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THE DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
commerceINISSUE 1 • AUTUMN 2010
Economic Review Savour the Flavours
Mountain Bike Business Network A Tale of Two Recoveries
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Welcome to our brand new magazine I hope that you will enjoy it
and find it helpful. We started a Chamber magazine two years ago and we have progressed from an 8 page printed magazine to a 22 page online and now this 48 page full colour one. With a print run of 2,500 circulated widely throughout the region this is the best way for businesses to communicate with each other. The magazine is packed with great stories from local businesses and will keep you up to date with all the work Chamber has been doing on your behalf.
It is hard to believe that my first year as President will be completed next month at our AGM when we will provide you with a detailed account of the work done by Chamber over the past year. We will also be joined by Jeremy Sainsbury, Managing Director of Natural Power, a great home grown success story. See page 9 for details.
Dominating everything recently has been the budget crisis facing all our public services. Chamber has argued for some time that the Council should make more use of local businesses with their ability to innovate and lower costs.
But now the Council is facing massive cuts over the next three years and this will undoubtedly lead to job losses and significant cuts to services. The Chamber teamed up with FSB to jointly make the case for careful consideration to be given as to how these cuts will affect the local economy. Some cuts could decimate parts of the private sector and this is not a region where the private sector can simply expand to fill the gaps left by the Council – particularly in such a short time scale. The Council does now seem to be willing to listen and we all agreed that we need to keep up this dialogue over the next three years.
The next issue of InCommerce will be out in January and we would love to hear of news of your business or your thoughts on any of the many issues challenging businesses today. Send these to Amanda at the Chamber office and we will try and fit them in next time round.
Trevor Knowles
President
Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce.
Contents
President’s Welcome .................. 3
News ......................................... 5-6
Chamber Services .................... 8-9
Economic Outlook How Flat is your Pancake? .. 10-11
Focus on our Partners Dumfries and Galloway College ................................. 12-13
Savour the Flavours ............. 14-15
Out and About with Amanda 1 ................................. 17
Chamber Lunch ........................ 19
Mountain Bike Business Network eat-sleep-ride.com ............... 20-21
Events News .............................. 23
Feature A Tale of Two Recoveries ... 26-28
Financial Tips Watch your Figures! ................. 31
Showcase ............................. 34-35
Health and Safety Corporate Manslaughter ......... 36
Financial Tips PAYE the Right Amount of Tax ........................................ 37
Business Leadership Why Better Leadership Matters ...................................... 38
Blowin’ in the Wind ................. 38
Out and About with Amanda 2 ............................ 40-41
Business Help & Support Growing up with Business Gateway .................................... 43
New Chamber Members ..... 44-45
Events Diary .............................. 46
InCommerce is published by InCommerce Ltd. Unit 14, Birch Road, Broadmeadow Industrial Estate, Dumbarton G82 2RE. Telephone 01436 821501. Fax 01436 820028. E-mail: [email protected]. Edited by Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce, Hillhead House, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries DG1 4UQ. Tel: 01387 270866 E-mail: [email protected].
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 InCommerce Ltd or D-Tech Graphic Design & Print Ltd.
For advertising contact D-Tech on T: 01436 821438 E: [email protected]
For editorial enquiries contact the Editor, Gordon Mann on T: 01387 247544 E: [email protected]
Publisher: InCommerce Ltd
Distribution: D-Tech Distribution
WELCOME
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Newstelling tails
A world-first in software development is set to be launched by a growing IT company in Langholm. Eskdale Solutions has written a unique piece of
software called “URL Tail Rewrite”, which has the power to increase a website’s traffic by up to 46%.
Business Development Executive, Donna Wilkinson, said it will allow SMEs to take a much greater percentage of the £4 billion currently spent online in the UK every month. She commented, “It’s a really simple piece of software that doesn’t require any programming knowledge. It works by allowing you to rename your web addresses using keywords in the URL, so if you sell products or services online, you can get the names of those products or services into the address of that specific page. This has major implications for your search engine optimization, because you are much more likely to appear at the top of search engine results, which means more qualified traffic will seek you out. More qualified traffic translates into more opportunities to make a sale, thus higher profits and ROI.”
Testing over the past year has shown that “URL Tail Rewrite” typically gives a 35% increase in website visitors within one month. Sales or enquiries can typically increase by 37%, and month on month sales/enquiries can typically increase by 46%.
For more information go to www.eskdale.net/tails or call Eskdale Solutions on 01387 380 392.
ChapelCross DeCommissioning
For over 45 years Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station near Annan generated electricity safely until the plant entered its defueling and decommissioning
phase in 2004.
