INcommerce ISSUE 13 • SPRING 2012
THE PERtHsHiRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
City Status For Perth
Also in this issue...
Beekeepers have Perthshire buzzing
Scottish Cabinet Minister John Swinney gets down to business
Gannochy Trust celebrates 75th anniversary
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contents Welcome .................................... 3 Editor’s Introduction................... 4 New Directors Introduction ..... 4-5 Chamber Support ....................... 6 Chamber Sponsor Partners ......... 9 Members’ News .................. 10-14
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Welcome
e work hard to serve the needs of our diverse membership and continually grow our services and add value. Feedback from our Annual Membership Survey was extremely positive as well as providing us with valuable information on what our members need and want. We will continue to use these needs to shape our activities going forward and thank those who took the time to take part in completing the survey. Taking part is very important. Those members who are active in membership reap more benefits and this goes for participating in other activities too. One of the main Chamber functions is to promote opportunities and represent our members so that the needs of our local business community are heard. It is for this reason that we distribute information and collate feedback and opinion or encourage participation in a number of consultations. These consultations are of huge importance to our business lives and recent topics for consultation include the Local Area Development Plan and +16 Education and we can now take part in the British Chambers of Commerce’s Quarterly Business Survey. Please do take the time to take part and participate in these worthwhile exercises which are used to shape the business world you and I operate in. It is important to have your say, and it is important that we don’t leave it and hope that somebody else will do it instead of us. A huge benefit of being part of the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce is that there is strength in numbers. A terrific example of joint effort is Perth’s successful bid to have its City status restored. The whole community here worked together to make a compelling case. The Chamber
was honoured to have assisted in developing the bid last year, and I would like to pay tribute to the work of our Honorary Director Mike Beale. The Chamber is ideally placed as a non-profit-making, independent membership organisation to bring together the businesses across Perthshire and provide business support and representation in various formats. Our rural roadshows have been a huge success. We have visited Blairgowrie, Kinross, Crieff, Pitlochry and Aberfeldy with these open events being chaired by our own Chamber Directors who live and/or work in each of these areas. We were delighted that David Littlejohn, Head of Planning and Regeneration at Perth and Kinross Council, accepted our invitation and joined us at each of these events where we learned of the makeup of the new structure and engaged with David on the many critical issues around planning and regeneration. We were also joined by a member of PKC’s Business Growth Team responsible for that particular area and if you have a business and are looking to grow, please do contact the team on 01738 477953 for assistance. Those thinking about Business Start Ups should be reminded that Business Gateway has an office in Perth again and can be contacted on 01738 448310. Talking of support…the Chamber is delighted to welcome a new Platinum Partner, the James Hutton Institute and two new Silver Partners, McLeod Glaziers and Black and Lizars. Their support and that of our existing Platinum, Gold and Silver Partners is very much appreciated. Stephen Leckie Chamber President
Delegation or Abdication? ....... 21 Competing Through Service ..... 25 Local Development Plan........... 26 City Status Restored to Perth .... 27 Glenlochy Trust’s 75th Anniversary......................... 28-29 Scotland’s Modern Apprentices.............................. 30 Employment Matters ................ 31 New Member Profiles .......... 32-34 Beekeepers have Perthshire Buzzing ............... 36-37 Springtime in Perthshire ........... 40 Membership Benefits................ 41 Events ...................................... 42
Front Cover: photograph by Graeme Hart, Perthshire Picture Agency For advertising contact D-Tech on T: 01389 736000 E: sales@incommerce.biz For editorial enquiries contact the Editor, Vicki Unite on T: 01738 450401 E: info@perthshirechamber.co.uk Publisher: D-Tech Distribution: D-Tech Distribution InCommerce is published by D-Tech Graphic Design & Print Ltd. Unit 14, Birch Road, Broadmeadow Industrial Estate G82 2RE. Telephone 01389 736000. Fax 01389 736002. E-mail: info@dtechuk.com. Edited by Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, Algo Business Centre, Glenearn Road, Perth PH2 0NJ Tel: 01738 450401 Fax: 01738 450402 E-mail: info@perthshirechamber.co.uk. 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.
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The Big Interview – John Swinney MSP .............. 17-19
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 InCommerce Ltd or D-Tech Graphic Design & Print Ltd.
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EDitoR’s iNtRoDuctioN
Vicki Unite
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he Chamber’s events diary is busier than ever. Our rural and Perth City events continue in the mornings, lunchtimes and early evenings and our training programme is well-stocked for the coming months. We are delighted to welcoming three new Directors to the Board and you can see from their introductions that they bring a wealth of experience and skills with them and this will assist us in supporting our members and representing local businesses. Our Annual Golf Day takes place at Crieff Golf Club this year on Thursday 30th August and bookings are already flooding in, so book soon to ensure you are part of this terrific event. Carbon Financial Partners have come on-board this year as Support Sponsors and we express our gratitude to them. Competitions on the day will raise money for charities being championed by two of our members. Nick Hine of Hine Opticians (Black and Lizars) is running the London Marathon and raising money for Fight for Sight which is dedicated to funding pioneering research to prevent sight loss and treat eye disease. Derek Peterson of McLeod Glaziers is running the Edinburgh Marathon and raising money for Multiple Sclerosis after tragically losing his sister Vanda to the disease a decade ago. So, all the more reason to book up! I am really looking forward to exploring Perthshire this Spring and learning more about our members and the businesses they run. I hope to see many of you soon.
chief Executive
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Grant Ager
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erthshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to welcome Grant Ager of Fairfield Housing Cooperative to the Board of Directors. A well known face in the Perth business community, Grant has over 26 years experience in the affordable housing sector – the bulk of that in the Fair City over the last two decades with Fairfield which is entering its 25th year of successful operation. Acknowledged nationally as a regeneration and sustainability expert, Grant has an excellent track record in the transformation of the Fairfield area of Perth and the ongoing work in Muirton Park in partnership with the newly formed Caledonia Housing Association. Under Grant’s stewardship Fairfield Housing has won more than its fair share of local and national awards including two Chamber Star Awards for Perthshire’s Business in the Community. Holding an MBA from Dundee University and historically being a board member of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Perthshire Civic Trust, Gowrie Housing Association and Chairman of the North East Forum of Housing Associations, Grant is no stranger to the boardroom and trying to make a difference. Perth born Grant is delighted to join the Chamber Board at such a challenging time for local business and is very interested not only in supporting the local economy and businesses of all sizes but crucially increasing construction investment to the Big County with the tangible outcomes of new homes and employment.
New Director Introductions HEADER BAR
Jillian Page
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erthshire Chamber of Commerce is delighted to welcome Jillian Page, of Something Special Flowers to the Board of Directors. Jillian started in floristry as a Saturday girl at the tender age of 14 years, working for S.L. Hill Flower and Gift Centre, Blairgowrie. During her time there, Jillian gained full City and Guilds qualification in all aspects of Floristry, and was awarded ‘Student of the Year’ from the Scottish School of Floristry, Edinburgh. Jillian has worked for a few local Florist businesses in Perthshire over the years, and managed to combine this with raising her family of two sons and a daughter. She has gained numerous qualifications and competition successes over the years, and has also lectured in Floristry at Langside College, Rutherglen, teaching the National Diploma level. She is a much sought after demonstrator in the Floristry and Floral Art circles. She also runs classes and workshops on behalf of the Perthshire Adult Education Department. In February 2000, in partnership with husband Stephen, she purchased a small florist business in her home town of Blairgowrie and quickly established Something Special Flowers as the place to go for an excellence of service and top quality product. The success of the business culminated in the buyout of the then larger florist in the town, (S.L Hill Flower and Gift Centre), which coincidentally was where her floristry career started. Being a local girl, she has the support of the local community behind her and this is something that is very dear to her heart. Something which she is hoping will continue when she competes at Chelsea Flower Show, in May this year, for the title, Chelsea Florist of the Year 2012. Jillian will endeavour to bring back a Chelsea Medal to Blairgowrie, Perthshire and Scotland! Jillian’s business was entered into the Chamber of Commerce Star Awards, 2009 and was the winner of the Customer Services Award and overall winner of the Business of the Year, 2009. This was a wonderful and rewarding achievement and one which all the team at Something Special Flowers are extremely proud of. The support from the Chamber has been crucial to the continued success of her business and she is very much delighted to be joining the Chamber as a Board Director. She is looking forward to the challenge, and hopes to bring her experience and knowledge of understanding customer service to the Chamber.
Gary Robinson
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n leaving Glenrothes College in 1989, Gary Robinson started as tea-boy, part-time radio presenter and commercial producer at Radio Tay. After 10 years at Tay, Gary was sent north to Moray Firth Radio in Inverness as Managing Director. The brief was to take this award-winning radio station and improve the commercial operation without losing the essence that made the radio station unique. In 2003 Scottish Radio Holdings bought Vibe FM in England. The role was to recruit a full team and oversee the relocation of the station from Ipswich to Bury St Edmunds. During Gary’s three years at Vibe they introduced a new brand image, changed the music policy and became more integrated into the community. Gary also launched the Vibe FM Charity Trust during this period. SRH was acquired by EMAP in 2005 and Gary was instrumental in the transition from Vibe to Kiss 105. Following a successful rebrand at Vibe FM, Gary was asked by EMAP to move to Northern Ireland to re-structure Downtown Radio and Cool FM. After EMAP was purchased by German media company, Bauer, in April 2007 Gary was promoted to the post of Managing Director for National station Kerrang! Radio. Gary moved back to Tayside in September 2009 to take up the reins as Station Director at his beloved Radio Tay. Following a hugely successful 2011, the business has seen some of its largest audiences for both Tay FM and Tay AM, is in a great place financially and looking forward to an equally challenging but buoyant 2012. Gary is also Chairman of Cash for Kids for Tayside and Fife, on the committee of the Princes Trust (Tayside) and is a Trustee of Leisure and Culture Dundee. “Perthshire is a major part of our transmission area with a large audience and customer base and I have always believed it is the duty of a local radio station to support the area they serve, support local businesses and also to inform and entertain their audience,” he said. “My new link to the Chamber will enable me as the head of our business to do exactly that. I genuinely look forward to serving on the Board and actively working towards the promotion and economic growth of the Perthshire area.”
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Chamber Support
Valued Support from Chamber Members Perthshire Chamber is delighted to welcome McLeods Glaziers into Silver Partnership and to Carbon Financial Partners as Support Sponsors of the Annual Golf Day 2012.
Annual Golf Day 2012
McLeods Glaziers – Silver Partners “We are delighted to be welcomed as a partner of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, local business is at the very core of McLeod Glaziers ethos and we look forward to working with Vicki and her team to help promote all types of business in the Perth and Kinross area”
Supported By
Crieff Golf Club
THURSDAY 30th AUGUST 2012 Shotgun Start 1.30pm l to r: Derek Peterson and Gavin Maclean, Directors of McLeod Glaziers with Chamber CE Vicki Unite.
Carbon Financial Partners – Golf Day Support Sponsors “Carbon is delighted to be supporting the annual Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Golf Day. The business community in and around Perth has been very supportive of Carbon since we launched on 1st June last year and it is time we got more involved with the Chamber. This is a good first step. It should be an excellent day at Crieff with funds being raised for two very worthy causes.”
Teams of four - £200+vat
Individuals to create teams - £50+vat Hole Sponsorship - £50+vat
TEAM & INDIVIDUAL PRICES INCLUDE
Hot filled rolls and refreshments on arrival at 12 noon 18 hole round of golf at Crieff Golf Course Refreshments on the Course Two Course Dinner Prize Giving
Competitions Include
Best Individual for the Perthshire Chamber Millennium Trophy
Nearest the Pin for the Elder & Paton Quaich
Red Ball Competition for the Cairncross North Inch Trophy Longest Drive Best Team
BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT! Bookings
E-mail: events@perthshirechamber.co.uk
Gordon Wilson, Managing Director of Carbon Financial Partners Ltd.
Next issue we meet our new Platinum Partner the James Hutton Institute and new Silver Partner Black and Lizars..
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Book online at www.perthshirechamber.co.uk Phone: 01738 450401
Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, Algo Business Centre, Glenearn Road, Perth. PH2 0NJ PAYMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED IN ADVANCE
REFUND IF CANCELLATIONS NO LATER THAN 48 HOURS PRIOR
Scotland’s largest independent Optometrists Flagship practice now open in Perth 22 practices across Scotland Innovative clinical technology including a 3D OCT scanner Designer brands to suit all styles Contact lens specialists
7 George Street Perth PH1 5JY Tel: 01738 441394 www.blackandlizars.com
ACCOUNTS PREPARATION BOOK-KEEPING SERVICE COMPUTER INSTALLATION & SUPPORT BUSINESS PLANS PERSONAL & COMPANY TAXATION PAYROLL BUREAU REGISTERED AUDITORS
PERTH OFFICE
CRIEFF OFFICE
4 Albert Place, Perth PH2 8JE Tel: 01738 626163 Fax: 01738 440485 E-mail: info@finlaysonsca.co.uk
15 High Street, Crieff PH7 3HU Tel: 01764 654044 Fax: 01764 655487 Email: info@finlaysonsca.co.uk
CHAMBER SPONSOR PARTNERS Platinum Partners
At Bank of Scotland we put great emphasis on a long-term, relationship-led approach to banking and pride ourselves on their integration in the local business community. Our involvement with the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce ensures we maintain a regular dialogue with company directors, managers and entrepreneurs across the area. Working closely with the Chamber strengthens our knowledge of the issues affecting local firms and enables their teams to provide valuable guidance and insight to businesses in Perthshire..
