Your Business Autumn 2018

business your

the magazine of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry

autumn 2018 ÂŁ2

Business Week

Bringing Business Together See page 5 for details

8th -12th October

PARTNERS FOR BUSINESS CONTACTS Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry, The Mezzanine, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, Prestwick, KA9 2PL Mail enquiries@ayrshire-chamber.org Call 01292 678666 Visit www.ayrshire-chamber.org President.......................................Graeme McKinstry Chief Executive....................................Valerie Russell Development Manager.......................Helen McBride

MAGAZINE

Ayrshire Chamber wishes to acknowledge the support of the following companies as sponsors of our Partners for Business 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 Partner for Business please contact Helen McBride our Business Development Manager.

Editorial.................. aclayton@ayrshire-chamber.org Ad Sales.....................nsykes@ayrshire-chamber.org Ad Sales.................. lstewart@ayrshire-chamber.org Design/Typesetting............... advertisingworks.co.uk Print/Distribution............................ brown-bros.com

An Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry publication. No part of this magazine may be copied, scanned or reproduced without the express permission of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed in editorial and/or advertising in "Your Business" are not necessarily those of the Editorial Committee of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Articles submitted for publication will be considered at the Committee's discretion and may be subject to editing. Publication is not guaranteed.

CHAMBER EVENTS DIARY BUSINESS BOOSTS LEADERSHIP FOR GROWTH 25th September 8.30am-11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Action Coach

CONNECT @ SPORTSCOTLAND NATIONAL CENTRE 28th September 10.00am-11.30am Venue: The Bar, Sportscotland National Centre, Inverclyde

FREE

£15

£40

DATES FOR THE DIARY

EP AG E

5

Ayrshire Business Week 2018 Full programme see page 5

SE

LUNCH AND AUDIENCE WITH CRAIG BROWN CBE 27th September 1.00pm - 3.00pm Venue: The Gailes Hotel, Irvine

£25 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018 27th September 3.30pm - 5.30pm Venue: The Gailes Hotel, Irvine Sponsored by Simpsinns

FREE

BEHIND THE SCENES @ WILLIAM GRANTS, GIRVAN 30th October 11.00am - 1.30pm Venue: Visitor Centre, William Grants BUSINESS BOOSTS- HR MUSTS FOR NON HR PEOPLE 8th November 8.30am - 11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Arena HR

£40 BUSINESS BOOSTS- WELLBEING IN THE WORKPLACE 25th October 8.30am -11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Heather Gweneth Bird

£40

TICK TALK NETWORKING @ RIVERSIDE LODGE HOTEL 15th November 5.30pm - 7.30pm Venue: Riverside Lodge, Irvine

£15

BUSINESS BOOSTS- CREATING GREAT CONTENT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA 27th November 8.30am - 11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Ocean Blue Consulting

£40 CONNECT @ STEVEN BROWN ART GALLERY 29th November 10.00am - 11.30am Venue: Steven Brown Art Gallery, Ayr

FREE BUSINESS BOOSTS- MAKE GREAT BUSINESSVIDEOS ON A SMART PHONE 5th December 8.30am - 11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Tosh Lubek & Ken McGaffin

£40

If you wish to host an event email Yvonne Munro at events@ayrshire-chamber.org CHAMBERS CHRISTMAS @ CULZEAN CASTLE Behind the Scenes Tour and Festive Lunch 6th December 11am – 2pm Venue: Culzean Castle & Fo’c ’sle Restaurant

£18 CHRISTMAS CONNECT @ CENTERSTAGE KILMARNOCK 14th December 10.00am - 11.30am Venue: Centerstage Kilmarnock

FREE

Price shown are Chamber Members rates and include VAT unless otherwise stated. To book or for more info visit www.ayrshirechamber.org or call 01292 678666.

PRESIDENT’S WELCOME

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This quarter of the Chamber’s activity has seen continued exceptional activity and productivity. The two principal focal points for members has seen the introduction, integration and now consistent development of our new membership model.

You will remember that early in 2017, the Board set up two groups to look at aspects of the Chamber’s offering and to examine whether it was still fit for purpose and whether it could be improved. One of the many outputs of that resulted in the new membership model which, while still in its embryonic stage, has been widely welcomed across the Chamber community and is attracting members from all different aspects of trade and commerce.

Allied to the new model which caters for every shape, size and type of business, are a whole range of new benefits and I encourage members to go to our website to re-examine all of the new opportunities which are available.

The Board views this not as the beginning of the end but rather the end of the beginning and in the New Year you should watch out for further

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

TWO YEARS ON!

development, extension and improvement of both the model and the services which the Chamber brings to you. Watch this space…

Separately we saw the climax of our widely promoted Platinum anniversary celebrations. Under Lorna Gibson’s chairmanship another group devised a very full programme of events throughout the year which saw the grand finale in “It’s a Knockout” …… and it most certainly was! ….. at Ayr Racecourse in June.

That spectacle was a first for the Chamber and hopefully not only will that event be repeated but some of the other events might appear on an annual or at least more frequent basis.

Other important activities, although perhaps slightly below the radar and less eye-catching, is our continued support for business development. The latest learning journey which is led by Ayrshire Chamber will involve twenty-five members from the food, drink and tourism industry from all over Scotland visit Southern Ireland which has been described as a “gourmet capital” and this is a first class opportunity for sharing and learning best practice.

GRAEME MCKINSTRY ACCI PRESIDENT

Similarly we continued to participate in the annual British Chambers of Commerce Benchmarking Survey which is part of our accreditation and it was very encouraging to see that we continue to have high levels of retention, activity and events attendance and that we score very well against the other accredited Chambers.

This is my last welcome as your President and as I sign off may I thank you for the opportunity and wish every member continued success in membership of the Chamber and in your own businesses for the years ahead.

CHAMBER ROUNDUP

The Energy Agency ran a South Ayrshire Schools competition to design their calendar for next year. There were some fantastic entries and the winners were presented with their certificates at Ayr Town Hall in June 2018.

A year on from Susan’s visit to Ayrshire CEO Val Russell attended the 4th of July celebrations at the Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. The event was hosted by the US Consulate and guests including East Lothian Provost John McMillan and North Ayrshire Provost Ian Clarkson were welcomed

by US Ambassador Robert Wood Johnson.

The Chamber were pleased to provide some goody bags for a group of young people visiting from Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline project. The visit was brought to our attention by Pamela McBurnie of Pam & Co Irvine. Pam is also a member of Seagate Rotary who supported the visit.

The girls were treated to a hair makeover during the visit.

CHAMBER NEWS

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

NEWNAN-COWETA CHAMBER, USA MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF SCOTTISH SISTER CITIES DURING JULY TRIP TO AYRSHIRE

4

A summertime trip to Scotland to attend a friend’s wedding turned into an opportunity for some productive diplomatic work for Cynthia Bennett, vice president of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber.

In a jam-packed day of official visits on July 5, Bennett found herself meeting her counterparts at the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Val Russell, CEO, and Helen McBride, development manager for an exchange of “best practices”.

