Target - August 2024 Edition

August 2024

Food & Nutrition Team School Visits Page 2

Signage with a difference

Page 4

Fleet Striving for Excellence Awards 2024

Page 6

Page 27 WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Assist Excellence in Cleaning Award 2024 Page 13

Apprentice Mechanic Award Winner

Page 25

Grapevine Hello everyone, I know I say this every time, but once again, I am blown away by the quality of articles in this edition of Target. Can I thank each and every contributoryou've taken time away from your duties- time that you probably didn't have - to produce content which fantastically showcases the incredible professionalism, dedication and commitment of you and your teams, and your commitment to the communities that we serve. Thank you very much.

From the construction colleagues who work at night to allow the rest of us to travel freely during the day; to our Food and Nutrition team tackling the challenge of obesity in schools; to our fantastic catering teams providing healthy, nutritious endof term BBQs; to our creation of active travel paths to promote healthy living; to the support we give local communities (both in and out of work); to the amazing creativity of our Sign Shop; and the incredible national awards that our teams and individuals have achieved - this gives us an extraordinary picture of the contribution made by you and colleagues.

If anyone ever needed any demonstration of the essential contribution that you make to the people and communities of Tayside then I would invite them to look through the following pages. There is no way they could not be impressed by what you do To everyone in Tayside Contracts, thank you so much for all you do for our communities, and for your colleagues, every working day.

Keith

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Tayside Contracts deliver

new service

The FM Management Team in Dundee are working in Partnership with DCC Sustainable Transport Team to deliver a bus shelter cleaning service.

Across the City of Dundee there are no fewer than 330 Bus Shelters with a further 18 Super Shelters within the City Centre. Each shelter will be cleaned 6 times per annum as part of a bimonthly schedule.

Achieving and maintaining an acceptable cleaning standard (removal of stickers, posters, graffiti, food etc from glass and information panels) requires the right methodology, cleaning products, equipment and a whole lot of elbow grease, so not for the faint hearted.

The transfer of this service to Tayside Contracts has created 2 new employment opportunities within our local community.

by Ailsa Bruce Apprentice Sign Manufacturing Operative

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WBC 2024

We have just undertaken some works for an oversees company Lena Group who are a public relations company who manage and organise large conferences and events.

The works undertaken consisted of consulting with the client direct regarding, costs, design, material products and installation methods that Tayside Contracts provided.

The footpath decals certainly make it simple for all attending to find their way safely to the conference.

by Stevie Doyle, Sign Shop Production Unit Supervisor

Loads

New Renault 4x4 purpose built gritter

O’ LORRIES

On Sunday 19th May, the DRMP had their new Renault 4x4 purpose built gritter on display at the Dundee Transport Museum as part of the ‘Loads of Lorries’ community event.

The vehicle garnered a lot of attention and members of the public were surprised about the vast nature of our winter operations across Tayside, most of which go completely unseen due to the timings of our treatments.

The vehicle went to Aviemore for the APSE Scotland Fleet, Waste and Grounds seminar 2024 where it was again on display showcasing TC.

By John Curran, DRMP Manager, Tayside Contracts & Dundee City Council

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Our fleet was well represented with a DAF 26t end tipper, a 4x4 Renault purpose built gritter – both these bodies by Cuthbertsons - and our first MAN 5t pick-up with bodywork by LVB

We are proud of our own Galin Zhivkov who received national recognition with the bronze aware in the Fleet Striving for Excellence Awards 2024. To put icing on the cake for him he won a bottle of Champagne in the raffle.

By Bob Ritchie, Transport Manager

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A

ROB E R T N E S E O E M R E I L NT N I RET

Aileen has looked after the bairns of Kinross for many, many years. A fairwell and best wishes cuppie for past and present employees was held on Thursday 13th June.

All wishing her all the best and a fond farewell.

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By Christine Innes Facilities Business Officer

Pictured from left: Keith McNamara, Managing Director, Gail McMillan, Catering Operational Manager Jane Deasley, CPU Manager

GAIL AND JANE Congratulations on your retirement!

