'Your Business' Autumn Magazine 2022

PLATINUM PARTNERS

Ayrshire Chamber wishes to acknowledge the support of the following companies as sponsors of our Platinum Partners programme.

The Chamber in Ayrshire represents businesses of all sizes and all sectors and is particularly effective in representing the voice of businesses at local, national and international level.

The Partnership aims to cement the relationship that companies have with Ayrshire Chamber, making sure they get the most out of membership and in turn contributing to the work of the Chamber, so supporting other business in Ayrshire.

Partnership members have access to a comprehensive package of benefits, while at the same time assist with the development of the Chamber movement.

If you would like to discuss the mutual benefits of becoming a Platinum Partner please contact our Membership Development Manager, ghays@ayrshire-chamber.org

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

moved in new directions, winning contracts with local authorities and the Scottish Government.

I have had an amazing tenure at Ayrshire Chamber. I am proud to be leaving a strong and vibrant Chamber and a hard-working dedicated team.

Beginning with a one-year contract that saw me carryout a full range of activities from membership and international trade documentation to the magazine and events.

The Board at that time must have seen potential as I moved to permanent contract after six months then onto Chamber Manager as the team grew, Deputy CEO then in 2011 was successful in my application to become CEO.

During that time the Chamber has grown and

I have had the honour of working with and learning from some amazing Presidents and Board members. However, working with the wide range of fantastic businesses across Ayrshire has been the greatest pleasure.

As CEO, I have been fortunate to promote Ayrshire abroad in several counties including China, Iceland, Sicily and closer to home Southern Ireland and will continue to champion Ayrshire businesses.

Collaborating with many valuable stakeholders has allowed Ayrshire Chamber to truly work in partnership with both public and private sector organisations, all with a common aim to make Ayrshire a great place to do business. There is still much to do, and I wish the Board and my successor every success when I step down on September 30th.

VAL RUSSELL

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce CEO

AYRSHIRE COMPANY WINS NATIONAL AWARD

Ayrshire based Solutions on Demand has won an IT award for the UK Modern Workplace Partner award at the Vuzion Cloud Awards 2022. The ceremony took place at the iconic Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth on Thursday 26 May.

The Vuzion Cloud Awards were created to formally recognise the achievements and successes of Vuzion partners.

The Modern Workplace Award encapsulates Microsoft partners that have developed their Modern Workplace offering and customer base within the UK Markets, focusing on Microsoft 365, Teams, Business Voice & SharePoint. The judges recognised the work Solutions on Demand carried out during the pandemic supporting Scottish Care to enable them to utilise Modern Workplace tools to support Care providers across Scotland.

The IT Support Division of Solutions on Demand (SOD-IT) provides businesses with

solutions to all aspects of IT and has offices in both Ayrshire and Glasgow. As well as offering managed support services, SOD-IT provides clients with the latest hardware and software.

IT Director John Bourne said: “This is an incredible achievement for SOD-IT. We’ve grown a lot in recent years and it’s fantastic to receive an award to recognise all the hard work our team puts in. This award wouldn’t be possible without our many great clients, many of whom we’ve been working with for years.”

Solutions on Demand was founded in 2007 as an IT support company. The company’s first premises was opened on Stewarton Main Street in 2012, before opening a second office on Glasgow’s West Nile Street in 2020.

As time went on the business was able to offer new services, and split into distinctive sub-divisions, with SOD-IT continuing to offer business IT support.

www.sod-it.co.uk

INNOVATIVE CLIMATE CONTROL SPECIALISTS STEWART TEMPERATURE SOLUTIONS MOVE INTO AIR SOURCE HEAT PUMPS AS CARBON REDUCTION URGENCY GROWS

A forward-looking air conditioning , refrigeration and ventilation business is launching a drive to supply domestic houses with carbon-reducing air source heat pumps (ASHPs) for Ayrshire homes heating and hot water requirements.

Ayr-based Stewart Temperature Solutions has already trialled successful installations locally. In fact, Director Gregor Stewart, who established the business in 2008 and now employs twelve people, has introduced an ASHP system into his own home and removed his gas boiler, which is a primary source of carbon emissions.

He now expects to take on another team of specialist fitters to meet expected demand, as well as considering employing apprentices to develop future skill sets within the company.

Gregor Stewart, whose father also ran the refrigeration business in Ayrshire, said: “There is really no question that ASHPs are the future and, by installing them now, we are protecting against the price of gas, which is expected to soar as international tensions and supply issues are exacerbated. As well as saving on energy bills, ASHPs are a giant first step towards reducing our carbon footprint which, as COP26 so vividly illustrated, has to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Stewart Temperature Solutions ASHP programme has been given added urgency by the UK Government decision to ban gas boiler installation in new homes from 2025 and to ban the sale of new boilers completely by 2035.

Gregor Stewart added: “As well as being great for the environment, this diversification will make our business less seasonal, and reduce our reliance on air-conditioning work in the summer months.

“It is essentially about future-proofing not only our business, but also making valuable changes in our wider society. These changes are coming, and it will be everyone’s benefit to embrace them.”

ENERGY AGENCY – HELPING BUSINESSES WORK TOWARDS NET ZERO

With Scotland’s Climate Week taking place 26th September – 2nd October, what changes can your business make to help Scotland reach its ambitious target of net zero by 2045?

Climate change will affect everyone therefore everyone has a part to play in reducing their carbon footprint. Making changes is not only good for the planet, it can also be good for business, for example, by helping to reduce costs and attracting customer loyalty.

Carbon footprint and carbon neutral have become common phrases, but what do they actually mean?

TRANSFORMING RAINBOW HOUSE

Crosshouse Children’s Fund has completely transformed a children’s centre at Ayrshire Central Hospital, thanks to their generous supporters.

Rainbow House is an assessment, diagnosis and treatment centre where more than 3,500 children and young people are cared for each year.

The enhancement project transformed a cold, clinical environment into a colourful, calming space, which will reduce the anxieties of a hospital visit for children and their families.

Advanced Nurse Practitioner Aileen Crichton has worked with young patients across Ayrshire and Arran for 44 years.

Aileen said: “Thanks to enhancements from

Greenhouse gas emissions from carbon dioxide, CO2 and its equivalents CO2(e) being generated by your business can be calculated by examining your use of energy, water, fuel and waste. Not only will this exercise calculate your current carbon footprint but will also help highlight potential cost savings. Visit the Business Energy Scotland website for further details.

Energy – consider installing renewable heating/ cooling solutions. Switch lighting to LED and install presence detector lighting controls. When purchasing equipment, always investigate the energy ratings. Switch off devices when not in use rather than leaving on standby.

Supply Chain – source local suppliers and products where possible. Encourage suppliers to examine their own carbon footprint.

