Lanarkshire incommerce iss16 issuu by dtech

INcommerce

THE Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

THE TOWN WITH A SMILING FACE STRATHAVEN SPECIAL

ISSUE 16

WORKSHOP COUNTY ENGINEERING SPECIAL + LOTS MORE INSIDE

Douglas Park

The Ultimate Driving Machine

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BMW 420d M SPORT GRAN COUPÉ MONTHLY RENTALS FROM £325 (PLUS £1,950 INITIAL RENTAL*).

(PLUS £1,674 INITIAL RENTAL*).

For more information or to arrange a test drive†, call us on 01698 303700 or visit www.douglasparkhamiltonbmw.co.uk

Douglas Park 14 Bothwell Road, Hamilton ML3 0AY 01698 303700 www.douglasparkhamiltonbmw.co.uk Official fuel economy figures for the BMW range: Urban 13.8-72.4mpg (20.5-3.9l/100km). Extra Urban 26.2-91.1mpg (10.8-3.1l/100km). Combined 20.3-83.1mpg (13.9-3.4l/100km). CO2 emissions 352-89g/km. Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions.

Douglas Park is a Credit Broker *Offer available to business users only. Price shown for a BMW 520d M Sport Saloon Auto excludes VAT at 20% and is for a 36 month Contract Hire agreement with a contract mileage of 30,000 miles and excess mileage charge of 13.53p per mile. Price shown for a BMW 320d Sport Saloon with Professional Media Pack excludes VAT at 20% and is for a 36 month Contract Hire agreement with a contract mileage of 30,000 miles and excess mileage charge of 11.24p per mile. Price shown for a BMW 420d M Sport Gran Coupé excludes VAT at 20% and is for a 36 month Contract Hire agreement with a contract mileage of 30,000 miles and excess mileage charge of 11.24p per mile. Applies to new vehicles ordered between 1 March and 31 May 2015 and registered by 31 August 2015 (subject to availability). At the end of your agreement you must return the vehicle. Excess mileage, vehicle condition and other charges may be payable. Available subject to status to UK residents aged 18 or over. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. The amount of VAT you can reclaim depends on your business VAT status. Terms and conditions apply. Offer may be varied, withdrawn or extended at any time. Hire provided by BMW Group Corporate Finance. BMW Group Corporate Finance is a trading style of Alphabet (GB) Limited, Europa House, Bartley Way, Hook, Hampshire RG27 9UF. †Test drive subject to applicant status and availability. Douglas Park Ltd is an appointed representative of Park’s of Hamilton (Holdings) Limited 14 Bothwell Road Hamilton ML3 0AY, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We can introduce you to a limited number of lenders to assist with your purchase, who may pay us for introducing you to them.

Contents Welcome...................................... 3 News in Brief................................ 4 The town with a smiling face...... 10 Business leaders support placement scheme...................... 14 University of the West of Scotland.............................17-19 Clyde extension wind farm gears up for construction........... 20 Reducing health inequalities in Scotland.................................. 22

Regis Banqueting make wedding day dream come true... 26 North Lanarkshire Leisure’s digital campaign.......................... 29 The county that shaped the world.................................... 32 The Saltire Foundation lobbies Lanarkshire businesses... 35 I didn’t get where I am today..... 39 Ask The Professionals................. 40 The Political Column.................. 42

Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce Suite 4, West Stand New Douglas Park Cadzow Avenue Hamilton ML3 0FT t: 01698 426882 f: 01698 424699 e: info@lanarkshirechamber.org

For advertising contact DTech on T: 0141 222 2202 E: sales@incommerce.biz Editorial management by Blueprint Media www.blueprintmedia.co.uk E: incommerce@lanarkshirechamber.org

ello, and welcome to the Spring 2015 issue of Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly magazine, In Commerce. And, if you will forgive me the cliche, not only is spring in the air, but there is a spring too, I believe, in the step of the many Lanarkshire business owners and managers I meet on my regular visits to the offices and workplaces which drive our steadily improving economy. In this issue we focus on that staple of Lanarkshire life over many years, the engineering industry. And, while it may no longer dominate the local economy as it once did, there is plenty of cause for optimism in the many local engineering businesses which ply their trade on the global market and have a deserved reputation for innovation, smart thinking and ferocious ambition to succeed. Also in this issue we continue our acclaimed series of profiling Lanarkshire’s vibrant towns with our focus on Strathaven, a sparkling south Lanarkshire gem of business excellence and unsurpassable quality of life. Inside too we look at a range of Lanarkshire’s business success stories, at companies being driven forward by Chamber members as well as the range of initiatives led by both north and south Lanarkshire Councils to boost employment

and give our youngsters the opportunity to find fulfilling work and to develop further their skills. Nor do we overlook the opportunities which Lanarkshire businesses have before them to play their part in creating a better community for all by featuring the ambitious plan of the St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie to recruit business supporters for its longterm development programme. With our regular update from Lanarkshire’s own University of the West of Scotland and a series of contributions from experts in the worlds of politics, property and local government, we hope you will find much to enjoy. As ever, we ask you to share your success stories with your fellow Chamber members and invite contributions and news releases on your new contracts, new employees, new premises, and on all the other developments which enhance our Lanarkshire business environment. Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce continues to grow its membership and is always anxious to hear how it can improve our usefulness to your business, so please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Neil Kennedy Chief Executive, Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Publisher: DTech Distribution: DTech Distribution InCommerce is published by DTech. Suite3.3, Station House, 34 St Enoch Square, Glasgow G1 4DF. Telephone 0141 222 2202. E-mail: info@dtechuk.com. Editorial management by Blueprint Media www.blueprintmedia.co.uk. E: incommerce@lanarkshirechamber.org InCommerce is fully protected by copyright and nothing may be printed wholly or in part without the written permission of the publishers. The proprietors of this magazine are publishers and not agents, or sub-agents of those who advertise therein. They cannot be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of information gained from this publication. The views expressed by authors of articles published in this magazine are solely those of the author and are not necessarily the views of or shared by the editor, nor the publisher or the directors, shareholders and/or employees of DTech Publishing Ltd.

The Chamber is grateful to our partners for their financial support.

lifeSKILLS c e n t r e s

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Ichor System’s European head office opens....................... 25

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S WELCOME

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2015: The year of the pension... 23

News in Brief...

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Fantastic fifth win for Eureka Solutions at Sage Developer Awards Introducing Greenhills S

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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

tewart Meikle, Commercial Director of AmeyCespa, the waste division of infrastructure company Amey and who is based at Amey’s Eurocentral office in Motherwell, writes to tell fellow members of the Chamber about a new project the company is proposing for North Lanarkshire.

There is an increasing need for us to do more to save our environment and natural resources and a key way of doing so is by increasing the amount of materials we reduce, recycle and reuse. AmeyCespa is proposing to build a new waste treatment facility in North Lanarkshire. Greenhills is a state of the art Energy from Waste (EfW) facility designed to handle waste from five Scottish local authorities as part of the Clyde Valley Residual Waste Project. The Clyde Valley Residual Waste Project is a shared service contract agreed by a consortium of Partner Councils, comprising North Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire, North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire Councils, to share waste management services. A contract has gone to tender by these Partner Councils and AmeyCespa is one of three waste management companies involved in the bid process. The Greenhills facility is our proposed solution. Once built, Greenhills will be capable of handling up to 300,000 tonnes of household waste each year. Unusable waste materials will then be used to fuel an EfW plant, which in turn will produce electricity for exporting to the grid. Greenhills will help to transform the local area, creating new jobs for local people and turning local waste into energy for the local community. There will also be a visitor and education centre created for the use of the community and schools. During the construction phase of the project, it is expected that several hundred jobs will be created, with further long term jobs being created once the facility has been built. Greenhills will allow household waste to be diverted from landfill, save taxpayers’ money and prevent landfill from contributing to the production of greenhouse gases, such as methane. We believe Greenhills will serve as a catalyst for all local businesses by providing either direct opportunities to join our supply chain, or by providing goods and services to the facility and our sub-contractors during the construction and operation stages of the project. As Chamber members we want to ensure local businesses are aware of this project and we hope to be able to work with many of you in the future.