Next, it was off to tour the world-famous Alex Begg factory. Woven in Ayr, Scotland since 1866, Begg & Co.’s famous handcrafts include exquisite scarves, wraps, and throws made from the finest cashmere, silk and lambswool angora yarns.

Following lunch at the Lochgreen House, Bennett was driven to County Buildings on Wellington Square, where she took tea with Provost Helen Moonie and Economic Development Manager Jim Johnstone of South Ayrshire Council. On the way to the council building, they passed by an old bank building that was opening as a restaurant that very night. After a long day of work and a relaxing walk on the beach, Bennett and her husband, Ken, enjoyed a delicious dinner in the new restaurant.

The Bennetts travelled to South Ayrshire to attend the wedding of Stuart Lindsay, a young man they’d hosted at their home in Newnan back in 2011 on a visit by the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra. Ayrshire and Newnan are sister cities (called“twin cities”in Scotland), and when Bennett was planning her trip, she reached out to local friends who have been active in civic and cultural activities involving the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra.

“I was guided by John Thrasher, Bette Hickman, and Phyllis Graham in preparing for the visit,”Bennett said. In a bit of serendipity, she learned that this very summer, the City of Newnan happened to be celebrating the twentieth anniversary of its relationship with Ayr, and Coweta County was celebrating the twentieth anniversary of its relationship with South Ayrshire. Bennett took proclamations from both the City of Newnan and from Coweta County Commissioner Al Smith in honor of these anniversaries.

Phyllis Graham, of Let Them Eat Toffee in Newnan, prepared special boxes of the Newnan treats for Bennett to take across the pond, and Bennett took a Yeti mug from the Coweta County Development Authority that was presented to Jim Johnstone. The Newnan-Coweta Chamber’s gifts to the Ayrshire Chamber included a collection of external power supplies featuring the Newnan-Coweta Chamber logo.

Bennett noted that the gifts she received on the trip

included such treats as a bottle of Scotch whiskey, a lovely crystal paperweight, and early in the trip, a bottle of Hendricks gin.

As a result of the visits, both the Newnan-Coweta Chamber and the Coweta County Development Authority are now in the process of officially establishing relationships with their counterparts in Ayr and Ayrshire. The local Chamber is about to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network that states,“This Memorandum of Understanding is intended to create and strengthen links between Newnan-Coweta Chamber and Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network and their members with a view to developing relationships between members for the enhancement of trade. This MOU is intended as a platform to build relationships between each named Chamber and their members. It is hoped that, as well as supporting our members, we can also learn from each other about issues of policy and trade development.”

These new collaborations are exciting for both the local chamber and the development authority, Bennett said. She learned that Ayrshire is where the television drama series Outlander is filmed, so the area has some similarities to Senoia, where The Walking Dead is filmed.

The following day, the Bennetts enjoyed attending their young friend’s wedding at Rowallan Castle, a privately owned historic site in Ayrshire. They also visited Dumfries House, another historic site, and learned about the importance of the golf industry to the Ayrshire area.

“It was a wonderful trip for Ken and me,”Bennett said,“and strengthening these ties with Ayr and Ayrshire made an amazing trip even more memorable.”

Monday 8th - Friday 12th October

2018

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*All events can be booked through the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce website unless otherwise stated.

For more information or to book online, visit www.ayrshire-chamber.org The Mezzanine, Glasgow Prestwick Airport Prestwick, Ayrshire, KA9 2PL events@ayrshire-chamber.org 01292 678 666 AyrshireChamberofCommerce AyrshireChamber

MEMBER NEWS

THE FENWICK HOTEL & FUTURE CHAMBER

After being in business for 10 years, the owner of The Fenwick Hotel was proud and delighted the company had won a place in the first year of “The Future Chamber” initiative. Always looking forward and strategising to continue building business, this was an ideal opportunity to promote the hotel, build new relationships and engage with other Ayrshire businesses.

CHAMB E MEMBEER R

with their events program. I am excited to continue to see where these new relationships go and how they produce more and more collaborations.”

Karen Bennie, the hotels Event Manager, is the representative that has been utilising the membership and is gaining massive benefits in more ways than one.

“Having access to training and events that allow me to work on my skills, gain new ones and also meet new people in business has been invaluable. I am connecting with people on a weekly and monthly basis that is now encouraging

FUTUR

new custom to the hotel as well as working directly with the chamber

With some businesses already getting involved more with the Fenwick, next year will prove to show more and more events, trainings and conferences being held as a direct result of being part of the chamber. The hotel won’t reveal too much until more is set in stone, but the experience of being part of the Future Chamber program has already shown massive benefits and the visibility of the brand is growing each day. “We would like to thank the Chamber for their support and encouragement through the program so far and for the opportunity to help make The Fenwick Hotel one of the go to venues for Ayrshire companies”.

PARTN E

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

4 BUSIN R ESS

6

CHAMBER NEWS

BUSINESS BOOSTS

2018

August 2018 – June 2019 2.5 hours training sessions delivered by our training partners. Short, sharp, interactive sessions, all aimed at developing your business and your people, to encourage business growth and success.

DATE

TITLE

TRAINING PARTNER

28th Aug

Easy Steps to Comply with GDPR/Data Protection Act 2018

6th Sept

Get your Business found on Google - SEO & Google Maps

25th Sep

Leadership for Growth

25th Oct

Wellbeing in the Workplace

8th Nov

HR Musts for Non HR People

27th Nov

Creating Great Content for Social Media

5th Dec

Make Great Business Videos on a Smart Phone

Cyberaggress Bread & Butter Marketing Action Coach Heather Gweneth Bird Arena HR Ocean Blue Consulting Tosh Lubek & Ken McGaffin

2019

VENUE : Ayrshire Chamber Board Room 8.30am -11am. Light refreshments provided.

10th Jan

Maintaining Health & Safety Documents

30th Jan

The Game Changer - Facebook Local

COST : £40 (inc. VAT) for Chamber members or £75 (inc. VAT) non-members

8th Feb

Online Success - Is your Website Working

27th Feb

How to rank your Website

MEMBERSHIP OFFER : Premier & Enhanced Members - 20% discount per session : Corporate Members - 2 FREE sessions per year

8th Mar

The Roof over your Head - Legal Hints for Business Premises

27th Mar

Team Building Dynamics - Working with Difficult People

24th April

Remote & Flexible Working with SharePoint Online

For further details & to book www.ayrshire-chamber.org or call 01292 678666

3rd May

The Cloud Platform & what MTD means for your business

28th May

The Cream of the Crop - Effective Interviewing Techniques

Balance HR

Funding support may be available from www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk

7th June

The Environment - Significant Business Risk & Opportunity

P - Block

26th June

Customers - Love them or Lose them

Insight 6

MEMBER NEWS

MOTOR REPUBLIC ARRIVES IN AYRSHIRE Who doesn’t dread getting garage bills or wish that their motoring costs were fixed? This is something that the motor industry is very much aware of and at Motor Republic, putting the customer first and keeping motoring costs within budget is the whole ethos of the business.