Transport – consider switching your fleet to electric vehicles, use e-bikes or e-cargo bikes for local journeys and encourage staff to travel sustainably e.g. by providing secure storage for cyclists, introduce car sharing, or using public transport.

Waste – adhere to best practices and employ all the R’s we have become so familiar with; Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle.

www.energyagency.org.uk

Crosshouse Children’s Fund, Rainbow House is now a warm, fun place for our children to come for treatment.

“Children come to Rainbow House for a variety of different reasons including examinations which can be quite daunting for them. Prior to the enhancements, we had nothing to distract them. The difference is immense and the bright colours and installations take away from the clinical feel of these procedures.”

This project was made possible by the generous donations from Ayrshire Chamber members Ardagh Glass and Precision Tooling Services, and trusts The Brownlie Charitable Trust, the B&Q Foundation and the Reo Stakis Charitable Foundation.

If you’d like to help support future projects supporting Ayrshire’s young patients, get in touch via the Crosshouse Children’s Fund website or visit their Facebook Page to find out how to donate:

www.CrosshouseChildrensFund.org

TOURISM A FORCE FOR GOOD TO HELP VISITORS UNWIND AND BOOST BUSINESSES

Tourism businesses and operators across Ayrshire & Arran experienced their first full summer without any COVID-19 related restrictions since 2019. Spells of hot weather also helped bring visitors out to our countryside, beaches and coastal areas.

Visitors to Ayrshire & Arran are following national wellbeing trends and seeking out activities like walking, cycling, wild swimming and paddle-boarding with options in abundance across the region.

We’re working with partners in our tourism and events industry on ways to extend the season into

BY GORDON SMITH, VISITSCOTLAND REGIONAL DIRECTOR

winter to help Ayrshire & Arran’s economic recovery, as businesses grapple with continuing challenges around travel and staffing, while the cost of living and doing business is already having an increasing impact on both visitors and businesses.

The return of in-person events has been helping to drive visitor numbers and brought back the allimportant social interaction we need for wellbeing.

A year-long programme of activity has been supported through Year of Stories 2022. Titled ‘Once Upon A Time in South Ayrshire’, the programme has included the Shadows of the Past walking trail, Holy

Fair with Armed Forces and Pipes in the Park and Story Sunday, Ayr, with further events and exhibitions planned for autumn. Our EventScotland funded support included Mauchline Holy Fair, the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links and The Making Waves Festival.

The impact of tourism spreads far beyond the industry itself - it benefits our economy, our community and our wellbeing. Do remember to contact the local VisitScotland team for Ayrshire & Arran where we can provide a range of support and advice to tourism businesses.

TAMFEST IS BACK AND WILL BE LIVE AGAIN THIS YEAR

Tamfest, in association with the Travel, Tourism and Events team at South Ayrshire Council are busily compiling a stellar line-up 2022, with events taking place across the whole month of October at Ayr’s Rozell House & Park - and beyond, through a wide range of fringe events.

There will be something for all the family, with ‘haunted houses’, escape rooms, art exhibitions, a huge variety of street entertainment, guided tours, ghost hunting, children's zones, markets, plus three live music stages and whole lot more.

The main festival takes place on Sunday 30th October, with a creative and talent zone being established in Ayr town centre, featuring magic shows, puppet workshops, and face painters.

‘The Devil’s Stage’ will be back, featuring an impressive line-up of talent, with High Street entertainers out in force. A new ‘Carnevil Stage’ will bring live entertainment to the town centre.

Festival Director, Meredith McCrindle says, “Tamfest’s goal is to entertain the people of Ayrshire and to revel in the joint legacy of wonderful Robert Burns and the connection that his famous poem, Tam O’ Shanter, brings to the fun of the Halloween season.”

Now in its ninth year, the last live Tamfest event attracted over 8,000 people to Ayr town centre. Organisers are encouraging local businesses to get involved and to share in the buzz of Ayrshire’s joint celebration of Halloween and Robert Burns.

If you want to get involved, or to find out what’s on, follow Tamfest on Facebook, or visit www.tamfest.co.uk

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EFFECTIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS VITAL FOR AYRSHIRE BUSINESS

CREATING AN EFFECTIVE WORKPLACE WELLBEING STRATEGY

Believe-In welcomed the new suicide statistics shared by the Scottish Government which, nationally, showed a reduction of 52 (6%). The majority of this decrease being attributed to females which are down 42.

However, looking more closely at the figures, there is also reason to be cautious. One suicide less is always a good thing so 52 less lives lost is indeed positive. Why then the caution?

Ayrshire and Arran health board statistics actually show an 11% increase in reported probable suicides, meaning an increase of 6 lives lost overall. Male suicides in the area rose by 9 and female suicides dropped by 3.

Believe-In co-founders, Billy and Steven, have a great passion for Ayrshire and the people of the communities within it. Their aim is to help drive down the number of people in the area taking their own lives by offering a service that fits all people of Ayrshire. Billy expresses this by saying “It is vitally important that everyone feels accepted, that they will be treated with respect, can be open and have a space where they are able to speak honestly with an empathic, attentive listener.”

We feel that effective emotional support is vital for someone experiencing distress or crisis. Our training and workshop provision is an equally important tool to help eliminate such feelings or even prevent them from reaching such an intense state in the first place.

Previous workshop participants have all said they would definitely attend another Believe-In event, with comments like “informative and relaxed” and “I loved how interactive it was”.

Our philosophy of allowing participants to be actively involved in their own sessions really helps them take away some practical skills whilst ensuring the sessions are informative and enjoyable.

Westfield Health believe that every successful wellbeing strategy is backed up by a supportive culture. Their latest research confirms the importance of this link as the majority (86%) of employees surveyed said they’re more productive at work if there’s a good culture and 64% said they’d leave their job if they felt the company’s culture wasn’t a good fit.

Shared values form a critical part of workplace culture and an organisation’s core values should be reflected in its business plan as well as its wellbeing strategy. When assessing workplace values, a good place to start is to gather feedback from people across the organisation to capture different perspectives. A company might ask questions such as:

• Finish this sentence: in this organisation we value…

• What do we expect of our employees?

• What can our employees expect from us?

• How are our values reflected in the actions of individuals across the organisation?

• What is our organisation’s reputation within our industry?

• Are we transparent in our decision-making?

• How do we recognise success?

• How is conflict handled in our organisation?

• How are we prioritising diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace?

Westfield Health’s free interactive e-book, ‘The wellbeing strategy workbook’, is available to download. It contains three chapters packed with advice, resources and activities to help companies create and measure a wellbeing programme, drive culture change and build positive habits that stick.