Pictured, from left to right:Brendan Flattery – Sage CEO UK & Ireland David Lindores – Eureka Solutions General Manager, Development & Implementation Steve Atwell – Sage Managing Director SMB UK & Ireland Gillian Livingstone – Pre Sales Consultant at Eureka Solutions Michael Kenney – Sage Manager, Sage Developer Services

ne of Scotland’s leading business software developers, Eureka Solutions, based in East Kilbride, won its fifth Sage Custom Solutions Partner of the Year 2014 award at the business software giant’s Annual Awards ceremony in London last month. There are more than 900 Sage Developers in the UK. Eureka Solutions has previously won this award in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013. The Custom Solutions Partner of the Year Award recognises developers who demonstrate expertise in translating the specific requirements of Sage customers into value-added solutions, which help them do better business. To win, the Eureka Solutions team, led by David Lindores and Alyson McMenemy, gave a presentation in Newcastle detailing some of the key products and bespoke solutions it had developed for a wide variety of customers. Managing Director at Eureka Solutions Alistair Livingstone said: “We now have an existing product library of more than 400 off the shelf products and bespoke solutions for Sage 200. By our estimates more than 20% of relevant UK sites using Sage 200 have Eureka Solutions add-ons installed and that is really amazing. “The award confirms the breadth, quality and usefulness of our products alongside the technical expertise required to consistently produce award winning products.”

A glass act Hamilton man helps with luxury restaurant’s 600 mile journey.

Mark said: “It is a stunning building that has not only proven itself to be adaptable to two very different environments, but also resilient and sustainable. It is a decade old now but it looks and feels every bit as impressive as it did on day one.”

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Left to Right: Mark Ellis, Carole Mowatt, Hamish Mowatt

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hen they secured a prime site 80 metres from the top of a cliff with panoramic views across the Pentland Firth, Carole and Hamish Mowatt, now the owners of Skerries Bistro in Orkney, knew they needed a building that would make the most of this breathtaking location. And that was the issue: the location itself presented a construction challenge. Simply shipping materials to Orkney and employing specialist builders would be costly and logistically prohibitive, let alone actually getting the materials to the top of the cliff and successfully constructing the building. Fortunately, Carole and Hamish found the perfect solution: a fully formed building, with an ideal design that was ready and waiting for them in Birmingham. The building belonged to a housing developer, Masshouse, and was designed by Mark Ellis when he was a planner based at Portakabin’s Head Office in York. The building featured fully glazed curtain walls to three sides; giving the building an eye-catching design, ensuring it was flooded with natural light and providing great views. Having seen the Masshouse building on the Portakabin website, Hamish knew it was exactly what they were looking for. They snapped it up and the building was transported 600 miles from Birmingham to its new cliff-top location in Orkney. By coincidence, designer Mark Ellis had relocated from York to Portakabin’s Scottish headquarters in Hamilton to take up a new role as Projects Manager. He said: “I was delighted to provide the new owners with the benefit of my in-depth knowledge of the building, enabling them to move quickly and get the bistro ready in time for the new season.” Once sited, the building was transformed into a first-class, allglass luxury restaurant. Hamish explained: “The building is absolutely superb, but getting it from Birmingham to Orkney was a challenge.” The support provided by Portakabin meant the restaurant was ready to open for the 2014 season and Hamish invited Mark to officially open the restaurant last March. Skerries Bistro’s bespoke ‘all glass’ building has had diners raving about it ever since and has helped it win a five out of five rating from Trip Advisor.

News in Brief... Blameless charity joins the Chamber

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Young Enterprise Lanarkshire needs you! B

Happy Birthday: some of the Blameless team.

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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

charity aimed specifically at children who are victims of alcoholism and addiction in the home is going from strength to strength. New Chamber member Blameless celebrated its second birthday in January and has 40 volunteers delivering ‘fun times and happy memories’ to children across Lanarkshire. The organisation was co-founded by Bill McKay and Colin McGowan. Mr McGowan is also CEO of Hamilton Accies and part of the football club’s stadium is used by Blameless for its operations and to run events and activities. Facilities include five a-side pitches, an artificial beach with 150 tonnes of sand, a recording studio, and the gardens were officially opened by world famous Scottish artist Peter Howson. Away from Hamilton, Blameless has use of a spiritual residential retreat in conjunction with the Jericho Brothers in Girvan which accommodates families and allows them to engage in fun activities, family bonding and reconciliation. It is a major step on the recovery programme for many addicts. Mr McKay said: “The charity is busier than ever and the range of backgrounds of victims is surprising. One of the main aims is to empower the children not to take the same path as their parents. “Blameless is unique in many ways but the fact that 80% of our volunteers have firsthand personal experience of alcoholism or addiction means they can relate to victims more than most.” The Accies stand.

usinesses across Lanarkshire are being asked to offer their time to help the next generation of entrepreneurs. Young Enterprise Lanarkshire, an organisation that provides life and business learning experiences to Lanarkshire’s schools, relies on business minded folk providing advice and financial support for pupils. Part of the wider Young Enterprise Scotland, the charitable body has been offering a variety of training programmes and development opportunities to young people across Scotland for more than 40 years. Anton Lang, MD of Advanceworx, is a member of the Lanarkshire board and is leading the drive to get more businesses involved. He said: “This is a great opportunity for businesses to connect with their local community and give something back. The pupils take the projects very seriously and it’s very rewarding to see them put in practice the advice given. “St Andrew’s and St Bride’s high school in Cambuslang are recent winners of the competition so it would be great if we could replicate this again and have another Lanarkshire winner.” If you or your business could offer support to Young Enterprise Lanarkshire then please email neilmccallum787@btinternet.com or visit www.yes.org.uk for more details.

Winners: pupils from St Andrew’s and St Bride’s School in Cambuslang.

£8 million target: St Andrew’s Hospice.

anarkshire’s St Andrews Hospice is encouraging Lanarkshire retailers to help it secure much-needed refurbishment funds by donating cash raised from the 5p charge on carrier bags. The charge was introduced last year by the Scottish Government which is encouraging retailers to donate the proceeds to good causes in Scotland. In an initiative heartily supported by the Lanarkshire Chamber, the Hospice’s Capital Appeals director Karen McFadyen is hoping that the retailers’ carrier bag cash will go some way to helping the hospice reach its £8 million target to rebuild, reconfigure, refurbish and upgrade the Hospice to meet the needs of patients, their carers and their families.

Lifeskills to train staff at Stirling University L

ifeskills, the Hamilton-based skills and employability provider, has secured a contract to deliver the World Host qualification to more than 400 customer-facing staff at Stirling University. In what is believed to be the first initiative of its kind, Lifeskills Central will help the university achieve its ambition to deliver the highest quality of customer service across its entire delivery range. Stirling University has identified staff from a number of departments to undertake the training which will include those engaged in security, catering and housekeeping. The company is also supporting the Scottish Government and People 1st to achieve ‘World Host Destination’ status in 11 areas of the country, focusing on delivering the World Host qualification to businesses in Perth & Kinross. Business Development Director Gerry Croall said: “We are delighted to be part of an initiative to deliver World Host to customer facing staff within an academic setting and to be playing a role in improving the quality of the customer experience across Scotland from retail, hospitality, call and contact centres and across the tourist industry.” The World Host award is recognised throughout the customer services sector across the UK. For more information please contact Lifeskills on 0844 391 5460 or by email at enquiries@lifeskillscentres.com

Delivering: Gerry Croall.

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

She said: “St Andrew’s Hospice is now 28 years old and our building requires to be substantially upgraded. We want to provide our patients with the best environment possible to match our high standards of care. “We also require to create more single bedded rooms than we have at present. This will improve the privacy and dignity for patients and their loved ones.” Retailers can really help the Hospice by choosing to donate the proceeds of their carrier bag charges to St Andrews Hospice Capital Appeal. For more information, contact Karen.Mcfadyen@standrews. scot.nhs.uk or on 01236 772 048.

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St Andrew’s Hospice 5p carrier bag appeal to retailers is backed by Chamber

ADVERTISING FEATURE

The New Reserves DEFENCE is often in the news. One item recently hitting the headlines is the reduction in the regular forces and the increase in reserve forces. Under the Future Reserves 2020 Review the reserve element will form a larger proportion of the UK’s Armed Forces and trained strength will increase by 2018. The Reserve Forces comprise the Army Reserve (formerly the Territorial Army), Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve and the Royal Air Force Reserve. The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) Reserve 106 Battalion is based in Grangemouth. The unit’s role is to

recover, repair and maintain the Army’s equipment so that it can meet the challenges of operations all over the World. The Battalion works with the Regular Army, supporting operations abroad and exercises as far afield as Kenya, Gibraltar, Canada and in the UK. Most reservists have civilian jobs and therefore this has an impact on employers, so we took a bit of time to examine the issue and find out what motivated two local reservists to join their local unit and how they feel it has helped them in their civilian life.