Since then, over the last five years considerable progress has been made with decommissioning Scotland’s first nuclear power station, most notably the demolition of the four iconic Cooling Towers in May 2007. Although the disappearance of this famous Dumfriesshire landmark that stood for over half a century changed the landscape of the region forever and was the most visual reminder that things were changing at the site, progress on safely decommissioning the site continues at pace.
One of the major projects currently underway is to completely defuel the Magnox Reactors of all 38,075 fuel elements. After being given permission to defuel by the Nuclear Installation Inspectorate (NII) last summer, the first fuel element was removed from the Reactors in August 2009 and since then over 7,178 fuel elements, representing nearly 20% of the inventory, have been safely removed and dispatched for reprocessing to Sellafield in North Cumbria. Each flask contains approximately 144 fuel elements and a major milestone in the project was reached recently when at the end of August 2010 the 50th flask of fuel left the site.
Tim Dunham, Operations and Project Manager in charge of the defueling project said “This is a great achievement for the site and is a credit to the skilled workforce currently focused on the defueling project, and we are currently on target for having all 38,075 fuel element removed from the site by April 2012”.
sponsors wanteD
Mossburn Community Farm based near Lockerbie for the past 23 years has recently expanded beyond caring for animals by putting together
a team of professionally trained staff whose combined experience in the community, educational environments and in delivering therapy have established Mossburn as a respected provider of Therapeutic, Educational and Personal Development placements, as well as courses for vulnerable children, young people and adults.
They deliver Equine Assisted Learning and Psychotherapy thanks to qualified staff (a Mental Health Professional and a Horse Specialist) who trained and work under the umbrella of EAGALA, the worldwide organisation.
Juanita Wilson who founded the centre said “This has numerous benefits to all kinds of people, such as those with confidence and self-esteem problems, learning and behavioural difficulties or drug and alcohol issues, and has resulted in helping young local people achieve a better, more rewarding future and, importantly, become successful contributors within the community”.
But to do this they need to build an arena for Equine Assisted Learning and Psychotherapy. The budget for this will be approximately £30k – not a large amount given the level of help it will provide for so many people, and the indirect benefits this will have on local communities as a whole.
To raise these funds they are seeking financial support from local businesses and individuals who wish to make a positive impact on their community. In return for a contribution they offer: ‘football’ style advertising on the arena boarding and all literature, advertising and links on the website (with up to 7,000 visitors a month!) They can even offer contributing businesses a free Team-Building session per year! The Centre is a registered charity making any contribution fully deductable.
to contact mossburn go to www.mossburn.co.uk or call 01387 811288
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News
more supportOn site propertymaintenance, sitesecurity and hassle freeIT and telecoms support.
more flexibilityVersatile accommodation and flexible leaseoptions.
more spaceHigh ceilinged, spacious,historic properties on thebeautiful Crichton Estate.
more facilitiesFree parking, access toshared meeting rooms,nearby cafe, restaurant,golf club and bar.
more successDumfries’ vibrant anddynamic business park,be part of it.
Thinking ofrelocating?
Please contact John Edwards, on
01387 702211or email [email protected]
Expect more from yourbusiness premisesInspirational office space from as little as £80 per week.To find out more or to view available accommodationlog onto www.crichtonbusinesspark.co.uk
Give your company or organisation the ‘Competitive Edge’.
Our aim is to produce promotional publications such as Yearbooks and Journals at essentially nil-cost to our clients – no catch!
We can tailor our services to fi t your business or organisation.
Publisher and designers of
IssUE 4 • OctObEr 2010
thE MIDLOthIan anD East LOthIan chaMbEr Of cOMMErcE bUsInEss MagazInE
What did you do this summer?
Why it pays to be green
Small business rates relief - it’s not too late
What publicity works?Small business rates relief - it’s not too late
ISSUE 9 • AUG 2010
THE DUNBARTONSHIRE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE
AGGREKO
Groundbreaking at Lomondgate
ISSUE 9ISSUE 9
Groundbreaking at Lomondgate
THE perthshire CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINEcommerceINcommerce
ISSUE 7 • AUTUMN 2010
The Big Interview – “Mr Radio” Ally Bally
Industry Focus – House Building – Down But Not Out
Perthshire On A Plate – Picture Special
Country sports
on target for perthshire economy
commerceISSUE 7 • AUTUMN 2010
The Big Interview – “Mr Radio” Ally Bally
Industry Focus – House Building – Down But Not Out
Perthshire On A Plate – Picture Special
on target for perthshire economy
THE DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS MAGAZINEcommerceIN ISSUE 1 • AUTUMN 2010
Economic Review
Savour the Flavours
Mountain Bike Business Network
A Tale of Two Recoveries
Yearbooks & JournalsJ S Main & Sons
Saddlery • Fishing Gear • Handtools • Waterproof Clothing
Wellingtons • Workwear • Shooting Equipment
Casual, comfortable clothing by:
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D-Tech Graphic Design & Print LimitedUnit 14, Birch Road, Broadmeadow Industrial Estate, Dumbarton G82 2RE • Telephone 01436 821438 E-mail: [email protected]
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Chamber Services
Lobbying
Chamber is in a unique position, being able to speak up on behalf of our members where we think that there needs to be change. By acting together we increase our voice on key issues that may be concerning you. Recently we spoke up about the business rates revaluation, procurement policies and on behalf of a small group of companies who are affected by stringent conservation agreements.