For information about creating a wellbeing strategy or for a free consultation contact Westfield Health and Wellbeing Consultant, Helen McBride, at helen.mcbride@westfieldhealth.com

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING PLATFORM FOR EMPLOYERS LAUNCHED

Workplaces which support and promote good mental health and wellbeing benefit both individuals and employers. The mental health charity Mind has found that more than half of adults (60%) and over twothirds of young people (68%) said their mental health got worse during lockdown. (Coronavirus (COVID-19): Mental health support for employees | CIPD)

Healthy Working Lives would like to highlight that our new Mental Health & Wellbeing Platform for Employers launched on 11th August. The platform is hosted on the Public Health Scotland website and streamlines employer access to free and reputable mental health and wellbeing resources. It has been developed in partnership with

LOCAL SKINCARE BUSINESS BLOSSOMS WITH CIBTAC SUCCESS

Helen Selina Skincare is now qualified in Level 2 Facial Skincare! Natalie Anderson, owner of Helen Selina Skincare, undertook her exam in March and received her result whilst on Maternity leave in May. Natalie takes pride in being qualified by CIBTAC, ensuring she is educated to the highest standard. She is committed to further education, to ensure the best quality advice and treatments for her clients.

Natalie adds ‘I absolutely love my job, helping clients throughout their skincare journey. Seeing their confidence and self-love grow as their skin improves is SO rewarding. I am committed to helping improve any skin concerns / problems, educate on skincare and most importantly, help my clients to feel confident, happy and secure in their own skin. I can’t wait to sit my Level 3 in Facial Skincare later in the year and provide even more effective facial treatments for my clients.’

If you have a skin concern, or would like advice on skincare, please Scan the QR code. Alternatively, call/ message 07453 251949

The Employment and Mental Health Working Group which brings together the experience and expertise of crosssectoral representatives from employer organisations, Trade Unions, mental health organisations and public sector partners. The platform is targeted at employers of all sizes in Scotland, but will also be a useful resource for employees.

The platform offers a variety of free health and wellbeing resources to support staff, including short online courses to fully accredited training.

Your local team continues to offer a variety of free mental health and wellbeing training including mental health improvement, stress management, and an introduction to mindfulness.

To enquire about these courses, or discuss individual support for your business get in touch through our email aa-uhb.hwl@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

CHARITYS’ REBRAND PROVIDES A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE

No-one Dies Alone Ayrshire have rebranded to NODA with the help of a wonderful donation from the very talented team at CoshNiven, who have driven the project with their expertise and first-rate creativity.

The charity hopes their new image will help them reach people who need them and gather more support, including sponsorship.

NODA Chairman Gordon Jenkins had this to say "We value CoshNiven's continued support with the running and maintenance of our new website, which looks fabulous and more importantly, is professional".

For more details of the charity please visit nodaa.org.uk

We believe broking isn’t really about insurance.

Fundamentally it’s about risk and making informed choices about what’s important to you.

Every decision you make involves some element of uncertainty. That’s why we offer independent advice, recommending practical solutions instead of pushing products.

We will never compromise in our mission to do things properly and get the details of your policy right the first time. As trusted advisors who love building long-term relationships, our goal is to make a positive difference to the lives of our customers.

CJM ACCOUNTANCY HIT ONE YEAR MILESTONE

Kitchens by JS Geddes continue to lead in Ayrshire

Kitchens by JS Geddes in Kilmarnock seldom go a year without an accolade and this year is no different. Senior Designer Felicity O’Hare has been shortlisted for UK Kitchen Concept Designer of the Year 2022 for the KBSA.

CJM Accountancy are celebrating their first anniversary since moving into their new premises, located at 6 Crofthead Road, Prestwick, KA9 1HW.

The two businesses, Parris & McNally Ltd and CJM Project Financial Management Ltd (CJM Accountancy) are situated in the same building, and the venue is spacious and modern - with a dedicated meeting room and boardroom.

A total of 17 staff work across the two operations – with Colin McNally heading up at CJM Project Financial Management, and Lucy Parris leading at Parris & McNally.

We are delighted to finally share photos of the new premises. Last month we invited Ann Cromack from IKAT Photography to update our

portfolios with professional images of the team members.

Lucy Parris is now the proud mum to a bouncing baby girl, and returned from maternity leave on the 6th June 2022. We are so grateful to have her back at the helm again.

As always, our main focus is on managing the needs of our valued clients. We continue to offer bespoke services and professional advice to our customers.

The websites are currently undergoing a revamp - along with our Social Media channels, and we look forward to raising the profile of both businesses.

If we can assist you with any queries you may have, please contact us via 01292 671 119

Kitchens by JS Geddes continue to lead and dominate the high-end kitchen market in Ayrshire, always displaying the most innovative designs. Felicity started her career with the company over 15 years ago and in this time has grown from a design technician to a senior designer. Her ability to listen carefully to our clients dreams and desires for their new spaces makes Felicity so different. Her creative flare is unquestionable, and together these fabulous qualities make her one of the UKs most sought after designers.

The award ceremony will take place in September. Good luck Felicity.

CHRISTMAS

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YOUR AUTUMN DIGITAL TO-DO LIST

As Ayrshire businesses head into Autumn, here are some ways to help your customers find you online, have a positive experience on your site, and contact you with ease. As a digital marketing agency, Big Pond sees many businesses overlooking three key means of tapping into users’ journeys.

GOOGLE MY BUSINESS

When someone searches for your brand, having an up-to-date Google My Business (GMB) profile is an easy way to portray your authority and trustworthiness. Sign up and verify your free listing. Work through and

complete all sections with high-quality images; clear descriptive service categories; accurate opening hours, etc.

MOBILE-FRIENDLINESS

Now your GMB’s live, your linked website should be easy to use - especially on mobile. Google looks primarily at your site’s mobile version when assessing it. A majority of users will access your site on mobile and will go elsewhere quickly if it takes too long to load or is hard to navigate. Is yours mobile-friendly? How to check: search ‘Google mobile friendly test’; pop your URL into the free tool; get loads of pointers for improving it.

CONTACT PAGE

Now users are browsing your mobile-ready website, they may want to get in touch. Make this as easy as possible. Have your Contact page linked visibly in your site-wide menu and footer. Give options for reaching out: a clickable email, phone number, and physical address. If including a Contact form, check regularly that it’s working without errors. Embed your GMB map into the page. Link your socials as additional touchpoints.

We hope this helps!

www.bigponddigital.co.uk

DEMAND FOR DEBT AND HOUSING ADVICE SHARPLY UP

Since launching its first money and housing advice community hub in Kilwinning in March, Ayrshire charity CHAP has experienced more than triple the number of requests for information and assistance.

Debbie Alexander, CEO of CHAP says, “Anyone who may have been ignoring rising debt during the pandemic eviction ban may be finding things now catching up with them. Sadly, we are seeing very worried people asking ‘will I be able to keep a roof over my family’s head?’.”

The charity has seen a definite advantage from having taken debt, welfare and advocacy services into the heart of the community, where people report greater ease and less perceived stigma from being able to drop into an advice hub within a community sports club.