AINSLIE COOK is a student from Springburn, Glasgow studying Nursing at Stirling University. She joined the Army Reserve in 2014 and is now a Level 2 Mechanic with 106 Bn REME. What attracted you to join the Reserve Forces? I was a member of the Air Cadets at school and it seemed the natural progression to join the Army Reserves. What skills and experiences have you developed since being a member of the Reserves? I have gained skills in engineering, leadership and teamwork. What has been the most interesting thing that you have done with the Reserves so far? Completing my Class 3 Vehicle Mechanic Course at Bordon in January 2015. Do you feel what you have learned in the reserves has benefited your civilian career, and if so how? I have become more confident whilst with the reserves having learned new skills that have helped me a lot whilst studying at University. Has life as a reservist lived up to your expectations of what you thought it would be like? Yes it has exceeded my expectations, it’s the best decision that I made.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

SCOTT LAW is unemployed in civilian life and a Vehicle Mechanic in the Reserves. What attracted you to join the Reserve Forces? I was studying at college and had very little prospects of work after qualifying to be a welder and wanted to be a Vehicle Mechanic. What skills and experiences have you developed since being a member of the Reserve? I’ve gained skills in engineering and completed my class 3 Vehicle Mechanic Course. I have also matured since joining and developed better people skills, which has helped improve my employability. What has been the most interesting thing that you have done with the Reserves so far? Attending Summer Challenge 2012 and passing out, also attending my first ever battle tour of Normandy. Do you feel what you have learned in the reserves has benefited your civilian career, and if so how? Although I am unemployed I have found that the skills I have learned whilst attending the Reserve’s has put me in a better position with improved life skills. Has life as a reservist lived up to your expectations of what you thought it would be like? Definitely. The reserves has exceeded my expectations and it is better than I thought it would be. I have been able to do lots of different activities there is always something new to learn.

Employers can benefit greatly from employing a member of the reserve forces. Reservists at all ranks gain skills from the military in leadership and teamwork as well as developing their self-confidence, motivation and problem-solving abilities to name but a few. This training can be worth up to £22,000 to employers in terms of the transferrable skills they will receive from employing a reservist. Reservists are also often trained first-aiders and drivers, which can save money for employers in their training budgets.

There are opportunities available to men and women from all walks of life to learn new skills, make friends and try a range of activities, all whilst getting paid. We employ metalsmiths, armourers, vehicle mechanics/electricians and recovery mechanics. We’re also looking for military instructors, chefs, drivers, radio operators and clerks. There are plenty of opportunities for sport, adventurous training and courses. We pride ourselves on our commitment to developing the potential of all of our members, both professionally and personally.

The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) Reserve presents an excellent opportunity for vocationally qualified engineers. Such people can enter the organisation with genuine credibility from Day 1, and will be able to use their existing skills to good effect in a challenging and exciting environment. Opportunities for vocationally qualified tradespeople in the REME are far-reaching, extending far beyond their trade. International operations and exercises, military training, sport and outdoor pursuits, together with a real sense of purpose and camaraderie await them.

Service in the REME Reserve is of benefit to employers as well as employees, and the Ministry of Defence provides a new enhanced support package for the employers of reservists. Further information about this is available on the SaBRE (Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers) website www.sabre.mod.uk and you can also find contact details for one of their local representatives if you wish to chat to someone in person. 106 Bn REME has companies across Scotland in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Grangemouth and they are recruiting now. For further information please contact their team on 0131 310 5800.

Cover story

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The town with a smiling face Strathaven is a lovely place to live, but it still means business

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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

owns and cities need a reason to exist. They are created by the imperatives of industry, or the demands of agriculture, or simple geographical quirks which make habitation a matter of common sense. But industry can power down and agriculture can become fallow. Even the lie of the land can lose its economic meaning as times and customs change. In such circumstances, towns can lose their heart and begin to wither away. Strathaven, in the valley of the Avon, has bid farewell to many of the economic pillars which supported enterprise in the past – its textile mills, its silk manufacturing, its gasworks and its factories. But it remains a vibrant, bustling, colourful Lanarkshire town for a very simple reason – it is a lovely place to live. With its pastel coloured buildings, in shades of shocking pink and electric blue as well as yellows, reds and greens, the town puts on a smiling face. The Common Green is a happy mix of historic buildings and snappy, up-to-the-minute shops and restaurants. And, although Strathaven now has a fair proportion of new build houses around it and has a role as a commuter adjunct to East Kilbride

The Common Green, Strathaven town centre.

Strathaven Town Mill

and Lanarkshire’s larger towns, there is no getting away from its historic and often turbulent past. The town is linked by the Boo Backit Brig, a small arched crossing, to the ruined castle, also known as Avondale Castle. Built on a curve of the Powmillon Burn in 1458, the castle replaced an earlier stronghold owned by the Douglases, and still dominates the town. The John Hastie Museum, named after a local grocer and landowner, has intriguing information about how the town grew and developed, and spaces such as the Allison Green, which used to be the public washing green, provide a tangible link to former times. The Covenanter’s Trail – commemorating those in Scotland opposed to the Stuart kings’ interference in the Presbyterian Church – and the Town Trail, which highlights important buildings, are among the features which attract a significant day-trip market to Strathaven. This regular influx of temporary visitors to what is known as one of the jewels in Lanarkshire’s crown provides reliable custom for a wide variety of small businesses, ranging from craft and specialist shops to restaurants and tourist services.

Strathaven Castle, which dominates the town.

Colourful murals brighten Strathaven’s streets.

Strathaven Rural Centre, home of LS Smellie.

distribution all over Scotland, the North of England and a small amount of exports to Germany and Sweden. Among its core beers are the malty Old Mortality dark ale, the sweet Clydesdale pale ale, the citrusy Claverhouse red ale, the awardwinning dark Craigmill Mild and the lightly floral, thirst-quenching Duchess Anne blonde ale – a favourite with lager drinkers. Like much of Lanarkshire, Strathaven also has an engineering tradition and companies such as AY Morton & Co offer a full range of new and used all-terrain vehicles and quad bikes, as well as a wide range of accessories. Established in 1974 by Alastair and Margaret Morton, it is still run as a family business by Alastair Morton Jnr and Margaret Morton. The company developed the Morton Emergency Utility Vehicle for the Scottish Ambulance Service, which provides class-leading off-road capability and is suitable for mountain rescue operations in difficult terrain and conditions. The vehicle was taken up by the Hazardous Area Response Team, and has now been rolled out across 12 ambulance trusts in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The machine can be modified to suit the requirements of the medical unit and the conditions they are working in. AH Kirkwood Engineering has made a name for itself in another sphere, by specialising in the design and manufacture of hydraulic manifolds, sub-plates, accumulator safety blocks and other components essential for building hydraulic power packs. Its products can be found in all areas of industry, including defence, marine, subsea, offshore and in such large projects and the Thames and Colne barriers. Business in the town has been well served by the Strathaven Business Association, which has been operating for 20 years to promote economic development and provide a forum for ideas. With the backing of local businesses, it will help Strathaven to remain a strong and vibrant town with benefits reaching far beyond its core.

Sign for Strathaven’s airfield.

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

The number of famous people who made the town their home is also notable. Sir Harry Lauder, the Scottish music hall and vaudeville singer and comedian, lived there and officially re-opened the Town Mill in 1936. Other famous residents include Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld and Rangers legend and Scottish international Eric Caldow. But while the industrial revolution and the heavy industries of the 20th century may have bypassed Strathaven, it still boasts an impressive array of businesses which trade well beyond the town’s immediate vicinity. One such is LS Smellie & Sons, established in 1874, which operates as a grain merchant, farm supplier, auctioneer, valuator and estate agent. Run by Stuart Smellie, the fifth generation of the family to have been involved in the business, it is a cornerstone of the community. It has diversified over the years and now has the Hamilton Auction Mart, which has regular general household sales and occasional specialist sales throughout the year, and the Strathaven Rural Centre. Due to the increase in demand for the sale of whisky collections and collectable spirit sales, LS Smellie also runs Scottish Whisky Auctions, offering connoisseurs a chance to view and buy bottles online. But perhaps LS Smellie’s great strength is the interaction with the community in which it operates. It serves the local farming community with passion, loyalty and a forward thinking attitude and is committed to the next generation of farmers. It helps bodies such as the Royal Highland Education Trust in assisting young school children to visit farms and rural businesses. The long tradition of brewing in Strathaven has been revived by Strathaven Ales, now established in the Craigmill Brewery, which supplied the thirsty populace with refreshing draughts until it was destroyed in the great Todshill fire in 1847 along with a large part of town. The award-winning business is a ten-barrel brewery, producing 4500 litres of premium, hand-crafted real ales every week with

View of Strathaven East Church.

