increased machine-tomachine communication. It is based on cloud computing and networks of data-gathering sensors. It embraces mobile, virtual, and instantaneous connection. And it is predicted to solve everything from traffic jams to switching on your central heating when the temperature drops a bit. John Prendergast, Hamilton-based managing consultant and head of Creative Media, who has spent six years
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
NVT Commonwealth Games.
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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Alistair Livingstone Eureka Solutions.
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“Digital technologies and the way they are employed to drive new business are important not just to firms in Lanarkshire but to Scotland as a whole.”
delivering digitally-connective communication, engagement and management solutions into both public and private sector operations, talks of Digital Darwinism, or “Survival of the Leanest”. He said: “Companies that do not transform to digital infrastructure will struggle to compete with those applying a combination of digital solutions. “Organisations initially built on digital capabilities, those who discover and integrate them by necessity, or those with clear objectives that attract true expertise in digital transformation will operate on a different cost and capability platform altogether.” Companies which are staying ahead of the curve in Lanarkshire range from multinationals such as technology giant Cisco, which makes equipment and software for cloud computing networks and data centres at its Eurocentral base, to local companies which are keen to compete. One firm which has proven itself capable of taking on the big hitters is Bellshill-based NVT Group, which burnished its credentials last year by beating off international competition to land the contract to supply the technology and communications not only for the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles but also for the once-in-a-lifetime Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
“Lanarkshire was always going to be fertile ground for the growth of information and communications technology enterprises, with an entrepreneurial base which has proved itself willing to adapt to changing circumstances and a well-educated and flexible workforce keen to seek new opportunities.”
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Turnkey Office.
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With 75 people now working for it and a turnover of £10 million, NVT has reached out from its Lanarkshire roots and is now operational across Europe. Like NVT, which was founded in 1988, the East Kilbride-based Turnkey Group has been providing businesses in the UK and overseas with computing and business software since 1980. The innovative group has three divisions – computer technology, which markets leading software for insolvency professionals; infrastructure solutions, which provides systems and support; and business software. It also wholly owns a subsidiary in Australia. Eureka Solutions, a leading provider of business systems, is benefiting from a strong stream of important new contract wins as is continues to expand its awardwinning services throughout the UK. Though headquartered in East Kilbride, the company is gaining significant amounts of business from companies and organisations in the South of England, particularly along the M4 technology corridor, and has many more projects in the pipeline. One of NetSuite’s most successful UK partners, has increased the rate of uptake of NetSuite Cloud-based solutions by 200% in the past six months and the number of contract wins is increasing all the time. Hamilton-based Vector Cloud is another firm which is long-established in IT terms, having been founded in 1997 to support clients who are striving to improve their businesses through efficient networks. It provides a range of cloud services as well as network support. Castle Computer Services, based in Bellshill, has been operating since 1982 and provides managed services throughout the UK. It has prospered by understanding its clients’ businesses and the sectors in which they are active. Using world-class proven technologies, Castle delivers and supports a range of technical services, helping organisations leverage the potential of new technologies such as server, desktop and storage virtualisation, cloud and managed services. Digital technologies and the way they are employed to drive new business are important not just to firms in Lanarkshire but to Scotland as a whole. It is estimated that the sector employs more than 70,000 people, offering a wide range of skills and professional services from niche specialised companies to global players. Underpinning the sector is ScotlandIS, the trade body at the centre of industry-wide initiatives which acts as a strong industry voice. Once again Lanarkshire, with its thriving IT sector is illustrating that it is a full participant in Scotland’s economic success, with innovative companies, strong leadership and a sustainable vision for the future.
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Property is my business
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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Industry expert sets up new business in Lanarkshire – and hits the ground running
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ndustrial property expert Stephen St Clair has chosen Lanarkshire as his base of operations for a new niche company which is already challenging the major names in the commercial property market in Scotland. Stephen, who has more than 20 years experience in the highly specialised sector, established his Rosslyn Property practice in November last year in Jacobean House in The Village, East Kilbride. Already he has been involved in a variety of letting, sale and acquisition transactions in Glasgow and Lanarkshire and he sees great potential in both South and North Lanarkshire. He said: “There is a good stock of commercial property in Lanarkshire, which is in demand again as the economy improves and, on the industrial side, premises are being taken up quickly as confidence returns to business in Central Scotland.”
Although many property professionals might regard a partnership in a major UK firm as the peak of their careers, Stephen had no qualms about setting out on his own with Rosslyn Property.
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Stephen St Clair: he chose Lanarkshire.