Perth College UHI provides further and higher education through its main campus in Perth, a network of local Learning Centres and distance learning options which reach out across Scotland and the world. The College is part of University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Scotland’s newest university comprising Perth College UHI and twelve other partner colleges and research institutions. They offer a wide range of courses including NQs, HNCs, HNDs and degrees, as well as work-based learning and vocational training. They work to assist businesses by offering advice, seminars, workshops, bespoke training, events, consultancy and developing entrepreneurial activity within our student body and the wider community. www.perth.uhi.ac.uk
Gold Partners
The RBS Group is a large international banking and financial services company. Headquartered in Edinburgh, The Group operates in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, the Americas and Asia, serving over 30 million customers. The Group provides a wide range of products and services to personal, commercial and large corporate and institutional customers through its two principal subsidiaries, The Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest, as well as through a number of other well-know brands including Citizens, Charter One, Ulster Bank, Coutts, Direct Line and Churchill. Vic Bicocchi, local Director, says: “RBS is very proud to be a Platinum Partner of the Perthshire Chamber. Small and medium sized businesses are the driving force behind the Scottish economy, accounting for the vast majority of companies in Scotland and almost half of total employment and RBS is committed to continuing to support and reassure SME businesses and to working closely with its customers during these challenging times.”
The Group owns five bottling plants across the UK with its headquarters in Blackford, Perthshire. Squirrel Self Store is Perth’s premier self-storage facility with over 250 units on ground floor level – costing from less than 62p per day. The store is clean, dry and secure and you’re always assured of a warm welcome. They’ve got free parking, customer toilets, refreshments and Sky TV to make your visit as enjoyable as possible, while the Squirrel Shop sells a variety of essential packing materials and boxes, tape and temporary wardrobes – and ice cream!
Their man and a van are always available with prices from just £20.00.
Since then the company has gone from strength to strength with 25 trucks on the road providing all types of waste collections and a waste recycling system at Binn Farm which is recycling over 85% of all waste handled. This figure is only set to increase as they work very hard towards zero waste to landfill targets.
Formed in 1979, Highland Spring Group is the largest supplier of naturally sourced bottled water in the UK, offering the most comprehensive range of brands and products including still and sparkling flavoured and unflavoured water in glass and PET packaging. The company supplies five brands including the UK’s leading produced brand as well as numerous own label customer products.
Call for a quote on 01738 624325 or pop in for a free guided tour and a coffee – or check out the website at www.StoreMyNuts.com.
Ten years ago the MacGregor family stuck a toe into the waters of skip hire as a sideline to their farming enterprise. With one old lorry and 20 skips, Binn Skips was up and running. It became apparent that there was a gap in the market for a skip hire company in Tayside that provided a good level of customer service. Word spread and before too long a second lorry was on the road and they were in business.
For Scottish meetings, weddings, short breaks, weekend breaks, self-catering and family holidays, you’ll find Crieff Hydro offers the broadest choice around. Set in 900 acres of Perthshire countryside they have over 60 onsite activities, as well as five places to eat and drink. For adults after some ‘me time’, there’s no better place than the Victorian Spa. And with a creche, free childcare for 2-12s, and teenager hangouts like the Hub, the kids will have fun too.
New Platinum Partner
New Silver Partners
Producing in excess of 350m litres of water per year the company has stated ambitions to become a 500m litre and £100m turnover business by 2013.
Silver Partner
Inspire offers a wide range of web-related services including web development, graphic design, search engine optimisation, social media management and email marketing. They offer an innovative, white-labelled, web development outsourcing service which is particularly useful to marketing agencies, graphic designers and printing companies that don’t have their own in-house web teams. Perth-based Inspire was founded in 2008 by David Dwyer and Martin Smith and has been very successful in picking up many new clients in the Perthshire and Tayside area as well as others from around Scotland, the UK and the USA.
We wish to acknowledge the ongoing and valuable support given by our local member Partners. If you are interested in Partnering with us please contact the Chamber office on 01738 450401 or email info@perthshirechamer.co.uk
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
MEMBERs’ NEws
towER BAKERy LAtEst AcHiEvEMENts 2012 is shaping up to be a great year as Tower Bakery announces a trio of achievements already under its belt. First of all, they are delighted to have been awarded their SALSA accreditation. SALSA is a food-safety standard written by experienced food safety experts to reflect both the legal requirements of producers and the enhanced expectations of ‘best practice’ of professional food buyers. SALSA certification is only granted to suppliers who are able to demonstrate to an auditor that they are able to produce safe and legal food and are committed to continually meeting the requirements of the SALSA Standard. SALSA is a non-profit making joint venture between the four main trade associations representing the UK Food Chain - from farm to fork. The National Farmers Union (NFU), The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), The British Hospitality Association (BHA) and The British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Tower Bakery also took a Silver Award for their sausage rolls at the recent Scotch Pie Club Awards run by the Scottish Bakers (the trading name of the Scottish Association of Master Bakers which represents and promotes the interests of the bakery trade in Scotland). And finally, they have also been awarded a new contract to supply nine of their products into Co-op central distribution. Angela and Sandy McKinnon have been the successful partners of Tower Bakery for over 25 years. In 1981, they took over the Bakery in Abernethy with the intention to build a successful family business in beautiful Perthshire. When success demanded bigger premises, the bakery moved to their current home on Shore Road, Perth in 1991.
SENIoR MANAGEMENT PRoMoTIoNS AT HIGHLAND SPRING GRoUP
H
ighland Spring Group, the UK’s largest producer of naturally sourced bottled water, has recently expanded its board with two new appointments, reflecting the company’s continued growth. Fiona Gibson has been promoted to Fiona Gibson, Group HR Director having joined the Group HR Director company in May 2011 as Head of HR. With over 17 years HR experience, Fiona’s previous roles have included HR and training positions at Maxxium, Highland Distillers and GEC Marconi Avionics Ltd. Bryan McCluskey has been promoted to Group Technical & Procurement Director. In his 14 years with the company, Bryan has taken on a number of positions in functions including IT, operations and general management. Les Montgomery, chief executive of Bryan McCluskey, Group Technical & Procurement Director Highland Spring Group said: “Fiona will be a valuable asset to the Group Management Team. We have an ambitious vision to grow the business and our people are the cornerstone of achieving that growth. Fiona’s appointment to the board is recognition of the key role our employees play in the Group’s success and the importance of HR within our business strategy.” He goes on to say: “Bryan’s extensive experience within the company and vast technical knowledge will be of great benefit to the Group Management Team as we continue to grow the business and increase our production capacity.”
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
MAJoR PRINT INVESTMENT AT DANSCoT
D
anscot Print Ltd of Perth has posted its intent to flourish in 2012. The company has invested in several new print production machines throughout their premises in Arran Road and Kinnoull Street. The Ricoh Pro 907 machine is the state of the art work horse for black and white printing. It offers an impressively improved quality of print and speed of operation. It can produce up to 90 sheets of A4 per minute as well as automatic tray switching to guarantee uninterrupted flow of paper. This is to Danscot’s customers’ advantage as speed of production and reliability of quality enhance the service provided. This is progress and it keeps Danscot Print at the forefront of printing in Perth. Vicky Petrie, print manager commented: “Our clients are looking for the finest quality, delivered in the quickest time at the most competitive price and I know we are now equipped to meet their aspirations.” Completing this major investment is the installation of a new OCE Colourwave Large Format Printer. This will appeal to all professionals who need to print drawings, plans and a range of signage. Black and white copy is still available but now colour copy is available much more readily and at reduced prices compared to the past. Vicky Petrie concluded: “We have confidence in the economy of Perth and as a company we have matched our commitment to Perth with a willingness to offer our expanding client base a modern and superior range of print services.”
MEMBERs’ NEws
Gardens Galore Scoop Industry Prize Gardens Galore are recognised at Marshalls Register Awards Ceremony
Perth-based garden landscapers Gardens Galore had their high quality of work recognised at a recent industry event. Gardens Galore scooped top regional winner for ‘best patio transformation under 35m’ and took 1st runner up position for ‘best driveway transformation over 70m’ at the Marshalls Register Awards Ceremony held at Murrayshall House Hotel in Scone.
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s well as Eating, Leisure and Entertainment, mi perthshire has recently added Retail as a new category within the free Smartphone App for Perthshire. This provides a voice for local retailers to help get their message out there to the app using population. The Retail category allows consumers to find out about new product ranges, discounts and sales events from independent local businesses. Promotions cover the full retail spectrum including; beauty, clothing, electronics, food, garden and DIy, gifts, home entertainment, household, jewellery, sports and leisure, toys and games. mi perthshire are constantly looking at ways to use technology innovatively and will be introducing app alerts, integrated QR codes/reader as well as a unique new voucher system over the next few months. The idea behind mi perthshire is to connect local people with local businesses by providing free consumers channels. As well as the free mi perthshire smartphone app they use more traditional online channels such as the www.miperthshire.co.uk website, Facebook, Twitter and weekly email newsletters. Over 100 businesses now use mi perthshire to extend their reach and let consumers know what they are doing, this is set to grow rapidly with the introduction of the new Retail category. If you are a member of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce you can benefit by taking advantage of the member to member discount of 20%.
Director, Jamie Byiers, commented: ‘We take great pride in all our work and our largest source of work is from recommendations from our customers – that’s a good sign! We are delighted that Marshalls have recognised the quality of our work. By using Marshalls approved installers, customers are reassured that they will end up with a great finish.’ The Marshalls Register of Approved Landscape Contractors and Driveway Installers is a national network of recommended professionals. Being on the Marshalls Register companies agree to abide by their installation guidelines and are all vetted by Marshalls assessors. Gardens Galore was formed in 1997 by a father and son team and specialises in all areas of garden landscaping. The firm has expanded over the years and has a strong ethos of customer care and quality workmanship. The team provides a collection of garden landscaping services to choose from, ranging from a simple patio or driveway, to a range of walls, decking, gravelling and turfing or a full landscape design and build service.
Perth & Kinross Business week A brand new event is being planned for Perth & Kinross. Perth & Kinross Business Week is taking place from 11th 15th June 2012. This innovative series of events is being packaged over a short period for maximum impact. There will be something for everyone involved in business in Perth and Kinross during the week. A website is currently being designed and there will be a booking system in operation to make it easy for business people to choose the most relevant sessions. During the week there will be a full programme of keynote speakers, workshops, expert panels and targeted exhibitions - all centred on Dewars Centre Perth. Planning is well underway by the Perth and Kinross Business Growth Team, and details are due to be announced shortly. But the Chamber is delighted to announce that they are holding a revamped Business Fair on the Thursday 14th which will follow one of their successful Networking Breakfasts. The daily programme includes:- Planning for Growth - Financing Growth & who can help me to grow? - Employment, Training & People - Working in Partnership - Strategies & Opportunities to Grow For more information: Contact Andrew Webster: Business Advisor: Business Growth Team Tel: 07825 434342 Email:aalwebster@pkc.gov.uk
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
MEMBERs’ NEws
joHNstoN cARMicHAEL FiNANciAL sERvicEs ANNouNcEs MERGER witH Gw wiNtoN & co iN PERtH
l to r: Mike Clark MD of Johnston Carmichael Financial Services with Graeme Winton of GW Winton & Co.
Johnston Carmichael Financial Services (JCFS), one of Scotland’s leading financial services businesses, has announced that Perth-based firm GW Winton & Co has merged its business into JCFS.
JCFS operates through leading accountancy firm Johnston Carmichael’s network of 10 offices, which are spread throughout Scotland, and has nine financial planners. GW Winton & Co was established in 1988 and as part of the merger – which took effect on Wednesday, February 1 – the firm’s staff will relocate to Johnston Carmichael’s Perth office.
Mike Clark, Managing Director of Johnston Carmichael Financial Services, said: “We are very excited by the additional opportunities which our combined businesses will bring to our Perth operation. We see significant potential in the local market and we are delighted Graeme and his team will be joining us, as they have a reputation for delivering the highest quality of advice and service to their clients and they will be a strong addition to our teams.” Graeme Winton added: “As the provision of financial services increases in its complexity and diversification, it is imperative that client service is of the highest priority. By entering into this arrangement, I am able to ensure that our clients have the best possible services with access to specialist areas of advice when required, including that offered by the tax specialists at Johnston Carmichael. “I believe there is a good fit between the two firms and that our clients will benefit from the greater breadth of expertise that we are now able to offer particularly in these fast changing and challenging markets.”
Graeme Winton has joined Johnston Carmichael Financial Services as Associate Director.
Perthshire web development company Inspire praised by John Swinney
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erthshire web development company Inspire recently completed the website for its first international client StackEmCoaching.com - which is a US-based poker training website with a goal to help poker players improve their skills and make more money. Players who sign up pay a monthly $29.95 fee for access to the site’s training John Swinney MSP material. The whole thing started off on Twitter when one of Inspire’s directors noticed that a famous poker player, a regular at the annual World Series of Poker, was looking for a web team for a new project. They exchanged a couple of 140 character messages, set up a phone call and it all took off from there.
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Inspire’s bid was eventually selected in preference to other local companies in the Las Vegas area. The project was run remotely from Scotland - which presented some challenges, such as the 8 hour time difference - but in the end was very successful. Local MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, heard about the success story and said: “Web design company, Inspire located in Perth, is a working example of what can be achieved. “Inspire, using Twitter to identify the opportunity, competed in a web design tender for a US client, they successfully outperformed the US bidders and won the contract.” Perth-based Inspire was founded in 2008 by David Dwyer and Martin Smith. They offer a wide range of web-related services including web development, graphic design, search engine optimisation, social media management and email marketing.
MEMBERS’ NEWS
Call to Perthshire Businesses to apply for Innovation Vouchers
T
he Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has issued a new call for applications for its successful Innovation Voucher Scheme. Launched in 2009, the scheme was set up by the SFC to encourage SMEs to access the expertise, skills and research facilities within Scottish universities and research institutes. The scheme offers awards up to £5,000. Perthshire companies are being urged to consider tapping into the world class Donna Kudarenko of Interface expertise and funding opportunities available on their doorstep to help overcome the challenges they face in the current economic climate. The scheme is administered by Interface – The knowledge connection for business, a national programme offering a central
point of access for industry to Scotland’s universities and research institutes. Interface offers a free, face-to-face service to businesses wishing to engage with academia to address challenges such as increasing competitiveness, developing new products or exploiting new market opportunities. Donna Kudarenko of Interface commented: “Scotland’s Higher Education Institutes are home to a wealth of talent which often companies are unaware of. We have already developed a number of partnerships between businesses and academia within Perthshire and Tayside. However, we recognise that many more in the region could be benefiting from support in a variety of areas such as product development, green energy production, accessing testing facilities or market research. The scheme presents a fantastic opportunity for businesses looking to ‘test the water’ and trial working with an academic institute whilst getting such projects off the ground!” Contact Donna Kudarenko, Perthshire and Tayside representative info@interface-online.org.uk or visit www.interface-online.org.uk .