The looming public sector cuts could seriously affect our economy and the Chamber is now in regular dialogue with the Council as it works through what will be its most difficult budget round in living memory. We need to be there speaking up for business.
Networking & Events
Getting together to get a quick update on changing rules and regulation, finding out about the latest thinking and good practice are important aspects of the Chamber. These meetings also serve to make new contacts and to find new customers or suppliers.
The next series of events will have more emphasis on networking to make sure that you get the most out of your precious time. We are working hard to make sure we reach out to as many businesses as we can – growing our membership and increasing the opportunities for business to do business.
Member Services
Chamber membership brings with it a great range of services that more than cover the cost to your business. These are some of the services on offer.
Chamber HR service gives you your own HR department on your desktop with its great web site where you can get advice, download documents, policies and forms that are bang up to date. If you don’t see what you need then pick up the phone 24/7 and talk to an expert who will guide you through the HR maze – and it’s all FREE.
Join Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Legal Expenses provides great peace of mind with legal cover of up to £65,000 for a range of employment, property, tax and vat issues. In fact the cover amounts to over £650,000 when it is all added up – and it’s FREE. With the HR and legal services there may be a charge for any additional services you may need and these are set out on the web site.
Chamber Health Care providing an affordable way to help your staff look after their health by meeting the cost of dentist and optician’s bills as well as providing access to a great range of benefits. Starting at only £1.10 per employee per week this is a proven way of keeping absence rates down and boosting productivity. We also offer a complete Health Care Plan through AXA PPP Health care if this is what you would prefer.
Chamber Merchant Services offers a very cost effective way of processing credit card transactions and includes state of the art terminals and a monitoring system that puts you in control.
Export Documentation
We offer a simple Export Documentation Service through the Chamber website where you can order the certificate you require and it is delivered directly to you through your desktop. Reduced rates are available to Chamber members for this service.
Website E-news and magazine
Our web site has been completely redesigned and we have launched this great new magazine. The Chamber office will ensure that you are notified of upcoming events and anything that might affect your business. We are working on a new member-to-member discount scheme and all members will shortly receive a membership card to help make this work.
And the cost of all this?
Membership starts as low as £95 for the year for a small business and rises in stages to £450 for the largest businesses. These figures will be reviewed at the AGM.
If you would like further details on Chamber membership or on the services detailed above, please call Amanda at the Chamber office on 01387 270866 or email [email protected]
www.dgchamber.co.uk
Although part of the biggest business representation group in the world through our affiliation with Scottish Chambers of Commerce and BCC, Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce is a locally based Company run by a Board of Directors appointed by the members at our AGM. As a not for profit organisation we make sure that all our efforts go on helping businesses working locally to grow and prosper. So how do we do this?
Amanda Hannah, the Chamber’s Business Development Executive
Chamber AGM
Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce’s AGM takes place this year on Monday 15th November at the Station Hotel, Dumfries at 6pm. All members are invited to come along and hear an update on Chamber activities over the past year.
Guest speaker at the event will be Jeremy Sainsbury, Director of Natural Power Consultants Ltd, a renewable energy company with its Head Office in Dalry, Castle Douglas and offices in Wales, England, Ireland, France and Canada.
To confirm your attendance, please contact the Chamber office on 01387 270866 or email [email protected]
We’re here to help Scottish business grow.At Bank of Scotland we’re here for Scottish business, supporting opportunities for growth and encouraging enterprise.
We are committed to developing long-term partnerships with our customers to offer them the support, guidance and expertise needed to take their business forward.
From growing your business in a recovering economy and beyond, you can be sure that we’ll be with you all the way.
For more information speak to your local manager David Murray on 07748 14 69 23.
bankofscotland.co.uk/business
bus matters 137x94 57738.indd 1 2/9/10 14:15:34
www.charitychallenge.comRegistered charity number 1107328 and registered in Scotland (SC039857)
Go the extra mile for children and young people with cancer
For more information contact:Katie Grier on 01292 692 113 or [email protected]
Cycling from Havana to Trinidad!
