Business Matters Magazine Summer 22 by RenfrewshireChamber

business

matters SUMMER 2022 EDITION

The fabric of the business community.

New Strategy & Brand for Chamber

Inside: B2B returns, New Strategy, Brand and Website Launched, New Choice-Based Membership packages Plus: Morrison Construction Feature, NMIS, Council and Member updates

President’s welcome D

ear Members, Welcome to the Summer edition of Business Matters Magazine. You’ll notice a sharp new look with our recently launched branding and website going live. Thank you to all who attended our strategy launch at “Business Matters in Renfrewshire” in May at the Lagoon, Paisley. Our new strategy & business plan is the cumulation of many months of work for the Chamber Team and Board. We are very pleased with the new direction and I and my fellow directors believe your chamber will continue to deliver and punch above our weight when it comes to representing the needs of our membership to government. We recognised now was the perfect time to review Chamber strategy and activity. The pandemic has given the team and board an opportunity to reflect, consult, and plan for the future, with our members at the heart of everything we do. That representation to Government is so crucial considering the cost of doing business challenges we are all facing. The challenge has been brought into sharp focus with the latest results of the Scottish Chambers Economic Indicator on page 13. The Glasgow City Region is one of five bids to become one of two green freeports to be created in Scotland, under a scheme agreed by the Scottish and UK Governments. Freeports offer special tax incentives and lower tariffs for areas around airports, seaports and rail terminals. We welcome the bid with Glasgow Airport, Mossend Freight terminal and Peel Ports which owns the King George V Dock and other land along the River

Clyde. If successful, it is thought the status will attract major new investment to Glasgow City Region, develop global trading opportunities and create tens of thousands of new jobs. The bid has already attracted support from many key businesses and organisations based or operating within Glasgow City Region including Caterpillar, Malcolm Group, SP Energy Networks, the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, Morrison Construction and Loganair. STEM Fortnight returns in October 2022 following a 2-year pause, could you support? We are seeking organisations who can provide an activity for a young person in a STEM related environment (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths). In 2019 the project offered over 500 places and with the importance of manufacturing & technology as a sector to Renfrewshire it is essential we renew momentum with this initiative. As usual at this time of year we do not have any events in July however the Chamber team will be launching Rocco 2022 in the coming weeks. Winning a Rocco Award is a great opportunity to recognise the success and achievements of your business in the last 12 months and shines a spotlight on all the impressive organisations we have in Renfrewshire – however winning is a challenge and each year the competition gets stiffer, making the shortlist is a huge achievement in itself. Entry is free and open to all members regardless of location. If you are a non-member your business must be based in Renfrewshire. There will be categories relevant to all sizes and sectors of business.

Finally, may I wish Derek Provan, CEO of AGS Airports good luck in the next step in his career. Derek and the Airport team have been huge supporters of Renfrewshire Chamber and we have valued his personal support over many years for the work we do. All that remains is for me to wish you an enjoyable summer and hope you get the chance to enjoy some time off.

Liz Connolly, President Renfrewshire Chamber

Business Matters Summer 2022

A warm welcome from our Chief Executive T

hank you to all our exhibitors, speakers & sponsors who attended our B2B Event the Lagoon, Paisley. We hope everyone involved benefited from #b2bpaisley. We aim to return for our 11th year in 2023 and encourage all businesses and local organisations to support the event. As the largest free business event in the area, it is a great opportunity to see the breadth and depth of businesses out there, promote your business, and network & learn from others. We’ve launched new choice-based membership packages designed to give you the right level of support for your business at the right time. Members now have access to more than 50 fantastic benefits to choose from! I encourage you to explore our packages on page 18 which can help you improve your productivity, win new customers, raise

your profile, build your networks, influence policy that impacts your organisation, get your products to global markets with International Trade documentation, find a business mentor, engage with your future workforce or win recognition for outstanding performance by your business and employees via the Rocco Awards, launching soon. Renfrewshire Chamber exists to help your business connect and grow. We bring hundreds of companies together by making connections, encouraging growth and inspiring ambition – membership can add real value to your business. On a personal note, may I thank Derek Provan from AGS Airports for his support over the years and wish him every success in the next phase of his career. I hope you all have a great Summer & best 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 Autumn 2022 Deadline for editorial and adverts is 16th September 2022 Themes are Rocco shortlist / export/logistics & transport /manufacturing

Business Matters Summer 2022 “ I’d like to update my professional qualifications ”

Advertising & Editorial:

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

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

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The fabric of the business community.

Maximising Renfrewshire’s Opportunities and Improving People’s Lives M

orrison Construction are a people-orientated, progressive business that’s driven by our deep rooted values of delivering lasting change for our stakeholders and the communities we work in. We are passionate about improving people’s lives through building the facilities and infrastructures that the communities we operate in require. Indeed, we ensure through the provision of dedicated resources and planning that, through the lifetime of our projects, we create tangible and meaningful benefits for local communities. It is, ultimately, about maximising opportunity and improving people’s lives. Since our relationship began with the Renfrewshire area in 2017 through the construction of St Paul’s Primary School & Foxlea Early Learning and Childcare Centre and the extension of the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre, we have a proven track record of working in partnership with a variety of local organisation and institutions to improve training and employment opportunities for the region. On our two most recent projects in the area, the National Manufacturing Research Centre (NMIS), pictured, and the renovation of Paisley Town Hall (PTH), we have designed and

implemented a myriad of education and training programmes / courses in conjunction with our progressive Social Value programme, to deliver a positive, lasting legacy within Renfrewshire.

My Future Pathways Into Construction Working in collaboration with Renfrewshire Council, we are currently platinum partners on their innovative ‘My Pathway Into Construction’ programme which involves a selection of senior phase students from secondary schools within Renfrewshire who possess a keen interest in the construction sector. We introduced them to a number of engaging schemes, programmes and opportunities, that provide a linear path for students to follow that supports their aspirations. This programme has City & Guilds accreditation with Employability Badges awarded in recognition of the students’ achievements. Badges are equivalent to City & Guilds NVQ qualifications, providing additional accreditations for students to highlight on their CV’s as they continue on their “pathway to construction”.

My Pathways to Construction Students Attending a Site Visit at our PTH Project

Business Matters Summer 2022

Design and Build Competition Inspiring Future Artists Within the Renfrewshire Area

HLM Architects presenting at Renfrew High School

Working in partnership with HLM Architects and Renfrewshire Council, we are supporting Renfrew High School as they have been awarded £20,000 from the Council for a pupilled programme for the re-development of the outdoor space at their school. Led by HLM Architects who came into the school to present and assist the students with their concept as they also provided the basic constructs the students should consider when thinking of their design proposals. The competition is supplemented by Cost Consultants, RLF Cost Consultants and our Sub-Contractor, Imtech Allstar Joinery, who provided valuable cost advice and practical suggestions to the students whilst taking them through their standard commercial procedures to remain within the competition budget. Currently, the designs are being finalised where they will then be scrutinised by a panel of key stakeholders to select one design which will be implemented by the Council, with the support of Morrison Construction and our partners.

The Paisley based PACE Theatre Company, who are a non-profit association that runs the largest youth theatre organisation of its kind in the UK, are in the process of repurposing a former night club in the area for the first purposebuilt youth theatre in Scotland. This community resource will be a dedicated space for theatrical productions, as well as promoting participation by young people in performance and creative activities in a professional environment. We have donated £40k worth of materials to PACE’s cause which will go towards the construction of the theatre’s new production stage. With works currently ongoing, we see this as “doing our part” in boosting the local economy in Renfrewshire and, more importantly, providing a platform dedicated to empowering young people and inspiring future generations with the creative potential of this local amenity.

SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR RENFREWSHIRE

SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR RENFREWSHIRE We are a leading contractor in Scotland looking to develop further local business opportunities, providing long-term benefits to the communities through our progressive Social Value Programme. Morrison Construction Central, 2nd Floor, Rowan House, 1 Robroyston Oval, Glasgow, G33 1AP

The fabric of the business community.

www.morrisonconstruction.co.uk

@morrisonbuilds

Morrison Construction

Maximising Renfrewshire’s Opportunities and Improving People’s Lives Traditional Building Event

To culminate the critical and essential work we have been undertaking in Renfrewshire over the last five years, and in collaboration with the Paisley Townscape Heritage Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme and our partners Renfrewshire Council and West College Scotland, we held the ‘Traditional Building Event’ at our PTH Project at the end of May, this year. We invited over 200 pupils from across 12 Renfrewshire Schools where over the space of two days we provided them with a tour of the PTH construction site where students undertook various construction practical learning procedures, similar to those being

implemented on the project, giving them a first-hand experience of working on-site. This included: leadwork, traditional wood turning, roof slating techniques, and painting and decorating; all to provide a sample of some of the potential career paths they can aspire to work towards. On conclusion, we provided a ‘future opportunities’ talk where we discussed, in detail, the prospects available to the students within their local area including Modern and Foundation Apprenticeships, vocational courses, and employment and work placement opportunities with our named partners, our wider Supply Chain and our own organisation.