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View of the Boo Backit Brig, which links the town to the castle.

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Lomond Audi Fleet 2015 Audi UK are bracing themselves for a very busy

year and our job as the Fleet Team is to communicate the Brand changes and developments throughout the year and we hope to do that in a fun and understand way, leaving out the jargon!

We had an exciting Quarter 4 with the New TT Launch, the Fleet Team held a VIP Event at One Devonshire Gardens on Thanksgiving, giving customers a warm welcome in luxury surroundings, American themed canapĂŠs and a bright unveiling of the new TT model, which with the Ultra engine will put the TT in a new light within the business car choice, having a CO2 of 110g and Lomond Glasgow have acquired additional allocation to facilitate the demand. Our Fleet Team has gone from strength to strength with a phenomenal year, not only in supplying our clients in Scotland, but with an extremely healthy

increase in establishing Customer Agreements with Audi, giving the customers additional support off invoice or contract hire rentals. New updates on models coming through are A6, A1 and Q3 with a facelift and engine enhancement being named PI Models and in Quarter 1 the brand new Q7 Model will be in production.

Please contact our Fleet Team in Ayr, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling for information, one of our LBMDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s will be more than delighted to assist.

Pic: (l-r) Chief Executive of the Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce, Neil Kennedy, Tadeusz James Thornton; Depute Leader of South Lanarkshire Council, Councillor Jackie Burns; and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, John Brown.

Business leaders support placement scheme

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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

eaders of Lanarkshire’s largest business organisation are calling on firms to help young people with disabilities get a start in the world of work. Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce joined forces with South Lanarkshire Council’s Supported Employment Team to host a business lunch aimed at launching its new Education to Employment programme. The lunch raised awareness of the need for training placements and internships that are vital to letting young people with additional support needs gain employment skills and explore the type of work that suits them best.

Gordon McHugh is also director of Kilbryde Hospice.

South Lanarkshire Supported Employment Team Leader Gordon McHugh said: “A wide range of local businesses have already discovered the talents that the young people can bring to the workplace and we are grateful for their support but we are always keen to hear about more opportunities and to be able to offer a broader range of placements.” Chief Executive of the Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce Neil Kennedy said; “I have met a number of employers already offering placements under South Lanarkshire’s Supported Employment programme and have heard how impressed they have been with the trainees. “As a Chamber, we are encouraging Lanarkshire businesses to contact Gordon’s team to find out more about offering Supported Employment and internship opportunities.” Former student TJ Thornton, a guest of honor at the lunch and now working full time as a porter at Hairmyres Hospital, told the audience: “I never really believed there was a job out there for me but thanks to the support and encouragement I was given while on placement I was given the confidence to prove myself. “I love my job, being part of the team and working hard, and I am very grateful for the opportunities I have been given and hope that the students on the new education to employment programme have the same success.” Councillor Jackie Burns, Depute Council Leader, said: “This new innovative E2E programme is currently having great success in the Larkhall area and has created a wonderful sense of community involvement. “Our vision is to ensure that tomorrow’s workforce has the right skills and positive attitudes needed to do the job. We only need to look to TJ and those on the video to show that we are on the right road to achieving this.” To find out more about Supported Employment in South Lanarkshire, contact the ‘Work it Out’ team on 01355 806862 or e-mail Gordon.mchugh@southlanarkshire.gov.uk

LYNNE MCGIBBON Domestic Assistant, Royal Burgh House, Rutherglen Lynne found her feet in the world of work with help from South Lanarkshire’s Supported Employment Team and is keen to see more young people follow in her footsteps. Welcoming the launch of Education to Employment, Lynne said: “With the help of the Supported Employment Team, I was lucky enough to be offered a placement with Greggs at their factory in Cambuslang when I left school and it was great fun working with all the people in the bakery. Learning skills for the different jobs there helped me think about what I enjoyed doing and what would suit me as permanent work. My experience was really helpful in looking for a permanent job as it proved to employers that I was a hard worker and had skills I could bring to them, so I hope businesses in Lanarkshire will support this new project and give young people the same chance I had to get started in work.”

Lynne McGibbon (left) being presented with an outstanding Achievers Award by South Lanarkshire Council Employee Development Manager Gill Bhatti.

GREG STEAD Collection and Delivery Driver, Peter Vardy, Motherwell

Samantha secured a job in the laboratory at Hairmyres Hospital in East Kilbride after experiencing a range of different roles working in the hospital supported by the Project Search programme and facilities management company ISS. Samantha said; “I enjoyed all the jobs I took placements in but working in the lab is the best for me. It is an important job making sure samples are handled properly and test results are returned quickly and correctly. “I am really grateful for the support I was given to get here and I hope Education to Employment will get lots more Lanarkshire businesses involved in supporting young people with additional needs in proving what they can do and finding the job that suits their skills.”

Samantha McFarlane at Hairmyres Hospital.

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

SAMANTHA MCFARLANE Hairmyres Hospital

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Peter Vardy’s Greg Stead.

As a boy, 23-year-old Greg Stead, from Larkhall, developed a love of cars and, with the help of South Lanarkshire’s Supported Employment team and the encouragement of a supportive employer, he is now in the lucky position of holding down what could be described as his dream job. Greg said: “I feel really lucky to have this job as I get to drive all sorts of cars but whether it is a daily runabout or a dream machine, I treat them all just as carefully because that is what my work is all about. “I worked hard to get here and I am very grateful for all the support and encouragement along the way. I hope that Education to Employment will help others get opportunities to find the work that suits them and where they can be their best.”

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UWS ranks high in KTP league table F

igures recently released show University of the West of Scotland (UWS) to be a top performer in providing knowledge transfer services to industry. Innovate UK, which manages the UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme, lists UWS as the second most active knowledge transfer higher education institution in Scotland. This league table ranks the number of active Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) projects that UK universities are currently undertaking. This ranking is a considerable achievement for the University, which is committed to increasing its research and consultancy

with industry and using its expertise to positively affect local economies. Through the UK-wide KTP programme, businesses are increasingly teaming up with academic institutions enabling access to skills and expertise to aid the development of their company. Ian Bishop, Head of Research Services at University of the West of Scotland, said: “At UWS we are committed to ensuring that our research expertise benefits society. These figures recognise both the skills of our academics and the ability of graduates involved in our knowledge transfer projects. “We have been fortunate to work with such willing and open businesses for which we have developed new processes, systems and strategies. We look forward to developing further from this strong position.” UWS currently has 12 Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. Anyone wanting more information regarding knowledge transfer opportunities should visit www.uws.ac.uk/iro or call 0141 848 3680.

esearch at UWS has received very positive ratings in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF). The results, published on 18 December 2014 at www.ref.ac.uk, highlight the international excellence of the University’s research. The REF is grouped into 36 broad subject areas for research known as Units of Assessment (UoA), with each UoA split into three assessment categories – Outputs, Impact and Environment. The University made submissions to nine UoA across all areas of its curriculum and almost doubled the number of staff submitted since the last research assessment exercise. Overall the University saw its research recognised at ‘international’ standing in terms of its originality, significance and rigour. The University’s research Outputs were particularly highly rated, with

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more than half of the submissions being ranked at three to four star; with four star signifying ‘world-leading’ research. In the area of ‘Communication, Cultural and Media Studies, Library and Information Management’ 100% of submissions were rated in the Impact category as being between three and four star. This confirms that the University makes a significant contribution to economic, social, cultural, health and public policy both internationally and within its local regions. The University’s investment in 2012-13 in academic development saw over 30 early career researchers recruited, whose work the University anticipates will further enhance its standing in forthcoming assessments. With over 25% of the University’s REF submission coming from early career researchers, the University is extremely positive about its future research. Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of University of the West of Scotland, said: “These results give us a great platform on which to enhance and develop our research base and reflect the University’s strong position in the Scottish Higher Education sector. As a research informed, teaching-led modern university, achieving international ratings for our research is testament to the hard work and dedication of our academics and to the quality of their work. “Our new corporate strategy outlines our commitment to ensuring that our research is developed and commercialised for the wider benefit of society. The University continues to invest strongly not just in its research staff, but also in its facilities to aid the ongoing expansion of research and teaching at UWS. An investment commitment of over £16million on infrastructure over the next few years will ensure UWS is placed to deliver teaching and research of the highest quality.”