With the number of different finance products available on the market it’s no

IM Training Skocia Bread & Butter Marketing Janine Marriott SEO The McKinstry Co Prosperous Consultancy AHB Training William Duncan

wonder that it can be confusing to understand which product is right for your business or personal needs.

All the products have their advantages and disadvantages. Motor Republic are happy to take the time to get to know your business, your personal motoring needs and tailor products to suit. They can explain what each product does and give advice on what product will be right for your situation.

As the number of new cars registered in the UK declined last year, the leasing market actually recorded double digit growth. This is an indicator that more and more businesses and private individuals are seeing the benefits of fixed motoring costs, particularly when a fully maintained package is included.

With the recent changes to Capital Allowances from April 2018 (unless zero CO2 rated) Vehicles are to be treated as plant and machinery, meaning they are restricted to a write down value of 18% of the remaining value year on year, 8% for cars with co2

above 130g/km. One solution to this is to finance lease these vehicles as they will not be recorded as part of your assets, but the rental cost can be claimed against your profits.

If you need to know more about leasing, then contact your Regional Director for Ayrshire, Gavin Turnbull on 01560327047 or email gavin.turnbull@motorrepublic.com to find out if leasing is right for you.

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

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MEMBER NEWS

OPEN DAY SUCCESS!

Opened in July 2016 Craighead Country Nursery School is a private nursery catering for children aged 3 months to 5 years. Its unique location on a family farm allows children to experience the natural outdoors on a daily basis. The homely and welcoming ethos makes Craighead a home from home for the 84 children who currently attend.

A recent open day attracted over 150 people to come and explore the Scandinavian inspired setting. Visitors were able to speak to staff and explore the fantastic environment, including a taster of the weekly Spanish and Yoga classes. Craighead Country Nursery School promotes open ended learning and independence in all that they do. Children enjoy home cooked meals which are all freshly prepared using locally sourced ingredients,

some straight from the FUTU garden. Parents benefit C HAMB RE from having regular MEMB ER communication ER through an app, which keeps them up to date with snacks, meals, nappies and sleep routines.

‘I could barely imagine a richer or more caring learning environment for my children.

The vision and innovation from Elspeth and the team is beyond anything I have seen. We adore Craighead Nursery’ They were delighted to win the Scottish Rural Award category for diversification in March this year and look forward to working with staff, parents and children to continue to develop the business. To find our more visit www.craigheadcountrynursery.co.uk.

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

MAXIMISE YOUR BREAKING DOWN POTENTIAL WITH BARRIERS TO FITNESS A MENTOR

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Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce offers its membership a wide range of services to benefit your business and one of the most popular and beneficial is the Business Mentoring programme.

Fully funded and run in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, the Business Mentoring idea is simple; it matches experienced mentors who come from all business areas and sectors with growing businesses.

And by sharing the entrepreneurial experiences of mentors, this service gives the business the confidence to develop and grow, and opens up a great network of contacts that can open doors and inspire new thinking.

With a large and diverse pool of mentors across all sectors, the business is matched with a mentor that has the right skills and experience to add value to the business.

Lisa Stewart, Business Mentoring Executive, explained: “Mentoring brings benefits to both parties involved. “We can put you in touch with experienced professionals who’ll offer support and someone to bounce ideas off.

“On a personal level, mentoring can give you the confidence to grow as a person. Mentors have acted as a sounding board which is a massive benefit when making tough decisions. The service is great because the mentors can provide guidance and support but the answers lie with you as the business owners, the mentor is there to help you identify it.”

To find out more Contact Lisa Stewart at Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce: 01292 678666 lstewart@ayrshire-chamber.org or visit ayrshire-chamber.org/supporting-business

Plenty of parking; great seafront location for fresh air; state of the art gym; indoor pool, complimentary classes and well equipped spa – all for £36 per month to Ayrshire Chamber Members. So what excuses are there left not to get fitter?

The Marine Hotel in Troon has been a destination venue since 1897 and continues to be popular for elegant weddings and events. For many years however, the Health & Leisure Club has also been welcoming members seeking to exercise or relax away the stresses of a busy life.

We are now able to offer significantly reduced rates to Ayrshire Chamber members*, with a range of classes and opportunities to mix fitness with business.

Open from 6.30am – 10pm on weekdays and 7.30am – 8pm at weekends, exercise can become part of a daily routine, either in our heated, indoor pool or well equipped gym where staff will be happy to make you feel comfortable, even if you have never been a regular gym-goer.

A range of exercise classes and a

squash court provide great options to the exercise machines and for when you feel more like relaxing, there’s a heated swimming pool, sauna and a steam room.

Leisure members also enjoy 25% off at the Hotel and Spa*, where a range of treatments can be teamed with lunch or afternoon tea in the glorious lounge looking over the Firth of Clyde to Arran.

All that wellbeing for just £36 per month to ACC members* For information, email Leisure@themarinetroon.co.uk call 01292 676219 or visit www.themarinetroon.co.uk *T&Cs apply

After exploring some of the 600 acres of gardens, beaches, trails and castle on offer, recharge in their brand new Fo’c’sle restaurant inside the castle.

Inspired by its nautical past, the logo is derived from the dolphin crest of the Kennedy clan and the name is taken from the abbreviated form of forecastle, the term used to describe the upper deck, forward of the foremast nearest the bow of a ship. Fo’c’sle was also used to

describe the living quarters of the ordinary sailor, so it seems fitting to tuck into a delicious afternoon tea in the spot originally designed as the Servant’s Hall by the 18th-century Scottish architect Robert Adam. On offer are 3 tiers of sweet and savoury treats, your choice of speciality tea or coffee and panoramic views of Firth and the Isle of Arran.

Available Wednesday to Sunday.

Email: culzeanevents@nts.org.uk or Phone: 01655 884 455 Fo’c’sle will also play host to Chambers Christmas at Culzean Castle on 6th December 2018. Full details will be available on the Chamber website soon.

PREMIUM SCOTTISH SKINCARE BRAND DEBUTS RANGE ON HOUSE OF FRASER ONLINE White Rabbit Skincare, the luxury skincare brand handmade in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, has launched online with renowned retailer House of Fraser.

FUTU

CHAM RE MEMBBER ER

Until now, White Rabbit Skincare has sold exclusively online and through independent retailers throughout the UK and beyond, but customers will be invited to shop the brand through one of the UK’s premium department store’s website.

Known for delivering naturally based but high performance skincare, White Rabbit Skincare will now introduce consumers to a new and carefully curated range of unmatched luxury. A variety of the brand’s award-winning products are available for purchase, including cleansers, refreshing toners,

moisturisers for different skin types and the newly-launched hand cream.

"We are incredibly proud and so very excited to be partnering with House of Fraser for this amazing opportunity” said Melanie Blane, Founder and Director. "We hope customers will be as inspired and excited by our products as we are, and develop a greater appreciation of their own skincare routine.”

