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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.

SPECIAL CELEBRATION FOR THISTLE HELP Irvine business Thistle Help, who provide specialist mobility and small aid products for the elderly and disabled, are celebrating 10 years in business this year.

Based in the town’s Portland Avenue industrial estate, the organisation has gone from strengthto-strength since their humble beginnings back in 2007. In just 10 years, they’ve moved from a small shop to a large showroom, increased their staff numbers and won several awards.

Laura Hays, Business Development Manager, claims that their success over the years is thanks to the support they’ve received from the very beginning. She said: “The idea for Thistle Help initially came from a five minute conversation between myself and George Ruddick (Managing Director). Before we knew it, we had a name, logo and premises!”

A small team of nine form Thistle Help and

many of their staff joined the team following their participation in employability programmes.

Laura and George’s commitment to providing opportunities for people to not only get onto the career ladder, but continue to climb it, is clear for all to see.

Showroom Manager Siobhan McKinnon spoke of her experience with Thistle Help since joining the team in 2008. Initially starting out as a skill seeker, Siobhan is proud of her career progression within the company and she isn’t the only one. Gemma Cree, who also started out as a skill seeker, is now the person in charge of the company’s accounts. Then there’s Jennifer Gilmour and David Robertson who both joined the team following a Council-led employability programme. Jennifer is now the contracts administrator and keeps their engineers in line with

repairs and servicing and David is responsible for carrying out all contract servicing for their growing client list.

Speaking about their growing team, Laura said: “George and I are extremely lucky to have such a fantastic team around us. They have all been keen to develop themselves and it’s thanks to this drive that we have such a skilled and specialised service to offer our customers.”

CEO'S WELCOME

NEVER A DULL MOMENT AT AYRSHIRE CHAMBER! Since the last magazine life has been busy but interesting at the Chamber.

I am fortunate to meet and engage with a wide variety of businesses and organisations across Ayrshire and beyond.

‘THINGS ARE CHANGING’

It is an exciting time for the Ayrshire Chamber with it being our 70th Platinum year.

We’ve had so much going on to celebrate this incredible milestone in our journey.

What a perfect opportunity to review our current membership offering and take the time to listen and engage with our members to ascertain their thoughts and feelings around the current model, asking; what works, doesn’t work - what could we do better? Various ideation and research sessions took place throughout 2017, providing the platform to speak with stakeholders, helping shape a new model and offering that will support the Ayrshire Chamber members both now and in the future.

So, what’s changing? A new ‘tiered’ system that will provide our members with options, not a one size fits all, where they can select a package based on their business requirements. From Enterprise, to Corporate our new model has been developed by listening to our members and creating a model that works for all businesses.

With a few new additional benefits and the launch of our eagerly anticipated ‘Future Chamber’ we have so much to share with you all, as we make 2018 about having the best possible membership model to help support you on your journey of starting and growing your business in Ayrshire and beyond.

So, watch this space and take note ‘Things are changing’ and for the better.

"I'm in - are you?"

Val Russell CEO

Below is a snapshot (pardon the pun) of what we have been up to!

Every picture tells a story.

Ayrshire #connect4growth success!

Over 900 businesses from all sectors and sizes engaged and took the opportunity to hear from a raft of speakers all sharing their experiences of their business journey and more importantly how they grew. The whole week’s theme was connect4growth and we are already hearing about new customers being found and new contracts being set up.

(1) BG launch at Dumfries House.

(2 & 3) Generous guests at Ayrshire Awards Dinner enabled the Chamber 1

to present a cheque to Ayrshire Hospice Go Purple fund.

(4) In my role as a Trustee of the Ayrshire College Foundation Trust I was delighted to open the new Learning Resource Centre at the colleges Kilwinning Campus.

(5) Thanks to the donation from Westfield Health of a deliberator, the Chamber now has several team members trained to be first responders.

(6) Chamber maintains Invest in Young People Accreditation.

(7) Chamber hosts 32 Chamber colleagues from across Scotland sharing best practice and exchange of ideas to further support members.

(8) To round off a busy couple of months the Chamber was awarded Silver Employers Recognition Certificate from the Ministry of Defence at Edinburgh Castle!

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MEMBER NEWS

NATIONAL AWARD FOR TROON YACHT HAVEN Troon Yacht Haven has been crowned Best UK Marina/Harbour 2017 in the Sailing Today Awards which recognises the very best in the UK and international sailing world.

The Ayrshire marina beat 4 other shortlisted marinas and harbours for the title which was voted for by readers of the popular UK sailing magazine, Sailing Today. Readers chose Troon over marinas from Cornwall, the Solent, the east of England and the Channel islands.

There was further good news for the Scottish west coast with the region being, once again, nominated as the best Cruising Grounds in the world.

Stephen Bennie, Director at Troon Yacht Haven, commented on the award saying, “The marina

team work tirelessly to assist berth holders and marina visitors, so this is an amazing way to finish to summer.

“The award follows an incredible 12 months for us. Last summer was the busiest on record for Troon Yacht Haven with The Open Golf Championships in the town. Then our sistermarina, Largs Yacht Haven, was awarded a similar UK Coastal Marina Of The Year award in January.

All these things reaffirm that the stunning cruising grounds of the Scottish west coast is ably supported by 2 of the finest marinas in the UK.” The award was announced at the Sailing Today Awards’ reception at the Southampton Boat Show.

Deputy Editor of Sailing Today, praised Troon saying, “The west coast of Scotland is a truly beautiful part of the world, and Troon Yacht Haven is perfectly placed to serve it. As with all Yacht Haven marinas, Troon offers excellent services, modern facilities and friendly staff, making cruising in the area all the more enjoyable.”

THE WEST SOUND

BURNS SUPPER

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

SATURDAY 20 JANUARY, 2018 Double Tree by Hilton Glasgow Central

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Join us for the 33rd annual West Sound Burns Supper for an exceptional evening celebrating the bard. You will enjoy a four course banquet followed by a fun filled evening’s entertainment with words and music from the man himself!

PARTN E

4 BUSIN R ESS PRINCIPAL SPONSOR

TICKETS £90 EACH TO RESERVE CALL 01292 270 500

CONNECTING FOR GROWTH Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce’s Ayrshire Business Week 2017 demonstrated the strength of business in the area and its unique offering.

Events ran from Monday 9th to Friday 13th October to help with growth, making new connections, promoting youth, trading internationally and learning what the future of the business might look like.

Our top tweets from the event...

ActiveOfficeScotland

@ActiveOffice1

We had a great day at the #Connect4Growth event at @TPHKilmarnock with @AyrshireChamber congrats to our lucky dip winners Frazer Coogan

Shopper Anonymous Scotland

@ShopAnonScot

#Connect4Growth @AyrshireChamber Great day telling people about our wonderful business.

Utopia

@UtopiaComputers

We're at the @AyrshireChamber #Connect4Growth event this morning with @AyrshireColl showcasing more Virtual Reality goodness. Come say hi!

TPS WeldTech Ltd @TPSWeldtech

Was lovely meeting the girls from @DYWAyrshire, safe to say we had the best sandcastle #Connect4Growth

Listen Up

@listenup_uk It's early but already a great buzz at @TPHKilmarnock for the @AyrshireChamber #Connect4Growth exhibition. Come and see us at stand 65!

Chamber Chief Executive Val Russell said: “It was a busy but really good week and provided all businesses in Ayrshire with the opportunity to grow.

“The aim of the week was Connect 4 Growth and we’re delighted with the response the programme got on social media.

“There was a great buzz at events, the B2B at the Park Hotel in particular. The shorter day I think worked well for everyone on the Tuesday.”

It proved extremely worthwhile for Margarette Bryan who has started her own business called Roxburgh Consultants. She said: “Ayrshire Business Week proved to be very useful for me.

“I’ve just recently started out on my own so to have so many great opportunities to get out and speak to potential businesses was great. I managed to pick up five new leads which I’m delighted about.”

CollinsPartnership @TCPAccountants

Thanks @BGAyrshire @AyrshireChamber for a fantastic event today at Dumfries House #Connect4Growth. The speakers were both insightful and entertaining. @nsdesign @connect_three @Cazbro1 @gavinoattes

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CHAMBER NEWS

CHAMBER NEWS

FINDING THE PERFECT MATCH

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

Lisa Stewart joined the Ayrshire Chamber team in August and is responsible for the fully funded Business Mentoring service and is also part of the membership team.

She said: “I think it is a great opportunity to be matched to one of the mentors.

Business Mentoring can really help with personal and business growth ambitions and give you the ability to take your company to new heights.”

“The mentors who already support the programme have a wealth of business experience and knowledge and we have some really positive case studies here in Ayrshire.”

Craig Hume from Utopia Computers in Kilmarnock has been working with William McNeil, Director of Electronics Link Europe Ltd over the past year and has seen sales increase and his own personal development take a leap forward.

He said: “I have no doubt that William has had a positive effect on Utopia’s business and my own personal development. William has encouraged me and I am very grateful for that. I have a wonderful team at Utopia and they all believe in me as a leader, however there is something very powerful in having someone like William respect what I do and have belief in my methods.”

William McNeil added: “What I found most interesting was having the opportunity

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to look at a local business with a fresh pair of eyes and to discuss ideas and plans for the business almost as if it were a blank canvas.