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University’s internationally recognised research

Lanarkshire-born businessman provides boost for Hamilton Campus mechatronics degree

UWS-led research discovers protein that stops cancer developing R

etired Lanarkshire-born businessman Les Hutchison unveiled new state-of-the-art mechatronics equipment at University of the West of Scotland’s Hamilton Campus on 30 January 2015.

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esearch headed-up by UWS academic Dr Taranjit Singh Rai has discovered a protein in cells which stops cancer developing. The research project, ‘HIRA orchestrates non-canonical dynamic chromatin in senescence and is required for suppression of neoplasia’, was funded by CR UK and NIA and is a collaboration between UWS, The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, and the University of Glasgow. The research, published in the journal, Genes & Development, is hugely important in the field of cancer research, as most of the efforts to date have been focussed on genetic alterations in cancer. This work highlights that in addition to genetic alterations, key players are proteins that associate with DNA and are the major determinants of progression to cancer. This six-year project saw the researchers, through the study of cells present in our skin, discover a protein, HIRA, which helps stop cancer developing and could in time lead to new cancer treatments and is likely to open up new therapeutic targets in fight against cancer. Dr Taranjit Singh Rai, of the University’s School of Science and Sport, said: “Every one of us has moles on our skins that all have already acquired the gene that can mutate into cancer. However for most of us this does not happen. Our research investigated why this doesn’t happen and discovered a protein called HIRA that actually maintains the state in the cell which prevents the onset of cancer. “As cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells, the discovery of this protein is relevant to all forms of cancer and not just those related to the skin. “However, it is important to stress that we have found one way that a cell can stop cancer, but potentially there are many other ways so at present we are still quite far away from translating this discovery into therapy but it is gives us an important insight into understanding better how a cell prevents cancer.” To view the full research report visit http://genesdev.cshlp.org/

Les Hutchison commented: “It is great news that the Mechatronics programme at the University continues to expand with the introduction of the Honours degree. I am delighted to support this growth through the supply of the new equipment and I continue to provide support and encouragement to the staff and students of the University.” Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said: “We were delighted to welcome Les back as a valued member of our alumni to our Hamilton Campus. It is fantastic for the students to have such an inspirational role model and we are very grateful to him for his continued support of our Mechatronics degree.” Professor David Smyth, Dean of the School of Engineering and Computing, said: “This expansion of our mechatronics lab is an important development and will provide our students with access to the latest industry-standard equipment in this area.”

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Hutchison, who is the former Vice Chair of Canadian energy services company, ShawCor Ltd, gifted over £53,000 to UWS to enable the further enhancement of the University’s mechatronics laboratory. The Laboratory was established in 2013 thanks to over £78,000 worth of funding from Hutchison. During the last two years he has donated over £156,000 to the University’s Mechatronics programme, which is delivered at its Hamilton Campus. The new equipment will provide an enhanced learning experience for students undertaking the University Mechatronics degree, enabling them to undertake work on the latest, industry-standard equipment. The launch of the new equipment is particularly timely, with the recent introduction of an Honours year to the University’s Mechatronics degree. Les Hutchison is a graduate of the former Bell College, now University of the West of Scotland (UWS). He graduated from Bell College in 1974 and after further education and experience, he became an Incorporated Engineer.

Left to right – Stewart Sinclair of the School of Engineering and Computing; Professor David Smyth, Dean of the School of Engineering and Computing; and Les Hutchison

Clyde extension wind farm gears up for construction

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ollowing consent from the Scottish Government in July 2014, SSE is preparing plans for the construction of the Clyde extension wind farm project situated between Biggar, Abington and Moffat on the South Lanarkshire and Scottish Borders boundary. The 54 turbine extension is expected to have a generation capacity of around 172MW, depending on turbine rating. The site is located to the north-east of the 350MW operational Clyde wind farm creating an infill between the north and central sections of the existing site. As part of the pre-construction engagement with community groups, local businesses and local stakeholders, a number of events are planned including an “opportunities for local businesses, suppliers and labour drop-in event” working closely with South Lanarkshire Council, Scottish Borders Council, and Lanarkshire Chamber, and a community open day at Clyde wind farm where local people can visit the site and find out more about plans for construction. Both events will be publicised in due course as plans progress. Murdo McGhie, SSE Director of Onshore Renewables, said: “We are pleased to have secured consent for the Clyde extension project, an important development in our portfolio. In our responsible approach to developing this project, we worked closely with local

communities and stakeholders to listen and act upon their concerns, we reduced the number of turbines and their location and tip height and we will use existing wind farm infrastructure where possible to minimise any impact. “This project is expected to bring significant benefits to the region through direct and indirect employment, skills training and more than £20m of long-term support for community projects from the community benefit fund. During the construction phase, we estimate that the project could contribute as much as £121.1m to the Scottish economy and is expected, on average, to support around 500 jobs in Scotland through our supply chain contracts. “We will continue to keep the local community, local businesses and local stakeholders updated as we work to progress with construction.” Further information on the Clyde extension project can be found here: www.sse.com/clydeext For those who would like to be placed on the Clyde Extension mailing list for regular updates on the project, and details of future events, please contact Kirstanne McDowall, SSE Community Liaison Manager on 0141 224 7569 or email Kirstanne.mcdowall@sse.com Construction is expected to begin in Summer 2015.

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Reducing health inequalities for a fairer, healthier Scotland I

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n an initiative wholly supported by the Chamber of Commerce, NHS Health Scotland has launched its Healthy Working Lives programme to help awareness among employers and employees of the importance of a healthy workplace. Co-ordinator Morag Dalrymple said: “It is widely recognised that being in work is good for people’s health and wellbeing and that a healthy workforce is beneficial to employers too. “By creating a safe and healthy environment for employees to work in companies, can increase staff morale and improve their employees’ health. This, in turn, can positively impact on the financial health of businesses.” Cost free sessions on such issues as Sensible Risk Assessment, Fire Safety Awareness, Improving Attendance and Managing Sickness Absence and Mentally Healthy Workplace Training will place between April and June at Hamilton Accademicals FC, Cadzow Avenue, Hamilton. The events in red (see accompanying table) are most suitable for companies with fewer than 250 employees. Neil Kennedy, Chief Executive of Lanarkshire Chamber, said: “This is an excellent initiative and we are grateful to NHS Health Scotland for putting it in place.” For more information, contact Morag Dalrymple, Healthy Working Lives OH&S Adviser, 0800 019 2211 (option 1) Follow us on our official twitter feed @NHS_HWL.

Free Awareness Training for Lanarkshire Chambers 2015 SESSION

DATE

TIME

* Managing Safety & Health - The Basics

12-Mar-15

09:30 - 11.30

Hamilton Academical FC, Cadzow Ave, Hamilton ML3 0FT

* Sensible Risk Assessment

09-Apr-15

09:30 - 11:30

Hamilton Academical FC, Cadzow Ave, Hamilton ML3 0FT

* Fire Safety Awareness / Fire Risk Assessment module

07-May-15

09:30 - 11:30 11:45 - 13:15

Hamilton Academical FC, Cadzow Ave, Hamilton ML3 0FT

* Improving Attendance and Managing Sickness Absence

04-June-15

09:30 - 11.30

Hamilton Academical FC, Cadzow Ave, Hamilton ML3 0FT

Mentally Healthy Workplace Training For Line Managers

18-June-15

09:30 - 16:30

Hamilton Academical FC, Cadzow Ave, Hamilton ML3 0FT

Sessions marked with * are only available to Small Businesses with less than 250 employees nationally

VENUE

Course Descriptors Managing Safety & Health – The Basics • Why manage safety and health • The safety and health management process • Workplace hazards and health risks • Workplace support and advice Sensible Risk Assessment • Basic Health and Safety law • 5 steps approach to risk assessment • Practical application of risk assessment • How to get help and support

Mentally Healthy Workplace Training • To give employers and line managers a broad understanding of mental health • To identify key factors that contributes to a mentally healthy workplace • To improve managers confidence in dealing with this issue • To ensure that managers are aware of their legislative responsibilities in relation to health and wellbeing

he terms “excitement” and “pensions” rarely converge, but this is an exciting year in the pensions world. The Chancellor announced last year that, from April 2015, savers will have more choice in retirement thanks to dramatic changes to pension rules. In retirement, you will no longer be forced to take out an annuity that offers little value for money to provide an income. Instead, once retired, you will be able to access your pension pot anytime you like. The first 25% of all withdrawals will be tax-free and the remainder taxed as income. This is also a massive year for Auto Enrolment with more than 150,000 companies staging over the next year. Preparing early will mean you can have your pension scheme in place and be ready for auto enrolment when the time comes for you to stage. There is a serious need to promote a savings culture in the UK. Households must become less dependent on the state to provide for them in retirement and start making their own provisions in order to maintain the same quality of life. 2015 will take a big step in the right direction with more people automatically enrolled into pension schemes and positive changes to the way you can take your pension in retirement. For further information please contact SFS Investments on 01698 269977 or email sfs@southernfinancialservices.com

This course is delivered as ‘blended learning’ and consists of an eLearning course (30mins-1 hour) and a 6 hours face to face learning. Participants must complete the eLearning course prior to attending.

Craig Southern of Southern Financial Services.

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Improving Attendance and Managing Sickness Absence • Legal aspects • Impact of poor attendance and how to effectively manage absence • Types of absence and workplace implications • Best practice for dealing with long term & short term absence – Reporting and recording absence – Effective communication – Effective return to work meetings • Other support systems – How to develop an Attendance Management Policy – How to get help and support

2015: the year of the pension.

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Fire Safety Awareness (and) An Introduction To Fire Safety Risk Assessment (optional workshop) • The main requirements of Fire Safety Legislation • Typical workplace fire hazards • Advice on prevention fire safety measures • Action that should be taken if a fire occurs • The additional workshop will focus on: • Basic principles of fire risk assessment process as outlined in HWL Fire Safety Risk Assessment pack • Providing practical guidance to help you apply fire risk assessment principles, record your findings and plan actions

From left to right – Mark Firth, Director at Ichor Systems; Don Nicolson, Managing Director at Ichor Systems; Maurice Carson, President and CFO at Ichor Systems; and Fergus Ewing MSP.

Ichor Systems’ European head office in Blantyre opened by Scottish Minister operation, which employs 85 people, 36 of them in Scotland, will now be managed from Blantyre. Mr Ewing said: “By delivering real value-added products and services to its customers throughout the world and exploiting further growth opportunities, Ichor Systems Ltd. is a great example of what Scotland’s businesses are capable of achieving.”

Burns Night The Westerwood Hotel in Cumbernauld was once again the venue for the SSBA Community Mixed Burns Supper. More than two hundred people came along to enjoy some fantastic food, delectable drams, poems, songs and a Ceilidh Disco. This event is fast becoming a staple of the social calendar in Lanarkshire and this year was a roaring succes

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

new 36,600 square feet European head office for Ichor Systems at Hamilton International Park, Blantyre, has been opened by Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Government Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism. Ichor Systems, of Oregon, USA, acquired East Kilbride-based Semiconductor company Semi Scenic in April 2012. Its European

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The Big Day: Barrowland proved the ideal wedding venue.

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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Regis Banqueting makes Kirsty and Paul’s Barrowland wedding day dream come true

t was long-term Lanarkshire Chamber of Commerce member, Cumbernauld-based Regis Banqueting which came to the rescue when young Glasgow couple, Paul and Kirsty Cassidy opted to have their wedding reception in the iconic Barrowland ballroom, now principally a music venue, in Glasgow’s east end. Barrowland’s main ballroom, which opened in 1934, had never hosted a wedding reception despite its long history since, aside from a drinks’ licence, it lacks entirely the catering facilities to prepare, cook and serve meals. As a result, Ryan Longmuir, owner of Regis Banqueting and his team had to arrange to have cooking facilities hoisted into the twostorey high space from the street in much the same way as the up and coming rock bands

who are Barrowland’s main attraction hoist their sound equipment into the building. Ryan said: “I’m not the sort of man who likes to say no to potential customers. Catering at Barrowland was definitely a challenge so our team sat down to plan how we could make Paul and Kirsty’s big day go brilliantly. “We are used to problem-solving for customers but having the cookers hoisted into the venue was a new one on us. In the event everything went off wonderfully well.” A delicious four-course wedding meal comprising chicken and pistachio terrine, apple and parsnip soup, herb-crusted four knuckle rack of lamb and a trio of mini deserts, not to mention all the tables and chairs, table linen, napkins, crockery and

Photos: Neil Thomas Douglas

cutlery, made the Barrowland the Cassidy’s outstanding venue of choice on the big day. Regis Banqueting, which has been operating for the past 13 years and has supplied the catering to more than 1000 weddings, undertakes a huge range of corporate and social catering assignments. Its team of chefs prepare the food at its Blairlinn Industrial Estate, Cumbernauld base before transporting it to the banqueting venue. It supplies also all the necessary waiting staff, long-term catering professionals who know the personal qualities that are required to make any occasion go like clockwork. Corporate customers have included Bentley Motors, O2 and RBS. For more information contact Ryan Longmuir on 01236 734444.

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Retail Fit-Outs, Extensions, Alterations & New Builds

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Conversion of Listed Buildings

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Feasibility Studies

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01236 423197

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Don’t get caught out by an inspection…

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Cuthbertson Laird Group provide a nationwide calibration service. We also hold authorised repair centre status for many of the main manufacturers inc. Meggers / Seaward, Testo & G.M.I. • Full calibration results on certiﬁcate • National & UKAS certiﬁcation available • Free minor adjustments • On-site calibration available • Free repair quotes issued • Seaward service warning cleared from PAT testers

• Competitive prices • Quick turnaround available • Calibration reminders • Free local collection and delivery service • On-line Certiﬁcates available to download Contact us on 01698 829711 or go to our calibration website and complete the online contact form. Alternatively, email your requirements to us at: hamilton@cuthbertsonlaird.co.uk

Cuthbertson Laird Group Parkburn Court, Glasgow Rd, Hamilton ML3 0QQ

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North Lanarkshire Leisure reaches out with widespread digital campaign

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What a racquet: North Lanarkshire Leisure is making a big noise.

orth Lanarkshire Leisure has placed digital and online presence at the heart of its campaign to help the local community achieve their health, fitness and leisure goals. The new online presence is a bid to attract a wide variety of members from all areas in the community to the Sport and Leisure Trust’s newly renovated venues across the area, with brand new-market leading health and fitness suites added to both the Shotts and Tryst venues, and refurbishments soon to be completed at both Wishaw and Time Capsule. The new, modern, varied and accessible venues will cater for the needs of the local community. The new NL Leisure website aims to interact with the members, the public and stakeholders from members of the community looking to rent a football pitch to potential health and fitness enthusiasts. Also available on the website is a library of informative videos, showcasing all group exercise classes from high impact metafit to low impact yoga. The videos feature real-life classes taking place, giving the best possible example of the atmosphere and activity which takes place introducing group exercise classes on offer, showcasing the classes, As well as an improved integration with North Lanarkshire Leisure’s social media channels, the site will be a hub of information around the health, fitness and sporting activities available across North Lanarkshire Leisure venues. Valerie Mitchell, Operations and Customer Services Director at North Lanarkshire Leisure, said: “To kick off 2015 we decided we needed a vibrant and informative hub for our members to learn about the activities we offer. “Our website and digital activity are going to play a pivotal role in the business and we’re delighted to provide the community with engaging and energising content online, including exciting and informative videos which showcase our newly refurbished venues and bring our Group Exercise classes to life. “Many people might feel intimidated by these classes, but as our videos show, they are for males and females of all ages and abilities and our fully qualified and motivating instructors can help you achieve your own personal health and fitness goals, even in a group environment.”

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

OUR AIM IS TO MAKE THE MOST THOUGHT PROVOKING SINGLE MALT WHISKY POSSIBLE. The Islay Barley Exploration series: Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2007. Harvested in 2006 and distilled in 2007, the grain for this iconic whisky was grown in the ministers field at Rockside farm 1 mile from the Atlantic ocean on Islay's west coast. A painfully slow distillation to gently coax the delicate oils and flavour compounds from the barley, coupled with casks carefully selected to preserve those flavours, has resulted in a whisky of exceptional complexity. Bruichladdich is trickle distilled through tall, elegant stills and matured for all of its life in warehouses on Islay’s Atlantic coast. Chosen by hand, eye and taste rather than a process or formula, every drop is hand crafted by our team of artisans, led by proud Ileach and Master Distiller Jim McEwan. The only major distiller to bottle spirit on the island itself, Bruichladdich never add colour or chill filter, retaining the vital natural oils which give the spirit its complex flavour profile and unctuous mouth feel. With a reputation for producing cult single malts that challenge the malt convention, Bruichladdich produce three different brands – Bruichladdich – always unpeated. Port Charlotte, heavily peated and Octomore – the most heavily peated spirit in the world.

