Perthshire in commerce issue 26 issuu by dtech

INcommerce THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

GETTING FAMILIAR WITH FISH RISING ‘STARS’ GET SET TO SHINE HYDRO HISTORY – A HIGHLAND HIT CRIEFF B.I.D. SUCCESS

ISSUE 26 • AUTUMN 2015

fairways

Est. 1984

Working with you - for you

01738 632 561

hr business support and recruitment specialists

Working with you - for you

with compliments Fairways Recruitment (Scotland) Limited Balmoral Suite, Royal British House, Leonard Street, Perth PH2 8HA

t • 01738 632561 f • 01738 639086 e • admin@fairways-uk.com w • www.fairways-uk.com Registered in Scotland No: SC195669 VAT Registration No: 502 9493 48

HR Business Support Services

Recruitment

nsuring organisations remain legally compliant with their HR and employment responsibilities, we provide practical cost effective help and support to SME's to improve organisational performance and productivity.

ur skilled Consultants have the perfect cost effective recruitment solutions for your business as we supply organisations across all industries with high quality staffing solutions for Permanent, Temporary and Contract staff recruitment.

Working with you - for you, we

Deal with and resolve complex Discipline and Absence Management issues

Offer Competitive rates and added value services to suit your needs

Prepare Contracts of Employment, Employee Handbooks & Settlement Agreements

Provide qualified practitioners to conduct accredited Psychometric Profiling

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Help Candidates make the right choices and career moves ensuring that organisations get the right person for the right role

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Fairways is an approved supplier with Perth & Kinross Council to provide HR consultancy support services to local businesses in Perth and Kinross. Fairways are Platinum Members of Perthshire Chambers of Commerce.

of contact for all our HR, employment “law,Oneandpoint general or otherwise business queries.

HMP Perth having been using Fairways since “2001, have always found them able to provide

Extremely knowledgeable, very approachable and very prompt to reply to any question raised be it by phone call or detailed email. My fellow directors and I would have no hesitation to recommend Fairways HR and will continue to have Fairways as part of our "team".

a reliable, efficient and prompt response to any requests for staff. The staff are very knowledgeable and professional, and I would have no hesitation in recommending Fairways to any potential client. HMP Perth looks forward to continuing a successful partnership with Fairways.

Stephen Allardyce, Allardyce Healthcare

HMP Perth

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Recruitment Roles

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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

Contents

EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION

Chamber News........................ 4-6 Members’ News..................... 8-14 Chamber Sponsors.................... 15 Star Awards.......................... 16-17 Sporting Chance for Perth College UHI......................... 20-21 Business Month......................... 22 Scotland’s new national qualifications............................ 23

Mike McDiarmid

015 has been another busy year for the Chamber with many different events being held and supported by our members. Our last big event of the year is our Annual Dinner and Business Star Awards on Friday November 20th. We look forward to having the opportunity to promote and recognise the business excellence within Perthshire. It’s great to see Pitlochry Dam Archive Centre open up and see their exciting development plans using state-of-the-art technology to showcase the role played by the engineers who brought hydro power to Scotland over 70 years ago. This should provide Perthshire with another huge and high-quality visitor attraction in Pitlochry. More information about this can be found on pages 24-27. We are delighted to be taking part in Business Month again this year in November which involves a partnership between a number of business support organisations in the region including Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, Elevator & Business Gateway, Perth & Kinross Council, the Federation of Small Businesses, Scottish Enterprise and Perth College UHI. The series of events has been designed to highlight opportunities, provide support and training and share information whatever your size and type of business. The business benefits go far beyond this month, however, and help each group support the business community to a greater degree by working closely together. As ever, the Chamber operates an “open door” policy. It is your Chamber. Your ideas and input are always welcome – it’s vital to ensure we meet our members’ needs so do communicate with us.

Vicki Unite

am delighted to present the latest edition of our InCommerce magazine and it’s terrific that there is never any shortage of new and exciting initiatives and achievements from the Perthshire business community that we are able to share. At the end of the summer we enjoyed our Annual Golf Day which this year was held at Murrayshall Hotel and Golf Courses. Our teams enjoyed a day of sunshine on the course with a full complement of teams and winners taking home some superb prizes donated by our generous members so see our photo spread on page 4 and 5. We received a record number of entries into our Business Star Awards this year and the shortlisted entries are displayed in this magazine. I wish all our finalists the very best of luck with the next stage of the judging process. Bookings for the Annual Dinner are flooding in with people coming together to celebrate the successes of the awards. The Annual Dinner always proves to be a fabulous night of celebration and fun even if you’re not directly involved with the Business Star Awards. We are delighted to have welcomed so many new members to the Chamber over the past few months and will enjoy meeting you and learning more about your businesses. I look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon and to working closely with you all to identify and champion our business needs and campaigns as we look towards a lively political year in 2016. Vicki Unite Editor of InCommerce and Chief Executive of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce

Scotland’s hydro history boost to Perthshire............... 24-27 Employee share incentives in SMEs..................................... 28 Employers advised to plan for national living wage................. 30 Should I accept a Facebook friend request from my boss?.... 31 Getting familiar with fish..... 32-35 Crieff BIDs for success......... 36-37 New member profiles........... 40-43 The benefits of choosing hybrids...................................... 44 Whydoes your office need plants?.............................. 48 Events....................................... 48 Membership Benefits................. 50

Victoria Unite Chief Executive Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Saltire House 3 Whitefriars Crescent Perth PH2 0PA T: 01738 448325 E: vicki@perthshirechamber.co.uk W: www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

For advertising contact DTech on T: 0141 222 2202 E: sales@incommerce.biz For editorial enquiries contact the Editor, Vicki Unite on T: 01738 448325 E: info@perthshirechamber.co.uk Publisher: DTech InCommerce is published by DTech, Suite 3.3, Station House, 34 St Enoch Square, Glasgow G1 4DF. Telephone 0141 222 2202. E-mail: info@dtechuk.com. Edited by Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, Saltire House, 3 Whitefriars Crescent, Perth PH2 0PA Tel: 01738 448325.

Mike McDiarmid President Perthshire Chamber of Commerce

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.

/PerthshireChamber

Managing Data – the lifeblood of your business........................ 23

@ChamberPerth

The views expressed by authors of articles published in this magazine are solely those of the author and are not necessarily the views of or shared by the editor, nor the publisher or the directors, shareholders and/or employees of DTech Publishing Ltd.

CHAMBER NEWS

BRIGHT AND BREEZY AT MURRAYSHALL FOR CHAMBER GOLF DAY Guests at this year’s Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Golf Day, supported by Carbon Financial Partners, enjoyed a bright and breezy day on the fabulous Murrayshall Course. Golfers again snapped up places in record time to support this annual event. Teeing off after lunch, players enjoyed a terrific afternoon of golf with fabulous scenery and great weather conditions. The sell-out event saw teams compete for Winning Team, Winning Individual, Orange Ball, Nearest the Pin and Longest Drives (Ladies and Gents) competitions for a range of fabulous trophies and prizes. Mark Christie, Corporate Director of Carbon Financial Partners, said: “The Murrayshall Course was in excellent condition. The event organisation was first-class and the staff at Murrayshall couldn’t have been more helpful. The event was again very well supported by the local business community, the rain stayed away and everyone had a fantastic day. We look forward to supporting this quality event again next year.”

Chamber Chief Executive Vicki Unite added: “The result of this partnership was, once again, a flawless event which was thoroughly enjoyable. We are delighted to confirm our partnership again with Carbon and look forward to an equally successful event next year.” Additional support came from: Platinum Partners (Bank of Scotland, Binn Group, Blackadders, Graham Environmental Services, Fairways HR Business Support & Recruitment Specialists, GS Group, The James Hutton Institute, McLeod Glaziers, Perth College UHI and Royal Bank of Scotland), and Gold Partners Crieff Hydro Hotel and Castlecroft. Silver Partner Highland Spring provided water for the day. Gordon Butt of Hardies Property & Construction Consultants managed the teams and scoring. The date for next year’s event is Friday 26th August at Strathmore Golf Club, so please contact us now to note your interest and provisionally book for next year to avoid disappointment. We can also offer teams who took part this year first refusal on places! Contact the Chamber of 01738 448325 or e-mail events@ perthshirechamber.co.uk. Full team photos on Carbon Financial’s website www. carbonfinancial.co.uk/2015-perthshire-chamber-of-commercegolf-day-once-again-a-big-success-for-all

The individual winner was Wattie Garland of GS Group who scooped the Chamber Millennium Trophy, Golf for 4 donated by Gleneagles Hotel and a Taster Case from Inveralmond Brewery.

Winning Individual: Hazel Brown from Carbon, and Gordon Butt from Hardies Property & Construction Consultants, present the individual trophy to Wattie Garland, right. Photos by Fraser Band

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

CHAMBER NEWS

The Carbon Orange Ball competition was won by the Graham Environmental Services team, consisting of Ross Graham, Stuart Graham, Phil McKenna and Ross Neil who collected the Cairncross Trophy and Golf for 4 kindly donated by Strathmore Golf Club.

Orange Ball Winning Team: Winners of the Orange Ball Competition, from left, Rodney Neil, Ross Graham, Mark Christie from Carbon, and Phil McKenna.

The Longest Drive (Female) was won by Susan Waddell of Bank of Scotland and The Longest Drive (Male) was won by Kevin Moir of Bell & Company, who each won One day Whisky Making experience kind donated by Strathearn Distillery.

Longest Drive: Mark Christie, left, from Carbon, and Gordon Butt from Hardies Property & Construction Consultants, present ladies longest drive winner, Sue Waddell, with her prize.

The winning team, GS Group, was made up of Wattie Garland, Anthony Brown, Iain Martin and Alan Ruthven. They took home the Carbon Financial Partners Winning Team Claret Jug, beautiful Carbon individual decanters and Golf and Lunch for 4 kindly donated by Murrayshall County Hotel and Golf Courses.

Winning Team: Hazel Brown from Carbon, and Vicki Unite, right, from Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, present Wattie Garland and Anton brown, right, with the winning team trophy.

Nearest the Pin winner, Moray Anderson of Murrayshall, went home with the Elder & Paton Quaich, Afternoon tea for 2 kindly donated by Heaven Scent in Milnathort and Strathearn Gin giftpack donated by Strathearn Distillery.

Nearest the Pin: Mark Christie from Carbon, left, and Vicki Unite from Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, present the nearest the pin trophy to Moray Anderson.

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

CHAMBER NEWS

EXPERIENCE AND COMMITMENT MARK ROSS OUT AS THE PERFECT CHAMBER VICE PRESIDENT “I bring a lot of knowledge and experience about running an SME in a rural community,” he said, “and that’s something I’m more than willing to share with members and those starting out on their business journey. I get a real buzz from helping business start-ups because I was there myself 20-plus years ago. “It’s a very real privilege to be entrusted with the VP role at the Chamber and serving behind someone like President Mike McDiarmid is a real honour. I’m very proud to have been identified as someone that can contribute to the Chamber in this way.” Ross, who is married with three children, accepts that there are many challenges ahead for local businesses and the Chamber itself. “I never shy from a challenge – in fact I enjoy them,” he said. “I don’t have all the answers but there’s a great team at the Chamber and between us we can work to help local businesses, build on relationships with local and national government and continue to provide a platform where the voice of business in Perthshire can be heard. Graham Environmental Services Managing Director Ross Graham (44) brings a lifetime of business and life experience to his latest role as Vice President of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce. An early career in the Royal Navy – serving on the Royal yacht Britannia, HMS Glasgow and shoreside in Hong Kong – gave way to a partnership role in his father’s vision to launch their own company in their home town of Blairgowrie. Twenty-two years later, Ross heads up a thriving business employing around 70 people. And he stresses that the experiences gained in launching and growing a small rural enterprise into a sector leader have helped shape his role as director and Vice President at PCC.

