Business Matters Autumn 2016

Business

Matters AUTUMN 2016 EDITION

HELPING RENFREWSHIRE GROW & PROSPER

ROCCO 2016 shortlist announced INSIDE: Rocco Shortlist, Members News, Chamber updates & more...

Business Matters Autumn 2016

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President’s Welcome

Dear members, welcome to the autumn 2016 edition of Business Matters, the quarterly magazine of Renfrewshire Chamber.

This is a busy time for the Chamber with the ROCCOs, our annual Business Awards, celebrating business success and talent in Renfrewshire.

Each year the number of entries continues to rise and we had a record number of over 110 submitted, a clear indication of the confidence, pride and ambition of our business community. Making the shortlist for a ROCCO Award is hugely competitive and an achievement in itself. Thank you to all who took part and if you were unsuccessful I would encourage you to consider entering next year.

Finalists for 14 of the 16 categories will present to a panel of judges at the end of October. All winners will be announced at the ceremony on the 18th November at the Normandy Hotel hosted by Rocco favourite, Fred MacAulay. As ever, demand for tables at the event has been high. Thank you to all our sponsors for 2016 – and special mention to our main sponsor, Paisley 2021 for UK City of Culture.

Have you demonstrated your support for Paisley 2021 yet?

Conservative estimates of a winning bid predict 1 million extra visitors to the area throughout the year, 800 new jobs created, an estimated

economic impact of £50million to the local economy and a huge increase in positive profile both nationally and internationally for Paisley and Renfrewshire. I encourage you to download the 2021 logo for your website, encourage your staff to engage, think about holding a cultural event at your premises and show support for the Bid via social media channels.

Renfrewshire Council has recently launched two key economic development strategies. The Renfrewshire Economic Framework (REF) is a two year strategy developed to maximise opportunities as part of the wider Glasgow City Region.

The Paisley Town Centre Action Plan (PTCAP) is a 10 year strategy to breathe new life into the town for the benefit of all our communities. Your views are encouraged with a public consultation which began on Monday 17th October and will culminate with a public engagement event at Paisley Town Hall on Thursday 3rd November & Wednesday 9th November.

In other news I am pleased to announce our recent Export Documentation inspection from British Chambers has been passed with flying colours emphasising the important role your Chamber plays in supporting companies who export their goods and services around the

world from Renfrewshire.

In September the Chamber welcomed a visit from the Westminster Work and Pensions Committee. Heading up the delegation were Mairhi Black MP and Frank Fields MP. The Chamber as hosts organised a range of meetings for the committee to gather evidence of the strong partnership work that takes place in Renfrewshire and the success of tackling youth unemployment in the area. Thank you to all the chamber members who took part on the day.

Finally the Chamber is passionate about developing opportunities for young people and I am delighted to congratulate Euan Keltie who was recently promoted to the role of Membership Manager. Euan joined us from the Recruit program in 2011, aged 17 as a management trainee and we wish him well in his new role. He can help you maximise the benefits of your membership, contact him on ekeltie@renfrewshirechamber.com Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to seeing many of you at the ROCCO Awards.

Audrey Cumberford, President Renfrewshire Chamber

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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A Warm Welcome from our Chief Executive Dear members and readers, welcome to the Autumn edition of Business Matters Magazine.

Rocco 2016 sold out weeks ago and preparations are in full swing for the chamber team with judging underway. We’ve had a huge response yet again this year for entries and there will be many tough decisions to be made by our judging panels, thank you for the time you have invested.

Paisley 2021 needs your help. When the bid is submitted in Spring 2017 evidence of the support the business community has shown will be key in the decision making process for the Department of Culture, Media & Sport judges, remembering this is a competition & there are simple ways you can sign up to support. Read more on page 18 & new team member Fran

Porter can be contacted on fporter@ renfrewshirechamber.com to help you engage with the bid.

Hot off the press is the fantastic news that Paisley First raised over £79,000 for Accord Hospice & St Vincent’s Hospice at the recent Pride of Paisley Lion Auction. Congratulations to the Paisley First team & board and well done all paisley buddies who contributed.

If you are visiting the Chamber you will notice some changes as Glasgow Airport have undertaken a refurbishment program which will include a new reception area. All part of the 26 million investment taking place as they celebrate their 50th Year.

Info for our AGM 2016 will start to come out in November. As in the past we will hold our AGM at the Glynhill prior to our Christmas lunch on the 15th December.

Finally I am pleased to confirm our Rocco 2016 charities will be St Vincent’s and Street Stuff Culture Bus project. Both our charities of the year will be speaking at our November lunch and we look forward to working with them over the next twelve months.

Thanks & regards

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 Winter 2016.

Deadline for editorial and adverts is 2nd December, issued pre-Christmas 2016.

Themes are ROCCO winners, technology, marketing & PR.

Advertising & Editorial:

PREMIER PARTNER

Euan Keltie 0141 847 5464 / e: ekeltie@renfrewshirechamber.com

Print and Design by:

Business Matters Autumn 2016 “ I’d like to update

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

my professional qualifications ”

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

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

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0300 600 6060

w www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk

INSPIRING BUSINESS PEOPLE Campbell Dallas is one of the most dynamic and progressive firms of independent Chartered Accountants in Scotland. Our clients come in all shapes and sizes and so do our disciplines. We tailor our services and shape them to fit your needs. Ultimately we are focussed on your peace of mind and helping you succeed.

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

Contact Phone Email

Richard Patterson 0141 886 6644 richard.patterson@campbelldallas.co.uk

www.campbelldallas.co.uk

Follow the chamber:

Business Matters Autumn 2016

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Glasgow Airport Reports Busiest-Ever September • 4.2% increase in September’s passenger numbers • EU scheduled services up 12%

Amanda McMillan Managing Director Glasgow Airport

Glasgow Airport has recorded its busiest September in 50 years after 934,295 passengers travelled through its doors, representing an annual increase of 4.2%.

Domestic and international traffic grew by 4.2% and 4.3% respectively with major events, such as the Davis Cup and Celtic’s participation in the Champions League proving big draws for visitors to the city.

Strong demand for Ryanair’s service to Derry and extra capacity on easyJet’s Bristol and Belfast services bolstered domestic travel. International passenger numbers were also boosted by a 12% rise in EU scheduled services with flights to Brussels, Paris, Milan and Barcelona all proving popular.

September also saw the launch of Ryanair’s new direct flights to Sofia, Bulgaria and Icelandair added further capacity by increasing its Reykjavik route to a daily service.

Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “Our strong performance throughout the year continued in September, which was also the fourth consecutive month the airport carried more than 900,000 passengers.

“We are on course to record our most successful year and this success can

be attributed to our continued focus on not only attracting new services, but working closely with our current airlines to enhance existing services.

“Looking ahead, we are now gearing up for the October Week, which is traditionally our busiest period of the year as tens of thousands of passengers jet off on both sun and ski breaks.

“October will see Ryanair launch four new routes to Alicante, Malaga, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote and the introduction of Thomson’s new Cape Verde service.”

Traffic summary September 2016 Terminal passengers (000s) % Change October 2015 to September 2016 % Change 934,295

4.2%

9,209,917

8.17%

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Air and Cargo Services Provides Scottish Solutions Since opening the Scottish Divison of Air and Cargo Services UK Ltd in June 2014 our multi modal freight forwarding business has grown very successfully.

We have seven highly experienced and motivated staff, our own facilities in Asia and the USA and are members of a leading independent freight forwarders global network, allowing us full global reach.

With customs links at all UK major air and sea ports Air and

Cargo Services handle a variety of commodities including furniture, household goods, wines & spirits, fresh food produce, automotive and industrial equipment.

Our forwarding team are completely multi-modal and have many years experience between them. Although we use aircraft, ships and trucks in our business it is our people who ultimately deliver.

We take great pride in our customer service levels and tailor customised

solutions to your logistics needs.

As new members of the Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce we look forward to meeting the other members hope to provide a distinctly Scottish solution to the forwarding needs of local business in the future.

Yours sincerely David Ross Director Air & Cargo Services Ltd Main: +44 (0) 141 2490630 www.aircargo.co.uk

PROUD TO SERVE SCOTLAND FOR 50 YEARS

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Business Matters Autumn 2016

One reason to get on with your neighbour

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

In late 2014, an opportunity for local distribution and warehousing provider Gordon Leslie Group, to acquire co-packing and bonded storage specialists Benchmark Packaging Ltd was one not to be missed.

One immediate benefit is that the companies are positioned next door to each other within the quickly evolving Hillington Park. The history of Gordon Leslie Distribution can be traced back to the early 70’s when founder Gordon Leslie, started moving loads of whisky on two trucks.

Years of growth in the traditional haulage market resulted in a sale of the business in 1996 and after a long spell with new owners, Craig Leslie second generation, relaunched the business in 2004

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with a clear change of direction towards distribution and storage.

This refocus introduced the business to the added value copacking and fulfilment sector and having had a long association with many Whisky producers, the opportunity to strengthen the established transport relationships by combining the existing services with the new added value warehousing operations, was a very exciting proposition. This can work particularly well for customers having to deal with only one supplier to handle a number of diverse logistical operations.