In Summary Through the initiatives listed, we have delivered an astounding £22m of Social Value for the Renfrewshire region since 2017, highlighting our long-term commitment to enhance future employment opportunities for locals by supporting Renfrewshire’s Economic Strategy 2020-2030. We see great and vast potential within the area and the scope for future opportunities,

not only for ourselves, but for the people of Renfrewshire. So much so that our Strategic Development Director, Alan Calderwood, has recently been appointed as a director for the Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce in order to continue to support business growth within the area whilst working with numerous Clients, education bodies and training partners to maximise Renfrewshire’s potential.

Business Matters Summer 2022

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est College Scotland has already worked with over 100 employers on delivering flexible employee development programmes, designing training solutions to meet the needs our business partners. However, we also continue to offer a vast and varied range of online learning programmes, many of which are completely fully-funded and open to everyone allowing learners themselves to take control of their own development. Absolutely no catches! As we know, online learning offers the opportunity for learners to design and drive their own personal skills growth based on when and what you want to learn, maybe where there is a personal interest or perhaps where a future career path is emerging. The flexibility to manage your

own learning is really empowering and many of our learners have utilised our funded online learning courses to make a real change to their own personal as well as professional lives, but with no financial cost. With courses ranging across Health and Social Care, Business, Digital Skills, Engineering and Hospitality, there is so much on offer that also varies from short micro level to basic introductory training through to Level 2 Certificate and Level 3 Diploma awards. For employers, we also actively encourage the promotion of theses funded online learning opportunities to staff, their families, friends and across their wider network so as many people as possible can benefit from the opportunity. At West College Scotland, we have been delivering online learning for over 20 years.

The pandemic seen a real shift in focus to online learning but for us, it was a tried and tested method. We did not need to use valuable time to plan a pivot, develop material and begin delivery. We were already there, leading the way with the highest quality of learning being provided across the region, Scotland and UK wide. So take a look at what West College Scotland has to offer with current module enrolment available until 22nd July and new intakes commencing from September 2022. We are here to help not just with skills training at an organisational level, but for those equally important individual needs too. For more details on what is available, go to: https://www.westcollegescotland. ac.uk/courses/online-learning/

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The fabric of the business community.

Kick Start Student Innovation Programme About Our Programme Kick Start is a student innovation programme designed by the University of the West of Scotland which goes beyond classroom-based learning, focusing on providing participants with the knowledge and skillset to recognise that innovation and entrepreneurship is a powerful way to implement change within their chosen sectors. Our mission is to ignite, elevate and engage the next wave of leaders for the future, through skills development, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We are calling those who are interested in something different, who are keen to unleash those creative, innovative, and unique ideas whilst developing a reusable skillset beneficial for the future.

What We Offer The Kick Start programme involves three key phases from January – May, which focuses on supporting students through their entrepreneurial journeys and providing them with a platform to develop their innovative business ideas, and potentially start-up their business. The three main phases include workshops, competition and an accelerator programme run by our partners Elevator UK. Our interactive workshops focus on topics such as Idea Generation, Innovation and Creativity, and Business Modelling which aim to provide our students, graduates, staff, and local communities with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills. Our Kick Start Business Idea competition aims to foster a spirit of enterprise by encouraging those who may have an idea for a business but have not yet had the time to develop it. They do not have to be seriously thinking of taking the idea forward commercially, instead this as an opportunity for them to consider their ideas in a bit more detail and gain valuable early feedback. Although, if they want to take their idea forward then we will help them to do that. We look for innovative and unique business ideas that have real potential – it’s a great opportunity for students to explore their creative side, develop ideas and think outside of the box! Competition prizes include cash prizes, awards, trophies, and a direct entry into the accelerator programme. This year we had a total of five placed winners and seven award winners including:

• • • • •

Most Market Ready Award People’s Choice Award Entrepreneurial Spirit Award Green Business Award The William Elder Award

Live Awards/Celebration Event Our team kick started the Summer with our first in-person Celebration Event of the Year – Celebrating Big Ideas! Our face-to-face Kick Start Celebration event took place on 26th May at our UWS Paisley Campus, and was open to all current UWS students, recent Alumni, staff, and our local communities. On the menu for the day, we had various entrepreneurial activities, guest speakers, a mini awards show, refreshments, and free goody bags. The Event was a huge success with over 50 attendees showing up on the day.

Kick Start Business Idea Competition Winners: May 2022. Photograph: Emma McColvin, University of the West of Scotland.

All winners of our competition were presented with their physical awards at our Kick Start Celebration Event, which was held at our UWS Paisley Campus. Winners who could not attend our Celebration Event include, Callum Russell (3rd Place), Abibat Oladipo (4th Place), and Gary McVicar (Entrepreneurial Spirit Award). Kick Start are always looking for local business sponsors, workshop speakers, and external competition judges to help run the programme. If this is something that you are interested in, or if you have any questions then please get in touch with us at kickstart@uws.ac.uk.

Guest Speaker Johnny Mone presenting to attendees at 2022 Kick Start Celebration event. Photograph: Ross McKay, University of the West of Scotland.

Group photograph of attendees and staff, at the 2022 Kick Start Celebration event. Photograph: Ross McKay, University of the West of Scotland.

Business Matters Summer 2022

Atrium opening signals ambition of Terumo Aortic

eading medical device manufacturer Terumo Aortic this week cut the ribbon to open the spectacular new atrium reception space of its Renfrewshire facility in Scotland. The opening ceremony, performed by CEO Erik Pomp and Brian Coll, the longest serving member of the Terumo Aortic family with over 37 years’ service, marks a major milestone in an investment project which will see over £50 million spent to expand and develop the manufacturing site. Based in the Inchinnan Business Park, Terumo Aortic has been designing and manufacturing a marketleading portfolio of life saving surgical grafts and endovascular devices to treat

every segment of the aorta for nearly 40 years and currently employs over 800 people at the facility. Erik Pomp, CEO of Terumo Aortic, commented: “We are delighted to reach this landmark moment in our site investment project. The atrium is a very visible sign of our commitment and ambition to both our existing Associates and to the wider Renfrewshire community as we continue to grow our business. We plan to hire well in excess of 100 new Associates during this financial year to meet the growing global demand for our life saving products.” To learn more about the career opportunities available at Terumo Aortic visit - https://careers. terumoaortic.com/

Pictured – CEO Erik Pomp (right) and Brian Coll, the longest serving associate at Terumo Aortic with over 37 years’ service, cut the ribbon on the company’s new atrium

GAs helping global medical company create a talent pipeline

niversity of the West of Scotland’s Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are enabling Terumo Aortic, a global medical device company, to create a pipeline of talent from new entrants to future leaders. Working in partnership with University of the West of Scotland (UWS) Terumo Aortic has introduced two UWS GA programmes (Engineering Design & Manufacture and Business Management) in engineering and business support roles. Three Associates have already graduated and a further 11 are currently completing a GA programme. Claire Dawson, Talent Development Advisor at Terumo Aortic, said: “We remain steadfastly committed to offering opportunities for current and future colleagues to benefit from the Graduate Apprenticeship programme. The business is already seeing huge benefits from those Associates who have completed, or are currently undertaking, their studies and looks forward to offering these opportunities to more colleagues moving forward.” To find out how your business can benefit from GAs please visit www.uws.ac.uk/GAs

The fabric of the business community.

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

Working together to create a circular economy O

ur planet is incapable of supporting the current demands placed in its natural resources. The only way we will be able to ensure a sustainable supply of resources is to move away from the traditional ‘use and dispose’ model and accelerate the development of a more circular economy. To achieve this, Scotland has set some pretty ambitious targets for increasing recycling and reducing the amount of waste we produce. By 2025, the aim is to: · reduce total waste arising in Scotland by 15% against 2011 levels · reduce food waste by 33% against 2013 levels · recycle 70% of remaining waste · send no more than 5% of remaining waste to landfill As a nation we also aim match the EU ambition for all plastic packaging to be economically recyclable or reusable by 2030. Enva works in partnership with over 3000 Scottish businesses helping them make a positive contribution to these targets while also enabling them to meet their own sustainability objectives. In doing so we help our customers unlock the commercial, environmental and social value from sustainably managing their waste.

Investment We continue to invest in our Scottish recycling and resource recovery facilities. This includes our flagship materials recycling facility at Linwood which recycles over 90% of the material it processes. Any material that cannot be recycled is used in the manufacture of refuse derived fuels. These offer a sustainable alternative to rapidly depleting fossil fuels and helps our customers to achieve zero waste to landfill. We have also invested over £6 million in digital transformation. This has dramatically improved the efficiency of our processes and streamlined our operational relationships with our customers.