The success of CHAP’s Kilwinning advice hub means that the charity is already seeking to open two other community hubs in Kilmarnock and in Irvine, alongside its longstanding base in Ardrossan. The Community Hub model offers free financial education workshops, plus drop-in and prearranged appointments with a trained adviser.

Information on available services, and on how local businesses can support and get involved with CHAP’s work is available at www.chap.org.uk or by phoning on 030 0002 0002

PAVILION AT VOLUNTARY PARK TO BE GIVEN NEW LEASE OF LIFE AS A COMMUNITY HUB

The old pavilion located at Whitletts Activity Centre in Ayr, together with the 3G pitch, has been taken over by Vic’s In The Community, a charitable organisation which, among other community activities, provides free football training to local kids, including school holiday sessions.

Vic’s dream is for local businesses to join them in a kind of local “DIY SOS” by donating skills, products or money via sponsorship to help the pavilion regenerate.

Phase one of the Pavilion is already underway, with a new roof under construction. Phase Two is to provide modern changing facilities for players, and Phase Three will see the space develop even more. Plans are in place to create a community hub, offering an all-round facility where people can come together; reducing isolation and creating training and employment opportunities.

Ed Hanna is a Trustee of Vic’s In The Community, as well as a volunteer football coach. He says, “We know times are tough for many and are asking local people and businesses across Ayrshire to work with us to create something of genuine community value. They can do this by buying advertising banner-space around the park – or by donating a kitchen, appliances, construction materials and building skills to help us restore the pavilion to its full potential.”

Vic’s provided emergency support to more than 350 families during Covid, including Christmas meals, and helping with cost of living support. The children’s football programme launched in earnest four years ago, and demand continues to grow.

To get involved please call Ed Hanna on 07736 069339 www.vicsinthecommunity.com

SHIRE IS 25 - ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS FOR SHIRE HOUSING ASSOCIATION

Shire Housing Association is celebrating its 25th year with a series of events for its tenants, stakeholders, and communities.

Formed in 1997 following a stock transfer from Scottish Homes, the Association operates across East Ayrshire, serving 16 different communities.

Actively living its vision of Great Homes, Great People, Vibrant Communities, the Association has already honoured long-standing tenants, providing afternoon tea to tenants with them since formation. It is celebrating all things 25, including a selection of residents living at that house number. Future events will focus on members of staff and Board Members. There will also be events for children and young people.

Living its values, Shire will recognise caring acts of kindness throughout the year and include all its communities in the celebrations.

The Association commissioned a new logo for its year of celebrations. The logo was created by a local designer, demonstrating Shire’s commitment to community wealth building.

Watch out for news of the events on Shire’s social media.

NEW LEADERSHIP FOR OUR NEW WORLD

PLATINUM PARTNER

There is no shortage of issues facing leaders right now. We have experienced seismic shifts over the past couple of years. Changes which put business resilience to the test and placed increasing pressure on leaders and managers more than ever before. The UK lags behind its global competitors in terms of leadership capabilities and investment in leadership skills training is low. In our challenging economic context, investing in leadership and management skills training has never been so important.

CHARTERED MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE –NEW LEADERSHIP SKILLS

• The UK is ranked well behind key competitors such as the US, Japan and Germany in terms of its leadership capabilities (CMI) and the Bank of England believes that a lack of management quality relates to the UK’s poor productivity

• 1 in 5 professionals in high performing organisations state leadership skills are the most important skills for the future (LinkedIn’s 2022 Workplace)

• Employers actively seeking management qualifications but only 1 in 5 managers have a recognised qualification (CMI)

Ayrshire College is excited to launch a new range of CMI leadership and management courses. We have gained Chartered Management Institute accreditation for the first time – a fantastic achievement and a great offering for Ayrshire businesses and organisations.

Our courses are designed to inspire the next generation of leaders and transform mindsets and skills. Employees can access to up-to-date resources; boost their career prospects and connect to a network of ambitious professionals across a range of industries and sectors.

WORKING TOGETHER: INNOVEC AND PARRIS & MCNALLY

Prestwick-based accountancy firm, Parris & McNally, boasts years of experience in the industry, from accountancy to financial management. Having acquired Firstax in 2021 the company has been supporting local businesses and organisations accountancy needs since 1994, the firm has 12 staff and provides financial consultancy to businesses across Scotland. The firm believes that investing in technology enables them to stay ahead of the curve and focus on offering proactive support to its clients.

With an increased requirement to support remote and site-based work, Parris & McNally identified the need to implement a VoIP phone system. After noticing Innovec in a prior edition of the Ayrshire Chamber Magazine, Lucy Parris contacted Innovec’s Managing Director, Iain Wham, to explore their options.

Innovec met with the team to demonstrate their Xelion (VoIP) system, with Parris & McNally signing soon after. Since the implementation, Innovec has worked closely with the business to ensure staff understand the new system and are able to make, receive and transfer calls from wherever they are working

Innovec works with over 200 businesses in Ayrshire & Glasgow, focusing on providing local, growing businesses with reliable IT support. As an ownermanaged business themselves, Innovec understand the business challenges of IT and aims to offer a proactive service so they can get on with what they do best, without worrying about their IT. Both P&M and Innovec are excited about working together and seeing what the future holds.

NUALA BOYLE

of Business Growth

Dear Chamber Member

Two years ago, we wrote an open letter in this magazine offering assistance to companies experiencing a sales downturn caused by the pandemic. It helped dozens of companies keep sales flowing throughout lockdown.

We are heading into difficult times again due to rising inflation and energy prices. Again, your sales will be at risk.

In times of economic stress, it is normal for businesses to cut their marketing effort to reduce costs, but this has been repeatedly proven to have the opposite effect. Reducing or ending your marketing effort will quickly reduce or end your sales.

The only way to maintain sales is to maintain your marketing effort. However, that doesn’t mean you need a massive marketing spend!

CoshNiven are experts in converting marketing spend into tangible results.

Stephen Cosh and Graeme Niven have been responsible for marketing hundreds of Ayrshire companies over the last 25 years. This partnership consistently delivers increased sales and heightened brand awareness through solid strategy, planning and clever communications.

To help you through the coming recession, we are offering a free marketing consultation where we will explore your current marketing activities, the strength of your brand and give you free advice on how to improve them.

It costs nothing to talk, so call Graeme Ferguson today on 01292 441 788, and we’ll do our best to ensure your sales stay on track.