Kirklands Law and Orme Business & Property Law Merger Kirklands Law Limited, Perth, and Orme Business and Property Law, Falkirk, announced the merger of the two companies. This is the initial step in forming a Scotland wide network of offices offering legal and property services. Membership of the Kirklands Law Network brings the benefits of being part of a big firm – but individual offices still trade under their own name with control over their own operation. A key factor in the amalgamation has been that both companies have embraced Instant Office, a Cloud based Document/Information Management system, that can be accessed from anywhere, anytime. This allows file sharing and standardised procedures across all offices, meaning location is no longer an issue for companies who would like to join forces.
From left to right: Sylvie Foster, Trainee at Kirklands Law Limited, Graham Gibson Kirklands Law, Alan Orme, Orme Business and Property Law, Althea Kennedy, Solicitor Kirklands Law and Megan Rea, Trainee Kirklands Law Limited
The combined business will have a staff of 15 including 2 new trainee solicitors, 8 legal and property professionals, accounts & marketing team and IT support. Graham Gibson of Kirklands said: “This merger was made possible as both companies believe in delivering a personal, professional and friendly service in a cost effective way. We firmly believe that this amalgamation is in the best interests of our clients and will enable us to offer them a wider range of legal
expertise. Orme Business and Property Law’s clients will benefit through Kirklands’ knowledge of the Residential Conveyancing and Executry market. Kirklands’ clients’ will gain from Orme’s expertise in the Company and Commercial market including Leasing, Property Purchase and Business Mergers, Disposals & Acquisitions. We are also very excited to have taken on two trainee solicitors. Training and bringing on talented young solicitors is vital to the future of any business and the clients we serve.”
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Members’ News
Black & Lizars open flagship practice in Perth The new Black and Lizars practice in George Street, Perth
Black & Lizars, Scotland’s leading independent chain of Optometrists has opened its highly anticipated Flagship practice on George Street, Perth. Established in 1830, Black & Lizars has 22 practices across Scotland and Northern Ireland and has built its reputation on its commitment to clinical excellence, advanced technology and unrivalled customer service. In October last year, the company began its expansion plans in Perth, when Mr and Mrs Hine, owners of Hine Opticians and former Perthshire Business of the Year award winners, joined Black & Lizars. Nick and Kay Hine’s reputation in the area for patient care and service mirrored Black & Lizars’ philosophy of clinical care being at the forefront of everything. The modern and stylish new Black & Lizars practice is located on George Street, just a short distance from where
Hine Opticians was previously situated, with Nick and Kay continuing to work in the practice. Whilst eye care is of the upmost priority, Black & Lizars never comprises on style. Exclusive ranges from emerging fashion trends are carefully selected with an extensive selection of designer frames for men, women and children. The new practice stocks eyewear brands that will appeal to all ages and tastes from Gucci and Dior to Ray-Ban and Converse. Black & Lizars has also partnered up with Nikon optical in order to provide the highest optical quality in spectacle lenses. Mark Ross, Chief Executive, says of the new practice, “Black & Lizars stands apart from competitors through its long established heritage and an ethos which focuses on the highest standard of eye care from the very best optometrists. Our new flagship practice will deliver the latest advances in clinical technology and specialist services, including an advanced 3D OCT scanner.”
Scottish qualifications are changing
S
QA is developing new qualifications that will be available in schools and colleges from August 2013.
These new qualifications will help young people reach their full potential as they progress from their broad, general education through to college, university, other learning and ultimately, employment. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Scotland’s national accreditation and awarding body, develops qualifications which are open to everyone - from students in schools and colleges to trainees, apprentices, those currently out of work and people who are already employed. You may have heard about Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). CfE is the new approach to learning in schools and colleges which will develop young people’s skills for the twenty-first century.
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
The first learners to leave school or college with the new Access, National 4 and/or National 5 qualifications (which will replace current Standard Grades, Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2) will do so in August 2014. Learners leaving with the new Highers and Advanced Highers will do so in August 2015 and August 2016 respectively. CfE Liaison Manager for Perth and Kinross, Annette McKenna, has been working closely with schools and colleges in the region and is also available to meet with employers to give them an overview of the new qualifications and explain what the changes mean for local businesses. Get in touch with Annette at www.sqa.org.uk/cfeteam. For more information on SQA and the new national qualifications, visit www.sqa.org.uk/cfeforemployers.
CREDIBILITY: THE LITTLE THINGS COUNT If you follow the international news, you may have heard the name Giorgio Napolitano crop up recently. Mr. Napolitano is the President of Italy, and one of the country’s most esteemed and respected figures. What you may not know is that President Napolitano’s office entrusts the translation and editing work on some of his most sensitive speeches to a company based right here in Scotland: DNA Language.
Translations, editing and website health-checks
Is your website more cobweb than worldwide web ? Then treat your site to a spring-clean: a detailed report on how to make your site look better, function better and perform better for you and your business. We’re offering Perth Chamber members a special rate of just £80. Don’t miss this great opportunity for a spring-time check-up to sweep away those website cobwebs! Offer valid until 30 April 2012.
Clear communication to help your business grow DNA Language Ltd info@dnalanguage.com | +44-141-942 0919 | www.dnalanguage.com 32 Drymen Road, Glasgow G61 2RG, Scotland (UK)
Why do they like working with DNA Language? The words they use to describe us include “excellent”, “super-professional” and “scrupulous”. But we suspect it’s because we care about doing a good job and enhancing the President’s image. Which is the approach we adopt with all our customers. A word that recurs frequently in the speeches and articles we work on for President Napolitano (and for Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi) is “credibility”: the need for Italy to restore its reputation both internationally and at home. As any public relations company knows, credibility is all-important in managing your brand and in building and protecting your reputation. Whether you’re a country like Italy or a small business based right here in Scotland. So why do so many businesses undermine their credibility with sloppy writing that makes them look unprofessional and slipshod? Untrustworthy, even. In business, as in life, little things count. Customers notice typos, misplaced apostrophes and waffle. Your copy should work for, not against, your credibility. Don’t let the little things let your business down.
Marian Dougan Director, DNA Language Ltd
■ Business Advice from Business Lawyers ■ Commercial Property Advice from Commercial Property Lawyers ■ Employment Advice from Employment Lawyers
Visit our Web Site at www.millerhendry.co.uk Perth 10 Blackfriars Street PH1 5NS Tel: 01738 637311
Crieff 14 Comrie Street, PH7 4AZ Tel: 01764 655151
Dundee 13 Ward Road, DD1 1LU Tel: 01382 200000
We believe P&L also stands for People and Location.
Special Occasions Hospitality Corporate Events
Although Johnston Carmichael is the largest independent accountancy firm in Scotland we never forget that treating you as an individual at a local level is the reason that we are a successful business ourselves. Perhaps it is this philosophy that helped us win Firm of The Year at the Scottish Accountancy Awards in 2011, just as we did in 2010, 2009 and 2008. If you would like to talk to us about how we can help your business grow then please get in touch with Euan McLeod on 01738 634001.
Let’s talk about growing your business. www.jcca.co.uk
66 Tay Street, Perth, PH2 8RA Tel: 01738 634001.
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Meeting & Conference Rooms Two Course Blackboard Lunch - £8.95 also available Soup and Sandwich Deal - £4.95 New County Hotel, 22-30 County Place, Perth, PH2 8EE
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Current Offers Express Lunch 3 Courses for only £10 Dinner for Two - only £50 (quote ref. ‘Chamber”)
Tel: 01738-623355 Also available for private hire and corporate entertainment Opus One at the New County Hotel, 22-30 County Place, Perth, PH2 8EE email- bookings@opusone-restaurant.co.uk
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at the New County Hotel, 22-30 County Place, Perth, PH2 8EE email- enquiries@newcountyhotel.com
Tel: 01738-623355 www.newcountyhotel.com
tHE BiG iNtERviEw - joHN swiNNEy MsP
Perthshire MSP John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, talks business with journalist Maureen Young to address many of the issues concerning local companies Q. As MSP for the area, what specific challenges do you recognise as being unique to Perthshire businesses? A. Perthshire businesses are enduring a very tough economic climate, but what is of real interest is the creative way in which many companies are dealing with the situation and finding new ways to develop and promote their activities. Q. How best can we combat the challenges? A. I believe the business base in Perthshire can develop its response by continuing to innovate and to find new elements to strengthen their business. A focus on working together with other businesses will help to strengthen Perthshire business in general. Q. The number of new business start-ups in Perthshire is falling – how can we encourage and protect our new businesses? A. The Scottish Government is committed to maintaining and further investing in a supportive business environment and we’ve set out how we plan to do this through our Economic Strategy. This stresses the importance of providing advice and support to help SMEs grow, to hire staff and take on apprentices; and the continuation of the Small Business Bonus Scheme. We also work closely with a wide range of partners, including: our enterprise agencies and Perth and Kinross Council to promote job creation in the area. Taking the first step to launching your own business can be a daunting prospect and people wishing to start their own business should contact Business Gateway - through its website, by phone or by visiting their local outlet. The reach of Business Gateway is being extended with £6.6 million of funding from the European Regional Development Fund. Over £750,000 of that funding is being used by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce’s ‘Business Mentoring’ project to match experienced business professionals with up and coming entrepreneurs, helping them develop their business skills. This could help create around 4,000 jobs across Scotland, including in Perth and Kinross. Q. Do you think businesses will be put off investing in Scotland over the next two years while uncertainty prevails over whether or not it becomes an independent nation? A. I think that Scotland has so much to offer as a business location and that our attractions, such as a skilled workforce and world-class education system speak for themselves. We have so much to offer inward investors, in the last year reported (2010) we attracted over 19% of Research and Development inward investment projects, more than any other part of the UK. We will continue to aggressively market the competitiveness of Scotland from the quality and skills of our people to the research excellence of our universities. Scotland continues to attract major growth companies including Amazon, Mitsubishi, Michelin, Gamesa and Avaloq.
Q. Your recent budget earmarked considerable investment to improve broadband connectivity. Where will rural Perthshire be in the race for super-fast connections? A. BT has already announced commercial plans for delivery of next generation broadband to Perth –but there will be rural parts of Perthshire which will be uneconomic for the market to deliver alone. That’s why we have committed to deliver a step change in broadband speeds by 2015, paving the way for delivery of worldclass, future proofed infrastructure across all of Scotland by 2020 – as set out in Scotland’s Digital Future – Infrastructure Action Plan, published on 31 January. Perth & Kinross Council has already undertaken in the development of a local broadband strategy. In order to build upon this work – at the same time, driving pace and value for money at a national level – We will be engaging with COSLA and all local authorities to develop our procurement strategy and explore the most effective means of delivery. Q. The budget also places a strong emphasis on capital expenditure but how can local companies hope to profit if major contracts (such as the Forth crossing) continue to be awarded to foreign competitors? A.Three-quarters of firms which win contracts advertised on Public Contracts Scotland have registered with an address in Scotland. In fact we set up the website to make it easy for Small and Medium sized companies in Scotland to find and bid for work. We’re working to improve that further and this includes trying to simplify the bidding process where possible. Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure Alex Neil also recently announced a review of construction procurement and confirmed that a Sustainable Procurement Bill Parliament will be brought before Parliament to make sure that major public contracts also deliver training and employment opportunities. With regards to the Forth Replacement Crossing steel contracts – steel represents just 5-10% of the value of the principal contract for the crossing, and of that, less than half is for steel plating, which is still made in Scotland. I’m delighted that 118 out of 155 sub-contracts associated with the crossing have been awarded to companies registered on Public Contracts Scotland with a Scottish address.
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
HEADER The big interview BAR - john swinney msp
EU procurement rules don’t allow us to favour Scottish companies, but the European Commission is currently revising these rules, and we have asked it to change them to allow us to take local economic impact into consideration when awarding contracts. Unfortunately, the government in London has chosen not to support us on this point. Links: Public Contracts Scotland: www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/ Supplier Journey: www.scotland.gov.uk/supplierjourney Q. Safe, fast and modern road and rail links are vital to any struggling economy. Why can’t the A9 improvements happen faster and how can we press the case for the need for high-speed rail connections to come north of the border – as far north as possible? A. We have set out an ambitious future investment plan worth £60 billion including dualling the A9 Perth to Inverness by 2025. It’s no easy task as A9 dualling involves 80 miles of carriageway to upgrade. That is 16 times the length of the M74 completion and eight times the length of the M80 between Stepps and Haggs. We need to take account of local views and concerns in preparing for this major project. I can assure the Chamber that the Government is moving as fast as we can on the A9. Our task is made ever more challenging by the cuts in capital spending by the UK Government. I know that rail connectivity is vitally important for Perthshire. That is why we have recently introduced a number of additional rail services through Perth. But we also have to look at wider connections and The Chambers of Commerce has been instrumental in helping us make our case for high speed rail to stretch to Scotland though the ‘Fast Track Scotland’ report. It concluded that the case for high speed rail in the UK is strong, but is stronger when Scotland is included and we are taking this case to the UK Government. The costs associated with developing high speed rail mean that it may not progress further than the central belt; that remains to be seen. But we must see its development as positive for the whole of Scotland:
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Q. Recent figures show that Perth attracts less than a tenth of its potential retail customers in its catchment area. How can we inject new and profitable life into our town centres? A. Scotland’s town centres make a massive contribution to our economy. That’s why we invested in the Town Centre Regeneration Fund that breathed new life into our town centres and local high streets, and we have delivered the Small Business Bonus Scheme, which has removed the business rates burden for over 85,000 business properties across Scotland and maintained Scotland as the most competitive place to do business in the UK. And it is our intention to reform empty property relief from April 2013, which will support regeneration by introducing incentives to reduce empty shops in town centres. As part of the implementation of our regeneration strategy, Achieving a Sustainable Future, this year we will undertake a national review of town centres in partnership with local authorities, communities and other key stakeholders. This will be a practical review to scope out potential solutions to the issues faced by Scotland’s town centres and to enable a measured, long-term approach to town centre regeneration by targeting these issues. Q. What good can come of charging extra rates on empty business properties? A. The reform of empty property relief from 1 April 2013 will introduce incentives to reduce the number of empty shops in town centres and support urban regeneration and is very much linked to the point above. The Scottish Government spends between £150 and £160 million per year on tax breaks for owners of vacant commercial properties and this is substantially more than we spend on the Small Business Bonus Scheme and business rates discounts for rural communities combined. We are retaining a competitive advantage for Scotland as empty property relief here will remain significantly more generous than the empty property relief available in England.