Innovation Innovation lies at the heart our business and is key in our ability to successfully recover more valuable resources, preserving their financial and environmental value. In Paisley, we have invested £2m in our 20,000-tonne capacity Ash Facility, an innovative treatment and recovery process that converts hazardous incinerator ash into a recovered aggregate, displacing quarried material in the manufacture of concrete. Treating material locally and reducing the associated haulage saves an estimated 950,000kg of CO2 annually. Our state-of-the-art facility in Blantyre is one of Scotland’s largest recyclers of organic wastes. On site we have two distinct recycling areas, one of which processes “co-mingled” green and food waste while the other is dedicated solely to green waste. These produce a nutritious soil conditioner and high-grade compost certified to British Standard PAS100 which is made available to local residents and

businesses. Our composting activities saved 12,840 tonnes of CO2 and help avoid the use of peat-based composts and growing media. Developing the circular economy The recovery of valuable resources is vital in the battle against climate change and resource scarcity. At Enva, we choose to support the circular economy. In short, this means that we facilitate and give effect to the production of new materials and products from otherwise discarded waste materials. Driving these circular outcomes reduces the need for virgin resources and the associated energy and CO2 impact of extracting, transporting and refining these materials. Enva’s focus on displacing primary or virgin materials by facilitating the reuse of waste materials avoided the generation of 346,000t of CO2 in 2021, saving 10 times more carbon than we produced in our own operations.

Enva can support the drive to lower your company’s carbon footprint and achieve your zero waste to landfill ambitions. Contact our team for further information. Visit enva.com/contact, call our team on 01505 321 000 or email marketing@enva.com - we’d be happy to transform your waste!

Business Matters Summer 2022

nt me ge na

Res ou rc e y ver co Re

Wa ste M a

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

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At Enva we are committed to recycling and resource recovery; it forms the basis of our business strategy and our values. We recover a broad range of hazardous and non-hazardous waste materials for re-use in manufacturing and energy conversion. Our dedication to developing new and innovative products, closed-loop recycling solutions and extending the life cycle of the world’s resources is driving our business forward.

346,000

33 locations

across UK and ROI

Saving 10x more carbon than we produce.

1600 employees

8x saving in 2020

Career growing opportunities

The fabric of the business community.

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Whether it’s producing recycled glass cullet for new bottles, aggregates for the construction industry or energy from waste oil, very little of what we collect is sent to landfill. Our continual investment in research and development allows us to recover even more waste materials from a host of consumer, commercial and industrial sources. We also provide a complete portfolio of industrial, water and waste water services.

tonnes of CO2 avoided

environment matters

96.4% of

waste diverted from landfill 94% in FY2019/20

enva.com

Derek Provan to step down as CEO of AGS Airports in 2023

erek Provan, chief executive of AGS Airports which owns Aberdeen International, Glasgow and Southampton airports, has today (Tuesday 12 July) announced he will step down from his position next year. Mr Provan, who joined AGS in April 2018, has taken the decision to step away from his executive role to pursue non-executive opportunities after 25 years in the aviation industry. He has agreed to remain in post until 31 March 2023 and will assist the AGS Board with the transition as it starts the process of appointing a successor. During his time at AGS, Mr Provan helped establish AGS as one of the UK’s

largest regional airport groups and, latterly, successfully steered it through the worst downturn in aviation history. Mr Provan joined AGS from Heathrow where he held the position of Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that he spent three years as Managing Director of Aberdeen International Airport. Derek started his aviation career in 1998 at Glasgow Airport where he went on to hold a series of senior leadership roles. Derek Provan said: “I have worked in aviation for almost 25 years and feel the time is now right to step away to pursue other challenges. I am very proud to have had the opportunity to lead AGS and to return to the airport where I first started my career in aviation. “Our airports are more than important pieces of infrastructure and throughout my time at AGS, I’ve always been very conscious of the important role they play in driving prosperity for the communities we serve. We have built a highly capable team at AGS

and my focus over the coming nine months will be to support them in restoring the vital connectivity that will allow our regions to thrive. “Despite the undoubted challenges of the past two years, AGS is in a very strong position with committed shareholders and I know the group will enjoy continued success.” Lena Wilson, chair of AGS, added: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Derek for his leadership and unwavering commitment to AGS. Not only has he navigated AGS through the recent downturn which brought much of our industry to a standstill, he has fostered extremely positive relationships with local and national government, and perhaps more importantly, with all our employees. Derek is one of the most talented leaders I have had the privilege to work with and we wish him well in his next exciting chapter. We are grateful he has agreed to remain in post as we work to appoint a successor.”

WHERE NEXT? FIND YOUR INSPIRATION glasgowairport.com/wherenext

Business Matters Summer 2022

Chancellor must act now as toxic combination of costs crisis hits Scottish economy

he cost of doing business is in crisis mode and is undermining Scottish business recovery and growth, according to the latest findings from a leading Scottish business survey by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC). Rising prices of energy, food and raw materials, coupled with labour market insecurity and a tightening of consumer purse strings have shrouded the economy with weaker growth prospects. The perfect storm of the costs crisis, exacerbated by the conflict in Europe, has led to a cashflow crunch which has frozen investment, led to price increases for consumers and squeezed profit margins. KEY FINDINGS: • INFLATIONARY CONCERNS DOMINATE: UK inflation has reached 9.1%, the highest in 40 years. Since April 2022, inflation has doubled and 9 in 10 Scottish firms across all sectors surveyed are continuing to report major inflationary pressures. • COST PRESSURES PILE ON: Businesses continue to be impacted by rising energy bills, 7 in 10 firms report that it is the largest contributor to their cost pressures. Fuel and labour costs, alongside raw material prices, are also significant concerns. • FIRMS TO RAISE PRICES: Over three quarters of all firms (77%) have indicated that they intend to raise prices next quarter. The sectors that reported the largest increases from the previous quarter were the financial & business services and tourism sectors. Stephen Leckie, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said: “The latest Scottish Chambers of Commerce business survey reveals that cost and inflationary pressures are deterring investment and forcing businesses with little choice but to make difficult decisions for business survivability. Urgent action is needed now from the Scottish and UK Government if we are to reverse the tide of economic decline, restore confidence and put the economy back on the road to growth.” LABOUR MARKET UNCERTAINTY: Recruitment difficulties have seen a 10% increase from the previous quarter, with half of all firms reporting increased challenges hiring staff. The sectors that saw the largest increases from Q1 2022 were the financial and business services, manufacturing and retail sectors. INVESTMENT FROZEN: Decisions on investment have been held back with 50% of all firms reporting no changes to levels of investment in the next quarter. The construction, retail and tourism sectors have reported significant cuts to investment over the last quarter.

The fabric of the business community.

QUARTERLY ECONOMIC INDICATOR

QUICK GUIDE RESULTS: Q2 2022

77% 77% of businesses expect to raise their prices over the next three months. RECORD HIGH INFLATIONARY PRESSURES REPORTED BY:

90% 9 in 10 of all firms

90% 8 in 10 firms in construction sector

80% 8 in 10 firms from all other sectors

Cost pressures are dominated by utility costs, with most sectors reporting that at least 7 in 10 firms are being affected by rising energy bills.

CASHFLOW & PROFITS RETAIL, TOURISM & CONSTRUCTION REPORT SUCCESSIVE FALL IN CASHFLOW & PROFITS

JOBS & LABOUR MARKET Across most sectors, firms are actively recruiting more but are also facing increased recruitment difficulties. The sectors that saw the largest increases were financial and business services, manufacturing and retail.

Visit ScottishChambers.org.uk to download full report

The Braehead Centre -

Now’s your time to shine

ecent activity at The Braehead Centre provides clear evidence that physical retail continues to thrive. With a host of new tenants signing on space over the last few weeks and visitor footfall back up, the popularity of in-person shopping remains. All of this is supported by a recent industry survey by PwC - highlighting the enthusiasm amongst younger consumers for physical stores visits, rather than buying online. According to the report, The Consumer Reconsidered, three in five under 35s now prefer shopping in-store rather than online, if they have the time. Almost two thirds (65%) of 18-24 year olds and 63% of 25-34 year olds also stated that they ‘love’ visiting stores in-person. The research found that more than half of under 35s would pay more for an enjoyable shopping experience. Physical

stores are central here – allowing for customer engagement that cannot be replicated online. In line with these trends, it has been a busy few weeks at Braehead. New openings include an upgraded H&M store and the first Scotland site for womenswear brand, Vanilla. The centre’s food and beverage offer has also been strengthened, with Jamaica Blue’s first casual dining concept eatery in Scotland and milkshake bar, Shakeaholic. In the coming weeks, new store openings include the luxury designer fashion store, Flannels; American sports gear retailer, Lids; fashionable on-trend jeweller, Lovisa and men’s designer clothing store, Suit Direct. Braehead also continues to offer new, independent businesses the opportunity to open in the mall - utilising promotional and pop-up spaces - giving them access to the millions of visitors who come every year.*

Peter Beagley, Braehead’s centre director said: “We’re excited for the new openings here at Braehead – which will continue to encourage the charge of shoppers back to the centre post-pandemic. “The value of in-person shopping remains clear. There is still nothing like seeing, touching, trying on and feeling the quality of what you’re thinking about buying. This is something that cannot be replicated online. “People also want their shopping to be more of a ‘day out’ experience now and with our extensive leisure and food and beverage offer, they get this here. “We’ve made Braehead more than just a shopping centre and that’s why we can deliver the footfall needed to attract household-name brands - whilst also offering support to smaller, independents, keen to expand.” *Contact the centre for further details at braehead. information@savillspm.co.uk

Now’s your time to shine

With more brands, more footfall, and more new stores coming, we’re offering an incredible opportunity for your business.