“Businesses in 2015 face many difficulties – perhaps especially in rural areas – but there can be many rewards. Through the Chamber I hope I can help to smooth the path for our members as they work to create, consolidate and grow the many diverse and impressive companies that mark Perthshire out as a successful place to do business.” Away from his desk, Ross enjoys football, having played professionally in his younger days for East Fife, Arbroath, Brechin and Montrose. He now manages Coupar Angus Jnr FC and follows Dundee United as a lifelong fan. Ross is also a keen golfer and currently plays off a handicap of 10.

NEW RECRUIT We have recently welcomed Kirsty Walker into the office as our new Office Support and Events Co-ordinator. Kirsty has been with us a couple of months now and has settled in well. Kirsty comes from an agricultural background having grown up on her family’s livestock farm in Highland Perthshire before going on to study for a BA in Rural Business Management with Food at The Scottish Agricultural College in Aberdeen. On finishing her degree, Kirsty took some time out to travel around Australia and New Zealand where she spent a lot of time visiting different farms throughout the two countries, jumping out of planes and off bridges! Kirsty has come to work at the Chamber to gain experience in the running of a business and to get involved with the events and helping the members. She also has a great interest in the Food Chain and Market, namely in Agriculture and would like to go on in the future to work in that field.

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

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MEMBERS’ NEWS

SCONE PALACE LEADS THE WAY IN PERTH WITH WORLDHOST STATUS ACCOLADE Scone Palace has become the first organisation in Perth City to be honoured for its commitment to customer service by being awarded WorldHost Recognised Business Status, a globally recognised customer service training programme.

Members of the Scone Palace customer service team completing WorldHost Training with Isla Kinnear from Perth College, UHI and Sarah Butler, Chief Executive for Scone Palace.

Perth & Kinross Council are supporting the prestigious training scheme and working with Skills Development Scotland to offer funding to local SME businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector. WorldHost is a world-class customer service training programme that has already been used to train over 150,000 people in the UK, including tens of thousands of staff and volunteers for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and, more recently, 3000 Scotrail staff in preparation for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014. With over half of its customer-facing staff trained to WorldHost standards, Scone Palace has officially joined the

elite list of organisations that offer exceptional customer service and become a WorldHost Recognised Business. On receiving the recognition, Sarah Butler, Chief Executive for Scone Palace, commented: “Offering outstanding customer service is at the very heart of what we do and giving visitors a warm welcome and an unforgettable experience is integral to our continuing success as one of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions. We are incredibly proud that so many of our staff have completed WorldHost training and to be awarded WorldHost Recognised Business Status is a fantastic achievement for our customerfacing teams. I am sure that the training will enable our team to offer an even more exceptional experience to visitors.”

LOCAL CHEF APPOINTED AS MASTER CHEF OF GREAT BRITAIN Award-winning Perth city centre restaurant Café Tabou Executive Chef and co-owner, Marek Michalak, has recently been accredited the title of a Master Chef of Great Britain. Joining an elite group of only around 250 chefs throughout the UK, he is the first Polish chef to be appointed the title. The Master Chefs of Great Britain was formed with the aims of not only providing chefs with the opportunity to exchange ideas but also to further the profession through the training and guidance of young chefs. The association promotes the best of British produce to the general public, provides cookery demonstrations at food festivals, colleges and schools as well as publishing a food and wine magazine. It has been in existence for around 35 years and has

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

prestigious members including Nick Nairn, Bruce Sangster and Tony Singh. Chef Michalak commented on the accreditation: “I’ve been hoping to gain the Master Chefs of GB title for some time now – it’s been a passion of mine to obtain such a prestigious title which is approved by leading fellow chefs. It’s a wonderful feeling to be recognised personally within your industry sector. We’ve had another very successful year at Café Tabou with some great improvements to our outside terrace area and we have the busy festive season close at hand which starts the week of the festive lights switch-on when we host our successful Chocolate Festival Dinner.” Marek’s Master Chefs accreditation was announced at Café Tabou’s recent sell-out Scotch Beef Dinner where diners included Jamie Scott (winner of BBC’s Masterchef: the Professionals 2014), local Master Chef of GB Tim Dover and local butcher Beaton Lindsay who is currently President of the Scottish Federation of Meat Traders.

MEMBERS’ NEWS

SCOTLAND’S BEST FLOORING COMPANY FINALIST – SCOTTISH HOME IMPROVEMENT AWARDS Glenearn were delighted to discover they had been recognised as one of only five finalists in this year’s Scottish Home Improvement Awards, in the Scotland’s Best Flooring Company category. The Awards recognise the very best from Scotland’s Home Improvement Industry. Jane Ewing, Director of Glenearn explains: ‘We are not the type of firm who generally gets involved in awards or competitions and we certainly don’t put ourselves up for them. So when we found out we had been shortlisted as a finalist we were taken aback. We continued to quietly get on with what we do best as a business, focusing on our customers, product and service delivery without publicising the awards vote. We were therefore totally overwhelmed to discover that our customers had proposed us and had subsequently been voting for us in large numbers!’

SIDEY GAINS SEVENTH SPOT IN UK TOP 30 INDUSTRY LIST Sidey has scooped seventh place in Insight Data’s annual list of the industry’s top 30 PVCu fabricators in the UK, placing them first in Scotland. Sidey, who have been operating locally since 1932, were shortlisted by Insight Data following a successful financial year. Sidey proudly achieved a place in the top 30 in last year’s report and have maintained their position at number seven on the list. The Fabricator and Installer market report, published annually, examines the window, door and conservatory market across the length and breadth of the UK. It analyses industry data and provides reports and information on regional breakdowns, material preferences, business sizes and other pertinent information about the industry. Joint Managing Director Steve Hardy comments:

All of the finalists were then independently judged based on accounts from their customers. In the end it was The Wooden Floor Company from Glasgow who took the award home. Glenearn were the only company to be recognised outwith the Glasgow and Edinburgh areas and are absolutely delighted with their achievement. The Awards ceremony was held at the Crown Plaza, Glasgow, where a fabulous night of dinner and entertainment was enjoyed by all. Glenearn are a family run business. Since family head, George Ewing Snr retired, son, George Jnr and his sister Jane are continuing to drive the business forward.

“We are very proud to have maintained our top-ten status on Insight Data’s prestigious list. “We would like to stress that none of this would be possible without our staff and customers who year on year show excellent loyalty and allow us to excel in our sector. “Sidey are always happy to report that we consistently achieve at least 98% customer satisfaction and to have our success also independently recognised is a great achievement. “The report points to a bright future and we hope to keep providing high quality products, delivery and service to exceed our customers’ expectations.”

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

MEMBERS’ NEWS

ACTION GLEN ADDS THREE WORLD-FIRSTS TO GOOGLE STREET VIEW®

THE WORLD’S BEST TRUFFLE

Action Glen, the outdoor adventure centre based at Crieff Hydro, has added three world-first point-ofview tours to Google Street View®. The ground-breaking tours come two years after Crieff Hydro allowed web browsers to swim a length of their pool in what was another first for the global mapping service. Google Trusted Photography franchise Mr Droogle, which created the largest Google Maps Business View tour in Scotland for Crieff Hydro in 2013, produced the POV tours that allow viewers to experience three of the adrenaline-filled activities on offer at Action Glen. Fifteen months later the result is three more world-firsts for Street View®.

Iain Burnett Highland Chocolatier, Scotland’s most awarded chocolatier, has been acclaimed The World’s Best Dark Chocolate Truffle without any added flavourings! Tens of thousands of chocolates from over 40 countries were judged by world class chefs, sommeliers and food experts to decide on this Gold International Chocolate Award. Iain Burnett’s Velvet Truffles received a further two Silvers for the Passion Fruit & Mango White Velvet Truffle and the Raspberry & Black Pepper Velvet Truffle.

The first, a tour of ‘Aloft!’ the Action Glen high ropes course, took 11 days across six months, and required special permission from Google to shoot.

The International Chocolate Awards held their World Finals at The Chocolate Show in London, Olympia, Kensington to bring Chocolate Week to a close this past weekend.

The normal tripod specified for shooting couldn’t be used as its legs spread too wide for most of the raised wooden platforms. Instead Mr Droogle had to get consent from Google to source a special sixmetre long carbon fibre device called a panopole to get the camera to the viewer’s head height while on the course.

Already a winner of three awards for his unique Velvet Truffles in the UK finals earlier this year, Iain’s exquisite Velvet Truffles have now received this crowning recognition in the elite world of the finest chocolate. The entire Highland Chocolatier team are thrilled about the achievement and are proud to receive such an amazing accolade.

The second ground-breaking tour takes the viewer on a cross-country Segway trek past a range of other activities available at Action Glen, which has the largest fleet of Segways in Scotland. The final tour puts the viewer on a quad bike for a thrill ride around Action Glen’s sand and gravel quarry course.

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

The International Chocolate Awards recognise the finest quality chocolate from around the world. The awards reflect international tastes, offering a level playing field for world-wide entries overseen by a Grand Jury who travel to each competition. The judging panel is made up of a cross section of experts, food journalists and pastry chefs. Prizes are separated according to category with one Gold and a number of Silver awards available in each. The categories, which range from truffles to bars, are designed to reflect current tastes and exquisite offerings within the chocolate industry.

Christmas at Murrayshall Stutts Festive Lunch

Ne'ers Day Brunch

Christmas at Murrayshall

Stutts Festive Lunch

Hogmanay Hogmanay

Ne'ers Day Brunch

Stutts Christmas Day Stutts Christmas Day

For more details on all our festive events and go to www.murrayshall.co.uk Formenus more details on all our festive events and menus go to www.murrayshall.co.uk

MEMBERS’ NEWS

CELEBRATIONS WITH A VINTAGE TWIST Perthshire Chamber members, Perth Racecourse and Thorntons Solicitors, came together to create a unique experience for 250 members of the Scottish law firm’s team as they celebrated 25 years in business. Together with their catering partners, Sodexo Prestige, Perth Racecourse prides itself on offering award-winning hospitality and Thorntons put this reputation to the test when they booked in for a sunny Saturday in June with a Vintage Fair and Barbecue in the new Rustic Barn.

RARE CASK SELLS OUT AT GLENTURRET DISTILLERY Glenturret Distillery’s release of a rare 28-yearold single cask malt whisky, described as the best cask that has ever been produced by Scotland’s oldest working distillery, has garnered attention from whisky lovers around the globe. So much so that a planned launch of an international delivery service had to be brought forward by the distillery, several weeks before it was set to be introduced, to meet international demand.

Jane Davidson from Thorntons commented: “We’d been looking for a venue to host our 25 year celebration and Perth Racecourse offered the perfect spot. We have offices across Scotland so it’s really central and with 250 guests we needed a big space!

Only 240 bottles of The Brock Malloy Edition #Cask328 (70cl, bottled at cask-strength) were made available for whisky enthusiasts from all across the world to buy online and now the limited edition malt has completely sold out.

“The food was one of the highlights; it was excellent! Everything came out on time and was really well presented. The BBQ gave us a relaxed vibe and fitted perfectly with the barn and the fair.

Stuart Cassells, General Manager of The Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery commented:

“People are still talking about it, saying how much fun they’d had and how tasty the BBQ was. The feedback has been unbelievable!”

“Cask 328 has always been known to be special and I’m delighted we are able to give whisky enthusiasts the opportunity to taste this rare and exceptional whisky. The cask was delicately filled and skilfully warehoused on the 16th December 1986 by two Scottish stillmen, Hugh Malloy and Chic Brock, whose names the rare bottling now embraces. I’m sure they’d be thrilled to know they are now world famous!”

Tracey Quin of Perth Racecourse commented: “Thorntons event was such good fun and we all had a great time coming up with ideas and menus to suit their brief. Our chefs use the very best in Scottish seasonal ingredients wherever possible and the BBQ really showed off the quality that we can deliver in outdoor dining. We’d love other chamber members to get in touch and chat to us about their parties and events.”

