CHAMBER NEWS
Great advice for networking lunch Renfrewshire Chamber recently had two chiclets from Entrepreneurial Spark (the world’s largest business accelerator) speak to the members. Morag Pavich and Carol Smille talked passionately about their business ventures and the support eSpark has provided. Commenting on their talks, Chamber Chief Executive’ Bob Davidson said “Carol and Morag went down a storm at our recent networking lunch – with both sharing great advice for women, men in business. Delivered with passion and humour – it is no surprise that their business ventures are heading for real success. Morag Pavich of Mo’s Cookie Dough, spent her life being dragged between Greenock and San Francisco. As a former Communications Director, she enjoyed an international career but it was her love of cookies and a surprise third baby which spurred her long-standing ambition to launch her own business. From a kitchen table start, Mo’s Cookie Dough was launched into retailers in 2013 and is now stocked in over 100 independents as well high-end multiples such as Whole Foods, Booths, Waitrose and Ocado. Carol has been a TV presenter for the past 28 years fronting shows like Wheel of Fortune The National Lottery, Holiday, Changing
Carol Smillie, Honorary President Tom Johnston & Morag Pavich
Rooms but she’s now ‘Changing Careers’ with friend and partner Annabel Croft, bringing a completely new and innovative idea to market. DiaryDolls are pretty pants with a secret waterproof panel for heavy periods, pelvic floor weakness and post
maternity. Since launching less than 3 years ago, they are now available in over 500 stores across the UK and are literally changing the lives of women all over the world. www.diarydoll.com
Get your business on track with Borders Rail businessmen and women in the National Mining Museum Scotland in Newtongrange. The meeting took place only yards from where workmen were putting the finishing touches to the new station, one of seven built for the new 30-mile line which will carry passengers from Tweedbank near Melrose to Edinburgh Waverley in around an hour.
The packed hall of more than 120 at the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, for the Borders Rail presentation. Pic Nigel Duncan Media.
The new Borders Railway link will have a major impact on Midlothian, council and business bosses claimed at the recent Business Breakfast event. The opening of the new rail line in September will bring the area to within 25 minutes of Edinburgh and 1hr 20min of Glasgow, opening up new business opportunities. Kenneth Lawrie, chief executive of Midlothian Council, claimed: “The impact on Midlothian will be enormous.” He was addressing a packed audience of more than 120 small and micro-
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And the £300m investment is forecast to carry 600,000 passengers rising to 1 million annually. Mr Lawrie declared: “The case for the Borders rail line is rock solid. This part of Scotland, and Midlothian in particular, will see the greatest economic growth in any part of Scotland in the next 20 years.” And he added: “We want to see business in Midlothian grow, providing high value jobs. “The Borders Railway is a fantastic opportunity for Midothian businesses and the community. We must take full advantage of this. Mr Lawrie added that the area was already on the map because of its science and research sector at the Pentland Science Park and at the Roslin Institute, world-famous
for Dolly the Sheep 19 years ago, the first animal to be cloned from an adult cell. Major employers like the Scottish Qualification Authority office at Shawfair near Dalkeith are already located in Midlothian along with leading garden retail brand, Dobbies. There are also 120 food and drinks firms, 180 in creative industries, 170 tourism companies, over 250 firms in finance and 98 per cent of Midlothian businesses are small firms, employing less than 50 people. The rail investment, he claimed, will make Midlothian a better place to live as it will have four stations within 25 minutes of Edinburgh’s main station at Waverley. The location, he forecast, will attract more commuters who want to stay near Scotland’s Capital. It will, he added, also have a significant impact on tourism and other business sectors. George Archibald, chief executive officer of Midlothian Chamber, who welcomed delegates, said: “The opening of the Borders Railway is an exciting prospect and we hope it will provide a lasting boom.”