Visit us in centre or go to braehead.co.uk

Business Matters Summer 2022

Business keeps growing at Hillington Park

usiness doesn’t stand still and that’s certainly true for business at Hillington Park. Over the last twelve months development projects worth almost £17m have begun, and been completed, by Frasers Property with more planned over the next twelve months. The £14m West 100 & 200 development brought the former Rolls Royce engine factory site back to life by bringing 132,774 sq ft of new modern commercial units to a demanding market and was the biggest speculative new build scheme on Scotland’s largest industrial estate in over 25 years. Well-known Renfrewshire business, Kayfoam, was the first to secure a new unit at West 100 & 200 - the largest unit in the new development - to push forward its ambitious growth plans over the coming years. Further developments included the £1.9 million project to transform a dilapidated 1950’s site on Carnegie Road into a 22,540 sq ft energy efficient, modern warehouse facility and already it’s home to the expanding national fast food wholesaler, T.Quality.

The fabric of the business community.

John Bayne from Bayne’s the Family Baker

And with the growth of drive-up and drivethru retail, a further £1m investment by Frasers Property has resulted in the arrival of popular Scottish family business Bayne’s The Family Baker which has opened its first ever drive-thru unit serving those working on the estate, customers of the many businesses and others making a deliberate journey to buy their award-winning products. Grant Edmondson, Commercial Director at Hillington Park said: “At the heart of every new build or redevelopment investment project by Frasers Property at Hillington Park is its environmental impact and sustainability.

“The West 100 & 200 is targeting a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ sustainability with each unit benefitting from low-energy and water-efficient fittings, air source heat pumps for heating and cooling, and Electric Vehicle chargers. The Carnegie Road redevelopment, modelled by independent energy consultants Carbon Futures, has estimated that the installation of enhanced insulation, LED lighting, air-source heat pump efficient heating and removal of gas appliances, will reduce energy consumption by 79%. “We know there is high demand in the market in central Scotland for modern, environmentally efficient commercial units and we’re continuing to invest in that area to meet those requirements.” The business estate, which has been at the heart of Scottish industry for over 80 years, is home to over 500 companies operating in a wide range of sectors including transport & last mile logistics, automotive, construction services, manufacturing, engineering, retail, technology, and the public sector.

Chamber Launches New Strategy, Brand and Choice Based Membership Packages New Chamber Strategy

ollowing a consultation exercise with members, the board of Directors and staff team, the Chamber has completed a refresh of our strategy and developed a new business plan for the next three to five years. Our new strategy was launched at the recent B2B event at the end of May with President Liz Connolly & Chief Executive Bob Grant. In summary: • Our Purpose - Renfrewshire Chamber is the voice of business in Renfrewshire. We represent and support our members by making connections, encouraging growth, and inspiring ambition. • Our Vision - Provide marketleading support for business across Renfrewshire to grow and prosper in the local, national and global economies. • Our Values - Service, Quality, Professional, Respectful, Helpful.

In addition, we have developed and defined nine key areas of strategic importance which form our pillars of delivery in the coming years. You can read more about these initiatives in the following page. As part of that strategy, we have invested in a new brand, chamber website and choice-based membership packages. After a competitive tender process which members were invited to bid the internal project team awarded the contract to member Cole AD. As the Chamber website is mainly an online brochure detailing how we support our members, it was important we got them involved in the process. Survey results and focus groups with our members discussing our services and the role we play in supporting the Renfrewshire economy informed those decisions and the design of our new website and branding. We also took this time to reflect on how far we had come through the lockdown era and plan ahead for what we wish to achieve.

President Liz Connolly presents new Chamber strategy

President Liz Connolly said “We recognised now was the perfect time to review Chamber strategy and activity. The pandemic has given the team and board an opportunity to reflect, consult, and plan for the future, with our members at the heart of everything we do.” Chief Executive Bob Grant said “A big thank you to our directors, staff team and members who took part in the focus group workshops. We are delighted with the new strategy, brand and website launched by Cole AD. The feedback from members has been very positive so far. Overall, an excellent job from everyone involved.”

Business Matters Summer 2022

Renfrewshire Chamber Strategy Chamber Purpose:

Chamber Vision:

Renfrewshire Chamber is the voice of business in Renfrewshire. We represent and support our members by making connections, encouraging growth, and inspiring ambition. One:

Provide market-leading support for business across Renfrewshire to grow and prosper in the local, national and global economies.

Innovating

Six:

Encouraging Growth

Seven:

Continuing to innovate our offerings to members and the broader business community, developing relevant and unique services founded on core Chamber strengths and values.

Two:

Providing leadership and guidance in assisting our members to develop and achieve their positive environmental, economic, and social impact ambitions.

Continuing to innovate our offerings to members and the broader business community, developing relevant and unique services founded on core Chamber strengths and values.

Three:

Inspiring Ambition for Renfrewshire

Eight:

Digital Technology

Nine:

Accelerating the development of digital capability in all key areas of the Chamber business and utilising new digital technologies and skills to enhance the Chamber’s relationship with, and services to, members. Five:

Collaborating and Connecting

Encouraging and developing partnerships with key stakeholders, creating opportunities presented by local and national initiatives most meaningful to our members.

Membership

Developing new membership & pricing models that optimise value-for-money and that drive membership retention and growth.

Promoting Renfrewshire as a great place to do business through enhanced publicity, PR, and social media. Four:

Sustainability

Financial

Maintaining a sustainable business model that facilitates the Chamber’s ability to develop capabilities and services for members.

International Trade

Supporting members to navigate and develop international trade opportunities and providing export and customs documentation services.

The growth fabric ofofthe thebusiness businesscommunity. community.

Connect and Grow with Renfrewshire Chamber, the fabric of the business community. Renfrewshire Chamber exists to help your business connect and grow. We bring hundreds of companies together by making connections, encouraging growth and inspiring ambition. Welcome to our choice-based membership packages designed to give you the right level of support for your business at the right time. Members have access to more than 50 fantastic benefits to choose from. Renfrewshire is a place of ambition, global economic impact and innovation, excellent connectivity, a skilled, vibrant workforce, and a great place to do business. Improve your productivity, win new customers, raise your profile, build your networks, influence policy that impacts your organisation, get your products to global markets with International Trade documentation, find a business mentor, engage with your future workforce or win recognition for outstanding performance by your business and employees. We sit as part of a network of 53 accredited Chambers of Commerce throughout the UK and each one is the beating heart of their local business community representing 75,000 companies with a powerful voice to decision makers in UK & Scottish Government, highlighting the real issues that matter to you. So, I invite you to connect and grow with our community and together we can achieve a stronger, healthier economic environment with market leading support for your business. Welcome aboard! Bob Grant Chief Executive. Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce

Mhairi Gardiner Renfrewshire Council

Gordon White from fatBuzz

President Liz Connolly launches new strategy

Business Matters Summer 2022

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1 place at Chamber Lunch programme place at Chamber Networking Lunch programme Dedicated events series forNetworking corporate1members and 50% discount onin International Trade Documentation Take part membership discount scheme Take part in promotion membership discount promotion scheme covering six events per year to a value of £190 + vat. covering six events per year to a value of £190 + vat premier partners facilitating networking at a senior level Service. to win new biz - programme offerbiz mailchimp quarterly to win new - programme offer mailchimp quarterly in Renfrewshire and helping to build connections that 1 Exhibitor Stand for “Business Matters in Renfrewshire” 1 Exhibitor Stand for “Business Matters in Renfrewsh to 2000 email addresses. to 2000inemail addresses. 1/2 page ad “your business profile” Business Matters will add value to your business. – the largest free B2B networking event in Renfrewshire. – the largest free B2B networking event in Renfrews Magazineworth £350 approx. “Your business profile” “Your featured on chamber business profile”Linkedin featured on chamber Linkedin £150 + vat. £150 + vat. 1 placeValue at Chamber Networking LunchValue programme channel. channel. Take part in membership discount promotion scheme covering six events per year to a value of £190 + vat. A six monthly review of your dedicated membership A six monthly review of your dedicated membership to win Publish new bizyour - programme offer news & updates on Chamber Publishmailchimp your newsquarterly &website. updates on Chamber website. agreement to “Business ensure your goals and ambitions are met. agreement to ensure your goals and ambitions are 1 Exhibitor Stand for Matters in Renfrewshire” to 2000 email addresses. – the largest free B2B networking event in Renfrewshire. Free Meeting Room Hire - Meeting Room Hire Free An opportunity to present to theAnChamber board of opportunity to present to the Chamber board of “Your business profile” featured on chamber Value £150 + vat. 4 times per year Glasgow Airport. 4 times per yearLinkedin Glasgow Airport. directors about your business todirectors raise your business about your business to raise your business channel. profile.review of your dedicatedprofile. A six monthly membership 50% discounted rate for50% stand at B2B. rate for stand at B2B. discounted Publish your news & updates on Chamber website. agreement to ensure your goals and ambitions are met. A dedicated, exclusive email introducing your businessemail introducing your busin A dedicated, exclusive Social Media Support. Social Media Support. Free Meeting Room Hire to our membership and wider mailing lists.of to ourboard membership and wider mailing lists. An opportunity to present to the Chamber Account manager development Account managerplan annual development plandirectors about your business to raise your business 4 times per year Glasgowannual Airport. Dedicated time with Chamber CEO to support Dedicated time with Chamber CEO to support to help meet your objectives growth. to helpfor meet your objectives for growth. profile. your strategy, growth, and business ambitionsgrowth, in 50% discounted rate for stand at B2B. your strategy, and business ambitions in Introduction to 5 connections withintochamber Introduction 5 connections within chamber Renfrewshire. Renfrewshire. A dedicated, exclusive email introducing your business Socialmembership. Media Support. membership. to our membership and wider mailing lists. St Andrews Academy Rayond Kane & pupils from St Andrews Account manager annual development plan Dedicated time with Chamber CEO to support to help meet your objectives for growth. your strategy, growth, and business ambitions in Renfrewshire. Introduction to 5 connections within chamber