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

MEMBERS’ NEWS

INVERALMOND BREWERY’S FLYING HIGH WITH CHARITY BREW Inveralmond Brewery, one of Scotland’s leading independent craft-beer breweries, has recently raised a high flying toast to a brew that is set to put some fizz into the fundraising efforts of Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA). Launching the special SCAA beer from the comfort of their custom made bar at the Brewery, Managing Director Fergus Clark was joined by SCAA’s Head of Fundraising, Sally Cameron, and Joyce Leslie, a Trustee of the charity, to formally “wet the head” of the new partnership. With a five pence donation from every pint sold in participating pubs, there is potentially a lot to celebrate for the Perth based charity which has responded to over 700 emergency callouts across Scotland since it was launched. Not only is the partnership with Inveralmond Brewery helping to keep the lifesaving service in the air, its widespread availability in pubs and bars across Scotland is also helping to spread awareness of the great work SCAA do. The beer has proved a great success since its summer launch. Fergus Clark commented: “The SCAA Charity Beer has been very well received by our trade customers and we’re thrilled that the charity brew is now being enjoyed in many outlets across Scotland. We’re delighted to be helping make a significant difference to this amazing charity which provides an incredible emergency service.”

SHOENA IS HEAVEN SENT TO HEAVEN SCENT Heaven Scent Kitchen, the outside catering branch of award winning Heaven Scent artisan coffee shop in Milnathort, has recently appointed Shoena Payne as Sales and Marketing Manager to expand and grow this already flourishing business. Shoena has over 18 years experience in the hospitality and events industry, most recently with events management company Maximillion, and will be responsible for business development in the corporate sector. Please get in touch with Shoena if you’re looking for a BBQ for a fun day, corporate lunches, bowl food for a product launch, afternoon tea for a retirement party, buffet supper and any other catering requirements for either your office or off-site.

To find out more about Inveralmond Brewery visit www.inveralmond-brewery.co.uk

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

MEMBERS’ NEWS

RETIREMENT DREAMS MEAN BUSY LIFE FOR BINN GROUP

ALIBOB’S BAKING RISES TO THE TOP

Binn Group is delighted to be working with the UK’s leading retirement housebuilder – McCarthy & Stone – at two of their prestigious developments in Perth and Kinross. Binn Group is providing a full range of recycling and waste collection services for the developments at Isla Road, Perth, and The Muirs, Kinross, which are due for completion early in 2016. This involves working closely with the company to ensure Binn Group can guarantee 100% diversion of their site waste from landfill. The engagement process involved both McCarthy & Stone and Binn Group working together to agree the best service delivery package to suit their changing needs as the sites develop. The range of waste handled from the housing development sites includes plasterboard, timber, Dry Mixed Recycling (DMR), scrap metal and general waste from office and staff facilities (with provision for food waste). Binn Group Commercial Manager Jim Brown said the Glenfarg-based company was “delighted” to be working so closely with one of the country’s leading home builders to help minimise their waste profile and maximise their site efficiency. “McCarthy & Stone is a highly respected company and we’re very pleased to have forged a successful working relationship with them which we hope will endure for other developments north of the border.”

AliBob @ Cairn O’Mohr is celebrating the achievement of a prestigious Scottish Baking Award after an assessment by baking supremo Melanie Andrews; the Director of the SBA. Husband and wife team, Ali and Bob Abercrombie, took over the running of the café at the Cairn O’Mohr winery in March 2014 and have gone from strength to strength over the past 18 months with footfall more than doubling since they opened. Ali, who produces all of the food and baking on the premises, was keen for the café to achieve a nationally recognised award for the standard of baking that was being offered to customers, so she contacted the SBA for an independent assessment. With a focus on using local Perthshire produce, Ali was delighted to achieve 10/10 for many of the items presented to Melanie for assessment, including her cheese scones and Freegan Flapjack – a gluten and dairy free recipe of her own creation. “I’ve received many compliments from customers, staff, friends and family on the food in the café but it was important for me to have an independent assessor’s assurance that AliBob @ Cairn O’Mohr is going that extra mile for our customers and offering them the best quality possible,” said Ali. “Melanie is an expert in her field and to have achieved such high marks from her is just fantastic.” AliBob @ Cairn O’Mohr will now go through to the National Awards at the end of October, which form part of the “Cake and Bake Show” that is coming to Scotland for the first time this year at Ingliston, Edinburgh.

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

CHAMBER SPONSORS

PARTNERSHIPS ENHANCE CHAMBER OFFERING

Platinum Partners

erthshire Chamber of Commerce is hugely grateful to the on-going support offered by their raft of committed Sponsor Partners.

The backing of key Platinum, Gold and Silver Partners has allowed the Chamber to function on a level otherwise unachievable. Their input guarantees an enhanced service for all our members in terms of the range of events, quality of service and dedicated support. PCC Chief Executive, Vicki Unite, explained the importance of these Partnerships and what they bring to the Chamber, as well as the benefits for those businesses signing up to a Partnership package. “The role of the Chamber is to support local businesses and the extent of that support would be severely restricted were it not for our generous Platinum, Gold and Silver Partners, working in addition to the support of our membership as a whole,” she said. “We introduced these tiered packages in response to the recession where we needed to make our sponsorship opportunities more accessible – particularly taking into account a huge percentage of Perthshire businesses are micro-businesses. “By creating these packages, which provide a core of common benefits – but have the ability to be fully tailored to the Partners’ requirements – we are able to offer a level of service that is closely aligned to the businesses’ marketing and promotional activities and overall objectives,” explained Vicki. “The support that we receive from our Partners also allows us to subsidise our costs and reduce fee increases while continuously growing our service offering and support for members.”

Gold Partners

Vicki explained that the benefits package was not all one way and stressed that Sponsor Partners could capitalise on both raised profiles and on-going publicity through their year-long relationship, increasing their standing in the local business community. “Our Sponsor Partners are all businesses that are well established in Perth and Kinross and want to support the rest of the business community in the area – especially our wealth of SMEs and business start-ups,” said Vicki. “They are putting something back into the local business sector and we are extremely grateful for their foresight and generosity,” she added. “Perthshire Chamber of Commerce punches well above its weight and that is due in no small measure to our Partners. The level and breadth of service we deliver would be much reduced without their backing.”

Silver Partners

Vicki is happy to discuss Sponsor Partner packages with both existing and potential supporters at any time. “It really is a partnership and all our Platinum, Gold and Silver partners deserve the grateful thanks of the Board, staff and membership of the Chamber.”

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STAR AWARDS Mike McDiarmid, President of Perthshire Chamber, welcoming the members

George Stubbs of sponsor, G S Group, delivering his speech to the guests

Shows hosts Maureen Young and Gary Robinson

BUSINESS FINALISTS SELECTED FOR STAR BILLING

he countdown to this year’s Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards has begun in earnest as judges reveal their finalists from a record entry of local companies. The shortlisted entrants for Perthshire’s most prestigious business awards will now be asked to “play their aces” as judges begin the task of visiting and interviewing this year’s finalists. And Chamber chief executive Vicki Unite said the competition couldn’t be fiercer as one of the most impressive line-ups ever assembled for the Star Awards goes under the spotlight. “It’s now up to each of those companies shortlisted to convince judges that they have real ‘Star quality’,” she said. “The standard this year is exceptional and the judges’ task will be extraordinarily difficult – any of the finalists could be our ultimate winners. “Finalists now have to deliver a sharp impressive presentation to judges, matching the high standard of their entry, and backed by a stand-out profiling of their business as they bid to secure the judges’ vote.” But Vicki stressed that entrants who have not been shortlisted this year should not be downhearted. “We were very impressed by the standard of entry – right across the board – and whittling down each category to three or four finalists has been a really tough job,” she said. “Everyone who entered should be extremely proud of their business and what they have achieved to even make them a candidate for the awards.” Celebrating all aspects of the local business world, the area’s premier Awards will highlight the real “stars” across leading sectors including tourism and leisure, food and drink, retail, innovation, customer service, commitment to the community and exporting. Perthshire Chamber of Commerce also recognises the value of emerging talent and individuals who have proved outstanding in their particular sector will have a chance to shine in the apprentice and employee of the year categories.

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

Entrants this year include regular Star Awards supporters as well as new faces, with established internationally renowned organisations sharing the shorltisted slots with emerging one man operations. Chamber directors, sponsors and experts from the business world will help unearth the shiniest Stars in one of the country’s most robust judging procedures in the run-up to a glittering showdown at a black tie dinner at Crieff Hydro on Friday, November 20. “The Chamber is so proud to be able to showcase the best in the business at our awards dinner,” explained Vicki. “It really is a very exciting evening for everyone and the suspense among the finalists is tangible. Everyone joins in the celebration and acclaim for our winners and that makes for a great atmosphere. “We’re looking forward to another outstanding celebration of Perthshire’s high achievers this year,” she added. “As the definitive local business awards, Perthshire Business Star Awards continues to attract, showcase, applaud and reward those companies and individuals who are making a difference. “Over the years, the unique Caithness Glass handcrafted PCC Business Star trophies have become much-sought-after targets for companies to achieve,” she added, “and we have rolled out hundreds of examples of business excellence in the form of our winners. This November we will undoubtedly discover some new bright shining Stars.” The stage is now being set for the district’s most glittering awards ceremony as Perthshire Chamber of Commerce counts down to the 2015 Business Star Awards. Once again, a raft of professionals have been engaged to ensure the top business awards black tie dinner and presentation ceremony on Friday, November 20, is a night to remember.

STAR AWARDS Chamber Chief Executive Vicki Unite said it was a case of “calling in the experts” to create something worthy of the galaxy of Business Stars who would be crowned on the night.

An audience of around 300 will dine and delight in this year’s high-profile Awards event unaware of the weeks of work put in by the preparation and delivery team.

“The Business Star Awards now has a tried and tested team of experts who deliver 100 per cent for us time and time again,” she said. “Their skills and expertise are what make our awards dinners so special and we work really well as a unit.

“Most of us have worked together for years and we always try to raise the bar each time,” explained Vicki. ”Everyone brings something special to the mix and goes the extra mile to deliver a special event. It’s their professionalism that helps make this event the highlight of the local business calendar.”

“Everyone – from the staff pouring drinks to the guys working the sound and lights – has a pivotal role in the ‘show’ and they really care about the event and want it to go well. Their commitment really adds value and quality to the night and makes it a lot of fun for everyone involved behind the scenes as well.”

*This annual celebration of the best in the business world

always proves a spectacular night out and tickets (£65 + VAT) can be booked in advance by contacting the Chamber office on 01738 488325 or by email to events@perthshirechamber.co.uk

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARD SPONSORED BY MCLEOD GLAZIERS Graham Borrie, AGB Small Contracts

INTERNATIONALISATION AWARD SPONSORED BY PERTH & KINROSS COUNCIL Vector Aerospace Component Services UK

Callum McKenna, Graham Hygiene Services Claire Officer, Perth Autism Support

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARD SPONSORED BY PERTH COLLEGE UHI James Munro, Binn Group

BUSINESS GROWTH AWARD SPONSORED BY JOHNSTON CARMICHAEL CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS AGB Small Contracts

Scott Mason, GBEC Scotland

The Lending Channel

Matthew Gorrie, LW Haddow Plumbing, Heating & Electrical

Merlin ERD

Hollie Millar, Scott Hospitality Services

Volpa

Darren Le’Drew, SSE MOST PROMISING NEW BUSINESS AWARD SPONSORED BY ELEVATOR & BUSINESS GATEWAY Alibob @ Cairn O’Mhor The Anglers Inn Blend Coffee Lounge

COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY AWARD SPONSORED BY ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND Horsecross Arts One Voice Volunteer Group Association Perth & Kinross Association of Voluntary Service

Derrybeg Bed & Breakfast EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD SPONSORED BY GRAHAM ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Blackhills Clinic Crieff Hydro

EXCELLENCE IN TOURISM & LEISURE AWARD SPONSORED BY BANK OF SCOTLAND Action Glen The Black Watch Castle & Museum

Fairways

The Enchanted Forest Community Trust

MDG Group

Land Rover Experience Scotland

EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS INNOVATION AWARD SPONSORED BY BINN GROUP Merlin ERD

CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABILITY AWARD SPONSORED BY STAGECOACH GROUP Comrie Croft

Miconex

Kilmac Group

Scott Hospitality Services

Vector Aerospace Component Services UK

Tower Bakery

EXCELLENCE IN E-COMMERCE AWARD SPONSORED BY FAIRWAYS HR BUSINESS SUPPORT AND RECRUITMENT SPECIALISTS Eva Lucia PC Solutions Perth Perth Racecourse INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD SPONSORED BY BLACKADDERS Eva Lucia Loch Leven’s Larder Perthshire Flooring Provender Brown Delicatessen EXCELLENCE IN FOOD & DRINK PRODUCE AWARD SPONSORED BY THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE Allan’s Chilli Products Highland Distillers (Glenturrett) The Inveralmond Brewery Mr C’s Hand-Crafted Pies

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Lookers PLC

AUTUMN BLOWS IN THE NEW A4 Lomond Fleet Team

are excited, the New A4 is arriving and will be with us at the end of November and the factory ordering has officially opened. 90 percent of the 4th Generation A4 has fresh components and boasts lower kerb weight. Virtual Cockpit as in the TT is an option alongside copious amounts of driver assistance packages, offering 30 systems! You have the security and confidence of the most advanced safety systems. With 7 engines, 3 gearboxes and 54 variants, there is an option to suit you as a company car driver, most importantly weighing in as much as 120kg less than the outgoing model and a drag coefficency of 0.23, making the A4 the lowest in class. Most importantly the Co2 starts at 99g. The Lookers Fleet Team will be visiting companies across the central belt in November with a Roadshow, offering company car drivers the opportunity to discuss the fantastic technology and the ability to test drive. If you wish the team to include visiting your business, please email to the address below and we will include you on our tour.