Wishing you endless days with your friends and family.

You have both accomplished so many things in Tayside Contracts. We sincerely appreciate the dedication and effort you made for our organisation.

If you put in as much effort enjoying your retirement as you have working with TC, it is sure to be a success!

May this retirement bring you the opportunity to discover a new meaning to life. May you be able to do things that you always wished for!

Congratulations and best of luck with your retirement.

And best wishes to Kim Ewan and Tony Cura who have taken over the leadership at Tay Cuisine from Jane and Gail - for such an important part of Tayside Contracts’ operations.

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National Cycle Network 1 In the first half of this calendar year, two sections of National Cycle Network 1 (NCN1) were completed simultaneously and successfully by Angus Operations. One in Monifieth and the other in Carnoustie.

In the first half of this calendar year, two sections of National Cycle Network 1 (NCN1) were completed simultaneously and successfully by Angus Operations. One in Monifieth and the other in Carnoustie.

Collaboration, as ever, was at the heart of the project. Firstly, with Angus Council as the detailed design was developed as the project progressed and secondly throughout Tayside Contract with the Streetlighting Partnership assisting with 80 new lighting columns, Collace quarry supplying 2822t of recycled Type 1and 1550t of asphalt and the Sign Shop team manufacturing the extensive signage.

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The main elements of the work involved the construction of 2410m of footway/cycleway along with 1045m of Road. The projects were completed on budget, at £1,272,099 with the ‘high levels of workmanship’ noted by both Angus Council and Sustran officers who funded the projects.

Following on from this success the team are currently planning to tackle another seven improvement project on NCN1 within Angus. We are proud to be doing our bit, in supporting people to lead healthy, active lives, by providing safe, modern pathways for many years to come.

By Steven Alan – Project Manager

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Slips, Trips and Falls Slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of injuries at work in the UK. During 2022/2023, 32% of non-fatal incidents reported to the Health & Safety Executive under the RIDDOR reported requirements were due to slips, trips and falls. In comparison, during the last financial year, 47% of all Tayside Contracts incidents which fell under the reporting requirements were due to slips, trips and falls.

This is a summary of the percentage of total days lost which resulted from Slips, Trips and Falls incidents within each Division in Tayside Contracts.

CONSTRUCTION – 30% OF TOTAL DAYS LOST TO INCIDENTS CATERING – 50% OF TOTAL DAYS LOST TO INCIDENTS FACILITIES – 71% OF TOTAL DAYS LOST TO INCIDENTS

Tayside Contracts Safety and Training Team closely monitor all incidents reported throughout the organisation and identify any accidents trends, then advising on measures to implement and prevent future occurrences. The increase in not only the number attributed to these types of incidents, but also those days lost to these types of incidents over the previous year is a worrying trend.

Rest assured however, the Safety and Training Team are scrutinising the information gathered from slip, trip and fall incidents to consider what risks in our workplace may lead to these types of incident and advise on effective control measures to prevent them from happening again.

Over the remainder of 2024/2025 there will be a targeted campaign to reduce the number of slips, trips and falls within Tayside Contracts so we would urge you to look out for any information published around slips, trips and falls and follow any advice that you are given.

In the meantime, there are many ways to control slips and trips risks and prevent accidents in your workplace you could follow now.

Here are a few examples: Report all accidents, even minor ones to your line manager.

If you see a spillage, clean it up or make arrangements for it to be cleaned.

Report any damaged floors or mats.

Play your part and keep the workplace tidy.

If you see items on the floor where someone could trip over them, remove them or arrange for them to be removed or for the situation to be made safe.

Report anything you think may be dangerous to your line manager.

Finally, you can also report any safety suggestions and positive observations to your line manager or by using the online safety observation form using the link here

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Things have moved on significantly since permission was gained for the extension at Collace.

In the April 2024 edition of Target, we were pleased to announce the formal approval of planning permission at Collace, providing consent to allow for quarrying operations, including coated roadstone production, to continue through to 2052, therefore securing the longerterm service provision of these materials to our three council partners and a long-term source of commercial income, for the sale of these materials to other customers.