White Rabbit Skincare is an award winning, cruelty free and vegan friendly, luxury skincare brand. All of the products are 100% natural and handmade in Scotland. The company is also very proud to be PETA endorsed, approved by Naturewatch and most recently, certified by The Vegan Society.

The full White Rabbit Skincare collection can be found at https://www.houseoffraser. co.uk/search#white-rabbit-skincare

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

DISCOVER YET ANOTHER WONDER OF CULZEAN CASTLE AND COUNTRY PARK

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MEMBER NEWS

A SCOTTISH COMPANY WITH A GLOBAL REACH In the Fashion industry the places to be are LONDON - PARIS and MILAN but for local business Global Quantum Ltd. the mix is KILMARNOCK – TORONTO – SANTIAGO (Chile) – READING and DUBLIN! Perhaps not as fashionable, but these locations work for a local Company who are celebration 25yrs in business in July this year.

Graeme Reid started from his garage at home in Prestwick supplying Quantity Surveying services to the Scottish market back in 1993.

Whilst working on motorway projects such as the M8, Scotland and N6, Ireland, and Hinkley Point Nuclear Power Station, an opportunity to expand into Canada came about in 2013.

“We found our skill set met a niche in the Canadian Market and on recommendations from previous clients secured contracts in Ontario which led to the Canadian Office being opened in 2015.”

Following a similar strategy in 2017, they opened an office in Santiago Chile, where they are involved with the biggest infrastructure project in the area in many years.

“Being a SME has allowed for greater operational flexibility and quick decision-making processes

enabling us to react quickly to changing economic variables and opportunities”say CEO Graeme Reid.

“Due to the growth of the company and the scale of clients we work with, it has been important to continue to evolve and grow the business.

To that end, and with the support of organisations like the Ayrshire Chamber, Scottish Enterprise and South Ayrshire Council, Global Quantum have, in the past year, gained two industry recognised quality management system accreditations, ISO 9001 & OHSAS 18001, whilst local business Cyberaggress have guided them through the Cyber Essentials Programme.

With contracts in Europe, Canada, Middle East and The Nordics and an eye on developing markets, Global Quantum are well positioned to continue their growth.

Graeme goes on to say “Global Quantum Ltd. will continue to provide value to our clients by protecting their commercial position within the commercial and contract specialist services we provide. We continue to do that from our base in Kilmarnock due to the

flexibility and experience of our team.”

“We never forget that our people are our greatest asset and continue to support their growth in tandem with the Global Quantum’s group development.”

“Global Quantum truly are a Scottish company with a Global reach.”

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ‘A picture paints a thousand words’, the English language idiom that refers to the notion that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single image, so what could we do with video?

Search engine optimisation along with relevant video content is setting organisations apart, and the professional use of drones is taking this even further.

As more companies compete for their audience’s attention, this has never been a better time for The Vertical View Ltd. With a keen eye on delivering the right message, we create dramatic, informatic, eye-catching media content. A client in the business strategy sector recently described the impact of our work as “jaw dropping and demanding of attention”, which is why we secured a contract to create media for their marketing campaign, placed

across advertising screens at Glasgow Airport and David Lloyd centres. We also recently completed filming an extreme sporting event on the Isle of Arran, in aid of launching a sports clothing brand.

But the usefulness of drones doesn’t stop there. For a second-year running, were delivering multispectral crop health Data for the James Hutton Institute in Dundee. Over the growing season we’ve been gathering images to be analysed by scientists and geospatial engineers, in a study into the proactive treatment of pests and disease, the results of which will help to increase crop yield and save the industry time and money. Furthermore, engineering firms are making use of drone technology to enhance

theirs and their clients’view of the built environment, creating powerful presentations, making inspections, recording compliance, monitoring environmental impact and enhancing BIM and GIS strategies.

The Vertical View Ltd is an Aerial media agency specialising in photography and videography services using professional drones. Our CAA approved team come from industry backgrounds and are passionate and focussed on the delivery of business to business services, ranging from marketing to infrastructure, agriculture to environmental.

For more information, visit TheVerticalView.co.uk or call 07872 874 747

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MEMBER NEWS

INGRAM ENTERPRISE CENTRE OFFICIAL LAUNCH – BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER The official launch of the Ingram Enterprise Centre took place on June 27th and has proven to be a terrific asset to the business base. Offering a stimulating and collaborative work space to support the growth of their businesses and encouraging them to be part of something bigger.

At the official opening of the building, which is already home to 12 businesses, Sir Tom Hunter unveiled a commemorative plaque, saying “Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of Ayrshire economy and this facility will provide a much needed boost to them in enabling their growth and development. It is critical for the support mechanism, from our own West Coast Accelerator, for this new facility to join up the dots and collaborate to maximise support to entrepreneurs in Ayrshire.”

The Ingram Enterprise Centre has been designed to offer businesses maximum flexibility of space and allows them to combine a number of offices to suit their staff numbers. Tenants benefit from all-inclusive rental cost including heating, light and internet to allow them to budget for occupancy costs in the early stages of their business growth.

TO LET

If you are interested in finding out further information about the offices available and business support on offer please contact East Ayrshire Council on 01563 503237 or info@ investeastyayrshire.co.uk . Follow us @ invest_EA for regular updates on current and future developments.

High Quality, Serviced Office Accommodation in Kilmarnock for start-up and small businesses

• Town Centre location close to Kilmarnock railway station • Flexible offices units suited to sole traders or companies with up to 10+ employees

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

• Use of break out spaces, meeting rooms and training rooms

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• All-inclusive rental cost covering heating, lighting and internet • Simplified lease agreements • Access to in-house business support from East Ayrshire Council and Business Gateway

To arrange a viewing or for further information please contact: Mags Watson | 01563 578211 | mags.watson@east-ayrshire.gov.uk Alan Hodge | 01563 576184 | alan.hodge@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

13 YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

EXCITING TIMES AT MALIN COURT Malin Court is a unique Ayrshire business which operates a Care Home as well as a 3 star Hotel and a Restaurant. It has been a very busy few months with the completion and opening of a wonderful new conservatory which adds to the already impressive facilities. The 120 sq. foot structure, called The Boyd Lounge, is the biggest conservatory manufactured to date by leading Scottish Home improvement company CR Smith.

Malin Court will continue to offer formal lunches and dinners as well as their famous high teas but customers can now enjoy morning coffee, afternoon tea as well as a wide selection of light meals and snacks. It is also a magnificent space for weddings, anniversary parties and all kinds of functions.

Restaurant Manager, Natalie Rodger says “It has been great to see so many people already visiting and enjoying

what we can offer in The Boyd Lounge. The feedback has been very positive and we are continuing to work hard to ensure everyone leaves with a smile on their face. It has been exciting times for all our staff and we are delighted with what we can now offer our customers” Malin Court has recently joined the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and any member who visits The Boyd Lounge are being offered 15% off their food bill until the end of September. It sounds too good to miss!