B2B 2022

Business Matters in Renfrewshire

Sponsored by:

enfrewshire Chamber held its 10th B2B event recently in Paisley following a 2-year pause. “Business Matters in Renfrewshire” was held in the Lagoon to help local businesses of all sectors and sizes grow and prosper. The event sponsored by Paisley.is attracted 60 exhibitors with over 300 attendees cross the whole day. The well attended 6 free seminars shared info & gave best practice on a range of hot topics: Seminar Line up: • “Paisley.is: Future Paisley, cultural regeneration, investments & AMIDS, home of manufacturing innovation” with the Paisley.is team & Renfrewshire Council. • “Connect & Grow - a new strategy, brand and choice-based membership packages to help grow your business.” with Renfrewshire Chamber. • “Embrace the Space - a mini masterclass on effective social media for business” with NSDesign. • “Support for your Business including net zero advice and becoming a supplier to the Council” with the Invest in Renfrewshire & Business Development teams. • “How to win business using LinkedIn” with Gordon White from fatBuzz • “5 Ways to generate more profit and develop a growth mindset.” With ActionCOACH. Commenting on the event Chamber chief exec Bob Grant said “thank you to all our exhibitors, speakers & sponsors” – the chamber hopes everyone involved benefited from #b2bpaisley. We aim to return for our 11th year in 2023 – and encourage all businesses and local organisations to support the event. As the largest free business event in the area – it is a great opportunity to see the breadth and depth of businesses out there, promote your business, and network & learn from others.”

Andy Goldberg, ActionCOACH

Gary Kenyon Renfrewshire Council

Barbara Walker PaisleyIS

Gary Ennis NSDesign

Colette Saez Renfrewshire Council

President Liz Connolly & CEO Bob Grant

Mhairi Gardiner Renfrewshire Council

Gordon White from fatBuzz

President Liz Connolly launches new strategy

Business Matters Summer 2022

Networking

Main Sponsor Paisley Is

Development Exec Stuart Murray

Networking

New branding launch

Networking around the stands

Networking with exhibitors

Chamber Team

St Andrews Academy

Rayond Kane & pupils from St Andrews

The fabric of the business community.

Up and Coming Events “Pitch and Roll” Breakfast Networking Event Thurs 25th August 9.30am10.30am Abbeymill Business Centre Foc for members

Chamber Chat: Available Grants & Funding for Businesses in Renfrewshire Thurs 18th August 10am10.45am with Robert Kinniburgh, Renfrewshire Council

Networking Lunch with Stephen Leckie, President Scottish Chambers of Commerce Wed 31st August 12pm-2pm. Ingliston Country Club & Hotel. Members £30+vat non-Members £40+vat

ROCCO Awards 2022 Friday 18th November at the Normandy with Host Fred MacAuley

Maximise your Membership Wed 28th Sept. 9.30am-11am. Come and join us at the Chamber Offfice to hear about the range of support for your business currently avaialble. FOC for members

facebook.com/renfrewshirechamberofcommerce Follow the chamber:

BUSINESS AWARDS 2022

twitter.com/renfrewshirecoc

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

Hospitality & Catering Chloe Halliday 0141 580 8552 chloehalliday@rangers.co.uk

Action Coach

Business Management Consultant Andrew Golberg 0141 881 9596 andrewgoldberg@ actioncoach.com

Pacitti Hamilton Ltd

Chartered Accountants Heather Hamilton 0141 849 7000 heather@pacittihamilton.com

Olapip Home

Manufacture / Retail Handmade Home Fragrance Manufacturer / Retailer / Wholesaler Nichola MacKay 07843 447421 hello@olapip.co.uk

Houghton Refrigeration & Air Conditioning

Industrial Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineers David Houghton 07711527803 davie2060@gmail.com

Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport

chamber

Hotel & Catering Suzanne MacDonald 0871 942 9031 suzi.macdonald@lghhm.com

Rays of Hope

Self-help Cancer Support Group Linda O’Malley 07941044934 omalley.linda@yahoo.co.uk

WEEE Solutions Ltd Waste Management/ Recycling Frank Shields 07936 360 166 f.shields@weee.co.uk

Queue Advertising Ltd

Publishing Design & Print Mark Hendry 0141 237 1300 markh@queueadvertising. co.uk

Muirmedia Creative Services Graphic Design / Print Branding / Photography / Creative Services Dave Muir 07970072263 dave@muirmedia.co.uk

Business Matters Summer 2022

Renfrewshire Chamber Golf Day - The Winners

he Chamber’s annual Golf Challenge returned on Friday 10th June following an enforced two-year break. 16 teams competed at Renfrew Golf Club for the top prizes and the honour of winning champion golfer of the year. We had the following worthy winners on the day: • Individual Winner: Ricky Murray from team Boyd Insurance. • Winning Team: Mabbett Team 2. • Nearest the Pin: Eric Richardson from team Boyd Insurance. • Longest Drive: Scott Hunter from team Milne Craig. Chamber Chief Exec Bob Grant commented: “Thank you to all the teams who took part to support the chamber golf day and your kind generosity with raffle prizes and tickets. We raised £1000 for chamber charity St Vincent’s Hospice – they have expressed their gratitude for your support. We had the best of the weather on Friday, the course was in fantastic condition and Alex Hammell, Managing Secretary and team at Renfrew Golf Club looked after us very well. Thanks also to our special guest Simon Donnelly for presenting the prizes. We’ll see you for the Chamber Golf Challenge in 2023!”

Longest Drive Scott Hunter from Team Milne Craig

Winning Team Mabbett Team 2

Individual Winner Ricky Murray from Team Boyd Insurance

Nearest the Pin Eric Richardson from Team Boyd Insurance

The Ardgowan Distillery companion+ Company await service for new visitor centre people in their golden years who would like W to enjoy life more O

t Olden Goldies we help change the lives of elderly people & their families by giving our clients something to look forward to and bringing happiness into their lives. With recent lockdowns life has been very difficult and left many of our Olden Goldies feeling lonely & isolated. There are still many challenges in our current times, but we are here to help Olden Goldies with daily tasks such as shopping, light housework, accompanied appointments or that all important trip ‘oot & aboot’ for lunch or coffee to the coast, the garden centre or anywhere of their choice. Our companions go the extra mile to make sure that our Olden Goldies are safe and happy doing the things that they love and enjoy. For a tailored service to suit your individual needs contact Barbara on 07765 418542 www.oldengoldies.co.uk

The fabric of the business community.

hile Ardgowan TILLER Distillery IS Company await completion of their landmark distillery and visitor centre in Inverkip, they have been bottling a range of award-winning whiskies under the watchful eye of Ardgowan’s Master Whisky Maker, Max McFarlane. Having already pledged that the new distillery will be carbon negative, work is underway to ensure the flagship building has the latest innovations in energy reduction, heat recovery and carbon capture. The building is designed to provide an ergonomic, energy efficient distillery and includes a glass-walled ‘sky platform’ with views of the Clyde. Alongside this commitment to sustainability is a commitment to hiring locally where possible, with a view to building a worldclass whisky distillery and visitor centre which will not only attract tourism but bring wider economic and social benefits to the surrounding area. Accordingly, the Company welcome contact from local suppliers and contractors who may wish to be considered for the project. Contact: Nicola Campbell whisky@ardgowandistillery.com NY LIM