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Stephen, who is joined in the new business by his wife Louise, is hoping to begin attracting other property professionals to the business as he expands. Born in East Kilbride, he now lives in the South Side of Glasgow. He went to university at Paisley, now the University of the West of Scotland and graduated in 1995, just as the UK economy was emerging from the last recession. He qualified with the then Richard Ellis partnership in 1998, where he gained professional experience in agency and development, property management and valuation, he immediately specialised in industrial agency work after being attracted to Jones Lang Wootton. Stephen said: “It was a different kind of work and I enjoyed the variety of dealing with occupiers and landlords, rather than just other property agents. It gave me a wider perspective about business and it was instructive seeing how people built their companies and portfolios. I found it all very interesting. “I also enjoyed the fact that my work was very transaction-based, and I was out and about most of the time, rather than being stuck in an office.” Stephen consolidated his professional reputation with major national firms such as DTZ and CBRE, before joining Knight Frank where he was made a partner with the remit of establishing and developing its industrial agency in Glasgow and the Central Belt. Although many property professionals might regard a partnership in a major UK firm as the peak of their careers, Stephen had no qualms about setting out on his own with Rosslyn Property. He said: “I guess it depends on whether the challenge of being on your own appeals or not, but there are only five or six people in Scotland with the same level of experience as me, and for some of the bigger firms industrial agency work is something of a bolt-on, so a personal, client-focused service is a significant niche. “I have retained many of the clients with whom I worked previously, and they know that when they start a project with me, I am with them all the way through to completion. I don’t just gain the business and pass the client dealings to someone else in the firm. I think that’s very important.”
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Since setting-up, Stephen has leased and sold industrial units in Rutherglen, Coatbridge, Yoker in Glasgow, and Clydebank and has successfully concluded transactions in both Strathmore House and Edinburgh House office blocks in East Kilbride. He said: “East Kilbride has a huge portfolio of industrial properties because of the activities of the former Development Corporation and, while many have been under-occupied because of the economic climate in the years from 2008 to 2013, that situation is changing rapidly. “Industrial stock is experiencing good demand from occupiers and there is also significant activity at investment level. Massive portfolios are being traded, including small industrial estates and holdings in towns like East Kilbride, and these are being sold to international players such as Goldman Sachs. Not many people know that Goldman is in the Lanarkshire property market.” Stephen’s advice for anyone thinking of establishing their own business in Lanarkshire is “get your ideas straight and then just go for it”. He said: “Of course, I was a bit hesitant at first. You need confidence in yourself and it is natural to wonder if you will be successful when you are coming from an established practice. “However, I have brought clients with me and it is very validating when people demonstrate that they have confidence in you and your professional capabilities. I am looking forward to a very exciting future in Lanarkshire.”
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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
“Not many people know that Goldman is in the Lanarkshire property market.”
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Chamber Members challenged to run half marathon for Spina Bifida C
umbernauld based charity the Scottish Spina Bifida Association (SSBA) will soon be celebrating its 50th anniversary of dedicated support, information and projects for those with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in Scotland. To mark this momentous occasion, the Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce is putting together a team to run the Glasgow Half Marathon on 4th October 2015 to raise funds. From October the charity will launch a year-long fundraising campaign called ‘With a Little Help from Our Friends’, which will aim to raise awareness of the life long, complex conditions of spina bifida and hydrocephalus, promote the support provided by the Association and engage its supporters and volunteers in fundraising activities. Dave Kennedy, Fundraising Officer for the SSBA, said, “We are delighted to be working closely with the Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce and can’t wait to get a team together. “If Chamber members aren’t feeling sporty, however, there are plenty of other ways to get involved with the campaign. From raising awareness to organising a fundraising event, anything companies can do to support the campaign will have a positive effect on the SSBA.” The SSBA is the only Scottish charity with a dedicated remit to support all those affected by spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and
related conditions in Scotland. Formed in 1965, it now supports more than 3500 people across the length and breadth of Scotland; 687 of whom live in Lanarkshire. The SSBA is almost entirely self-funded, receiving less than £10,000 from government funding each year yet they need to raise almost £1million. In 2005 Gordon Ramsay, the SSBA’s Honorary Patron, launched the Buy a Brick Appeal to raise £1,000,000 to build the SSBA’s family support centre in Cumbernauld, complete with telemedicine suite. The following year, the charity officially opened the Scottish Spina Bifida Associations purpose built family support centre in Cumbernauld, complete with a specialist Telemedicine suite. To fulfil its promise of putting a Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce Team together we’re looking for eight people to run in the mixed team so if you or one of your staff is a runner who is looking for a new challenge and wants to help a Scottish charity at the same time, then this is it. To take part, contact Anne Kennedy at the Chamber or for further information or a Fundraising Pack about the ‘With a Little Help From Our Friends’ campaign contact Dave Kennedy on dave. kennedy@ssba.org.uk or 01236 794508.