In addition, there is a range of non-tax policy measures which can be used to ultimately boost economic growth in Scotland. Independence would allow future developments in competition and consumer policy, for example, to be based on Scottish political, social and economic interests rather than those of the UK. The same would apply to International Trade, Energy Markets and Regulation.
Q. A large percentage of Perthshire’s economy involves low paid jobs. How can we create high value employment in these difficult times? A. The Government Economic Strategy sets out the Scottish Government’s actions to support employment and business growth. The strategy has a focus on growth companies, growth markets, and growth sectors. As part of this strategy, we are using the Scottish Investment Bank to support high-growth innovative businesses – in the financial year 2010/11; the bank invested £23.2 million into 109 different companies, leveraging £53.7 million of private sector investment. We are also strengthening levels of innovation and commercialisation throughout the country, and by improving the links between our universities and growth companies we are helping to create jobs for our graduates and skilled workers. Our enterprise agencies have a key role in supporting high value employment, and during April to December 2011 Scottish Enterprise supported 28 companies in innovation activities in the Perth and Kinross area. In addition, five companies were awarded Research and Development and innovation support grants. For example, the Perth based specialist glass engineering company Spectraglass received a Regional Selective Assistance award of £110,000, the first phase was used to invest in business critical manufacturing machinery and support systems; the second will be used to increase and improve the factory layout through a 10,000 sq ft extension. Q. Clearly there are different views on the pros and cons of any constitutional change. From a business perspective, what would be different and what would remain the same? A. Changes to constitutional powers would not result in any lessening of the Scottish Government’s commitment to increasing sustainable economic growth, nor to the commitment to make Scotland the most attractive place in Europe to do business. But, Independence would allow us to ensure that expenditure and tax policy worked together in harmony, giving greater freedom to tailor economic policies to meet the specific needs of the Scottish economy. For example, the corporation tax regime could be tailored to meet the specific economic challenges facing the Scottish economy. Greater tax allowances for research and development could help strengthen the research base in Scotland and be used to encourage pioneering technologies which can support new industries such as renewables. We regularly hear feedback on the importance of improving air-links from Scotland to promote growth. With Air Passenger Duty we could better support Scotland’s international ambitions by developing our connections to key markets by setting an appropriate Air Passenger Duty scheme for Scotland. We could establish a tax regime for the North Sea which not only promotes long-term investment in the sector but also promotes the long-term fiscal sustainability of the Scottish economy.
Q. How can we encourage Perthshire businesses to look abroad for new markets? A. Businesses who want to know about exporting should get in contact with the trade and investment arm of the Scottish Government, Scottish Development International (SDI). Evidence suggests that companies overestimate the risk and under-estimate the benefits of exporting. We need to encourage more companies to consider exporting. That is why SDI, with partners, launched the Smart Exporter initiative two years ago - this is aimed at SMEs and looks particularly at raising awareness and giving companies the skills to go international. Q. Where should the emphasis be on education and training to reinvigorate Perthshire business in the future? A. The Government Economic Strategy makes clear that the objective for the government is to provide the overarching economic framework – such as a competitive business environment, an integrated and resource efficient economy and a skilled and adaptable workforce – which is conducive to sustained economic growth in all parts of Scotland. Education and training is a clear component of this. That is why we have prioritised funding for training – particularly apprenticeships – and further and higher education. Skills Development Scotland already works locally to align employability programmes such as Get Ready for Work and Training for Work to local labour markets through their local Service Delivery Agreements. Through our reform of post-16 education, the Funding Council is developing a similar approach at a regional level. As these mechanisms develop further, I would expect local businesses to take a more prominent role in these discussions along side local government. If we’re successful in this, every local area will be better placed to develop the skills they need to support economic opportunities that emerge. Q. Finally, what crumbs of comfort can you give a Perthshire business contemplating calling it a day? A. We continue to face acute challenges to public spending in Scotland. These challenges are brought into sharp focus by the continuing uncertainty in the global economic outlook. The escalation of the euro crisis last summer has contributed to recovery stalling across many European economies. The Scottish Government is working hard to retain Scotland’s position as the most supportive and competitive environment for business in the UK. We are using every lever currently available to us to secure new investment and create and safeguard jobs. In Perthshire alone 60% of business premises currently pay zero or reduced business rates as part of the most generous business rates relief scheme in the United Kingdom. This includes almost 3,800 properties that benefit from the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS). I have also committed to maintain the Small Business Bonus until 2015-16, to provide security to small businesses going forward and next year (2012-13) eligible businesses can save up to £4,500. (Photographs courtesy of Graeme Hart, Perthshire Picture Agency)
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Galloway Tanks offers unique tank driving experiences, situated in the rolling farmland of Galloway, South West Scotland. 18 Tons of steel, 240Hp, are you up to the challenge? We have an interesting mix of British and American military vehicles: • • • • • •
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An Alvis Stalwart 6X6 Amphibious truck A 434 Tracked REME Vehicle An Abbot Self Propelled Gun A 432 armoured personnel carrier An SAS Land Rover and a Reo 6X6 truck. A ATV Supercat vehicle
We can cater for parties or individuals (Selected days only) An Ideal Christmas or Birthday present - vouchers available. Corporate and fun days organised.
of w fe i rs n av te ai r la bl e The Crowning Place of Scottish Kings Scone is a place that breathes history like nowhere else in Scotland. Once the seat of medieval parliaments and the crowning place of Scottish Kings, today it is the home to the Earls of Mansfield, and a major attraction to visitors from all over the world. Poised above the River Tay, the Palace overlooks the routes north to the Highlands and across the river to the city of Perth. Set in 100 acres of magnificent grounds and gardens featuring David Douglas’ original fir and the unique Murray Star Maze. Combining unique heritage and a stunning location, Scone Palace is the perfect venue for corporate entertaining, product launches, receptions, weddings, family celebrations, concerts and events. Our dedicated team of professionals will ensure your event is a glittering success from start to finish.
t: 01738 552300 e: visits@scone-palace.co.uk w: www.scone-palace.co.uk
Business HEADER Support BAR
Delegation or Abdication?
W
C L A R K THOMSON
INSURANCE BROKERS LTD CHARTERED INSURANCE BROKERS 24 Whitefriars Street, Perth PH1 1PP
Tel: 01738 639777 Fax: 01738 638066
Find out more on our website
hen I deliver Rowan Consultancy’s “Moving into Management” course, delegation is the topic which sparks the most interest – and action! Why delegate? Most people say, “to save me time”; a few add “to develop my staff ”; occasionally someone mentions “to develop the business”. I used to deliver all Rowan’s training, this limited our growth. I learnt to recruit, develop and delegate to other trainers, whilst still maintaining Rowan’s trademark experiential approach and quality. Not only could the business do more training, but I was also freed up to explore other markets. “But it takes so long to explain to someone how to do it” the Reluctant Delegator cries. It’s true that delegation requires short-term effort for longterm gain, but good leaders act for the long-term. “They won’t do it as well as me” he adds. Maybe so – but what’s the alternative? Ask yourself, “How much does it matter, if its not done as well ?” It’s sobering to realise how often the answer is “Not much”. And anyway how will they learn to do it better, if you don’t let them practice? Remember delegation does not mean abdication of your responsibility. Here are 3 top tips on how to delegate: 1. Set clear objectives 2. Set clear parameters e.g. don’t miss the deadline 3. Set a monitoring schedule If you are a perfectionist or a micro-manager, then delegation will be a real challenge for you. Tips will help, but real change is more likely to come from management training or coaching sessions. Provided by Rachel Weiss, Coach and Trainer at Rowan Consultancy, an ILM training provider, Perth, Email: rachel. weiss@rowan-consultancy.co.uk, Tel: 01738 562005, Web: www.rowan-consultancy.co.uk
www.clarkthomson.co.uk Management Liability Insurance – Are you exposed? Discounted rates for chamber members please contact gchristie@clarkthomson.co.uk Clark Thomson Insurance Brokers Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA)
Provided by Rachel Weiss, Rowan Consultancy, Perth
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
NEW EMPLOYMENT ADVICE CENTRE SUCCESSFULLY SUPPORTING PEOPLE INTO WORK
P
erth & Kinross Council and its partners in the local Employment Connections Partnership opened The Hub employment advice centre in Perth in mid-November 2011. Since then it has made a real impact in helping support local unemployed individuals back into employment. With a background of rising unemployment nationally and within Perth & Kinross this is a challenging task. The shop front unit is based in the St John’s Shopping Centre, close to the South Street entrance. It is staffed by the partnership including the Jobcentre, Claverhouse Training, Skills Development Scotland and the YMCA. Its focus is on enabling “Job Ready” job-hunters boost their employability skills to enable them to gain sustainable work. They offer one-to-one support with CV building, letter writing, completing application forms, telephone techniques and mock interviews. Anyone using the centre also has access to newspapers and computers for job searches, and other free resources to help them apply for vacancies. Individuals wanting support are welcome to drop in anytime between 9.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday. On the first visit, experienced staff help clients to complete a job readiness assessment and registration process. This will highlight any barriers to employment individuals may face, and will highlight their employment aspirations. Although there is vast array of expertise available within the Hub, some visitors have circumstances that require more specialist support, and these individuals are signposted to the relevant partner organisation to help them get to a job-ready stage. This could be specialist support, training, volunteering or educational opportunities. Since opening, The Hub has had over 1200 visitors seeking information and support, of those 268 clients have registered for intensive job search support. To date we have supported 50 individuals into employment. Future activities include the provision of Confidence Workshops for some of the current Job Seekers throughout April. In supporting job seekers into employment one of the Hub’s key roles is to work with local employers who are seeking new recruits. The Hub is currently working with a number of employers to provide a tailored service to help them with their recruitment needs, matching job vacancies to suitable job ready clients registered with us at The Hub. We also use this intervention to inform employers of the current programmes and Employer incentives open to them and their current and future workforce, for example Skills Development Scotland and Job Centre Employer Incentives, Modern Apprenticeships, the Council’s Enhancing Opportunities Grant, Work Trials, etc.
Lynn Webster with Jamie Yates who got the 1st job outcome and started on 29/11/11
We are currently working with a range of local employers including Scottish & Southern Energy, I & R Paton Group, and Glendoick Garden Centre. If local employers have any vacancies, or are interested in exploring what recruitment support may be available to them they should contact The Hub on 01738 636897.
Hub The
Lesley Mackenzie was made redundant before Christmas and received regular support from the staff at the Hub since registering with them in early January. Lesley received support on a weekly basis and was given advice on CV writing, job searching techniques and on creating and delivering power point presentations. Within 5 weeks she secured an interview and was successful in achieving full time employment in a Field Sales environment with a well-known established company in Dundee. She said….. “I couldn’t speak highly enough of the team here at The Hub particularly Lynn Webster, the Manager and Julie Beckett. Aside from the general guidance, they spent a huge amount of time on my interview techniques, assisting with my presentation and general mentoring. There is no doubt they assisted hugely in helping me find not just a job but a great job, friendly, approachable, knowledgeable and patient. I can’t thank them enough, sincere thanks to the team”. Another satisfied client is Keith Crook who says of his support received today from the staff and services at The Hub…..
“I wanted to offer the following testimonial in support of all the work that The Hub team does. The Hub provides a focal point for many services and facilities which would otherwise have been largely un-known to me. The partnership between the service providers is an invaluable resource for those of us finding ourselves unemployed. Lynn and the team all have a dynamic approach to assisting clients and each bring their own individual areas of expertise. The synergy of these collective resources (both in terms of targeting individuals towards vocational opportunities that are practical and achievable) and also in appropriating the correct preparation material, keeps clients in-touch with the current market and ensures our maximum potential employability. I am very grateful for the varied sources of help that I have received so far, and have experienced an upturn in my prospects due to their efforts. I have been assisted in all facets of seeking employment, including: CV presentation, training opportunities and funding, job searching techniques, the promise of continued support and development while searching and critically a continually positive disposition and approach to helping me in achieving my goal of returning to work.”
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Providing temporary, contract and permanent placements we offer a professional and value for money recruitment service with no nonsense T & C’s making it easy and affordable for everyone.
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Award winning customer service: Financial Times and Investors Chronicle Stockbroker of the Year 2011
T
imes are hard. It’s all too easy to look for someone to blame. The banks, government, maybe even the oil companies.
This is a pointless exercise and is unlikely to make things better. What can Scotland’s 300,000 SME businesses do to prosper through difficult times? What about finding the one thing that gives you a competitive edge over others?
Established in 1875 Investments and income paid on them can fall in value. Redmayne-Bentley LLP is a limited liability partnership. Registered in England and Wales. Registered No: OC344361 Registered office: 9 Bond Court, Leeds, LS1 2JZ. Members of the London Stock Exchange. Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
For some, the competitive advantage will be innovation or speed or people who listen or perhaps even industry expertise. For us, and for many of our clients, it is service. How can we define what service means to our customers and how can we measure if we are performing well? What customers expect is that you tell them what you will do for them and you deliver exactly that, time after time after time...Simples. Key questions are these: What should customers see and receive from you? How will you communicate with them? How will you behave toward them? How will you deal with problems should they arise? As service providers we should all take service really seriously. It pays to do so. We publish a manifesto of service excellence to each and every client and then we strive to deliver it.