12 – 21 November 2011
Board of DirectorsChief ExecutiveGordon Mann - The Crichton Trust
PresidentTrevor Knowles - HK Financial Advisers
TreasurerRoderick Williamson - Carson & Trotter
DirectorsJamie Maitland – Kellwood Engineering Ltd
Arthur Jardine – William Jardine Funeral Directors
Tricia Hunter – Minerva People Limited
Alec MacDonald – Alchemist Technologies Ltd
Finlay Carson – CMS
David Wood – Plansafe Solutions Ltd
Tom Riddet – Armstrong Watson
Paula Gibson – Thistle Products Ltd
David Murray – Bank of Scotland
Stuart Callander – Metrik Office Supplies
John Silker – Gretna Hall Hotel
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Economic Outlook
it is often said that stockbrokers don’t care whether the market goes up and down, as long as it moves. as long as share prices
change, people will want to buy and sell them, and the broker can make his turn.
It’s a bit like that with economic writers and the economy: as long as it does something, then writers have something to write about and readers can have an interesting read.
what does the data tell us?
Today’s problem is that nothing much has happened in the Dumfries and Galloway economy since the start of the year.
Take the labour market. There the recession started to bite in February 2008, and a year later unemployment (seasonally adjusted) had shot up from 1900 to 3100. Eighteen months later it’s still there. (See Figure 1)
Or take the housing market. At the start of 2008 houses were changing hands at a rate of about 280 per month (seasonally adjusted again). At the start of 2009 the figure was 125. In the last quarter of last year it recovered a wee bit, to 160 houses per month. But since then it has stuck there. (See Figure 2).
House prices in Dumfries and Galloway have shown a tiny bit more action (I’m talking here about the prices houses were actually sold at, as recorded in the Registers of Scotland, not the asking price or the mortgage or surveyor’s valuation). They stopped going up in the middle of 2007, and stuck about the same level until January 2009. In February last year the basic level dropped like a stone, by about 10 per cent. Then, in February this year, prices put the whole 10 per cent back on again. They held it until June, but a truly awful average price for transactions completed in July could be the first sign of the double dip. (See Figure 3)
how flat is your panCake?By Professor Hervey Gibson, CogentSI [email protected]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
cogentsi 1/1 Z:\DATA\Emp\Unemp\SeasUnempModel.xls Chart2 (3) 2010-‐09-‐27 10:44
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Source: Data: ONS
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DREAM®jobs by cogentsi
ref: data/emp/unemp/seasunempmodel/chart2
Dumfries & Galloway
cogentsi 1/1Z:\DATA\Prices\House prices\Seasonally Adjusted\SeasHousingVolumeauto.xls volspecwavy 2010-‐09-‐27 10:40
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Ref: z/data/prices/ house prices/ seasadj/seashousing
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Source: Registers of Scotlandand cogentsi calculations
Ref: z/data/prices/ house prices/ seasadj/seashousing
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Economic Outlook
key features of our housing market
Two points arise out of this commentary. Firstly, in the last sentence of the previous paragraph I adopted too readily the point of view of the average British member of the middle classes: high and rising house prices are a good thing. As an excuse, I would say you don’t have to go quite that far to consider that a drop in house prices is a bad thing. It is certainly the case that falling asset prices create a lot of disruption and difficulty, particularly amongst folk that have borrowed to buy an asset, and can find themselves in or approaching negative equity.
However, in current circumstances and in this place, that is mitigated by the very low level of interest rates, and by the probability that in Dumfries and Galloway many people start off with quite a lot of equity. The mortgage to value ratio is likely lower than elsewhere, because lots of older movers-in bring equity with them, because our independent economy is far from the bubbles, bursts and fashions of the big cities, and because we have a fairly conservative local financial establishment.
And secondly there are two reasons why low house prices can be good for Dumfries and Galloway.
The one that weighs most heavily with me is those movers in. Many of them come from North West England, and we can see a clear correlation between house prices there and in-migration over the past twenty years. The lower house prices are here, relative to the North West, the more people come and live here. When our house prices were at their highest relative level, in the early 1980s and mid 1990s, about a hundred families of over 50s moved in each year. When they were at their lowest relative level, at the start of this century and the end of the 1980s, about four hundred families moved in per year. They bring their savings with them, and sometimes their energy and effort for the workplace too. And since the local economy is substantially a service economy, local traders need their spending power, even if they have increasingly to eke it out over a long retirement or semi-retirement.