AYRSHIRE ENGINEERING ALLIANCE AIMING TO BE THE VOICE OF ENGINEERING IN AYRSHIRE Iain McGachie joined AEA in a business development role in March 2018.

Starting work as an apprentice with Rolls-Royce at Hillington in Glasgow.

Over the next 33 years he lived and worked across 4 continents for Rolls-Royce, the last 12 years in senior management roles in procurement, programme management, quality and customer services based at the Civil Aerospace Business HQ in Derby. In the last few years he worked for Emirates Airlines based in Dubai responsible for the airframe & powerplants for their fleet of 300+ aircraft and then most recently with Doosan Babcock in Renfrew in a Business Development role. Iain therefore brings a wide breadth of engineering knowledge and experience to the role with AEA. AEA objective is to provide a forum for the Ayrshire Engineering sector to access support from industry, academia and the public sector

facilitating discussion, collaboration and communication to promote growth within the sector through local, national and international markets.

Currently in the process of re-establishing networks and members, Iain has a clear remit from the AEA Board and Three Ayrshire Councils (North, East and South) as to where they want to take AEA over the next few years. Iain is therefore keen to engage with engineering companies in Ayrshire who would wish to join the AEA as they look to build and broaden their membership to enable AEA to act as the “Voice of Engineering” in Ayrshire.

Their approach is basically threefold. To build a strong base of Ayrshire Engineering companies, develop a “Buy

Ayrshire” procurement strategy and provide the single point of contact as the “Voice of Ayrshire Engineering” to ensure the collective capabilities and offerings are heard and understood at the appropriate national and international forums/boards.

For more information please visit www.ayrshireengineeringalliance.co.uk or email: imcgachie@ayrshireengineeringalliance.co.uk

C E L E BR AT I NG 1 5 0 Y E A R S OF A . D. R AT T R AY This year independent whisky company, A. D. Rattray, celebrate 150 years in the whisky industry.

Best known locally for their Whisky Experience visitor attraction in Kirkoswald, south of Ayr, the old Primary School is also home to their award-winning whisky brands and export business.

Andrew Dewar Rattray originally established this family business in Dumbarton Road in 1868 and quickly developed a reputation for selecting and maturing Scotland’s best casks of single malt whisky building a

successful distribution network to merchants, publicans and Glasgow’s blending houses.

The company Mr Rattray founded went on to prosper thanks to the guardianship of the Walker Morrison family, a name steeped in whisky heritage.

At the helm of A. D. Rattray today are Chairman Stanley Walker Morrison and his son Stanley Andrew Morrison, supported by a team of 6 full and 3 parttime employees. The skills and knowledge which have been passed down through generations of the Morrison family have been invaluable in forming and developing this successful company.

A. D. Rattray’s focus remains on the selection of single casks of Scotch whisky. Nick White, MD, goes to great lengths to source interesting and unusual casks which, once bottled at natural strength and colour, demonstrate distinctive expressions of character and cask maturation. Each distillery represented is different and every cask unique. These single cask whiskies become part of the A. D. Rattray Cask Collection sitting alongside the company’s award-winning single malt brands, Stronachie, Cask Islay and the newly launched Cask Orkney and with sales of premium Scotch reaching record levels, you’ll currently find A. D. Rattray whiskies in over 20 countries worldwide.

W E H AV E A W H I S K Y FOR EVERYONE W H I S K Y & G I N TA S T I N G PERSONALISED WHISKY SCOTCH WHISKY WORLD WHISKY GINS | LIQUEURS | GIFTS Mon to Sat 10am to 6pm all year.

Sun 12 Noon to 5pm during Apr-Dec. 32 Main Road, Kirkoswald, Ayrshire Scotland. KA19 8HY. T 01655 760 308

The knowledge and passion for Scotland’s national drink is never more evident than when talking to the A. D. Rattray team at their Whisky Experience. A visit to this 5 star whisky attraction offers the opportunity to nose and taste exquisite Scotch whiskies and gins in the Tasting Room, personalise a bottle in the Cask Room and explore the world’s finest single malts in the shop. You can even view the working Sample Room where each of the company’s casks is meticulously evaluated for quality.

Another source of success for A. D. Rattray has been their collaboration with other Ayrshire businesses to help grow the region as a destination for meetings, conferences and events. This has already resulted in an increase in visitor numbers to their Whisky Experience, event bookings, where the A. D. Rattray team host private whisky (and gin) tasting experiences at venues across Ayrshire, and interest in their bespoke service which offers corporate labelled and personalised whisky to businesses across Scotland or as gifts for delegates visiting Ayrshire.

As A. D. Rattray look back and celebrate their 150 years, it has also been a time to look forward.

Recent investments have seen upgrades to their visitor attraction, the recruitment of two more team members, the launch of a new website and online shop, and the release of two new products.

So with this in mind, let’s raise a dram and toast another 150 years of success for A. D. Rattray!

EVERY BOTTLE

has a story to tell...

A D R A T T R A Y. C O M A LW AY S D R I N K R E S P O N S I B LY

CHAMBER NEWS

TRAINING AND FLEXIBLE WORKING KEY TO STAFF RETENTION, SAYS BCC AND INDEED Aside from staff pay, firms are more likely to increase their investment in training, and introduce more flexible working practices, in order to retain staff, according to a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and recruitment company Indeed.

The survey, of over 1,000 businesspeople across all sizes and sectors, shows that just under half (42%) of businesses would invest in training and developing their staff in order to increase staff retention, while 38% would look to introduce flexible working practices, from flexible hours and remote working to job-sharing.

Skills shortages are at near record levels, and this survey reveals that the most likely approach that firms will take to address gaps they have are to use self-employed workers, or contractors (30%), followed by investment in recruitment and training (both 25%). Developing a relationship with the local school comes next, at 22%. B2C firms are more likely to build that relationship, while B2B businesses are more likely to use contractors and retain older workers.

At the interview stage, the businesses surveyed are overwhelmingly likely to decide between two equally qualified candidates based on their performance in interview (70%), followed by quality of job application (50%). Skills gained in extra-curricular activities are important for a quarter of employers surveyed (24%).

Amid a chronic skills shortage, these findings suggest that civicminded businesses are doing everything they can to ensure that staff morale remains high. However, businesses can also do more in terms of

Jane Gratton, Head of Business Environment and Skills Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “Access to people and skills is a top priority for employers and firms are doing everything they can to recruit, retain and upskill their workforce.

Increasingly, employers are embracing flexible working practices as a sensible way to retain staff who need to balance work with family and other commitments. Amid rising upfront costs for businesses, it is crucial that innovative ways are found to motivate staff.

“Flexible access to the Apprenticeship Levy funds would enable more firms to boost productivity by training and developing their teams, and we urge the government to consider this as soon as possible.”