Audi Fleet Team. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Ayr & Hamilton. Jacqui.lee@lomondaudigroup.com â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 0141 565 6389

RE: Business Star Awards 2014 Dear John, I would like to say a huge thank you for the excellent support Momentum Design provide for the Business Star Awards and Annual Dinner 2014 through the fantastic website.

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This is the largest event in our calendar and without the valuable support and input of our sponsors and supporters we would not be able to stage such a wonderful event. It was a pleasure to work with you this year and we look forward to working together again in the future. Thank you again. Victoria Unite Chief Executive Perthshire Chamber of Commerce

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INVESTMENT AND GROWTH

SPORTING CHANCE FOR PERTH COLLEGE UHI

uilding work has started on a major project to develop an Academy of Sport and Well Being (ASW) at Perth College UHI. ASW will provide a vibrant addition to the city campus and an academic focus on achieving excellence in the delivery of sport, health and wellbeing courses to degree level. Alongside this academic focus the venue will provide opportunities for students to engage with community groups to provide an inclusive programme of sports and wellbeing initiatives. In particular ASW will concentrate on learning, teaching and professional development of individuals to maximise their potential and provide skilled and talented individuals for the workforce who will bridge the skills gap for these rapidly expanding industries. ASW will also provide a backdrop to engage with disadvantaged groups on a number of levels allowing Perth College

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE â&#x20AC;˘ AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

INVESTMENT AND GROWTH

UHI to engage with groups through targeted programmes and initiatives such as Perth YMCA, Barnardo’s Works and Perth and Kinross Council’s Criminal Justice Services. The requirement for a sports facility was initially identified in the Perth College UHI Strategic Plan 2007-16 as appropriately equipped sports facilities are not available at the college and students are required to undertake practical classes elsewhere. Building work started in August at the Crieff Road campus site next to the student union and cafe and will be completed and ready for use by 1st September 2016. The ASW will provide a unique sporting facility focussing on education, training and the improvement of practical skills. The design of the building has been arrived at through curriculum leader input, stakeholder consultation and liaison with a range of Sports’ National Governing Bodies in conjunction with the appointment of specialist design professionals. The new complex will include:

• A multipurpose national standard sports hall featuring

a six badminton court facility which includes markings for badminton, hockey, netball and basketball with fixed equipment to include an electronic scoreboard and dividing net. The facility will also allow for indoor cricket.

• The sports hall will benefit from retractable bleacher seating, providing approximately 428 seats at one side of the hall.

• A national standard climbing chamber comprising of a bouldering wall, roped wall area, performance wall and early years facilities.

• Fitness

wing including fitness suite, strength and conditioning suite and kinetic zone.

• Modern Hair and Beauty Therapy suites. • Clinical Skills room. • Specialist teaching and research areas together with ancillary facilities

“This is a project that is going to make a difference not only today but tomorrow and for our children and grandchildren in years to come. It will help us to create a healthier Scotland and provide exciting opportunities in sport”

David Smith MBE Paralympic Gold Medallist, Perth College UHI Ambassador

Through close collaboration with the National Governing Bodies across a range of sports and local sporting clubs to ensure that required quality standards are met – including Badminton Scotland, Scottish Hockey, Mountaineering Council for Scotland, Cricket Scotland, Scottish Canoe Association, St Johnstone FC and Scottish Student Sport – ASW will support the ‘grass roots’ development of sport, engaging young people from across the region and beyond. ASW will also bring elite athletes and their coaching teams to study, train and compete in the city thus promoting and encouraging active, healthy lifestyles. Working in partnership with industry, professional bodies and sports’ governing bodies will also bring enormous benefits to the students of the college as they develop skills in social responsibility and become role models in the community. They will have opportunities to volunteer to run coaching sessions from the ‘early years’, enthusiastic amateurs, disabled groups, hard to reach youngsters and local clubs in the area to the highest level of performance and gain practical, hands-on experience across a range of community groups. To ensure that the ASW achieves its objectives, they will closely monitor the following:

• The increase in participation levels in sport especially in disadvantaged groups

• The growth in the number of qualified instructors and coaches in the region

• The increase in student recruitment • An improvement in student satisfaction and employment

“A sports academy on campus would give us the opportunity to achieve excellence in the field of sport and physical activity and prepare us for employment in this rapidly growing industry”

destination statistics

• The growth in national level competitions taking place in Perth

Kirsty MacDuff, HNC Fitness Health and Exercise Students, Perth College UHI

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

BUSINESS SUPPORT

BUSINESS MONTH SET TO STRENGTHEN November 2015 PERTH AND KINROSS BUSINESSES

10TH 04TH

How toPerth Take on&Staff withoutBusiness Spending a&Fortune Kinross Enterprise Month will run Wed 11th November the month of November and will focus on a range throughout Birnam Arts & Conference Centre, Dunkeld

erth & Kinross Business and Enterprise Month is set

Renewables to andgive Cleanbusinesses Technology: a boost in the region, with local Challenges and Opportunities for your Business business support organisations coming together to Tues 10th November present a fantastic schedule of events. Mercedes-Benz, Perth

of business topics relevant to the local business community.

Inspiring Youth Thurs 12th TheNovember business month involves a partnership Morning session - Perth Playhouse number of business support organisations in Afternoon session - Perth College UHI

highlight opportunities, provide support and training and share information. We want business owners of all types to know that Perth & Kinross is a place where they can thrive and there is ample support available to help your business become a success.” The events calendar is continuing to be developed, so make sure you continue to visit www.pkbem.co.uk to keep up to date with the events on offer and to book your place.

between a the region including Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, Elevator & Managing for Growth - The Future Web Business Gateway, Perthof&theKinross Council, the Federation Tues 17th November. 10:30-13:30 of Small Businesses and UHI Perth College. Perth College UHI – Brahan Theater

the month include:

4thFinalist November, UHI Perth College Business Wednesday Star Awards 2015 Ceremony This launch event for the business month will bring in Fri 20th November Crieff Hydro Hotel breaker and explorer, Mark Beaumont along with record

range of local business speakers to inspire and energise. •

For more information and to book onlineFOR please visit: MANAGING GROWTH, THE FUTURE OF THE WEB

Tuesday 17th November, UHI Perth College ITwww.pkbem.co.uk and the web plays a massive role in modern business or contact Ross@ElevatorUK.com and this special session featuring internet expert Steven Whitelaw will offer an insight into what the web will look like in the near future and how it could be used for erthKinrossEnterpriseBusiness business.

s Enterprise Month.indd 2

2015 2015

What’s What’sOn OnNovember November

Inspired Inspired Business Business Wed Wed 4th 4th November November 2015. 2015. 9:30 9:30 –– 13:15 13:15 Perth Perth College College UHI UHI

10 04TH 10TH TH 04TH

Some of the events scheduled for Think Innovation, Think Global Wed 18th November, 10:30-13:00 The Famous Grouse Glenturret Distillery, Crieff • INSPIRED BUSINESS EVENT

Renewables Renewables and and Clean Clean Technology: Technology: Challenges Challenges and and Opportunities Opportunities for for your your Business Business Tues Tues 10th 10th November November Mercedes-Benz, Mercedes-Benz, Perth Perth

06/10/2015 15:23:06

• INNOVATION & INTERNATIONALISATION EVENT Wednesday 18th November, Venue tbc This event will offer an insight into innovation in business in exporting services and products abroad. This session is ideal for those who are considering growing their business internationally.

How How toto Take Take onon Staff Staff without without Spending Spending aa Fortune Fortune Wed Wed 11th 11th November November Birnam Birnam Arts Arts && Conference Conference Centre, Centre, Dunkeld Dunkeld

12 11TH 12TH TH 11TH

20TH 18TH 17TH

Inspired Business Wed 4th November 2015. 9:30 – 13:15 Perth College UHI

12TH 11TH

What’s On

Inspiring Inspiring Youth Youth Thurs Thurs 12th 12th November November Morning Morning session session - Perth - Perth Playhouse Playhouse Afternoon Afternoon session session - Perth - Perth College College UHI UHI

20 18TH 17TH 20TH TH 18TH 17TH

Managing Managing for for Growth Growth - The - The Future Future ofof the the Web Web Tues Tues 17th 17th November. November. 10:30-13:30 10:30-13:30 Perth Perth College College UHI UHI –– Brahan Brahan Theater Theater

• BUSINESS STAR AWARDS 2015 Friday 20th November, Crieff Hydro Hotel The Business Star Awads recognise and rewards the finest of local companies – both large and small – whose impact and performance have helped to keep Perthshire at the forefront of Scottish business in the 21st century. This evening dinner ceremony is the culmination of the awards process, with the winners being crowned.

Think Think Innovation, Innovation, Think Think Global Global Wed Wed 18th 18th November, November, 10:30-13:00 10:30-13:00 The The Famous Famous Grouse Grouse Glenturret Glenturret Distillery, Distillery, Crieff Crieff Business Business Star Star Awards Awards 2015 2015 Finalist Finalist Ceremony Ceremony FriFri 20th 20th November November Crieff Crieff Hydro Hydro Hotel Hotel

Andrew Burnett, Operations Director, Business Gateway said: “We have worked closely with our partners to ensure this month focuses on issues that are important to the local business community. The events have been designed to

For For more more information information and and toto book book online online please please visit: visit:

www.pkbem.co.uk www.pkbem.co.uk oror contact contact Ross@ElevatorUK.com Ross@ElevatorUK.com

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

/PerthKinrossEnterpriseBusiness /PerthKinrossEnterpriseBusiness

BUSINESS SUPPORT

MANAGING DATA – THE LIFEBLOOD OF YOUR BUSINESS

H SCOTLAND’S NEW NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ARE PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE WORKPLACE Employers can look forward to recruiting young people who have developed the knowledge, skills and experience needed for the modern workplace. SQA’s new National Qualifications have been developed to support Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).The new National 1 to National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications are now being taught in schools and colleges across Scotland, after the new Advanced Higher was recently introduced in August 2015. The first young people to leave school with the new Higher did so in June this year, and the first young people to leave school with the new Advanced Higher will do so in June 2016. Employers can expect to see the new qualifications included on more CV’s and application forms. How will the new qualifications prepare young people for the workplace? The qualifications have a greater focus on developing skills and ensuring young people can use their skills beyond the classroom. Therefore, there is more assessment through things like practical activities, performances and research projects, which allow young people to demonstrate their capabilities.

elping you to become more efficient and improve the effectiveness of ongoing communications with your most valued customers.