The other issue about low house prices is the affordability one: rural activists argue that young people – first time buyers – are being driven out of country locations because house prices are too high relative to the salaries they can earn. That may be true, but I don’t think the activists’ knee jerk solution – to control rural house prices – is the answer. One solution is to build more houses, and let the market find its level. Another is to pay people more, and pay for it through higher productivity. There are some businesses where productivity is already high, but wages and salaries low, and for these we need to work out a fairer distribution of the value added.
where do we go from here?
But what of the course of the recession? We got where we are because – across the western economies – the private sector (alright, the banks particularly) messed things up. It would have been a lot worse if Governments, notably our UK one, had not been increasing their spending.
Now we have given ourselves a Government that seems to suffer from elementary economic delusions. The first part of the rhetoric is that it must and can cut spending by up to a quarter. My reading from our Council’s commentary and comments at the Chamber is that that might well be too difficult in practice. The second part is that then the private sector will quickly rise up and fill the gap. Not here! Not that quickly. I remember the faith in quick-acting market mechanisms avowed by Keith Joseph, Margaret Thatcher, Norman Tebbit, and the Cabinet and monetary community of the early eighties. What was supposed to be a six month hiccup turned into a lost decade for Scotland.
But although the outlook for public services, spending and employment is gloomy, there are four positive things facing our private sector here in Dumfries and Galloway. All relate to our ‘export’ industries. Agricultural prices have improved, and will probably keep doing so; UK tourism has gained renewed competiveness with a more favourable exchange rate and rising energy costs tending to deter long distance travel; and we are in energy and timber surplus, both products which the world (and especially the rest of Britain) will come to value more and more highly.
We may be becoming a better place to do business, especially in these promising sectors, but our business is nowhere near big enough to offset the intended assault upon our public sector.
“..our independent economy is far from the bubbles, bursts and fashions of the big cities”
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Partners
Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce operates a Partner for Business scheme. Partners for Business have access to a comprehensive package of
benefits, while at the same time assist with the development of the Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce movement.
The Partners for Business scheme aims to cement the relationship that companies have with Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce, making sure they get the most out of membership and in turn contributing to the work of the Chamber so supporting other business in Dumfries and Galloway.
As a Partner for Business your contribution will enable the Chamber to develop and so provide greater support to the business community through SME’s and small businesses and so assist in the process of economic development in Dumfries and Galloway.
What benefits can your organisation enjoy as a Partner for Business?
One table for ten guests at the Annual Lunch•
Recognition in the Annual Lunch programme as a •Partner
Acknowledgement in the President’s speech at our Annual •Lunch, attended by 200+ guests from local businesses
Your company name is recognised on all Chamber •stationery and marketing stands as a Partner
Your company logo will appear in the Annual Report•
You will be listed in the Partners Section of the Chamber •website with a link to your own website, and recognition on the website home page as a Partner
You will receive acknowledgement in any newsletter or •information
You will have open access to staff and Board of the •Chamber, who will all be happy to provide information in respect of the current state of the Dumfries and Galloway economy or to assist in specific matters relating to lobbying or representation.
Regular editorial in our quarterly 40+ page full colour, •magazine to be distributed in places of high footfall throughout Dumfries & Galloway
Who are our current Partners for Business?
We are very grateful to the following businesses for their contribution to our Partners for Business scheme:
Current Partners: Dumfries & Galloway College, Kellwood Engineering Ltd, Magnox North Chapelcross and Bank of Scotland
How can my business become a Partner and what is involved?
We will only ever have one Partner from each sector at any one time. The commitment for a Partner is for a three-year period and the contribution is £3,000 per year. Any business that is interested in becoming a Partner or would like further information should contact Amanda Hannah at the Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce office on 01387 270866 or email [email protected]
Become a Partner for Business
Focus on our PartnersThis time we focus on Dumfries and Galloway College
People, Profit, Electric Toys and Faster Horses
Charles Darwin is often quoted as saying “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
And that ability to change is what differentiates successful businesses from the rest, Knowing what to change, and how to change it, is essential because, as the saying goes, ““Doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results, is the definition of crazy.”
Implementing change is a key function of management – but even the most successful can miss the opportunity of a lifetime –like the CEO of Western union who proclaimed, ” What use could the company make of an electric toy?”— as he turned down the rights to the telephone in 1878. Of course getting it right isn’t easy either, as predicting the market is notoriously difficult – cue Henry Ford who pointed out, “If I had asked the public what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse.”
And once you accept the need for change and identify the right opportunities, how do you then develop your business to exploit them? Well sometimes we overlook our most important resource – our people.