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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Every one a winner; the SSBA mascot.
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FREE no obligation market valuation FREE 6 month secure RENT GUARANTEE on new properties FREE online marketing to maximise property exposure NO LET – NO FEE agreement as standard NO upfront costs Unlimited access to dedicated property team At Lanarkshire Letting and Property Management we pride ourselves on delivering a professional and personalised service for our landlords. A family run business for over 17 years, our highly skilled team of staff will take the stress out of letting your property with a tailored service that works for you. Due to our unique structure we are flexible enough to cover a large area without compromising our service. So whether you have 1 property or 100 we can tailor our service to suit you. Call us today to find out how we can maximise your investment.
www.lanarkshireletting.co.uk • 01698 266 233 or email enquiries@lanarkshireletting.co.uk quoting LETNOW13
T: 01698 791111 | W: www.radstonehotel.com A: Ayr Road, South Lanarkshire, ML9 2TZ
Christmas At The Radstone Hotel Pa r t y N i g h t s Festive Fayre Menu Christmas Eve Dinner Christmas Day Lunch Boxing Day Lunch A n d M u c h M o r e. . . Visit our website for more information
www.radstonehotel.com
I Didn’t Get W here I Am Today…
Name: Donna Vallance Age: 46 What is your company called? Redg
range Consultants Ltd
What does it do? We have a num ber of consultants specialising in property, planning and gene ral business matters. We assist businesses when they don’ t have the expertise in house.
How quickly did the business take off? Very quickly.
Have you had help from enterprise agencies? No, but I did meet a client at an event once who turned into a good friend. Business Gateway offers an exce llent service and has helped clients of mine. Who is your ideal employee? Som eone who listens and who can disseminate information accu rately.
Were there any sticky moments in the early stages? No not really, I quickly established retai ners and gained new clients by word of mouth.
Who is your nightmare employe e? Someone whose conf iden ce outs trips their com pete nce. Kno w your limitations.
How did you deal with initial setbacks ? It’s not the initial hiccups that are the issue, it’s when clients suddenly lose funding streams and that impacts on your planned workload and subsequent cash flow.
What’s the best advice you’ve had over the course of building a business? To relax.
Was there a particular moment whe n you realised you were on the path to success? Whe n I paid my first year corporation tax. What constitutes a typical day? Up at 6am busy, busy, dinner, bed by midnight. What keeps you going? Not winning the
lottery.
What’s the best part of your day? Every day is different with the exception of walking my dog whic h is sometimes the best bit (weather dependent).
And the worst? None really. If you suddenly attained executive power in Scotland, what would be the first thing you’d change? No Christmas decorations including Chri stmas trees to be put up before St Andrew’s Day. If you could pack it all in tomorro w, and still be comfortably off, would you? Only if I could afford a boat. If you did, what would be your next move? To sail away and explore the West Coast and beyo nd. Any regrets? Not winning the millio n pounds on Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
How did you get started? I was Com mercial Director for a large company during the recession and I realised that lots of companies were cutting back on staff while still needing a level of service that didn’t justify an in house post.
What’s the bit that really irritates you? Traffic congestion. A terrible waste of time.
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What prompted you to choose this particular activity in which to create a business? I am a Char tered Surveyor by profession and my colleagues are Cha rtered Planners. We thought it was time to offer an integrated service to make it an easy fix for clients.
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Andy Purdon
Shared parental leave – What to know
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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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he long-awaited shared parental leave and pay has been introduced and will provide greater flexibility in how parents share the care of their child in its first year. It will be available to couples with a baby due, or children placed for adoption, on or after 5 April 2015. The parents will be able to share the mother’s maternity leave and, if available, maternity pay. Shared parental leave will also be available to employees who are, or expect to be, the parents of a child under a parental order, where the child’s expected week of birth begins on or after 5 April 2015. There is a two-stage test for eligibility for shared parental leave: an employee must be eligible in his or her own right and the employee’s partner must also meet certain eligibility requirements. A mother will be eligible for shared parental leave to care for her child if she: • has at least 26 weeks’ continuous employment by the end of the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth and remains in continuous employment with that employer until the week before any period of shared parental leave that she takes; • has the main responsibility for the care of the child at the date of the birth (apart from the responsibility of her partner or the child’s father);
• is entitled to statutory maternity leave in respect of the child; • has curtailed her statutory maternity leave by giving the relevant notice, or returned to work before the end of the maternity leave period; and • has complied with the relevant notice and evidence requirements. In addition, her partner (ie the child’s father or the mother’s spouse, civil partner or partner) must: • have been employed or self-employed during at least 26 of the 66 weeks before the expected week of childbirth; • have average weekly earnings of at least £30 for any 13 of those 66 weeks; and • have the main responsibility for the child at the date of the birth (apart from the responsibility of the mother). If you have any questions on this then please contact us. This new legislation can be beneficial to you and your company but can equally be very confusing for employers. Give one of our experts a call to discuss how we can put the correct measures in place to protect your business. 0800 652 2610 or email us at info@hrservicesscotland.co.uk.