The
Kenmore Hotel…
the perfect corporate venue
Day delegate & 24 hour delegate rates available. Whether you are looking to host a large conference or a small business meeting, we offer the ideal setting to get the best from your team. Award winning cuisine, cosy log fires, wide selection of fine malts, large wine cellar, comfortable ensuite bedrooms. Friendly atmosphere, true highland hospitality and a warm welcome awaits you at Scotland’s Oldest Inn.
Kenmore Hotel, The Square, Kenmore, Perthshire PH15 2NU Tel: 01887 830 205 • Fax: 01887 830 262 • www.kenmorehotel.com
The outcome? Happy customers, excellent feedback on service surveys and an award sponsored by ASDA, holders of Investors in People- Gold. Good service is definitely key for us. Provided by: Robin Duncan, First Independent Finance, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Email: robin@f-i-f.co.uk Tel: 01250 875959 Web: www.firstindependentfinance.co.uk
Provided by Robin Duncan, First Independent Finance, Blairgowrie
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
FEAtuRE - LocAL DEvELoPMENt PLAN
P
erthshire business people are reminded that the “period of representation” for the Perth and Kinross Council’s proposed plan for their Local Development Plan ends at 4pm on Tuesday, April 10.
iNtEREstiNG stAtistics ABout PERtH AND KiNRoss
This plan is the blueprint to shape all future development and land use throughout the area, offering a visionary guide to developers, investors, planners and the public until 2024.
4.1% of Scotland’s tourist expenditure is spent here.
One of the Plan’s priorities has been – in conjunction with landowners and developers – to identify new land for employment purposes. This ranges from the expansion of key industrial estates and high-end business parks to small units for business opportunities within rural communities. The Plan also recognises the continued growth in the tourism sector – one of the area’s major economies – “zoning” for development and expansion where forecast. Another priority is to ensure that Perth City Centre acts as a driver of economic growth designed to benefit rural communities as well. Housing, environment and infrastructure all play crucial roles in the fabric of the Plan and businesses are invited to make representations about any and all aspects of the document. A new loop road linking Scone and the Western Edge, a protected Green Belt around the city and major housing developments all invite comment. The vast majority of the 6,000 or so businesses in Perth and Kinross employ less than five people and the plan also reflects the fact that many are home-based or operating microbusinesses in rural and remote locations. It’s important that businesses read Perth and Kinross Council’s view in terms of how land will be developed and growth managed and considered until 2024 – no matter which part of the district they operate in. Is their vision for sustainable economic growth the same as yours? Have they got the balance right in terms of location and quantity of employment land? Is the mix right between industrial, commercial and residential growth and are the policies in place adequate? The plan can be viewed and representations made online at www.pkc.gov.uk/ProposedLDP
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
The county covers 10% of Scotland’s land area. It is home to 3% of Scotland’s population and 4% of the country’s enterprises. It houses 17% of Scotland’s installed renewables capacity. It accounts for 2.7% of Scotland’s jobs and 4.2% of Scotland’s workers. It accounts for 5% of Scotland’s exports. Only 2% of the county is built on – 14% is woodland, 19% is arable. 17% of the population is of school age, 23% is of pensionable age and 60% is of working age. 68% of the population own their own home – 11% live in private rentals. 26% of the population have a degree level qualification, 14% have an SCQF4 or below, 5% have a trade apprenticeship and 13% have no qualifications. The area has a lower proportion of workless households than the Scottish average and has fewer residents on Incapacity Benefit. 81% of the population work within Perth and Kinross - 4% work in transport, 14% in finance, 24% in the public sector, 13% in tourism, 6% in manufacturing, 7% in construction, 29% in hotels and catering. Average weekly pay for full time workers has fallen to £368 in 2011from £380 in 2008 while the Scottish average rose to £393 in 2011 from £375 in 2008. Overall job losses in the period 2008-2010 were: Perth & Kinross 1,976jobs lost (3.2% of 2008 stock) Scotland 52,738 jobs lost (5.9% of 2008 stock). With an unemployment rate of 2.4%, the area remains below the Scottish average rate of 4.1%. >1% of Scotland’s most deprived ‘data zones’ are in Perth & Kinross. There has been a 32% decrease in the number of new business starts across the region compared to an average decrease across Scotland of 38%. Perth’s catchment area contains a potential retail market of 1.98 million. Perth attracts a regular shopping population (current market size) from its catchment area of about 116,200, which ranks 133rd nationally (out of more than 2,200 trading locations) and 11th in Scotland (out of 248 trading locations). 70% of Perth’s regular non-food shopping population (82,300 residents) is attracted from its core catchment area, with a further 20% (21,600) from secondary and the remaining 10% (12,300) from tertiary (‘pull-in’) catchment areas. Perth attracts a regular shopping population of 103,900 from the core/secondary catchment combined (corresponding to 90% of its total market size). (Statistics courtesy of Perth and Kinross Council through their recent Regeneration Workshop)
City Status Restored to Perth
Photographs by Graeme Hart, Perthshire Picture Agency
P
erth is truly a Fair City again. The City has received official recognition as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, restoring a status lost during local government re-organisation in 1975. Perth becomes Scotland’s seventh City and business leaders are already optimistic about the economic benefits which will follow. Perthshire Chamber of Commerce past-president Mike Beale has acted as Chamber liaison throughout the hard-fought campaign. He voiced his delight at the outcome. “The quest for the reestablishment of city status has been won by Perth after a long campaign supported by the business community in the city and beyond,” he said. “Joining the group of existing cities in Scotland not only brings a feel good factor, a boost to local moral and an endorsement of Perth as the place to do business in Scotland, but also brings access to funds, the influence of the Minister of Cities Nicola Sturgeon and the collective marketing strength of the Scottish Government Seven City Alliance. “This body grants funding for inner city project developments and so brings the possibility of funding into tough times for all economies,” added Mike. “The funding will enable the Council and businesses to underpin Perth as a shopping destination, a destination for excellent food and a home that welcomes the development of large and small business alike.” The Chamber was just one of many public and private bodies which threw their weight behind the campaign - spearheaded by Perth and Kinross Provost Dr John Hulbert - to vie with 25 other towns across the UK for the Jubilee accolade. A delighted Provost said he felt sure everyone shared his excitement at the prospect of a glorious new chapter in Perth’s long history. “The City and Royal Burgh of Perth was the capital of Scotland from the 9th century until 1437, and then officially the Second City of Scotland until 1975,” he said. “Even although City Status was summarily removed when local government was reorganised, Perth has continued to be known as the ‘Fair City’. Full restoration of its ancient dignity is long overdue. “This decision reflects the fact that Perth is at the forefront of Scottish life: a modern, dynamic, international city, offering
unrivalled business, artistic, educational, cultural and sporting opportunities to its citizens and visitors. It is located at the hub of Scotland’s transport network, at the gateway to the Highlands, and in the midst of remarkable scenery,” added Provost Hulbert. In business terms, Provost Hulbert pointed out that Perth is the home of home-grown multi-national firms such as Scottish & Southern Electricity and Stagecoach, and is an important centre for AVIVA and Famous Grouse. “We will now seek to build on our city status success for the benefit of our people and our communities with the title of ‘City’ restored,” he added. Council leader Councillor Ian Miller said achieving City status would have significant and lasting benefits for the economy across the whole of Perth and Kinross. “City status will give us greater opportunity to promote Perth and Perthshire to a wider international audience through joint marketing with Scotland’s other six cities. It will lead to increased interest in Perth as a place to do business and in which to invest and will be a catalyst for more private sector investment in our business infrastructure. “Membership of what will now be the Scottish Government’s ‘Seven’ Cities Alliance will grant access to seed-corn funding for inter-city region project development,” he added, “and we can expect a greater number of major events to be attracted to the City of Perth. “The granting of City status is a mark of confidence in the future of Perth and puts us firmly back on the map.”
CHAMPAGNE DAYS - Provost Dr John Hulbert and Lord Lieutenant Mel Jameson lead the celebrations after the announcement that Perth had succeeded in winning back City status as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
HEADER FEAtuRE sPEciAL BAR
Gannochy Estate
AK Bell
Gannochy Trust’s 75th Anniversary
M
uch of the fabric and funding of many key projects across Perthshire have come courtesy of the legacy left by one of Perth’s greatest sons – Arthur Kinmond Bell. Journalist Maureen Young highlights the local celebrations planned for the landmark 75th anniversary of his Trust.
He was Perth’s ultimate 19th and 20th century businessman – head of a powerful distilling company and a visionary philanthropist. For Arthur Kinmond Bell cared as much about the health and well-being of his workers as he did about business turnover and profit. And the whisky baron would go on to be immortalised by a Trust set up to continue his philanthropy long after he was gone. This summer the life and legacy of AK Bell will be celebrated as the charitable trust he founded - The Gannochy Trust - marks its 75th anniversary with a programme of events for all. From this month (March), much of the city will be ablaze with banners, flowerbeds and flags all boasting the story, logo and glorious green and purple countryside colours of the Trust – bringing the work of what has been a fairly enigmatic organisation centre-front in the public eye. And throughout the summer, music, art and sport will all feature as Perthshire celebrates. The Gannochy Trust was formed in 1937 following the completion of Perth whisky distiller AK Bell’s visionary “model village” housing estate on the Scone edge of the city. The Trust embodied his vision of distributing some of his industrial wealth to “aid, inspire and improve” both communities and people in and around Perth. Since the late 1960s, the Gannochy Trust has widened its remit to the whole of Scotland. It has committed £24 million to charities nationwide during the last five years and funded causes across the country to the sum of £90 million in the last 30 years. Nowhere has the benefit of the Trust’s work been more keenly felt than in AK Bell’s native Perth where many of the city’s major
public buildings in large measure owe their existence to his legacy including the AK Bell Library, Perth Concert Hall and Bells Sports Centre. He also provided substantial funding which led eventually to the current sewage works for Perth and surrounding villages and the Trust funded the development at Upper Springland in the 1970s. Elsewhere in Scotland, the Gannochy Trust name features widely in national projects: National Museum of Scotland; Glasgow’s new Transport Museum; Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery; Scottish National Portrait Gallery; Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre; Eden Court Theatre in Inverness; support for many seats of learning across Scotland, and there are many other smaller charities that have received vital, lifeline funding from the Trust. Gannochy Trust Chairman Mark Webster explains: “AK Bell gave so much to the people of Perth and to the people of Scotland and in this landmark anniversary programme of events and celebration we hope to appeal to both those who today still benefit from his generosity and those who share his great interests in life such as cricket and music as well as his passion for Perth itself and the local countryside. It will be a celebration that everyone can enjoy.” An astute businessman and accomplished sportsman, AK Bell was granted the Freedom of Perth in 1938 in recognition of “the many benevolent and public services rendered by him to his Native City, more particularly in the maintenance and development of industry of the City, the provision of housing accommodation and of facilities for the recreation of the Citizens and in testimony of the high respect and esteem in which he is held by the Magistrates, Council and Citizens”. AK Bell died unexpectedly in 1942, aged 73.
Gannochy Trust chief executive Gavin Davey (left) and chairman Mark Webster
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Perth Concert Hall
The celebrations to mark The Gannochy Trust’s 75th anniversary will centre on a series of events around the day the Trust was formed - 21st June. Outlining the year’s programme, Gannochy Trust Chief Executive Gavin Davey comments: “The Gannochy Trust today is something AK would be proud of. His aims and ambitions to provide support to specific sectors of Scottish society are still being met in his name 75 years on.” The exciting and inclusive programme will help mark the vision and philanthropy of the Founder and the support provided by the Trust to numerous charitable organisations both locally and throughout Scotland during the intervening years. They include: Banners, flags and floral art: In co-operation with Perth & Kinross Council, there will be a city centre display of banners along Tay Street and around Perth Concert Hall, and a series of flags along the North Inch. The exciting exhibition has been designed by young photographer Jessica McDermott. The flower beds at the North Inch and A K Bell Library will show the Trust logo and have been specially designed and constructed by the Council’s Westbank Youth Project. The exhibition will show the history and work of the Trust and its close connection with the community of Perth and Kinross. Anniversary Concert: The main Anniversary week will begin with a side-by-side Anniversary Concert on Saturday 16th June bringing together the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Perth Youth Orchestra (who celebrate their own 50th Anniversary in 2012) in the Perth Concert Hall, and featuring young ‘rising star’ soloists, including Alasdair Beatson and Rowan Hellier from Perthshire. The Concert has an exciting musical programme and will welcome James Naughtie back to Perth to act as the compere for the evening. The Concert will be accompanied by an Out-andAbout project featuring the two orchestras taking elements of the concert to those not able to come to the event in Perth due to their infirmity, disability or remote locality. Doors Open Day: An expanded Doors Open Day event in September 2012 will bring together residents and friends from AK Bell’s first community project – the Gannochy Housing Estate. Anniversary Booklet: The Trust will publish a booklet depicting its 75 year history by local author Jeremy Duncan. Youth and Community: The outcomes of two inspirational partnership projects for young people and communities – ‘Living Communities’ and the ‘Youth Philanthropy Initiative’ – will run throughout the year and continue the Trust’s priority on inspiring Young People. A Legacy for the Future: The Trust will also announce another significant legacy project in 2012.
AK Bell Library
Cricket Festival: There will be an imaginative 6-day cricket festival at Doo’cot Park to celebrate A K Bell’s great interest in cricket and his friendship with the world’s greatest cricketer – Australian Sir Donald Bradman. The Festival will be supported by Cricket Scotland and will feature all aspects of cricket: • • • •
• •
The newly-formed Perth Doo’cot Cricket Club will play the Scottish President’s XI on Sunday 17th June. Perth & Kinross Girls will play against Scotland on Monday 18th June. The national primary schools Kwik Cricket finals will be held on Tuesday 19th June The Scottish secondary schools finals will take place on Wednesday 20th June, when Alec Stewart (exEngland international) is expected to attend to provide coaching and present prizes, as part of the Clydesdale Bank Sports Ambassadors Programme. A Scotland Select XI will play an International XI on Thursday 21st June. On Friday 22nd June an Australian youth touring team will play against a Scottish youth representative team for the A K Bell/Sir Donald Bradman Quaich; at the same time the Trust is delighted to host a disabled cricket event at Doo’cot Park for the first time.