Tara Sinclair, senior fellow and economist at job site Indeed, added: “Attitudes to work are changing and salary is no longer the only way employers compete to attract and retain workers. Workers today seek work-life balance – searches for ‘flexible’ jobs on Indeed are at a three-year high, suggesting a growing number of jobseekers start their application with job satisfaction in mind.

“A tight labour market – where employer demand for staff is outstripping the supply of workers – places greater emphasis on staff retention, but investing in training should not be viewed as a shortterm fix to keep hold of the best talent. Rather, it should be seen as an opportunity for employers of all sizes to unlock the long-term potential in their staff.”

BEST FOR BUSINESS

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providing a flexible working environment.

MEETING ALL YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS Stunning venues - State of the art technology Wifi - Breakout rooms - Delegate packages Accommodation packages - Free parking

Contact the team today T: 01294 204040 - E: events@simpsinns.com Ayrshire - Scotland

simpsinns.com

YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS THE PARK HOTEL IN KILMARNOCK

This contemporary hotel has become very much part of the community since it first opened in June 2002 regularly playing host to family dinners, numerous celebrations, charity events, conferences, parties, weddings, Christmas festivities and so on.

Having recently been awarded the SME Awards Best Facilities for Seminars and Conferences 2018 & Best Modern Hotel Complex 2018 – Scotland they would like to thank their loyal customers for helping them to achieve the awards.

This is testament to the positive and enjoyable experience customers and guest receive when they stay, eat, conference or celebrate at The Park Hotel. They would also like to thank all of their staff whose hard work and determination does not go un-noticed.

After a busy summer there are a number of events still to come. From tribute nights, Blues Pop-up food & wine nights, Ayr Gold Cup pre-race hospitality and Halloween spooktacular evening there is lots going on!

The popular Sunday Funday events are back on select dates in September, October & November. Great value with kids eating free and a magician to entertain kids of all ages!

There is a very busy festive calendar this year with some new events added including an Afternoon Tea Dance, Party Lunches and Ladies Lunches along with the highly popular party nights, Christmas Day events and Hogmanay parties.

For further information and details of our special offers and upcoming events, please visit the hotel website: www.theparkhotelayrshire.co.uk

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MEMBER NEWS

CREATE YOUR CAREER DYW Ayrshire in partnership with Ayrshire College held a 'Create Your Career Event’ at the end of June, after meeting with Art and Design Principal Teachers across South Ayrshire. The event was designed for S2 and S3 pupils who are considering taking creative subjects as they progress through school. Ayrshire College agreed to host the 150 pupils attending from 7 different schools. The aim, to give pupils a clear idea of what studying Art & Design is like in a further education environment, as well as give them an opportunity to speak with local professionals who run creative businesses.

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I have enjoyed my experience at Ayrshire housing. I have learned many new things about housing.

I have learned how points are allocated, how the internal systems work and how to change information from a scanned PDF file into a system. I enjoyed going on the estate walk about with Joanne, the Housing Officer.

We went to South Harbour Street and it was good to actually see the properties that Ayrshire Housing own in real life.

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DYW Ayrshire organised for the young people in attendance to also have the opportunity to network in the marketplace with 13 representatives from business, further and higher education.

Model-makers, jewellers, architects, and magazine editors amongst others helped to inspire the young people to take up creative subjects, safe in the knowledge that there can be a productive career at the end of their studies.

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Pupils pre-selected a workshop to attend from a choice of 8 ranging from fashion and photography to sound production

and technical theatre. Workshops were all delivered by Ayrshire College Lecturers in their fantastic facilities and allowed students to explore college life.

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My work experience placement was at Sprang Terras Solicitors in Ayr, from 8th May till the 11th May 2018.

The solicitor’s office is responsible for dealing with conveyancing, drawing up of wills and many other legal matters. They may also instruct advocates and represent clients in courts. The building I worked in had approximately 10 offices within it with a reception area on the first floor.

My job was to deal with many things including writing up payment receipts, organising client and firm cheques, also learning about the many areas of law that are available in the future. The office was split into two sections with the reception and director’s offices on the first floor, and the other working offices upstairs. My supervisor was extremely helpful and created a work experience booklet for me to work on throughout my week during the quieter periods of the day. Occasionally I would answer the phone and speak to clients that came in and out of the office watched over by my supervisor. All the girls working there were very kind and helped me in every possible way. My experience in the solicitor’s office was eye-opening to the world of law and I enjoyed every minute of it.

We asked Iona if she would mind telling us about her experience and this is what she had to say: “I really enjoyed my week with Vets4Pets; the staff are so lovely and welcoming and let me do lots of various things such as helping prepare for consults, watching operations, cleaning, helping look after their patients and lots more! I couldn't be more happy with how my week went, thank you and hope to see you all again soon".

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We would just like to say thank you to Iona for her dedication and help throughout the week and we would like to wish her the very best of luck in the future.”

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Here's what they had to say: “Iona was with us for a week of work experience which allowed her to see how the practice ran on a day to day basis, watching routine vet consultations, surgeries and including her in duties which the team carry out on a daily basis.

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Iona recently spent her weeks work experience at Vets4Pets Irvine. As part of developing the young workforce, Vets4Pets Irvine's aim is to help develop young people's career aspects within a veterinary role.

AUCHINLECK PRIMARY CAREERS DAY

In June this year, Auchinleck Primary held their first ever Careers Day with their P7 pupils. The aim of the day was to give the young people a flavour of different careers and further education opportunities before they moved on to the Academy after the summer.

Teacher Linzi Douglas opted for a workshop-based format for the day, with each of the employers spending 30 minutes with each group of pupils talking about their business and setting challenges and scenarios.

Ashleigh Brown from Ayrshire College was joined by Lynne Jeffery (DW Shaw Solicitors), Rachael Nicholl (STEM Ambassador), Katrina McEwan (Egger), and Fiona Coubrough (Engie) who all gave up their mornings to speak to the pupils who were thoroughly engaged throughout. From a courtroom role play, to designing an efficient wind turbine, the morning was a valuable insight into the world of work, added to by Ashleigh who spoke about the opportunities Ayrshire College has for young people. Thanks to all who attended, and to Linzi at the school who co-ordinated the pupils so well!

A TASTER OF UNIVERSITY LIFE AT UWS University of the West of Scotland, Ayr Campus held their annual Taster Day in June where they invited S5 and S6 pupils from Ayrshire schools to spend a morning finding out more about university life.

This fantastic opportunity allows young people to attend a 90 minute interactive workshop of their choice with options including primary teaching, nursing, marketing, engineering and technical theatre. Before departing, pupils receive an informative campus tour, a presentation

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explaining the different routes into university and a question and answer session with current students.

Thanks again to UWS for organising such a great event.

INFO@DYWAYRSHIRE.COM

East Ayrshire’s Project SEARCH interns have successfully graduated from the programme after 36 weeks of practical work experience in University Hospital Crosshouse.

Project SEARCH is an employability programme that helps 17– 29 year olds with learning disabilities and/or who are on the autistic spectrum build skills for competitive employment.