WE BELIEVE THAT ISLAY WHISKY SHOULD HAVE AN AUTHENTICITY DERIVED FROM WHERE IT IS DISTILLED AND WHERE IT IS MATURED, FROM THE PHILOSOPHIES OF THOSE WHO DISTIL IT. A SENSE OF PLACE, OF TERROIR THAT SPEAKS OF THE LAND, THE BARLEY AND THE WATER FROM WHICH IT WAS MADE, AND OF THE HUMAN SOUL THAT GAVE IT LIFE.

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The county that SHAPED the world Lanarkshire’s proud engineering heritage is still going strong

THE

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

anarkshire engineering helped to shape the modern world. From boats to bridges and boilers, from coal cutters and cranes to steel tubes and machinery of every shape and size…they left the smoking yards of the workshop county and were dispatched round the world to create the infrastructure of international industry.

An exhibition in the North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre a couple of years ago was billed as “From Ore to Atom”. The title neatly encapsulated how the county went from being a wholly rural economy in the mid 1700s to a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s and a bastion of heavy engineering in the 20th century to the technologically-complex manufacturing of today. But it all started with ore – the ore of blackband ironstone, to be precise – which, though found in all the great coalfields of Great Britain, was of particular quality in the Scottish pits. It was one of three ingredients which catalysed the headlong rush into metal-based manufacture and engineering. Steam power was the second and the third was coal, found in abundance under the soft green fields of Lanarkshire, where cattle grazed above. The Scots ironmasters were not slow to capitalise on this fortuitous mix of geology and technology and soon blast furnaces were lighting the night sky, especially in Coatbridge, where it was said that workers could read a newspaper by their light. A Mr J B Neilson, an engineer of the Glasgow Gas Works, came up with the idea in 1827 of heating the air which was forced into the furnaces, exponentially speeding the process of smelting. His ingenuity netted him and his partners £300,000 – a vast fortune for the time. The roll call of achievement of the heady days of manufacture is impressive. The 1908 London Olympic stadium was built by structural engineers Alexander Findlay. The world’s first ironhulled boat sailed on the Forth and Clyde Canal. Lanarkshire’s light and heavy engineering went global and the industry burgeoned through the 19th and early 20th centuries. But the economic tides cannot be held back, and Lanarkshire has been affected like the rest of the UK and Europe with a slow decline in mass-employment manufacture. No one reading this magazine needs to be reminded about Ravenscraig. However, the engineering champions which remain – and there are many – are still holding their own and flying the Lanarkshire banner in an increasingly globalised and brutally competitive economic environment. Honeywell at Newhouse has long been a standard-bearer for quality engineering and technological prowess. Established in 1953, and for decades a familiar landmark beside the M8 as it climbs out

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE THE

of Glasgow, it is a major exporter to continental Europe and other world markets. Part of a major multi-national corporation, it received the accolade of being the best-performing of 16 sites in Honeywell’s Europe, Middle East and Africa region. It also last year took the top prize at the Scottish Engineering awards as the company judged to have done the most to promote the Scottish manufacturing industry. As one of the world’s most successful designers and manufacturers of electrical control units, it may not employ the numbers it once did, but it is still at the forefront of innovation and technological expertise. Motherwell Bridge also has a special place in Lanarkshire engineering. The venerable company was founded 117 years ago when a group of highly-skilled engineers and tradesmen pioneered new ways of constructing bridges and sold their expertise around the world. The company is now one of Scotland’s leading international multi-skilled companies, involved in projects in more than 80 countries around the world in both the private and public sectors. Recently bought by industrial services group Cape at a value of £38 million, prospects for its 300-strong workforce are good with the prospect of expansion of business in the Middle East, where Cape is already heavily involved. The two firms already work together on maintaining storage tanks used in the energy sector. Big trucks are Terex’s business and it employs 400 people making the huge earthmoving machinery at its plant in Newhouse. A $160 million deal with Volvo Construction Equipment at the end of 2013 was a good omen for the future of the plant but the sectors Terex sells into – quarrying and mining – are cyclical and demand can fluctuate significantly. Terex is another multi-national, illustrating the attractions of Lanarkshire, with its strong pool of highly-skilled and well educated labour pool, to companies who wish to make a lasting investment in the area. By comparison with the above companies, Q-Mass – it stands for Quality Manufacturing and Supply Solutions – is a relative newcomer to Lanarkshire engineering, but already it has made a name for itself far outwith the reaches of its base in Uddingston. Another winner in last year’s Scottish Engineering awards, it was founded in just 2006 and has since enjoyed meteoric growth. Its team of skilled engineers and machine operators supply industry-leading quality components to the oil and gas sector in Scotland and abroad. And in Holytown, Consarc – part of the Inductotherm Group – has been designing and manufacturing high performance vacuum furnaces for the world’s most advanced materials for the past 40 years. Bryan Buchan, chief executive of Scottish Engineering, praised Lanarkshire’s strong links with Scotland’s manufacturing base and said: “Lanarkshire continues to thrive in the heart of Scotland’s industrial belt with successful operations such as last year’s Scottish Engineering award winner Honeywell. “The company has been at its present site since the 1950s and the iconic building façade is familiar to the millions of people who have travelled on Scotland’s main artery over the years. “At the other end of the scale, we see young, dynamic operations such as Q-Mass which has some of the most advanced technology in our sector and who are already recognised as the premier supplier in their field of precisionmachined componentry. “Lanarkshire has had a colourful history but has survived and recovered from many economic downturns and continues to show innovation and fortitude commensurate with its industrial history.”

Your business is amazing… … isn’t it a shame no-one can see it here? InCommerce is read by business owners and decision makers … people who buy all kinds of services … if you’re not in here they won’t be contacting you! It’s too late for this issue but there’s always next time Call our Advertising Team on 0141 222 2202

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Saltire Foundation is lobbying Lanarkshire businesses to nominate the next generation of Scottish business leaders T

he Saltire Foundation, Scotland’s world-class entrepreneurial leadership programme and the philanthropic arm of Entrepreneurial Scotland, is once again ready to recruit the business talent of the future. And it is reaching out to companies in Lanarkshire, such as participating business William Grant and Sons of Bellshill, which believes it has people on its team who can go all the way to the top. The Saltire Foundation is inviting ambitious Scots to join this year’s cohort of Saltire Fellows, the class-leading programme which combines theory and practice guided by the principle of entrepreneurial thought and action. The prestigious course – which provides Fellows with an unparalleled chance to engage with global thought leaders and entrepreneurs – is again likely to attract a huge following. Susan Urquhart, chief operating officer, said: “We want to make sure that we have a healthy cohort of Fellows for this unique opportunity.” Past Fellows include Leanne Sherry, from Hamilton, who graduated from Glasgow University and left a glittering career with broadcaster Sky to become a Saltire Foundation Fellow. Leanne Sherry.

The Fellowship took Leanne to Boston and China to work with high growth companies and study business growth at Babson College in Massachusetts, which is ranked number 1 in the world for entrepreneurship. Susan Urquhart said: “The calibre of past Fellows is an indicator of the potential for future Fellows. Our new Fellows will all be different and will think in different ways – that is what makes the programme so special. “We will have entrepreneurs, who have founded or want to found their own companies, and we will have intrapreneurs, who are sponsored by their companies or organisations to take part. “Intrapreneurs are people who have been identified as being special within an enterprise and are ready for that extra fuel injection to learn how to scale the business in a global marketplace.” Sandy Kennedy, chief executive, said: “Fellows will spend 13 weeks in a dynamic learning environment in Babson College in Boston, working together to address real world business challenges.” Over the programme, the Fellows undertake two projects and have the opportunity to work at Massachusetts Institute of Technology or in California’s Silicon Valley. They spend a week in Shanghai, learning from entrepreneurs operating in China and a week at the RBS Business School in Edinburgh. The 2015/16 programme runs from August 31, 2015 to April 2, 2016. For further information, Susan Urquhart, COO, Saltire Foundation, T: Tel: +44 (0)141 548 4417. E: susan.urquhuart@ saltirefoundation.com

ork has always been seen as the route out of poverty, but with over half of those in poverty in the UK already in work we need to ask ourselves how we can make work pay? In my role at Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) I have found that there are positive steps employers can take to address poverty which, in turn, will help their business to be more resilient and productive. Our Tackling In-work Poverty (TIWP) Team has visited over a hundred businesses across Scotland this year, raising their awareness of how it effects them. SBC has also been holding Tackling In-work Poverty events, with local partners throughout the country. Tackling this issue does not always mean having to raise wages. It may be possible to direct employees to obtain support from other agencies who can help them better manage their income; reviewing in-work recruitment and progression processes might make them fairer; alternatively, offering flexible working, increased hours and contracts that suit the employee’s circumstances can improve their situation. The goal of a fairer and more prosperous Scotland can only be met if we have an engaged and productive workforce – with every employee fulfilling their potential and aspirations. Tom Henderson is Head of TIWP at SBC tomhenderson@sbcscot.com