The Benchmark operation with a long established and loyal customer base, was well positioned to benefit from investment in a new state of the art warehouse management system supported by local provider Clydebuilt Systems of Paisley. “We searched the length and breadth of the UK for the best fit for our IT requirements, and found it on our doorstep” says Craig Leslie Managing Director. Further investments include a refurbishment of the 200,000 sqft warehouse in Hillington and

the signing of a new 10 years lease, which shows just how committed the Gordon Leslie Group is to this sector.

“We now have over 100 employees, which is quite a responsibility” says Leslie but we are very confident for future growth and we firmly believe that our attention to customer service combined with the considerable skills and dedication of our workforce, puts us in a very good position.

The Benchmark brand has been revamped to reflect the new relationship and two new trailers, with more to follow, have been liveried as Benchmark in the familiar colours and style of the Gordon Leslie Group.

“Customers will now hopefully recognise as they drive along the M8 the full extent of the capabilities of Benchmark. While other providers of co-packing and warehousing services rely on out sourced haulage, as part of the Gordon Leslie Distribution network, Benchmark can offer customers a complete door to door, fulfilment, warehousing and transport solution, tailored to each customer’s individual needs”.

For information on Benchmark please visit bpss.co.uk or contact Gary McKay General Manager gmckay@gordonleslie.co.uk

Business Matters Autumn 2016

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2 Edison Street, Hillington Industrial Estate, Hillington G52 4XN 0141 883 9076 • www.gordonlesliegroup.co.uk

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Business Matters Autumn 2016

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Travelling & working –

one & the same?

Given one of the themes of this month’s Journal is transport, it may be useful to revisit the status of travel time for workers who travel as part of their duties. The European Court of Justice has considered the thorny issue of when commuting to and from work can amount to working time for the purposes of the Working Time Regulations 1998 (WTR).

The facts The employer installed and maintained security systems using technicians who were employed to work in various Spanish provinces.

Technicians worked from home using a company supplied vehicle to attend to customers when working on site. The technicians sued their employer because the company did not treat the workers’ first journey of the day from their home to their first customer, or their last journey of the day from their last customer back to their home, as working time for the purposes of WTR The decision The European Court decided that ‘working time’ is any period during which the worker is at work, at the employer’s disposal and carrying out his activity or duties. Each of these 3 requirements must be satisfied. The Court found that: “At work” means that a worker who no longer has a fixed place of work is carrying out duties during the journey to/from a customer. The worker is working during that journey.

“At the employer’s disposal” consideration as to whether the worker is required to be physically present at the place determined by the employer to be able to provide the appropriate services immediately.

The worker must be placed in a situation in which he is legally obliged to obey the employer’s instructions and carry out the employer’s activities. If workers can manage their time without major constraints and pursue their own interests, such time might not be working time. In this case, the employer determined the list and order of the customers and the times at which customers were to be seen. During the journeys, the workers had to act on the employer’s instructions. The workers could not pursue their own interests during those times. Thus, they were at their employer’s disposal.

Finally a worker would be regarded as ‘carrying out his activity or duties’ during time spent travelling between home and customers if the journey to customers is a necessary means of providing services to those customers.

So what?

This means that workers using a company vehicle to go from their homes to visit a customer (determined by the employer) or to return home from a customer, would be “working” during their commute. This does not necessarily mean that such time would require to be time for which payment is due, since payment is determined by the contract of employment (and the

David Hoey, Partner, Accredited Employment Law Specialist

national minimum wage rules). There may well be cases where entitlement to payment is conditional upon the time being “working time” in terms of the WTR, but that is not necessarily the case. The WTR exist to provide a framework for calculating rest breaks, holidays etc. The time spent commuting in circumstances similar to those arising in this case would require to be taken into account in assessing entitlement to breaks etc. Whether wages are due for that time is a matter for the contract of employment.

Making sure the contractual position for such workers is clear and that compliance with both the WTR and the national minimum wage rules is achieved is a must. As ever, specialist employment law advice is recommended to manage the risk.

Drive carefully…

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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R.E.D. Pest Control Renfrewshire based pest control company R.E.D. are fast gaining a reputation as the go to company for those looking for industry leading standards of service at a fraction of the costs associated with the more famous national names in the industry.

So much so that they have doubled both turnover and workforce in the last 12 months without increasing spend on marketing or advertising.

Speaking of the growth the company has enjoyed, R.E.D. managing director, Gary Mitchell said “The bulk of our new contract business comes through client recommendations. We have a very dedicated team here at R.E.D. and we never lose sight of our philosophy of providing industry leading standards of service for a fair price”.

“Our customers seem to appreciate this philosophy and are constantly recommending us to colleagues and associates across all industry sectors”

“We take great care on our first visit to a new client to gain an understanding of what issues they could face if pest issues were to arise but most importantly, what they expect from us.

We also carry out regular reviews with our clients to ensure we are meeting their expectations of us”.

“Our new clients are often surprised to learn that our R.E.D. Alert Pest Monitoring and Control Systems are fully compliant with their own external and internal auditing systems.”

“They believed they needed to have contracts with the larger national companies and that smaller companies such as R.E.D. lacked the technical expertise” We asked Gary about the R.E.D. pricing policy “Many of our clients have come to us from the larger national pest control companies where they were finding the costs they were paying were not being matched in the service delivery standards they were receiving”

“In short, clients who switched to R.E.D. are paying less for a better standard of service.”

Asked about his plans for the future Gary went on to say “Our aim is to continue to grow our company organically by continuing to provide standards of service beyond what has become the industry norm, for a fair price.”

“We need to work harder at getting our name out there in Renfrewshire, meeting more business leaders and telling them what a great little company we are.”

The RED Alert Pest Monitoring and Control System Regardless of their size and activities, we work hard with our customers to ensure we create a bespoke RED Alert Pest Monitoring and Control System which meets the following: 1. The swift detection and removal of any pests.

2. Ensuring pest free conditions are maintained by applying the basic principles of pest control, Restriction, Exclusion and Destruction.

Specialist Services for all pest species, including: • • • • •

Rodents Insects, flying and Crawling Stored Product insects Urban Foxes Pest Birds

3. Provide proactive advice designed to prevent pest ingression in and around your business.

4. Helps your business to comply with all regulatory requirements placed on it.

For a free pest control survey, please call free 0800 035 3055 www.redpestcontrol.co.uk

Business Matters Autumn 2016

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Brexit Effect? RBS Quarterly Business Monitor NAT00205_NW_Lending_Press_Ad_130x180_Pub_&_Bar_AW.indd 1

Stephen Boyle is the Royal Bank of Scotland’s chief economist.

The bank works closely with one of the world’s leading economic research bodies, Strathclyde University’s Fraser of Allander Institute, to produce The Royal Bank of Scotland Quarterly Business Monitor.

Following the Brexit vote and the value of the pound plummeting against the Euro, there was interest to see what the findings from the latest report would be.

A strong summer for Scottish tourism reflects increased business confidence across the country.

Companies expect to see an increase in turnover, new business and repeat business over the next six months following a summer of modest growth.

However marked differences remain between areas of Scotland, with the North East expecting further declines in activity while the central belt and Highlands and Islands expect growth.

The survey of 450 Scottish businesses reveals that a third (33%) of firms reported an increase in the total volume of business during the last quarter, compared to 30% who witnessed a fall in activity.

The performance of the tourism sector was especially strong, with more than half of firms (55%) reporting an increase in total business volumes. This is in contrast with the transport and communications sector where only 18% of firms reported an increase.

Collectively, a third (33%) of all firms surveyed said they expected total business volumes to rise over the next six months. A quarter (26%) are preparing for a decline. Almost a third (31%) expect to see an increase in the volume of new business compared to a quarter (24%) who are expecting a fall.

In terms of repeat business, almost a quarter (22%) are preparing for a downturn. Of all the businesses surveyed, manufacturing is the least optimistic with 28% expecting a downturn.

Just over a third (35%) of firms said that turnover climbed during the last quarter, compared to around one in five (21%) who experienced decrease.

Collectively, 28% of firms say they expect sales to grow over the next quarter. Within tourism, almost half (47%) reported that they expect to enjoy growth.

08/03/2016 15:46

RBS Chief Economist Stephen Boyle

Just one in seven firms (14%) stated that export activity rose, while a quarter (25%) saw it fall. Despite this, a quarter (25%) expect an increase in the six months to February 2017, perhaps as a result of the recent decline in the value of the pound.

Around four in ten (39%) firms experienced a rise in costs over the last three months, with a third (32%) expecting that trend to continue, which could in part reflect the weaker pound.

Cost pressure was especially strong in tourism where a net 47% reported an increase and in distribution (38%), which includes retail and wholesale. This could be attributable to the higher National Living Wage.

Stephen Boyle, chief economist with the Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “It is encouraging that growth appears to have continued in the three months to August, albeit at modest rates.

“What’s more, firms are optimistic that growth will continue into 2017.

“The fly in the ointment is rising costs.

These are already squeezing some firms’ margins and will eventually blunt consumers’ spending power as prices rise.

“But Scotland’s economy appears better-placed to weather those challenges than it was even six months ago.”

Malcolm Buchanan, chairman of the

Royal Bank of Scotland’s Scottish Board, said: “The latest findings of the Royal Bank of Scotland Business Monitor show that despite a summer of political uncertainty Scottish businesses are demonstrating resilience and there are signs of emerging optimism which is encouraging for the future prospects for our economy.

“Some sectors are performing really well not least tourism which is such a critical employer across Scotland’s cities, towns and rural communities.