We know that managing data can be an exhaustive job and is not just associated with monitoring changes in a particular circumstance - be it with both consumer and businesses data. Organisations also have a responsibility to ensure that the customer data that they use is both accurate and up to date and that they follow best practice suppression guidelines. These changes in circumstance cause consumer and business data to rapidly decay and the integrity of the consumer and business data used within customer communications and marketing campaigns has a direct impact on the response rates, campaign costs and a consumer’s perception of the organisation. Data cleansing enables organisations to address these issues by: •

Reducing costs associated with contacting individuals who cannot or will not respond

•

Improving the effectiveness of communications to consumers, improving response rates and return on marketing investment

•

Reducing the risk of causing consumer annoyance and damaging brand reputation

•

Ensuring that data and marketing communications are compliant with the numerous data regulatory requirements

For further information on the benefits of data cleansing, or to enquire about a free data health check, please contact us. Provided by Alan Steele, Johnston Mailing Email: Asteele@johnstonmailing.co.uk Tel: 07713 199 617 Website: www.johnstonmailing.co.uk

Employers can expect to see more young people leaving school with a diverse range of qualifications, including National Qualifications and vocational qualifications such as SQA’s Skills for Work Courses, National Progression Awards (NPAs) and National Certificates (NCs). To find out more, visit www.sqa.org.uk/cfeforemployers where you can download our latest guide for employers. Provided by Chris Wilson, SQAEmail: Christopher.Wilson@sqa.org.uk Tel : 0345 213 5973 Website: www.sqa.org.uk

Alan Steele, Johnston Mailing

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Scotland’s hydro history offers major boost to Perthshire business and tourism Ever wondered what it takes to plan, build and operate a hydroelectric power station? Or how the power of Scotland’s mighty rivers and lochs is still harnessed today by technology perfected in the 1950s? Well, energy company SSE has just opened a new archive centre at its Pitlochry power station and dam, sharing access to researchers and interested members of the public for the first time.

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

t’s remarkable to think that many locals were appalled at the idea of a power station at Pitlochry when it was first planned over 60 years ago, with some foretelling the “ruination of tourism” or that “river beds would become dried-up; the Falls of Bruar will become a mere trickle.” Fortunately, thanks to responsible management, none of the doomsday scenarios ever came to pass and some 500,000 people now cross Pitlochry dam every year.

stories, both old and new, is to bring them together under one roof and being a Perthshire company we are proud to be announcing this investment in Pitlochry.”

In fact Pitlochry dam and hydro station have proved an ongoing hit with tourists and is one of several attractions that Pitlochry has to offer, boosting local hotels and businesses. And there’s further good news in the pipeline as SSE is looking to dovetail its new archive centre – recently opened by Finance Minister and local MSP John Swinney – with a new visitor centre which is set to be completed by Autumn 2016.

Electricity is largely taken for granted today but some of our remotest communities were without it until the 1950s

Free to visitors, the £4m centre will use state-of-the-art technology to showcase the role played by the engineers who brought hydro power to Scotland over 70 years ago. Visitors will also discover the secrets of the annual journey made by salmon, as they return to native Perthshire rivers to spawn. It will house a 60 seat café, retail area, and a multi-space area for educational use. Once open, it will support over a dozen full and part-time jobs in peak season. It’s all part of SSE’s plan to create a history ‘hub’ which will bring to life the story of electricity. As outgoing SSE Chairman Lord Smith said: “SSE’s history is Scotland’s history. I believe the best way to share these

Fergus Ewing, Minister for Business, Energy & Tourism, has also hailed the news from SSE as: “a boost for both business and tourism in the Perthshire area.”

But you don’t need to wait until Autumn 2016 if you want to learn about hydro history with the newly opened archive centre now open to visitors by appointment. The archive holds a treasure trove of letters, speeches, plans, photographs and employee magazines. Best of all the archive is located at the dam itself so visitors can hear the rushing waters and reassuring ‘hum’ of the generator making electricity in a tried and trusted manner. The archive tells the story of the electricity industry and SSE itself which can trace its origins to the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board formed in 1943. Electricity is largely taken for granted today but some of our remotest communities were without it until the 1950s when hydro-electric schemes improved the lives of Highlanders. Part of the archive considers how SSE and its forbears have managed to generate power in a responsible way working with communities and environmental bodies. One example of responsible management is the Pitlochry salmon ladder which has been crossed by over 250,000 salmon since it was built in 1952. Thanks to an ingenious system of 34 small pools, each slightly higher than the water level below, Atlantic salmon can reach Loch Faskally on their inland journey to spawn.

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

The viewing rooms allows visitors to see some 4,5005,000 salmon passing through every year – including these two employees enjoying their lunch in the early 1950s! Of course building the tunnels and dams was no mean feat. In the 1950s the men digging the tunnels didn’t have access to the large tunnelling equipment we would see today, and relied on explosives and basic tools to dig through the solid rock. But it didn’t stop the record-breaking Lednock ‘tunnel tigers’ blast their way through 557 feet (170 metres) of rock in one week in 1955 – the same height as Blackpool Tower! Tragically, many men were injured or killed and their legacy will never be forgotten. The archive centre also tells the personal stories of those who connected Scotland’s hydro history. These include the visionary pioneers such as Tom Johnston, who was passionate about bringing electricity to all or Sir Edward MacColl, the engineer

behind the Tummel Scheme. MacColl worked extraordinarily hard and had difficulty delegating responsibility, a factor which may have contributed to his sudden death shortly before the opening of the Tummel Scheme. The archive continues to grow with new deposits coming from the public and staff. For example, SSE recently received a poem written in 1947 by 10-year-old Ian Mackinlay (now 78) who begged the Hydro Board to spare his favourite ash tree when it was raising Loch Tummel by 15 feet. Back then the Hydro Board penned an answer telling the boy it would do its best, but the tree was submerged. Now SSE has just given Ian a mountain ash tree to honour its 68-year-old promise.

FACT BOX Members of the public can visit the SSE Archive in person by making an appointment by e-mail or post. Applicants are required to specify the following: the subject and purpose of their research; the material they would like to view; the date and time they would like to visit; and contact details. E-mail applications should be made to heritage@sse.com and postal applications should be sent to SSE Archive, Pitlochry power station, Port-Na-Craig Road, Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH16 5ND. To view the items that have been catalogued visit www.sseheritage.org.uk.

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

BUSINESS SUPPORT

EMPLOYEE SHARE INCENTIVES IN SMEs The UK currently lags behind the US and a number of European countries in the proportion of employee ownership in companies. A tightening labour market means that many companies, particularly early-stage companies with the potential for growth, should be considering using shares in employee recruitment and incentivisation.

Not Just For Big Fish

The main tax-advantaged employee share schemes used in the UK can have administrative and legal costs that make them unrealistic for many SMEs. However, there are two taxefficient share schemes that could be attractive for companies of all sizes – employee shareholder status and the Enterprise Management Incentive (“EMI”).

It’s Good to Have Options

Rather than issue shares to an employee, it may be more beneficial for the employee to be given share options instead. Share options can be used in many different situations, but there are considerable tax benefits available if options are granted under an EMI scheme. The employee would usually be given the chance to acquire shares in the future at a price equivalent to the value of the shares at the time the option was granted. The benefit for the employee is in being given the chance to share in the future growth of the company without having to either pay for the shares or suffer a tax liability now. From the company’s perspective, it can provide for certain triggers or qualification periods before the option can be exercised, so it can ensure that the employee receives the benefit only if the employee performs as hoped.

employee ownership, it has failed, which is in no way surprising given how misconceived the idea was. However, the tax benefits available (and in particular a potential relief from capital gains tax on the sale of the shares) mean that it is a very desirable option for early-stage companies looking to incentivise their management. To obtain the tax benefits the employee must give up many employment rights, and whilst this would be a concern for many employees it is not likely to concern a management team being recruited to an earlystage company. Chris Allan will explore the potential use of Employee Share Schemes in more detail at a joint seminar with Campbell Dallas and The Royal Bank of Scotland, on Wednesday 7 October at Thorntons Dundee office. Provided by Chris Allan Email: callan@thorntons-law.co.uk Tel: 01382 346234

A Missed Opportunity

In 2013 the Government introduced the idea of “Employee Shareholder Status”. If the intention was to increase wider

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

Chris Allan, Thorntons

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BUSINESS SUPPORT

EMPLOYERS ARE ADVISED TO PLAN FOR THE NATIONAL LIVING WAGE

n April 2016, workers over 25 will be eligible for a national living wage (NLW) premium on top of the national minimum wage. This will have a huge impact on many businesses and on particular sectors such as hospitality, cleaning and social care.

If you want to stay ahead in business, you have to differentiate your products and services from those of your competitors in the minds of your customers. Real, sustained differentiation comes from innovation. PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING INNOVATION MANAGEMENT TRAINING

NLW was an unexpected announcement in the 2015 summer budget designed in the Government’s words, to encourage a move to a ‘higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare society’. When the new NLW comes into force next April, eligible workers must be paid £7.20 per hour. The national minimum wage (NMW) will continue to require the following minimum hourly rates until October 2015: •

Apprentices – £2.73

•

Workers over school age to 17 – £3.79

•

Workers 18 to 20 – £5.13

•

Workers over 21 – £6.50

SUPPORTING YOUR FUTURE 01738 472018 www.perthinnovation.com

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Special discount to members of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce. Visit the open training page at www.perthinnovation.com and select the DACC offer on the Eventbrite link.

The new NLW rate is intended to reflect 60% of median earnings and is expected to increase to around £9.35 by 2020. Despite measures proposed to reduce the NIC burden and corporation tax, commentators believe unemployment will increase, with sectors such as hospitality, cleaning and social care likely to be particularly hard hit. Employers should plan for the NLW by: •

Monitoring employee ages to ensure that when workers reach their 25th birthday their pay increases;

•

Ensuring the increased rate is reflected in holiday pay;

•

Being aware of the effect of the increased wage rate on eligibility for benefits, for example under pension auto-enrolment or maternity pay provisions.

The new rate is different from the aspirational living wage set by the Living Wage Foundation at £7.85 an hour outside London. Provided by Kate Wyatt Email: katewyatt@lindsays.co.uk Tel: 01382 317182 Website: www.lindsays.co.uk

changing the develop individuals & teams increased self awareness • increased self awareness

• • • • • • •

Kate Wyatt, Lindsays

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

improved workplace conversations

improved workplace conversations growing integrity within teams growing integrity within teams unique shared experience unique shared experience

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BUSINESS SUPPORT

SHOULD I ACCEPT A FACEBOOK FRIEND REQUEST FROM MY BOSS? Have you ever experienced that awkward moment when you get a friends request from a relative stranger? Worse still, have you ever experienced that awkward moment when you get a friends request from your boss? It’s always going to be a dilemma. Do you or don’t you? Will you allow your boss to know the secrets which are contained on your timeline? Or will you reject it and run the risk of that embarrassing conversation when your boss mentions his or her pending friends request. And what are your concerns anyway? Can my boss discipline me for posting a status update during working hours? Potentially, yes. However the answer to this question depends entirely on the content and precise wording of your employment contract or staff handbook. Does your employer permit “reasonable use” of social media during working hours? Or does your employer expressly prohibit use of social media during working hours? Either way, if you are breaching the terms of your social media policy and your boss is a Facebook friend, it is entirely reasonable for the boss to take action against you in this respect.

No, not really. If you are friends with your boss on Facebook, any of your status updates will be fair game. Recent tribunal decisions have held that even covert recordings which are “very distasteful” and “discreditable” will not alone render them inadmissible. More and more frequently employees are recording formal meetings without the employer’s consent and then seeking to rely on this covert recording at any future tribunal hearing. So, again, it would be entirely reasonable for your boss to rely on your social media content at a future employment tribunal. So should I accept a Facebook friends request from my boss? One of the first things you learn when you begin your professional career is that you’re going to be spending a lot of time with your colleagues. And if you’re lucky, some of these colleagues could become your friends. Bonding with your trusted colleagues is a no-brainer however what about a friendship with your boss? Having a positive, constructive and open relationship with your boss is always a good thing and, if you can cross that line into friendship (even if it is only Facebook friendship), then you are one of the lucky few! Provided by Simon Allison, Head of Employment Law, Blackadders Email: simon.allison@blackadders.co.uk Tel: 01382 229222 Website: www.blackadders.co.uk

Can my boss use information from my Facebook profile to discipline me? Again, potentially yes. Over the past few years, employment tribunals have permitted employers to use information which has been gleaned from social media to dismiss employees. Is it ever unfair for my boss to rely on this type of evidence at an employment tribunal?