I knew from very early in our conversations that Craig would be great to work with and open to potentially different ways of looking at things. This made for very productive discussion."

"Going into the programme, I didn’t realise the knowledge and experience that I’d built up throughout my career and it’s been a very rewarding process for me to know that I have perhaps assisted in the process of making a local business more successful.

Thanks to the programme, I’ve been introduced to Craig and now regard him not only as a valued business contact but also as a friend."

Lisa continued: “Please get in touch for more information on how to be part of the mentoring programme and we can arrange to have a meeting with you to discuss in further detail.

You can find out more about Business Mentoring Contact Rhona Brown or Lisa Stewart at Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce on 01292 678666, or via email at rbrown@ayrshire-chamber.org or lstewart@ayrshire-chamber.org or visit

ayrshire-chamber.org/supporting-business

STRENGTHENING TRADING LINKS WITH CHINA Scotland’s business-to-business links with China have reached a ‘turning point’ thanks to pro-active privatesector leadership, the chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce Liz Cameron has said.

Speaking in the wake of a milestone event in Glasgow in October, where SCC hosted Beijing’s Ambassador to the UK H.E. Liu Xiaoming along with Cabinet Secretary for the Economy Keith Brown MSP and 200 Scottish businesses with China interests, Liz explained: “Businesses in Scotland are now recognising that it is they themselves who have the power to increase the nation’s exporting performance. The Scottish Government and its agencies have a role in creating the right environment but we can no longer expect them to magically increase the number of businesses who export.

“The new model we are pioneering with our China engagement exploits international business-to-business connections that have been woefully underused up to now. The China project is a turning point. The pro-active engagement of businesses has been phenomenal and the quick and early successes speak for themselves.”

In April this year a high-level Chambers delegation opened the network’s first overseas office in Yantai, a port city in China’s 100 millionpopulation Shandong Province.

Tim Allan, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, who led the April 2017 trade visit, and hosted the Glasgow dinner said that Scottish companies should embrace China’s vast global infrastructure investment and trade vision known as One Belt One Road, and urged them to be “China-ready and China-friendly”.

He added: “We must build relationships with Chinese business: to better understand their needs, their interests and their demands and to find ways through relationships, time and trust to meet those needs.”

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BORDERING ON TRADE Hasn’t the last year been an interesting one for our country? In a post-Brexit Britain we are all discovering the impact the European Union has had on our economy over the last 40 years.

In Chambers we know the way trade is done is constantly changing, but it’s generally slow paced, it’s planned and we get ready for it. The big shocks are rare.

And while change is happening, with or without Brexit, it seems obvious a big shock for the way we trade is on its way.

The UK Government published white papers on the Trade and Customs Bills in October outlining the proposed options for a negotiated agreement with the EU27, and state clearly that the government will prepare and legislate for the instruments to deal with a hard Brexit if it comes.

can move goods across nationally agreed borders without hindrance, which is true. Yet, most countries or trade blocs that we want to agree a deal with will already have existing FTAs in place.

Those existing deals with other nations and trade blocs, the EU27 for example, could impact on the nature of the deal agreed.

On Brexit day +1 we will not have any existing agreements and everyone we want to do a deal with will.

Trade is technical and at times complex, so when changes happen, the exporter community reasonably expect Chambers of Commerce to be a reliable source of advice and information. We have a national and international network that can offer help and advice to get goods to market.

because we help to ensure you understand potential risks and opportunities.

We are working with stakeholders and the Chamber Network to develop a UK wide response to improve applications for trusted trader status and increase approvals

by HMRC. We must remain competitive.

The number of trade documents issued

by UK Chambers reached record levels last year, perhaps it’s no surprise that during a period of uncertainty businesses are more likely to turn to a tried and trusted third party to provide the assurance and guidance that they need.

Chamber teams across the country stand ready to help exporters succeed and manage the inevitable change. We can see change is coming, we just can’t see enough of it yet to make out its size and shape.

For most people a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) simply means that we

The team at the Chamber are people that make trade agreements work

If that happens, it’ll bring a bigger shock to our trading system as we revert to World Trade Organisation rules on tariffs and trade.

However, if we leave in an ordered way, the aim of frictionless trade between the UK and the EU will accelerate the rate at which companies may need to become a trusted trader.

The potential cost of change is concerning, and that’s why the BCC is lobbying on behalf of members to have a minimum three-year transition period.

Business will need time to adapt.

Liam Smyth Director of Trade Facilitation British Chambers of Commerce

LOOK OUT FOR OUR NEW CHAMBER CAR Thanks to MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers for sponsoring our new pool car which was supplied from Kerr and Smith.

Please give us a wave when you see us out and about!

‘Education is about looking out, opening doors and broadening horizons.’

Mr Johnson, Headmaster

wellingtonschool.org Photo: Wellington School pupils perform Les Misérables at The Gaiety Theatre, 2017.

MEMBER NEWS

PERFORMING ARTS AT WELLINGTON SCHOOL Some of the most enriching and rewarding experiences in life come from skills and interests for which we developed a passion when we were at school. Wellington School recognises that education goes beyond the classroom and consequently, every child is given the opportunity to explore a wide range of activities that stimulate their creativity and curiosity, and enable them to grow in confidence and develop as young people. Pupils may not be examined in all of these areas, but by striving to provide its

pupils with exposure to a wide range of extracurricular activities, Wellington gives them an outlet to shine.

This is particularly evident in the performing arts - from dance, music production, acting, stage design, singing and recitation to playing musical instruments in the school’s orchestras, the talent of boys and girls is nurtured from the youngest primary years right through to the end of senior school.

Wellington School aims to continually broaden its theatrical boundaries, and this year perhaps produced the most impressive results

yet. The ambitious plans for two casts and four performances of Les Misérables was a daunting prospect but the commitment and enthusiasm of staff and pupils is always awe-inspiring – both on and off stage. ‘If any school can do it, Wellington can. The application and industry of our children is truly magnificent.’ Mrs Virginia Mckenzie, Show Producer & Retired Wellington P1 Teacher.

Academic excellence and a rich offering of extracurricular activities in a nurturing and friendly environment - We are Wellington. wellingtonschool.org

FRIENDS SWAP COFFEE FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE

2017 has been a big year in the careers of local business partners Stuart Shepherd and Harriet Forster. After a combined 23 years working in national roles with global coffee giant Costa Coffee the now Shopper Anonymous Directors decided that their passion for great customer service and investing in people was so strong that they would leave corporate life behind and embark on their mission to support business owners grow sales and profits by driving great service here in Ayrshire.

“We have both been fortunate to work with large companies like Costa and had wonderful support from the infrastructure that goes with such an organisation,” explains Stuart, “Our role now is to pass on our knowledge and support to SMEs who perhaps haven’t the time or resource to benefit from a customer experience programme.”

The ambitious pair’s Shopper

Anonymous business covers all sectors specialising in retail, hospitality, professional services and the automotive industry where they offer a complete end to end service from customer satisfaction surveys and mystery shopping to employee engagement and training. With a number of prominent local businesses already onboard and with partners already enjoying “We built our careers on listening and taking positive action based on feedback from our teams and our customers, “ enthuses Harriet, “We know business owners are incredibly busy and that customer service and training is often overlooked in a challenging marketplace but it’s no surprise to us that the world’s leading CEOs say that nothing drives profitability like great customer service.”

improved sales, reduced team turnover and more engaged and loyal customers, this couple are sure to give your business that extra shot of caffeine.

For further details and to take advantage of an introductory gift of £200 of mystery shopping in your business, contact Stuart on 07532699011 or email stuart.shepherd@ shopperanonymous.co.uk

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

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CHAMBER EVENTS DIARY BUSINESS BOOSTS-THE IMPORTANCE OF THE # TWITTER & INSTAGRAM 29th November 8.30-11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Skocia Web Design £40 CHAMBER’S CHRISTMAS @ CENTRAL PARK 30th November 5.00-7.30pm Venue: Ayr Central Shopping Centre Christmas market, Santa’s Grotto, discounted shopping and lots more to enjoy with the whole family.