However, it’s a mixed bag and challenges remain in some critical sectors with the oil and gas supply chain continuing to be adversely impacted By the low oil price.

“Royal Bank of Scotland is firmly focused on doing all we can to support businesses across all sectors and locations in Scotland and to help our economy to strengthen. Our work with Entrepreneurial Spark and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to open the first virtual business accelerator programme will help newly start up businesses overcome the challenges of access in rural locations by providing a high quality support network that will help them thrive and grow.”

For more information on Royal Bank of Scotland’s economic survey, visit: www.rbs.com

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

The Value of ‘Young’

Jonathan Campbell, Marketing Exec NS Design

‘Young’ – it’s pretty vague, but connotations would normally suggest immaturity. However, in 2016, it’s the key to modern, relevant, and progressive businesses.

The importance of ‘young’ within a workplace is absolutely crucial. Having a new perspective, new ideas and new light can often rejuvenate a tired work-ethos. This year alone, 37,000 young people have undertaken or are currently undertaking an apprenticeship right here in Scotland. Are you one of the businesses which supports this movement?

‘Sustainability’ – it’s one of those commonly used buzzwords - but what does it mean in terms of business?

Well sustainability is about keeping your business on your toes and up to scratch; are you in-line with or ahead of your competition? Sustainability can be achieved in many ways, but apprentices can help to achieve just that. With older, skilled workers teaching their trade to young people, your business will continue to uphold the skills that are essential in keeping the business functioning, and moving forward.

This doesn’t just apply to industries like manufacturing or construction but to other business areas like web design, social media, accounting, finance, HR and marketing.

With incentives from the Scottish Government – like funding and grants for salaries, along with fully funded training and support programmes – it’s easier than ever to take on an apprentice.

I’m Jonny Campbell, I’m an apprentice graduate with NSDesign and I fully support apprenticeships. Do you?

Visit www.apprenticeships.scot for more details.

Jonny Campbell NSDesign

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Business Matters Autumn 2016

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Spectrum Service Solutions Goes Digital

As part of the dramatic success of the company and in conjunction with the move to the new office, Spectrum Service Solutions took the opportunity to move from a paper archive system to a new electronic system that was provided by Abergower Ltd. From a close evaluation of the document scanning market and rigorous selection criteria, Abergower was selected to perform all services required to get all valuable information from paper to a new digital platform and allow the company to experience the considerable business benefits that were to be gained from the process. The consisted of all financial records, HR records, expense claims timesheets and a wide variety of office correspondence.

Abergower worked closely with Spectrum to organise the packing and transportation of all paper records that

were located in the company’s premises and transfer these to Abergower’s secure scanning centre which is located in Paisley. All files were carefully prepared and scanned using the latest high volume Scanoptics scanning systems, the process went through all necessary ISO 9001 quality assured processes and an indexed digital file was produced and provided back to Spectrum.

Spectrum then checked the files and agreed all output met with their entire satisfaction.

The project took three months and the entire paper archive was transformed from taking over 80 archive boxes of material down to an external hard disk the size of a A5 piece of paper.

Major benefits to Spectrum have been since experienced in the speed and efficiency to find any record within seconds of an enquiry, the efficiency of

the accounts function of the company has been considerably enhanced and the new office is devoid of all the paper filing cabinets and storage rooms that once took up so much space.

Sara Speirs, MD Sara Speirs commented “We have been totally delighted with our decision to go digital and we have been extremely impressed with the quality of service and professionalism of Abergower in delivering this major operational benefit to our company going forward” Abergower Ltd 4 Abercorn Street Paisley PA3 4AB Office +44 (0) 141 237 5010

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Providing contract cleaning and facilities management services throughout the UK from our headquarters in Paisley

Services: Cleaning Facilities Management Event Cleaning Waste Management & Recycling Janitorial & Hygiene Security & Marshalling

Sectors: Educational Facilities Manufacturing Plants Stadiums and Sports Facilities Clean Room Environments Industrial Facilities High Street Retail Business Parks Call Centres Commercial Offices Distribution Facilities

0141 887 5000

www.spectrumservicesolutions.com

fti

1 Marchfield Drive Westpoint Business Park Paisley PA3 2RB Email: info@spectrumservicesolutions.com

Business Matters Autumn 2016

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MULTI-MILLION POUND REFURBISHMENT FOR LOCHSIDE’S CAMERON HOUSE Scottish five-star resort, Cameron House, has revealed the results of a £3 million refurbishment in what the resort has announced is the first stage of a year-long multi-million pound renovation. This initial phase has focussed on revamping the food and beverage offering along with the hotel’s other public spaces.

Situated on the southern banks of Loch Lomond, Cameron House boasts five dining options. At the heart of the hotel, Cameron Grill – Cameron House’s fine dining establishment – has been refreshed with new interiors. Light, fresh neutral tones now help create a welcoming space that envelops but at the same time makes the most of its iconic views.

Whilst the creation of a new cocktail bar and menu adds another level of glamour to the restaurant, the Great Scots Bar also now makes the most of the hotel’s location with additional tables and new seating overlooking the loch.

Elsewhere, the public spaces – including the swimming pool and meeting rooms – have been upgraded most notably with four statement chandeliers giving the reception a brighter, lighter feel.

Overlooking the enhanced marina at the water’s edge meanwhile, the Boathouse restaurant has been updated

With over 35 years experience supporting both commercial and industry you can be assured of an efficient and cost-effective solution to your temporary or permanent recruitment requirements.

Permanent Recruitment No placement – no fee;- There is no charge for our service unless you engage a candidate introduced by Allstaff. We also offer an 11 week guarantee rebate period.

Temporary Recruitment Allstaff can supply both office and industrial temporary staff on a daily/ weekly basis to support your business during peak periods or to cover absence. Where your need is immediate we can respond to your request within 1 hour of notification.

Should you wish to discuss how we can support your company in either temporary or permanent recruitment please contact our Operations Director - Carolyn Moir-Grant who will be happy to meet with you at your convenience, 0141-887-1137 / cmoirgrant@allstaff.co.uk

www.allstaff.co.uk

with refreshes made to its signature New England style. With the light reflecting off the water lifting this bright, breezy space, it’s the perfect foil for a menu that celebrates the best of classic dishes and local seafood that can be enjoyed inside or outside on the deck. cameronhouse.co.uk

Allstaff Recruitment Solutions Our Aim;“to be the best independent Recruitment Agency in Scotland by delivering an exceptional level of service to both our clients and candidates.”

Established in 1981, (yes, we celebrated 35 years in business this year), the company provides permanent and temporary recruitment solutions to clients ranging from small local businesses to blue chip organisations and also the public sector.

Our consultants are industry experienced and are committed to delivering a professional, responsible, cost-effective and

reliable service.

The Managing Director, Joan Sim FIRP (with 40 years experience), a current Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce Board Director, is supported by Operations Director Carolyn Moir-Grant, who having more than 28 years experience within the recruitment industry, 22 of which spent with Allstaff, is responsible for the service delivery and business development for the Company. Martin McGill, with 20 years experience with Allstaff, is a Director of the business and is responsible for the management and profitability of the Glasgow branch.

Allstaff congratulates all companies named on the 2016 shortlist for Rocco Awards!

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Hoping isn’t good enough It’s getting harder to recruit and retain great people.

Good leaders and talent are in short supply and superstar salespeople are as rare as Unicorns. News items about candidates falsely claiming qualifications (a “Cardiac Physiologist” was jailed this Summer when it was discovered he did not have the required medical qualifications – even though he’d been promoted during his employment) are frequent and some CVs could win a major prize for fiction.

When you need to find leaders in your organisation, you can’t afford to take chances. Hoping you’ll find the best candidates, or wondering if your new recruits will deliver what they promise,

isn’t good enough.

Better still, identify and nurture the existing talent within your business through coaching and bespoke development programmes. bfpeople is a recruitment and business psychology firm with offices in Paisley. We find leaders and develop talent for ambitious local and global organisations, helping them to get the right people doing the right things in the right jobs.

For a confidential discussion, contact John Hamilton: t: 0141 848 7312 e: john@bfpeople.com w: bfpeople.com

• Pre-lease and pre-acquisition surveys • Dilapidations and Schedules of Condition • Contract Administration, Design and Tendering • Project Management • Space Planning

andrew@aforrestassociates.com

www.aforrestassociates.com

07799 661226 Regulated by RICS

INSPIRING BUSINESS PEOPLE Campbell Dallas is one of the most dynamic and progressive firms of independent Chartered Accountants in Scotland. Our clients come in all shapes and sizes and so do our disciplines. We tailor our services and shape them to fit your needs. Ultimately we are focussed on your peace of mind and helping you succeed.

Contact Phone Email

Aileen Gates 0141 886 6644 aileen.gates@campbelldallas.co.uk

www.campbelldallas.co.uk

Andre Charte

Business Matters Autumn 2016

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Show your support for Paisley 2021 Momentum continues to build for Paisley’s bid to be UK City of Culture in 2021 and now is the time that the business community can make all the difference to bring the bid home for Paisley.

Your Chamber has proudly supported the bid since day one; we think it’s a fantastic opportunity to change

the image of Paisley and to boost communities and business throughout Renfrewshire. We also think Paisley has

The team from the Experience, Hillington

Business

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a compelling case based on a genuine need to win the title.