Arnold Clark looks to the future through Girls With Skills

rnold Clark is helping young women take their first steps into a career in automotive through Girls With Skills. While the motor industry has traditionally been male-dominated, particularly on the technical side, this programme aims to make these opportunities more visible to everyone, giving young women a taste of what it’s like to become an apprentice. Girls With Skills first launched with a pilot scheme in 2019, but a wider rollout was delayed due to the pandemic. It returned in March 2022 with school and college students invited to apply to find out more about both Arnold Clark and what’s involved in an apprenticeship. The successful candidates began their journey with a taster day at GTG Training, Arnold Clark’s leading-edge teaching centre in Glasgow. They were given a tour of the facilities and took on some fun challenges in Arnold Clark’s apprenticeship van, which uses games to showcase some of the skills required throughout apprenticeship programmes. They were also able to meet some of the current Arnold Clark apprentices who answered any questions they had about the programme and the potential

career progression routes based on their experience of working in Arnold Clark workshops. Expert instructors were also available to share their knowledge and answer questions as the candidates got to grips with hands-on practical tasks. The day culminated with a practical test to find out if they had what it takes to go to the next level. Carole Anne McCann, Arnold Clark Group Recruitment Manager, said: ‘It’s a programme that was designed to help the gender imbalance within the automotive industry. Unfortunately, it had to be put on hold for the past couple of years because of the pandemic. Apprentices are really important to Arnold Clark; they’re the lifeblood of our organisation. Apprenticeships are designed to deliver and to help our business flourish.’ Following the taster days, the girls were invited to experience a week’s work experience in an Arnold Clark branch to find out more about the working environment, the mentorship within the branches and what they might be doing on a day-to-day basis should they pursue a career within the automotive industry. The programme finished with the Girls With Skills celebration event, held at GTG, where family and friends could attend to see the girls were recognised for their

achievements. This year saw eight of the group accepting a fast track to an Arnold Clark apprenticeship which begins in September. Arnold Clark will take on 400 new apprentices during 2022, with the first group starting in March and another due to join the company in September. They earn a wage the moment they begin, and enjoy all the benefits of employment while being given on-the-job training and working their way towards a qualification. Apprentices work at their local branches, and attend training blocks at the dedicated GTG training centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Wolverhampton. There are a range of apprenticeships available at Arnold Clark, including technician apprentices, body shop apprentices, parts apprentices and customer advisor apprentices.

Business Matters Summer 2022

ActionCOACH Business Coaching in Renfrewshire

aving recently expanded their offices to Paisley, ActionCOACH’s awardwinning business coach Andy Goldberg has returned to the Renfrewshire Chamber after some time away working in other areas. Andy brings over twenty years of leadership, sales, business and personal development experience to executives and business owners. Andy’s brand promise to growth companies is simple: Help committed business owners to grow their business at a faster rate, achieve record results, and get more LIFE from their business. Andy’s career as a business coach since 2010, and 24 years in sales and strategic account management, has prepared him in his business-leadership journey. Andy is an “all-rounder” but particularly enjoys and specialises in sales, leadership, and improving team performance and culture. Andy is certified and supported by the world’s #1 business coaching team, ActionCOACH Business Coaching. For more information or to book a complimentary coaching session, visit https://andrewgoldberg.actioncoach.co.uk/.

Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport T

he Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport had a £1million refurbishment to transform its public spaces and showcase a brand new Open Lobby concept on the ground floor. The traditionally separate zones of a reception, lobby, bar, lounge, restaurant and business centre have been merged into one cohesive ‘Open Lobby’ space where guests can operate in a more flexible and homely way. The multi-functioning zones will encourage guests to better utilise all areas and facilities in a way which works around their lifestyles and preferences. Key features of the new Open Lobby include free high-speed Wi-Fi, a ‘To Go’ Café where food and drinks are available 24/7, a versatile dining space with a range of seating from booths to high and low tables, a living-room style Media Lounge with comfy seating, games, magazines and TV and an E-Bar where guests can plug-in with lots of power points, a wireless printer and more. Suzi Macdonald 07518281185 Suzi.macdonald@lghhm.com

DESIGN A ROBOT

win an ipad

Calling all children in Renfrewshire, ages 4 to 12 Join in the Gadgeteers Summer Reading Challenge 2022 and get your free starter pack at your local library from Saturday 25th June. You can choose books from thousands available through One Ren libraries and join in the fun themed activities happening at a library near you.

TO ENTER THE COMPETITION

Why not enter our competition to design your own robot, sponsored by Doosan Babcock? Hand into your local library to be in with a chance of winning an ipad. Closing date : Saturday 20th August Winners announced : Monday 5th September Winners at each branch library will receive a goody bag and be entered into the final judging by Doosan Babcock for a chance to be the overall winner of an ipad.

The fabric of the business community.

For further information visit: www.renfrewshirelibraries.co.uk www.readingagency.org.uk

Introducing

MoneyWorks@RightWay

id you know? 1 in 4 employees lose sleep over money worries. And that… 55% of employers don’t offer any support to improve financial wellbeing, but 77% of employees admit worrying about money at work, which affects productivity, talent retention and absence rates. (REBA, 2019) MoneyWorks@RightWay is a Payroll Partnership Programme set up by Right Way Credit Union to provide and facilitate employers with the tools to help build financial resilience within the workplace. By offering your employees a way to save as they earn, you are demonstrating that you are invested in your staff and their financial wellbeing. Enabling staff to consistently save on a regular basis and/or repay affordable loans via deductions that are made directly from

their salary can have a positive impact on your staff wellbeing, while also reducing staff absenteeism and turnover costs due to financial stress. Our objective at Right Way Credit Union is to promote sound financial management by encouraging regular savings habits, educating our members in the wise use of money, promoting thrift, and offering access to affordable credit, when needed. Credit Unions are not-for-profit cooperatives that operate to offer the community they serve easy access to savings accounts, budgeting tools and affordable loans. Anyone who saves with the credit union automatically becomes a member of the cooperative. A member can apply to borrow from the pool of money created by the members savings and because the credit union is a mutual organisation, loans are

affordable and flexible. Having a low level of financial resilience leaves employees vulnerable to economic and financial shocks. During the pandemic it was identified that millions of households went into the economic crisis financially unprepared, with 1 in 4 of the population rarely or never saving and having less than £100 in savings. Email: moneyworks@rwcu.co.uk By signing up to our Payroll Partnership Programme and investing in your staff, you are investing in your business. If you feel that your business/ Scan Me organisation would benefit from offering this financial wellbeing service, please email us to get started. Email: moneyworks@rwcu.co.uk

William Grant & Sons reappoint Spectrum Service Solutions

enfrewshire based Facilities Management company, Spectrum Service Solutions is pleased to announce a new long term deal with William Grant & Sara Speirs Sons. Their relationship with one of the World’s most respected brands goes back to 2014, and they are delighted to confirm it will continue. Spectrum will be working with William Grant at three sites in Scotland; Dufftown, Cumbernauld and Bellshill, providing a full range of services at the facilities, including cleaning, janitorial, window cleaning, washroom servicing, ground maintenance and hydrogen peroxide cleaning. Spectrum’s Managing Director, Sara Speirs, spoke about the extended contract; she said: “This is exciting news for us. Winning a new contract is excellent, but having a long-term client renew a contract is extremely rewarding. It speaks volumes about the Spectrum team members working for the client and gives them a real boost. It

recognises all the good work they do day in and day out for the client. “It also provides a boost for the rest of the team. We work hard to establish the right processes and procedures, so when a respected client like William Grant shows faith in us, it sends a clear message to everyone that attention to detail and hard work is all worthwhile. “The reappointment doesn’t mean we will be resting on our laurels. Long-term relationships happen when there is firstclass communication with the client. It’s about building on the relationship and continuing to bring new ideas and new processes to the table. William Grant’s team has worked closely with us to ensure that our services meet the standards they expect.” About Spectrum Service Solutions Spectrum Service Solutions is a wellestablished company specialising in contract cleaning, facilities management, specialist and event cleaning contracts. It is proud to be a family-owned business with an all-female board with an annual turnover of £10m.

Spectrum operates throughout the UK and, over recent years, has become well known for its expertise in event cleaning, particularly at sizeable mass-audience sporting events and concerts. This year they will provide services at some of the most significant events in the UK, including the recent British Masters at The Belfry and the forthcoming World Cup Qualifier Match at Hampden Park Stadium. This summer will also take them to St Andrews for the 150th Open Championship, an event they have worked with for the past three years.

Business Matters Summer 2022

The fabric of the business community.

Glasgow City Region among five bids to become one of Scotland’s two green freeports

he Glasgow City Region is one of five bids to become one of two green freeports to be created in Scotland, under a scheme agreed by the Scottish and UK Governments. Freeports offer special tax incentives and lower tariffs for areas around airports, seaports and rail terminals. The five bids are: Clyde Green Freeport, Aberdeen City and Peterhead Green Freeport, Opportunity Inverness and Cromarty Firth, Firth of Forth Green Freeport and Orkney Green Freeport. Glasgow region has put in a bid with Glasgow Airport, Mossend Freight terminal and Peel Ports which owns the King George V Dock and other land along the River Clyde. If successful, it is thought the status will attract major new investment to Glasgow City Region, develop global trading opportunities and create tens of thousands of new jobs. The bid has already attracted

support from many key businesses and organisations based or operating within Glasgow City Region including Caterpillar, Malcolm Group, SP Energy Networks, the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, Morrison Construction and Loganair. “Our bid is multimodal, covering air, sea and rail, and will further unlock global trade, doubling capacity to take products from across Scotland to the rest of the UK, Europe and beyond,” said Kevin Rush, Clyde Green Freeport Bid Senior Responsible Officer and Director of Regional Economic Growth for Glasgow City Region. “It will provide an £18 billion uplift in GVA to 2034. Vitally it will tackle the Region’s greatest economic challenges – increasing productivity and generating more inclusive growth. This will be achieved through fast-tracking our world-class innovation economy and creating tens of thousands of jobs in communities across the Region with high levels of deprivation. Almost 40% of Scotland’s most deprived communities are

within the Clyde Green Freeport area. “With the biggest City Deal in the UK and the legacy of COP26, Glasgow City Region has a proven track record of delivery. As Scotland’s economic powerhouse, with unrivalled connectivity across the UK and beyond, we have everything in place to deliver a globally successful green freeport for our region, our residents, businesses, Scotland and the UK.” Key to the Clyde Green Freeport bid is a bold decarbonisation plan which would accelerate the Scottish and UK Governments’ net zero ambitions. The Clyde Green Freeport would achieve net zero by 2040, and would include a new district heating system; waste to energy projects; renewable energy generation and projects to roll out green fuel for air, rail, road and sea transport within industries which have been dominated by carbon – including a new £1 billion hydrogen plant which could fuel 25% of Scotland’s HGVs.