This year, 9 interns embarked on the 800-hour placement, and gained practical experience in a number of areas of the hospital including portering, medical records, stores, waste management and the mailroom. Each student worked for a total of ten weeks in each area.

Lois Robertson from Cumnock completed rotations in medical records and portering, she said: “Project SEARCH did a lot for me. It raised my confidence to apply for jobs, made me believe in myself. As a person with dyspraxia, I struggled, but with Project SEARCH I have got a permanent job. I highly recommend Project SEARCH.” Patricia Leiser, Human Resources Director, said: “We are very proud to be part of such an inclusive project with our local partners.

“The students gain invaluable experience and skills during their placement and we are delighted that so many of them find a career as a result – often within the health and social care partnerships and NHS Ayrshire & Arran.”

The interns were placed in real life work environments and took part in regular progress meetings to define their career goal and plan necessary steps to achieve it.

OUR GRADUATES WITH THEIR AWARD CERTIFICATES (left-to-right: Graeme Daly – Galston, John Duncan – Auchinleck, Andrew Caldwell – Kilmarnock, Kieran Lennon – Kilmarnock, Iona Nimmo – Kilmaurs, Lois Robertson – Cumnock, Amy McMillan – Kilmarnock, Cameron Todd – Newmilns. Missing from the picture is Iain Holmes – Galston.

Linda Black, Health Records Manager (North), NHS Ayrshire & Arran said: “Many of the young people who come along to our department are very quiet and can appear as non-communicative to begin with.

“By the time they leave, they have become confident young people who have gained new skills. This is primarily down to our staff who have supported them through the programme and guided them along the way.”

At their graduation ceremony on Friday 8 June each intern received a certificate of completion and a gift voucher, kindly donated by Ayrshire College.

John Duncan from Auchinleck said: “Project SEARCH is one of the best things out there to help people get a job. Through Project SEARCH I not only managed to get one job but two!.So just do it!”

Any employers who are interested in recruiting a SEARCH intern should email sandramurphy1@nhs.net.

#NOWRONGPATH A massive thank you from DYW Ayrshire for your support during the 2018 #NoWrongPath campaign.

Thanks to your support, the campaign managed to exceed last year's campaign with a staggering 13,000 posts to social media on Scottish Exam Results Day with a reach of over 20 million people.

BLOG.DYWAYRSHIRE.COM

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LATEST GRADUATES FROM PROJECT SEARCH

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AYRSHIRE FOUNDATION APPRENTICE SHORTLISTED FOR SCOTTISH APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS An Ayrshire College Foundation Apprentice has been shortlisted as a Finalist for the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards 2018, Foundation Apprentice of the Year category.

Fraser, a former Greenwood Academy pupil, studied a Foundation Apprenticeship in Engineering during his 5th and 6th year of secondary school at the College, as part of his school timetable.

He has now progressed to a Modern Apprenticeship with local Prestwick employer GE Caledonian. The company offered Fraser a place on their Modern Apprenticeship programme during the first year of his Foundation Apprenticeship, after a successful work experience placement.

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

Kirsty Taylor, Foundation Apprentice and Employer Engagement lead at Ayrshire College, commented: “Fraser has been a great ambassador for the College and his employer GE Caledonian. His enthusiasm and commitment to the two year course has been evident since he started in 2016. He has worked hard to maintain his school work and excel in the Foundation

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Apprenticeship. We wish him every success on the night and in his future.�

The award winners will be announced on the 15th November 2018 at a Ceremony and Dinner at Perth Concert Hall.

ENGINEERING THE FUTURE AT GE GE Caledonian recently welcomed 30 female S1 pupils from Loudoun, Queen Margaret and Greenwood Academies for a day packed with engineering activity allowing them to explore

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what goes on at the Prestwick site.

The girls were tasked to build a rocket from recyclable materials which were then powered with water and air to achieve flight outside with the winning team those who reached

INFO@DYWAYRSHIRE.COM

Every year since 2015, GSK Irvine has run a mock assessment centre for secondary school pupils. It was set up to help enhance employability skills for school leavers who may have to do an assessment centre as part of a job application, regardless of whether this is with GSK or elsewhere. The idea came from discussions with some of our site apprentices who said that the most daunting part of the recruitment process was not being able to prepare for the assessment centre as they had no idea what it would involve.

The mock assessment lasts for a half day. Pupils from different local schools are brought to the site where they take part in a practical test, a group test and a short interview.

Each section is conducted under similar conditions to a real assessment centre and all participants are offered gentle feedback on how they performed.

GSK has already witnessed the benefit, particularly in improving the popularity of apprenticeships among girls.

In 2017 and then again in 2018, there has been a female engineering applicant offered a GSK apprenticeship. Both girls had taken part in a mock assessment centre which served to convince them that an apprenticeship was the right career choice and that engineering was the discipline they wanted to pursue.

As apprenticeships are nationally recognised as a viable career option, GSK appreciates the importance of engaging with the next generation of potential candidates as early as possible and the mock assessment has proven to be an excellent way of doing this.

GSK apprentices are involved in running the event which gives participants an opportunity to ask questions and discuss apprenticeships with people close to their own age.

We have listened to feedback from our own young workers and used this to help inspire the next generation and prepare them for entering the workplace. It raises the profile of apprenticeships, helps promote STEM subjects and more specifically, has attracted more girls into engineering. By continuing to run the event, we can see far reaching benefits for pupils, for schools and for apprenticeships, both now and in the future.

the greatest distance. The young people were also given the opportunity to meet current staff in GE including a number of female apprentices and were taken on a tour of the shop floor. All were impressed with the size of the aircraft engines up close and the high value of some of the tiny components.

of replica fan blades in a set time frame. As we realised this is not as easy as it sounds with each team member only being able to be based at their particular station, fan blades having to be built in a set order and any defects being sent back to the start.

The DYW team enjoyed the Lego production line challenge the most where teams competed to build the highest number

It was an enjoyable day for the next generation of GE engineers from start to finish.

BLOG.DYWAYRSHIRE.COM

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

GSK MOCK ASSESSMENT CENTRE – BY ANNA JAMIESON

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MEMBER NEWS

IRENE’S VOLUNTEER ROLE IS A “FORCE Our Business FOR GOOD” PARTN FLEXIBLE 4 BUSIN ER ESS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUND Making Your Business

We welcomed the Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, Jamie Hepburn MSP, to our Kilmarnock Campus last month to launch year two of the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF).

The Minister announced that a further £10million will be invested in 2018-19 to extend the Fund.

If eligible for the FWDF, employers can now apply for up to £15,000 free training (which is an increase from the £10,000 available in 2017-18) to support the development of their workforce.

The FWDF is available to private, public and third sector organisations which are subject to the UK Government’s Apprenticeship Levy.

The objective of the Fund is to develop the skills of existing employees. It can be used for a wide range of training, including management digital and technical skills.

The Fund is flexible: Apprenticeship Levy paying employers in Scotland have the flexibility to choose the training they need.

Employers can use the Fund to address priority skills gaps.