We have been reaching out to all our members, encouraging them to get involved in the bid and to publicly support it. We know that the level of community and business support that is shown can really make the difference to the bid outcome. Did you know the organisers of the winning Derry Bid in 2013 said one of the key reasons it was successful was because everyone got behind it. It’s been transformational for their city; it can do the same for us.

The UK City of Culture title will shine a positive spotlight on Paisley, which for so long has borne the brunt of national negative press. It will also shine a spotlight on our business community.

In 2014/15, there were 15 million opportunities to see or hear positive comment about Paisley in the media.

Since the launch of Paisley’s bid in November last year, it has generated 53 million opportunities and increasing. We all have the opportunity to benefit from a year on an international stage.

Winning the title in 2021 will deliver 800 new jobs in our visitor economy, 1 million visitors over the course of the year, and an estimated economic impact of around £50million. It will help to transform Paisley’s image in the UK and internationally, grow our economy and increase local self-confidence.

How Can You Help?

There are lots of things you can do to support the bid and keep it at the forefront of people’s minds. · Join the support wall with your logo · Use the logo on your websites, emails and publicly declare support on social media. · Engage your workforce; encourage them to support the bid. · Display the posters and stickers in your shops and offices. · Talk to us about events and activities that can help promote it. · Tell us why the bid is important to you and your workforce, share your stories.

For more information on how you can get involved contact Fran Porter, Project Executive at the Chamber fporter@ renfrewshirechamber.com. Tel 0141 847 5450 or go to www.paisley2021.co.uk/ get-involved/ to access Paisley 2021 logos, email footers & posters.

Follow on twitter @Paisley2021 #Paisley2021

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

19

Up & Coming Events Chamber Pictures See our events section on our website: www.renfrewshirechamber.com • 0141 847 5450 events@renfrewshirechamber.com

Networking Lunch 2nd November with Andy McLaughlin Braehead Clan The Lynnhurst Hotel David Hoey Employment Law Mentoring Group 1st, 8th & 15th November

Tom Johnston & Garry Train Rolls-Royce

Tony Fitzpatrick CEO St Mirren

Pupils from Trinity High, Aug Lunch

Tom Johnston & Tony Fitzpatrick St Mirren

Rocco 2016 Friday 18th November November Networking Lunch Thurs 24th with St Vincent’s & Streetstuff, David Lloyd, Renfrew AGM Thurs 15th Dec 11.30am-12pm Glynhill Hotel Christmas Lunch Thurs 15th Dec 12pm-2.30pm at Glynhill Hotel facebook.com/renfrewshirechamberofcommerce Follow the chamber:

twitter.com/renfrewshirecoc

Pitch & Roll Hillington

Business matters, so when it comes to events call Cameron’s - The Event People.

Business Matters Autumn 2016

20

ROCCO 2016 Shortlist announced Renfrewshire Chamber is delighted to announce the 2016 shortlist for their annual business awards, the ROCCO’s. Established for over a decade, the ROCCO’s are the premier business event in Renfrewshire and are this year sponsored by Paisley 2021. 16 winners will be announced at the ceremony hosted by ROCCO regular Fred MacAulay (18th November at the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew).

Commenting on the awards – Chamber chief executive Bob Grant said “thank you to all the organisations that entered, this year has been a record for entries. As always the standard of entry was high so I know many people that are not shortlisted will be disappointed – we hope you will consider entering again next year. 14 of the 16 awards will require the shortlisted organisations to present to our judging panels w/c 24th Oct at the Chamber Business Centre, Glasgow Airport”.

The full shortlist is:

ROCCO Award for Excellence in Customer Services

ROCCO Award for Enterprise in Education

sponsored by the Scottish Leather Group:

• A & D Logistics • DirectDevitt Comedy Management & Productions CIC • Rolls-Royce plc

• Glasgow Airport • intu Braehead • Spectrum Service Solutions

ROCCO Award for Innovation & Technology sponsored by Hillington Park: • Roll-Royce plc • University of the West of Scotland • Voice Technologies Ltd

ROCCO Award for International Trade sponsored by Glasgow Airport: • Angelwax • Bridge of Weir Leather Company Ltd • Redrock Automation

sponsored by the University of the West of Scotland:

ROCCO Award for Excellence in Manufacturing sponsored by Campbell Dallas: • Diageo • NCT Leather Ltd & WJ & W Lang Ltd • Rolls-Royce plc

INSPIRING BUSINESS PEOPLE

Invest in Renfrewshire ROCCO Award

Campbell Dallas is one of the most Invest in dynamicsponsored and progressiveby firms of independent Chartered Accountants in Council: Scotland.

Our clients come in all shapes and sizes and so do our disciplines. We tailor our shape them to fit • services Blendand Coffee Lounge your needs. Ultimately we are focussed I Am Me Scotland on your•peace of mind and helping you succeed.

• Mirren Park School Contact Phone Email

Renfrewshire / Renfrewshire

Richard Patterson 0141 886 6644 richard.patterson@campbelldallas.co.uk

www.campbelldallas.co.uk

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

21 Running a growing business in Renfrewshire?

Make us part of your plans

ROCCO Award for Most Promising New Business

For any successful business a network of trusted advisers is vital. Business Gateway Renfrewshire provides practical support and advice to growing Renfrewshire businesses every year.

0141 585 6353 www.bgateway.com

sponsored by Business Gateway: • Air and Cargo • My Hair Guru • PowerTek

“ I’d like to update my professional qualifications ”

ROCCO Award for Family Business of the Year sponsored by the Malcolm Group: • Pandamonium • Spectrum Service Solutions • Stafffinders

West College Scotland offers a range of professional training and development courses to help you update your skills.

Business Gateway services are delivered by Local Authorities, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Government with the support of associated partner organisations.

ROCCO Award for Young Business Person of the Year

ROCCO Award for Employer of the Year THE ROYAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

INSTITUTE OF SCOTLAND

sponsored by West College Scotland: First Aid

• Anna Devitt - DirectDevitt Comedy Management • David Montgomery - Media Monty • Fraser Gordon - Detailing Factory Ltd

sponsored by Rolls Royce: • Boston Networks • Voice Technologies • intu Braehead

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

t

0300 600 6060

w www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk

ROCCO Award for Community Champion of the Year

ROCCO Award for Outstanding Business 5 or less staff

sponsored by Engage Renfrewshire & RBS:

sponsored by intu Braehead:

• Active Communities • ROAR (Reaching Older Adults in Renfrewshire) • Thermo Fisher Scientific

• ATOZ Distribution Ltd • Cofficent Ltd • Kenneth Keegan Independent Funeral Directors

ROCCO Award for Outstanding Business >5 & <25 staff

ROCCO Award for Outstanding Business >25 staff

sponsored by Renfrewshire Council:

sponsored by Clyde Marine Training:

• Bell Fire & Security Ltd • Braehead Clan • PowerTek

• Acre Industrial and Cleaning Services Ltd • BMI Healthcare - National Enquiry Centre • Glasgow Airport

ROCCO Award for Business Leader of the Year

ROCCO Award for Renfrewshire’s Favourite Business

sponsored by Diageo, shortlisted nominations are:

sponsored by the Paisley Daily Express:

• Sara Speirs - MD Spectrum Service Solutions Ltd • Colin McMurray - MD Clyde Marine Training • Tracey Smith - BMI National Enquiry Centre Director • Andrew Malcolm – CEO The Malcolm Group • Jim Carswell – Operations Director & Site Leader Thermo Fisher Scientific

• Elderslie Butchers & Coffee Shop • My Hair Guru • NSDesign • Origins Fitness • PACE Theatre • Renfrewshire Carers Centre

The winner will be announced on the night

Top 6 voting took place with the Paisley Daily Express and closed on 24th Oct. The winner with the most votes will be announced on the night.

Business Matters Autumn 2016

22

Chamber Hosts Westminster Work and Pensions Select Committee On the 8th September the chamber hosted a visit by the Westminster Work and Pensions select committee.

Leading the delegation were Mhairi Black MP and Frank Field MP along with Heidi Allen & Jeremy Quin MP. The visit focused on Parliament’s Employment Opportunities for Young People inquiry. The Chamber arranged a number of member businesses to attend an informal session to discuss and share their own experiences of youth employment/un-employment with the following themes: To what extent does getting young people into work and supporting them in work require an approach distinct from that of other groups?

How effective is Jobcentre Plus Support for Schools likely to be in enhancing young people’s career prospects?

How can Jobcentre Plus services for young people be more effectively integrated with other local services, especially around education and skills?

What is likely to be the impact of any forthcoming economic uncertainty on young people, and how should the Government best seek to protect them from this?

Thank you to the following organisations who were represented on the day and shared their views. · Paula Leca - Developing the Young Workforce (West Region) · John McGuire - Chairman/CEO Phoenix Car Company · Carole Paton - Invest in Renfrewshire/ Renfrewshire Council · John Convery - MD Paisley Autocare · Gayle Millar - MD

Members of Work & Pensions committee visiting The Experience, Hillington

Carli’s Kindergarten · Alan Baird - Director Blend Coffee Lounge

Farewell to latest Management Trainee

Tom Johnston congratulates Euan Keltie on his promotion

Chamber Appoints New Membership Manager Euan Keltie who has been with the Chamber for five years was recently promoted to the role of Membership Manager.

Euan joined the Chamber aged 17 on a 1 year management trainee placement via the recruit program delivered by Invest In Renfrewshire.