To book a stall (£25 + VAT) and trade from 11.30am at the Christmas Market, call Yvonne on 01292 678666 (places limited) FREE BUSINESS BOOSTS-MAKE GREAT BUSINESS VIDEOS WITH A SMARTPHONE 7th December 8.30-11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Tosh Lubek & Ken McGaffin £40

CONNECT @ DEAN CASTLE VISITOR CENTRE 8th December 10- 11.30am Venue: Dean Castle Visitor Centre Supported by Ayrshire Post, Kilmarnock Standard, Irvine Herald & Kilwinning Chronicle FREE BUSINESS BOOSTS-DEVELOP AND DELIVER SUCCESSFUL PRESENTATIONS 10th January 8.30-11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Balance HR £40

BUSINESS BOOSTS-GET YOUR BUSINESS FOUND ON GOOGLE 26th January 8.30-11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Bread and Butter Marketing £40 PLATINUM CHAMPIONSHIP RACE NIGHT 2nd February 6.30-11.30 Venue : Firth Pavilion, Seamill Hydro Sponsored by : Seamill Hydro and entertainment from Angle Star Race sponsorship opportunities available, contact Yvonne £42 EACH / £375 TABLE OF 10

CONNECT @ THE FOX AND WILLOW, AYR 19th January 10- 11.30am Venue: The Fox and Willow, Ayr Supported by Ayrshire Post, Kilmarnock Standard, Irvine Herald & Kilwinning Chronicle FREE

BUSINESS BOOSTS-THE CUSTOMER JOURNEY 7th February 8.30-11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Stimuli Evolve £40

TICK TALK @ HANSEL ALLIANCE 24th January 5.30-7.30pm Host : Hansel Alliance, Symington £15

BEHIND THE SCENES @ ALEX BEGG & CO February (date to be confirmed) 11.00-1.30pm Alex Begg & Co, Ayr £15

BUSINESS BOOSTS-MAINTAINING SAFETY DOCUMENTATION 23rd February 8.30-11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by IM Training £40 CONNECT @ THE SCOTTISH MARITIME MUSEUM 23rd February 10- 11.30am Venue: Scottish Maritime Museum, Irvine Supported by Ayrshire Post, Kilmarnock Standard, Irvine Herald & Kilwinning Chronicle FREE LUNCH & LEARN – THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE OF BUSINESS Session 1 – 30th January Key Financial numbers of your Business Session 2 – 27th February Manage your time and be more Productive Session 3 – 27th March The 6 keys to a winning team 11.00-1.30pm Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by: Andrew Goldberg, winner Scotland Coach of the Year 2015 £15 SESSION/£40 FOR SERIES

If you wish to host an event email Yvonne Munro at events@ayrshire-chamber.org BUSINESS BOOSTSEFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT FOR BUSINESS 7th March 8.30-11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Balance HR

£40 CONNECT AFTERHOURS @ THE PLATINUM BAKE OFF 22nd March 5.00 – 7.00pm Venue : Kilmarnock Campus , Ayrshire College Sponsored by: Ayrshire College, Seamill Hydro, Braehead Foods and McGhee Bakery

FREE BUSINESS BOOSTS-USING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN BUSINESS 30th March 8.30-11.00am Venue: Ayrshire Chamber Board Room Facilitated by Stimuli Evolve

£40

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

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

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MEMBER NEWS

MAJOR STEP IN BID TO DELIVER LOUDOUN CASTLE REDEVELOPMENT The developer behind Belfast’s iconic Titanic Quarter is in advanced talks to take a major role in an ambitious £450m leisure, tourism and residential development planned for south west Scotland which will potentially create over 1,000 new jobs in the region.

Owners of the historic Loudoun Castle estate are hopeful that a commercial deal with Harcourt Developments can be concluded very soon.

Loudoun estate into a world-class tourism and leisure development, the first of its type in Scotland.

The A-listed Loudoun Castle is proposed to be restored along with the designed landscape and gardens, as well as luxury holiday lodges, camping and a range of indoor sports facilities, including a tropical swimming lagoon.

Harcourt has indicated that, subject to a contract being put in place, the grant of a planning permission in principle would allow Loudoun Estate to become its next flagship project.

The planning application has been “called in” for determination by Scottish Ministers due to the potential national economic benefit. The inquiry began in Kilmarnock on October 23.

The Loudoun Woods consortium aims to transform the 576-acre

The Loudoun Woods consortium is headed by

international leisure and investment expert David Mace. He said: “Loudoun Castle will be an all-weather, worldclass holiday destination, which will attract visitors from all over the UK, create major economic benefits for Ayrshire and become a core part of Scotland’s tourism offering.”

Join us in celebrating our

ANNUAL DINNER FRIDAY 9TH MARCH 2018 The Donald J. Trump Turnberry Ballroom - Trump Turnberry

SAVE THE DATE Sponsorship opportunities available For more information please contact events@ayrshire-chamber.org

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

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MEMBER NEWS

7 TIPS TO OBTAIN GDPR CONSENT On 25 May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into effect, which expands the rights of individuals and their data while placing greater obligations on organisations that process personal data.

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

However, one of the most important GDPR changes involves strengthening consent standards. Failure to obtain proper consent to process data, which includes contacting individuals, could result in significant fines. The maximum fine tops out at €20 million, or 4% of global turnover, whichever is higher.

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requires them to click a link to confirm that they knowingly have signed up for your mailing list.

2. Assess your current process for collecting personal data. Evaluate whether your current process has an active and obvious opt-in.

Additionally, keep well-organised records that clearly outline what individuals have consented to, what they were told, and when and how they consented.

To help your organisation comply, here are seven practical tips on how to obtain consent:

3. Review what data you are collecting.

Re-examine the personal data you’re collecting from clients and decide whether each item is necessary, or if there is some piece of data that you’re missing.

1. Audit your mailing list. Review each entry on your mailing list to identify whether you have a record of clients opting in. If you don’t have any record, remove that client from your mailing list.

For new clients, have them double opt-in, which

4. Develop a content marketing strategy.

Tailor content to your prospective clients.

Consider requiring customers to share their contact information in order to download a piece of content.

5. Integrate a pop-up on your website. When visitors view your website’s landing page, a popup should greet them and ask them to sign up for your mailing list.

6. Provide your sales team with training on social media techniques. Your sales reps should utilise social media to create a more organic connection with potential clients rather than relying only on email.

7. Begin the process of centralising all of your personal data into one single and secure platform. As part of your new platform, your clients should be able to access their data, review its proposed usage and make any necessary changes.

If you would like more information please contact MacKay Corporate on 01292 611 028 or email info@ mackaycorporate-brokers.com

MEMBER NEWS

DO YOU HAVE THE X FACTOR TO SUPPORT HANSEL?

If you are keen to develop a sense of purpose and put your business knowledge and skills to good use in the community then Hansel, Ayrshire’s leading social care provider, would love to hear from you.

The organisation, which supports people living with learning disabilities and autism, is looking to appoint a number of Non-Executive Directors to its two Boards as well as volunteers to be co-opted onto one of its committees.

Hansel Foundation is the parent charitable organisation presently comprising seven Non-Executive Directors (Trustees) and one Executive Director who meet six times a year to oversee the organisation’s governance and strategy.

The subsidiary charity, Hansel

Alliance is responsible for the delivery of services and employment of 450 staff. Its Board also has a commitment to attend six meetings a year.

The organisation is keen to attract people with experience or an understanding of operations in areas including social care, social enterprise, employment, entrepreneurship, corporate governance, finance or communications. Working alongside the Senior Leadership Team, Hansel will provide induction training.

Alternatively, there are a number of opportunities for volunteers to become involved by joining one of the committees to oversee specific short and longer term projects.

Gerry Lindsay, Managing Director, Hansel said, “People often get to the

stage in their career when they can consider giving over some time and using their skills to help others. We really value the vital contribution business people could bring to our organisation, especially at a time when social care provision is undergoing significant change.

“We take pride in being an innovative organisation and have ambitious plans to develop the support and range of services we offer. The stronger our skills base and depth of leadership experience, the better we can be for our customers”.

An information pack is available or alternatively Gerry Lindsay would be delighted to have an informal chat about the roles. Gerry can be contacted on 01563 830340 or at gerry.lindsay@ hansel.org.uk

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HOW BUSINESS GATEWAY HELPED

David get his company in gear When David Boyd was looking to grow his venture, the Ayrshire scooter enthusiast looked to Business Gateway to help get things moving.

Fast forward to November and Go Full Throttle is now racing along with customers from all over visiting the showroom in Caprington Business Park, Kilmarnock to browse David’s collection of more than 50 scooters from top brands such as Piaggio, Vespa, Aprilia and Gilera.

David said: “The business is doing well and we have now built a market leading position in both scooter sales and servicing. All work is carried out by experienced mechanics in our purpose built, open plan workshop which is kitted out with the latest technology.

“There were a number of challenges when we were

Business Gateway helped us to chart the way forward David Boyd, Go Full Throttle

looking to grow but fortunately Business Gateway was on hand. My adviser guided me through the process and identified potential funding from

How we helped David:

the local authority. The free workshops are also

• 1:1 support

helping to improve key business skills.

• Funding sources

“As we move forward we will certainly be looking

• Growth advice

to Business Gateway again to help us take Go Full

• Workshop programme

Throttle to the next level.”

Visit www.bgateway.com/ayrshire or call your local office on 01294 449944 (Irvine), 01563 576987 (Kilmarnock) or 01292 616349 (Ayr).

MEMBER NEWS

ENERGY AGENCY MAJOR AWARD SUCCESS The Energy Agency based at Auchincruive won Project Management Company of the Year at the National Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes Awards 2017.

The award was presented at a Gala Dinner on Friday 29th September at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel.

The event was hosted by Broadcaster Dan Walker and awards presented by Sir Lenny Henry.

The Energy Agency manages and delivers the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland: Area Based Schemes on behalf of South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway Council with funding provided by Scottish Government.

The schemes install solid wall insulation in targeted fuel poor communities with hard to treat homes.

In partnership with NHS Ayrshire & Arran, research is also taking place into the health impact of these improvements.

Accepting the award Liz Marquis of the Energy Agency said “It is wonderful to receive recognition for these worthwhile schemes. We are working hard with our partners to reduce fuel poverty in local communities and improve quality of lives”

Alan McGonigle, Deputy Director and Project Manager said “This award gives great recognition of the hard work, dedication and professionalism of our staff and highlights our expertise in managing these projects”.