Yours optimistically,

Stephen Cosh Graeme Niven Director Director

Alloway Mill Studios, 57 Greenfield Avenue, Ayr KA7 4NX 01292 441 788 info@coshniven.com www.coshniven.com

c o nnect wi th u s

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce

75th Anniversary Celebration & Annual Dinner

On 10th June Ayrshire Chamber was pleased to host our intimate 75th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Dinner, with over 150 guests in attendance. Local Radio DJ Garry Spence hosted the celebration with ease, with the stunning Western House Hotel providing the perfect backdrop. Guests were welcomed to the event by piper Alister J Brown and entertained during the night by guest speaker Jane Martin from Scottish Enterprise and local singer, Kirsty Colins who brought talented pianist Matt Allison with her. Fantastic photographs of the nights’ celebration were captured by Alister G Firth Photography.

THISTLE HELP CELEBRATE 15 YEARS IN BUSINESS

When George and Laura started Thistle Help Limited in 2007, they never imagined how successful the business would grow. 15 years on, they have a team of 15, 2 showrooms and a workshop space.

Due to the pandemic, the last 2 years have been the most challenging of all but they are so proud to have come out of it stronger than ever! Although it was difficult times for everyone, they grew their business by acquiring a second showroom in Crosshouse, Kilmarnock.

Their recent Open Day within the Irvine showroom was attended by customers, suppliers and friends & family of the business. Director Laura said “As I stood in the showroom getting a photo taken with some of the team, I felt proud of what we have achieved but I also felt sad that George wasn't sat beside me. Covid has robbed us of a lot over the past 2 years but of all the times, why did covid have to catch up with him now? He isn't made of Teflon after all!”

George and Laura enjoy working together, with both having different strengths. It is what makes them the perfect match in business. George is the financial brains behind the business loves a good spreadsheet and a graph! Laura, she loves to talk to people and fond of doing a presentation or two, however she hates graphs and spreadsheets.

They couldn't have done it all without the support of Siobhan (Operations Manager), Gemma

MACROBERTS EMBRACES HYBRID WORKING MODEL

Leading Scottish commercial law firm MacRoberts has fully embraced a hybrid working model, rather than a mandated full return to the office, as it reaps the benefits of continued investment in technology, improved staff productivity and enhanced client experience.

This decision follows feedback received from the firm’s people during the pandemic, which indicated that a hybrid of office and home working is strongly preferred, as well as the noted benefits to clients of lawyers.

Decisions around which days employees work in the office and remotely are being taken by individual line managers, with the expectation that staff will work two or three days in the office and two or three days remotely each week. This approach, endorsed by the firm’s Management Board, aligns with the firm’s values.

Neil Kennedy, Managing Partner, said: “As we look to the future, I am convinced that agility, flexibility and choice for our people and our clients will bring long-term benefits to quality of service and the promotion of a genuine work/life balance – both of which we have seen over the last year, and which are critical to modern, progressive law firms.”

(Showroom Manager) and their amazing team. They have also had the best support from family, friends, loyal customers and suppliers.

George said “It was very difficult missing our celebration but apparently Covid catches up with you when you least expect it too.”

Thistle Help look forward to the future, who knows what it will bring!

www.thistlehelp.co.uk

Rupa Mooker, Director of People & Development, said:

“The change within the legal profession over the last two years is vast, and continuous change is inevitable, particularly in the way individuals view their relationship with their career and profession. Empowering and enabling our people to work where, when and how they want has brought tremendous benefits both to our firm and to our clients and we are committed to continuing this philosophy.”

The firm’s adoption of a hybrid working structure follows its move in May 2021 to new office premises in Edinburgh, at 10 George Street, which have been designed with a focus on agile working and collaboration between people and clients. In Glasgow, the firm has open plan offices in the Capella building on York Street, which are conducive to the hybrid working model.

AYRSHIRE BASED MCCULLOCH GROUP WIN NETWORK RAIL GOLD AWARD

Ayrshire based business, McCulloch Group, have been awarded Network Rail’s PPS Gold Award for 2022, for the third year running.

The award, which recognises the overall reliability of plant, assets and suppliers operating on Network Rail infrastructure projects, is the latest accolade to acknowledge the quality of solutions McCulloch Group provides to the rail industry.

Since the original invention of the TRT™ (Trac Rail Transposer), McCulloch Group now have a fleet of innovative plant, each of which complete tasks safely on the railway infrastructure that would otherwise be a potential danger to track teams.

David Girdler, CEO of McCulloch Group said of the win:

Being granted the PPS Gold Award for yet another year is testament to the work we’re doing at McCulloch Group to create pioneering and reliable solutions to make the railways a safer place for track teams.

We work closely with Network Rail on a number of projects, in an industry which operates under stringent safety and operational regulations. The fact that we continue to innovate and create new solutions for the railways, while maintaining gold-standard reliability, means we’re doing things right! Congratulations and thanks to the whole McCulloch team for their hard work towards winning this award.

With offices in both Kilmarnock and Ballantrae, this year McCulloch Group will celebrate 30 years of operational business; a venture which all began in a yard in Ballantrae.

MEET THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF SAXEN FIRE & SECURITY

Saxen Fire & Security are always looking to grow and build from grassroots. The team contacted Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce regarding new expansion work they are undertaking, and the best way to recruit young workers.

Chamber staff connected Saxen Fire & Security with DYW, who informed them of the best way to move forward to employ new apprentices. Saxen Fire & Security have also recently been awarded the Young Person Guarantee employer status, which helped with recruiting. They then decided to take on two bright young apprentices from Ayrshire and secured a 3-year electronic security apprenticeship course.

They also then employed a young apprentice from Darvel, who is also receiving 2 year in-house course to get her qualification, which will allow her to grow in her field.

We believe in helping young people with their career journey and giving them a good place to work and grow.

Saxen Fire & Security covers all aspects of the fire and security industry from small domestic, commercial systems to large scale hotel, colleges and industrial sites all over the UK. We have over 30 years’ experience in the industry and are SSAIB approved. We offer a no obligation quote on new and existing systems. Please don’t hesitate to call on our office number 01560 322998.

REGENCY CELEBRATES A FRUITFUL YEAR BY UNVEILING A NEW CORPORATE BRAND IDENTITY

The 17th of June 2022 was a very special and memorable day for Regency Contract Cleaning now Regency Facilities Management as it hosted its first-ever public event in honour of its new corporate brand identity and achievements to date. On the day Keith Glass the Managing Director and Julia Ngadi the Marketing Manager briefly shared Regency’s story and the key events that contributed to the company’s growth and transformation.

The event enabled Regency to truly connect and share its vision and mission with the community it serves while giving them insight into the services it provides and the work it carries out within the community; some of which include supporting charities and non-profitable organisations and providing work opportunities for young people.

Among the guests who attended the event were Sharon Dowey MSP, Councillor Martin Kilbride, and representatives from various businesses and organisations including Ayrshire Cancer Support, FFU Scotland CIC, and Employability & Skills.

Regency started off as a small carpet cleaning company. Today, however, Regency has evolved into a renowned medium-sized company with over 100 employees and specialising in bespoke and sustainable hard and soft facilities management services.