His key role is to help you get the most of your membership and ensure you are getting value for money. Euan can advise you on how to use our marketing channels to promote your business, details on member services such as Chamber Legal, Chamber HR and Westfield Health. Contact him on ekeltie@ renfrewshirechamber.com 0141 847 5450.

Nicole Cameron completed her 1 year role with the Chamber at the end of August.

She has put her experience to great effect and has successfully secured a permanent role with Clark Contracts in Paisley.

She started in September as a Helpdesk Maintenance Administrator and already has taken Nicole Cameron on her last day on extra duties including purchasing admin. Nicole said “I greatly enjoyed my time at the Chamber and gained valuable experience that has helped me secure the next step in my career in a permanent full time role”. Her success is a great example of Invest in Renfrewshire funding helping to boost the employability of young people in the area.

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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

Air & Cargo Services

Epilepsy Scotland

Linwood Farm

import /export David Ross 0141 249 0630 david.ross@aircargo.co.uk www.aircargo.co.uk

Charity/fundraising/support Robyn Friel 0141 427 4911 rfriel@epilepsyscotland.org.uk www.epilepsyscotland.org.uk

Restaurant Pamela McLauchlan 0141 840 1476 5206@greenking.co.uk www.farmhouseinns.co.uk/locations/ linwood-farm

Angelwax Ltd

Handelsbanken

Chemicals John Hogg 0141 886 6732 info@angelwax.co.uk www.angelwax.co.uk

Bank Michael McCuaig 0141 248 1504 mimc01@handelsbanken.co.uk www.handelsbanken.co.uk/ glasgowfinnieston

Lloyd Technology

HeadStrong (Scotland) Limited

Others Are

Soft Skills Training Provision Brian Costello 07951053033 brian@headstrongnlp.com www.headstrongnlp.com/

Scotish Jewellery Kirsty McQueen 0141 000 000 contact@othersare.co.uk

Bolt Learning Limited Online Training Tamlin Roberts 03333552658 tamlin.roberts@boltlearning.com www.boltlearning.com

Double S Events Ltd Event Management Sara Seravalli 01505 610252 sara@doublesevents.com www.doublesevents.com

Engage Training through techniques used in opera Caroline Vance 07901552822 caroline@coaching2engage.co.uk www.synchronicoaching.co.uk

Entrepreneur Me Entreperneurship Workshops Marie Connelly marie@schoolpartners.org.uk www.entrepreneur.me.uk

Italian Aroma Coffee Ltd Coffee makers Fiona Reid 0141 951 4442 fiona@italianaromacoffee.co.uk www.italianaromacoffee.co.uk

Karen Hanvidge Ceramics handcrafted ceramics Karen Hanvidge 0141 000 000 hello@karenhanvidge.com www.karenhanvidge.com

Computer technology Jacquline Lloyd 033 331 11002 jackie@lloydtechnology.com www.lloydtechnology.com

Rays Of Hope Self-help Cancer Support Group Linda Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Malley 07941044934 omalley.linda@yahoo.co.uk

Screaming Goat Studios Ltd Creative Agency/Animation Work David Ferguson 07980836296 david.ferguson@screaminggoatstudios. com www.screaminggoatstudios.co.uk

23

Business Matters Autumn 2016

24

UWS breaks into the Times Higher Education World University Rankings University of the West of Scotland features for the first time in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings which were published on 21 September 2016.

UWS is celebrating its breakthrough into this prestigious league table which is the only global performance ranking that judges research-intensive universities across all their core missions: teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

UWS, whose research was rated at internationally-excellent and world leading in the Research Excellence Framework 2014, is in the overall band of 601-800 out of 980, which THE states as the top 5% of universities worldwide.

UWS ranks joint 64th out of the 91 UK institutions listed. More than 1,300 universities, from 79 countries, took part in the data collection. The rankings are compiled by THE from 13 metrics across the themes of Teaching, Research, Citations, International Outlook, and Industry Income.

The University prides itself for being an increasingly internationalised university, with a truly global view on teaching and research; its highest ranked area was for International Outlook, coming 320th out of 980 institutions.

The University’s entry into this global league table follows recent strong performances in UK rankings such as the National Student Survey which saw five UWS courses – Aircraft Engineering, Community Education, Forensic Science, Sport and Exercise Science, and Midwifery - come top in the UK for overall student satisfaction. The survey saw 100% of respondents studying these courses state that they were satisfied overall with their course.

The 2014/15 HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency) performance indicators showed 95% of all UWS graduates in work or further study six months after graduation, and for its professional employment figures UWS ranks 8% above the Scottish average.

Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said: “We’re

committed to growing our international reach and being included, for the first time, in this world ranking which features the best universities from across the globe is fantastic news. It’s a real achievement and testament to the hard work of colleagues across the University and the support of the University Court – our governing Board. UWS is developing, we’re strengthening our academic excellence and building our research expertise to bring benefits nationally and internationally.”

The calculation of the THE World University Rankings 2016-2017 was independently audited by professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

50 years of graduation celebrated at Paisley dinner (+ Class of 1969 pic) Around 80 alumni, honorary graduates, staff, friends and supporters of University of the West of Scotland gathered for an alumni dinner to celebrate 50 years of graduation in Paisley on Monday 15th August.

In 1966 the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) approved the then Paisley College of Technology’s Honours degrees in Chemistry and Physics and an Ordinary degree in Science, which began a tradition of graduation ceremonies in Paisley.

The 1966 cohort, who would go on to become the first graduates of the University, was represented by four biology, science and physics graduates; Russell Henry, George Langley, Graham Milne and Hamish Vernal. Special recognition was given to 1966 Civil Engineering graduate Dipak Basu who travelled from Canada especially to attend the dinner.

Alumni returning to the Paisley Campus to mark this landmark included the Rt Hon Lord McFall of Acluith member of the House of Lords, Willie Rennie MSP leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Iain Henderson Paisley First President and Councillor Hamish Vernal Provost of Aberdeenshire. Guests included Councillor Mark MacMillan leader of Renfrewshire Council, Jock Brown chair

Professor Craig Mahoney

of the Children’s University Trust Scotland and Gavin Newlands MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North.

Guests enjoyed a drinks reception in the UWS Paisley Campus foyer with a performance by alumni band Quick, followed by the screening of a film charting the progress of the University over the last 50 years from the early days as Paisley College of Technology, through University of Paisley to University of the West of Scotland with five campuses in Scotland and London.

Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor, commented: “It was a pleasure to welcome our valued alumni, friends, colleagues and supporters of the University to a dinner to celebrate this fantastic 50 year milestone at our Paisley Campus. Our alumni are hugely important to us at UWS and I was delighted by the extremely positive response we received from all those in attendance.”

Ewan O’Brien from the University’s Alumni & Development added: “We were delighted to have alumni from a range of subjects from each decade join us for dinner, but particularly pleased to have graduates and academic staff present from the 1960s. We are also very grateful for the support from our event sponsors, 3 Fold, Allan & Hanel, Anderson Strathearn, Blevins, HAA Design, Felsham PD, Graven Images, ODN, Ramsay McMichael and Streets-UK.”

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

25

UWS gains the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award University of the West of Scotland (UWS) has gained the ‘HR Excellence in Research Award’ from the European Commission for its work in supporting its research staff in their career development.

The award is given to universities that have demonstrated their commitment to improving the working conditions and career development for research staff, to in turn improve the quantity, quality and impact of research for the benefit of UK society and the economy.

The award was assessed by a panel comprising of the European Commission, the Concordat Strategy Group, Vitae and the UK Research Staff Association. This award acknowledges the University’s commitment to achieving the principles of the UK Concordat - to support the career development of researchers and the European Charter for Researchers.

Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said: “This is a

really fantastic achievement for which I commend my colleagues. The award highlights the University’s commitment to developing internationally excellent research by nurturing the research talent of its staff which then goes on to benefit wider society.”

This award recognises the positive actions that UWS, which produced a Concordat Implementation Action Plan in March 2016, has taken and continues to take to support the career development of it researchers.

The action plan demonstrates how collectively the activities and work of the various parts of the University provide support for research staff and details areas where UWS is actively making changes designed to transform leadership development of early career researchers and further develop the University’s pipeline of research talent.

Professor Ehsan Mesbahi, Chair of the UWS Concordat Steering Group and

George Langley (BSc (Hons) Biology 1970); Graham Milne (BSc (Hons) Physics 1970); Russell Henry (BSc Science 1969); Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and ViceChancellor of UWS; and Hamish Vernal (BSc Science 1969)

UWS Vice Principal & Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise), said. “UWS is proud to be recognised by the European Commission for its ‘HR Excellence in Research’.

“We are committed to continuing to improve the development, support and working environment for our research community to foster collaboration and develop world-class science and research.”

Post the EU Referendum, and the discussions taking place on how the UK will interact with the European Research Area, the Concordat Strategy Group will work with the European Commission to agree the UK’s future participation in the HR Excellence in Research Award.

ACCELERATE YOUR CAREER WITH UWS INNOVATIVE, FLEXIBLE OPTIONS IN BUSINESS START JANUARY 2017 – • • • • • •

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Master of Business Administration (MBA) MSc Financial Accounting MSc International Management MSc International Marketing Management MSc Logistics & Supply Chain Management

For info visit www.uws.ac.uk, call 0800 027 1000 or email ask@uws.ac.uk University of the West of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity. Charity number SC002520.