Don’t get caught out by an inspection…
…make sure your instruments are calibrated.
Your Partner For Success • 17th Edition & PAT Testers • Digital & Bench Multimeters • AC/DC Clampmeters • Pressure & Process
• Earth / Ground Testers • Low Ohmmeters • AC/DC HV Test Sets • Live Line / HV Detectors • Temperature / Termal Imaging • Airflow, Torque & Dimension & Various Other Equipment
Cuthbertson Laird Group provide a nationwide calibration service. We also hold authorised repair centre status for many of the main manufacturers inc. Meggers / Seaward, Testo & G.M.I. • Full calibration results on certificate • National & UKAS certification available • Free minor adjustments • On-site calibration available • Free repair quotes issued • Seaward service warning cleared from PAT testers
• Competitive prices • Quick turnaround available • Calibration reminders • Free local collection and delivery service • On-line Certificates available to download Contact us on 01698 829711 or go to our calibration website and complete the online contact form. Alternatively, email your requirements to us at: hamilton@cuthbertsonlaird.co.uk
“Our quality systems are registered to BS EN ISO / IEC 17025:2005 & ISO 9001:2008”
Cuthbertson Laird Group Parkburn Court, Glasgow Rd, Hamilton ML3 0QQ
www.uk-calibration-services.co.uk / www.cuthbertsonlaird.co.uk
Country house charm in Lanark
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The Best Western Cartland Bridge Hotel enjoys a peaceful countryside location in Clyde Valley. Surrounded by 19 acres of private woodland, bound by a trout river which the hotel has fishing rights on. In addition to the great outdoors and a wide variety of tree species from around the world brought here by original owners in the 1890’s you’ll also enjoy the great indoors. Our hotel is the finest example of Sir John James Burnett Baronial Scottish Architecture! The perfect place to spend quality time with someone special or relax after a conference, the hotel offers true tranquillity. You’ll be ideally located for getting out and about across Scotland too, with excellent motorway links nearby.
Home Reports Residential
Glasgow Road • Lanark Lanarkshire • ML11 9UE T: 01555 664426
www.bestwestern.co.uk
Commercial
Specialist
Energy
Contact our Hamilton office on 01698 284939 or email Hamilton@dmhall.co.uk Offices throughout Scotland.
dmhall.co.uk
Christina McKelvie
Building the skills of the future
THE
Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
By Christina McKelvie MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse
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W
hatever your business, you are investing in your people. Whether you employ one or two people or a couple of hundred, you will know the value of the right skills. It’s because the Scottish Government knows this – I’ve often heard Finance Secretary, John Swinney MSP, mention it – that it has put so much effort and resource into building skills through Modern Apprenticeships, with cross-party support. Across Lanarkshire, employers are grasping the opportunity to build workplace skills under the scheme. And gender equality is improving. Julie Dickson, from Hamilton, was the only woman on the premises when she began working in the gas industry. Julie says she gets total respect from other apprentices, despite being the only female on the course. Seeing those barriers fall is great news. Julie will become a fully qualified service engineer as part of the five-year scheme offered at the Scottish Gas Academy. The Scottish Government is on track to deliver 30,000 Modern Apprenticeships a year by 2020. An expansion of entitlement to
Education Maintenance Allowance will support 57,000 school pupils and college students so that they can continue their education. That’s good news for the young school leavers who can seek out an apprenticeship right across virtually any sector they want to work in. It is also testament to the success of the programme over all. It works because it delivers what employers need. It is crucial that the framework for training is driven by employer demand. Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is the focal point, ensuring that each sectoral skills agency and all the training providers are dovetailing with employer requirements. I would love to see more employers engaging in that programme. Whatever your sector and whatever your size, you will know your skills requirements. Make sure that SDS does too. Youth unemployment in Scotland is now at its lowest level for seven years. Since the recession peak of 2010, unemployment has fallen by 70,000 and female participation is at a record high of 76.6 per cent. Let’s continue building our investment in the skills of the future.