Regarding the success of the event and its

LOCAL CHARITY ANNOUNCES REINVIGORATED DRIVE FOR NEW TRUSTEES

Since 1963, Hansel has been focused on breaking down barriers faced by people with additional support needs, creating inclusive environments, opportunities, and choices to enable people living in Ayrshire to live independent and fulfilling lives.

Our mission is to ensure we deliver empowering support so every person feels included and experiences equality, choice, dignity, compassion, and respect. We are a leading social care charity with a unique organisational structure placing innovation and passion at the forefront of delivering real change through a range of services and opportunities for the people that we work for.

We are recruiting four new Trustees to join our board and are looking for people with a range of skillsets such as: legal, social care, employability, social enterprise, marketing, public

sector commissioning, investment management and fundraising. We welcome applications from individuals with experience of being a carer in any capacity.

Managing Director, Gerry Lindsay said “The non-executive director team at Hansel make a significant contribution to the organisation’s success, bringing a breadth of knowledge and experience that is invaluable to our journey as a local charity. Although the primary responsibility of our charity trustees is to oversee Hansel’s governance and strategy, we welcome the commitment from them to proactively engage with our people; members of our management team, front-line team members, and most importantly, people accessing support through our services.”

From Trustees and management to front line team members and people who use Hansel services, everyone shares a common vision: to give people of all abilities the freedom to live the life they choose.

impact, Sharon Dowey MSP said:

“Regency has evolved over the years into a company with big contracts while having a positive impact on Ayrshire communities. It is a nationally recognised company that brings so much to the local economy and community. Their growth serves as an example of how a company in Ayrshire may develop and have an impact”

The new corporate identity has been crucial in reinforcing the company’s core values and revealed that the sky is the limit to what Regency can achieve and its capabilities.

If you are interested in working alongside like-minded people looking to enhance life choices for individuals, this could be a great opportunity for you. For more information please email recruitment@brucetaitassociates.com or call 01786 542224. Our search is being conducted exclusively for Hansel by BTA (Bruce Tait Associates)

NATIONAL CAMPAIGNS

Tuesday 9th August was Scottish Exam Results Day and thousands of businesses across the country showed their support by getting involved in DYW's #NoWrongPath campaign. This is a social media movement which aims to provide inspiration and reassurance to young people receiving their results.

We would like to thank those who got involved, helping highlight that there is #NoWrongPath to success. For many, leaving school to start their career is not the job they are in today. This campaign shows young people not all paths

are straight and that exams results are not necessarily the key to unlocking future success.

We look forward to the next campaign in 2023!

DYW AYRSHIRE AMBASSADOR'S MBE

We recently congratulated our DYW Ayrshire Ambassador, Walter Smith, for being awarded an MBE for services to Youth Enterprise and Education in Ayrshire.

This includes the following volunteering activities over the last 21 years:

• Business adviser Young Enterprise Ayrshire

• Business mentor and funding panel member Prince’s Trust Ayrshire

• Prince’s Trust Ayrshire Chair 20152021

•

Member of DYW FSP and Steering Groups since 2015

• DYW Business Ambassador with particular focus on the Innovative School Projects since 2015 covering all Ayrshire secondary schools

Walter was also the winner of the Education Scotland School Supporter of the Year for his services to Greenwood Academy in enterprise activities.

It has been a great honour to receive the MBE for my activities in the fields of youth enterprise and education. It has been a privilege to work with young people in Ayrshire starting up both businesses and the innovative school projects, many of the latter developing into mini enterprises. It is particularly rewarding to see the young people improve their confidence, develop communication and customer service skills, demonstrate their commitment and overall improve their employability and business skills as well life skills. Hopefully I can continue to be involved in these activities for the foreseeable future.

Walter Smith MBE

In June, DYW celebrated the Young People are Great (#YPAG) Campaign which highlighted the achievements and resilience of young people across Scotland, raised awareness of the greatness young people bring to any workforce and spread good news, success and motivation.

We would like to thank those who got involved in this social media campaign.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Work placements provide young people with an invaluable experience of the world of work to inform their career decisions, develop skills and confidence in the workplace and build their network.

Bridgend have supported the work experience programme since 2008 over all three local authorities at their branches in Kilwinning, Ayr & Kilmarnock.

At Bridgend we are heavily invested in our future workforce through Kickstart scheme and our Training Academy so the natural thing for us to do is to invite young people from local schools in for their work experience programme.

It’s fantastic to see how keen the young people are and they are hands on from day 1 being teamed up with one of our experienced tradesmen and taught the ins and outs of daily life in the motor trade. Our existing workforce enjoy having the young people on site and it’s especially good for our own youngsters to take on a “buddy” role and show them the ropes!

We continue to support the work experience programme as we believe that getting young people involved in the workplace early on helps them choose a career in the motor trade. If they are keen we would get them in for Saturday morning jobs whilst at school or college hopefully leading to them choosing Bridgend as their career path. Young people are the future of not only our business but every business!”

Alison Mitchell, Bridgend Motor Group

UWS TASTER EVENT 2022

EAC Housing Asset Services have supported the programme since 2020. Last session Kevin had 4 pupils on flexible placements from several schools in East Ayrshire whilst also hosting week-long placements alongside this.

At Housing Asset Services we have been delighted to see the return of school work experience placements following the removal of Covid 19 restrictions. This has allowed us to, once again, give the opportunity to young boys and girls, such as Ben from Loudoun Academy to experience the world of work. With an annual Craft Apprenticeship recruitment programme offering opportunities in Plumbing, Plastering, Bricklaying, Joinery and Electrical, this is a great way for us to get a sneak peek at the potential apprentices of the future and give them the chance to have an insight into what a career in East Ayrshire Council could look like. Kevin Mitchell, EAC Housing Asset Services

Would you like to host pupils on a work placement to increase their chance at employment?

Email our Business Liaison Officers for the work experience guide which covers all your Q&As –workplacement@ayrshire-chamber.org

Groups of S5/S6 pupils from some Ayrshire Schools enjoyed the UWS Taster Day Event in June at their Ayrshire Campus. The pupils enjoyed a Welcome and Introduction from Laura Murdoch and Kirstie Paterson from the Student Recruitment Team, followed by a campus tour.

Laura and Kirstie had organised workshops for the pupils in Education, Sport, Nursing, Performance and Commercial Music.

The pupils had a great day and had the opportunity to put their questions to a student panel at the end of the workshops, which was highly informative. Thank you UWS, we look forward to next years event!

ASHLEIGH (SCOTLAND) LTD'S CONSTRUCTION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT

After a meeting at Belmont Academy six years ago, Ashleigh’s Managing Director David Smith, recognised a need to develop partnerships with local schools and colleges to generate more opportunities for students and help increase their employability skills … and so the Construction Partnership Project (CPP) was formed.