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

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Food Security From Field to Fork Providing innovative diagnostic tools and services to improve food quality and safety

Genetic Improvement

Salmonella Hygiene Monitoring

Allergens

E. coli

Shellfish Toxins Call: 01292 526 096 • Email: neogen_uk@neogeneurope.com • Web: neogeneurope.com

MEMBER NEWS

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Neogen’s rapid test kits to detect allergens, toxins, pathogens etc. have found wide application in the food and agriculture industries. The demand is driven by consumer concerns about food quality and safety and expanding EU legislation. Not least of all is the global concern regarding the continuity of supply of food to an expanding global population. Neogen’s unique capability to provide solutions from within the farm gate to the plate is creating great interest on a worldwide basis.

The US-based NASDAQ-listed Neogen Corporation is the world leader in food safety and animal health.

Auchincruive-based Neogen Europe Ltd. services Neogen’s business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The origins of Neogen Europe Ltd. are in the Scottish Agricultural College. In 1994, Dr. Stephen Holmes and his wife Jacqueline established a business unit to develop rapid diagnostics to detect plant viruses. In 1998, Dr. Holmes and his business partner, Dr. Steve Chambers acquired the business unit and established Adgen Ltd. In 2003, Adgen Ltd. joined forces with Neogen Corporation and in 2004 Neogen Europe Ltd was born.

Neogen Europe’s story is one of continuous success and it now comprises of a group of companies including Lab M, based in Bury, which is a manufacturer of culture media and Quat-Chem, based in Rochdale, which manufactures cleaners and disinfectants for the agricultural industry. More than 75% of Neogen Europe Ltd. Group products are exported.

Neogen Europe Ltd. Group employs 240 people, 160 of which are located at Auchincruive. Revenues are approaching £50M and around 70% of employees are graduates.

Comments Dr. Holmes: “Neogen is fully committed to its Ayrshire base. It will be an increasing source of employment and will provide significant opportunities for local trades and suppliers.”

PARTN E

4 BUSIN R ESS

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

FOOD SECURITY FROM FIELD TO FORK SAND PLAYS MAJOR ROLE IN KINGSBARNS SUMMER SUCCESS Kingsbarns Golf Links may be no stranger to accolades, but its distinction as the ideal setting for the Ricoh Women’s British Open has now been verified by one of golf ’s most respected authorities.

Hugh King & Co, based in Kilwinning, one of the country’s leading suppliers of sports sands, played their role in supporting the Championship course receive this accolade.

The Women’s Open earlier this year was mired by extreme weather conditions culminating in torrential downpours. Yet despite the unseasonal deluges, the course dried up quickly and the tournament was completed on time.

Hugh King & Co supplies sands to over 120 golf courses including all Open Championship venues in Scotland, and Kingsbarns for the last 12 years. Here, Hugh King’s Washed Dune Sand is used for topdressing greens, surrounds and fairways.

Sand is used on golf courses to reduce organic material and improve

drainage. It also has a huge impact on putting surfaces.

“Kingsbarns has a well-earned reputation for delivering an incredible golfing experience which has rightly propelled it to the top of many golfers’ wish lists,” said Graeme King, managing director of Hugh King & Co. “It is particularly gratifying to know that our Washed Dune sand is playing a central role in this effort.”

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was the first time the STRI had measured a women’s Major on behalf of The R&A following the amalgamation between the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) and The R&A. It was also the first Major golf championship to be contested across Kingsbarns Golf Links.

The family run firm has been delivering top-grade materials to key industry sectors for over 160 years and were this year won the Business Excellence Ayrshire Award.

CELEBRATING R RO NE AL P

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Following months of anticipation, we can now unveil the winners of the 8th Ayrshire Business Awards, which showcased the region’s best businesses.

DEVELOPING AYRSHIRE'S YOUNG WORKFORCE AWARD

Sponsored by 1825 TD

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BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY AWARD

Sponsored by Rivergate Shopping Centre A E R E M OV N R N I Y

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AYRSHIRE’S APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Sponsored by GSK

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Ayrshire’s business community is alive and well as the region’s top performing organisations were revealed at Ayr Racecourse.

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START UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARD

Sponsored by Business Gateway Ayrshire

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INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Sponsored by Ayrshire Post, Irvine Herald, Kilwinning Chronicle and Kilmarnock Standard

Over 350 guests attended the most prestigious night in the local business calendar, hosted by Colin McArdle and entertainment from Edward Reid.

Val Russell, Chief Executive at Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “My congratulations to all the winners at this years’ Ayrshire Business Awards, what a thoroughly great night it was.

“Chatting with the judging panel it was obvious just how difficult a job they had in selecting a winner from each category due to the extremely high standard of entry.

“I’d like to thank the panel, led by Alistair Dewar, for giving their time and expertise to the Ayrshire Business Awards. Also to our sponsors for their continued support in making the Awards the continued success it is.”

David Hughes from Awards Principal Sponsor 1825 said “The quality of all applicants within each category this year is again fantastic, and pays tribute to the strength and depth of our business community in Ayrshire.

“

Congratulations to all the winners at this years' Ayrshire Business Awards, what a thoroughly great night it was...

”

“On behalf of 1825, I would like to extend my congratulations to all of the winners in each of their respective categories, and thanks again to Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce for the continued support they give to the business community in Ayrshire.”

The event hosted by Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, also raised over £3000 for two charities, Ayrshire Hospice and AIMS Advocacy.

A E R E M OV INN Y R

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EXCELLENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD

Sponsored by Seamill Hydro

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EXCELLENCE IN PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT AWARD

Sponsored by MOD Relationship Management S ER UTER N P N I OM

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AYRSHIRE’S BEST BUSINESS (0-10 EMPLOYEES) AWARD

Sponsored by UK Steel Enterprise Ltd

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AYRSHIRE’S BEST BUSINESS (51+ EMPLOYEES) AWARD

Sponsored by UK Steel Enterprise Ltd

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AYRSHIRE FOOD AND DRINK AWARD

Sponsored by East Ayrshire Council

R E NE SHIR

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#GoDo ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD Sponsored by Entrepreneurial Spark

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AYRSHIRE’S BEST BUSINESS (11-50 EMPLOYEES) AWARD

Sponsored by The McKinstry Company

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CHAMBER CHAMPION AWARD

Sponsored by Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

AYRSHIRE’S FINEST

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MEMBER NEWS

BRANDS & BRANDING 21ST CENTURY BUSINESS IN A DIGITAL AGE Take a look around any high street, home or pub and you will be surrounded by brands. Today the terms ‘brand’ and ‘branding’ have become commonplace with phrases like home brand, own brand or even luxury brand. Interestingly, brands and branding has really been around for centuries but only really gained global traction in the mid to late 20th century.

However, what does the concept of brand and branding actually mean and why is it important?

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

Firstly, brands and branding is a complex concept and process that often confuses businesses and the general public alike. Brands are no longer to be thought of as a set of practical functions. Most importantly, brands are NOT a logo, a series of images, slogans, mission statements or trademarks.

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Rather brands are deliberately engineered to emotionally engage and deliver or evoke an experience often via the brand story. It may sound silly but brands seek to be ‘alive’, to connect, be meaningful and make people think, feel and act in a particular manner when they recall or see the brand.

Fundamentally, the modern brand looks to takes the ordinary to the extraordinary linking a simple product to something larger. As such brands position themselves to convey a set of values, benefits and aspirations.

For example Coca Cola positions itself as positive, happy, optimistic, and vibrant; Volvo accentuates safety and trust and Disney the values of family and togetherness. As such brands are consciously loaded with symbolic meaning, which is articulated through the brand story again and again. Today the success, power and potential of modern brands is, increasingly, a spectacle that is media centred.

In this 21st Century age of acceleration classic word-of-mouth has been replaced by world-of-mouth. Today brand engagement is about ZMOT or that moment of truth where the brand story, its enriching values, benefits and aspirations, hit our smartphone screen. More importantly, as brands seek the ultimate moment-of-truth, where consumers share or refer and recommend the brand, social media has become a key battlefield for brands.

However, while this accelerating and convergent world of social media opens as many challenges as opportunities for businesses and their brand it also opens many problems.

In the past businesses sought not only to consciously construct their brand but also to control it. The explosion of social media and ubiquitous smart technologies has flipped the branding process. Brands are now open to a digital dynamic whereby they are constructed from the outside in through the very network of consumers brands seek to target. Now brands, if seen to behave in an inappropriate or unethical manner, are rapidly held to account by consumers. The likes of McDonalds, British Airways and even Amazon have seen their brand reputation damaged by consumer lead social media campaigns.

Now while these brand big guns can draw upon massive resources for brand countermeasures the smaller, emerging brands cannot. So for those smaller or young businesses developing their brand and brand story these empowered techno-consumers by highly lucrative and dangerously destructive.