Raft of promotions & new talent intake for Azets in scotland

zets in Scotland has promoted 36 staff and announced that 39 graduates and school leavers will be joining the business this year. The 36 promotions include a new Head of Cyber Services – Paul Kelly in Edinburgh - and 3 new Directors – Sally Cheeney in Perth, Matthew Allan in Aberdeen, and Matthew Swann in Edinburgh. Additionally, Ian Craig has been promoted to lead the Perth office. Commenting, Peter Gallanagh, Azets’ CEO for Scotland and the North said: “We invest heavily in our staff and in attracting new graduate and trainee talent into the accountancy profession. Our staff are encouraged and supported to pursue their career ambitions across the wider Azets group which offers exciting opportunities within the UK and across Europe.” Peter Gallanagh added: “The business is performing strongly, and we have a range of interesting positions available across all practice areas. Accountancy provides a superb basis for a diverse career, and we would encourage ambitious people looking for a career move to contact us, including retired professionals who might want to return to the workplace.”

Business Matters Summer 2022

Acquisition of leading consultancy GEP ENVIRONMENTAL enhances MABBETT’S energy and environmental capabilities and broadens UK reach

lasgow-headquartered planning, design, environment, engineering and safety consultancy Mabbett & Associates Ltd (Mabbett) has continued its strategic growth journey with the acquisition of leading energy and environmental consultants, GEP Environmental Ltd (GEP Environmental). The majority investment in the Hampshire-based company - which has offices in Winchester, Edinburgh, Anglesey and Caerphilly - cements a decade-long working relationship between Mabbett and GEP Environmental. The deal will significantly enhance the technical resources and service offering of the combined group (which will number in excess of 100 people) whilst also extending its reach to cover the entire United Kingdom, adding to current Mabbett offices in Belfast, Cardiff, Carlisle, Dundee, Forres, Glasgow, Inverness, Leicester, Liverpool and Rosyth. Speaking about the investment, Mabbett Managing Director, Derek J. McNab, said: “We are delighted to add GEP Environmental to the Mabbett group in a deal that we believe will bring huge benefits to the clients of both companies going forward, not to mention the new opportunities that the enhanced service offering and reach will bring. “Having enjoyed a decade-long working relationship with GEP Environmental - as contractor/sub-contractor and vice versa - we have long admired their values and capabilities. There are great synergies between the companies in the energy engineering and environmental sectors but also some complementary skillsets and services that will introduce new ways of doing things for both companies. I think learning from each other will make us stronger as a unit.” GEP Environmental Director and Principal Environmental Consultant, Peter Schofield, commented: “It’s great to announce that we have joined the Mabbett group at what is an exciting time for both companies. There is so much appetite and

The fabric of the business community.

Highlights: •

Enhanced technical resources and service offering will create new opportunities

•

All GEP Environmental management & staff retained

•

Combined group to employ more than 100 people across 13 UK offices

opportunity in the marketplace right now for the services we both offer and, together, we will be able to better capitalise on them. “GEP will now be able to offer the integrated end-to-end service - from strategy through to implementation - it is known for across a much broader spectrum of services, which will be a huge plus to our collective client base.” Acquiring GEP Environmental is Mabbett’s third major strategic investment since transitioning into Inverness-based investment company, GEG Capital Ltd. Mabbett acquired leading Highland planning and design consultancy, GHJ, in Q1 2022 as well as the acquisition of the assets of Nevis Environmental, an independent ecology, environmental management, and

planning services consultancy. The deal comes on the back of a year of double digit growth at Mabbett in which time they have added 25 new staff positions across the UK. Speaking about Mabbett’s latest acquisition, GEG Capital Director, Jia MacKenzie, said: “We welcome GEP Environmental into the Mabbett group. With excellent values, reputation and capabilities in their field, we see them as a perfect match for Mabbett, and expect it to be a catalyst for further growth both regionally and sector-wise. Alongside Mabbett MD, Derek J. McNab, we look forward to working with Peter Schofield, Glyn Mountford and their team to pursue the abundant opportunities in a growing sector.”

The Five S’s:

Effective content strategies for business owners, leaders and managers.

hen it comes to social media, most businesses automatically go into marketing mode. A platform to promote, sell, advertise and raise awareness of what they do, the products or services they sell, and why you should buy them. While that might be a suitable strategy for a brand, for people on social media, I think the approach should be different - especially if you’re a business owner, leader or manager. I expect your website, shop window, or sales brochure to try and sell to me. I also expect your Managing Director to promote the business, but in a different way altogether. Business leaders influence others by example (none more so than their own staff) and setting the tone for the company culture, ethics, and trust is achieved by what they post onto their LinkedIn and Twitter profiles (you can include TikTok too if you’re brave enough). Here are my five suggestions for “nonsalesy” content ideas anyone can use to build a better social presence, and increase your leadership credentials.

The 5 S’s If you’ve read our recently published “Embrace the Space” book, you’ll know I like my acronyms, lists, frameworks, and aidememoirs. My 5 S’s should be simple enough to remember and easy enough to adapt to suit your own style. 1.Shout-Out It’s not all about you (despite what McFly might tell you), and a good business leader is always first to give a shout-out on their social channels. It might be praise for a member of the team who did a cracking job.. or mentioning a client or supplier and a project they have just completed or an industry award they’ve recently won. Showing gratitude for those around you, and championing other’s success stories speaks volumes as to the person you are, and the relationships you value. 2. Share The 2nd of our S’s is an easy content strategy as it doesn’t involve too much original creative thought! Simply by clicking the ‘Share’ or ‘Re-Tweet’ button on an existing social media post that caught your own attention, you quickly reinforce to your audience what’s important and share-

worthy to you. It could be industry news, updates from key partner organisations, or just something that made you smile (being cautious to remember that not everyone’s humour is the same). Sharing valuable updates from others show your network that you’re ‘plugged in, switched on, and connected’ and always remember to add just a wee something on top from yourself - if nothing else, a short explanation of why you’re sharing it. Oh - and please make sure you’ve actually read the thing you’re sharing, otherwise it might come back and bite you (you’d be surprised)! 3. Say-So Our 3rd strategy is closely aligned to what you’ll have heard being called ‘thought leadership’. Having your say-so on something is essentially you having the self belief that what you think matters, and you’re happy to let others know it. It could be an opinion, a view on the industry, or even (with caution) your thoughts on political or social issues. Things which affect you, your business, your team, your customers, industry or the business world as a whole. While others around you are adding to the noise on social media shouting loudly trying to sell things, you’ll be positioning yourself head and shoulders above them by having your say on important things, said with authority, conviction and passion. Views which even if I disagree with them, I’ll be hard pushed not to respect you and your willingness to raise them, and express your concerns, opinions, and experiences. Many small business owners in particular are frightened to have their say-so. Don’t be - it could possibly be your best social media post given the engagement you might encourage, and don’t worry about negative comments or differences of opinion - managed well with courtesy and respect, the ongoing discussion could last for weeks. 4. Shoulder Being a ‘shoulder to cry on’ on social media is about being there for others when they need you. Whether it’s employees who need some TLC (and have raised the issue themselves on public social channels), a local cause or charity that needs support, or even other competitor business in your industry - giving a social shoulder, and showing empathy, compassion, even anger at issues affecting others, and letting them

know you’re there for them is a powerful statement. Given the state of the world right now, with all the uncertainty, anxiety, health issues, job losses and business challenges caused by COVID-19, the need for a shoulder is arguably more needed now than ever before. Even just raising awareness of someone else’s plight shows people the causes that matter to you, and by extension, your business values and culture. 5. Social Perhaps an obvious one to finish with - but more business leaders need to be more social. The clue is in the title - “social media” - meaning it’s full of people, being people, talking to other people. Be more social. Don’t be frightened (even on LinkedIn!) of revealing something personal about yourself. Sharing some details of you ‘outside work’, maybe even (God Forbid!) giving an insight into your family, friends, hobbies and passions. People do business with people, and giving current and prospective customers, staff, and partners a better understanding of who YOU really are is always a good thing (unless your hobbies include collecting navel fluff - apparently a thing - or you’ve just shared that video of you singing along with 90’s boyband 5ive - despite the abuse, I don’t regret it for a second! - You can Google it.)