In addition to the new boundary fence and felling of tress previously reported.

On 25th March 2024 things started to progress when machines arrived at Collace to commence stripping the soil to expose the rockhead, these were 2 x 30t excavator, 2 x 30t dump truck and 1 x bulldozer.

Good dry weather is the preference for this type of activity and this was the case when the works commenced however, this soon turned for the worse, snow and rain, meant plant was stood down for some days as it was too wet and dangerous for the large machines to operate.

However, despite the setbacks this caused, the soil stripping finished on 31st May with approx.

30,000t soil moved and stored on site. This soil is required to be utilised in the progressive restoration of Collace over the next 30 years.

We will keep you informed of how the extension develops in future editions of Target.

By Greg Campopiano, Quarry Manager

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TC SCHOOL’S

B B Q 13

TC SCHOOL’S

B B Q 15

TC SCHOOL’S

B B Q 15

TC SCHOOL’S

B B Q 17

june 2024

E D I R P

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mo nt h!

Assist Excellence in Cleaning Award 2024 Congratulations to

Alyth Primary School Cleaning Team WINNER of the Outstanding Contribution to Cleaning Award 2024.

In the ASSIST FM Awards, this is a major achievement in winning this national award.

The team are Ruth Douglas, Marion Gilchrist, Joy Robertson and Gwen Campbell.

Also pictured Martin Hogg, Facilities Assistant.

Well done to the cleaning team for their first-class service, teamwork, and their proactive approach to Health and Safety

👏

by Caroline Cruickshanks, Acting Assistant Facilities Business Manager

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NIGHTSHIFT WORKING – WHY, WHERE AND WHEN WHY A NIGHTSHIFT? Nightshift working is usually undertaken within areas of high traffic volumes or where access cannot be restricted during normal business hours due to the adverse effect it would have on trading/operations i.e. industrial estates and main access routes to hospitals/public transport hubs. Access to the cities adopted carriageway and footway network is managed by each local authorities Network Management team, which in the case of Dundee City Council, falls under the management of the DRMP. WHERE AND WHEN? When a construction project is successfully delivered during the hours most of us sleep, it is easy to overlook the many elements that require to come together to allow a project to be delivered on time, on budget and to the correct quality standards.

In early June, the Dundee Roads Maintenance Partnership (DRMP) undertook a 2-week, multiphase nightshift on South Marketgait, Riverside Avenue and Riverside Drive.

The project, which was co-ordinated to be delivered in conjunction with nightshift works being undertaken by the Perth Roads Maintenance Partnership (PRMP) with a view to maximising Collace quarry’s output during the 2 weeks of nightshift, also featured works being undertaken by the DRMP on behalf of Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) which further boosted Collace’s productivity, generated additional income for Tayside Contracts and ultimately created efficiency and cost savings for SSE by not requiring them to undertake their own standalone nightshift.

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While the main scope of the DRMP’s nightshift was to remove and relay around 500 tonnes of worn carriageway surface course, there were many other elements to the project which required close liaison with external parties and Tayside Contracts Estimating and Transport department. Examples of some of the work required prior to the nightshift commencing were as follows: Liaison with specialist Statutory Undertakers (Veolia and Virgin Media) to undertake replacement of damaged and degraded assets in advance of the DRMP’s nightshift commencing.

Appointment of specialist sub-contractors to assist with the project, these related to traffic management (Contraflow), road marking (Central Traffic Management) road planning (E&J Douglas and Sons), these were facilitated through our procurement processes within the Estimating and Transport Units.

Adding to the additional proprietary work required to the deliver this project, due to the dates of nightshift conflicting with the UEFA Euro 2024 football tournament and subsequent group games of the Scottish national football team, close liaison was required with Dundee City Councils events team to ensure that the planned nightshift works, which pre-dated the creation of Dundee’s Euro fan park, did not negatively impact upon access and egress to the event site which was located at the Riverside football fields.

All planned works were completed on programme, within budget and no negative impact on access arrangements were reported by the events teams for either the Euro fan park or Dundee Pride which was also held in between week 1 and week 2 of the nightshift at nearby Slessor Gardens.