Therefore, it this age of accelerating techno-culture, businesses find the construction of their brand and the branding process more important than ever. Today the 21st century brand understands the need to develop a digital heartbeat or die. Even now the speed of this accelerating age is, truly, dizzying as social media converges and integrates with new digital, social and transformational technologies, such as 360° virtual, augmented and mixed reality. Brands will need to learn to surf on this technological Tsunami or be suffocated by it. The white noise of digital disruption is not going away it will grow exponentially and intelligent brands need to develop innovative content that can break through, capture attention and touch consumers at their core. Future branding will, increasingly, integrate and virtually immerse the consumer within their digital heartbeat where their brand story visually, vibrantly and virally delivers an emotionally experience that is different and distinctive. For 21st Century business this is not an option just a case of how well you do it!

DR MATT FREW Senior Lecturer in Enterprise University of the West of Scotland

MEMBER NEWS

ONCE UPON A BRAND Sometimes dismissed in the board room as ‘the creative bit’ or ‘the fluffy stuff ’ – having a defined brand is one of the most powerful tools businesses can have in their arsenal, and it’s all about storytelling.

Storytelling, sounds simple doesn’t it? Yes the output looks simple – you might see a logo, a tagline or an image, but behind that is a clarity that can only be achieved when a business really knows who they are and where they want to go and finds an engaging way of communicating that to others. In short, it takes a lot of work to be so brutally simple – but it’s worth it.

Firstly, like a good story, brand positioning needs a clear direction.

For brands this needs to be based on a commercial aim. This commercial aim should stretch beyond today to consider long-term growth opportunities; does your company want to enter a new market? Have ambitious growth targets?

This is the starting point that sets the tone for your vision and mission, laying the foundations from which to build from.

What makes a story relevant is the insight. No brand exists in a vacuum, creating a brand positioning requires an understanding of the bigger picture.

This means insight into internal culture, your potential and future customers, the category, and the competition. This

sets the context for your story, enabling you to craft a relevant and differentiated story for your brand.

The most iconic stories inform culture. When a brand positioning is right it has a galvanising effect, starting within the organisational culture and permeating outwards. A strong brand positioning has the power to inspire stakeholders and guide their decision making as well as provide consistency to the public face of your brand. Your brand story should be just as alive internally as it is when your customers experience it.

Business strategy alone can’t achieve these things. It takes that creative leap for a brand to really connect with people, both internally and externally. I have had the pleasure of working with countless companies, from blue chip consumer brands to SME’s, charities and even start ups at critical points in their journey, when getting their brand story right has allowed them to first visualise and then realise their ambitions.

BEST FOR BUSINESS 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

BIOGRAPHY RACHEL STEWART Associate Planning Director Weber Shandwick Scotland Rachel is the lead Strategic Planner for Weber Shandwick Scotland and together with their in house design team is passionate about helping clients achieve their ambitions through the power of branding.

Before taking up her role at Weber Shandwick Scotland Rachel worked in advertising in London.

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

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MEMBER NEWS

MICROTECH GROUP – THE IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING AND GROWING A BRAND! It’s been 30 years since Kilmarnock based, I.T Support and Maintenance Company Microtech Support Ltd, opened its doors.

With determined strategies, a quality team and fervent leader, Microtech Support has grown from a traditional Ayrshire company to U.K. recognised Microtech Group.

Established in 1986, Microtech Support was the first branch of the Microtech portfolio providing customised IT and telecoms support for small and large corporate companies. It was from the great success of this that in 2015 the Microtech Group was formed which now includes digital marketing agency Microtech Digital, and also e-health specialists Telehealth Solutions.

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

Due to the scope of the organisation and

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Award winning I.T. specialists who have been delivering complementary end-to-end IT services to the public, private and third sector for over 30 years.

Group website and social media sites including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have been excellent platforms to grow the brand and build relationships with both current and potential clients. being in the ever evolving I.T. industry, having a strong brand is extremely important in enabling the business to give off an eye-catching and modern image, one that has developed greatly over the past thirty years.

In addition to a strong brand that is recognisable, having a successful online presence such as mobile friendly websites and social media platforms in place have been invaluable in helping to spread the Microtech word.

With millions of people now using the internet and social media daily, the Microtech

A full service digital marketing agency offering ambitious and creative solutions from website design and development, to marketing strategy and social media management.

+ 44 (0)1563 530 480 info@microtech-group.co.uk www.microtech-group.co.uk

17-19 Hill Street Kilmarnock KA3 1HA

However, beyond a recognised logo and modern image, effective branding also has many other benefits internally including employee motivation due to working for a well-recognised, established company and doors which can be opened to many new opportunities.

With aggressive strategies in place the Microtech Group have moved from a Scottish company to having a U.K. wide presence with European ambitions where a strong brand has never been more important!

Integrating Health and Social Care using a range of clinically driven, integrated solutions - designed to help people remain safely in their homes.

MEMBER NEWS

Our Business

We held our annual business dinner on 7 November, which this year focused on how we can support STEM and construction employers - particularly through apprenticeship programmes.

Prestwick company, GE Caledonian, spoke about their commitment to working with the college and supporting young people through apprenticeships.

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Scotland’s Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science outlined the Scottish Government’s new STEM strategy to guests. She then joined the college’s chair and principal, Willie Mackie and Heather Dunk, who were presented formally with a STEM Assured trophy after the college achieved this UK accreditation earlier in the year. STEM Assured Award is the only standard that provides independent, industry-backed validation of the quality of an educational institution’s provision.

MISSION DISCOVERY Mission Discovery Ayrshire 2018 was high on the agenda at our business dinner. We’re looking for sponsors to support next year’s programme for hundreds of pupils from schools across Ayrshire. If you would like to get involved in Mission Discovery 2018 and want to find out how your organisation can benefit from sponsoring the event, please contact marketingevents@ayrshire.ac.uk.

If your organisation does not currently work with the College, please get in touch at industrypartners@ayrshire.ac.uk to find out how we can support your business needs.

FLEXIBLE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FUND We are asking employers who are Apprenticeship Levy payers to get in touch about the Flexible Workforce Development Fund.

If eligible, employers can apply for up to £10,000 free training to support the development of their workforce.

This money can be used to access some of our existing short course training programmes or can be utilised to develop tailored training packages. These can be delivered at one of our campuses or on the employer’s premises.

PAR To find out if you can benefit from the Flexible 4 B TNER USINES Workforce Development Fund, please email S FWDF@ayrshire.ac.uk.

OH MY DOG! Maya McLaughlin, Canine Behaviourist & Trainer has worked with animals for longer than she can remember. Setting up feeding programmes with feral and stray dogs and cats working in the Middle East she is now back in Ayrshire working from her Dundonald base helping dogs with behavioural issues.

After joining Ayrshire Chamber she said “ I did what I should have done 20-odd years ago, I got qualified and started building my canine behavioural practice working one-to-one with all breeds of dog, and most often in the dog's own home space, to help manage and ultimately replace all kinds of unwanted behaviour issues.”

With her trusty cohort, Nutty the Miniature

Dachshund, you can meet Maya at Chamber events and for all things doggy, catch her column, Taking the Lead, in the Ayrshire Post, Kilmarnock Standard & Irvine Herald.

Maya added: “The aim is not to instil old-school blind obedience but to understand, manage and ultimately help the dog to replace unwanted behaviours with more positive traits with a rock solid foundation which will stay with him for the whole of his life.

One of my clients recently described my practice in a nutshell as 'working with dogs too naughty to go to classes' and whilst not strictly accurate (on the naughty aspect anyway) I will take it! Thanks Annie!

Find out more at mayacaninebehaviourist.com

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

Making Your Business

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AYRSHIRE APPRENTICES SHINE BRIGHT The future’s bright for Ayrshire’s young workforce as the region’s apprentices showcased their talents at the Modern Apprenticeship Community Challenge final in October.

Teams from nine businesses across Ayrshire met at the Gailes Hotel during Ayrshire Business Week where they presented their project to a panel of judges and a wider audience in a bid to win one of the four trophies up for grabs.

Overall winner for 2017 was the team from S+C Engineering, based in Kilmarnock, who designed and manufactured an interactive memory bench for residents at Dundonald Nursing Home who suffer from dementia.

The challenge, now in its 14th year, tasks local apprentices to plan and carry out a project that will benefit their local community.

Apprentices are then given the opportunity to participate in a free Presentation Skills workshop delivered by Marjorie Calder of Ocean Blue Consulting to support their presentation to the judges at the final.

The Challenge is coordinated by Ayrshire

Chamber of Commerce & Industry and supported by Skills Development Scotland and DYW Ayrshire.

Following the success of the Ayrshire MACC 2017, Skills Development Scotland are rolling the challenge out nationally and the overall winners from each category will go forward to a National final in March next year.

Val Russell, CEO of Ayrshire Chamber, said “We’ve been privileged to be part of this initiative since it started and I think this year’s competition was one of the toughest to judge. All of the projects were of benefit to the community and all of the apprentices were able to articulate what they had gained from the experience both in utilising existing skills but more importantly learning new ones. Particular thanks to the employers who support their MAs participation in this project and we look forward to 2018.”

S+C Director Finance Director, Heather Mackenzie, was thrilled with their organisation’s young stars. She said: “We are absolutely delighted our Apprentices have been recognised in this way. Our Apprentices learned so much from this project and has made a real contribution to their development as Engineers.”

WINNERS Best Overall Project S & C Engineering Developing the Young Workforce East Ayrshire Council Most Innovative Idea GE Caledonian Aviation Best Presentation UTC Aerospace Systems FINALISTS AND THEIR PROJECTS East Ayrshire Council Design an outdoor classroom for Crosshouse Primary School GE Caledonian Aviation Create an online forum for young jobseekers.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Design an outdoor educational space for Meadowgreen Childrens’ Centre.

Hyster-Yale Raise funds to improve facilities at Irvine Victoria Football Club.

S & C Engineering Design an interactive memory bench for Dundonald Nursing Home.

Spirit Engineering Design and create a dedicated STEM space for Whatriggs Primary School, Kilmarnock.

UTC Aerospace Systems Design and create outdoor learning space at Elderbank Primary School, Irvine.

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

VG Energy Evaluate a boxing club’s energy needs and costs associated with running a charitable boxing club for under-privileged children.

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Wallace McDowall Design and create an outdoor storage space for Monkton Primary.

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Rarely do we get a project that incorporates all of the elements of STEM; science, technology, engineering, and maths. All were in evidence when STEM Ambassador George Burns went into Tarbolton Primary to help the pupils with their crane-building project. The Primary 7 children had a blast putting together their models with George’s assistance. His experience and knowledge really added to the project, and it was a great success.

Alongside the crane project, with assistance from the Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Civil Engineers, the school also

ran a mini bridge challenge for P5-P7.

Principle Teacher Lynsey Bradford has been the driving force behind these projects and said “STEM focused learning opens up areas of interest and opportunities for our children here at Tarbolton to learn new skills and use these skills in a meaningful and practical way. By working closely with STEM ambassadors the children learn how jobs in the STEM industry have shaped people’s lives and the opportunities it has given them.

Our P5, P6 and P7 have worked with several local companies and people to construct working cranes and bridges. The knowledge they share is invaluable and the Q&A session at the end allows children to find out even more information about how you become an engineer, and what type of projects have been completed. Our children have a real

‘buzz’ for STEM lessons and don’t want their session to end. This can only be a good thing and hopefully encourage both our girls and boys to look at STEM jobs or subjects for future learning and work.”

DYW AT THE ACCOUNTANT IN BANKRUPTCY

Five young people from North Ayrshire have picked up vital workplace skills while solving a summer staff shortage headache for one of the area’s key employers.

The Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government and has been based in Kilwinning since 2006. Over a period of many years, AiB has worked closely with Suzanne Murdoch at Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce to deliver work experience to pupils in North Ayrshire.

After learning about the Developing the Young Workforce programme, AiB quickly realised it could provide a solution to a perennial summer resource problem, while still supporting the development of young people in the local community.

Developing the Young Workforce Ayrshire’s employer engagement officer Gillian Longmuir fully explained the programme and confirmed it would be a perfect fit for AiB. AiB invited teachers and pupils from six North Ayrshire schools to the office for a series of awareness events to outline what AiB is, what it does and what the organisation was looking for.

Nineteen pupils were interviewed for five available positions and comprehensive feedback was provided to all applicants and interviewees afterwards.

James Proctor, one of the pupils who took part in the programme, said: “The

summer placement has greatly increased my confidence and I strongly believe what I learned will put me in good stead when I start my own career.

“I highly recommend it for anyone offered a similar opportunity, as you meet new people and gain vital experience to give you a head start in the world of work.”

His manager, Laura Barr, said: “James has been a great asset to the team, and impressed us with his hard work and enthusiasm throughout the course of his placement.

“If anyone was considering taking on a student for a similar role, I would highly recommend doing so. The programme provided us with an excellent member of staff over the summer and hopefully James will find his experience here beneficial for the future.”

BLOG.DYWAYRSHIRE.COM

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

FULL STEM AHEAD AT TARBOLTON PRIMARY!

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PUPILS SAY Pupils in S1-S3 from schools across Ayrshire recently took part in Ayrshires Young Entrepreneurs Roadshows (#AYE) over a series of months. #AYE, delivered by Developing the Young Workforce Ayrshire and supported by The Princes Trust, was offered to pupils who had shown an interest in finding out more about starting up their own business.

Pupils participated in a series of workshops delivered by Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Princes Trust, Business Gateway, CJM Accountancy, Launch Scotland & Entrepreneurial Spark including marketing, finance, idea validation and communication.

Pupils were also given the opportunity to hear from a variety of young businesses who have benefitted from the Princes Trust support. With thanks to: Clinic 22, Solarvis Ltd, Good Travel Company, Jam Jar Candles, White Rabbit Skincare, Optima Fitness.

At the end of the 5 monthly clubs, pupils had the chance to present to a panel of judges from Developing the Young Workforce- Ayrshire in order to secure a start-up grant to set up a sustainable business within the school.

TO BUSINESS! Over £3000 was awarded to local schools with businesses including: Marr College - Marr Merchants To create stationery and magnets to sell to the students, parents and career advisors Marr College - Marr Juice Bar To set up a healthy juice bar to promote a healthy life style.

Kyle Academy - Kyle Style Provide the pupils with equipment to sell customised tea towels to senior pupils.

Garnock Academy- The Seasonal Gifts Company Set up a seasonal gifts shop within the school Ardrossan Academy- The Basic Ones Sell re-usable personalised water bottles to pupils, staff and parents.

DYW Ayrshire Project Executive Claire Baird said “#AYE introduces the idea of starting up in business to pupils at the early stages of their secondary education. It ensures they are aware of the business start-up process and what they need to consider to run a successful business. In addition they hear from Princes Trust supported businesses about the journey they have gone through, which is invaluable.

Participating pupils are developing many skills and qualities that they can transfer into their working life and DYW Ayrshire are delighted to support this programme.”

I WANT TO B YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

The employer engagement team recently helped organise a full day of engineering activity for Ayr Academy S1 pupils.

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This came about after meeting Physics Teacher, Mr Murray at a subject network meeting. The S1 year group are currently completing the Scottish Engineering Special Leaders Award and part of this consists of interviewing an engineer about their job role. The science department

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Week 1: The young people are trained for their accreditation in REHIS and World Host Weeks 2 & 3: Front of House and Back of House vocational training Week 4: Work placement with employers who are actively recruiting staff.

The Get into Hospitality programme run at Dumfries House provides school leavers and unemployed young people the opportunity to develop handson skills and accreditations in hospitality front and back of house service. Dumfries House and the Princes Trust have formed a partnership to deliver this course to young people between the ages of 16-24.

It is run at minimum three times a year in the Woodlands Restaurant which is nestled in a beautiful woodland setting in the Dumfries House Estate. The young people have the opportunity to gain industry recognised qualifications in both Front and Back of House - REHIS, Knife skills and World Host certification over a 5-week course.

Week 5: Event/project planning a celebration event to showcase the newly acquired skills of both the Back and Front of House Students The programme had been running for six years but earlier this year it was felt that by introducing a digital module to the course this would further increase the young people’s variety of jobs they could apply for and increase their chances of getting a job.

This would allow the young people to gain the experience of hospitality booking systems and online communications.

The young people would be effectively trained in digital skills e.g. digital passport skills which are transferable skills for other sectors as well as the hospitality sector.

Funding from DYW Ayrshire was applied for to purchase laptops and tablets with associated software to allow them to provide a digital module in the course.

The funding application was successful and the equipment is now being used in the Get into Hospitality training the young people are now trained to complete online restaurant bookings, make accommodation bookings, design menus, place food orders, send written communications to customers and suppliers, conduct social media marketing, and enhance customer service.

Thank you DYW!

E AN ENGINE-AYR! decided to capitalise on this and looked to the DYW team to invite engineers to help run a day packed with multiple engineering activities.

In the morning, the young people met with Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineers and interviewed them about their career path. Students had an appetite to learn about engineering and enjoyed asking about everything from important school subjects to expected salary and health & safety. The

afternoon had a practical focus and allowed pupils to test their engineering capabilities.

Activities included building structures with spaghetti and marshmallows and investigating how concrete works.

Mr Murray added, “I thought the day was extremely worthwhile. All of the visiting engineers clearly enjoyed their own jobs and this enthusiasm transmitted itself to our young people throughout the activities. Many of the

pupils reported that they would now consider a career in engineering. The school has also established ongoing links with some of the visiting engineers to support our STEM activities in the future.”

BLOG.DYWAYRSHIRE.COM

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

DYW AYRSHIRE FUNDING FOR “GET INTO HOSPITALITY” AT DUMFRIES HOUSE

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WORK EXPERIENCE SOCIAL MEDIA ROUND-UP! Stewarton Academy @Stewarton_Acad

Ashleigh Building @Ashleighscot Great to have Lee from @AyrshireColl participating in a two week work placement at our site in Saltcoats @ DYWAyrshire @North_Ayrshire

Auchenharvie D.Y.W. @AuchenharvieDYW

Another fabulous work experience placement! Kaci Higgins at Kick hairdresser in Stewarton. Thank you! @DYWAyrshire

Work Placement Focus: Lewis Thomasson has thoroughly enjoyed his time at Nellany and Company Solicitors. Lewis was commended for his maturity.

YOUR BUSINESS | WINTER 2017

TPS Weld Tech

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This week we have Andrew in for work experience in the hire department. Andrew has come from Marr College, aspiring to follow a career path in Engineering. It’s a pleasure to have you here at TPS Andrews.