Challenge Yourself The easy (and obvious) social media post is another “S” - The Sales Post. I’m not saying don’t sell on your social media profiles, but as the owner, leader or manager in your organisation, I urge you to mix it up with the other 5 S’s. Challenge yourself - aim for each of the five S’s across your social media channels next week. Some will overlap - a “Shout Out” might also be a “Share”, or a “Shoulder” might cross into a “Social”. I’d love to know your thoughts....

Business Matters Summer 2022

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Renfrewshire Council Updates:

Once-in-a-generation investment providing huge boost to Renfrewshire economy

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson sets out his commitment to Renfrewshire businesses over new term

y SNP administration is immensely proud to return to lead Renfrewshire Council for another five years – continuing in our commitment to support local businesses and create the conditions for growth. It’s undoubtedly been a very challenging time for business. It’s hoped we are now emerging from the coronavirus pandemic however the war in Ukraine and rising inflation is presenting us with additional challenges which we must navigate to ensure we invest in our place to deliver benefits for those who live and work here. A once-in-a-generation investment is being made in infrastructure, innovation and skills across Renfrewshire. This will make a real difference to the opportunities in the area – for those who invest and build their businesses here, for those who work and live here - and it is fantastic to see that investment now start to take shape. This includes: · Developing AMIDS, Scotland’s home of manufacturing innovation

Transforming Paisley Museum into a world-class visitor destination and enhancing cultural venues in Paisley town centre · Start-Up Street business centres in Johnstone, Paisley and Renfrew · New walking and cycling routes including 5km between Renfrew and Paisley · £266million capital investment in Council housing · The first River Clyde opening road bridge · Four further new and restored bridges across the White Cart and Black Cart rivers, including a road bridge at Paisley Harbour · Transport links between Paisley and AMIDS · Paisley Grammar School Community Campus · Low carbon renewable energy district heating network Realising this investment will deliver huge benefits, not least a strong, productive economy, with more jobs and opportunities for local people. It will boost business and attract inward investment, opening up new areas for development, while enabling us to meet our net zero target. It will also better connect communities to the new jobs and opportunities, tackling inequalities and supporting our ongoing

work to make Renfrewshire a great destination to live, visit, work, start and grow your business in. We want the workforce in Renfrewshire to have the skills, knowledge and talent needed to support the local business growth and have established strong partnerships with the college, created apprenticeships to benefit the next generation and are delivering a plethora of programmes supporting people of all ages and stages through our employability service. The new developments include skills centres and research facilities right on our doorstep, giving people in Renfrewshire a fantastic opportunity to be at the forefront of the latest learning and secure highly skilled jobs. Throughout the pandemic we worked hard to be there for business – listening to local needs by surveying more than 500 companies and responding with a package of targeted grants, complementing Scottish

Business Matters Summer 2022

Renfrewshire Council Updates:

government funding, together totalling £55million. That helped companies remain resilient and indeed invest in new ways of working and we also worked with the local business community to provide paid placements and work opportunities for hundreds of young people, giving them the support and

opportunity they needed at just the right time. These measures have helped return unemployment to pre-pandemic levels and now we are looking to make the next step. Guided by the 10-year economic strategy devised and developed in partnership with business, enterprise and education leaders

in Renfrewshire, we will realise its aims – creating more jobs and putting more money into the local economy. I firmly believe Renfrewshire is the perfect place to start and grow a business, with funding packages and wraparound support fostering an entrepreneurial environment. Collaboration and responding to the needs of our local businesses, enterprise, education and communities remains central to achieving successful inclusive economic growth. And every action we take to support the economy considers climate change and achieving our ambition for Renfrewshire to be net-zero. One immediate decision following the local government elections was to introduce a new board focused entirely on the economy and regeneration. We have done this as it is a strategic priority of my administration and we remain committed to shaping a vibrant local economy, helping to create a green, resilient, welcoming environment with strong town centres, places where businesses want to be and where communities flourish.

Invest in…

Creative Industries

Business & ICT

Childcare, Social Care and Health Care

Construction, Manufacturing, Security and Logistics

Customer Service

Jobs | Training | Skills | Recruitment

The fabric of the business community.

Renfrewshire Council Updates: Supplier opportunities at Clyde Waterfront construction project

ivil engineering specialists GRAHAM are advertising a range of services of interest to small businesses as part of a major infrastructure project in Renfrewshire. GRAHAM secured the construction contract from Renfrewshire Council to deliver the Clyde Waterfront and Renfrew Riverside project. Construction includes building a two-lane opening road bridge across the River Clyde at Renfrew and a 750-metre development road connecting into the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) next to Glasgow Airport. There’s also improved routes for walking and cycling linking to Yoker train station and the national cycling network. The Glasgow City Region City Deal-funded project will create an attractive waterfront area and connect communities to work, health, education and leisure. It is anticipated to attract up to £230million in waterfront developments, with the potential to bring more than 2,000 permanent and temporary jobs. GRAHAM – who have a waterfront office at Braehead – have set up their site accommodation either side of the Clyde, providing a base for more than 120 people. Now they are looking for a range of services and supplies as construction progresses. All sub-contracts over £10,000 are being advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland website as part of the construction contract commitment. And there are other services – including catering, vehicle valeting and window cleaning – required now.

Jim Armour, GRAHAM Contracts Manager, said: “Now the site accommodation is in place we’re looking for a range of services and supplies and I would encourage local businesses to visit our project website for more information. “We’re delighted to be delivering this important construction project and are bringing fantastic supply chain opportunities to Renfrewshire and wider Glasgow City Region.” Anyone interested can find out more at www.graham.co.uk/ clyde-waterfront

Net Zero grants helping Renfrewshire businesses to a successful and sustainable future

usinesses in Renfrewshire can apply for a new grant bringing them big benefits and playing their part in Renfrewshire achieving its climate change targets. The £500,000 Net Zero Business Fund has been created by Renfrewshire Council and is now open for online applications. Small and medium sized companies can apply for grants up to 50 percent funding to a maximum of £10,000 to make carbon reducing changes to their premises and operations. This could be switching to solar powered energy and other zero carbon generating technologies, installing energy-efficient lighting or making building upgrades to improve insulation. Businesses can also use the funding towards new equipment which delivers zero carbon operating processes like moving to digital services.

Councillor Jim Paterson, Convener of the Council’s Planning and Climate Change Policy Board, said: “Reaching net zero is key to tackling the global climate emergency and that’s why we’re committing funds and driving action to make Renfrewshire net zero by 2030. “To achieve this ambition, everyone will have to play their part, including local businesses. We’ve established the net-zero business fund to help small and medium businesses in Renfrewshire make vital carbon reducing changes. “As well as the benefits to the local environment, by adopting greener operations businesses will enjoy big benefits such as cost savings and greater resilience, while also meeting the growing consumer demand for sustainable brands.” The online application form at www.

renfrewshire.gov.uk/business-grantsand-loans takes around 10 minutes to complete. As part of the application, businesses provide their baseline carbon footprint data, with handy guides on how to do this available from Scottish Enterprise and Business Energy Scotland. Renfrewshire Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and is preparing a plan for net-zero, shaped by business and community consultation. Alongside this, the Council is adapting to more sustainable service delivery, replacing its fleet with electric vehicles and making Council homes energy efficient just some of its initial activities. Businesses interested in finding out more about the grant funding and for advice and support can contact Green Economy Officer Mhairi Gardiner by email to mhairi. gardiner@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

Business Matters Summer 2022

Could you be our next Climate Hero? D YW West are seeking employers from across the region to support “Climate Heroes” an initiative developed as part of My Climate Path, the education legacy programme building on COP26, to showcase the careers & opportunities involved in the green economy. If your role includes any of the following then you could be an ideal Climate Hero: Sustainability | Environment | Reducing energy & waste costs | carbon reduction | Net Zero etc. To be a climate hero the organisation / person(s) needs to: • Be in a green related role • Support the Young Person’s Guarantee • Engage with a school class once a term (near your home or work) • Offer at least 1 work experience for a min 5 days Several organisations from across the region are already getting involved including: NMIS, West College Scotland, NHS GGC & Renewable Parts. Your organisation does not need to directly work in the green sector but could for example have a person responsible for the areas mentioned above. For more info please visit https://myclimatepath.scot/climateheroes/ or email info@dywwest.co.uk

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

Can your organisation

support the

The fabric of the business community.

The 5 asks are:

1. Prepare young people for the world of work (e.g. support a school, offer work experience, mentoring) 2. Help young people to achieve their potential (e.g. support those looking for work, CV prep, work experience) 3. Invest in a skilled workforce (e.g. offer apprenticeships – modern or graduate) 4. Create jobs, volunteering and training opportunities (e.g. Kickstart, volunteering, paid work experience / interns) 5. Create an inclusive and fair workplace (e.g. living wage, disability confident etc.) Employers don’t need to support all 5. If you are interested please email info@dywwest.co.uk and we can help you complete the form and support you on your journey to achieving the relevant asks (such as direct support from DYW or signpost / refer to partner organisations). Almost 500 employers across Scotland have so far pledged their support.

Forecast checked. Helmet on. Let’s go.

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