Simon Allison, Blackadders

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

FOOD AND DRINK

Getting familiar with fish The health benefits of eating fish are well documented. But for many the selecting and handling of fresh fish and shellfish puts them off right from the start. Here, top Perth-based fishmonger Iain Campbell offers a guide to what to look for when buying; a preview of new classes to boost your confidence in selecting and handling; and details why we should all be making the harvest of the sea a regular feature on our shopping lists.

How to shop for the freshest fish

We don’t need to go anywhere else in the world to find the freshest Seafood than Scotland. And that glorious harvest of the sea is available right here in Perth and Kinross at your local fishmonger. The first thing that I would look for in a good fishmonger is - as you get near the shop and indeed when you get in the shop - that it doesn’t smell of fish. That may sound odd but fresh fish, properly iced, should not smell. If the shop is kept pristine clean it will not smell either.

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

Now the next thing I would be looking for is experienced and knowledgeable staff. Strike up a conversation by asking where the fish is from. You want detail such as “the white crab meat is from North Uist” or “the hand-dived scallops are from Loch Broom”. As you get to know your fishmonger, you may garner that he has been in the trade since he left school. These facts will give you the confidence to rely upon your fishmonger for advice on what to buy and when, what is sustainably caught and what’s best at this time of year.

FOOD AND DRINK

We don’t need to go anywhere else in the world to find the freshest Seafood than Scotland

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

FOOD AND DRINK

Now the fish itself. If you’re happy to, pick it up and smell it, no smell - great.

Want to learn more?

Working with fish is nothing to be afraid of - you can learn how to master skills such as descaling and filleting.

Look at the eyes, clear and shiny and bright - great. Look at the gills, bright red or pink, not dull or brown - great. Most of the main species of fish are available all year round, seasonality is really about when things are at their best. White fish such as haddock spawn between February and May and will not be at their best during that time, but the spawning varies all around the coast, so for a good fishmonger looking to buy the best for you, it should not be a major issue. Weather is the big factor in availability. When you look out of your window in winter and its blowing a hooley, you can be sure that at sea it’s far worse and the boats may not be out at all! Winter is a challenging time for fishermen and the fish trade, whether trawling, dropping lobster pots or diving for scallops. Bad weather is the enemy, sometimes with dire consequences.

If you want to become more confident in fish/seafood handling there are cooking schools which will have specific days for cooking and preparing Seafood. Here in Perth, George Campbell & Sons has introduced Epicurean Seafood Tasting Tours. The tasting tours are available to anyone with a passion for seafood and cooking. The Tasting Tour include a talk on the history of the family business, followed by a tour of the Smoking Room, where the Scottish Salmon is picked and smoked. Then it’s time to “coat up” as you visit the Fish Hall, where a fishmonger will

Aquaculture, fish farming, has brought some relief as a lot of species are farmed these days. Halibut, turbot, seabass and sea bream are all available year round. That is unless the Channel Tunnel is closed because a lot of farmed fish actually comes from mainland Europe! Oysters are cultivated these days, so the old adage of don’t eat them unless there’s an “R” in the month doesn’t really apply (other than Native Oysters). There’s rather less magic in that phrase than you think, it’s just the four summer months! The main thing is always ask your fishmonger – if he’s good he’ll keep you right! Ian Campbell, Managing Director

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

FOOD AND DRINK Health benefits of fish/seafood

Let’s take a look at some of the known benefits to eating fish and seafood. If you include one portion of seafood in your weekly diet, for example, you may half the chances of suffering a heart attack. And prawns, crabs, squid and octopus are just as packed with vitamins, minerals and fish oils as fish like salmon or cod. They all contain Omega-3 – a key fatty acid known to help with heart health. Although seafood contains cholesterol, it’s actually foods high in saturated fats – the type found in cheese, red meat and fast food – that increase levels of bad cholesterol in the body. Because most fish is low in fat and calories, it’s a nutritious food to add to your weight-loss plan, particularly if you use it to replace fattier and higher-calorie cuts of meat. talk you through a selection of fish and observe the skills of filleting and preparing your fish to take home. Here the tour splits into two versions. Version 1 – you are invited into the kitchen for a tasting selection of Scottish Smoked Salmon, Gravadlax, Hot Smoked Salmon, Cullen Skink, Seafood Quiches, Mackerel Pate, Hot Smoked Salmon Pate to name a few, which are all prepared on site. The second version available of the tasting experience is to have your own Chef cook for your group. Chef will advise and talk you through a five course Tasting Lunch, perhaps introducing new ideas and advice for filleting and cooking at home. Such is the demand for advice on filleting and preparing fish and seafood, we are looking into developing small classes in the kitchen in our Perth demonstration kitchen.

Therefore seafood is unlikely to have a major impact on your blood cholesterol levels. So dive in and enjoy everything our seas have to offer.

The NHS advises against eating raw shellfish and raw seafood during pregnancy

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

CRIEFF BIDS FOR SUCCESS We find out the story behind the town of Crieff’s success in establishing Business Improvement District status and the people behind it

he Crieff Succeeds Bid has been over two years in the making since the idea was first floated in 2013. Through the local Community Council funding was secured in early 2014 from BID Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council. With the funding in place, a Steering Group of local business people was formed and a project Manager was recruited to help develop a Business Plan and to take the BID through a ballot of local businesses. The Business Plan was finalised in February 2015 and in June local businesses voted to accept or reject the Plan. Seventy percent of the voters supported the BID paving the way for a BID Company to be formed on 1st September. Fourteen local business people, elected from a wide spectrum of businesses, have been appointed to the board of which there are three

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

office bearers: Stephen Leckie (Crieff Hydro) as chair, Stuart Cassells (Famous Grouse Experience) vice chair and Graham Donaldson (Gordon and Durward) treasurer. The BID will generate £750,000 over its five year term with this cash being ploughed into supporting and developing the Crieff economy. A Business Improvement District (BID) is a geographically defined area, where businesses come together and agree to invest collectively in projects and services that the businesses believe will improve their trading environment. BIDs aim to deliver new and additional projects and services, they do not replace services that are already provided by local authorities and other public bodies.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BIDs are developed, managed and paid for by the non-domestic sector by means of a levy, which the eligible persons in the proposed BID area must vote in favour of before the BID can be established. BIDs first started in Bloor West Village Toronto, Canada nearly 40 years ago. The town’s businesses were increasingly under pressure from the new shopping centres that were being developed on the outskirts of the town, diverting shoppers away from the traditional town centre out to the new shopping malls. They successfully lobbied for legislation for all the businesses in the proposed BID area to pay a levy. The levy money was used to improve the physical appearance of the town and then promote the town centre as a vibrant, attractive and safe place to work, shop and live. The strategy paid off, as shoppers started to return to the town centre in large numbers. The Crieff BID has focussed its efforts on building footfall to the town and, as a result of many face to face meeting and open meeting, defined the priorities for the town as: • Putting Crieff back on the map and attracting more visitors. • A more welcoming Crieff through improvements to the town centre appearance and better parking. • Buy local schemes supporting local businesses for local people and visitors. • Cash support for events to build year round programme of things to do. • Purchasing schemes that will save businesses money on utility bills. • Cash support for business improvements, staff training and business start-ups. The BID is now in the process of recruiting a BID manager and launching several of the schemes and initiatives within the Business Plan. £150,000 has been set aside to support local events and help local businesses improve customer

experiences through staff training and infrastructure improvements. Businesses will access utility busying schemes that have already saved a pilot test business more than its levy. In addition shop local schemes and projects to help improve the look and feel of Crieff, parking and the digital presence the town has will all fall under the work in the coming months. Alan Rankin the BID Project Leader said: “During the process local businesses were asked; Why do we need a BID in Crieff? The universal view was that if nothing was done Crieff would further decline as a place to live, work and visit. The BID can help to maximise Crieff’s assets, help turnaround this decline and put the town back on the map. Alan added: “Crieff has experienced significant changes during the past 20 years. The town has lost its place as one of Scotland’s most visited rural market towns. Like many towns across Scotland, Crieff has suffered as a result of changing consumer habits, the recession and a lack of concerted activity to take the town forward as a place to live, work and visit. The Crieff Succeeds BID provides a unique opportunity for local businesses across all sectors to work together, invest collectively and undertake projects which can contribute positively to improving the economic viability of businesses in the town and increasing future investment in Crieff. “There are lots of voluntary groups in Crieff – there is no shortage of community spirit and ‘can do’ attitude! However, these groups can suffer from a lack of funds and dedicated staff time and volunteer burn-out. The BID is the opposite of this. It can help local groups to achieve more with staff resources and access to funding.” It is projected that by the end of 2014 there will be 50 operational BIDs in Scotland and 150 by the end of 2020. Should Crieff not take advantage of this opportunity now? The future prosperity of Crieff lies in our own hands, the BID presents an opportunity for local businesses to set the economic agenda for the future. www.crieffsucceeds.com

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Where Business and Personal Planning Meet When you’re in business, the pressures on time can lead to business and personal planning being done in isolation. Starting up or buying into a business involves a huge amount of focus, and often there simply is no time to step back and consider how your business interests and personal and family circumstances interact. If you are successful, the hard work and risk-taking that translates into business value and personal wealth frequently mean that that trend continues right through to the time when you decide to retire or exit your business. However, if we stop to think, our business and personal affairs are inextricably linked, and we should be planning for them both together. For example, people who move from employment to business ownership sometimes do not take stock and realise that their affairs have become more complex. Whether new or old to business ownership, anyone who is a business owner can benefit from time spent thinking about their future business plans and the complementary plans they should put in place for themselves and their family. For those who are in business with others, time spent planning for when your business relationships change is crucial. Do your plans for when you want to exit or retire from your business coincide with those of your business partners? What happens if one of you wants to sell and the other doesn’t?

Do you want your children to join your business? Do they, and how do you treat those that do fairly compared with those who don’t? If your business partners are family members, a whole range of issues can arise. Bringing these issues to the surface and working through them is almost always beneficial and there are well-used legal mechanisms for helping to underpin the decisions you might reach with your business partners and family. It can bring a renewed sense of purpose and direction to you, your colleagues and those closest to you. Of course, the tax system is designed in part to encourage and discourage different behaviour in our business and personal dealings, through retirement and to death. Tax considerations can be an important part of planning for yourself and your business, with the goal of achieving your business and personal objectives in a tax efficient manner. And while we all hope to live healthily well beyond retirement, a surprising number of business people do not have an up to date will and power of attorney in place. A little time invested in these, in critical illness cover and life assurance can help your business and your family so much in the event that you die or become incapacitated unexpectedly, and a will can also be an important part of your tax planning. At Blackadders we pride ourselves on the breadth of our expertise in advising on business matters and on personal matters. When we collaborate with clients and colleagues in advising them on their business and personal affairs together, we can achieve much more.

Campbell Clark Partner – Corporate & Commercial Business campbell.clark@blackadders.co.uk

2 Tay Street, Perth, Perthshire PH1 5LJ T: 01738 440088 fax: 01738 441131

www.blackadders.co.uk

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NEW MEMBER PROFILES

Barnardo’s Works B a r n a r d o’s Wo r k s i s a n Employability Service supporting young people

BARNARDO’S WORKS Tel: 07917 544168 Email: sheelagh.scott@barnardos.org.uk Contact: Sheelagh Scott

(16-24) from a wide range of backgrounds to move closer to the job market, and the service is delighted to join Perthshire Chamber. The current focus in Perth & Kinross is the Employability Fund programme and the Certificate of Work Readiness, funded by SDS. The focus of Barnardo’s Works is to match the potential of young people with the needs of employers. T h e E m p l o y a b i l i t y Fu n d programme provides a flexible, outcome-focused provision for individuals which is responsive to the needs of employers and local

labour markets. Young people can access: • Tailored package of support to address their individual needs • Employability Skills Training • S Q A Employability Qualifications (SCQF level 3 Steps to Work and level 4 Certificate of Work Readiness) • Work Experience Placement to develop their employability skills, confidence, self-esteem and social skills in a real-life work setting

the work experience element of the programme as a recruitment pipeline for their employment and apprenticeship opportunities. Even if an organisation does not have the capacity to host a placement, they can support Barnardo’s Works in so many other ways, e.g. industry visits, employer talks, mock interviews, CV skills training, etc. Barnardo’s Works is appealing to employers across Perth & Kinross to come forward and support local young people to realise their potential and move in to a positive destination.