Which, is where Company Training Solutions can help by providing creative solutions to your people and business development challenges. It’s a collaborative approach through which we provide access to all the specialist resources and expertise of Dumfries and Galloway College. From developing new qualifications specifically for your staff, to providing access to our specialist equipment, or carrying out training needs analysis then delivering the bespoke training programmes and advising on sources of funding – our aim is to help you profit from your people.
Fortnum Select is now the first choice recruitment business in the region and this is down to the way we do business, a few key factors are as follows.
We take time to understand our clients businesses, the personalities and the business culture. This allows us to present only the appropriate candidates for that business.
We interview every candidate before introducing them to a client, so we know they are the right fit.
We are creative in our advertising to attract the correct target audience, both locally and nationally.
As we know our clients businesses first hand we can sell the opportunity to interested parties.
As we are a specialist Headhunt business for some of the largest companies in the UK, we can utilise our expertise to assist local business attract the very best candidates.
Fortnum Select charge a fixed fee for each assignment rather than a % of salary, ensuring clients they are seeing the best candidates regardless of salary level.
If you need help in finding and attracting the best candidates, at any level, to your business, talk to the experts, it might not cost as much as you think and the results will speak for them selves.
Nigel Fortnum [email protected]. 07786 737303w. 01556 503886web. www.fortnumselect.com
Recruitment in Dumfries & Galloway
Conference facilities include: • 90 Seat Auditorium • Meeting rooms • Digital projection & presentation
facilities • IT facilities • In-house catering & refreshment
area.
Or just pop by Visitor Centre open daily with regular exhibitions by local artists, shop and cafe specialising in quality local produce.
Tourist information and free internet, regular programme of events see www.catstrand.com
The
CatStrandThe Perfect Venue - for events and conferences
Comfortable, accessible, state ofthe art, located in the geographical heart of Dumfries and Galloway.
Tel: 01644 420374 High Street, New Galloway DG7 [email protected] • www.catstrand.com
The CatStrand is an operating name of Glenkens Community& Arts Trust Ltd, a Registered Scottish Charity, No. SC032050
The European Agricultural Fundfor Rural Development
Europe investing in rural areas
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Savour the Flavours
Less than two years ago Savour the Flavours was an organisation thought by many to have reached the end of its natural lifespan. A food project with a
narrow business-to-business focus it was a casualty of the Scottish Enterprise reorganisation which left it bereft of funding and resources. Today the project is unrecognisable from its previous incarnation. Striding across Dumfries & Galloway with confidence and vigour Savour the Flavours is surprising many with the scale of its ambition and its success so far.
Food is all about passion and that’s what Savour the Flavours Chairman Dave Smith credits as the critical success factor behind the resurgence of Savour the Flavours.
“It took a lot of hard work and dedication to get Savour the Flavours back off the ground. Our original small committee spent a great deal of time talking with the LEADER team and with the Economic Regeneration team at Dumfries & Galloway Council to explore the potential and the practicalities of reviving the organisation, and securing funding to make that possible. What we proposed was a complete fresh start. An organisation that was new in all but name, and critically an organisation that could be flexible and responsive to the needs of the business communities it served.
“What we have found is that the original ambitions for Savour the Flavours were very much just a starting point. Driven by the passion of the industry and the determination to make this project a tangible success
Savour the Flavours has grown arms and legs, and many of them, over the past year and yet we are still only scratching the surface of the potential of this project. Food and drink is a critically important industry in Dumfries & Galloway and it has a very important role to play in our region’s tourism offering, so the potential importance of Savour the Flavours in supporting these industries cannot be over estimated.”
The most significant achievements of Savour the Flavours so far is the work done in bringing people and businesses together, opening lines of communication and facilitating joint working across communities and across sectors for the benefit of the entire food and drink sector. Notable outcomes have included setting up the Wigtownshire Food Forum, a series of open meetings to explore a joined up approach to farmers’ markets, the establishment of the Dumfries & Galloway Farmers’ and Communities Markets steering group, organising a group presence at the BBC Good Food Show in October, working with twelve of the region’s top chefs and encouraging them to become ambassadors for regional produce.
Most recently Savour the Flavours organised Flavour Fortnight, a region-wide food festival drawing together 48 events and activities organised by 43 businesses to
showcase Dumfries & Galloway food and drink. Despite being organised in only two months and
actively marketed for just 5 weeks, thousands of local people and visitors have engaged with the programme of events taking part in activities including producer
savour the flavours
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Savour the Flavours
savour the flavoursopen days, tastings and samplings, special menus in hotels and restaurants, collaborative food festivals, wild food forages, talks and workshops. Organised to test interest from businesses and the general public in engaging with a region wide food event, Flavour Fortnight certainly seems to have hit the right note. Dave says the goal now is to explore ways of making Flavour Fortnight bigger, better and an annual event, positioning local food and drink as a major tourism draw in Dumfries & Galloway.