Well done to all involved.

by John Curran, DRMP Manager

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BROUGHTY FERRY ACTIVE TRAVEL PROVIDING ACCESS FOR EVERYONE

The Dundee Roads Maintenance Partnership (DRMP), in partnership with Kilmac Construction and our Street Lighting Partnership (SLP), recently completed the construction of a new shared path through Castle Green, Mill Steet, Castle Lane to the Esplanade Broughty Ferry, Dundee.

This project was phase 1C of the overall plan for the Broughty Ferry to Monifieth Active Travel (BFMAT) improvement scheme and followed on from our other successfully completed phases

by Tayside Contracts and our partner supply chain. Previous projects were Area 2A (previously completed in partnership with Kilmac) and Area 3 (delivered in house using Tayside Contracts resources) which were carried out within the 22/23 and 23/24 financial years, respectively. These schemes were funded by Transport Scotland’s Places for Everyone programme, administered by Sustrans Scotland.

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The project included a diverse range of work types ranging from carriageway resurfacing, footway reconstruction, installation of new street lighting, decorative slabbing, new table top construction and associated lining and signing.

Given the variety of tasks involved, the labour resource varied throughout and all those involved directly with the project deserve huge credit for their part in successfully delivering this project.

The resurfacing aspect involved an open texture binder course and a polymer modified open texture surface course for the shared path along with our standard binder and wearing course materials within the main carriageway, car parking area and table topped crossings. The total tonnage of bituminous coated materials for these works was around 500 tonnes, which is equivalent to around 350 standard road cars, with the vast majority of which coming from Tayside Contracts quarry at Collace.

More information on this along with the other completed schemes and the overall future plans are available online at www.broughtyferryactivetravel.com

By Graeme Allan, Project Manager, DRMP

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Food and Nutrition Team School Visits

By Caitlyn Kydd, Acting Food and Nutrition Manager

During the Spring term, Caitlyn, Nicole and Alice from our Food and Nutrition Team have been busy carrying out school visits and pupil consultations for the development of the 2025-26 lunch menus.

They have visited several primary schools in Angus, Dundee and Perth and Kinross to help pupils understand the Eat Well Guide and how school lunches meet the various aspects of the requirements. The team were warmly welcomed and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the teachers and pupils and hearing their positive comments about the current school lunch menu.

The team also carried out pupil consultations via Teams with primary schools across Tayside who took the opportunity to take part in this very worthwhile exercise. The pupils were asked for feedback on the menu and to suggest any new dish ideas that could be included on the 2025-26 menu. All pupils engaged enthusiastically and were happy to share their opinions on school meals with lots of interesting and wonderful ideas about what they would like to see on the menu. We did have to remind them that some of their ideas would not comply with the Scottish Government’s nutritional regulations! Menu consultation meetings also took place in secondary schools, which were also very successful, and the intention is to increase the scope of these for the next menu.

Thanks to all the schools who took part and facilitated the sessions – with your support we can make such a huge difference to school pupils; their health; their levels of attainment; and their opportunity to live their best life.

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We are thrilled to announce that Tayside Contracts has been successful in a bid to be included on a select list of sub contractors for a Roads Maintenance Framework commissioned by Stirling Council, Falkirk Council, and Clackmannanshire Council. This award highlights our commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure solutions across the region.

The Roads Maintenance Framework represents a substantial investment in regional infrastructure, with a total framework value of over £23 million. The framework is set to span four years, from August 2024 to August 2028, there are various work streams within the framework and the two key lots we will have the opportunity to provide services in are on road improvements and surface dressing.

This summer we successfully delivered a Surface Dressing contract under the previous framework for a value of £600k.

This shows our drive and ability to follow our business plan objective and source additional income through commercial approach.

By Edvins Balodis Estimating and Business improvement Manager

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AEDs in the Community – where you can find them?

Following on from several Target articles many have asked during First Aid or Drivers CPC Emergency Treatment of Casualties training how do you find local AED/Defibrillators.