THE

By Tom Henderson

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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Proven specialist business support when you need it Knowing your business is ready to grow is one thing; putting in place a strategy to manage that expansion can often be quite another – and that is where our expertise can help. At Business Gateway Lanarkshire we know exactly what needs to be done to take your business to the next level. Our team of advisers, many of whom have run their own business or held senior positions within industry, have helped hundreds of businesses to do just that. So if you are looking to grow your business through the development of new products, by increasing your market share or creating a partnership or joint venture with another business we are here to help. Expert Support Looking to take on staff? Improve your SEO? Or seek assistance with tendering? Our Expert Surgeries address the key issues that matter

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I Didn’t Get W here I Am Today…

Name: G illian Cameron Age: 4 8 Where do you work and what is your position? I am the Programme Manager for the Supp lier Development Programme. What does it do? The Supplier Dev elopment Programme (SDP) is a partnership of Local Authoritie s and Scot Gov (third sector) working together to deliver busin ess support in all aspects of tendering.

How did you deal with initial setb acks? Experience counts for everything and working with a highly motivational entrepreneur brought new and positive opportunities to be part of a growing company and so my role became much more dynamic and could move forw ard with clear and defined objectives. Was there a particular moment whe n you realised you were on the path to success? Being part of the successful bid team winning the Supply2Govcontrac t. This was the first national public contracts portal and all the hard work had finally paid off. What keeps you going? Growing the success of Scottish businesses; it is rewarding to receive feed back from businesses who have attended SDP training and hearing how this has made a difference and supported them to win new business.

What’s the best part of your day? When I leave the office with a sense of accomplishment from having achieved closure on specific tasks. What’s the bit that really irritates you? The length of time it takes to achieve sign off on certa in projects. Have you had help from enterpris e agencies? Yes we received matched funding from Digit al Scotland Business Excellence Programme (DSBEP). What’s the best advice you’ve had over the course of building a business? The better you understand your customer, the higher the probability of success. And the worst? “It’s not personal; it’s busin ess.” Whether it’s your board, your members, your custo mers or employees – people buy from people. If you suddenly attained executive power in Scotland, what would be the first thing you’ d change? Stopping free prescriptions for all – I believe that a small nominal fee for those that can pay is the right way forward and a better use of public money. If you stopped working, what would be your next move? I have a passion for all things equine and firmly believe in the healing power of the horse and would love to be involved in Riding for the Disabled.

Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

How did you get started? Following an HND in Consumer and Business Studies, I set about getti ng a job by writing to publishers listed in the Yellow Pages in the Glasgow area and joined Business Information Publicatio ns as number nine of nine staff in a Portakabin as a marketing assistant.

Gillian Cameron

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What prompted you to take up this key position? Having worked in a Scottish SME for over 28 years I understood the challenges faced in finding, winning and keeping public sector contracts. The SDP was going thro ugh a transformation and the role presented an ideal oppo rtunity to utilise my experiences to further enhance and grow awareness of the Programme.

DM Hall’s Andrew McFarlane

Keep on the right side of the residential tenancy deposits regulations

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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

nyone who owns a buy-to-let property is aware that landlords ask for a deposit from tenants just before they move in. The assumption is that the deposit will be returned at the end of the tenancy assuming all liabilities are discharged but, over the years, certain landlords have failed to make repayment and disputes have arisen over deductions from deposits made. As a result, The Scottish Government decided to address the issue as part of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, which created a statutory framework to regulate tenants’ deposits. The Tenancy Deposit Schemes (Scotland) Regulations 2011 came into effect from 6th March 2011. Briefly, these require landlords, within a set period, to lodge any deposit taken with one of a number of recognised organisations such as Letting Protection Service Scotland, SafeDeposits Scotland or my|deposits Scotland. Landlords are also required to inform the tenant of the steps they have taken. While the vast majority of landlords have adhered to the regulations, some have not and, as a result of the legislation, tenants who believe their deposit has not been dealt with correctly can apply to the Sheriff Court. In a recent case at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Sheriff Welsh QC, explained that the regulations were designed, in part, to curb unscrupulous landlords from retaining tenancy deposits. Certain landlords might anticipate that a tenant would walk away from a

tenancy, losing out on any monies he or she was due to be paid, because they did not wish to go through the inconveniences of a court case over what might be relatively insubstantial sum. The law offered instead, he said, a system of effective statutory control, sanction and rules, including, among other things, an independent safe deposit scheme and legal sanction for noncompliance. In a commentary which should be of interest to all landlords, the Sherriff said that newcomers to the letting business could not be excused from getting it wrong over the deposits issue because they were unaware of the regulations. The regulations provide that if a deposit is not dealt with in accordance with the regulations the sheriff “must order the landlord to pay the tenant an amount not exceeding three times the amount of the tenancy deposit”. In the case in question, the Sheriff decided to impose a penalty of one third of the amount of the deposit which amounted to £333.33. Not so lucky was another errant landlord who was ordered to pay three times the deposit, which in the case in question amounted to £2,250. The landlord appealed unsuccessfully, both to the Sheriff Principal and then the Court of Session. Everyone letting a property should comply with the regulations. Those who do not could find it a costly course of action. Andrew McFarlane is a consultant to DM Hall, one of Scotland’s leading firms of Chartered Surveyors.

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Ian Duncan MEP

Fracking in Lanarkshire could create hundreds of new jobs

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Lanarkshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

n 2013 the British Geological Society estimated 80 trillion cubic feet of shale gas lies under central Scotland, including parts of Lanarkshire. After mulling it over for two years, the Scottish Government, along with the UK Government and Welsh Government decided to temporarily halt unconventional gas extraction pending further environmental tests. However, as Europe becomes more dependent than ever on foreign oil to meet energy needs, and as Scotland’s oil industry suffers because of the dip in price, can we afford not to explore our onshore oil and gas potential? A key piece of legislation passing through the European Parliament is the Energy Security Strategy. At its core is the question of how we overcome Europe’s staggering 80% dependency on foreign oil. While Europe’s Eastern flank – Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia - have most to lose from increasing dependency on Russia, the whole of Europe, including the UK, has a stake in diversifying its energy mix. From 2002 to 2012 the UK’s primary energy production has more than halved yet our consumption continues to grow. This winter, warnings of brown outs and even black outs dominated the headlines as the UK struggled to produce the energy required to meet demand at peak times. We won’t ever know quite how much the shale oil and gas is beneath Scotland unless we test for it. The geology is complex – much of the shale is below old coal mines – but there have been

examples of successful extraction in Scotland in recent years such as DART energy in Airth. Unconventional extraction alone will never solve the UK’s energy production challenges, but it could play an important role as part of a wider energy mix and within industry too. Last week, INEOS, the owners of Scotland’s only refinery in Grangemouth, announced plans to fuel the plant entirely from fracked gas imported from the US. At current rates of production costs of extraction it isn’t economical for INEOS to use North Sea oil, so instead they are shipping it in from major shale plays in Pennsylvania and North Dakota posing the question – if fracked gas is central to keeping our only refinery and the jobs it supports, why shouldn’t we be using Scottish fracked gas? At the very least we would save on import costs. But perhaps the biggest advantage of exploring Scotland’s unconventional oil and gas potential has to come in the form of jobs. Since the 1970s, Scotland has been a global leader in technical services to the oil industry, having built up a reputation and a wealth of experience as a hub of industry knowledge. The recent downturn in the price of oil, however, has already cost hundreds of jobs that could be relocated onshore to extract the oil and gas beneath Scotland. For now fracking has been put on hold, yet there is a pressing need to develop a balanced energy mix and utilise the wealth of talent Scotland has built up in the oil and gas sector. You’ll never know if you don’t try. Dr. Ian Duncan is a Conservative MEP for Scotland.

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