Established in 2016, in collaboration with Ayrshire College and Belmont Academy, the Construction Partnership Project develops students understanding of both trade and professional roles within the industry. Ayrshire college deliver the trade aspects of the project: Joinery, Taping and Bricklaying. While Ashleigh focus on the specialised job roles such as: Architecture, Surveying and Planning.

Throughout the project students gain knowledge and skills in the areas involved in a construction project; from designing a proposed

housing development, creating timber wall panels, costing the project, and planning the delivery of the project - students learn ‘real life’ work skills that wouldn’t be taught in a school environment.

“Construction Partnership Programme 2022 was our 5th project to date; twelve Design & Technology pupils from Belmont Academy, were chosen based on their career aspirations, with an awareness of equal gender representation to encourage females into the industry.

The students were split into three groups and within each group there were four job roles, allowing each young person within the group to take on a specific role: Project Manager, Architect, Surveyor and Contracts Manager.

The project concluded with team presentations at the Ashleigh boardroom, in front of a panel of judges. Students were then able to showcase their design ideas and highlight the importance of

working within a multi-disciplinary team.

Each member of the winning team received a trophy, and a team prize of a day out at the Escape Rooms in Ayr. The students are also being put forward for a Silver Crest Award. During previous years some students have even went on to secure an apprenticeship with Ashleigh, leading them straight into a positive destination when leaving school!”

“Ashleigh Scotland Limited have always been committed to working with young people to promote careers in construction and encourage positive destinations for school leavers. We provide opportunities for young people to experience the world of work within the built environment and pride ourselves on the career prospects we nurture through our ‘Organic Growth’ business model.” Lauren Cahir, Community Coordinator, Ashleigh Scotland Ltd.

PRESTWICK ACADEMY CAREERS EVENT

2022 saw the return of in person careers events and DYW Ayrshire are delighted to be a part of them. The final of these events before the summer break was at Prestwick Academy where 500 pupils joined 20 employers to learn about all the routes, pathways and opportunities available to them.

S4, S5 and S6 pupils were able to speak to businesses from a number of sectors to spark inspiration and motivation as they move through their final years at secondary school. Prestwick Academy hope to hold

more careers events throughout 2022/23 academic year to bring the world of work to the school curriculum, and DYW Ayrshire look forward to supporting this.

Thank you to the following who volunteered to come along to this event and made it a success:

Navy, NHS, Army, Buzzworks, Ayrshire Hospice, South Ayrshire Active Schools, Alex Begg, GE Caledonian, Hansel Village, Woodward, Clyde Marine Training, Glasgow Caledonian University, Regency Clean, Scottish Fire and Rescue, South Ayrshire Council

YOUNG PERSON’S GUARANTEE

We are delighted to announce our latest #YPGuarantee sign-ups and renewals from months June to August. These businesses have pledged their support to our local young people and many businesses who signed up last year have extended their pledge. We would like to thank the following for their support:

RENEWALS:

Thistle Help, Visit Arran, Wallace McDowall, Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, Young Enterprise Scotland, Training First, Shire Housing, Auchrannie Resort, Solutions on Demand, Dustacco Engineering Ltd., Bridgend Motor Group.

NEW SIGN-UPS:

QA Apprenticeships, Saxen Security, Taylor & Henderson, Ayrshire Credit Union, Nelson Track Solutions and North Ayrshire Council.

Employability & Skills, MERCK, South Ayrshire Park Rangers, SSPCA and HR Arena.

Would you like to talk to young people about opportunities within your organisation? Contact engage@ayrshire-chamber.org for more information about our upcoming events.

Hear from Ayrshire’s first ever YPG sign-up and recent renewal, Auchrannie Resort, about young people within their organisation:

This is three of our youngest team members – l-r, Thomas Copperwheat, Sid Townsend and Eilidh Kincaid, they all started with us towards the end of last year. They joined our Recreations team on a part-time basis with hours worked around their school commitments, so mostly evenings and weekends. We also have young people working in our housekeeping and restaurant teams. During school holidays, they can pick up extra shifts, and we see lots of team members who start out with us in this way either come on board full time after school, or come back and work over holiday’s if they head off to College or Uni. Whilst they’re with us, they receive lots of training, including - in the case of Thomas, Sid and Eilidh - Emergency Pool Responder which includes comprehensive first aid training, as per the picture! From a business point of view, our youngest team members bring so much energy and a really positive attitude to work. We take pride in giving them a great introduction into the world of work, and we hope that the values we install in them as part of our team will serve them well in their future endeavours, ideally here with us at Auchrannie, or if not, then in whatever direction they take.

Amanda Pirie, Auchrannie Resort

INNOVATIVE SCHOOL PROJECTS

DYW Ayrshire are looking for businesses to support our Innovative School Projects. These projects range from Hospitality, Rural & Horticultural, Beekeeping, Construction, Beauty & Wellbeing and much more. You could get involved by hosting classroom talks, workshops or getting involved with specific asks.

Please see a full list of projects on our website at https://www.dywayrshire. com/projects/ and contact our Employer Engagement Officer, Wilson, if you would like more information/to get involved – wbarrie@ ayrshire-chamber.org.

BEEHAVIN

In June, Garnock Community Campus' Beehavin Club won 1st Prize at the Royal Highland Show Scottish Beekeeping Association Schools Category. This award comes 3 years after its launch date in 2019 funded by DYW Ayrshire and The Princes Trust. We would like to congratulate the school and pupils involved in the project on this achievement with their award-winning honey.

Beehavin are absolutely delighted to receive this award. Working with the bees has been a great educational experience and producing our own Beehavin honey has been so rewarding. We are very proud of this recognition. Thank you DYW Ayrshire for your support.

Valerie Howe, Garnock Community Campus Beehavin Club

01292 678666 info@dywayrshire.com

QTS RAIL SKILLS ACADEMY

The QTS Rails Skills Academy is the first of its kind and was launched in May 2022 following a successful bid in response to a tender opportunity by the East Ayrshire Young Persons Guarantee project. This has provided the opportunity to create a programme to help give young people the chance to start upon a career path within the rail industry whilst simultaneously working to bridge the skills gap within the industry.

The Academy is a nine-week programme and includes five weeks of classroom training where the young people gain recognised competencies in railway safety, including PTS and Track Induction as well as health & safety, small tools and first aid together with employability skills. Following the initial five weeks training, the participants undertake four weeks of on-site work experience to equip them with a good understanding of the rail industry and the various roles that are available.

Anyone aged 18-24 who lives within the East Ayrshire area is welcome to apply with no formal training or experience required. QTS is currently working with other areas in Ayrshire to hopefully open up the Academy to a wider group.

The nine-week programme culminated in a celebration event with a number of rail industry employers joining the QTS team to meet the participants and discuss employment opportunities with them.

The first cohort of young people have now successfully completed the Rail Skills Academy and are ready to move on to jobs within the industry.