Partner employers are supported and encouraged to host placements, and several employers now use

Motion Coaching Established in 2010, Motion Coaching delivers individual and team development programmes based on innovative and insightful theoretical content which is reinforced by fun and interactive outdoor activities. This engaging combination helps participants understand themselves, each other and how to make the best contribution within their team and workplace.

MOTION COACHING Tel: 01887 822651 Email: craig@motioncoaching.co.uk Contact: Craig Forsythe

MoCo has worked with teams from a range of business sectors including international companies, local businesses, schools and charities. Participants have included graduates, senior executives and those on the fringes of employment.

MoCo has had great feedback from participants and companies: “I gained amazing life skills to use in my personal and work life while having a lot of fun!” and “MoCo gave me a chance to focus on my personal development in a way I could relate to and learn from. It was good to spend time understanding peers and how to work with them all more effectively.” Director, Craig Forsythe is an outdoors instructor with many years of experience leading adventure activities and trips. From 2007-2010 his experience working in an executive leadership development centre ignited his interest in coaching models and psychological theories. Today Craig is passionate about delivering

Tabla Restaurant Tabla Restaurant is North of Scotland’s only Rosette standard Indian eatery and is a popular choice for locals and visitors alike. It was one of the first restaurants to receive Visit Scotland’s Taste Our Best Award and is consistently ranked in the top five Perth restaurants on Trip Advisor.

TABLA RESTAURANT Tel: 01738 444630 Email: tablarestaurant@gmail.com Contact: Praveen Kumar

Praveen grew up helping on his family spice farm in South India and to this day he imports the spices he needs to create his authentic Indian food from his mother back home. His career within the hospitality industry has seen him travel across continents, working in some of the

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

world’s most prestigious five-star establishments like Sandals in Jamaica, Trump Turnberry Hotel and The Gleneagles Hotel before settling in Perth, Scotland. Most importantly though, Praveen is a passionate and inspirational cook, with a genuine love for the dishes he creates and the ingredients he uses. He will draw you into his world of spices and authentic methods, allowing you to embrace the very simple act of preparing and eating delicious Indian food.

engaging programmes in the outdoors with wonderful scenery and fresh air which also brings perspective and grounding to the learning that is shared.

NEW MEMBER PROFILES

Chiropractic Life Chiropractic Life is proud to be Perth’s leading back care specialists in natural health.

CHIROPRACTIC LIFE Tel: 01738 633811 Email: info@chiro-life.co.uk Contact: Matthew Brown

Initially Wight Chiropractic, the business was rebranded to Chiropractic Life after ownership was passed to Dr. Daniel Brown in 2009. Since this time the business has experienced significant growth, allowing the clinic to effectively meet the increasing healthcare requirements of it’s patients and the local community. Chiropractic is different to conventional medicine, as no drugs are prescribed. Instead the focus is on the body’s mechanics and central nervous system. Chiropractic Adjustments are carried out to restore spinal alignment and movement -

and remove ner vous system interference. Lifestyle coaching is also integrated throughout this process to ensure that the patient receives the necessary education on Nutrition, Exercise, and Mental health. Chiropractic Life is a clinic where the genuine care and comfort of the patients is the highest mission. All of the Chiropractic Doctors at the clinic have studied for a minimum of five years to achieve a Masters of Chiropractic and are members of the General Chiropractic Council and Scottish Chiropractic Association. Other services at the clinic also include personalised Orthotics and Massage Therapy.

that provides workplace health solutions to private businesses and public organisations focused on reducing absenteeism, speeding up the return to work and increasing the productivity of their employees. The corporate solutions range from complimentary no-obligation Spinal Health Screenings to fully comprehensive employee health packages. Please contact the clinic to book your complimentary Spinal Health Screening, or for more information.

Chiropractic Life also has a well-established corporate team

Tickety-Boo Training As one of Scotland’s leading training and coaching organisations, the mission is to help you and your team Explore, Soar and Grow. With many years of experience in people-based business, the Tickety-Boo Training team believe that people are the most important resource.

TICKETY-BOO TRAINING Tel: 01786 825200 Email: Jordana@ticketybootraining.com Contact: Jordana Young

By focusing on people development skills we encourage clients and their organisations to grow successfully and exceed expectations and targets. The Tickety-Boo Training team share their infectious energy and enthusiasm across the country; enabling organisations to benefit from sustainable solutions.

Tickety Boo specialise in coaching, management and supervisory training, trainer training and group training technique, along with legislative training such as food hygiene, personal licence, health and safety and fire training. Tickety Boo can offer a bespoke proposal to suit the training needs of your company. Developing your people through c on s u l t a n c y, t r a i n i n g a n d coaching interventions; we work in partnership helping you to grow and drive change. Tickety Boo has worked with many organisations under the Investors in People standard, to develop their teams and businesses, increasing staff

retention, motivation, productivity and easing cultural changes. The teams mission is, quite simply, to help you achieve the results you want for your business, by focusing all our work on your business objectives. They have a range of programmes that focus on developing softer skills such as effective selling, customer excellence, performance management and personal effectiveness. Want to know more about Tickety Boo? Have a look at our website http://www.allticketyboo.com/ where you can find details of all our services and training programmes.

Braemore Estates William Frame, the founder of Braemore Estates, started in modest fashion in 1987 by buying a small flat in Marchmont, Edinburgh, doing it up and selling it at a profit six months later – thus launching himself into the life of a property entrepreneur.

BRAEMORE ESTATES Tel: 01764 650303 Email: William@braemore-estates.co.uk Contact: William Frame

Since those early days, a wide portfolio of residential and commercial properties in Scotland and London’s Knightsbridge, South Kensington and Chiswick has been built up allowing the business to diversify into residential development with the emphasis on the company’s motto of ‘Where Quality, Creativity and Design Matter’, catering for the buyer

looking for something different rather than the mass produced houses so often found. William Frame himself moved along with the Braemore Estates business out of Georgian Edinburgh to the beautiful county of Perthshire where he commissioned the build of a luxury five star self catering property now known as Gamefield - designed by renowned architects James Denholm Partnership of Comrie, with a number of elements and features he was to later include in the designs for his developments.

hugely successful fish and chip shop and restaurant which has been shortlisted for the National Fish and Chip awards for the last two consecutive years. The business received a coveted award at the 2015 Food Awards Scotland this summer and has also recently been MSC accredited in recognition for the businesses support for sustainable seafood.

In 2013 William co-founded Cromars of St Andrews – a

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

NEW MEMBER PROFILES

Notice Me Publications

NOTICE ME PUBLICATIONS Tel: 01577 863893 Email: Kirsty@noticemepublications.co.uk Contact: Kirsty Brown

Notice Me Publications is a publications company which produces monthly high quality magazines delivered to homes and business throughout North Fife (Lomond Gazette) and Kinross-shire (Kinross Gazette). A company with a fresh approach – it puts the advertiser at the forefront of the publications, while still maintaining quality content in the process.

distinct publications that target local audiences in their own homes, they have been able to create a necessity rather than a luxury. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach and this is why their publications have become successful for advertisers. Why wait for consumers to buy magazines from the supermarket shelf when you can place your business message in front of them in their own homes?

They understand the importance of advertising for the customer within a targeted market and enabling a return on your investment, whilst keeping the reader entertained and engaged. By dividing the magazines into

All their home to home magazine deliveries are GPS tracked and are distributed to every home and business (including restaurants, hotels, cafes and waiting rooms) within the designated areas mentioned above.

As they have evolved, they have helped local businesses expand, ranging from small independent start-ups to corporate entities. Whilst giving their readers great content, they like to work with their local contributors and advertisers to help them produce the best out of the publications. They are proud to say that both the Kinross Gazette and the Lomond Gazette have now become wellknown names amongst local readers and afar.

Heavens Above Heavens Above, the brand new private venue based in the village of Milnathort, has recently opened its doors with a resounding success. This unique venue is accessed from Heaven Scent through a retro Smeg fridge door, which alone is worth a visit.

HEAVENS ABOVE Tel: 01577 865577 Email: info@scotthospitalityservices.co.uk Contact: Andrew Scott

Heavens Above offers four unique rooms that can be used for parties, get-togethers and business meetings. In trend with the relaxed homely atmosphere of Heaven Scent, the quirky, fun rooms have been adorned with vintage country items with an element of modern chic. With a combined space of up to 65 covers, it’s the ideal place for events of all kinds and the catering packages on offer are simply exquisite. The venue is open

on Thursday nights and offers an exclusive BYOB supper club, where foodies can enjoy good honest food from locally sourced produce along with a selection of specially made mocktails. From Friday – Sunday you can tantalise your taste buds with Heavens Above traditional afternoon teas with a twist, offering an extensive choice in sandwich fillings, scones and the famous heavenly carrot cake. Heavens Above offers a speciality dining experience which sets it aside from your everyday coffee and chat.

shouldn’t be kept as Perthshire’s hidden gem, everybody needs to know that Heaven really is a place on earth.

It has brought a touch of New York class and the traditions of a London boutique restaurant to Milnathort, and people from far and wide must experience the arcadia of Heavens Above. This

Simple Energy Scotland Ltd

SIMPLE ENERGY SCOTLAND Tel: 0800 0337238 Email: Lauren.adams@se-scotland.com.uk Contact: Lauren Adams

Simple Energy Scotland Ltd has emerged as a success story of recent times and is delighted to be part of the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce.

Simple Energy Scotland Ltd is a Green Deal Approved Organisation with teams of accredited and experienced surveyors working across Scotland.

Founded in 2012 by John Wishart, it’s a family business specialising in Energy Performance Certificates (EPC’s) which are required whenever a property is bought, sold or rented. The certificate gives information on the current and potential energy efficiency of a property. It details recommendations on measures which could reduce energy usage and therefore help people spend less on bills and make their homes warmer.

“Our quick and professional service has been the secret to our success,” explains John Wishart, Managing Director. “ We are regularly engaged in large projects, surveying hundreds of properties, but we are comfortable delivering both multiple and single survey work.”

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

An EPC is also required when applying for funding to install energy efficient measures and improve the EPC rating of a property.

Lauren Adams Director of HR & Administration explained: “Information on what funding is available and to whom can be confusing. Our support staff are very knowledgeable and can answer questions and provide general guidance.” Simple Energy’s growth has been fast and furious. Lauren Adams added: “We have grown into a company turning over £2.4 million virtually overnight and we continue to grow. Our aim is to put our customers first and make life easier by providing a service that is high quality and value for money.”

NEW MEMBER PROFILES

Sarah’s Attic Sarah Peterson is well known to the Chamber, having designed and crafted the Chamber Star Awards over many years and indeed won a Star Award herself in 2010.

SARAH’S ATTIC Tel: 07523 069205 Email: sarah@sarahpetersondesign.com Contact: Sarah Peterson

Previously Lead Designer at Caithness Glass, Sarah is world renowned as a talented glass maker and designer having hosted exhibitions of her work in Bloomingdales, New York, Hankyu in Japan and Harrods of London amongst many others. She has designed and made unique art glass for the Royal family as well as numerous other prestigious commissions. More recently, however, Sarah has focussed her artistic flair and design skills in a new exciting venture.