Business Matters Autumn 2016

26

St James Business Centre restored Following a £400,000 restoration program, the new owners of St James Business Centre on Linwood Road are soon to relaunch the newly refurbished building with a grand opening in November.

Since acquisition in May 2015 Squarestone, have fully refurbished the structure. This has included the installation of new entrance doors, now providing tenants with access 24/7. In addition, Squarestone have upgraded all of the toilets, kitchens and have reinstated the showers. All of the rooms have been upgraded to modern standards and all the common areas have been recarpeted and freshly decorated.

The work has been completed by Renfrewshire businesses who were delighted to help restore this local landmark, once the administration centre for the former Rootes car factory.

Yasemin McClelland, Asset Manager of the Centre commented: “It has been a pleasure working with the local people of Paisley to put this building back on the map. We offer flexible modern office space at the most competitive rates in Paisley with work stations from £150 pcm including wireless fibre optic broadband, and utilities with no hidden costs. Even our meeting rooms are free! We have recently welcomed Aerius Marine to the

centre as an anchor tenant and hope to continue to attract other national companies to the area as well as providing a home for local businesses.

Our proximity close to the motorway, Glasgow airport and The Phoenix Retail Park are a real bonus for tenants and we have abundance of free car parking.

Space is being snapped up fast but we still have some rooms available to let ahead of the grand opening.”

More information is available at www.stjamesbusinesscentre.co.uk

St James Business Centre, Linwood Road, Paisley PA3 3AT Current availability schedule Room

Floor

Location

Size (sq ft)

Rent (pcm)

Rent (p.a.)

7

Ground

West

186

£310

£3,720

9-10

Ground

West

388

£645

£7,740

15

Ground

West

180

£300

£3,600

20

Ground

West

187

£310

£3,720

102

1st

West

186

£310

£3,720

106-108

1st

West

567

£945

£11,340

109-115

1st

West

1,323

£2,200

£26,400

134-135

1st

East

376

£625

£7,500

147

1st

East

188

£315

£3,780

151

1st

East

187

£310

£3,720

In addition to the above suites, we have desks available from £150 +VAT per calendar month. Like the suites above, the work stations are offered on an all-inclusive basis. In addition, the work stations are ready to plug and play with modern white and lockable furniture included in the rent.

Meeting Rooms Room No. Room

Floor

Location

Size (sq ft) Rate

31

Meeting Room 1 Ground

East

142

Free

4

Meeting Room 3 Ground

West

217

Free

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

Your new office awaits All-inclusive furnished workstations from ÂŁ150+VAT PCM All-inclusive Suites from ÂŁ250+VAT PCM Superb wireless fibre optic broadband, 24/7 access, extensive parking and utilities included!

Please visit www.stjamesbusinesscentre.co.uk or contact 0141 8874545 for more information or to arrange a viewing.

Flexible terms and incentives available!

St James Business Centre, Linwood Road, Paisley PA3 3AT

27

Business Matters Autumn 2016

28

Are You a Storage Hunter?

Here at Storefirst Glasgow we have the largest self- storage facility in Europe, with over 3,200 storage units spread over 4 easily-accessed floors. These range in size from 15 to 325 sq. ft.

A total of 250,000 sq. ft. of safe and secure storage We also have 11 well- appointed and fully serviced office suites in our Business First Business Centre. Office tenants and storage customers have free access to 2 boardrooms and a conference room, free WiFi, kitchen facilities and a free gym.

We are 5 minutes from Glasgow Airport with great links to the motorway network; a prime location for storing stock, advertising/promotional materials, archived documents and for meeting clients in a very impressive business setting.

So, whether your needs are domestic

or business storage, or you’re looking to relocate to a better office location with the added advantage of on-site storage, come and see us.

Linwood Point, Burnbrae Road,

Linwood, Paisley, PA1 2FB. Storage: Douglas Brown 0141 848 0777 glasgow@storefirst.com Business: Cheryl McFadyen 0141 850 7915 glasgow@businessfirst.co.uk

A POSITIVE APPROACH A little over a year ago, Linda O’ Malley recognized that there was a need for people living with a cancer diagnosis to have a safe, secure place where they could meet others who shared that experience. Also appreciating that exercise goes hand-in-hand with a healthy lifestyle she approached Renfrewshire Leisure to secure the services of a qualified instructor who might lead people in a light workout.

And so, Rays of Hope was born. The format was simple; people met in the coffee shop of East Gate church, Elderslie and for 45 minutes were led in an exercise routine that suited all abilities. Thereafter the group would gather for tea/coffee and chat, exchanging stories, ideas, information. It provided a non-clinical environment where individuals could realize that they were not alone in the emotional roller coaster that cancer sets you upon, and, by sharing experiences, they formed strong bonds of friendship and support so that the future became less daunting.

Since then the group has grown from 5 members to 53 with 35+ members attending regularly and now operates two classes a week. While the basic format remains the same it now involves so much more. Apart from occasional social gatherings and fund raising events there are regular visitors from organizations such as Macmillan Cancer Support, Glennifer Outreach, Advice Works giving talks on benefits advice, nutrition, mindfulness, facing the future and much more. There is also a professional craft person who visits with great regularity to encourage people to develop their creative skills.

The group has also appreciated the toll that cancer can take on family members supporting loved ones through the illness….

they too need support and are encouraged to attend.

Classes are held on a Monday from 1.00pm to 3.00pm at East Gate Church in Elderslie, and on a Wednesday from 1.00pm to 3.00pm at Life Church in Paisley. These classes are open to everyone affected by cancer whether it is someone with a new diagnosis, someone undergoing treatment, or someone who has completed treatment last week, last year, or even 20 years ago!

It is anticipated that additional classes might be started next year in Erskine with the hope that other areas within Renfrewshire might also be included.

Cancer now affects one in three families in Scotland and living with the consequences can be daunting; worries about money, physical changes, emotional upheaval…..all can be faced with support and help. Rays of Hope is there for anyone who needs it.

For more information call Linda O’Malley on 07941044934, or email omalley.linda@yahoo.co.uk

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

29

LEAP energy LEAP is a social enterprise and registered Charity based in Renfrewshire, we have been helping people reduce energy bills for 6 years and focused more on helping people in fuel poverty since Renfrewshire in 2013. We have launched a new service to help Renfrewshire businesses like yours to save money on gas and electricity bills.

What makes LEAP different from all the other energy companies on the market? Unlike a commercial broker our aim is to help reduce fuel poverty in Renfrewshire and has a focus on saving money on your businesses energy bills.

So really it’s a win-win situation, while your business saves money on its overheads you can have a life changing and positive impact on local families in Renfrewshire.

LEAP Energy can help with the problems your business might be facing: as we work with our Social Enterprise Partners we have access to a breadth of suppliers on the market, we therefore do all the hard work for you and find you the best deal.

We contact your supplier on your behalf to find out where you are in your contract and where it is not the best deal we can help you switch hassle free. We launched this service as we are convinced that Renfrewshire businesses are being

overcharged and we guarantee that we will save you money on your gas and electricity bills compared to you going to the suppliers on your own or through a commercial broker.

To find a ‘brighter way to save time and money’ for your business please contact us.

Contact Us Call: 0300 201 0213 Email: ellis@myleapenergy.co.uk Visit: www.leapenergy.co.uk Twitter: @energy.leap

saving you money reduce your gas and electricity bills reduce fuel poverty in Renfrewshire

Business Matters Autumn 2016

30

We can get your business rates reduced!

Are your business rates fair?

youryour We Are can get business rates fair? business rates reduced!

YOU SHOULD APPEAL YOUR BUSINESS RATES WHEN THEY ARE REVIEWED IN 2017

For further information on our services please contact: T: 0141 333 6575

E: info@businessratesadvice.com

M: 0755 400 9244

W: www.businessratesadvice.com

YOU SHOULD APPEAL YOUR BUSINESS RATES WHEN THEY ARE REVIEWED IN 2017

A reduction in your business rates will not only reduce costs but will increase profitability and ultimately the value of your business …

In a world where it is critical to ensure overheads are kept to a minimum, you will want peace of mind that the business rates you are paying are as low as absolutely possible and correct. There is to be a nationwide Revaluation of all commercial property due on 1 April 2017; you will have a fresh Right of Appeal on the new Rateable Value (RV) assessment but you must appeal to get the benefit. If you don’t appeal then you will be left with an increasing rates bill for at least another five

years. New rates assessments For further information are expected to be onissued soon our services please contact: and ratepayers willE: be charged T: 0141 333 6575 info@businessratesadvice.com M: 0755 400 9244 approximately 50%W: www.businessratesadvice.com of the new RV in rates. The Rates Appeal system is complex, based around valuation theory and case law and it is therefore important that you seek advice from a Chartered Surveyor with experience of the complexities of the business rates system. There are also a number of Reliefs available which may be beneficial to your business if the rates assessment can be reduced. If you have any questions about your rates and would like a better understanding how rates are assessed then please contact us - we are here to help.

VBA Global Please allow us to introduce VBA Global to you, we are a business service company looking to work with liked minded community business’s. Our aim is to offer competitive discounted rates to local organisations covering three main areas.

Business Development Focused on building relationships, driving client growth, building your brand and increasing your revenue. Our services include PR, networking, advertising, funding applications, sales and marketing, account management, CRM systems and new business development.