One of the Skills Academy graduates, Jamie Fulton, said:

"The Rail Skills Academy has been an incredible opportunity to be able to enter the railway. The skills I’ve learned along the way will stay with me throughout my career. The opportunities the academy gives you are endless and I'm glad to have been a part of it."

Jamie has now moved into a role with the civils department within QTS, one of five of the first cohort of Skills Academy Graduates being offered positions with the company.

Trainees attending the Rail Skills Academy receive a £55 per week training allowance, together with lunch subsistence. Transport is also arranged where required to assist with travel to the QTS HQ at Drumclog, Lanarkshire.

For more information on future Skills Academy programmes contact janemcfadzean@qtsgroup.com and follow QTS Training on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Project Search has continued to diversify in the post lockdown period in order to meet the needs of partner employers and its host site Culzean Country Park. The challenges continue to be many and complex. Local workforces have faced changes as people have switched careers, re-trained. Add to this a tight financial squeeze for many and the employment landscape has changed a great deal. Having said that there are opportunities aplenty and last week one of our interns David Alexander secured a modern apprenticeship with South Ayrshire Council at Dolphin House as an Outdoor Instructor. This is a fine example of an intern converting transferable skills and experience directly from the mentoring of the team at NTS Culzean to a relevant and in this case very interesting job.

Would this have happened without the experience? Probably not although David is very well suited to such a position. This is why we are forever grateful to the great staff here at Culzean and continue to maintain a proactive and adaptable approach to partnership working as we all navigate the waters in securing gainful and suitable employment for our interns.

AYRSHIRE GROWTH DEAL SUPPORTS

COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING

Community Wealth Building (CWB) is part of the Ayrshire Growth Deal (AGD). Through supporting businesses and third sector entities across a pan Ayrshire approach to economic development, the CWB programme aims to promote benefits in economic recovery, inclusivity, equality, tackling the climate crisis and take on other varied issues Ayrshire faces.

There are 3 dedicated CWB officers in each Ayrshire council working to support local SMEs

and other entities in each region.

The fundamental building blocks to this programme, and areas of support from East Ayrshire officers are:

Procurement – increase growth of your business through support from our procurement experts.

Fair Employment practices – become part of Ayrshire real living wage strategy. As your business grows and develops make it more attractive to employees and increase staff retention.

Net Zero Carbon – reduce carbon footprint, decrease energy costs and increase turnover.

Financial Power – investing locally and encouraging regional and national bodies to invest in communities.

Plural Ownership – succession planning for the future of your business – future proofing the local Economy.

The East Ayrshire CWB team are here to help your business to flourish and grow through various support including the above and 50% grant funding for eligible projects. This is a free service to Ayrshire businesses.

The CWB team invite you to discuss how they can offer support/advice and funding prospects available.

CONTINUED GROWTH AND EXCELLENCE

FORECAST FOR HALLS OF SCOTLAND

Halls of Scotland, Prestwick, part of Browns Food Group, are delighted to announce that Browns Food Group have recently acquired both John Robertson & Sons Ham curers (“Robertsons”) in Ardrossan and Irvine, and Quality Pork Processers Ltd (QPP) in Brechin.

Robertsons has traditionally been the go-to supplier for retail butchers across Scotland, whilst QPP was Scotland’s major pork processing site.

With Browns Food Group’s existing operations in Scotland, this will be an exciting new development allowing all companies to combine their capability, expanding their brands and products. Utilising Browns Food Group’s technology and processes, the companies will become more efficient, economical and reduce the carbon footprint of

Scottish Pork. The acquisitions support the Scottish pork industry, with an aim to build a sustainable Scottish Pork brand that will excite customers, whilst supporting existing established markets.

The new opportunities will provide an unrivalled offering for Scottish Pork, and pork products, in all sectors of Scottish wholesale/retail markets. It will place Scottish Pork and Scottish Pork products in an exciting position for growth, offering Scottish consumers an extensive range of quality, locally processed, higher welfare products. In addition, it will reduce the company’s food miles and improve logistics efficiencies - all contributing to our Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Group is also establishing a Butchery Centre of Excellence, allowing it to offer career opportunities, including SVQs, for a wide range of employees. If you want to work for one of Scotland’s leading food brands, Halls of Scotland invite you to apply via jobs@hallsofscotland.com

NEW MEMBERS

The Board of Directors is delighted to welcome the following companies as recently joined members of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry:

360 SAFETY AND TRAINING LTD

Ayr

Nicoll Muir info@360sat.co.uk

AAT SAFETY

Ayr

Edward Devlin accounts@aatsafety.co.uk

ARRAN BUTCHER (THE)

Isle Of Arran

David McKinnon info@thearranbutcher.com

AYR MOTORCYCLE CENTRE

Ayr Colin Nisbet colin@ayrmc.com

BARASSIE ENGINEERING SYSTEMS

LTD.

Ayr Matthew Gillies enquiries@barassie-engsys.co.uk

BLUE DIAMOND Largs

Walter Smith walter.smith4@btinternet.com

CLAIRE'S DOG WALKS

Ayr

Claire Bryden clairebryden@hotmail.co.uk

FOSSILFIELD TRAINING CENTRE

Cumnock Mercy McEwen fossilfieldracing@aol.com

GADGET REFUGE AYRSHIRE LTD

(THE)

Ayr Cameron Robertson ayr@gadgetrefuge.co.uk

HELEN SELINA SKINCARE

Prestwick

Natalie Anderson info@helenselinaskincare.co.uk

KEYSTONE SERVICES LTD

Greenock

Allan Buchan-Darroch allan@keystone-services.co.uk

NEAT DIGITAL

Ayr Declan Maltman hello@neat.digital

NELSON TRACK SOLUTIONS

Kilmarnock Jordan Nelson Jordan@nelsontracksolutions.com

NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN

Annbank Jodie McFarlane nb4cc2017@gmail.com

NOISY THISTLE LTD

Ayr

Amanda Su Brown amanda@noisythistle.com

POETS CORNER

Ayr

Lesley Hendrie Marnaferguson@yahoo.co.uk

QUARRIERS

East Kilbride

Morag Smith morag.smith@quarriers.org.uk

ROCHE TECHNICAL SERVICES LIMITED

Ayr

Shaun McCarroll info@rochetechnical.com

SM CONTRACTS (SCOTLAND)

Troon

Stephen McNab smcontractz@gmail.com

WATAIR U.K LTD

Glasgow Ian Ivory Info@watairuk.co.uk

We want to recruit more members to strengthen your business network and create more business opportunities for you. We are asking you to help by referring companies you know to us. When they join, we’ll reward you with a choice of special offers to help your business. Call the membership team on 01292 678666 or visit the referral page on our website - www.ayrshire-chamber.org/member-benefits-services/referral-scheme.