Levy payers have the flexibility to pass on the benefits of Fund access to their supply chain.

So far 28 Ayrshire companies have commissioned training through the Fund for around 3,000 employees.

We’re on the lookout for the next batch of employers who could benefit from the Fund. If you think this is you, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Business Solutions Manager, Wendy McFarland, on 01292 293457 or by emailing wendy.mcfarland@ayrshire.ac.uk.

New Ayrshire Chamber member Irene Murray has volunteered with the Children’s Panel for the last year. The Panel exists to ensure the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children and young people in Scotland with 2500 volunteers involved across the country. Panel Members make life changing decisions which support and protect young people.

Having taken early retirement after a career spanning 33 years in a variety of HR roles, Irene was looking for a rewarding voluntary opportunity which would utilise her skills. Having moved to Largs 5 years ago, she wanted to support the local community.

Irene was appointed to the role of Panel Practice Advisor; this involves observing Children’s Panel Hearings and offering feedback and coaching to Panel Members on how they can perform at their best.

Initially Irene inquired about being a Panel Member and learned there were other opportunities; the Panel Practice Advisor role was a good fit.

This year’s recruitment campaign “Be a Force for Good” runs from 17 August to 24 September and there are opportunities across Ayrshire.

These roles help individuals gain a range of skills including teamwork, leadership and decision making. A nationally recognised qualification is awarded and many of the skills are transferrable into the workplace.

Irene explained that volunteers from all walks of life make great Panel Members but what matters most is that people care. Young people who have attended hearings in the past have said that they’d like to see more young people sitting on the Panel.

More information is available on www.childrenspanelscotland.org and Irene can be contacted at irenemurray777@gmail.com.

Irene is looking forward to meeting other Chamber members at forthcoming events and is currently establishing an HR Consultancy “Murray Mediation” alongside starting a part time Master’s Degree at Strathclyde University.

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MEMBER NEWS

16 DAYS OF ACTION TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

The 16 Days of Action campaign takes place every year in countries all over the world, beginning on the 25th November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, until Human Rights Day on the 10th December. The campaign aims to raise awareness of Violence Against Women and is an important opportunity to call for changes at international, national and local levels to make women and children safe from abuse.

While Gender Based Violence disproportionately affects women and girls, it can also affect men and boys. Abuse can take place in any setting, including workplaces.

White Ribbon Scotland is the Scottish campaign which aims to

end male violence against women. The campaign raises awareness, promotes discussion and provides information and resources to support personal and collective action amongst men. NHS

Ayrshire & Arran Board has signed up to the White Ribbon campaign pledging ‘never to commit, condone or remain silent about men’s violence against women.’

OPTICARE OPTICIAN TO PIONEER REVOLUTIONARY 4D DIGITAL LENSES

YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

The Aitken Street premises has become a selected retailer for digital eye care that will give spectacle wearers their own unique eye-code.

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And the Largs shop will be among a limited number of practices in the UK to digitally measure patients’ visual behaviour on ground-breaking Essilor equipment that captures head tilt, eye location, shape and movement to create personalised lenses for each eye.

Staff have also received extensive training and support to prescribe an exclusive type of varifocal lens which frees patients from having to tilt their head or remove glasses in order to see at different distances.

This gives seamless vision at close-up, mid or long distance, helping computer users, drivers who use satellite navigation and

anyone who has struggled with progressive lenses.

The practice has been specifically selected

by Essilor as the first in Ayrshire to dispense the lenses.

Optician Anne Allan said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen to retail this amazing development which will change lives by helping people regain the visual agility and spontaneity that they lose with age.

“It measures the two eyes individually, allowing for the most precise vision possible, no matter where you look through the lens.

Essilor’s commercial director, Randeep Gill said: “They offer an amazing personalised service so who better to provide this revolutionary personalised patient experience on the High Street.”

She said: “We will give everyone their own unique eye code. It is like having a digital thumbprint. We can capture every intricacy of your face and movements, to provide maximum volume of vision.”

“Using our Varilux Xclusive 4D lenses is like being fitted for a Saville Row suit, embracing every single measurement including how we use our peripheral vision, with the most advanced varifocal lens.

ACTIVE ESTATE PLANNING SOLUTIONS LTD Ayr Mr Daniel Lamont 07738 121 607 www.activeestateplanning.co.uk ANDREW WRIGHT GLASS Irvine Mr Charlie Berry 01294 270903 www.andrewwrightglass.co.uk

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

CJ MEDICAL TRAINING LTD Darvel Mrs Claire Johnston 03330504629 www.cjmtraining.co.uk

MALIN COURT Turnberry Mr David Jack 01655 331457 www.malincourt.co.uk

CORNERSTONE Irvine Mr Kenneth Stirling 01294 311 723

MAXXCLEAN Ayr Mr Blair Maxwell 01292 400442 www.MaxxClean.co.uk

ATT Irvine Mr Andrew Gibson 01294 215 319

COSHNIVEN Ayr Mr Graeme Niven 0800 0854 101 www.coshniven.com

AYR ESTATE & LETTING AGENTS Ayr Mr Alan Lavelle 01292 264669 www.ayrestateagents.co.uk

FOUR ONE SAFETY SOLUTIONS LTD Kilmarnock Mr Darren Philipson 07835 853 990 fouronesafetysolutions.com

NORTH AYRSHIRE OSTEOPATHS Dalry Mr Simeon London 0141 8873734 www.theosteopaths.org.uk

BHAILE CRAFT BAKERY Ayr Mrs Diana Parusheua 07931589676 www.bhaile.co.uk

HATS @ 119 Prestwick Mrs Gillian Geates 07596111889 hats119.wordpress.com

OVER THE WALL CHARITY Prestwick Mr John Geates 02392 477119 www.otw.org.uk

KA RADIO Kilmarnock Mr Stephen McNamara 07864688177 www.ka-Radio.co.uk

SINGMAI ELECTRONICS LTD

CHILDRENS HEARING SYSTEM VOLUNTEER Largs Mrs Irene Murray 07391 639606 www.chscotland.gov.uk

MOTOR REPUBLIC Darvel Mr Gavin Turnbull 01560 327 074 www.motorrepublic.com

Ayr Mr Daniel Ogilvie 07511 476736 www.singmai.com

SPECIALIST CONSULTANCY GROUP

Maybole Mr Duncan MacKintosh 07769 342 769 www.specongrp.co.uk STEVEN BROWN ART LTD

Ayr Mrs Caroline Brown 01292 501740 www.stevenbrownart.co.uk TRUST ORBITS

Prestwick Mr Joel De Messan www.trustorbits.click THE WATERFRONT

Ayr Mr Alastair Kerr 01292 280212 www.waterfront-ayr.co.uk ZE GLOBAL LTD

Kilmaurs Mr Jim Gemmell 01563532584 zeglobal.co.uk

We want to recruit more members to strengthen our 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.

27 YOUR BUSINESS | AUTUMN 2018

NEW MEMBERS