This will be one of the most extensive cricket festivals ever held in Scotland and will have an emphasis on young cricketers and inclusion.
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
business support
Scotland’s Modern Apprentices value their training
O
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ver 90 per cent of Modern Apprentices in Scotland value the quality of their training according to a new national survey. The survey also reveals the MA programme is highly regarded by almost all of its participants. Ninety-eight per cent describe their experiences positively while four out of five praise the support they get. Employers provide apprenticeship opportunities that combine employment with training in over 80 different occupational fields and the Scottish Government is committed to funding 25,000 new apprenticeships every year during its term of office. According to Peter Hughes, Chief Executive of Scottish Engineering, Modern Apprenticeships are equally valuable for employers. “I see evidence of these results every day - apprentices invariably bring a positive attitude to the workplace. By training people ‘onthe-job’, employers are building a skilled, loyal workforce which bodes well for the future of our sector.” Responding to the survey, Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance said: “Given our ongoing commitment to Modern Apprenticeships, I’m heartened to see that so many rate both their treatment and their support. “This is testament to both the willing employers that take them on and to Skills Development Scotland for their hard work in creating opportunities for young people. I look forward to seeing thousands of them use the skills they have gained as apprentices throughout long and successful careers.” The programme is demand-led so apprentices must have a job to be part of the programme, but businesses can currently get up to £2000 if they recruit a 16-19 year old into an apprenticeship. Steve Murphy, Vice President in the UK at technology company HP, said: “This survey supports the fantastic value that Modern Apprenticeships offer people in Scotland. HP is a strong supporter of the programme. This survey shows that by taking on an apprentice, employers are offering great opportunities for people to progress up the career ladder and to get skills and qualifications recognised across the industry.” In Scotland, apprentices are required to achieve workplace competency and accredited qualifications set out in an occupational framework designed by Sector Skills Councils in consultation with industry. The report, carried out by Skills Development Scotland’s Labour Market Information team, resonates with the view of aeronautical engineer Jamie Gray (22), who was recently named Scotland’s top apprentice. Employed by Ayrshire-based Spirit AeroSystems, Jamie said: “A few years ago I was just a quiet boy from a quiet village but I was pushed to go for my dream. I got my apprenticeship and my dreams have been realised.” Jamie was also named his own company’s Apprentice of the Year after creating an engineering procedure for cutting and polishing carbon fibre test panels which has now become the standard procedure for the business. Any employer interested in the Modern Apprenticeship programme should call SDS’s employer helpline on 0800 783 6000.
THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
www.perthshireps.co.uk Perthshire Property Services offers Property Lettings and Management. We have Property to let all over Perthshire. Landlord & Property Management Services •Letting & management service •100% DEDICATED TO LETTINGS •Full property management •Let only packages available •Quality tradesmen used •Fixed landlord fees Advertise your property from only £25+VAT! Tenants Accompanied viewings, friendly staff. Low credit checking costs. First Floor 48 Scott Street Perth PH1 5EH Telephone - 01738 561409 Email - info@perthshireps.co.uk
We are a small family run delicatessen and cafe, Daughter (Julie) and Mother (Lin). Been trading for four and a half years, serving home cooked food, including full breakfast, tasty soups and made to order sandwiches and panini. All baking is home made including scones, carrot cake and thick caramel slice. Deli and grocery products are mainly sourced from Scottish producers and suppliers, along with a selection of ingredients for around the world.
10 Ancaster Square, Callander, FK17 8ED Tel: 01877 331220 email: deli.ecosse@yahoo.co.uk www.deliecosse.co.uk
Normal opening hours Oct - Easter 8.30am til 5pm Thursday to Tuesday, Closed on Wednesday. Easter to Oct 8am til 5.30pm. If you are planning a day in the great outdoors, pop into the deli to fuel up before venturing out or enjoy a well earned coffee and cake afterwards. In January we had a wood burning stove installed which is proving a big draw for shoppers and walkers alike.
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At Tayside Self Storage we make storage simple! We offer secure and flexible solutions for all business, domestic and commercial storage problems. Variety of different sized containers Easy access in and out Optional van and trailer hire
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Strang & McLagan
Funeral Directors & Memorial Consultants Main Office and Funeral Home
Employers should carry out risk assessments and assess how they can mitigate the risks. You should draw up clear anti-bribery and corruption policies and procedures, including clear rules for handling gifts, hospitality and expenses, and what action employees should take if they are offered inducements. Employers should also assess and review their arrangements with contractors, including agents, distributors, and suppliers of services. Maximum penalties for individuals can be up to 10 years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine; for companies, an unlimited fine.
Newlands House, Main Street Bridgend, Perth Also at 20 Atholl Street, Perth 36 Priory Place, Craigie, Perth 62 High Street, Crieff
T
he Bribery Act 2010 is now in force. An organisation will commit a criminal offence if it fails to prevent bribery that is intended to get or keep business, or an advantage in the conduct of a business. Businesses can only avoid conviction if they can show they have adequate procedures in place to prevent bribery. Particularly vulnerable areas could include: finance, sales, compliance, recruitment and procurement.
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The Agency Workers Regulations 2012 came into force on 1 October 2011. These give Temporary Agency Workers the same basic employment and working conditions as if they had been directly recruited by the employer. From Day 1 they are entitled to have information about internal job vacancies and have the same rights as ‘regular’ staff to facilities such as canteens, free transport and childcare facilities. After 12 weeks in the same role they are entitled to the same basic terms and conditions of employment as if they had been recruited directly by the employer, such as pay, working time, annual leave and pregnancy rights. Provided by Moira Laws, Future Focus Scotland Ltd, Email: lawsm@futurefocusscotland.co.uk, Tel: 01738 827797, Web: www.futurefocusscotland.co.uk
Provided by Moira Laws, Future Focus Scotland Ltd
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
HEADER new member BAR profiles
Gordon and Durward
GORDON AND DURWARD 14 West High Street Crieff PH7 4DL Tel: 01764 653800 Email: graham@scottishsweets.co.uk Web: www.scottishsweets.co.uk Contact: Graham Donaldson
Gordon and Durward is a small specialist Scottish Confectionery Manufacturer based in Crieff. They specialise in supplying independent retailers and have a policy of not supplying supermarkets, this allows their retailers excellent margins of up to double plus VAT. They still use traditional ingredients and methods including copper boilers so that their Fudges and Tablet have an excellent flavour, texture and colour. Their range is extensive offering over 15 flavours of Fudge including Clootie Dumpling Fudge, Scottish Butter Tablet and seven flavours of Macaroon including their new creation Iron Brew flavour. Gordon and Durward were established before the First World War when Mr. Durward married Miss Gordon and opened a small grocers in Crieff making their own tablet in the back room of the premises. They subsequently went to South Africa in about 1925 and since then the business has established itself as a fixture in Crieff. Now under the supervision of Caroline and Graham Donaldson and a dedicated team, the business produces
between one to two tonnes of delicious Scottish Sweets every week. Their sweeties are found in the finest retailers across Scotland including Valvona and Crolla, House of Bruar, Dobbies Food Halls, Baxters and very many specialist independent retailers primarily in Scotland but across the UK as well. Their minimum wholesale order is only £125 + VAT and all orders are delivered free of charge so there really is no reason not to try a small order! Full details available on their website www.scottishsweets.co.uk.
Momentum Design
Momentum Design King James VI Business Centre Friarton Road, Perth PH2 8DY Tel: 01738 472102 Email: info@momentumdesignuk.com Web: www.momentumdesignuk.com Contact John Wilson
Momentum Design is based in Perth and has extensive experience in all aspects of graphic design, digital media and print enabling them to offer a personalised solution for businesses of all sizes. Momentum Design is an agile agency who create ideas and solutions which generate results. The agency specialises in professional yet eye-catching graphic design for businesses of all sizes. They have a fantastic reputation and the expertise to provide creative solutions for all of your design output needs. The creative is managed by John Wilson, who is passionate about working closely with each client to create truly unique projects. John believes that every graphic design, digital media solution or print solution should be as individual as the person requesting it. They are committed to understanding the needs of you and your business, keeping things as simple as possible throughout the whole process and ensuring that your business stands out from the crowd demonstrated by the finished result!
Services Momentum Design offers a comprehensive range of graphic design, digital media services and print solutions including: • Website design and development • Website Strategy • Website Training and Support • Website Management and Maintenance • Email Marketing • Flash Animation • Banner Advertising • Search Engine Optimisation • Corporate and Product Branding • Logos • Brand Guidelines • Promotional Literature • Brochures and Annual Reports • Signage and Exhibition Stands • Press Advertising • Leaflets • Business Stationery
Grosvenor G Casino
Grosvenor G Casino Dundee 142 West Marketgait Dundee DD1 1NJ Tel: 01382 309120 or Direct Dial: 01382 309120 Ext: 24 Mobile: 07921093162 Fax:01382 203620 Email: sm_gc-dundee@rank.com Web: www.gcasino.com
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Grosvenor G Casino Dundee first opened their doors in October 2009 bringing an exciting new leisure experience to Tayside. Situated centrally in Dundee’s West Marketgait with parking at the rear of the building, they employ over 120 staff with opportunities for career progression for all those with ambition. This popular new venue is not just a casino but a whole night out with an intimate restaurant serving superb a la carte food. Check out the amazing lights over their well stocked bar where you can enjoy cocktails or bar meals from 11am to 6am every day. Their varied entertainment every Friday and Saturday night is not to be missed with additional regular events such as comedy nights and G Casino’s own Be Gorgeous evenings. They have the most up to date slot machines and a self contained card room which is available for conferences during the day, Electronic Roulette and, of course, all the traditional table games you would expect to find in a casino.
THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Best of all, they are open 24 hours a day and seven days a week so whatever your lifestyle you can enjoy the casino experience. Grosvenor G Casino is part of the Rank Group which also has two Mecca Bingo units in Dundee and a further 36 casinos across the UK. They pride themselves on offering the highest standards of customer service and aim to deliver an exceptional experience for all their customers with hosts on hand to guide you through your visit and show you how to play all the casino games. ‘One venue, one amazing night out’
NEw MEMBER HEADER PRoFiLEs BAR
Heartland FM
HEARTLAND FM 9 Alba Place Pitlochry PH16 5BH Tel: 01796 474 040 Email: sales@heartlandfm.co.uk Web: www.heartlandfm.co.uk Contact: Francesca Webster
Heartland FM is an award winning community radio station which is broadcast both on 97.5 & 106.6 FM and also online. Heartland FM is excited to celebrate its 20th Anniversary this year. Over those two decades, the station has served Perthshire as a true voice in the community. The past year has provided Heartland with further exciting and vibrant changes. After taking over Perth FM’s license in March 2011, the station expanded its transmission to 95,000 – fully covering Perth, new areas such as Scone and Auchterarder, and of course Highland Perthshire. As the longest running Community station in the UK , Heartland attributes its success to a diverse schedule covering all genres, friendly outgoing DJs and a strong link with the community. Heartland undertakes regular broadcasts and adds a further personal touch with ‘requests’ and messages being read out over the air daily! The online listening feature has enabled expats and those who just love Scotland from around the globe to tune into a true Scottish station.
Sales Manager and Drivetime Presenter, Francesca Webster stated: “I have been sales manager at Heartland FM for 18 months now and I can’t imagine being more enthusiastic about my ‘product’. Radio advertising works in a way no other can, its unique ability to reach you anywhere even in the shower or car, means you can target your customers at any time. The fact that the station is well respected with a wonderfully rich schedule makes me proud to be part of it.”
Evolve Safety
EVOLVE SAFETy 28 Almond View Perth PH1 1QQ Tel: 01738 638860 Email: admin@evolvesafety.co.uk Website: www.evolvesafety.co.uk Contact: Alan MacFarlane
Evolve Safety is the Health & Safety Consultancy that can help steer your business towards improved safety performance. Whilst the business is new, clients ranging from the emerging new start to the larger multi-site enterprise will benefit from the experience of a Chartered Health & Safety Practitioner who has a been successfully guiding some of Scotland’s more prominent manufacturing Companies for many years. Their Consultancy Service ranges from small one-off projects to full outsourcing packages. They strive to tailor Their services to their clients’ needs, however as a guide they provide: Professional advice & guidance including a Competent Person Service. Designing and assisting the implementation of Safety Management Systems. Preparation of safety related documentation, e.g. Safety Policy, Procedures, Safe Systems of Work, Handbooks etc. Support with the completion of General and Hazard Specific Risk Assessments. Gap Analysis, Auditing, Inspections & Training Needs Analysis.