Recruitment Belief that we can make a difference to how individuals and companies view recruitment. For us, it’s about quality not quantity. This is why we have a clearly defined screening process that all our candidates must go through. No CV will be sent until we’re 100% sure they fit the bill.

Training Delivering bespoke training on recruitment & selection, interview techniques, customer service, communication & coaching skills, conducting successful appraisals, leadership & management skills. We can also offer training packages in

Engineering, Domestic Oil & Gas and Health & Safety.

We would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss any business development, recruitment or training requirements you may have now or in the future.

Please feel free to contact us on 0141 404 5144/ 07827 932021 or at victoria@vbaglobal.com or info@ vbaglobal.com for any additional information.

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

31

Sticks and Stones May Break Your Bones...

I Am Me Scotland are a community based charity that works in partnership with Police Scotland to raise awareness of Disability related bullying and harassment (Disability Hate Crime). Recognised as one of the most under reported crimes in the UK, with around 97% currently going unreported.

The Charity have been recognised nationally for their innovative approach to working with communities and was last years winner of the ROCCO community award.

Stagecoach recently gifted a bus to the project and funding was received from the Scottish Government Keys to Life development fund to convert it into a mobile education unit (Cine-Bus).

Renfrewshire Council are supporting the bus and other businesses have offered space, repairs and assistance (Malcom Group, Roadside, Scotseat).

The bus will be touring Renfrewshire Schools and communities to raise awareness of Disability Hate Crime and

the Keep Safe initiative.

Keep Safe works in partnership with Police Scotland and a network of local businesses to create ‘Keep Safe’ places across Scotland. If anyone is feeling lost, scared, confused, vulnerable or has been a victim of crime, they can seek assistance from a Keep Safe partner. Currently there are 140 Keep Safe partners across Renfrewshire and the initiative has recently been launched in Borders, Dumfries & Galloway, Inverclyde, Dundee and Edinburgh. Ayrshire, Aberdeen, Argyll & Bute and Stirling are in the very early stages of preparing for the initiative.

Keep Safe cards are available for anyone who thinks they may need assistance when out in the community. The card details information of any communication requirements health concerns and who to contact in the event of an emergency.

It is hoped that the Keep Safe initiative will help tackle social isolation and encourage people to participate in community life free from any fear of harassment or abuse.

ACC Mawson said “Police Scotland are delighted to see the introduction of the new I Am Me/Keep Safe Bus which is a truly innovative approach to raising awareness of Disability Hate Crime in support of the Keep Safe program. Hate Crime remains significantly under reported, and it is through strong partnerships initiatives such as I Am Me/ Keep Safe that people affected by such crimes can feel confident to approach the authorities and be reassured that they will be treated fairly, taken seriously, and that those responsible for criminal acts against them will be identified and reported for prosecution.”

For more information about the Charity or how to hire the bus, visit www. iammescotland.co.uk

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Business Matters Autumn 2016

32

Be a Superboss We have a super easy, charge FREE scheme allowing you to thank your hard working employees or perhaps recognise your valued customers or drive new customers to your business! The Super intu Braehead Gift Card is a prepaid MasterCard® gift card, but it’s also so much more…

The intu Braehead Gift Card is accepted at more than 120 participating retailers ranging from fashion, beauty, home ware, food and fun things to do at intu Braehead and Soar.

Whether you want to reward employees for going above and beyond or motivate a customer to invest in your services or products, our fabulous gift card offers you the perfect opportunity to gift a flexible shopping, dining and entertainment experience at Scotland’s leading shopping and leisure destination; intu Braehead and Soar at

intu Braehead.

We are delighted to introduce our new Corporate Gift Card Portal. Our FREE dedicated online portal is a secure tool for corporate clients enabling you to issue intu Gift Cards from the comfort of your computer! So convenient and hassle free.

It is as easy as 1, 2, 3 – Super Simple!

1. Once you are on board, we will send you your Gift Cards and presentation wallets.

2. Then, you can use the portal to deposit funds by raising a payment order or pay by credit card.

3. From there, you can load funds (£5-£1,000) onto each card.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch should you wish to proceed opening an intu Gift Card Corporate Portal or have any questions on alternative processes available.

Let us help you get your cape on and fly!

Shop with us: in centre | at home | on the go

Be a Superboss Give your team a super choice and reward them with an intu Gift Card.

It can be used in 120 stores, restaurants, cinema and even on the slopes! It really is the gift that everyone wants!

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

33

College offers outstanding opportunity for Oil & Gas workers to get ready for their future West College Scotland was selected to deliver a Scottish Government Initiative aimed at supporting Oil & Gas workers affected by redundancies in the crisis-hit industry.

Managed by Skills Development Scotland, the £12m Oil & Gas Transition Training Fund will enable a few selected training institutions to deliver fully funded courses specifically designed to help former workers in the Oil & Gas industry, or those at risk of losing their jobs, to re-train, upskill or get accreditation/certification.

the skills needed by employers to take advantage of opportunities in our local and national economy. We hope as many individuals and organisations as possible can benefit from this funded transition training which will increase the pool of talent available to Scotland’s employers”

With investment in Scotland’s Oil & Gas Sector forecasted to fall from a record £14.8b in 2014 to around £9b this year, many workers are or will be facing redundancy. Many of these highly skilled workers only have training specific to the Oil & Gas sector, making it difficult for them to find jobs in other fields.

Courses will be delivered starting later this month and Oil & Gas workers as well as organisations are invited to register their interest now. West College Scotland’s team should be contacted.

The courses delivered at West College Scotland’s three campuses in Clydebank, Greenock and Paisley are designed to allow former Oil & Gas workers to transfer their expertise to other settings and gain new skills. Nearly 200 course places will be offered this year at the College in a wide range of fields such as Health & Safety; Building Services including Domestic Gas; Inspection, Testing and Verification of Electrical Installations; Energy Assessment; Computer Networking and Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

Andrew Fogarty, Head of Energy & Engineering at West College Scotland said: “West College Scotland is delighted to be working in partnership with the Transition Training Fund to offer new skills to individuals from Scotland’s Oil & Gas Sector. The training programmes we offer reflect

We hope as many individuals and “organisations as possible can benefit from this funded transition training which will increase the pool of talent available to Scotland’s employers

“

Andrew Fogarty Head of Energy & Engineering

Don’t miss this outstanding opportunity, contact us now:

Gordon Stewardson

t 0800 052 9610 e oil&gas@wcs.ac.uk w www.westcollegescotland.ac.uk/training-for-business/

Fully funded training opportunities available in:

Domestic Renewables

Electrical Inspection

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Oil and Gas workers, get ready for your future!

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Business Matters Autumn 2016

34

EVOLUTION COURT MOVES CLOSE TO COMPLETION Evolution Court, a new £6million commercial development on Hillington Park, is on track and set to complete before the end of 2016.

Progress on building the four separate units is advanced with the bulk of the construction programme complete and with the internal fit-outs now advancing.

The units, ranging in size from 17,728 sq ft to 23,530 sq ft, are expected to appeal to the manufacturing, logistics and distribution industry due to their close proximity to the M8 motorway.

Jamie Cumming from Hillington Park said: “Every one of the many thousands of people passing Hillington Park along the M8 every day will have seen the rapid progress of Evolution Court. We’re looking forward to its completion at the end of this year and to welcoming new occupiers in 2017.”

Consultants EKOS Limited examined the economic impact of Evolution Court and identified that it would support 120 full time jobs and help generate £6.3m annual GVA at the Renfrewshire/Glasgow level, and 150 jobs and £10.9m GVA at the Scottish level.

Evolution Court is one of two new developments currently under construction at Hillington Park with a new ‘motorcycle village’ being built to house Ducati, Triumph and Harley-Davidson.

Ducati Glasgow and West Coast HarleyDavidson plan to open their two new purpose built showrooms and service centres in early 2017.

Evolution Court is being built using the Park’s Simplified Planning Zone (SPZ) guidelines and is a joint venture between Oaktree Capital Management and Patrizia ag.

The SPZ is effectively a pre-agreed planning permission, jointly approved by Renfrewshire and Glasgow City Councils, for the entire Park underpinned with a set of simple development parameters.

Evolution Court Highly visible and accessible location - Glasgow M8 frontage

NEW DEVELOPMENT

4 high quality industrial buildings

M8

TO LET A Ja vail nu ab ary le 201 7

17,728 to 23,950 sq ft To join us call the Hillington Park team on

0141 883 5760 Together, we are

www.hillingtonpark.com

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Being at Your Best Caroline Vance

We tend to make up our minds about someone in a matter of seconds - whether we find them interesting, believable, someone to trust. It is not so much what we say but how we come across that provokes the strongest, often subconscious, reactions in others.

Being able to engage effectively with others (especially when we feel least like it) is crucial to business - being more efficient and effective, better client relationships, improved team working, a more cohesive business unit…all of which drive revenues, profits, client retention, staff loyalty.

Engage brings understanding, tools and techniques from the world of opera to help you and your staff become more engaging, compelling, and confident whatever the situation.

‘We asked Engage to coach our people and the benefits were immediate, not only in speaking but having confidence and working across the business. I highly recommend Engage for all those wanting to improve in the work place.’ Robin MacGeachy, MD, Peak Scientific.

Explore how Engage can help by contacting Caroline Vance on caroline@coaching2engage.co.uk www.coaching2engage.co.uk

Calling all Renfrewshire businesses.