Automated external defibrillators or AEDs can be used by anyone, without training. Our recent article regarding Steven Smith, a Roadworker in Tayside Contracts showed how lucky he was that the football pitch had this facility on site along with onlookers and emergency services acting quickly.

You will know that we have we have AEDs in all our depots, however, did you know you can check registered AEDs in your local area through the website www.defibfinder.uk 1 - Enter postcode or town

2 - Click on each icon and it will give details (Public/Restricted/Closed)

Please remember in the event of an emergency: If you are on your own: Call 999 and get the AED as quickly as possible if there is one nearby.

If you have help: Get your bystander to let the emergency services know that the casualty is unconscious and not breathing. Meanwhile, you should bring the AED as quickly as possible.

Once activated, the AED will talk to you and tell you what to do.

By Susie Newton, Training and Development Adviser

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Tayside Contracts is continuing to support Hard Hat Awareness Week, which this year ran from 10-16th June 2024.

Hard hat safety awareness week was introduced to drive awareness of brain injury through activities designed to encourage best practice around safety equipment.

At Tayside Contracts, we want to remind our construction colleagues about the importance of wearing hard hats and taking any impact on the head seriously.

Please wear your hard hat and consider the key messages that we will be providing through Hard Hat Safety Alerts.

Apprentice Mechanics, Callum Stewart, Dundee, won the Heavy Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (Apprenticeship) VRQ3/SVQ3 award, at a ceremony held at Edinburgh College on Thursday 27th June, Calum along with all the other students received their award during an evening of celebration and recognition.

Well done to Calum pictured centre for this well deserved recognition.

Left, Bob Ritchie and right, Keith McNamara, Managing Director

by Bob Ritchie, Transport Manager

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WORLD SKILLS REPRESENTATION At an apprentice mechanics World Skills event held in Loughborough at the end of May, Callum Stewart and Thomas Twaddle, represented Tayside Contracts in the category of ‘Heavy Vehicle Technology’, this is one of four categories considered at the event. Over a two-day period there knowledge and skills were tested in various areas of the industry.

If you are not aware of World Skills, the easiest way to think of it is like the Olympics for Apprentices, for a wide rage of job roles.

In late July, the finalist for the event were announced and we are delighted to report that Calum Stewart, is one of six who has progressed to the final for his category which will be held between 18th and 22nd November in Greater Manchester. The winners of the four specialisms will be announced at a medal ceremony at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on 22 November 2024.

Eligible winners will also have the chance to progress to Squad UK and represent Team UK in EuroSkills 2025 at Herning in Denmark and WorldSkills International 2026 in Shanghai, China.

As well as attending college, all the apprentices are supported by a mentor at their work location, and I’m sure all would agree that their own personal development is testament to those generally unseen individuals who pass on their own experience and knowledge and which is appreciated by all the management at Tayside Contracts.

Well done to Calum, Thomas and their mentors for their achievements to date and hopefully they can inspire the next generation to enter into the

by Bob Ritchie, Transport automotive industry. Manager

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INVESTORS IN PEOPLE: EMPLOYEE SURVEY 2024

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

You may recall that we issued our internal Tayside Contracts Leadership Survey in October 2023 which was completed and returned by 34% of the organisation, which we thank you for!

The next employee survey will be launched during late autumn this time direct from our partners Investors in People. This is your chance to say what you think about working at Tayside Contracts and help make work better! It also forms part of our forthcoming Investors in People assessment which is due in December 2024.

This year we want to make it as easy as possible for you to complete it so we will be offering a hybrid approach of on-line access, direct emails or completion via work terminals.

It should only take 5 minutes to complete and please be assured - your answers are completely confidential.

We have taken on board feedback from past surveys, made further improvements to our policies and practices and are therefore setting our sights on retaining our IIP status.

Please look out for further emails/communications on how to complete these surveys and I would encourage you to take the time to complete and return this back.