“Sarah’s Attic” within Watsons of Perth, is a new shop just recently opened by Sarah and her partner Alfie Iannetta to showcase a range of unique Sarah Peterson Design products. Everything in the shop is created, restored or up-cycled by Sarah and has already built a loyal following enjoying promising sales. The shop stocks contemporary handmade cushions and a collection of limited edition framed prints, but the main product line is up-cycled chairs, furniture and lighting.

to a discarded, unwanted vintage piece, to combine modern design, pattern and colour with classic objects and styling, creating a fusion of old and new. Each piece of furniture or object is given a new lease of life, being meticulously redesigned while retaining the item’s original identity and character. Sarah believes strongly in upcycling and creating beautifully made, sustainable furniture for the home.

Sarah seeks out unloved, neglected objects and pieces of furniture and redesigns them into new and unique aspirational designs. The business ethos is to bring new life

Strathearn Distillery S trathearn Distiller y, near Methven in Perthshire, is probably Scotland’s smallest whisky and gin distillery. The distillery produces handcrafted, artisan single cask, single malt whisky by using traditional methods and ideas.

STRATHEARN DISTILLERY Tel: 01738 840100 Email: stuart@strathearndistillery.com Contact: Stuart McMillan

Our beautiful small copper stills are used to create individual batches of spirit matured in small casks. The spirit is matured in small octave size (50 litre) casks to give the whisky a traditional and distinctive flavour. By using peated or nonpeated malt and varying the type of cask - for example sherry, rum or bourbon - each batch of whisky will be totally unique. As whisky can only be called Scotch once

it has spent a minimum of three years in a cask in Scotland, we still have a wee while to go but in the meantime we will be bottling our new-make spirit. In addition to whisky, the distillery also produces a range of handcrafted, small batch gins that are unique in flavour and perfect for the gin revival.

lemons and Spanish grapefruit with a suggestion of kaffir lime leaves and star anise. Oaked Highland Gin is where whisky meets gin – a smooth oaky gin with juniper notes, hints of citrus accented by vanilla and subtle smokiness. A golden colour helps to provide the disguise.

Heather Rose Gin with its combination of rose and heather has a prosecco character. The colour of the gin changes to a delicate pink when tonic is added. Fragrant, floral and light, sweet yet spicy. Classic Gin is a new style gin with added elements of zest, herbs and spices combining a hint of Italian

Bright Care at Home

BRIGHT CARE AT HOME Tel: 01738 479656 Email: Perthshire@brightcare.co.uk Contact: Jemima Vetha

Bright Care at Home was founded in 2009 in Edinburgh by Tim and Louise Cocking and currently operates with a team of 120 care staff providing elderly care services. It is our mission to help older people live confidently in their own homes, for as long as possible, either through supporting individuals directly or offering respite services to unpaid family carers. We choose to make a positive difference in the lives of older people and their families who love them. Bright Care expanded into Glasgow in 2012 and has offices in Clarkston and Bearsden providing care services in South

and North West parts of Glasgow with a team of around 70 care staff. Bright Care’s newest venture is its expansion into Perthshire in May this year, with a local office based in Charlotte Street. With a current team of 10 care staff, Bright Care covers local and rural areas from Crook of Devon to Pitlochry providing support for elderly people with home-based care, focussing on companionship and always striving to spend quality time which may include every day domestic tasks such as, cleaning, laundry, meal preparation and occasionally some personal care.

Bright Care also supports families with respite, sleepover and live in care which is an alternative to residential care. Bright Care in Perth is aiming to grow its team to 50 care staff by the end of 2016. All of our clients are private paying individuals and Bright Care offers complete choice and control over how they receive their care.

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

BUSINESS SUPPORT

THE BENEFITS OF CHOOSING HYBRID – THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Hybrid vehicles combine all the advantages of the internal combustion engine with the benefits of electric power to achieve superior performance and exceptional efficiency. There are not just environmental benefits to investing in a hybrid vehicle like reduced emissions and fuel consumption, but financial ones too. Firstly, a reduction in emissions means a reduction in BIK (Benefit in Kind) contribution. Benefit in Kind tax for the current year starts at 13%. Hybrid vehicles can achieve a reduction of at least 5%. This isn’t the only tax break available for those business owners who elect to go hybrid. If you’re choosing to augment your car’s fuel intake with plug-in power, the VAT you’ll pay on electricity is charged (excuse the pun) at 5% – significantly lower than the 20% VAT contribution levied against petrol, diesel and hydrogen fuel. In light of the new VED laws introduced earlier this year, there are still considerable advantages – especially when considered in bulk – to adopting low emission vehicles such as hybrid cars. Those vehicles with emissions of less than 100g/km will pay nothing in the first year of use and nothing thereafter. Cars with emissions of 101g/ km and upwards will be charged on a scaled taxing structure. The structure has been designed to offer a fiscal incentive to vehicle owners which rewards adopting a greener approach to buying a vehicle. In addition, those cars which are not powered by fuel alone are entitled to a VED discount of £10. Provided by Steve Kirk Email: steve.g.kirk@arnoldclark.co.uk Tel: 07795 454954

www.denholmpartnership.co.uk

11 Dunira Street Comrie Perthshire PH6 2LJ T : 01764 670899

• Construction Cost Consultants • CDM Co-ordinators 2 King James Place, Perth Tel: 01738 625619 visit our website at

www.raogg.com Your business is amazing… … isn’t it a shame no-one can see it here?

Steve Kirk, Arnold Clark

InCommerce is read by business owners and decision makers … people who buy all kinds of services … if you’re not in here they won’t be contacting you! It’s too late for this issue but there’s always next time

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

Call our Advertising Team on 0141 222 2202

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Struggling to obtain property lending from your High Street Bank?

SINCE the credit crunch, many clients have found it difficult to source suitable lending solutions. As an independent, whole of market broker, our panel of Banks and Secondary lenders offer a more flexible approach than the traditional Banks. Our rates are excellent and provided affordability and sufficient equity can be demonstrated, we consider most types of client circumstances. We are specialists in helping Professional Landlords, Property Investors, Developers, Limited Companies, and Self Employed Clients. Products we offer:

• COMMERCIAL MORTGAGES • BRIDGING AND DEVELOPMENT FINANCE • SECOND CHARGE LOANS • LIMITED COMPANY BUY TO LET MORTGAGES • LOANS FOR HMOs

Please call us for some initial, free no obligation advice or visit our website for more details. www.thelendingchannel.co.uk The Lending Channel Ltd 2/17 King James VI Business Centre Friarton Road Perth PH2 8DY Tel: 01738 583008 enquiries@thelendingchannel.co.uk Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

M A I N

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LIFESTYLE

WHY DOES YOUR OFFICE NEED PLANTS? Not every employer recognises the advantages of adding plants to an office. Yet the benefits, both physical and psychological, are evidenced in numerous scientific studies and the long term cost savings are also significant enough for any cost conscious business owner to sit up and take notice.

And any palm, such as bamboo palm or a weeping fig, will regulate humidity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in your office. Studies have shown that having plants in your workplace has a positive effect on the workforce, helping to reduce stress and fatigue and enhance concentration, focus and productivity. Introducing plants to an office environment has been reported to reduce absenteeism by up to 50% in some companies.

A bit of greenery adds calming colour and style to any office environment. They not only improve office surroundings for employees, but also provide a more welcoming place for clients.

And fragrant plants can act as nature’s own air fresheners helping to combat those at desk lunches.

Cleverly positioned, they can act as screens, sound buffers and space fillers. But it’s not all about “the look” – there is a proven health benefit to “going green” in your office.

Place some houseplants, particularly those with broad leaves, on your desk at work, in your home office and in any area of your home where children study or do their homework.

Some plants help to clean the air we breathe by eliminating harmful toxins. The spider plant is just one example and is also one of the most popular and easiest to grow indoor plants. The rubber plant is another popular plant which comes loaded with air cleaning health benefits.

Provided by Stephen Page, Proprietor of Something Special Flowers, Blairgowrie Email: info@ssflowers.co.uk Tel: 01250 873237 Website: www.somethingspecialflowers.co.uk

EVENTS 2015 NOVEMBER Tuesday 3rd

Training Session – Management Today

09:30 – 15:30

Rowan Consultancy

Perth

£350 + VAT (10% discount for Chamber members)

Tuesday 9th & Wednesday 10th

Mediation Skills for HR

09:30 – 16:30 & 09:30 – 12:30

Rowan Consultancy

Perth

£275 + VAT (10% discount for Chamber members)

Friday 20th

Business Star Awards 2015

Evening Event

The Crieff Hydro Hotel

Crieff

£65 +VAT

Wednesday 18th

Training Session – Conflict

09:30 – 16:30

Saltire House

Perth

£155 Members £195 Non-members

Networking Breakfast

07:30 – 08:45

Huntingtower Hotel

Perth

£10 + VAT Members

Business Breakfast @ The Opening of the Tay Salmon Season

8:30 – 10:00

Hilton House Hotel

Dunkeld

DECEMBER Wednesday 2nd

JANUARY Friday 16th

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Tuesday 23rd February

Training Session – Manager as Coach with Rowan Consultancy

Rowan Consultancy

Perth

Tuesday 26th April

Training Session – Middle Management Part I

Rowan Consultancy

Perth

Tuesday 24th May

Training Session – Middle Management Part II

Rowan Consultancy

Perth

Tuesday 21st June

Training Session – Middle Management Part III

Rowan Consultancy

Perth

THE PERTHSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE • AUTUMN 2015 www.perthshirechamber.co.uk

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01382 229222

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0131 222 8000

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01738 440088

remains the same â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we use our expertise and knowledge to deliver the results they need on time and on budget.

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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

he Chamber is an independent, voluntary, non-profit making, nonpolitical 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 s Benefit

Perthshire Chamber has two paid full-time members of staff including Chief Executive, Vicki Unite, based at the Chamber’s office at the Perth Business Centre, Saltire House, 3 Whitefriars Crescent, Perth, PH2 0PA.

CHAMBER SERVICES THE CHAMBER HR service provides businesses with access to professional HR advice and a raft of documentation including contracts and staff handbooks.

CHAMBER TRAINING COURSES Chamber members can take advantage of great rates through the Chamber’s exclusive training opportunities.

CHAMBER LEGAL EXPENSES AND 24 HOUR LEGAL HELPLINE Safeguard your business against the unexpected costs of professional legal services and get legal cover of up to £670,000 as well as access to a 24/7 helpline.

SCOTTISH CHAMBERS FOREIGN EXCHANGE Scottish Chambers FX has direct access to the wholesale currency markets and is able to pass on the resultant savings to members. SCFX charges no fees for transactions in excess of £5K and doesn’t charge commission.

CHAMBER MERCHANT SERVICES Process debit and credit card payments with discounted transaction fees, reduced terminal hire costs and no service fees. CHAMBER HEALTHCARE Help to reduce sickness absence and improve staff motivation with a choice of two great schemes. CHAMBER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE Receive up to 61% on the cost of breakdown cover (for members of participating accredited Chambers only). CHAMBER FINANCE In partnership with RBS / NatWest we are able to offer 3 years free business banking for start ups, one year free business banking for those that switch accounts, discounted rates with RBS Invoice Finance. BUSINESS MENTORING Business Mentoring is a free service for Chamber members to link those looking for a mentor with those wishing to support new, local businesses and use their extensive business experience by mentoring another.

JUMPSTART AT THE CHAMBERS Jumpstart offer Chamber members a helping hand in securing R&D tax credits. From April 2012, companies have been able to deduct up to 225% of qualifying expenditure when calculating their profit for tax purposes. What’s more, they can claim R&D tax relief on expenditure that’s up to three years old. CHAMBER EVENTS Events include: Regular lunch and early evening events, monthly networking breakfasts, annual golf day and annual Business Star Awards. Plus many more including procurement and training events REPRESENTATION The Chamber is represented on a variety of organisations and committees. It has regular meetings with the Council, local MPs, MSPs and MEPs. The Chamber is in a stronger negotiating position than individual members and uses its bargaining power for the benefit of members. PCC is affiliated to British and Scottish Chambers of Commerce and through the latter’s Council ensures that Perth & Kinross issues get heard at national level.

How much is Chamber membership worth now? ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS