Business Matters Spring 23

business

matters SPRING 2023 EDITION

The fabric of the business community.

Inside: Chamber supports Paisley Museum, Renfrewshire Connect Thursday 18th May, A380 Returns, Members news and more…

President’s welcome D

ear Members, Welcome to the Spring issue of Business Matters and my first as President of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce (Chamber). I am born and bred in Renfrewshire, so I am very proud to be appointed to the role for the next two years taking over from Liz Connolly. We are grateful to Liz for her work with the board and I am delighted she has agreed to continue as a director.

As a Chamber, we also extend our warm congratulations to Liz on her election as a Fellow to the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a great honour.

We also welcome new director Ronald Leitch, Operations Director from Glasgow Airport. His skills and expertise complement our strong board as we help our members connect and grow. It has been encouraging to see the return of the Emirates A380 as a vote of confidence in a key route for the airport and wider city region connectivity.

I’m not the only person with a new role of course as we welcome a new First Minister of Scotland (FM). As a network during the recent leadership election campaign, we asked for a stronger working relationship with business and was pleased to hear the FM’s pledge of an ‘open door’ for our business community.

The latest findings from the Scottish Chambers of Commerce economic survey confirm that the beginning of 2023 provided welcome respite for some sectors of the economy more so than others, after a difficult end to 2022. However, this comes from a very weak base, and while confidence has generally increased, this is yet to translate into an overall improvement of business conditions. Most Scottish SMEs still report no improvement to sales, cashflow, and investment.

2

The survey also indicates that many businesses are still struggling in the face of rising cost pressures and high inflation, as well as continuing to face challenges regarding access to the labour market.

Business regulation is one area where government can make a meaningful difference. Regulation and red tape can be a real constraint of growth and we hear this often from our members. Challenges around the deposit return scheme; shortterm lets; alcohol advertising and the tourism visitor levy are just some recent examples. We need to do more to reduce regulatory constraints making things simpler “to do business” in Scotland.

I am delighted to highlight that your Chamber has agreed to be one of the first two corporate partners of the Paisley Museum Reimagined project, due to reopen next year after a radical £45m redesign and refurbishment.

We are joined by Coats - the world’s leading manufacturer in thread and structural components for apparel and footwear – more than 150 years after their founders gifted the building to the people of the town.

In doing so, both organisations are supporting Scotland’s biggest current capital heritage development, which – when reopened - will welcome 125,000 visitors a year and boost the local economy by £79m over the next 30 years.

Growing up in Renfrewshire I have many happy memories of visiting Paisley Museum. The Chamber is proud to support the redevelopment to help secure that opportunity for future generations to come.

Finally, I wish to extend an invitation to you all to join us at Renfrewshire Connect on Thursday 18th May at the Lagoon, Paisley. This prestigious

free B2B event, returning for the eleventh year is the largest of its type in Renfrewshire and is sponsored by Paisley.Is, the ambitious destination brand for Paisley & Renfrewshire. The event is open to all businesses, schools, and students to attend. We have six informative seminars to book offering expert advice and networking opportunities for your business.

You can now register online via www.renfrewshirechamber.com I’ve enjoyed meeting many of you at our Chamber events so far this year and look forward to attending more in the weeks and months to come. I hope to see you there as we connect and grow our community!

Kind regards – Derek

Derek J. McNab, President Renfrewshire Chamber

Business Matters Spring 2023

A warm welcome from our Chief Executive

D

ear Members & readers, welcome to the Spring issue of our popular magazine Business Matters.

On behalf of the staff and board I warmly congratulate Derek J McNab on his election as President. Having successfully grown Mabbett with his team to a multi-site, award winning business, his expertise will be of great benefit to our members. In addition, we extend a warm welcome to Ronald Leitch from Glasgow Airport. His election maintains our strong relationship with Glasgow Airport and supports the crucial role it plays in both our local economy and prosperity of the city region.

You may have seen the major announcement of the Chamber’s commitment to be one of the first two corporate partners of the Paisley Museum Reimagined project, due for completion next year after a radical £45m redesign and refurbishment.

We believe the museum transformation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our

generation to continue the long tradition of philanthropic support from the business community.

The Chamber is delighted to commit this financial gift in recognition of the increased economic activity and visitor numbers to Paisley and the wider area. I’d encourage all other businesses to explore the opportunity the project represents.

Thank you to everyone who has completed our annual survey, the results of which you will find on page 25. Once again, the team have scored highly maintaining a consistent level of services on behalf of you our members and your feedback helps us plan for the next 12 months.

I encourage you to book on for Renfrewshire Connect taking place on Thursday 18th of May at the Lagoon and sponsored by Paisley Is. The day represents an opportunity to network with 50 + companies in one go and is a great use of your time. There are also six informative sessions on topics from marketing

and artificial intelligence to leadership, management and mental health.

So please book your free place now via www.renfrewshirechamber.com and share with your colleagues and friends, we hope to see you on the day!

Bob Grant Chief Exec

Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce

Bute Court, St Andrews Drive, Glasgow Airport, PA3 2SW t: 0141 847 5450 / f: 0141 847 5499 e: info@renfrewshirechamber.com / w: www.renfrewshirechamber.com Next issue of Business Matters is Summer 2023 Deadline for editorial and adverts is Friday 2nd June 2023 Themes are B2B / education and training & development / business support & finance / tourism & leisure

Business Matters Spring 2023

Advertising & Editorial:

Contact Jill Carrino t: 07702 909474 / e: jcarrino@renfrewshirechamber.com

Print and Design by:

The Print Brokers (Scotland) Ltd / e: sales@theprintbrokers.co.uk

Follow the chamber:

Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce would like to acknowledge the support of our Premier Partners:

“ I’d like to update my professional qualifications ” West College Scotland offers a range of professional training and development courses to help you update your skills.

THE ROYAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

INSTITUTE OF SCOTLAND

First Aid

Clydebank Campus 0141 951 7555 Greenock Campus 01475 553 044 Paisley Campus 0141 581 2121

t

0300 600 6060

w www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk

Printed on ECF paper sourced from sustainable forests using vegetable based inks.

The fabric of the business community.

3

Emirates’ iconic A380 touches down in Glasgow

Emirates’ Richard Jewsbury, Emirates Divisional Vice President in the UK, Gavin Newlands MP Paisley and Renfrewshire North, Natalie Don MSP Renfrewshire North and West, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce CEO Stuart Patrick, Glasgow Airport Operations Director Ronald Leitch, Bob Grant, CEO Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce.

E

mirates’ flagship A380 has touched down in Glasgow Airport for the first time since September 2019.

The added capacity will meet market demand and offer customers more travel options from Glasgow to Dubai, and beyond.

The iconic double-decker received a warm welcome by Scottish bagpipe players as it taxied to the stand. The Emirates check-in counter at Glasgow Airport was also decked out with celebratory red balloons and “welcome back” signs.

Richard Jewsbury, Emirates Divisional Vice President in the UK, commented: “We're very proud to bring back our iconic A380 to Glasgow, providing much-needed capacity on this popular route.

This is also a testament to our ongoing commitment to Scotland, which is a key region for Emirates in the UK. We look

4

forward to welcoming passengers on-board this popular aircraft and to connecting customers to more than 140 destinations via Dubai.”

Ronald Leitch, Glasgow Airport’s Operations Director, said: “Emirates’ Glasgow-Dubai route continues to be a tremendous success story for Scotland and the return of the airline’s flagship aircraft is a huge vote of confidence for Glasgow and the wider region.

“As well as delivering unrivalled connectivity for Scottish leisure and business travellers to Dubai, home of one of the world’s biggest international hub airports, the daily service also plays a crucial role in exporting Scottish goods globally as well as supporting Scotland’s inbound tourism industry.

“Watching the iconic Airbus A380 aircraft touch down once again is a special experience not only for everyone who works at the airport, but also the huge number of aviation enthusiasts and members of the public who gathered today to capture the moment.”

Emirates will also be resuming A380 operations to Birmingham starting from 1 July. By the end of this summer, the popular aircraft will be serving almost 50 destinations The airline is the largest

operator of Airbus A380, with more than 80 aircraft currently in active service.

The Emirates A380 is loved by customers for its spacious and comfortable cabins, quietness, and unique on-board features such as the Onboard Lounge and First Class Shower Spa. Customers can also enjoy award-winning inflight entertainment on ice with more than 5,000 channels of ondemand entertainment via the industry’s largest screens across all cabins.

Emirates has completely refurbished four of its A380 aircraft under the airline’s US$ 2 billion retrofit program, with the first A380 deployed earlier this year on the Dubai-London Heathrow service featuring the Premium Economy cabin, and Emirates’ latest cabin interiors including lighter colour palettes in First and Business Class.

The airline also plans to ramp up its fourclass A380 operations featuring Premium Economy cabins to more than 35 destinations across 20 countries by March 2024.

Emirates flight EK27 departs Dubai at 07:50hrs and arrives in Glasgow at 12:45hrs, local time. The return flight, EK28 departs Glasgow at 14:35hrs and arrives in Dubai at 01:05hrs local time, the following day.

For more information, visit emirates.com.

Tickets can be purchased on emirates.com, Emirates Sales Office or via travel agent.

Business Matters Spring 2023

Local supplier opportunities with Statkraft L

ocal companies are being invited to register to supply goods and services during construction of a 50MW battery project near the Neilston substation in Renfrewshire.

Chamber member Statkraft, Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy, has announced that construction of their Neilston Greener Grid Park will commence in mid-2023. Statkraft would like to hear from companies that usually supply construction sites, as well as off-site services such as lodging, restaurants, catering and car hire.

The information will be included in a suppliers’ directory shared with main contractors to enable them to easily locate local providers.

Statkraft expect that the main contractors will be announced in May, and the construction period will last for approximately 18 months.

For more information, and to add your details to the register go to https://www.statkraft.co.uk/projects/Neilston/local-suppliers-register/

The fabric of the business community.

5

R&D tax relief: Are you maximising the opportunity?

M

any small or medium enterprises (SMEs) still don’t realise that they qualify for research and development (R&D) tax incentives. As businesses contend with the economic challenges and the continuing threat of recession, this relief could provide a valuable cash injection.

Significant changes are being made to the R&D tax credit schemes, some of which come into force from 1 April 2023.

The enhancement rate for SMEs is being reduced to 86 % (from 130 %) and the rate at which companies can surrender losses is being reduced to 10 % (from 14.5 %); these changes can result in a reduction of more than 30% in the tax benefit.

On the flipside a ’rebalancing’ of the two R&D relief schemes means larger companies or those making a claim under the R&D expenditure credit (RDEC) regime will see an increase from 13% to 20% (gross benefit).

Further, in the most recent budget announcement, a new ‘R&D intensive’ rate is being introduced for loss-making SMEs where their R&D qualifying expenditure is at least 40 % of total expenditure.

With this in mind, planning around R&D tax is crucial to achieve the best outcome for an organisation.

To help businesses understand the scheme and the possible opportunity, R&D expert at Azets, Gemma Monaghan, explores the key details here.

6

What is R&D tax relief?

The R&D tax relief scheme is designed to incentivise innovation within the UK and reward companies conducting research and development The benefit is only available to limited companies.

The qualifying criteria for the SME scheme are: · an organisation with fewer than 500 FullTime Employees ; and · an annual turnover not exceeding €100m or balance sheet assets (gross) not exceeding €86m.

Why is it so important to get it right?

HMRC is scrutinising claim submissions due to fraudulent activity and a year on year increase in submissions. It’s therefore critical to partner with a trusted advisor and ensure a claim is robust and compliant, both from a technical and financial perspective.

For companies undertaking R&D projects and subsequently incurring R&D expenditure, there could be significant tax savings or cash repayments available. Given the complexities with the current schemes and the different benefit options for a company, careful planning is paramount to ensure the R&D benefit is utilised in the most effective manner.

Some of these complexities affecting a claim include: · group structure and associated enterprises. · grant income. · contractual relationships between companies.

Each need to be reviewed, considered and applied correctly.

What costs can be claimed?

Broadly, to qualify for an R&D tax relief claim, a company’s project must seek to achieve an advance in science or technology through the resolution of scientific or technological uncertainties.

This R&D definition can lead many to believe that the activities they undertake and expenditure they incur are not qualifying.

How to identify an R&D opportunity

Some high-level questions to help identify R&D claims opportunities are: · Are you developing new or improving existing products or processes above what is available in the market? · Have you encountered failures within a project where the solution wasn’t readily achieved by your workforce? · Have you had a project fail due to technical reasons? · Have you combined different technologies that haven’t been achieved to date, with no guarantee of success? · Have you contracted any specialist design functions to support a project?

If you have any questions on R&D tax relief, contact Gemma Monaghan, R&D Tax Director, on 0141 886 6644 or email gemma.monaghan@azets.co.uk.

Business Matters Spring 2023

£1.5 Billion Corporation Tax Hike Could Cripple Struggling Scots’ Businesses Warns Expert

S

cotland’s business community will be under pressure to find an extra £1.5 billion per year of Corporation Tax payments by 2025/26 following a 31.58% proportionate increase in the Corporation Tax rate due to take effect in April.

Corporation Tax, which is currently 19%, will rise to 25% on 1st April and will raise an estimated additional £1.2 bn in the first year, rising to £1.5 by 2025/26. It is estimated that Scotland currently contributes around £5 bn in corporation tax per annum – the UK figure is around £68 bn per annum, equating to 2.9% of UK GDP. A leading SME expert is warning that the additional tax burden could lead to a significant reduction in investment and the risk of businesses closing.

“Last October the Government announced that it will persevere with an increase in the baseline Corporation Tax from 19% to 25% for businesses with annual profits of more than £250,000,” said Nicola Campbell, Accounts and Business Advisory Services Partner at Azets. “Businesses across the UK will be paying an additional £18 bn per annum by 2025/26 and we

The fabric of the business community.

estimate that Scotland’s annual share by that point will be nearly £1.5 bn.

Nicola Campbell added: “It is a significant increase and some businesses may not yet be fully aware of the implications.

There is concern that the scale of the tax increase along with rising interest rates and inflationary pressures will restrict inward investment opportunities and in turn growth.

“The tax burden on business has become higher than we have seen in the last 2 decades across the board, from NIC to Corporation Tax. My greatest worry though is the impact on owner managed businesses who can’t invest in tax planning as they need the profits to pay the household bills.”

Nicola Campbell concluded: “With an increase on this scale it is more important than ever that companies across Scotland actively manage their corporation tax liabilities. Cash and liquidity are critical for every business so we would encourage owners and directors to take full advantage of available tax reliefs, including the following examples: 1. Maximise the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) of £1m

2. Claim R&D tax relief 3. Maximise pension contributions 4. Maximise staff benefits and invest in staff well-being 5. Buy electric vehicles If you have any questions on the Corporation Tax increase or utilising any of the reliefs mentioned above, contact Nicola Campbell, nicola.campbell@azets.co.uk or call 0141 886 6644.

References

UK Government CT projected receipts https://www.gov.uk/government/ publications/corporation-taxcharge-and-rates-from-1-april2022-and-small-profits-rate-andmarginal-relief-from-1-april-2023/ corporation-tax-charge-and-ratesfrom-1-april-2022-and-small-profitsrate-and-marginal-relief-from-1april-2023

7

West Showcases Advanced Manufacturing Centre

T

his month, West College Scotland was delighted to welcome small and medium manufacturing companies from across Scotland to their Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC) in Paisley.

During the event, companies learned about the suite of free, short upskilling courses available to them, ranging from training in Computer Numerical Control (CNC), Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), and 3D printing and scanning. The aim of their AMC is to create a regional skills hub, increasing SME access to expertise, equipment & skills and prepare and connect them to other advanced manufacturing training, including that on offer at the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) in Inchinnan.

To find out more, please visit www.criticalengineer.net or make an enquiry at amcf@wcs.ac.uk.

West Supports The Bettii Pod

W

est College Scotland has been successful in obtaining funding from the Scottish Funding Council through their Innovation Voucher Scheme to support employer The Bettii Pod. The Bettii Pod Ltd is on a journey to create the world’s first installed menstrual cup cleaner. Bettii’s would be installed within the cubicle of away from home toilets to enable women to clean their reusable menstrual cups and discs quickly and privately. It is estimated that 75% of women are interested in trying reusables but only 15% make the change.

One key barrier to menstrual cup adoption, as highlighted within a 2021 UN report which cites cups as the most environmentally friendly reusable option, is access to private cleaning facilities. Bettii aims to address this issue, increasing consumer confidence in trying menstrual cups, raising the profile of all reusables in general and subsequently reducing the devastating impact of single use, 90% plastic period disposables.

WCS is using its specialist staff to support employer in establishing the quickest, cheapest and most error free ways in which the pods could be installed in both types of toilets. The purpose of a Standard Innovation Voucher is to encourage new first time partnerships between a company and a university or further education college.All SMEs, social enterprises and third sector organisations with main company operations in Scotland can apply for a voucher if they are partnering with a Scottish University or Further Education College.

To find out more please contact us at corporate@wcs.ac.uk

8

Supporting Scottish Apprenticeship Week

I

n the first week in March, the College also led on several events and activities to support Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2023, showcasing the range of award-winning Foundation and Modern Apprenticeships the College supports.

Working with over 700 apprentices and 100 regional employers, West College Scotland is the recognised primary training provider in Renfrewshire and the west region, offering a suite of apprenticeships in areas as diverse as Health and Social Care, Engineering, Automotive Skills, Creative and Cultural Skills, Transport and Logistics, Management, Construction, Pharmacy Services and Hospitality and Tourism. The College supports apprentices of all ages and work with employers to promote equal opportunities for recruits, with a specific focus on promoting apprentices to underrepresented groups (including women into STEM apprentices).

Modern Apprenticeships (MA) training is fully funded through Skills Development Scotland (SDS), with zero training costs for an employer.

The funding pays for vocational qualifications, core skills development and, where applicable, academic qualifications that underpin the apprenticeship. They can offer a dedicated apprenticeship team to steward apprentices through their work-based learning, and support employers ensure their apprentices thrive in their workplace. As an approved apprenticeship centre, the College is involved with a wide range of awarding bodies and sector skills councils, ensuring their apprentices receive relevant, up-to-date skills. To find out more, please make a direct enquiry to: skillsprogrammes@wcs.ac.uk

Business Matters Spring 2023

Scotland’s first Dementia Friendly Shopping Centre

T

HE Braehead Centre is literally rolling out the red carpet for people living with dementia when they visit the popular shopping mall.

Braehead was recently named Scotland’s first Dementia Friendly Shopping Centre for their on-going partnership with the national charity, Alzheimer Scotland.

As one of several ways Braehead is making life a little bit easier for people living with dementia to visit the centre, management has placed red mats at the mall’s entrances instead of black mats, as that can appear as a hole in the ground to someone with dementia.

Staff at the shopping and leisure destination have also been trained by the charity as Dementia Friends, so they can make life more comfortable for people living with dementia when they visit the centre.

The Alzheimer Scotland Purple Alert app has been downloaded on to staff phones and linked to the Braehead Centre’s control room, as a vital tool in finding someone with dementia who is lost.

122207 - BH Dementia Ad 130x180mm v1 SA.indd 1

The fabric of the business community.

And one modern wash hand basin tap in each toilet has been replaced with a traditional pillar tap, as it is more recognisable to someone with dementia.

Signage in the centre has also been placed at eye level.

Staff from Alzheimer Scotland were given free mall space to let visitors to the centre know about the many services they provide and how they can help people with dementia, their carers and families.

Anne McWhinnie, from Alzheimer Scotland said: “Hats off to Braehead for everything they are doing and being hugely supportive. They are now officially the first Dementia Friendly Shopping Centre in Scotland.

“We’re really excited about what Braehead is doing for us and it’s fantastic. A recent survey we carried out showed that people living with dementia still want to go shopping and Braehead will give them a positive experience when they visit the centre.”

Braehead’s community development manager, Lydia Brown said: “We aim

to make everyone’s visit to Braehead as comfortable and safe as possible.

“And we’ll do all we can to make sure people with dementia can enjoy the shops, cafes and restaurants like everyone else does.

“The staff have enjoyed their training from Alzheimer Scotland gaining more awareness of what they can do to make life easier for people with dementia, their carers, families and friends when they come to Braehead.”

Alzheimer Scotland’s 24-hour helpline is available by calling 0808 808 3000.

18/10/2021 15:23

9

Arnold Clark opens the largest BMW dealership in Scotland

T

he largest BMW dealership in Scotland has officially opened in Hillington Park, on the outskirts of Glasgow.

The state-of-the-art showroom is the result of an £18 million investment from Arnold Clark and is now a flagship location for both BMW and MINI. Its launch follows last year’s announcement that the company was rebranding Harry Fairbairn branches as Arnold Clark, with the aim of uniting the brand across all franchises to provide customers with a seamless and consistent car-buying journey.

The new two-storey branch, located close to Arnold Clark’s flagship Renault/ Dacia/Alpine branch and Head Office, has 45 prestige BMW and MINI vehicles on display across its two levels. A further 150 Approved Used vehicles are on show in the branch’s outdoor forecourt.

As Europe’s largest independent car retailer, Arnold Clark’s aim is to provide customers with the ultimate car-buying experience, integrating both the physical and digital experience when purchasing a new car. The centre is therefore designed

10

with BMW and MINI’s high standards in mind – from its large forecourt to its premium interior.

As well as a wide range of models on offer, the new centre features a dedicated M Zone and a MINI John Cooper Works Zone – which focus on the motorsportinspired BMW M range and MINI’s high-performance John Cooper Works range, respectively – allowing visitors to get to grips with the latest BMW and MINI technology.

And with the goal of bringing servicing and aftersales under the one roof, there is also a 28-bay workshop in which every technician is trained to the highest BMW and MINI standards. With valet parking

available, this new state-of-the-art drive-in service facility is accessible via a covered customer service driveway and links through to the showroom, giving customers a fresh experience when they arrive to drop off their car and allowing them to take advantage of complimentary Wi-Fi and a relaxed café area as they wait on their vehicle.

A must-go destination for any BMW or MINI customer in the country, the opening of the new branch has also created a raft of new jobs in the area – from vehicle technicians and vehicle preparation staff to sales and administration – while effectively bolstering Arnold Clark’s presence in Hillington Park.

Callum Rankin, Arnold Clark BMW and MINI Franchise Manager, said: ‘We’ve been delighted to offer a specialist service to our BMW and MINI customers for more than 16 years. Our expert sales employees and technicians have the knowledge and experience to offer advice and service of the highest level, and our new flagship branch is the perfect example of the premium experience we aim to provide.”

Business Matters Spring 2023

Proactive approach grows logisitics sector O

TO LET

ne of the world’s leading global logistics providers has expanded its business operations at Hillington Park with a move into a 17,728 sq ft, modern industrial unit increasing the overall size of the logistics sector operating from the estate.

DB Schenker, which already operated an office function on the estate, supports industry and trade through land transport, worldwide air and ocean freight, contract logistics and supply chain management.

Its new warehouse at Evolution 202 on Mossland Road was previously home to OSL Rail, a large multidisciplinary engineering business working within the railway sector. It will now support DB Schenker’s air-freight & freightforwarding operations as well as being a new home to its existing administration team.

Derek Aitken, senior asset manager at Hillington Park explained: “We were already aware there was significant interest from occupiers for large, modern industrial units at Hillington Park, including some already based in the Park. When OSL advised us that it no longer needed its Hillington premises we agreed to jointly market the unit and very quickly we were able to agree terms that met the expansion plans of an existing occupier, DB Schenker.

“Our proactive leasing strategy has helped both DB Schenker and OSL achieve their business objectives. OSL exited its lease early and DB Schenker

New high spec industrial & logistics units 6,805 - 12,562 sq ft M8/J26 Glasgow, G52 4JG

Large secure yards

BREEAM Very Good accreditation

0141 226 1000

colin.mcmanus@colliers.com

hillingtonpark.com/availability

Energy-efficient LED warehouse lighting

Interna accomm

0141 204 3838

gregor.harvie@ryden.co.uk

secured a prime, modern warehouse facility which fitted its expanding business requirements. Frasers Property secured a longer-term lease commitment from a high-profile global business, resulting in a satisfactory outcome for everyone.”

For more information on DB Schenker please visit: www.dbschenker.com

Already 50% LET

TO LET New high spec industrial & logistics units 6,805 - 12,562 sq ft M8/J26 Glasgow, G52 4JG

Large secure yards

BREEAM Very Good accreditation

0141 226 1000

colin.mcmanus@colliers.com

The fabric of the business community.

hillingtonpark.com/availability/west

Energy-efficient LED warehouse lighting

Internal office accommodation

0141 204 3838

gregor.harvie@ryden.co.uk

11

ChatGPT:

What’s all the fuss about?

U

nless you’ve been hiding under a rock since just before Christmas, it’s likely you’ve heard of ChatGPT: the generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chat-Bot that, in January this year, acquired a million daily users in just five days. (By comparison, it took Facebook 10 months to reach this milestone). So what is ChatGPT, and why is it a big deal for small businesses?

ChatGPT: the benefits

The main draw of ChatGPT is its ability to produce a long-form piece of content in a few seconds, based on prompts that you feed it. Given that the average blog piece takes around four hours to write manually, it’s easy to see why this is so appealing.

AI writing tools are not new: Jasper and Grammarly have been around for a few years. What ChatGPT offers, however, is the ability to remember what you have already asked, and build on the conversation. You could prompt it for a bullet point list of five ways to use social media to help with your new business, and in your next prompt, to provide more detail and specific examples based on point three. You could then ask it to create a series of tweets, each one focusing on a specific point. And so on. It’s incredibly versatile.

The conversational style makes the tool very easy to use – it’s a similar experience to using a chat bot on a company’s website, except that its answers are much more specific and detailed, drawing from a vast repository of sources.

ChatGPT: the drawbacks

As attractive as these features may sound, however, there are drawbacks too.

• It can’t tell fact from fiction The GPT technology used by ChatGPT and Google’s new competitor Bard, works by recognising patterns in language and replicating these patterns in the text it produces. However, it can’t analyse the text for accuracy: so if enough of its sources misreport something, it will simply repeat this misinformation in the content it produces.

An error in an ad for Bard attributed the first pictures taken of an exoplanet outside our solar system to the James Webb Space

12

Telescope. In fact, they were taken by a different telescope. A mistake like this might seem innocent enough – even if it wiped $100bn off Google’s share price – but what if it were an article giving health advice, or reporting the news?

• Outputs tend to be generic Even ChatGPT’s biggest fans will admit that it doesn’t produce the best quality text. While grammatically correct, sentences tend to be repetitive and unvaried, and it’s difficult to capture a specific tone of voice. Most content produced by ChatGPT will need a human editor to bring it to life before it’s published.

Should I use ChatGPT or not?

The fact is, AI-generated content isn’t going away, and future versions of ChatGPT and other tools will be even better. It’s already a helpful tool for research, idea generation, and helping to structure or summarise content.

Just be careful about going “all in” as

it stands. Its drawbacks are significant enough that we wouldn’t recommend just copying and pasting ChatGPT content onto your website or social channels without thoroughly checking and adapting it first.

Good advice is to ‘use it as an input, not an output’ – using what it gives you as the starting point for your own creative writing and marketing messages, rather than just using the output as given without improving on it. Remember that it’s written by an algorithm, and often lacks personality, colour, and relevant examples – and don’t forget that ChatGPT knows nothing of the world since beyond 2021.

Treat it like any other business tool: use it only to the extent that it’s helpful. For many small business owners, it will hugely improve the speed at which content is created. For content specialists (such as expert marketeers or PR advisors) it’s unlikely to take their jobs – just yet!

For more help with AI or any aspect of your digital marketing, get booked onto one of our Artificial Intelligence for Small Business webinars, or talk to our team.

Business Matters Spring 2023

lloydtech

lloydtechnology.com

IT SU IT SUPPO IT SUPPORT SER SERVI SERVICES IT SUPPORT

WE KEEP BUSINESSES BUSINESSES WE KEEP BUSINESSESWE KEEPTHRIVING WITH WITH OUR IT OUR IT THRIVING WITH OUR THRIVING IT SUPPORT SERVICES! SUPPORT SERVICES! SUPPORT SERVICES! WE KEEP BUSINESSES THRIVING WITH OUR IT SUPPORT SERVICES!

ONSITE & REMOTE IT HELP DESK SERVICES

SERVICES

ONSITE & REMOTE IT HARDWARE & NETWORK DESIGN ONSITE & REMOTE IT HARDWARE HARDWARE & NETWORK DESIGN CLO HARDWARE CLOUD SOLUTIONS ONSITE && REMOTE NETWORK DESIGN CLOUD SOLUTIONS& SECURITY HELPITDESKNETWORK SERVICES&DESIGN SOFTWARE SUPPORT HELP DESK SOFTWARE & & HELP DESK SERVICES SERVICES SOFTWARE SUPPORT SUPPORT & SECURITY &SECURITY OFFICE 365 SOFTWARE SUPPORT & SECURITY & OFFICE 365

Merlin House, 1/5 Mossland Road, Glasgow, G52 4XZ

Merlin House, 1/5 Mossland Road, 0333 311 1002 Road, contact@lloydtechnology.com Glasgow, G52 4XZMerlin House, 1/5 Mossland 0333 311 1002 Merlin House,Glasgow, 1/5 Mossland G52 Road, 4XZ 0333 311 1002 0333 1002 contact@lloydtechnology.com Glasgow, G523114XZ

contact@lloy

Meeting Rooms and Conference Spaces for Hire Across Renfrewshire • Flexible spaces and room layouts with capacities from 1-300 delegates.

• Unique venues in convenient, town centre locations.

• Free WiFi and excellent AV facilities including projectors, screens, flipcharts and microphones.

• In-house technicians who can provide onsite support for those bookings which require a higher level of delivery.

• Dedicated Events Coordinator.

• A range of catering options to suit a variety of tastes, budgets and dietary requirements.

• Short and long-term lease opportunities.

oneren.org/venue-hire oneren_eventhires@refnrewshire.gov.uk 0300 300 1210

The fabric of the business community.

13

YOUR BUSINESS PROFILE:

Kooltech – “Decades of experience in making buildings more energy efficient and sustainable”

E

stablished in 1979 and operating across 7 branches nationally, Kooltech is one of the UK’s most trusted distributors of Refrigeration and Air Conditioning products.

Kooltech has grown through innovation from its origins as a manufacturer at its Hillington Road, Glasgow site to our brand new Head Office on Mossland Road, Glasgow. This purpose-built, state of the art facility allows Kooltech to provide a range of standard and Bespoke Design Solutions for both Refrigeration and Air Conditioning applications.

In 1994 Kooltech began distribution of Mitsubishi Electric’s full range of Air Conditioning products. Today this product range has become a market leader and Kooltech are proud to be labelled “Mitsubishi Electric’s Exclusive UK Distributor”.

We are known by the industry to provide technical and cost effective solutions from initial selection of equipment and quotation

through to after sales support from our technical applications and engineering team. Kooltech has also developed a range of bespoke Air conditioning products offering consultants, contractors and end users efficient and sustainable Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning systems.

Our expertise has now extended to provide Sustainable Heating Solutions.

Building owners and facilities managers of commercial buildings face increasingly tough standards and legislation to ensure they prioritise carbon reduction on our journey to net zero. Embracing modern heat pump technologies offer an opportunity to reduce emissions and heat buildings in a more sustainable and efficient way.

Business Solutions Delivered A great relationship starts by meeting face to face.

Give us a call and allow us to tell you more.

14

For further enquiries please email: sales@kooltech.co.uk Kooltech Ltd, Strathaird, Mossland Road, Hillington Park, Glasgow G52 4XZ Tel. 0345 034 4180 Kooltech partner with Carbon Neutral Britain™ to measure and offset our carbon footprint, and to become a Certified Carbon Neutral Business. These are the first steps for Kooltech and we aim to reduce our emissions wherever possible and not just offset.

Milne Craig is a leading provider of integrated professional services. We are:

✓ Registered Auditors ✓ Chartered Accountants & Tax Advisers ✓ Chartered Independent Financial Planners ✓ Restructuring Specialists ✓ Official Sage Business Partners ✓ Book-keeping Specialists ✓ Payroll Practitioners Tel: 0141 887 7811 Email: paul.craig@milnecraig.co.uk Web: www.milnecraig.co.uk

Business Matters Spring 2023

YOUR BUSINESS PROFILE:

Data-driven approach to solar PV for businesses in Renfrewshire

H

aving recently achieved carbonneutral status on our brand-new office premises in Hillington, Lochlie Construction Group are now offering renewables solutions as part of our core business. Our in-house trade teams are now fully trained and accredited to offer air source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points, solar PV and battery storage.

With energy prices at record highs and net-zero at the top of many businesses’ agendas, our in-house solar PV modelling service offers a quick and straightforward appraisal to identify whether solar is an appropriate solution for your business.

Using your own consumption data, we can produce a comprehensive model to forecast your potential yield, carbon savings and financial savings, as well as a forecast payback period.

The fabric of the business community.

We are currently offering this service free of charge to local SMEs as Managing Director Douglas Aitken explains, “We have made a significant investment to be able to offer data-led modelling as an inhouse service to our customers, following our own difficult road to installing solar PV. The information that the appraisal report can provide is invaluable for businesses who may be researching the viability of renewable technologies, or indeed seeking funding having already made their decision.”

“The feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive, and I would encourage anyone who is considering solar PV to get in touch with the team to chat through what we can offer. We have already worked with a number of members of the Chamber to arm them with the data they need to make an informed decision.”

Businesses interested in booking their free solar appraisal or just finding out a bit more about how the technology works can contact Claire McBlain on 0141 212 0000 or email claire.mcblain@lochlie.co.uk

15

YOUR BUSINESS PROFILE:

your business profile?

Renfrewshire connected to the fastest, most reliable WE’RE BUILDING internet services Aavailable BRAND NEW,in the UK

T

ULTRAFAST BROADBAND NETWORK IN RENFREWSHIRE

housands of homes and businesses across Renfrewshire can now benefit from the fastest, most reliable internet services available in the UK now that CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has completed work in a number of areas in the region.

Renfrewshire is one of a growing number of locations in the UK to benefit from CityFibre’s £5bn Gigabit City investment programme which will bring new and better broadband infrastructure within reach of up to eight million homes and businesses nationwide.

Built from scratch, with the latest full fibre technology, Once work on the full fibre network is completed later this year, almost every home and business locally will have access to this is a digital network like no other. Giving communities and businesses in Renfrewshire the fastest most reliable full fibre services and a choice of up to five internet service providers (ISPs) offering some of the fastest and most competitivebroadband for generations to come. broadband packages available in terms of both data and price.

David Cannon, CityFibre’s Area Manager for Renfrewshire, said: “We have been rolling out our full fibre network across much David Cannon, CityFibre’s Area Manager for Renfrewshire of Renfrewshire since Summer 2020 and are keen that as many networks and gives users consistently faster speeds for upload homes and businesses as possible benefit from our £40 million and download (up to 1,000 Mbps), plus near limitless bandwidth so investment to access world-leading levels of connectivity.” everyone at home can work, study, stream or game simultaneously.

Unlike copper-based ‘fibre broadband’ services available Residents wishing to give their home broadband a boost can find today, full fibre networks use 100% fibre optic cables to carry out more about the build, check availability in their area and which data at lightning speed all the way from the home to the point of For updates on the build ISPs are available to them at www.cityfibre.com/renfrewshire connection. This makes the more reliable than conventional copper and when we’re heading to your area, visit:

cityfibre.com/yourstreet

16

Business Matters Spring 2023

YOUR BUSINESS PROFILE:

GAs helping global medical company create a talent pipeline

U

niversity of the West of Scotland’s Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are enabling Terumo Aortic, a global medical device company, to create a pipeline of talent from new entrants to future leaders.

Working in partnership with University of the West of Scotland (UWS) Terumo Aortic has introduced two UWS GA programmes (Engineering Design & Manufacture and Business Management) in engineering and business support roles.

Claire Dawson, Talent Development Advisor at

Terumo Aortic, said: “We remain steadfastly committed to offering opportunities for current and future colleagues to benefit from the Graduate Apprenticeship programme.

The business is already seeing huge benefits from those Associates who have completed, or are currently undertaking, their studies and looks forward to offering these opportunities to more colleagues moving forward.”

To find out how your business can benefit from GAs please visit www.uws. ac.uk/GAs or get in touch at apprenticeships@uws.ac.uk

The fabric of the business community.

GRADUATE APPRENTICESHIPS develop the talent pipeline your business needs For more info email apprenticeships@uws.ac.uk or visit www.uws.ac.uk/GAs

17

New members

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Chamber staff, we would like to welcome onboard the following new members.

chamber

Gordon Foley Consulting

Kellie Alexander t/a Euphoria

Tweetiepie Media

Topgolf Glasgow

KCKBXR

Core Facility Services Ltd

Health, Safety and Wellbeing Consultancy Ian Gordon 07545318267 ian@gordon-foley.com Entertainment Destination Hannah Wright 0141 674 9314 hannah.wright01@topgolf.com

Roar Connections For Life Ltd Charity Cassie Forbes 0141 889 7481 cassie@roarforlife.org

Targeting Innovation Ltd

Digital and Innovation Business Consultancy Janine Marriott 0141 248 6516 jmarriott@targetinginnovation.com

Mental Health & Exercise Coach Kellie Alexander 07383506189 kellie.alexander81@yahoo.co.uk Business Club/Events Vinnie McWilliams euroboxing@hotmail.co.uk

Spokes

Bike Shop & Service Centre Ian Stokes 01505 610198 stokes.ian@btinternet.com

MortgageWise (Scotland) Ltd Mortgage Broker Paul Kelly 0141 231 2150 paul@mortgagewisescotland.com

TG Industrial Services Limited

Digital Marketing Agency Lizzy Todd 01475 603280 hello@tweetiepiemedia.com Energy, Waste, IT, and Estate Services Keith Barlow 0141 4284317 Keith.barlow@corefacility.co.uk

Axis Prop Ltd t/a Map Property Property Services Michael Paton 01475 648800 mappropertyinvest@gmail.com

The HR Practice Ltd

HR Consultancy Fiona McKee 07500 071915 fiona.mckee@thehrpractice.co.uk

Commercial Cleaning Service Andy Anderson 0141 842 1189 sales@tgindustrial.co.uk

Liz Connolly Elected to The Royal Society of Edinburgh L iz Connolly, Chamber Past President and Principal of West College Scotland has been invited to join The Royal Society of Edinburgh as a Fellow. 91 Fellows have been elected to join The RSE from across the sciences, education, the arts, business, and public life. Liz will join the RSE’s current Fellowship, which comprises 1,800

18

people recognised as being some of the greatest thinkers, researchers and practitioners in their field working in or with organisations in Scotland today.

Liz said “ I’m really chuffed and honoured to be invited to join The Royal Society of Edinburgh. I look forward to supporting the valuable work and contribution the RSE makes to our community”

Business Matters Spring 2023

Up and Chamber Coming Events

Pictures

See our events section on our website: www.renfrewshirechamber.com • 0141 847 5450 events@renfrewshirechamber.com Chamber Connect: “The 5 ways my clients have increased their sales with fewer customers” with Mark Bradford.

Thurs 20th April 10am-11.30amChamber Business Centre, Glasgow Airport.

FOC members

Burns Speaker John McEvoy

Pupils from Linwood High with Derek J McNab

Claire Hasting Burns Singer

Sandy Wedderburn Burns Piper

Chamber Connect: with Natalie O`Hare from BeyondHR covering: Menopause and the workplace, introduction to handling grievances in the workplace & when to discipline or when to dismiss.

Thurs 11th May 10am-11.30am FOC members, Normandy Hotel Renfrewshire Connect Thurs 18th May. 10am -4pm, Lagoon Paisley.

50+ exhibitors, 6 free seminars.

To exhibit £150+ vat members, £250 + vat non-members TRANSFORM: Digital with Gary Ennis from NSDesign Tues 6th June, Tues 13th June & Tues 20th June. Sessions delivered online 10am-12pm. Free for members

Diageo Site Director Paul Marsella March Lunch

March Lunch Glynhill

Chamber Connect: Skills for Growth Reviews for Renfrewshire SMEs with Skills Development Scotland.

Wed 21st June May 10am-11.30am FOC members, Glynhill Hotel .

Chamber Golf Challenge 23rd June, £300 per 4 ball includes breakfast, golf, lunch & goodie bag. Shotgun start 8am3pm. Raffle for Accord

President Derek J McNab

Liz Connolly presents Derek J McNab with Chain of Office

ROCCO Awards 2023 Friday 17th November at the Normandy with Host Fred MacAuley

BUSINESS AWARDS 2023

facebook.com/renfrewshirechamberofcommerce Follow the chamber: Chamber AGM 22

Retiring Directors John McConnell & David Flint with Tom Johnstone

The fabric of the business community.

twitter.com/renfrewshirecoc

19

Thursday 18th May 10am-4pm, Lagoon Paisley

BOOK NOW TO CONNECT, GROW AND LEARN Free to Attend

Sponsored by:

Renfrewshire Connect is our annual networking event open to all. Free to attend, the event is packed with value for SMES, Staff, students and startups alike.

Learning Sessions Join us for expert discussions, covering topics ranging from Advertising and Artificial Intelligence to Leadership, Management and Mental Health.

Seminar 1

10:15am-11am Regeneration and business support with Renfrewshire Council

Seminar 2

Over 50 Exhibitors Connect with companies from across Renfrewshire and beyond.

Connect with exhibitors in following sectors:

• Business Services • Construction & Property • Digital Media • Economic Development & Business Support • Education & Young People • Finance & Legal • Hospitality • Manufacturing • Recruitment & Human Resources • Sales & Marketing • Third Sector & Volunteering

11.15am-12pm: Gary Ennis from NSDesign – “How Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help your Business Marketing”

Seminar 3

12.15pm -1pm: Sky Adsmart - “The Power of TV Advertising for Business of All Shapes and Sizes.”

Seminar 4

1.15pm-2pm: University of the West of Scotland.

Dr Christian Harrison - “Leading during the times of Crisis.”

Seminar 5

2.15pm-3pm: Brian Costello from Headstrong “Stopping the Business of Burnout”

Seminar 6

3.15pm-4pm: Gary Ennis from NSDesign “The Dangers of Social Media”

Book Now for Renfrewshire Connect The day is free to attend and open to all businesses, schools, pupils & students.

There is a charge to exhibit – please contact the Chamber (£150 + vat members, £250 + vat non-members) To book your free place to attend please go to www.renfrewshirechamber.com Twitter hashtag is #renfrewshireconnect

20

Business Matters Spring 2023

Connect Membership packages Connect Package

Connect

Connect

£240 Connect Package Package

£175+VAT*

+VAT

Per Annum

Package £240+VAT Per Annum

£20

+VAT

Per Month

£240+VAT

Per Annum

* for sole traders, new +VAT £20 biz start ups less than 12 Per Month months old & registered charities under 10 staff.

£175+VAT* Per Annum

£15

Package Cont.

£15+VAT*

* for sole traders, new biz start ups less than 12 months old & registered charities under 10 staff.

Per Month

£240+VAT

£175+VAT*

£20+VAT

£15+VAT*

Per Annum

Per Annum

Per Month

* for sole traders, new biz start ups less than 12 months old & registered charities under 10 staff.

Per Month

+VAT*

Per Month What’s included intraders, the Connect Package * for sole new

biz start ups less than 12 £175+VAT* +VAT months old & registered

£240

£175

More * benefits included in thenew Connect Package: for sole traders,

+VAT*

biz start ups less than 12 months old & registered resource telephone advice from leading HR specialists, £15 Annum Per Per Annum New Member welcome on Social Media Per Month Per Month Chamber HR - access to employment law and human charities under 10 staff. absolutely free.

Per Annum Chamber HR - access to employment law and human Membership Chamber Logo What’s included in the Connect Package charities under 10 staff.

Per Annum

£20+VAT

+VAT*

resource telephone advice from leading HR specialists,

£20+VAT

£15+VAT*

Access to dedicated members area on website

What’s includedabsolutely in the Connect free. PackageChamber Legal - As a Chamber member you have free Per Month Per Month Listing on Members Directory access to our essential and comprehensive Chamber Chamber HR - access law and human Chamber Legal -to Asemployment a Chamber member you have free connect with 500 + members Legal service. access to our essential and comprehensive Chamber resource telephone advice from leading HR specialists,

Your business spotlight /promote across chamber

Legalfree. service. absolutely Health and Safety - The advice lines are here What’s included in Chamber the Connect Package facebook/twitter/instagram share your content -

to member help andlines notare just if you have a serious approx problem or followers Chamber Safety - Theyou, advice here 10,000 Chamber LegalHealth - As a and Chamber you have free issue. to help you, and not just if you have a serious problem or access to our essential and comprehensive Chamber Access to Chamber Business Mentoring Programme issue.

Legal service.

Insurance - cover to help you defend health and safety

Chamber HR - access to employment law and human

Free TRANSFORM Training Programme

resource telephone advice from leading HR specialists, absolutely free.

Insurance - cover to help you defend health and safety per claim and £1m in the Upare to £100,000 Chamber Health and Safety - prosecutions.

The advice lines here Networking Events Programme prosecutions. Up to £100,000 per claim and £1m in the annual aggregate. to help you, and not just if you have a serious problem or free and discounted rates annual aggregate. issue.

Chamber Tax and VAT - free access to our essential and

Connect Package continues on the next page

Discounted Meeting Room Hire Glasgow Airport

Chamber Tax and VAT - free access to our essential and

comprehensive Chamber Insurance - cover to help you defend health and safety Tax and VAT service. comprehensive Chamber Tax and VAT service.

Listing in Business Matters Mag as new member prosecutions. Up to £100,000 per claim and £1m in £1m insurance coverthe to deal with a full HMRC enquiry, £1m insurance cover to deal with a full HMRC enquiry, Copy of Quarterly Business Matters Mag mailed to you annual aggregate. aspect enquiries, PAYE disputes and VAT disputes.

Connect Package continues on the next page

Connect Package continues on the next page

Chamber Legal - As a Chamber member you have free access ourandessential aspect enquiries, PAYE to disputes VAT disputes. and comprehensive Chamber Discounted AA Membership Chamber Tax and VAT free access to our essential Chamber HR, Legal and Health and and Safety forms combined Chamber HR, LegalLegal and Healthservice. and Safety forms combined comprehensive Chamber Tax and VAT service.

Discounted and unlimited access to five business advice lines and over 750 Westfield Health and unlimited access to five business advice lines and over 750 business documents, plus £1m of excess free insurance – all AXA PP Healthcare.

Discounted insurance coverfree to deal a fullfree HMRC enquiry, free£1m business documents, plus £1mwith of excess insurance – all included. included. aspect enquiries, PAYE disputes and VAT disputes.

Chamber Health and Safety - The advice lines are here Combined Value £1500 Combined £1500 Chamber HR, Legal and Health and Safety forms combined to help you, and notValue just if you have a serious problem or and unlimited access to five business advice lines and over 750 Package Package Package Package free business documents,issue. plus £1m of excess free insurance – all

GrowthGrowth

CorporateCorporate

£450 £450Insurance Growth - cover to help you defend health and safety Corporate £950 £950 +VAT

Per Annum

+VAT

Combined Value £1500

Per Annum

renfrewshirechamber.com

+VAT

Per Annum

The fabric of the business community.

«

And the benefits And continue… the benefits continue…

«

included.

The fabric the business community.

Packageprosecutions. £38 Up Package renfrewshirechamber.com The fabric of the business £79 community. to of£100,000 per claim and £1m in the

renfrewshirechamber.com £38+VAT Per Month

+VAT

Per Month

+VAT

Per Month

+VAT

Per Annum

£79+VAT Per Month

Per Annum

«

annual aggregate.

As a Growth Package member youofhave of our Package member a Growth Package member you have all the benefits our all the benefits And As the benefits continue…

As a Corporate have all Package the benefits of ouryou have all the benefits of As ayou Corporate member +VAT £950+VAT £450 Connect Package PLUS: Connect Package PLUS: Connect and Growth PackagesConnect PLUS: and Growth Packages PLUS: Per Annum

+VAT

Per Month

Per Month

Connect Package continues on the next page

Chamber and VAT - free access£79 to our events essential and £38 50%Tax discount on International Documentation 50% discount on International Trade Documentation Dedicated series for corporate members Dedicated eventsand series for corporate members and renfrewshirechamber.com The fabric of the business Trade community.

Service.

Service. premier partners facilitating networking at a senior level premier partners facilitating networking at a senior comprehensive Chamber Tax and VAT service. in Renfrewshire build connections that in Renfrewshire and helping to build connections th As a Corporate Package memberand youhelping have alltothe benefits of our +VAT

£1m insurance cover to deal with a full HMRC enquiry, aspect enquiries, PAYE disputes and VAT disputes.

Chamber HR, Legal and Health and Safety forms combined and unlimited access to five business advice lines and over 750 free business documents, plus £1m of excess free insurance – all included.

Combined Value £1500

And the benefits continue… membership.

«

As a Growth Package member youbusiness have the benefits of our Matters 1/2all page ad “your business profile” in Business Matters 1/2 page ad “your profile” in Business will add value to your business.will add value to your business.

Connect and Growth Packages PLUS: Connect Package PLUS: Magazineworth £350Magazineapprox. worth £350 approx.

1 place at Chamber Lunch programme place at Chamber Networking Lunch programme Dedicated events series forNetworking corporate1members and 50% discount onin International Trade Documentation Take part in promotion membership discount promotion scheme Take part membership discount scheme covering sixfacilitating events pernetworking year to a value ofsix £190 + vat. covering events per year to a value of £190 + vat premier partners at a senior level Service. to win new - programme offer mailchimp quarterly to win new biz - programme offerbiz mailchimp quarterly in Renfrewshire and helping to build connections that 1 Exhibitor Stand for “Business Matters in Renfrewshire” 1 Exhibitor Stand for “Business Matters in Renfrewsh to 2000inemail addresses. to 2000 email addresses.

1/2 page ad “your business profile” Business Matters will add value to your business.

– the largest free B2B networking event in Renfrewshire.

– the largest free B2B networking event in Renfrews Magazineworth £350 approx. business profile”Linkedin featured on chamber Linkedin “Your business profile” “Your featured on chamber £150 + vat. £150 + vat.

1 placeValue at Chamber Networking LunchValue programme channel. channel.

Take part in membership discount promotion scheme covering six events per year to a value of £190 + vat.

A six monthly review of your dedicated membership A six monthly review of your dedicated membership to win Publish new bizyour - programme offer Publishmailchimp your newsquarterly &website. updates on Chamber website. news & updates on Chamber agreement to “Business ensure your goals and ambitions are met. agreement to ensure your goals and ambitions are 1 Exhibitor Stand for Matters in Renfrewshire” to 2000 email addresses.

– the largest free B2B networking event in Renfrewshire.

Free Meeting Room Hire Free - Meeting Room Hire An opportunity to present to theAnChamber board of opportunity to present to the Chamber board of “Your business profile” featured on chamber Value £150 + vat.

4 times per year Glasgow 4 times Airport. per yearLinkedin Glasgow Airport. directors about your business todirectors raise your business about your business to raise your business channel. profile.review of your dedicatedprofile.

A six monthly membership discounted 50% discounted rate for50% stand at B2B. rate for stand at B2B. Publish your news & updates on Chamber website. agreement to ensure your goals and ambitions are met.

A dedicated, exclusive email introducing your businessemail introducing your busine A dedicated, exclusive Social Media Support. Social Media Support.

Free Meeting Room Hire to our membership and wider mailing lists.of to ourboard membership and wider mailing lists.

An opportunity to present to the Chamber Account managerplan annual development plandirectors about your business to raise your business Account manager development 4 times per year Glasgowannual Airport.

Dedicated time with Chamber CEO to support Dedicated time with Chamber CEO to support to helpfor meet your objectives for growth. to help meet your objectives growth. profile. your strategy, growth, and business ambitionsgrowth, in 50% discounted rate for stand at B2B. your strategy, and business ambitions in Introduction 5 connections within chamber Introduction to 5 connections withintochamber Renfrewshire.

Renfrewshire.

A dedicated, exclusive email introducing your business Socialmembership.

Media Support. membership. to our membership and wider mailing lists.

Account manager annual development plan Dedicated time with Chamber CEO to support to help meet your objectives for growth. your strategy, growth, and business ambitions in Renfrewshire. to 5 connections within chamber The fabricIntroduction of the business community.

21

Renfrewshire Chamber and Coats PLC are first corporate partners for Paisley Museum transformation

R

enfrewshire’s leading business networking organisation are throwing their support behind the transformation of Paisley’s Museum into an international-class visitor destination.

Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce have agreed to be one of the first two corporate partners of the museum, due to reopen next year after a radical £45m redesign and refurbishment.

They are joined by Coats - the world’s leading manufacturer in thread and structural components for apparel and footwear – more than 150 years after their founders gifted the building to the people of the town.

The museum was originally paid for

by Sir Peter Coats of the Paisley-based global thread-making empire in 1871. Now, the modern Coats company are helping preserve that legacy for future generations through a gift to the Paisley Museum Reimagined fundraising campaign.

In doing so, both organisations are supporting Scotland’s biggest current capital heritage development, which – when reopen - will welcome 125,000 visitors a year, create 50 jobs, and boost the local economy by £79m over the next 30 years.

The museum has been redesigned by international architects AL_A, and construction work is well under way to create a new wing for the A-listed Victorian building, new entrance hall, terraced outdoor garden, and refurbishment of all four museum buildings, including the Coats Observatory.

The work will double the number of items which can go on display from the museum’s internationally-significant collections, with the local community

22

Bob Grant (Renfrewshire Chamber Chief Executive), Chris Dearing (Coats Group Sustainability Director) Ellen Johnson (Coats Group - Director, Brand and Communications) and Marion White MBE (Trustee of Paisley Museum Reimagined Ltd) and Derek J McNab (President of Renfrewshire Chamber).

having co-produced displays bringing to life the stories of Paisley’s people, Pattern and global influence.

Coats grew from humble beginnings in 18th-century Paisley to employ tens of thousands in sprawling thread mills in the town, as they became a global empire.

Their founders were famed for their philanthropy, having funded many of the town’s landmark buildings.

Although they no longer have a presence in Paisley, the modern company is still headquartered in the UK and employs 17,000 employees in over 50 countries around the world.

Derek J McNab, President of Renfrewshire Chamber, said: “Growing up in Renfrewshire I have many happy memories of visiting Paisley Museum.

The Chamber is proud to support the redevelopment to help secure that opportunity for future generations to come.”

Bob Grant, Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Chamber said: “We believe the museum transformation is a once-in-alifetime opportunity for our generation to continue the long tradition of philanthropic support from the business community.

“The Chamber is delighted to commit this

Business Matters Spring 2023

financial gift in recognition of the increased economic activity and visitor numbers to Paisley and the wider area. I’d encourage all other businesses to explore the opportunity the project represents.”

Christopher Dearing, Coats Group Sustainability Director said: “Having Scottish heritage and worked for Coats for the past 25 years, it is great to have Coats’ honouring their heritage in Paisley and providing financial support to what will be a world-class facility and welcome visitor attraction for the town.”

James Lang, chair of Paisley Museum Reimagined Ltd and director of Renfrewshire-based Scottish Leather Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome our first two corporate partners and that both Coats PLC and Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce can see the benefits the project will deliver.

“This investment will safeguard a hugelyimportant part of Paisley and Scotland’s rich social and cultural heritage while generating exciting opportunities for local businesses and communities.”

It is the flagship project in Renfrewshire Council’s once-in-a-generation investment in Paisley’s cultural venues, including turning Paisley Town Hall into a landmark entertainment venue, a new home for library services on the town’s High Street,

The fabric of the business community.

and upgrades to Paisley Arts Centre.

Each venue will be operated by OneRen, the local charitable trust in Renfrewshire providing culture, leisure and sporting opportunities to help people enjoy active and healthy lives.

The search is now on for other companies to sign up as corporate partners of Paisley Museum Reimagined. For a gift of £20,000, which can be made over three years, they will receive: - Permanent recognition on donor walls, plus PR and brand opportunities - Private access to the museum during construction and re-opening, exclusive stargazing experience at the Coats Observatory, and a VIP tour of Paisley: The Secret Collection, the first publiclyaccessible museum store on a UK High Street - Chances to support Paisley Museum’s educational programme which will reach more than 9,000 children a year, plus bespoke volunteering/placement opportunities for your staff For more information on how to get involved, or to discuss bespoke opportunities for your business, visit www.reimagined.paisleymuseum.org or email information@ paisleyreimagined.co.uk

23

London Business Visit 2023 15th May – 18th May 2023

S

cottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) is pleased to invite applications for delegates from Scottish businesses for SCC’s annual London Business Visit.

The annual Scottish Chambers of Commerce London Business Visit is established as Scottish business’s premium political and commercial networking and influencing forum in the capital. These visits offer companies from Scotland unrivalled access to top Westminster politicians and city business leaders.

The 2023 Business Visit will take place from 15th – 18th May 2023 and will offer delegates the exclusive chance to meet global and national business leaders, Ambassadors, international business owners and participate in roundtables as well as attending the British Chambers of Commerce Global Conference.

This year’s visit will help you identify new markets and supply chain opportunities, provide international advice to support market entry and export initiatives and access our global network.

Powers reserved to the UK Government in these areas are vitally important to Scotland’s businesses and the wider Scottish economy and SCC will cover a range of business issues including infrastructure, investment, and international trade during this visit.

• Cost – £500 + VAT • Please note that numbers are restricted for the London Business Visit.

• Delegates will be required to pay their own travel and accommodation costs.

• SCC may be able to offer discounted rates at some London hotels.

• BCC Global Conference ticket of £120 + VAT is included in the price.​

LONDON BUSINESS VISIT 15th May - 18th May 2023

Rooms available for hire at Glasgow Airport Customs brokerage you can trust, from your local Chamber of Commerce

ChamberCustoms delivers a customs declaration service for UK importers and exporters: • A high level of compliance and assurance for customers • Confidence on tariff and data entry to remove fiscal risk; backed by the technical expertise of the market leader in this sector • A wealth of international trade experience and expertise from across the trusted Chamber of Commerce network UK.

• Ideal for meetings, interviews, training, seminars & workshops • 4 rooms, space for 1-20 people • Free wifi & free parking • New LED screens - HDMI & VGA ports • Catering available • Price guarantee

Glasgow Airport Business Centre For more information contact Laura Connor lconnor@renfrewshirechamber.com or Bob Grant bgrant@renfrewshirechamber.com

www.chambercustoms.co.uk

24

c/o Renfrewshire Chamber Bute Court, St Andrew's Drive Glasgow Airport PA3 2SW 0141 847 5450 info@renfrewshirechamber.com www.renfrewshirechamber.com

Business Matters Spring 2023

New President Derek J. McNab Announced by Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce

M

r Derek J. McNab has been named as President of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce following Ms Liz Connolly’s completion of a two-year term of office.

He is Managing Director of Mabbett, the leading planning, design, environment, engineering and safety consultancy and a Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde. Derek has served as a director since December 2017 and the chamber board also welcomes new director Mr Ronald Leitch, Operations Director from Glasgow Airport.

Chamber President Derek J. McNab said “I am born and bred in Renfrewshire, so I am very proud to become the next President of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce. I look forward to working with my fellow directors, the Chamber team led

by Bob Grant and Jill Carrino; and all our members to support Renfrewshire ‘Grow and Prosper’. Congratulations Liz Connolly for a successful term and for passing the Chain of Office, you have set a high bar. “

Immediate Past President Liz Connolly said “It has been an honour to take up the role of President at the chamber for the past two years and I wish Derek every success as he leads the board and chamber through our next phase of development. I trust he will enjoy the role as much as I have.”

Chief Executive Bob Grant said “The staff and board warmly congratulate Derek on his election as President. Having successfully grown Mabbett with his team to a multi-site, award winning business, his expertise will be of great benefit to our members. He understands the challenges of operating an SME in the current climate.

In addition, we extend a warm welcome to Ronald Leitch from Glasgow Airport. His election to the board maintains our strong relationship with the Airport and supports the crucial role it plays in both our local economy and prosperity of the city region.

We owe a debt of gratitude to Liz Connolly whose strategic expertise has been a great asset in our work to refresh the chamber

Derek J. McNab

Ronald Leitch

strategy & operations supporting our members in the years to come. I’m delighted Liz has agreed to continue as a board director. “

Annual Member Survey 2023 Thank you to all Chamber members who completed our Annual membership survey. We received over seventy responses and your feedback will help the chamber team plan for the coming year.

2023

2021/22

2020

2019

2018

Excell’t

% Good / excell’t

% Good / excell’t

% Good / excell’t

% Good / excell’t

% Good / excell’t

21

33

92%

98%

97%

96%

96%

1

18

25

93%

N/A

94%

90%

91%

9

12

9

70%

92%

90%

87%

87%

8

75%

94%

85%

88%

89%

21

86%

93%

97%

87%

84%

70%

87%

84%

86%

74% 90%

Don’t use / not relev.

Poor

Satisf.

Good

Our events (Networking lunches, Pitch & Roll etc)

12

1

4

The ROCCO Awards

25

2

Our Services (HR, Legal, Health, etc..)

41

0

Export Documentation and/Or Chamber Customs

55

0

4

4

Business Mentoring

43

0

4

3

Business Centre / Meeting Rooms

51

1

5

9

5

Business Matters magazine

7

0

10

29

25

84%

89%

92%

89%

eNews (email bulletin)

9

1

9

32

20

84%

90%

92%

91%

86%

Website

12

1

11

24

23

80%

76%

87%

88%

83% 80%

Social media (facebook / twitter / Linkedin etc..)

23

1

5

21

21

88%

73%

86%

83%

Access to lobbying support

54

0

2

4

11

88%

93%

88%

88%

82%

Our connections via SCC / BCC

46

0

2

12

11

92%

89%

82%

86%

80% 98%

The Chamber team

5

0

2

7

57

97%

98%

100%

100%

The Chamber Board

21

0

3

10

37

94%

85%

96%

95%

91%

Opportunities to network, learn and promote biz

11

3

7

19

31

83%

89%

91%

90%

85%

Our customer service

6

0

0

18

47

100%

92%

97%

94%

94%

Membership price

0

0

12

29

30

83%

83%

84%

87%

75%

Overall how do you rate the Chamber

0

0

3

27

41

Response count Response count: 2018 = 84, 2019 = 75, 2020 = 70, 2021/22 = 53, 2023 = 71

The fabric of the business community.

Average across all:

96%

98%

96%

97%

94%

86.4%

89.0%

90.0%

90.0%

85.0%

highlighted = highest score

25

Closing the loop of a truly Circular Economy Cost effective business waste collections Save £££’s on your waste costs Fast turnaround

Recycling advice and support

CALL

Zero waste to landfill solution

Bin, Bag and Skip collection services

01505 321 000

Renfrewshire Skip Hire

For instant skip availability, pricing, online bookings or further info please scan QR code.

49 Burnbrae Road, Linwood, PA3 3BD

marketing@enva.com

O

ur customers recognise the need to generate commercial, social and environmental value.

This has resulted in a demand for higher levels of performance in these areas. The requirement for simple landfill diversion has been replaced with an expectation for our services to contribute to a circular economy, create more sustainable supply chains and benefit the communities in which we operate.

When it comes to considering the best approach to waste management, businesses have come a long way in a short space of time. Value for money, reliability and compliance are of course hugely important but these alone are no longer enough.

Customers are looking for an increased level of data insight, engagement and a consultative approach that can support them in moving their businesses forward.

Our relationships with customers, across a range of sectors, extends beyond simply collecting waste.

Sustainable Solutions Partner

Enva is increasingly considered a ‘sustainable solutions partner’, offering services that support carbon reduction and playing a proactive role in developing a

26

environment matters

enva.com

truly circular economy. Our customers now know that it makes good commercial and brand sense to improve their sustainability credentials, and our job is to help them achieve this goal.

At Enva we have a broad range of skills and solutions that allow us to assess and implement the best, most sustainable, resource management options for our customers. Our efforts are increasingly focused on creating virgin-equivalent secondary resources derived from the waste materials we collect and manage.

This allows us to satisfy the desire of our customers to extend the life of the materials they no longer need and push their waste focused activity further up the Waste Hierarchy. It also enables us to provide our growing base of manufacturing and industrial customers with the supply of raw materials they need for their own processes and operations.

The overarching message is that we are helping accelerate the move from the linear (take-make dispose) model to a more sustainable way of living.

waste is produced enables us to set about reducing or eliminating it altogether. Our customer portal – MyEnva - was developed to do just that.

MyEnva provides the insight needed to monitor and guide waste reduction activity, while keeping track of key data points such as cost, material types and volumes and carbon footprint.

From long-established relationships to newly formed partnerships, our diverse and growing customer base is realising the commercial and environmental benefits delivered through Enva’s approach to sustainability.

Understanding the waste journey

The starting point of our customers’ journey is always one of discovery.

Providing an understanding of how their

We don’t simply collect waste, we transform it!

Our 2022 Sustainability Report demonstrates how we have saved eleven times more carbon from sustainably managing customers’ waste than we have produced from our own operations. Read more at: https://enva.com/sr22 For an initial discussion on how Enva can transform your waste, contact our team.

Email marketing@enva.com, visit enva. com or call 01505 321 000 - we’d be happy to transform your waste!

Ask our team about MyEnva Customer Portal – instant access to waste reports

Business Matters Spring 2023

Chamber Golf Challenge 2023 Fri 23rd June 8:00 am - 3:30 pm

C

ost is £300 per 4 ball including golf, breakfast, lunch and goody bag per player – playing this year at Ranfurly Castle Golf Club, Golf Course Rd, Bridge of Weir PA11 3HN

Schedule

• 8am breakfast – Hot Rolls • 9.00 am tee off – Shotgun start • 2pm lunch / raffle • 3/3.30pm depart

Prizes for:

• Best team • Best individual score • Nearest the Pin • Longest Drive

Raffle this year will be raising funds for Chamber charity of the year Accord Hospice.

To book please contact Bob Grant email bgrant@renfrewshirechamber.com or call 07702 909476 / 0141 847 5452

Cost effective business waste collections Save £££’s on your waste costs Fast turnaround Recycling advice and support

Zero waste to landfill solution Bin, Bag and Skip collection services

CALL

01505 321 000

Renfrewshire Skip Hire

For instant skip availability, pricing, online bookings or further info please scan QR code.

49 Burnbrae Road, Linwood, PA3 3BD

marketing@enva.com

environment matters

The fabric of the business community.

enva.com

27

Active Communities

N

ot only does Renfrewshire charity Active Communities bring people together, with its brand new, state-of-the art building, it can support your business event too.

Active Communities is an awardwinning health and wellbeing charity in Renfrewshire. We change lives by supporting the community to be healthy, happy and better connected, reducing loneliness and isolation and supporting our communities through the cost of living crisis.

Last year we moved into Station Seven. The former Johnstone police station has been completely transformed and is now a modern, welcoming space with a variety of rooms available for hire.

By choosing us every penny generated will support us to continue our vital work empowering our communities to overcome health, social and economic inequalities.

28

Inside the building, our light and airy training suite has two wall-mounted TVs and full AV set-up, ideal for presentations, with space for up to 25 people seated in a variety of styles. It is ideal for hosting board meetings, team meetings or training days.

Our smart and stylish ground floor Muster Room seats up to 10 around a boardroom-style table with a flat screen TV and full AV. We also have The Old Cell and the Nurture Room which are smaller and ideal for one-to-one meetings or counselling sessions. Station Seven also houses a 90m2 Main Hall which comfortably seats up to 80, and we are also fully equipped for hot-desking. The Shed is our unique and quirky metal clad

outbuilding which has its own facilities and is ideal for creative activities. It can host up to 20 people.

Station Seven is fully DDA accessible with a fully-equipped kitchen; an on-site car park and can offer reception and admin services. We also offer a a variety of fun or health and wellbeing experiences for your company training day, such as a silent disco, mindfulness or holistic therapies.

Active Communities is a charity with community at the heart of everything we do and we’d love to support your business event. Should you require further information please contact Business Development Manager, Amanda Moulson on amanda@active.communities

Business Matters Spring 2023

The fabric of the business community.

29

JW Filshill Fifth-generation wholesaler JW Filshill marks new phase in its history as it relocates to a purpose-built distribution centre near Glasgow Airport

J

W FILSHILL, one of Scotland’s oldest independent food and drink wholesalers, has completed its relocation from Hillington to its purpose-built distribution centre at Westway Park near Glasgow Airport.

The phased move kickstarts an exciting period of growth for the fifth-generation family business that supplies KeyStore convenience stores across Scotland and the north of England plus national accounts including the Scottish Prison Service. It also has 1,600 independent customers.

Filshill, which last year ramped up investment ahead of its move to its new distribution centre with the acquisition of the independent Iain Hill Ltd wholesale business, has relocated its distribution centre and head office in order to futureproof the business.

Simon Hannah, Filshill’s chief executive officer, said that the new 120,400 sq ft depot at Westway Park will allow the wholesaler to increase its operational capacity and open more stores in Scotland and the north of England, from Wick in the far north to Doncaster in south Yorkshire.

“Operating out of these bespoke premises, which have been designed to our exact specification as part of our 10-year growth strategy, will improve our efficiency and productivity as we invest in the longterm success of the company, protect future revenue streams and increase customer satisfaction,” he said.

“We are an award-winning wholesaler with ambitious growth plans and our new distribution centre puts us in an ideal position to achieve our ambitions, expand the KeyStore estate, and work in partnership with our customers and suppliers for mutual benefit.”

Mr Hannah said that the acquisition of Iain Hill, a wholesaler with a strong foothold in soft drinks, confectionery, snacks and other impulse products, had bolstered Filshill’s modern fleet of vehicles as well as strengthening its pool of experienced staff.

“While we are disappointed that the pandemic and unforeseen planning issues delayed our move to Westway Park, we are delighted to now be fully operational as a business from what is one of the most modern and efficient food and drink distribution depots in the UK. “Westway Park is the culmination

30

Simon Hannah, Filshill’s chief executive officer

of considerable planning to create the infrastructure that will enable us to recognise our ambitions and we will use the facility to drive unrivalled operational efficiency and promote the keenest prices as we aspire to become the most frictionless wholesaler in Scotland for our customers and suppliers to do business with.

“Incorporating the high-level skills of our people across the business and the most up-to-date technology and equipment, Westway Park marks the start of a new phase of a journey for the Filshill family that started in Paisley in 1875.”

The 16-metre-high warehouse – which has 211 solar panels covering 400 sqm of roof space – has 12 loading docks and an

innovative four-floor pick tower which can hold approximately 1,520 pallets and, in addition, standard storage racking with capacity to hold 8,650 pallets. Gravityfed live racking benefits from a semiautomated shuttle system which holds 1,155 pallets of Filshill’s fastest-selling products, generating significant operational efficiency.

Filshill, meanwhile, has developed the new distribution centre in adherence to its longestablished strategy around benchmarking its carbon footprint, identifying areas where it can positively influence a reduction in its carbon impact and work towards a net-zero emissions position.

In the last financial year, driven by Filshill’s environmental team, the company saw a reduction of 9% in its intensity ratio measure of carbon per case delivered.

The new premises provide electric vehicle charging points and a wildflower garden is being created. Beehives are also being put in place.

Business Matters Spring 2023

The distribution centre has also been designed with the comfort of staff in mind with internal office accommodation carefully created to make the most of natural light and provide colleagues with a comfortable working environment that will help boost both productivity and mental health.

Filshill’s 10-year strategy focuses heavily on engagement with its workforce on health and wellbeing, particularly with regard to mental health. “This remains at the heart of our strategy and we recognise that as a responsible employer we need to do this not only for our employees and their families but also because of the positive impact it has on our business and our customers.

“Our safety-first culture is a cornerstone of everything we do and our workforce retention and ability to recruit has been positively impacted by these initiatives. The new working environment at Westway will further cement this commitment.”

Filshill saw turnover increase to £200 million – up 4.4% from £191 million – in the year ending January 31, 2022. Operating profits increased from £2.3 million to £2.7 million while it recorded gross profit of £17 million with net assets growing to £17.1 million compared to £15.2 million the previous year, an increase of 12.6%.

The fabric of the business community.

31

SIGNS OF HOPE FOR SCOTTISH BUSINESS BUT COST PRESSURES AND INFLATIONARY CONCERNS CONTINUE TO HAMPER PROSPECTS T he latest findings from a leading Scottish business survey by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC), confirm that the beginning of 2023 provided welcome respite for some sectors of the economy more so than others, after a difficult end to 2022.

However, this comes from a very weak base, and while confidence has generally increased, this is yet to translate into an overall improvement of business conditions. Most Scottish SMEs still report no improvement to sales, cashflow, and investment.

The survey also indicates that many businesses are still struggling in the face of rising cost pressures and high inflation, as well as continuing to face challenges regarding access to the labour market.

Stephen Leckie – President

KEY FINDINGS:

• INFLATION CONCERNS PERSIST: Concern over inflation remains high among all firms and has seen little movement over the quarter, with still around eight in 10 firms (82%) reporting increased concern from it. On a sectoral level, financial and business services was the only sector surveyed where a lower number of firms reported less than at least eight in 10 at 77%.

• COST PRESSURES REMAIN HIGH: - 75% reported increased cost pressures from energy costs - 70% reported increased cost pressures from labour costs, including salaries - 55% reported increased cost pressures from fuels such as diesel and petrol - 50% reported increased cost pressures from raw material prices • CASHFLOW & PROFIT CHALLENGES: On balance, more firms reported a fall (43%) in cashflow than an increase (31%), reflecting the difficulties faced by notably the retail and tourism sectors. Across the entire survey, the manufacturing sector was the only sector to report growth for cashflow and not a contraction. Similarly,

32

the services sector was the only sector to report growth in profits.

• LESS FIRMS PLANNING TO RAISE PRICES: The number of firms indicating that they intend to raise prices in the next quarter has fallen slightly compared to the previous quarter. This remains high with still over seven in 10 firms (73%) stating that they will raise prices in Q2 2023.

• CAUTIOUS LABOUR MARKET: Recruitment difficulties have seen a slight drop of five percentage points, from being reported by 52% of firms in Q4 to 47% for this quarter. Over half of all firms (57%) reported no staff changes over the quarter, with 57% again saying that they do not expect staff changes to change in Q2 2023.

Stephen Leckie, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said: “The beginning of 2023 has seen improvement in the prospects of some sectors of the Scottish economy, in line with recent economic data that has been more

positive than previously expected.

“While we see the construction, services and manufacturing sectors reporting better results, we must note that this comes from a very low bar set by the past few years of constant and seemingly neverending challenges for business. We also see the retail and tourism industries continuing to struggle in the face of these headwinds.

“The survey also indicates that many of the big challenges that faced firms in 2022 are continuing to persist in 2023.

Cost pressures continue to rise alongside concern from energy bills, inflation, labour shortages, alongside growing uncertainty in the global economy.

“There is a large in-tray of issues for the new First Minister and his cabinet to work with businesses to address, to help put the Scottish economy back onto a path towards unlocking growth and investment.

“We are ready to work with government to bring care and focus onto these pressing challenges for the economy, that must come with agile and decisive action that supports firms through the uncertainty ahead.”

Business Matters Spring 2023

Renfrewshire Council Updates: Paisley Food and Drink Festival set to be a treat for the tastebuds

O

ne of Scotland’s largest outdoor food and drink festivals is set to return to Paisley this spring.

Paisley Food and Drink Festival will be a two-day taste sensation with more than 30 traders, licensed bars and a packed programme of live music, entertainment, and foodie-fun for all ages.

The extravaganza will take place in Abbey Close and Bridge Street in Paisley town centre on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 April.

Vibrant independent street food market, Platform, is returning to this year’s event, bringing along a host of top street food vendors offering delicious dishes from around the globe.

A host of Renfrewshire favourites will be on hand to serve up a range of tasty treats, including Scozzese woodfired pizza, Porelli Loop and Scoop, Café Fairfull, Funky Fudge, Dark God rum and Two Towns Down Brewing.

Event organisers are once again teaming up with Renfrewshire CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) to host a dedicated Beer Tent as part of the festival grounds. The Beer

Tent will be located on Bridge Street with a wide range of cask conditioned ales and craft beers on offer, including vegan and gluten free options.

More returning favourites include Edin-Burgers, Brigston & Co. artisan hotdogs and Greek Street Food, as well as the Fizzbuz prosecco van and Rum Shack Caribbean bar, which are sure to offer a tasty tipple for the grown-ups of the group.

Visitors will also be able to tuck into fantastic fare from new festival faces, including sweet treats from Love is Churros, a range of global flavours at The Fat Flamingo, Dirty Bird fried chicken and mouth-watering spices from Free The Chilli.

The event will also showcase an array of top-quality artisan food and drink products to purchase and take home.

Plus, there’s lots of entertainment for the kids on Saturday, with the chance to sign up for free pizza and chocolate making workshops, as well as free face painting and fun games with Community Circus Paisley.

The festival’s Live Stage will host great music acts and entertainment, programmed

by the Rum Shack on Friday evening and Paisley’s famous The Bungalow music venue on Saturday. The Keg will also have a special Stage & Bar with a brilliant array of bands playing live music across the weekend.

Pauline Allan, Renfrewshire Council Events Manager, said: “Paisley Food and Drink Festival is one of the biggest events of its kind in Scotland and regularly attracts visitors from all over to enjoy everything that the event and Paisley has to offer.

“This year’s festival has all the ingredients for the perfect foodie experience – and we can’t wait to welcome everyone along for two-days of fantastic entertainment, delicious street food and much more. Come on down and join the fun!”

To find out more about Paisley Food and Drink Festival 2023, please visit www.paisley.is

Invest in…

Creative Industries

Business & ICT

Childcare, Social Care and Health Care

Construction, Manufacturing, Security and Logistics

Customer Service

Jobs | Training | Skills | Recruitment

The fabric of the business community.

33

Renfrewshire Council Updates:

Renfrewshire Council budget builds a fairer Renfrewshire B

uilding a fairer Renfrewshire while supporting the Council’s financial sustainability was the central focus of the budget agreed today.

The £483.2million Renfrewshire Council budget brings together £5million in funding for people most in need through the Fairer Renfrewshire programme.

This includes more money for the Scottish Welfare fund and for Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau as well as a summer activity programme with a healthy meal for children and young people from low income families and a winter school clothing payment.

Significant investment in roads and footpaths also continues through a £6.7million boost as well as funds to improve road safety in Renfrewshire villages.

And a £1,000,000 fund will promote community collaboration and better wellbeing while supporting Renfrewshire’s net zero targets.

There was also a commitment to protect the ongoing five-year, £424.2million capital investment programme which includes transforming Paisley town centre cultural venues and improving transport links across the area.

A 6% Council Tax increase from 1 April 2023 was agreed alongside a below inflation 5% increase in service charges.

Balancing the budget is supported by £8.3million of savings and using up to £11million of reserves.

Councillor John Shaw, Convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board, said: “Our budget builds a fairer Renfrewshire and supports the council’s financial sustainability.

“Setting this year’s budget has been hugely challenging, against a backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis and the continuing long-term impact of the pandemic creating

34

sustained hardship in many of our communities.

“Like all households in Renfrewshire, the council is managing unprecedented cost increases, to energy bills, material and fuel costs, the cost of care and everything from paying our staff to the price of a school meal.

“Considerable service redesign has contributed to savings supporting this budget, building on more than £160million saved by the Council since 2010 and we are acutely aware more difficult decisions are ahead over the coming years to protect vital Iain Nicolson , Renfrewshire Council Leader services.”

The budget also “Fostering and kinship care has a hugely includes £450,000 in play areas and the positive impact on a child’s future and so expansion of the concessionary swim it’s vital we acknowledge the vital role they programme to pre-school children. play.

Cultural groups and organisations will “Replenishing the hugely popular cultural benefit from £200,000 to replenish the fund, investment in our villages and more Culture, Heritage and Events Fund which money for play areas builds on significant has supported 135 different creative investment in recent years benefiting every projects in recent years. council area.

There is also funds to increase the foster “And we are proud to be protecting the and kinship care allowance by 10%. capital investment programme which is Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain bringing new jobs and opportunities and Nicolson said: “We’re investing more in making Renfrewshire a great destination to children, young people and their families, live, visit, work and invest in.” making sure we put money into the pockets of people who need it most.

Business Matters Spring 2023

Renfrewshire Council Updates: Paisley unveils scale and ambition of cultural thread that weaves through its refurbished museum

T

he scale and ambition of the work going into creating Scotland’s biggest cultural heritage project has been revealed for the first time.

The £45 million Paisley Museum will create a new, world-class museum space, shaped and focussed by, and for, the people of the town, celebrating its history and impact on the world, while creating a new community space that’s open and accessible to all. At its core, the museum will bring history to life, connecting it to today’s town and people, creating a vibrant and colourful new cultural thread, weaving together past, present and future.

While celebrating the area’s significant industrial past and the town’s importance, not least in textiles, weaving and exploring the origins and impacts of the famous Paisley pattern, the refurbished museum’s gallery spaces will increase by more than a quarter, with ambitious architectural and engineering interventions to welcome visitors to stunning indoor and outdoor spaces.

The museum refurbishment is funded

by Renfrewshire Council, the Scottish Government, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland.

The project is being further funded by a charitable fundraising campaign that has been supported by a number of trusts and foundations and corporate donors.

Kirsty Devine, OneRen’s Project Director for Paisley Museum Re-imagined outlined the scale, ambition and people-centred approach to the work. She said: “We’re delivering Scotland’s biggest cultural heritage project and our ambition is to create a world-class museum space.

We can’t do that alone though and we have been working with a wide range of communities - locally and globally - over the past six years to help reimagine and redefine the museum and our collections.

We’ve held conversations with around 70 local organisations and community groups who have brought fresh and dynamic insights into the role of the museum and our audiences.

“We’re building a museum that is engaged with its communities in a way that will continue long after we re-open our doors.

The fabric of the business community.

This represents a real shift in practice for us and it’s one which will build a real sense of ownership and pride as we move forward. That, for me, is incredibly exciting.”

The museum will be at the heart of Paisley and Renfrewshire, creating a social and community hub; a multi-use building, located in the High Street and connected to its neighbours, as part of a wider, cultureled regeneration of the town.

Kirsty has led a team of expert content producers and collections specialists who have taken a radical and dynamic approach to Renfrewshire’s core collections. Working from the town’s Secret Collection – thought to be the UK’s only story located on a high street – the team have worked on over 100 story displays, featuring 1,290 objects, more than double what was on display previously.

With eight new public spaces, the new Paisley Museum will be filled with 60 digital displays and will be home to a new garden gallery, public courtyard, café and picnic areas. The Thomas Coats Observatory – the oldest public observatory in Scotland – will be open and accessible to the public, its rich and vibrant history as both civic timekeeper and a truly remarkable, 150-year-old weather station, available to all.

The museum will be a place where history does not stand still and long after it reopens, the team hope that by working with communities, the space and interpretation of the objects will continue to develop too.

The building redesign is by architects AL_A, whose previous work includes the MAAT contemporary museum in Lisbon and the Exhibition Road Quarter at the V&A in London. Amanda Levete from AL_A, said: “The brief for Paisley Museum is one of the most radical I’ve encountered.

Paisley has a proud industrial past and a history of innovation and radical thinking.

We have embedded this into our design to create an extraordinary place for the community of Paisley.”

Contractors, Kier Scotland, are on-site and progressing the build.

The entrance building in red glass will be one of the first design features the public see. It is contemporary, radical, unique to Paisley and brings colour to both the

inside and outside of the museum. It clearly announces a new way into the museum.

Paisley museum will crown a significant investment by Renfrewshire Council in the town’s regeneration through new and refurbished cultural infrastructure.

Before the museum re-opens in 2024, the magnificent Paisley Town Hall will be brought back to public use after a significant refurbishment. This will be followed by the opening of a new Learning and Cultural Hub, featuring the Central Library, in the middle of the High Street, and the refurbished Paisley Arts Centre which will welcome back new and emerging talent to audiences.

Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, culture lead for Renfrewshire Council and Chair of OneRen which will operate the cultural attractions, said: “Paisley Museum is the jewel in our cultural crown. Along with the other cultural attractions being brought back to life, these assets will be something that the people of Paisley and Renfrewshire can feel rightly proud of, providing joy and inspiration for local people and visitors alike. Such significant investment is emblematic of our ambition to see Paisley make its cultural mark.”

Paisley Museum – Fast Facts

There will be: • A new public courtyard bringing the museum out onto the High Street, a space for the Paisley community, and for events • A new way in frames views of the historic galleries, celebrating John Honeyman’s original design • New lifts and step free access to museum galleries on all levels of the building • New galleries in the former library building and new connections into the museum • A 26% increase in gallery space • 100’s more objects on display and more digital displays than ever before • Almost twice as many learning spaces • New community making spaces • New social spaces and digital hubs • New roofs and services for maximum environmental sustainability • Restored historic fabric and finishes • WCs on all levels, including a Changing Places room by the new entrance.

• A new shop • A fantastic new café, opening onto and looking out across new museum gardens • A new museum garden and woodland • A new observatory garden with ramps providing step free access between the museum and the observatory.

• Public access to Transit House (which defines Paisley’s very own Greenwich meantime) for the first time in decades.

35

Schools Updates: Johnstone High school

GOES FOR GOLD!

P

upils and staff at Johnstone High School are celebrating after gaining Gold SCQF School Ambassador status.

The secondary school in Renfrewshire has become only the fourth school in Scotland, and the first in the local authority area, to reach gold level since the recognition programme was introduced.

Originally piloted in 2015, the SCQF School Ambassador programme offers secondary schools the opportunity to learn more about the benefits of the SCQF and the wider ways in which it supports learners. These include recognising wider achievement, developing senior phase learning pathways and demonstrating equality between vocational and academic qualifications.

The SCQF Partnership introduced the tiered recognition element of the programme in August 2020 to make sure that all the important work on enhancing learning pathways being done in secondary schools across Scotland is recognised, highlighted and celebrated.

There are three levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) in the process, with schools required to upload evidence to demonstrate how they are meeting the criteria of each level.

To recognise its fantastic achievement, Johnstone High School has received a gold plaque to display in its main reception. In order to achieve gold, the school had to demonstrate that the SCQF is embedded in school practice and is offering a significant range of senior phase pathways.

The school has also dedicated a section of its website to the SCQF, and pupil and staff Ambassadors have produced a video to raise awareness of the SCQF amongst the school community, including parents https://www.johnstonehigh.co.uk/scqfframework/ SCQF Partnership Development Officer, Donnie Wood, who manages the programme, said: “Johnstone High School has shown fantastic engagement with the SCQF School Ambassador programme over the last 2 years with both staff and pupils at the heart of everything they do. The Ambassador programme is fully

36

embedded into the culture of the school and pupils, parents and partners are aware of the range of qualifications and skills young people can develop and achieve.

Staff have been innovative in creating new opportunities for learners and introducing exciting qualifications that meet the need of pupils as well as enhancing partnerships with college and local industry.

Huge congratulations to all the staff and pupils involved in achieving SCQF Gold status, only the 4th school in Scotland to reach this level.”

Head Teacher at Johnstone High, Lynne Hollywood, said: “We are delighted to receive the Gold award from the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) as it is recognition of the commitment of Johnstone High staff to ensure our curriculum offer meets the needs of all young people. It also recognises our wonderful SCQF Pupil Ambassadors who have been raising awareness with other young people, and parents, about the wide range of courses and opportunities available in our school.

The SCQF has helped us to get the balance right between vocational and

academic qualifications for our young people, and as a result of close partnership working, 99% of our leavers go on to employment, apprenticeships, training or further study.”

Councillor Emma Rodden, Convener for Education and Children’s Services at Renfrewshire Council, said: “Promoting both vocational and academic pathways equally means that all pupils can achieve their potential. It’s fantastic that Johnstone High have become the first school in Renfrewshire to gain Gold status. The approach has meant pupils are now staying on in school for longer, they are happier and attainment has increased. This is because pupils are getting the right courses that suit their needs.”

The SCQF School Ambassador Programme is free to join and open to any secondary school in Scotland.

If you would like your school to get involved, contact Donnie at d.wood@scqf. org.uk or have a look at the SCQF website at https://scqf.org.uk/support/supportfor-educators-and-advisers/schoolambassador-programme/upgradescqf-school-ambassador-status/.

Business Matters Spring 2023

Boss Girls in Business

T

he technology industry, for many years, has been intent on encouraging more women to join their workforce. Despite this, the percentage of women working in the sector is still just 19%.

This was the spur for Michelle Muirhead of DXC Technology to host a recent event where a group of 40 S3 girls from Park Mains High School toured the Bishopton site, carried out STEM workshops with female members of staff and enjoyed a “business” lunch (pizza!)

The event was extremely inspiring and was successful in helping these young women to envisage themselves in such a career.

My World of Work

E

ach year at Park Mains we identify a group of outstanding young people in S3 who become our My World of Work Ambassadors. This group deliver lessons to S1 & S2 classes about how to use this resource, which is a website that pupils use throughout their time at school to plan their future careers.

This year, we have also visited our associated primaries to deliver lessons to P7 classes. Not only have these visits been fun and interactive, pupils were asked to focus on who they are and what they are good at, thereby allowing them to consider jobs they might enjoy when they leave school.

St Andrews Academy - Literacy in Art

G

emma Idundun is an NQT Art & Design practitioner at St Andrews Academy who has been working on a literacy in Art unit with a few of her S1 classes.

As a whole class project, the pupils write, illustrate and design the layout of a children's book based on food. Within the unit they look at the importance of

The fabric of the business community.

literacy, teamwork and fulfilling the roles to make the project successful. The pupils are reminded of real-life workplaces, working to deadlines and they have had fun in carrying out roles such as project leader, illustrators, authors, etc. Gemma also has Dolly Parton's Imagination Library on board who have eagerly agreed to look at the pupil's finished books and pick

a winner who will receive a class prize.

The pupils are excited that 'Miley Cyrus's Godmother's charity' is judging their books.

The unit has so far been a success and have loved watching their stories come alive, watching them take their roles seriously and democratically come to whole class decisions.

37

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL -

APPRENTICESHIP WEEK 2023

S

cottish Apprenticeship Week, known as SAW, took place in March showcasing the apprenticeship family (Foundation, Modern and Graduate) and the amazing 1300 opportunities that are available to young people across Scotland just now.

Thank you to all the Renfrewshire employers for their support during the week including Scottish Leather, DXC, Diageo, UWS, CGC, BA Maintenance (all in photo) plus Taylor Wimpey, NMIS, Howden, Caulders, West College Scotland, Swissport & Arnold Clark to name a few!

Check out our socials using hashtags #scotappweek23 & #unlockingpotential If you have young people in your immediate or extended family encourage them to follow DYW West on socials as we share lots of info and opportunities to help young people all year round – and make sure they know about apprenticeships.scot website.

If your organisation has apprentices or are planning to in the future, consider getting recognised by pledging your support to the Young Person’s Guarantee (see below).

Indeed DYW West can help you market early careers opportunities to young people plus

Can your organisation

support the

assist with school engagement, talks & tours, mentoring young people, work experience etc. We are here to help and our services are free as we are Scot Gov funded from our base in Paisley at our host employer, West College Scotland.

DYW West are seeking employers in Renfrewshire to pledge their support to the Young Person’s Guarantee (YPG). If you are already involved in or are interested in any of the following 5 “asks”, you are supporting the YPG (and could get to use the YPG logo in your comms channels and be listed on the national YPG website).

The 5 asks are: 1.

Prepare young people for the world of work (e.g. support a school, offer work experience, mentoring)

2. Help young people to achieve their potential (e.g. support those looking for work, CV prep, work experience) 3. Invest in a skilled workforce (e.g. offer apprenticeships – modern or graduate) 4. Create jobs, volunteering and training opportunities (e.g. Kickstart, volunteering, paid work experience / interns) 5. Create an inclusive and fair workplace (e.g. living wage, disability confident etc.)

Employers don’t need to support all 5. If you are interested please email info@dywwest.co.uk and we can help you complete the form and support you on your journey to achieving the relevant asks (such as direct support from DYW or signpost / refer to partner organisations). Almost 900 employers across Scotland have so far pledged their support.

38

Business Matters Spring 2023

FREE, FUNDED PLACES AVAILABLE NOW*

Fill their day with adventure and play Puddle Lane is a new children’s nursery for 0–5-year-olds, based in the easily accessible location of Hillington Park on Edison Street.

Our indoor and outdoor play areas have children (and adults) in awe. Discover our open plan, free-flowing playrooms with a dedicated dining area and soft play. Outside, our nursery playground has space for little ones to run freely and delight at the sense of adventure while making friends. Children also learn about the wider natural world by planting flowers and fruits in the community garden.

Led by an experienced nursery manager and childcare team, children learn happily through play.

Arrange Your Visit Today Call: 0141 891 4411 Email: hello@puddlelane.org

www.puddlelane.org |

PuddleLaneELCC | Open Mon-Fri: 7.30am – 5.30pm

Puddle Lane Early Learning & Childcare Centre is a division of Kibbleworks: Scottish Charity No SC026917 Registered in Scotland No 158220 Registration Number CS2021000070 | *Up to 1,140 free nursery hours within Renfrewshire Council

The fabric of the business community.

39

Forecast checked.

Helmet on.

Let’s go.

Renfrewshire’s truly great outdoors couldn’t be easier to explore.