Guidance on achieving Behavioural and Cultural Change. Support for in-house safety resources. Their Training Services will be designed around clients’ requirements and typically provide competence and/or awareness level knowledge to: Support the implementation of in-house Policy and Procedures. To improve or raise awareness of particular hazards and the associated control measures. In addition to bespoke training, their status as Accredited Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Training Providers allows the delivery of the nationally recognised IOSH Managing and Working Safely Courses. In summary, Evolve Safety offers big business experience and qualifications combined with the customer service and cost benefits of choosing to work with a small local business. Safety always pays and we are here to help. Give us a call soon…
The Bathroom Company
THE BATHROOM COMPANy The Bathroom Company 32 Leonard Street Perth PH2 8ER Tel: 01738 440333 Fax: 01738 567064 Email: info@thebathroomcompany.co.uk Web: www.thebathroomcompany.co.uk Contact: Lawrence Haddow
The Bathroom Company is not only Perthshire Business of the Year 2011, but was also awarded the best UK Bathroom Showroom, as well as Master Retailer in the prestigious KBB Industry Awards 2011. This was only the first time a bathroom company has won both awards in their 17-year history. Lawrence Haddow, Managing Director, who started the family-owned Perth business nineteen years ago, said: “We were thrilled to have won two awards at KBB. Going on to win two Awards at the Perthshire Chamber Business Star Awards confirmed the quality of our service, positioning The Bathroom Company as not just the best in Scotland, but the whole of the UK. We’re really pleased to have won, but are also humbled by this recognition.” The Bathroom Company retail high quality bathrooms from its Showroom in Leonard Street, Perth. They’re utterly and totally dedicated to making sure that their customers get great new bathrooms which look beautiful and function perfectly. Services provided include: • Full survey - Design and specification service, with comprehensive cost estimate
• Design - Complete plans and 3D images using their design system • Supply only - Design, estimate and specification for new build and refurbishment • Full installation - Using their in-house team of specialists The Bathroom Company is Perthshire’s exclusive supplier of: • Keuco • Original Style Tiles • Imperial Bathrooms • Stonearth • Grohe • Dornbracht • Villeroy & Boch The Bathroom Company is open: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm Saturday 10am – 4pm If these times don’t suit they’ll make a special appointment just for you.
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
HEADER new member BAR profiles
Ailsa Campbell Design
AILSA CAMPBELL DESIGN Almond House 8 Burrell Street Crieff PH7 4DR Tel: 01764 650134 Email: ailsacampbell@mac.com Web: www.ailsacampelldesign.com Contact: Ailsa Campbell
Ailsa Campbell Design is a graphic design consultancy in Crieff. Owner, Ailsa Campbell founded her business in 2004 after thirteen years of working in the design industry in Vancouver, Canada and then in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Ailsa’s experience enables her to offer the same services as the larger city design companies but, as she doesn’t have the same overheads, at significantly less cost. She enjoys working with each client on a one-to-one basis from start to finish, taking care of all the details, thus making a project as easy as possible for her clients. Ailsa ensures her clients achieve their communication goals by making sure graphics, words and format all work together in the most creative and engaging manner to cause people to take notice, attend an event, pick up a product, get involved or do whatever the end goal is.
Over recent years Ailsa has worked on a number of projects with a diverse range of local businesses and organisations such as Crieff & Strathearn Drovers’ Tryst, Comrie Croft, Morrison’s Academy, Muthill Low Carbon Community Project & Community Futures, re:make, Stewart Tower Dairy and, not forgetting her husband’s business, Campbell’s Bakery. Ailsa is an active member of the Crieff community and is currently Vice Chair of the Crieff Community Trust Steering Group.
Her specialities include: • publication design, • display graphics, • packaging, branding and identity systems.
CCN Recruitment
CCN LIMITED – CCN RECRUITMENT Unit 35, Algo Business Centre Glenearn Road, Perth PH2 0NJ Tel: 01738 450441 Fax: 01738 450423 Email: steven@ccnlimited.com Web: www.ccnlimited.com Contact: Steven Forbes
CCN Recruitment founded by Jacqui Hayes in 2010 was created to fill a gap in the market place in the Perthshire and surrounding areas for a recruitment service that would provide high quality recruitment services at a cost were the business community truly believed they were receiving value for money. Two years on they are delighted about the progress they have made in their quest to become the number one choice for recruitment services in the north east of Scotland. They are happy to announce that they now have a specialist desk specifically dedicated to the Engineering and Manufacturing industry sector having successfully been invited on to a number of preferred Supplier Lists (PSL’s) including high profile clients such as Baker Hughes, Halliburton PLC and Hunting Energy Services (UK.) The local Perthshire business community has also been extremely supportive and they are delighted with the response they have had; not only to their traditional recruitment services but to their new On-Line Resourcing service that was launched last month. The service is specifically designed to offer their clients a competitive on-line alternative to pre press advertising.
Last but by no means least, they are also delighted to announce that they have recently recruited a new member to join their team, Gemma McKechnie. Gemma is a local girl and a welcome addition to the recruitment team; with her vast knowledge of the local business community they are very much looking forward to Gemma driving the business forward and getting out and about in Perthshire to meet you all. CCN Recruitment “Providing Professional Permanent Placements “
Ewan Cameron Architects
EWAN CAMERON ARCHITECTS The Coach House, Dundas Street Comrie, Crieff PH6 2LN Tel: 01764 669003 Email: ewan@ewancameronarchitects. com Web: www.ewancameronarchitects.com Contact: Ewan Cameron
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Ewan Cameron Architects is an award winning practice which specialises in the design of energy efficient residential projects. They have a design studio in the village of Comrie, Perthshire. They work closely with their clients to meet their specific needs and add value by optimising the use of space, exploiting views and harnessing natural daylight. They believe in a collaborative process and have strong working relationships with structural engineers, builders, service and cost consultants, ensuring that each project is resourced with the appropriate skills and experience. Ewan Cameron has led the design of many awardwinning projects in the UK and abroad. He was responsible for the design of 11 villas on Hong Kong’s prestigious Peak, which have achieved some of the highest rentals in Hong Kong to date and his designs for a mixed development in Suzhou, China led to an award from the American Institute of Architects. Ewan established his own practice in 2009. More recently, the practice won a 2011 Glasgow Institute of Architects Small Works award and was also highly commended in the Architect’s Journal Small Projects 2012 awards.
THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Ewan is an Accredited Passive House Designer. They would be delighted to meet with you for a free initial consultation.
A
t Ballathie House Hotel, we pride ourselves on our long history of looking after people. Royalty and leading lights of their day have all been entertained in our Scottish country house and on our extensive estate near Perth. Ballathie House Hotel is located on its own Perthshire estate and offers 41 bedrooms, combining luxury scottish accommodation in the Main House and Riverside Building. Fine Dining Food is important to us at Ballathie House. Scotland has such an amazing choice of
fish, game, meats, cheeses and more, our restaurant’s Head Chef and his team delight in doing them all justice. Sporting The beautiful county of Perthshire in Scotland plays host to a wide range of activities throughout the year, many of which may interest the sporting enthusiast. From horse racing to shooting, fishing and agricultural fairs, every month holds an event worth noting. Weddings Ballathie House Hotel offers an intimate and
elegant choice for starting married life in style. Enjoy exclusive use of our country house hotel for a real family feel to the day. You can even hold your wedding ceremony in the hotel. From flowers to favours, music to marquees, we work with you to create a Wedding Day to remember. Meetings & Events When it comes to conferences, meetings, private dining and events, we meet you all the way. Our quiet location in central Scotland, with easy access to Perth and other key cities, makes us a popular meeting place.
Ballathie House Hotel, Kinclaven, Stanley, Perthshire, PH1 4QN T: 01250 883268 | E: email@ballathiehousehotel.com www.ballathiehousehotel.com
DIRECT LETTINGS Lettings Direct prides itself on a service that is nothing short of excellent and we make every effort to Direct satisfyprides our client’s Lettings itself onrequirements a service that isand strive to achieve 100% satisfaction at all times, nothing short of excellent we make every by offering high standardand properties, in good decorative order, our clean throughout and well effort to satisfy client’s requirements maintained. and strive to achieve 100% satisfaction at all As quality we will not market any times, by letting offeringagents, high standard properties, properties that are in any form of disrepair or good decorative order, clean throughout ofinlow decorative standard. All clients who use Lettings can rest assured that we only and wellDirect maintained. work with the best !
As quality letting agents, we will not market any properties that are in any form of disrepair or of low decorative standard. All clients who use Lettings Direct can rest assured that we only work with the best!
Property Management
Property Management
“If you are looking for a dedicated and honest letting agent you have definitely come to the right place” 8 Atholl Perth, PH1 5NG “If you areCrescent, looking for a dedicated Email: garry@ldperth.co.uk and honest letting agent you have www.lettingsdirectperth.co.uk definitely come to the right place”
Tel 01738 630004 8 Atholl Crescent, Perth, PH1 5NG Email: garry@ldperth.co.uk www.lettingsdirectperth.co.uk
Tel 01738 630004
FooD & DRiNK
Beekeepers have Perthshire Buzzing
P
erthshire has long been a centre of commercial Scottish honey production. As journalist Maureen Young finds out, however, it’s also buzzing with a growing number of enthusiastic beekeepers pursuing this fascinating hobby. Honeybees have always liked working in Perthshire – they have an abundant supply of lowland food in the spring and an endless source of summer sustenance on the higher ground. In fact, so industrious and successful are the little workers locally that Perthshire can boast three of the country’s top commercial honey production companies in Scotland, ensuring the name of Perthshire honey is known throughout the UK and across the globe. But it’s not just the big players who benefit from this amazing industry with more and more members of the public turning to beekeeping as both a fascinating hobby and a way of producing their own delicious supply of fresh honey. And Tayside has the country’s largest concentration of beekeepers. There are now thought to be well over 100 beekeepers in Perthshire, harvesting honey and beeswax in much the same way as people have done for thousands of years. Honeybee fossils suggest the diligent little creature was buzzing around 150 million years ago and the earliest record of beekeeping was found among cave paintings in Spain dating back to 7000BC. The winged worker can be found in ancient scripts and hieroglyphs of ancient Egypt, Greece and the Roman Empire with honey being highly valued and used as a gift to the Gods. Now, complete with ancient pedigree, the humble little honeybee is enjoying a surge of popularity. And Perthshire is abuzz with excitement as the pollen season begins. Among those Perthshire enthusiasts are “newbie” beekeeping couple Linda and John Leggat and “old hand” Gavin Ramsay who has been keeping bees for 16 years. They claim there is no shortage of rural settings for beekeepers’ hives – indeed, many organic farmers and landowners actively encourage their siting because of the pollination power of the bees. And the bees will revel in the pollen of everything from lime trees and oilseed rape to clover and heather. “There are up to about 50,000 bees in each hive so that’s a lot of little fellows helping the countryside to flourish,” they point out. “And there are thousands of hives all over Perthshire.” A good healthy hive will produce an average of 50-150lbs of honey each year but an exceptional one can return up to 250lbs. And each harvest of the delicious nectar is as individual in taste as the wide and varied pollen sources. In addition to honey, many beekeepers will take the wax from the bees, using it to produce everything from candles to soap. But beekeeping seems to be about a lot more than what you can harvest from the little workers. It is one of those hobbies
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
which grips you and provides an endless source of entertainment, fascination and education. Gavin is fascinated by the study of bees and speaks knowledgeably about their behaviour, industry and care. “There’s an awful lot to know about bees,” he said. “You’re continually learning – no matter how experienced you are. And you don’t just gain a tremendous insight into this amazing insect – you learn a lot about the countryside and the flowers and blossoms too.” Gavin talks of telltale signs in the bees’ behaviour which shows them passing on information of good pollen sources or warning of possible danger through little ritual dances or head-butting. “Last summer I watched a dance which suggested my bees were flying about 7.5 km to a favoured pollen source,” he said, “but bees have been known to fly up to 13 km if necessary.” Linda and John love being with their bees and early training has included how to keep their workers “sweet”. “You don’t want them angry or grumpy,” they explain. “Things like strimmers or lawnmowers are bad mood triggers and thunder can make your bees very cross indeed.” Honeybees don’t like to sting – because it’s the last thing they’ll ever do. “Once they sting they die,” said Gavin, “so they’ll only do it as a last resort.” But it seems that in a hive of around 50,000, there’s always a few willing to die for the cause and beekeepers invariably have a collection of “sting” stories for round the campfire. The beekeeping community is a very sociable one and experienced keepers are always happy to help out newcomers to the pastime. Different courses are held for beginners and those wanting to advance their skills and knowledge and advice is given on the sourcing of hives and equipment and securing suitable sites for the bee colonies. But while Perthshire boasts one of the highest concentration of hives in Scotland, the district has not been immune from the ravages of disease in recent years. Killers such as European Foul Brood and Varroa, coupled with harsh weather, have taken their toll on both commercial and recreational colonies in recent years. Beekeepers have to learn good husbandry, hive care and sterilising skills to keep their hives healthy. To help combat the risk of infection, it is planned to establish a national sterilising plant in Strathmore later this year serving the whole of the country. The Scottish Beekepers Association celebrates it’s Centenary this year and Linda and John are helping to get a Perth and District Beekeepers Association constituted and flourishing. Seems like things are really buzzing in the local beekeeping world!
FooD & DRiNK
Honey Blackberry Ice
Every Day Honey Cake Ingredients: 2 cups sifted flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/3 cup margarine or lard 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup honey 1 egg, unbeaten 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract To decorate: Whipped cream Honey Flavoured jam or jelly of choice
Method: Stir dry ingredients together three times. Cream margarine or lard, add sugar gradually and cream until light and fluffy. Add honey gradually, beating after each addition. Add vanilla extract. Bake in two layers in greased tins in moderate oven (375 F.) for 20-25 minutes. Spread jelly between layers and cover top of cake with honeysweetened whipped cream.
Trout In Honey Ingredients: 2 trout 2 onions 2 teaspoons honey 1 tablespoon oil 4 mushrooms 1/2 glass white wine 1 tablespoon chopped parsley 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 1/2 teaspoon chilli sauce salt and pepper
Method: Chop the onions and mushrooms, put in a long hob-proof dish and add the honey, wine, oil, caraway seeds, parsley, chilli sauce, salt and pepper. Put in the fish, cover and leave to marinade on top of the stove until done. Remove the fish and serve with a butter sauce.
Ingredients: 1 lb wild blackberries 1/3 to 1/2 pint water 6 oz cooking apples 12 oz liquid honey 2 tablespoons clear honey 2 egg whites lemon juice
Method: Put blackberries and water into a pan. Cut up the apples and add to the mixture. Cover pan and cook gently until soft and pulped. When cool, press the mixture through a sieve. Stir in the honey and a touch of lemon juice. Put in the freezer. When partly frozen, fold in the stiffly beaten egg whites. Put into a container and complete freezing. Remove from freezer half an hour before serving.