Underpinning all Savour the Flavours activities is a clarity of communication and the free flow of information, listening to the concerns and experiences of businesses, learning directly what their needs and aspirations are and adapting the activities of the project to meet those needs.
“We couldn’t have found a better project manager than Liz Ramsay to lead Savour the Flavours. Her approach and her dedication to making a real difference to the food and drink community is what has really brought Savour the Flavours to life, and her experience as a food producer is invaluable.
“Working together with our committee members, the business community and regional organisations we have created a forward momentum that is very much driven by the grass roots of Savour the Flavours. The micro business,
the artisan producer, the independent retailer, the small hotel and cafés that go out of
their way to source the very best that our region has to offer and that invest their products and services with such pride and passion. These are our local food heroes, these are the people who are helping to drive this project forward and these are the people who, together, are co-creating a strong, vibrant and
sustainable food and drink industry in Dumfries & Galloway.”
Savour the Flavours welcomes membership from businesses who produce, use or sell Dumfries & Galloway food and drink. Membership is currently free of charge and businesses can sign up on www.savourtheflavours.co.uk.
AD
CONFERENCE & BANQUETINGDAY DELEGATE RATES FROM £25.00 PER PERSON
Conferences from 2 to 150 delegates
Located 1 mile from M6 AND A75
Tailor Made Packages
Free onsite parking
Well equipped conference suites
Quality accommodation
Everything you need to make your meeting a complete success!
QUALITY ACCOMMODATIONFROM AS LITTLE AS £29 PER PERSON INCLUDING FULL SCOTTISH BREAKFAST
GOLF PACKAGESFROM £120.0 0 PER PERSON
Choose from a selection of quality courses within
Dumfries & Galloway and Cumbria
Return transport to the course is included
Finish your round of Golf and return to the hotel
for a 3 course dinner followed by entertainment
We will organise everything for you.... so you can just relax!
10% discount on conference packages for all Chamber members
SUNDAY CARVERY£5.0 0 PER MAIN ME AL
Open daily for lunches from 11am
Please contact the hotel on 01461 338257 for fur ther information and details on the above
Gretna Hall Hotel / Gretna Green / Dumfriesshire / DG16 5DYW: www.gretnahallhotel.com / E: [email protected] / T: 01461 338257
Hereʼs what we do:Provide a linen hire/laundering service for the accommodation industry, from hotel groups through to B&B`s, with deliveries/collections via our own transport fleet.
Offer a range of garments, on a rental basis, from heavy duty boilersuits for industry, through to chefs wear for the catering industry and food trade garments processed in our brand new “clean room”. We also provide ancillary services such as dust mats, roller towels and garment lockers.
For the general public we provide laundry and dry cleaning services through our factory shop on the outskirts of Dumfries town centre and a network of retail agents.
If you need table linen for a one off occasion, such as a wedding, we can help.
Hereʼs what you do:visit our web site:www.shortridge.co.uk
Free Press commercial print brings high quality, low cost colour printing within the reach of businesses large and small.
From start to finish we are fully equipped to carry out any of your colour printing requirements.
For competitive quotes and a quality professional service, give us a call on:
01776 70255114 St Andrew Street, Stranraer DG9 7EB
About FP Commercial Print
FP commercial print is a new service offered by one of south west Scotland’s most prestigious and oldest media publishers, Stranraer & Wigtownshire Free Press established in 1843.
We understand the need for a modern business to promote itself and its products accurately, imaginatively and above all successfully. We offer a bespoke service catering to the individual needs of each client and we believe each client to be an individual, not a number in a process. Our methods and technologies may have changed over the years, but we do have a few ‘old fashioned’ values, which we believe make the difference…
Honesty • Reliability • Service • Value for Money
As we have said before our parent company has been in the print, publishing and media industry since 1843. This newest service is a natural expansion and progression for a business, which considers itself to be 167 years young.
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Out & About
A manda Hannah from the Chamber recently met Jill Parker (26) who set
up Jill’s Jewellery last December, based at the Schoolhouse Tearoom
at Ringford, near Castle Douglas.
A. What made you decide to set up your own business?
J. When in my 5th and 6th years at Douglas Ewart High School I spent most of my time in the art department and my teacher suggested that I might like to try making jewellery. I started off making hairpins and enjoyed it so much that I knew that this was the career for me. I was also inspired to start my own business by another local jewellery designer who had also received support from The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) to start her own business. I went on to spend five years working with this designer and a year working with jewellery designers in New Zealand before deciding to ‘bite the bullet’ and set up my own business.