01292 678666

County Homes

We’ve asked Heather what about working in the estate is her reply.

“I’m enjoying shadowing Al properties then inputting all information in the company

INFO@DYWAYRSHIRE.COM

Young people from schools in Irvine, Kilwinning and the Garnock Valley have joined local officers for Work Experience – follow #PolScotWorkExp

Charlie’s Place Dog Grooming You did so well and showed great care and love for all the dogs that came in.

I hope she had a great time on work experience, it was great to see her passion for dogs and listen to her chat with the dogs! #Developyourfuture

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Another successful and enjoyable week of work experience done and dusted with Kenzie from Cumnock Academy @DYWAyrshire

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Looking forward to @ESparkGlobal #Glasgow event today with our very own @DYWAyrshire Work Experience Pupil in attendance

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W TCS Construction Consultants @TSC_Scotland

Stewarton Academy pupil Faye Ronald spent her weeks work experience placement at UTC Aerospace Systems in Prestwick.

Well done to our latest QS work experience student completing his placement @TSC – our 3rd this year! @DYWAyrshire #developyourfuture

Faye has long been interested in an engineering career but also had a few apprehensions about following that path. After spending a week at UTC Aerospace and gaining insights into what an aerospace industry career has to offer her doubts have been dispelled. Faye wrote her very own blog sharing her experience at UTC which you can read on DYW Ayrshire blog page.

BLOG.DYWAYRSHIRE.COM

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MEMBER NEWS

A CAREER IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY AWAITS YOU! Horizon Hotel is a busy hotel in the heart of Ayr. With 25 letting bedrooms, a restaurant seating 79 and a function suite for 180. We have many opportunities for young people wanting a career in hospitality.

Scotland is crying out for chefs, as an industry we are short of 15,000 chefs in the UK. At the Horizon Hotel we have vacancies for Modern Apprentices in our Kitchen and Front of House. Modern Apprenticeships offer over 16’s paid employment & the opportunity to train for jobs at craft & supervisory level.

In the spring of this year we employed Kaitlin Crane, a 16 year old from Ayr. Kaitlin’s mother had been a chef and she wanted to follow in her footsteps. Our trainer Chris, from Lanarkshire Catering

School visits Kaitlin at the Horizon Hotel every fortnight and discusses which modules she will work on. He liaises with Head Chef Kevin Cosgrove, then over the next week Kaitlin applies herself to these dishes in real time for service to real customers. Her learning curve is steep but meaningful and very quickly she has developed skills to Commis Chef level, as well as learning the social skills needed to work in a busy hotel kitchen Training is done at her pace so the more she applies herself the quicker she will qualify. Over the next 18 months to 2 years, Kaitlin will qualify to Chef De Partie level.

If you are interested in a career like Kaitlin please email your details to reception@horizonhotel.com or telephone 01292 264384

Kaitlin will be working in our kitchen this Christmas. So if you want to sample her cooking book Christmas Lunch with us.

See it Achieve it Plan for it.

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Financial planning for life

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Visit 1825.com/planforit

234 West George Street GLASGOW G2 4QY T | 0141 248 5921

6 Citadel Place AYR KA7 1JN T | 01292 269909

‘1825’ is the brand for Standard Life Aberdeen group’s UK financial planning and advice business.

‘1825’ is a trading name used by The Munro Partnership Limited, which is part of Standard Life Aberdeen group (Standard Life Aberdeen plc and its subsidiaries). The Munro Partnership Limited (SC219557) is registered in Scotland at Citadel House, 6 Citadel Place, Ayr, KA7 1JN and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. www.1825.com © 2017 Standard Life Aberdeen. Images reproduced under licence. All rights reserved.

50 Orchard Street HAMILTON ML3 6PB T | 01698 429333

MEMBER NEWS

IT’S WAS A ‘FOREVER GREAT’ LAUNCH

On Monday 6th November within the Racquet Hall, Eglington Park, Frank Gormanley, Founder of ‘Forever Great’ finally launched his business, after a few months of subtle hints and teasers that something was coming.

To a full house, Frank shared the vision and provided a comprehensive overview of the creative portfolio of services the business will provide.

From retreats and workshops to

supporting the future through a social responsibility pledge, it was clear this was all about empowering businesses to be the best they could be. Frank said, “What a night, I’m overwhelmed. It has been a long time coming for me to start my own business and I couldn’t have wished for a better launch and reception to the concept - so many exciting things to come.”

With a few surprises along the way, the launch saw a mix of music, dance and sport performances delivered by incredible talent from across Ayrshire.

Checkout the website to find out more about this exciting new business to launch in Ayrshire www.forevergreat.co.uk Why be good, when you can be ‘Forever Great’.

TAMFEST 2017 ANOTHER HUGE AYRSHIRE SUCCESS

Launch were the main sponsors to another highly successful 3 day celebration of Halloween and Tam O’Shanter known as TamFest. This was held in Ayr Town Centre from Friday 27th to Sunday 29th October 2017.

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Ayr has a fascinating and rich history which made it the perfect place to host this event to celebrate Halloween.

The town was filled with markets, live entertainment, Haunted Houses, History Tours and activities to suit the whole

AYRSHIRE’S NEW GOLF TRAVEL COMPANY Ayrshire isn’t short of stunning golf courses, it only lacks the weather! New Ayrshire Chamber member Island Golf Holidays brings you a solution to golfing in wind and rain.

You can jet off to warmer climates to destinations such as Mauritius, the Canaries and the Caribbean where the temperatures rarely drops below 25°c, grab the clubs and escape the winter blues with Island Golf Holidays.

The man behind the business, David Sledmere, has many years’ experience in golf travel and can tailor a package to suit you.

He said: “The resorts selected will be handpicked from my many years of golf travel experiences, travelling both on business and for golfing pleasure. I look forward to sharing my knowledge on golf courses, including the style of every resort or hotel, together with their locations and surroundings.

“Our aim is to share our passion, to be a specialist in its true sense, offering bespoke, refined and personal service to our valued clients, whilst partnering some of the most luxurious island resorts worldwide.”

Visit their website at islandgolfholidays.com for more details.

family. TamFest is a great event not just for the entertainment of local citizens but also for the development of Ayrshire, the event brought in lots of footfall and increased business greatly over the weekend.

The festival was created by a coalition of local businesses, council representatives and culture-sector partnerships in order to aid the economic development in Ayr with a creative twist. By strengthening the existing creative assets of the community TamFest allows contribution to the local economic development.

Marketing and Website by Launch www.tamfest.co.uk Launch ensures good design that will separate you from your competition. Good design is at the heart of everything Launch does. From branding to brochures, website design to social media content, packaging to print, Launch excels in delivering eyecatching, on-brand design.

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MEMBER NEWS

STILL SITTING ON THE ELECTRIC FENCE? With the Scottish Government’s commitment to phase out all new diesel and petrol vehicles by 2032, it’s time to consider your next car purchase. Whether you’re a sole trader or taxi driver with a single car or a large employer with a fleet we can help you make - and fund a smart decision.

Our job is to offer balanced advice about the benefits and drawbacks of electric vehicles (EVs) and help you access interest free loans and chargepoint funding for your business.

Our free ‘Switched On @ Work’ workshops are designed to answer all the questions that might be holding you back.

Here are the top 3 questions we’re asked: 1. What happens if I run out of power?

You’ll always know how much range you’ve got left, sat-nav pinpoints the nearest chargepoints.

Eco mode conserves power, if you do run out of juice you just plug in and wait. Rapid chargers can fully recharge your vehicle in 30 minutes.

2. How fast does it go?

EVs are surprisingly quick off the mark - the electric motor’s instant torque gives you the edge at traffic lights!

3. How much money can I save?

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A Nissan Leaf costs the same as a Ford Fiesta.

The Scottish Government offers an interest-free loan for the balance if you buy new. There’s no car tax and average annual fuel savings are £1,500.

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Find out more about electric vehicles for your business or request a free workshop and see a demo.

Email laura.anderson@sw.homeenergyscotland.org or phone 01292 525506.

NEW PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHED BETWEEN AYRSHIRE AND DUMFRIES SERVICES An award-winning Kilmarnockbased optical group is partnering with audiology specialists Castle Hearing to bring their expertise to Ayrshire.

Urquhart Opticians is teaming up with fellow independents Castle Hearing to offer the Dumfriesbased audiologists’ private services to the thousands of patients served

by Urquhart’s Kilmarnock, Troon, Prestwick and Glasgow practices.

From October, private hearing tests, hearing aids and microsuction wax removal will be available from all four practices, along with Castle Hearing’s aftercare service.

The partnership is the latest expansion by Urquhart Opticians.

Peter Telfer, Partner at Urquhart Opticians, commented: “For some time now, Urquhart Opticians has been keen to offer our patients a hearing care service which complements our own eyecare services and we’ve been looking for the right partner to deliver this. In Castle Hearing, I have absolutely no doubt that we have found just that.

Like Urquhart Opticians, Castle Hearing are independent, driven by service and value for the client, and they use the latest in technology.

Our aim is to be experts in eyecare and by partnering with Castle Hearing, we are proud to now have experts in hearing care joining us in our four practices.”