fairways
Est. 1984
Working with you - for you
01738 632 561
hr business support and recruitment specialists
Working with you - for you
with compliments Fairways Recruitment (Scotland) Limited Balmoral Suite, Royal British House, Leonard Street, Perth PH2 8HA
t • 01738 632561 f • 01738 639086 e • admin@fairways-uk.com w • www.fairways-uk.com Registered in Scotland No: SC195669 VAT Registration No: 502 9493 48
HR Business Support Services
Recruitment
E
nsuring organisations remain legally compliant with their HR and employment responsibilities, we provide practical cost effective help and support to SME's to improve organisational performance and productivity
O
ur skilled Consultants have the perfect cost effective recruitment solutions for your business as we supply organisations across all industries with high quality staffing solutions for Permanent, Temporary and Contract staff recruitment.
Working with you - for you, we
Working with you - for you, we
Deal with and resolve complex Discipline and Absence Management issues
Offer Competitive rates and added value services to suit your needs
Prepare Contracts of Employment, Employee Handbooks & Settlement Agreements
Provide qualified practitioners to conduct accredited Psychometric Profiling
Provide expert, reliable Employment Law Advice and cost effective Solutions
Prepare accurate Job Descriptions and Specifications for clients
Provide proactive HR Consultancy and Support
Provide Recruitment and Retention experts to help and support you
Provide Learning & Development Programs
Help Candidates make the right choices and career moves ensuring that organisations get the right person for the right role
and much, much more ….
and much, much more ….
Fairways is an approved supplier with Perth & Kinross Council to provide HR consultancy support services to local businesses in Perth and Kinross.
of contact for all our HR, employment “law,Oneandpoint general or otherwise business queries.
HMP Perth having been using Fairways since “2001, have always found them able to provide
Extremely knowledgeable, very approachable and very prompt to reply to any question raised be it by phone call or detailed email. My fellow directors and I would have no hesitation to recommend Fairways HR and will continue to have Fairways as part of our "team".
a reliable, efficient and prompt response to any requests for staff. The staff are very knowledgeable and professional, and I would have no hesitation in recommending Fairways to any potential client. HMP Perth looks forward to continuing a successful partnership with Fairways.
Stephen Allardyce, Allardyce Healthcare
HMP Perth
”
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Business Connections and Professional Recruitment
OPEN MORE DOORS FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
THE MINI COOPER D 5-DOOR HATCH. MONTHLY RENTALS FROM £135. Ex VAT at 20% (PLUS INITIAL RENTAL*).
The MINI 5-door Hatch has joined the MINI line-up, delivering the same distinctive styling and go-kart handling as the current MINI Hatch but with the benefit of 5 doors. MINI customers can benefit from increased legroom plus bags more luggage space, taking it to a generous 278 litres. As well as all this extra space, the MINI 5-door Hatch sets itself apart from competitors with the wide range of MINI technologies available. Standard equipment highlights for the MINI 5-door Hatch: • Keyless Go • USB audio interface • Bluetooth • On-Board Computer r Benefit in kind 20% r Combined consumption 78.5 mpg r CO2 emission 95 g/km
DOUGLAS PARK
Hamilton, Bothwell Road ML3 0AY 01698 303700 www.douglasparkmini.co.uk
Official fuel economy figures for the MINI Cooper D 5-door Hatch: Urban 64.2mpg (4.4l/100km). Extra Urban 88.3mpg (3.2l/100km). Combined 78.5mpg (3.6l/100km). CO2 emissions 95g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. Douglas Park Ltd is a credit broker not a lender. *Business users only. Plus £810.72 initial rental. Price shown excludes VAT at 20% and is for a 24 month Business Contract Hire agreement for a MINI Cooper D 5-door Hatch with a contract mileage of 16,000 miles and excess mileage charge of 7.80p per mile. Applies to new vehicles ordered between 1 April and 30 June 2015 and registered by 30 September 2015 (subject to availability). At the end of your agreement you must return the vehicle. Excess mileage, vehicle condition and other charges may be payable. Available subject to status to UK residents aged 18 or over. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. The amount of VAT you can reclaim depends on your business VAT status. Terms and conditions apply. Offer may be varied, withdrawn or extended at any time. Hire provided by BMW Group Corporate Finance. BMW Group Corporate Finance is a trading style of Alphabet (GB) Limited, Europa House, Bartley Way, Hook, Hampshire RG27 9UF. Figures are correct at time of going to print and are subject to change without notice. Douglas Park Limited is an Appointed Representative of Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited, of 14 Bothwell Road Hamilton ML3 0AY, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN 308476. We can introduce you to a limited number of lenders to assist with your purchase, who may remunerate us for introducing you to them.