Mead
Ingredients: 4 lb clover honey 1 gallon water Maury wine yeast 40 grains Tantaric acid 27 grains Citric acid 60 grains Ammonium Sulphate 30 grains Potassium Sulphate 8 grains Magnesium Sulphate 30 grains salt Method: Boil the honey with a little water for five minutes. Skim and stir frequently. When cool, pour into a one gallon jar. Add chemicals and prepared yeast and fill to within one inch of the top with boiled water. Put airlock in cork and keep it in working order. Leave jar in warm place (70 deg F.) and allow to remain at that temperature until bubbles cease to form. Syphon mead from sediment into sterilised jar and re-insert airlock. Syphon and decant again and then bottle the mead. Cork and wire bottles, storing them on their sides for at least six months. NOTE: If potassium phosphate is not obtainable, sodium phosphate can be used. In this case the common salt should be replaced by potassium chloride. The di- or tri- sodium or potassium hydrogen phosphates are equally suitable, making little difference except a slight one to the acidity. (Recipes courtesy of Ruth Mead and the Scottish Beekeepers’ Association) Photographs courtesy of Gavin Ramsay and the Scottish Beekeepers Association
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Spectator Live Active Leisure Newsletter
Live Active Leisure Review We are delighted to report another successful year with the following achievements being some of our highlights in 2011:
dtech designers
• Admissions rose 5% to over 1.15m per annum. Almost 300,000 admissions were recorded by LAL members during 2010/2011.
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• 4,000 children are now participating in swimming lessons and term time programmed sports activity classes.
www.dtechuk.com Publishers of
THE DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
ISSUE 14 • SPRING 2012
• Customer generated income approaches £4.5m 100% is reinvested in facilities and services.
INcommerce
• We become the first leisure trust in Scotland to achieve the Social Enterprise Mark.
ISSUE 13 • SPRING 2012
THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
City Status For Perth MAKE SAVINGS - GO GREEN
Beekeepers have Perthshire buzzing
InCommerce Dunbartonshire
THE
Scottish Cabinet Minister John Swinney gets down to business
InCommerce Mid, East & West Lothian
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ISSUE 5 • AUTUMN 2011
THE DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
ISSUE 5 • WINTER 2012
Active Tourism App
Children’s Games Boost Lanarkshire Tourism
Chamber Annual Review
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Dressed to Kilt
Social Enterprise and Chamber Spotlight on Economic Development Service
SPRING SALE @ DWK Office Solutions Paolo Nutini sings the praises of Falkirk Business
• Why Join the Chamber? Page 6 • Hamilton BID Update - Pages 14/15
SPECIAL OFFER First 10 callers
• The Best Road in Britain - Pages 36/37
www.falkirkforbusiness.org www.lanarkshirechamber.org
Supplement Inside
InCommerce Lanarkshire
• Perth Leisure Pool Gym. • Bell’s Sports Centre Spin Studio and Meeting Room. • 4 Trixter Bikes were introduced at Live Active Rodney and Bell’s Sports Centre Gyms.
• SUPPORTING CHARITIES – A GREAT BUSINESS STRATEGY • NEW SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ENTHUSIASM IN YOUR BUSINESS? • DO YOU HAVE A MARKETING SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
Gannochy Trust celebrates 75th anniversary
InCommerce Perthshire
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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Venue Investment We invested in a number of venues in 2011 including:
www.liveactive.co.uk
Also in this issue...
• NEW CHAMBER PRESIDENT PAGE 5 • SCOTCH WHISKY’S GLOBAL SUCCESS P21-25 • RYDER CUP BOOST FOR SCOTTISH GOLF P28-29
The Big Splash Live Active Leisure is working in partnership with British Swimming to encourage the local community into the pool. All Live Active pools are offering swim promotions until April 2012.
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Live Active Leisure own and/or operate 16 venues across the Perth and Kinross area and Company Chairman, Linton Scarborough explained the need to complete the number of Volunteer Directors on the Board.
Volunteers are being sought to help shape the future of some of the most notable sport and leisure provision in Perth and Kinross.
“At a time when the Company is developing a Facility Vision for the next 20 years and having to balance increasing demands with an extremely difficult financial climate, the current Directors are keen to fill two vacant positions for Directors on the Board,” he said. “While a specific area of relevant expertise is sought, of equal importance is a genuine passion for sport, leisure and living active lives and a commitment to the Company’s brand values of Enthusiasm, Flexibility, Value and Trust and the ‘not for profit’ nature of the organisation”. The Board of Directors currently comprises eight independent members from a range of professional backgrounds (each with a specific portfolio remit) and three Perth and Kinross Councillors. New Directors are required who have any of the following skill areas Business Development, Information Technology & Communications, Health & Wellbeing, Strategic Leisure Planning, Events and Academia. Anyone interested in becoming a Director of Live Active Leisure or wanting more information about the role should contact Jim Moyes at LAL’s Head Office, at Caledonia House, Hay Street, Perth, or by telephone on 01738 492449. Closing date will be when sufficient suitable applications are received.
www.liveactive.co.uk
P R
perth racecourse making every day an event
Networking at the Races 25 April 2012
• A great way to mix business with pleasure • Participate in ‘speed networking’ and make new contacts from across Scotland • Enjoy a two course meal in a private suite • Includes a grandstand ticket with fantastic track views to watch your winners fly by throughout the afternoon • £48 per person • Book online at www.perth-races.co.uk
For our 2012 fixture list please visit www.perth-races.co.uk
Book Your Corporate Hospitality For 2012 Now! To book tickets call 01738 551597 or visit www.perth-races.co.uk
LiFEstyLE
springtime in Perthshire - Nature Diary •
By late March climbing honeysuckle has broken into leaf and dog’s mercury is greening the floor of older woods, as at Lady Mary’s Walk in Crieff.
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By late April wood anemones, lesser celandine and violets brighten the ground in deciduous woodlands like Black Spout Wood and the Den of Alyth.
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Ospreys arrive in the last week of March and lay eggs about a month later - watch them from the hide at Loch of the Lowes, near Dunkeld.
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Listen for the clamour of woodpecker broods demanding to be fed - you can hear the noise coming from trees holes in early May.
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Blackthorn flowers in early April, before leaves appear find the cascades of frothy white blossom in hedgerows and woodland edges.
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At the Hermitage look for the nursery dreys of red squirrels - huge balls of sticks wedged in the fork of a tree where litters of young are born in May.
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Bats end their hibernation in April and can be seen flying at dusk - look for them in woodland clearings and over water in places like Faskally Forest.
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Rooks are among the first birds to nest, during April the treetop colonies are particularly noisy as they feed their young.
During May most deciduous trees burst into leaf - birch and willow are followed by oak, ash and alder. Observers can predict the weather from the country lore: “If the oak is out before the ash, we’re in for a splash; if the ash is out before the oak, we’re in for a soak”.
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Sunny days in April bring down a rain of conifer seeds from opening cones in forests such as Drummond Hill, Faskally Wood and Rannoch Forest.
At dusk on warm evenings in May, badger cubs emerge from woodland setts and roving woodcock fly over their territories making a curious croaking.
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The dawn chorus reaches a crescendo in April and is best heard in mixed woodland, such as the RSPB reserve at Killiecrankie.
For good displays of bluebells, head for Craig Wood by Dunkeld or Darroch near Blairgowrie during the first three weeks of May.
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By the end of May new tree seedlings have emerged in woodland glades from Rannoch Forest to Kinnoull Hill wherever light hits the forest floor.
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Provided by VisitScotland. Written by Felicity Martin, author of the series of Experience Big Tree Country walks guidebooks (four volumes of 12 walks each).
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
MEMBERsHiP HEADER BENEFits BAR
T
he Chamber is an independent, voluntary, non-profit making, non-political business organisation dedicated to the furtherance of members’ interests. It is the largest private sector business support organisation in Britain.
The Perthshire Chamber of Commerce has a voluntary Board of Directors from all over Perthshire and a wide range of business sectors.
rship Membe fits e n e B
Perthshire Chamber has two paid full-time members of staff: Chief Executive, Vicki Unite, and Office Support & Events Co-ordinator Karen Wright, based at the Chamber’s office at the Algo Business Centre, Glenearn Road, Perth, PH2 0NJ. The Chamber can be contacted by telephone on 01738 450401 or by email: info@perthshirechamber.co.uk. We are delighted to offer a new package of business services through our affiliation with British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). The new services are listed below and provide even more added value to being a member of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce.
our memberships start at £136+ vat for businesses with 1- 5 employees. offset that against the following business benefits: chamber Legal Expenses & Legal Help Line chamber HR chamber Roadside Assistance chamber Primary Health Plan cash Plan chamber Business choice Healthcare Plan PMi chamber Merchant services
chamber connect card
Worth a minimum of £125.00 for the smallest business member. Worth a minimum of £350.00 for the smallest business member. Up to 58% savings on like-for-like services from the AA. Available from as little as £1.10 per week. Up to 30% savings on various healthcare packages. 50% discount on Chamber fees for three years or 20% cash back in the first year! Waived joining fee for Chamber members (worth £150.00). 24% savings on terminal hire. Discounted transaction charges with more competitive rates than the FSB Discounted access to Executive UK Airport Lounges and International Lounges. Discounted access to Corporate Hospitality facilities across the UK. Access to discounted local hotels, restaurants and other services at participating Chambers.
Plus:
Chamber Events
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Export Documentation Services
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Chamber Telecom
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Chamber Fleet Assist
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Chamber Money Zone
Events include: Regular lunch and early evening events, monthly networking breakfasts, free Business Lecture Series and an annual Golf Day. Plus many more including procurement and training events.
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Chamber Travel Zone
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Chamber Risk Insurance
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Business Mentoring
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Chamber Information Hotline
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Preferential Rates for an Exclusive Training Programme
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Member to Member Discounts
Chamber Voice Local & National Representation There are many avenues of communication and promotion available to our members including this quarterly InCommerce magazine, the Chamber Website, the Chamber year Book and Appointments Diary and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce website and Directory.
Annual Dinner & Business star Awards – Friday 23rd November 2012 This glittering evening celebrates Perthshire’s award winning businesses and takes place in November each year. Around 300 guests attend this black-tie event where the winners are announced and awards collected. Applications are available for any business registered in Perth & Kinross and this offers and excellent opportunity to promote and publicise your business and a fabulous evening to enjoy with like-minded business people. Look on our website for current winners and how to enter the next awards!
How much is chamber membership worth now? contact the chamber office for further details on any of the above or refer to the website www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
HEADER2012 EVENTS BAR March Monday 26th April Tuesday 3rd Wednesday 4th
Wednesday 11th Wednesday 18th Thursday 19th Wednesday 25th Wednesday 25th
Monday 30th May Tuesday 8th Thursday 17th Tuesday 22nd
Monday 28th Thursday 31st June Wednesday 6th
Thursday 14th Monday 25th Tuesday 26th Future Diary Dates August Thursday 30th November Friday 23rd
Board Meeting*
5.30pm - 7.00pm
Algo Business Centre
Perth
Networking Breakfast Introduction to Social Networking & The Linked In Masterclass The Facebook Masterclass The Twitter Masterclass Evening Event Networking at the Races Google+, Pinterest and Taking your Social Media to the Next Level Board Meeting*
7.30am - 8.45am 5.00pm - 7.30pm
Lovat Hotel King James VI Business Centre
Perth Perth
5.00pm - 7.30pm 5.00pm - 7.30pm 6.00pm - 8.00pm 12 noon - 2.00pm 5.00pm - 7.30pm
King James VI Business Centre King James VI Business Centre Gillies & Mackay/Cairn O’Mohr Winery Perth Racecourse King James VI Business Centre
Perth Perth Errol Scone Perth
5.30pm - 7.00pm
Algo Business Centre (or visit tbc)
Perth tbc
8.00am - 10.00am
Dens Park
Dundee
5.30pm - 7,.30pm 12 noon for 12.30pm 2.00pm
Perth College UHI tbc
Perth tbc
5.30pm - 7.00pm 6.00pm - 8.00pm
Algo Business Centre (or visit tbc) tbc
Perth Rural
8.00am - 10.00am
tbc
Perth
5.30pm - 7,.30pm
Perth College UHI
Perth
5.30pm - 7.00pm 12 noon for 12.30pm 2.00pm
Algo Business Centre (or visit tbc) tbc
Perth tbc tbc
Annual Golf Day
12 noon - 7pm
Crieff Golf Club
Crieff
Annual Dinner & Star Awards
7,00pm - 1.00am
Crieff Hydro Hotel
Crieff
Tri-Chamber Networking Breakfast Lecture Speaker Lunch, Fergus Ewing, Minister for Energy, Enterprise & Tourism Board Meeting* Evening Event Networking Business Breakfast, Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment Lecture - Binn Waste Management Board Meeting* Speaker Lunch
training - Run Your Own PR Media Campaign
H
ave you ever wondered how businesses like yours end up being talked about and written about in the media? And not just in the local press, but in the national and Sunday newspapers, in magazines, on the internet and on TV and radio? They are probably employing the services of an expensive PR company. But surely it’s not rocket science?
at the top level in journalism on newspapers all over the UK with combined media experience of more than 50 years. Their two-day course “Media PR for You and Your Business” reveals all the journalistic tricks of the trade and will show you how to raise the profile of your business throughout Perthshire, Scotland and the UK. Details
In fact, you can do lots of media PR for yourself, if only you knew what to write, how to write it and who to send it to. Perthshire Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with Milestone Media, a Perthshire-based company run by two former national newspaper editors with contacts on virtually every newspaper, magazine and media outlet in the country, to deliver this exciting training package. Milestone Media have run highly successful media campaigns for hundreds of UK businesses, from the sole trader to the multi-national. Gordon Walker and Seuna Martin have worked
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THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk
Part 1: Friday, May 4 at 1.30pm - 4pm Part 2: Friday, May 11th at 1.30pm - 4pm Clydesdale Bank, Methven Street, Perth Costs: £99 for Perthshire Chamber members and £120 for nonChamber delegates. Further details and bookings on 01738 450401 or email: events@perthshirechamber.co.uk