By Susie Newton, Training and Development Adviser

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W EL FE ED OVE BA CK Tayside Contracts was delighted to support the Arbroath Connection Meeting Centre, Community Centre - Supporting families and those Our Community Fund, delivered by our people at Tayside Contracts, has now helped over 100 community groups across Tayside. Here is an example of the difference you make.

living with Dementia.

We provided a cold buffet for 70 people on Tuesday 16 July, produced at Arbroath High School kitchen, which consisted of sandwiches, rolls, sausage rolls and home baking item.

“Just wanted to say thank you again for supplying our buffet for our open day on 16th July. It was a wonderful day and the food was lovely and appreciated by all.

Thanks and best wishes.”

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Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone for the donations received for our kilt walks. As a team, which included a few Scout Leaders, collectively we have managed to raise over £700 to help the Scouts organise more activities for their London trip next year. It was a very hot day but we managed to complete the walk.

Here are a couple of pictures of Heather and Stewart after completing the Mighty Stride 20 mile walk and myself, my daughter Keira, my sister Tricia and little Freddie (who was in a borrowed stroller as he is only 6 months) after completing the Wee Wander 4 miles.

Again thank you so much for your generosity.

by Fiona Armstrong, Clerical Assistant, HR Admin FIONA PICTURED RIGHT BELOW

HEATHER PICTURED LEFT ABOVE

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Blairgowrie’s CITIZEN AND COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR 2024 It has been an incredible year for BRAN, Blairgowrie & Rattray Access Network, the local path maintenance group in this East Perthshire town.

On a weekly basis, their Volunteers can be found around the area mowing, litter picking and tidying the walking paths, ensuring the countryside paths are kept safe and accessible throughout the year.

However, whilst performing these voluntary duties, they also have to ensure their own compound, generously provided by Tayside Contracts, is kept in order, while guaranteeing the equipment used is kept safe.With this in mind …….. and with the financial support of a grant from Perth & Kinross Council……a group of BRAN individuals braved the cold of late winter and early spring to erect, over a number of weeks, a new shed, in which they can securely store some of the larger equipment used in their path clearing exploits.Not only were the BRAN Volunteers shed building, but throughout, they continued with their path maintenance work.Support for the project has come in various forms……..the grant from PKC allowed them to purchase all the relevant materials needed for the completion of the new shed.

Doug McKay, Head of Operations of Tayside Contracts and Shona Hamilton, their Property Officer, gave permission and additional support via their Community Support ideals.

E W Edwardson, Electrical Contractors generously supported the project by installing all the electrics into the shed, by means of their Communities Benefit Fund.

However BRAN’s very own Ally Donald, was the inspiration, leader and technical director in the erecting of the new installation. His on-going enthusiasm and drive, ensured the project was completed safely and successfully, with the aid of the other BRAN Volunteers. Ally and at times one of the other volunteers Grahame, can be found throughout the summer months, out mowing the paths in the area, year after year.

With this in mind, Ally has just been awarded Blairgowrie & Rattray’s Citizen of the Year. While the entire BRAN group has been awarded Voluntary Group of the year, a real coup. Recently, via the Tesco Community Fund, the local shoppers kindly chose BRAN as their lead group by voting at Tescos through their blue token scheme. This will provide BRAN with the funds needed to repair a well worn and very boggy path on the Ardblair Trail, heading out towards the popular Bluebell Woods. So quite a year for Blairgowrie & Rattray Access Network.

Pictured here in front of the fully erected shed are a number of the Volunteers of BRAN. Seated at the front are Doug McKay from Tayside Contracts and Keith Reid, Chair of BRAN. In the background is Lesley Rafferty representing EW Edwardson Electrical Contractors and to her side is Ally Donald at the wheel of the Community Tractor.

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We are proud to work with Developing the Young Workforce’s campaign #NoWrongPath which provides inspiration and reassurance to young people receiving their exam results. The campaign aims to demonstrate that many people in interesting job roles may not have taken a straight, obvious or traditional path to get there - that there is #NoWrongPath. Thanks to Caroline, Tatum and Bob for sharing their stories - and some great advice too!

#NO WRONG PATH

Here is some information about our employee benefits package provided through VIVUP

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