We can help fund your growth.

Invest in Renfrewshire is Renfrewshire Council’s programme to boost the local economy and tackle unemployment.

We have a range of funding packages available which could help your company, including: • business growth grants of up to £10,000 to help develop new products, attend exhibitions, purchase equipment or carry out property improvements; • help of up to £5,000 to help you take on a graduate intern; • support towards the wage costs of taking on a young unemployed person; and • loans to help with working capital or the purchase of equipment.

Want to know more? visit www.investinrenfrewshire.com email invest@renfrewshire.gov.uk or call

0300 300 1180

Business Matters Autumn 2016

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Renfrewshire Council Updates:

Paisley team make Buddies in London as support for UK City of Culture bid grows Members of the Paisley 2021 bid team, accompanied by a group from PACE Youth Theatre, joined Renfrewshire MPs, Mhairi Black and Gavin Newlands, to meet an audience of parliamentarians, business leaders, media and key cultural figures in the House of Commons.

The large audience were treated to a performance from PACE and listened to speakers detail the strength of Paisley’s bid and the town’s drive for UK City of Culture 2021.

The group, led by Renfrewshire Council Leader and Chair of the Paisley 2021 Partnership Board, Mark Macmillan, and Paisley 2021 Bid Director, Jean Cameron, are the first delegation representing any of the locations bidding for the UK City of Culture accolade - run by the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport, to hold such an event at the House of Commons.

Town leaders believe that the bid for UK City of Culture 2021 will help to transform Paisley future by using its unique cultural

heritage as the home of the Paisley Pattern and one-time centre of the global textile industry, to attract tourism investment as well as promote further job growth and economic stability across all of Renfrewshire.

The bid will harness the power of culture to tackle deep-rooted poverty in communities identified as the most deprived in Scotland, and will place the artistic community at the heart of the town’s cultural, social and economic transformation.

The bid is just one part of Renfrewshire Council’s plans for the wider regeneration of Paisley and Renfrewshire, including the £56.7m refurbishment of Paisley Museum and a number of projects being delivered as part of the Glasgow City Region City Deal - worth £274m to Renfrewshire.

Bids are expected to be lodged with the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport in Spring 2017, with the winner announced in Autumn 2017.

Strong support for Renfrewshire’s City Deal projects Communities and businesses across Renfrewshire have recently had their say regarding two of the region’s three Glasgow City Region City Deal projects.

Renfrewshire Council conducted a comprehensive consultation programme earlier this year on the Glasgow Airport Investment Area (GAIA) and Clyde Waterfront & Renfrew Riverside (CWRR) have shown overwhelming support for both of the major infrastructure projects.

Engagement levels were high, with more than 1,000 people taking part in the consultation process. The project team attended five public exhibitions and more than 20 meetings with groups and individuals, including community councils and councillors.

Surveys conducted during the consultation period showed strong support for the initial proposals for the delivery of both projects.

Of those who expressed an opinion on the GAIA project, 93% believe the project will have positive outcomes for the area. That impressive level of support was elevated further for the CWRR project, with 94% believing it will deliver positive outcomes.

Renfrewshire Council’s City Deal project team will conduct a second round of consultations on refined proposals for the projects in early December this year. Details of that consultation period and its associated engagement events will be publicised in the coming weeks.

Update on Glasgow Airport Access project Renfrewshire Council Leader, Mark Macmillan, along with his Glasgow City Council counterpart, Frank McAveety, met with the Transport Minister, Humza Yousaf, in early September.

The meeting was called by Councillors Macmillan and McAveety to seek the Mark Macmillan Transport Minister’s firm commitment to the Glasgow Airport Access Project (AAP) which will link Glasgow Airport with Glasgow City Centre via Paisley’s Gilmour Street Station.

The AAP is the flagship project of the £1.13bn Glasgow City Region City Deal and at the meeting, the council representatives pressed the case for including the £144 million project in high level rail plans due to be finalised next year and critical to its successful delivery.

Following the meeting, a steering group, involving Renfrewshire and Glasgow City councils, was established to oversee delivery of the project. The steering group will be chaired by the Scottish Government.

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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Renfrewshire Council Updates: Cindy Robb, inCube, Alasdair Morrison Head of Regeneration, Cll Leader Mark Macmillan

Renfrewshire Council launches Economic Framework and Town Centre Action Plan Local people and businesses are being encouraged to provide their views on a strategy which will reinvigorate Paisley Town Centre as part of wider plans for the economic regeneration of Renfrewshire.

Renfrewshire Council launched its Economic Framework (REF) and supporting Paisley Town Centre – 10 Year Action Plan (PTCAP) on Monday 17 October. That launch was accompanied by the beginning of a consultation period on both draft strategies, which will run until Thursday 10 November.

Two public engagement events will be held at Paisley Town Hall as part of the consultation, on Thursday 3 November and Wednesday 9 November. People unable to attend those events can also review both strategies and provide their feedback by visiting: www.renfrewshire. gov.uk/haveyoursay The PTCAP will see four areas in the town centre revamped. These are the Gilmour Street Gateway, High Street and UWS Campus, Abbey and River Precinct,

and Improving Connections between the town centre and surrounding areas.

It is a key component of the REF which sets out a clear strategy for establishing the region as an attractive place to live, work and visit, emphasising that Renfrewshire is open for business.

It contains 10 near term strategic priorities which will create more and better jobs through supporting growing businesses, attracting new investment and ensuring the foundations are in place to sustain that growth in the long term.

Renfrewshire Council Leader, Mark Macmillan, said: “Paisley has the potential to be the driver for economic growth across the whole of Renfrewshire.

It is Scotland’s largest town centre, boasting the country’s fourth busiest railway station and one of the highest concentrations of listed buildings.

“The changes to town centres over recent years place us in a position where we can either sit back and manage decline or we can be bold and confident to re-imagine our town centres to deliver

places that businesses want to invest in and people want to live in.

“We want to establish Paisley’s reputation as a positive, forward thinking destination which is home to innovation and opportunities for people and businesses alike. The areas identified for regeneration in the PTCAP will act as a stimulus for property investment, development and re-use, significantly reinvigorating the town centre.

“The plans laid out in the PTCAP and REF underline our commitment to making Renfrewshire a centre for education and innovation, which offers businesses a smart place to base themselves and people an attractive and accessible place to live.

“These are challenging financial times and in order to drive long term economic growth that tackles poverty and improves opportunities, we must invest in our town centres by working with others to deliver a vision that benefits all our communities.”

Business Matters Autumn 2016

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Renfrewshire STEM fortnight 2016

Debra Nickson, Thermofisher with pupils from Linwood HS

Castlehead High School’s visit to Rolls-Royce

St Fergus PS and East Fulton PS visit to Doosan

Trinity High with Boston Networks & RC Community Safety Hub

For the second year Renfrewshire Chamber and education colleagues from Renfrewshire Council joined forces with a number of Renfrewshire businesses to deliver STEM fortnight from Monday 3rd October to Thurs 13th October.

The goal was to inspire Primary & Secondary pupils to consider STEM related subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) and understand how these are used in the real world and the potential career paths they can lead to.

A wide range of activities were on offer from lab engineering, manufacturing and maths challenges, extracting DNA from a strawberry, understanding how technology is used to keep our communities safe, digital tec in the banking

industry, maintaining and repairing airplanes and even how to manufacture and deploy life-saving heart grafts.

Following companies took part: • Boston Networks • British Airways • Doosan Babcock • Peak Scientific • RBS • Rolls-Royce • ThermoFisher • Vascutek • West College Scotland Commenting Bob Grant chief executive said “STEM

Trinity High with Boston Networks

fortnight has once more been a fantastic success. Working closely with Raymond Kane (Development Officer for Renfrewshire Council) the companies supporting were very enthusiastic and their

teams have gone to great lengths to inspire the pupils involved. Thank you to every organisation that participated and we plan to run the program once more in 2017.”

Helping Renfrewshire Grow & Prosper

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SCHOOL UPDATES:

Linwood pupils flying high at Glasgow Airport work experience

Taste the Industry Linwood High School

Linwood High School and Glasgow Airport cemented their partnership with an exclusive work experience opportunity for S6 pupils. joined Glasgow Airport for the last week in September and got to experience the wide range of careers available there. Huge thanks to the Craig Martin and the team at Glasgow Airport.

Doosan Babcock host St Fergus’ Young Engineers of the Future A group of pupils from St Fergus’ Primary in Ferguslie, were invited to visit Doosan Babcock to participate in a series of lab experiments to learn about skills for work.

The pupils met engineers from across the site, who showed them around and explained the science involved in each lab.

Everyone got the chance to investigate material testing techniques, remote robot devices, look at materials inside a Scanning Electron

St Andrews Academy

Microscope and use Ultrasound to investigate a solid material.

A question and answer session rounded off the morning for the delighted group of self proclaimed Engineers and Scientists of the future.

The pupils at St Andrews Academy have been developing their skills through the Young Enterprise Company Programme. 7 met Tony Fitzpatrick at the Chamber of Commerce Networking Business Lunch on the 29th September.

The pupils got to hear the interesting life story of Tony and found him inspiring, the main message was don’t give up not matter what life throws at you. The pupils got lots of words of wisdom from him and really got a lot out of meeting him.

Thanks Chamber of Commerce and St Mirren for making us feel so welcome!

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