Castle Hearing has over 50 years dispensing experience and owner Steven Robb added: “Like Urquhart Opticians, Castle Hearing

is genuinely independent. We work with six different suppliers, and this breadth means we can offer truly impartial advice, helping each individual patient to choose the best hearing solution for their particular needs. We also greatly appreciate the importance of a personal service, with our hearing tests taking up to an hour and a half, with unlimited aftercare following any purchase. Castle Hearing are therefore very excited to be bringing these services to Ayrshire through our partnership with Urquhart Opticians.

Private hearing tests and consultations will be available at Urquhart Opticians practices from October. There is no charge for a private hearing test and to book or find out more go to www.urquhartopticians.co.uk. Award-winning Urquhart Opticians was established in 1916 and has practices in Troon, Prestwick, Glasgow and at their headquarters in Kilmarnock.

MEMBER NEWS

KITCHENS BY J.S. GEDDES TEAM UP WITH NAAC Kitchens by J.S. Geddes recently donated a lifesaving defibrillator to North Ayrshire Athletics Club making it a safer environment for its ever-growing membership.

A colleague of interim club president, Michael Murray, is behind the charity The Kieran McDade Foundation which was set up following the tragic death of 13-year-old Kieran who suffered a cardiac arrest whilst training with Dunbeth Football Club in August 2016.

The Foundation raises money to provide sports club across Scotland with lifesaving equipment and Kitchens by J S Geddes, although based in Kilmarnock, have strong links in North Ayrshire and were really keen to get involved in the project.

Michael explained: “We were absolutely delighted when Kitchens by J S Geddes agreed to purchase a defibrillator for us. It is an incredible gesture from them to purchase the defibrillator for the club and we cannot thank them enough.”

Jim Geddes, Director of Kitchens by J S Geddes, attended NAAC’s training base to present the AED to the club

in September. He added: “Financial restraints should not be a barrier to clubs owning defibrillators and we are delighted to help NAAC by donating this lifesaving equipment."

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MEMBER NEWS

DONNINI SERVICED APARTMENTS are becoming ‘the’ serviced apartment brand in Ayrshire”. Jake adds that “guest reviews on booking.com and tripadvisor are either 9.9 or 10 the vast majority of the time. Our goal however is to achieve 10/10 from every guest”.

From the very beginning Donnini Apartments have led with the vision of redefining serviced accommodation in Ayrshire for both holiday and corporate guests. Focusing on offering guests a truly personal, tailored experience throughout their stay and beyond.

Co-founders Laurence Malyon and Jake Murray are young entrepreneurs who are happy to disrupt the conventional accommodation market with a modern, guest centred approach, utilising new marketing channels and technologies.

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Laurence believes that “with a strap line of ‘personal and unforgettable luxury’ and a vow to always ‘exceed guest expectations’ Donnini

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What do Laurence and Jake see as the future for Donnini? Currently Donnini have multiple apartments and villas in Ayrshire and are pushing hard to expand their reach further throughout Ayrshire, and the rest of Scotland.

Laurence and Jake are always keen to attract owners and landlords who are looking for a better investment solution with a guaranteed, truly passive - premium - income.

They also appreciate the great importance of encouraging local tourists and corporate guests into the area.

In addition, the young entrepreneurs are always keen to work with local businesses who may be looking to

offer accommodation to their staff, visitors or corporate guests. Donnini makes it easy for businesses to find accommodation, accommodation that is more comfortable, spacious and homely than a hotel room.

Improving happiness and ultimately productivity.

The Donnini brand has core values of providing a personal - high end - service, and a truly unforgettable experience. If you would like to join the journey, as either a partner landlord, accommodation seeker or team member please contact Laurence, Jake or one of the Donnini team.

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

KIT SPONSOR BENE-FIT

Bene-FIT Health and Fitness are sponsoring Wellington School’s new football team kit and in their first outing they ran out 7-1 winners against Tarbolton Primary School.

Owner of Bene-FIT Tony Murphy said “I am a great believer in supporting grass root sports of all kinds within our local community and was only too happy to help what is an exciting venture for the school.

We have many parents and regular visitors to our gym, so it was right and proper to help out when called upon.”

Bene-FIT has recently moved to a brand new facility on Elmbank St. Ayr where we offer a relaxed, friendly environment that is suitable for all ages and all abilities. Whether you are an experienced weight trainer, keen cardio and class goer, or a complete novice.

Within the fully air conditioned new facility our gym area is divided up into separate zones for cardio, free weight, fixed weight and freestyle/core. Our classes take place in the separate class area and private spin studio. After your gym session you can unwind, switch off and relax in our luxury sauna and steam rooms. All employees of Chamber of Commerce member companies can Bene-FIT from our great corporate deal costing only £30 per month for full access to our gym, class and relaxation suite facilities.

A CUT ABOVE (AYR) LTD Ayr Mrs Susan Mills 01292 267762 susan@acutaboveayr.co.uk ALIGNED HEALTH CARE LTD Ayr Mr Ralph Pottie 01292 737390 ralph@alignedhealthcare.co.uk AMAS SCOTLAND LTD Ayr Mr Declan Milligan 01292 388031 declan@amas.biz AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP CO Dundonald Mr Jon McTear 01563 475014 info@americanscholarshipco.com BRAEMAR FINANCE Ayrshire Ms Linda Edgar 01563 852100 info@braemarfinance.co.uk BUNNY BEAU BABY Mauchline Mrs Lynelle Drain 07722118280 hello@bunnybeaubaby.co.uk D FERGUSON LANDSCAPING Troon Mr Davie Ferguson 07730 517124 info@dfergusonlandscaping.co.uk DONNINI APARTMENTS Ayr Mr Laurence Malyon 01292 800044 info@donnini.co.uk EDERA BESPOKE Dundonald Mr Michael Mancini 01563 761970 michael@ederabespoke.com FOREVER GREAT Irvine Mr Frank Gormanley 07702345691 Frank@forevergreat.co.uk HOWCO GROUP PLC Irvine Mr Fraser Milne 01294 313131 infohcc@howcogroup.com IDIN JEWELLERY Largs Mr Guenther Wurmbauer 01475 674305 office@idin-jewellery.co.uk

JOHN PRICE PRINTERS LTD Ayr Mr Tommy Smith 07772 232591 tommy@john-price.co.uk JULIE BATCHELOR BRILLIANT TRAVEL Kilmarnock Ms Julie Batchelor 07944 542 640 julie.batchelor@brillianttravel.co.uk KANDO SUPPORT LIMITED Symington Ms Kay Dewar 07930 914 391 kay@kandosupport.com LITTLE BUNDLE BOX Kilmarnock Ms Fiona Atchison 01563 522198 fiona@littlebundlebox.com LOGAN PLANT HIRE Glasgow Mr David Logan 07939 111038 loganenterprises@mail2world.com MASONRY MATTERS Prestwick Mr Cameron Cunningham 07773 557087 info@masonrymatters.co.uk MAYA CANINE BEHAVIOURIST Dundonald Ms Maya McLaughlin 07517 125049 mayacaninebehaviourist@gmail.com MENZIES CONTRACTS LIMITED East Ayrshire Mr Colin Menzies 07919 170068 info@menziescontracts.co.uk MURPHY ENGINEERING (SCOTLAND) LTD Kilwinning Mr John Murphy 01294 443939 info@murphyengsco.co.uk MURRAY BUCHANAN LTD Ayr Mr Murray Buchanan 07803 160320 murray@murraybuchanan.com NATIONWIDE AUTO ENROLMENT LTD Prestwick Mr Martin Shinn 01292 501611 m.shinn@nationwideautoenrolment.co.uk

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MEMBW ERS PAYMENTSENSE LTD (AYR) Ayr Mr Robert Smith 07477 711795 robert.smith1@paymentsense.com QA LEAN CONSULTING LTD Irvine Mr Alan Adrain 07484 721137 alan@qaleanconsulting.co.uk ROXBURGH CONSULTANTS Ayr Mrs Margarette Bryan 07379 418709 margarette.bryan@gmx.co.uk SALES AND MARKETING SOLUTIONS (SCOTLAND) LTD Coatbridge Mr Bernard Dyer 07811 325897 info@salesandmarketingsolutions.com SPEIRS GUMLEY Glasgow Mr Bryan McMananus 0141 332 9225 bmcmanus@speirsgumley.com TAL SAFETY SOLUTIONS LTD Prestwick Mr Tommy Lowndes 07737 941263 talsafetysolutions@outlook.com TCA WOODLAND MANAGEMENT Cumnock Mr Tom Andrews 07403977843 tom@tcawoodlandmanagement.co.uk TEN30 FASHION LTD Ayr Mr Alan Moore 07920096553 info@ten30.co.uk TW RECRUITMENT SOLUTIONS Kilmarnock Mr Tom Wood 07889 942073 tomwood943@googlemail.com WALKER CLADDING Prestwick Mr Bill Reid 01292 473240 enquiries@walkercladding.com WALKER GORDON ASSOCIATES LTD Kilmarnock Ms Evelyn Walker 07799633633 evelynmwalker@gmx.com WATERSIDE MOTORS LTD Largs Ms Christine Boyd 01475 675020 watersidemotorsltd@hotmail.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.