A. What preparation did you do before setting up your own business?
J. I completed an HNC and HND jewellery design course over three years at Cardonald College in Glasgow before graduating in 2005. I then decided to approach PSYBT for advice on setting up my business. They provide financial and
professional support to young people in Scotland between the ages of 18 and 25, enabling them to set up and run their own business. My PSYBT mentor has been hugely supportive and I know that I can contact her any time for guidance and to use her as a sounding board for any new ideas I have for my business.
A. What do you enjoy most about having your own business?
J. What I enjoy most is making the jewellery, that’s the fun part, and talking to customers and getting feedback from them. I also get a great deal of satisfaction and a great sense of achievement from repairing old broken jewellery and making these as good as new.
A. What’s the hardest thing about running your own business?
J. Owning your own business can be quite tiring. Some days can be quite long and hard,
but as long as you know when to stop and when to restart, you can cope much better with the pressure.
A. What advice would you give anyone thinking of setting up their own business?
J. I would advise people to have a good business plan set up, know exactly what you need to make your
business a success and know what your aims are and where you want to be.
A. What inspires your jewellery collections?
J. My collections are inspired by nature including butterflies and daisies, shells and contemporary shapes. I work with sterling silver, white gold, yellow gold, palladium and platinum to create beautiful pieces of jewellery and have recently expanded in to the wedding market, creating wedding bands and engagement rings.
A. Have you met any interesting people through your work?
J. I have met a variety of interesting people through my business, from customers to business owners and have become good friends with a number of them.
A. What’s the best thing about living and working in Dumfries and Galloway?
J. Being from a farming background I have a strong love for the countryside and the scenery. Dumfries and Galloway brings a lot of tourists to the area, which makes my work quite exciting, meeting lots of interesting new people.
A. What are your plans for the future?
J. I am currently expanding in to the wedding market. I’ve already commissioned wedding jewellery and I plan to produce and stock a variety of engagement wedding rings. I also plan to open a shop in the nearby town of Castle Douglas.
You can visit Jill’s Jewellery at: The Workshop, The Schoolhouse, Ringford, Castle Douglas. DG7 2AL Tel: 01557 820387 or go to www.jillsjewellery.co.uk
Out and about with Amanda
www.dgarts.co.uk
Dumfries Fling 201027-30 November
The Plainstanes Dumfries
Dumfries Fling – the St Andrew’s thing – is
back to brighten the dark nights.
A celebratory line-up of music, dance, drama
and children’s entertainment
dance in the street—and divine your
future partners with a bit of St Andrew’s
traditional magic.
Dumfries & Galloway Arts – What is dgarts doing for Dumfries & Galloway and particularly what does it mean for local businesses in and around Dumfries?
Dumfries & Galloway Arts is an arts development agency, which operates as a not-for-profit business or social enterprise working closely with artists, creative and cultural businesses and organisations across Dumfries & Galloway.
Since the beginning of 2009, dgArts has been involved in the delivery of three high profile large scale events in Dumfries Town Centre as well as many smaller scale events and festivals region wide:
Burns Light in January 2009, with attendance in excess of 18,000, direct economic impact of £159k and television coverage across the world
Dumfries Fling – the Reel Thing on St. Andrews weekend in 2009 – with attendances of over 14,000, direct economic impact of £185k and media coverage, with a value calculated at £66k, which included reaching 96 million viewers on Central Chinese TV. These figures were taken from an independent assessment by EKOS for Homecoming Scotland and the Scottish Government.
Big Man Walking as part of Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival in June 2010 drew an attendance of nearly 10,000 people, with 15% of those attending coming from outside the region and 40% of these coming specifically to attend Big Man Walking with a direct economic impact of £121k.
Future plans include a second Dumfries Fling from 27 – 30 November 2010. A four day celebration of Scotland’ s national day - St Andrews Day – with a weekend of events and musical performances which will draw people to Dumfries at the start of the Christmas season. dgArts are
currently developing a regional Arts Information Hub at the Midsteeple in Dumfries including a regional ticketing system for arts and cultural events supported by marketing and promotion with collection and analysis of data on attendances to inform future audience development and programming.
Further background information:
dgArts develops and champions art and cultural projects. In our role as cultural broker we help and support artists and performers, develop artist led projects so they are achievable and deliverable through partnerships with the public sector. They include Dumfries & Galloway Council, NHS D&G, Scottish Natural Heritage, Forestry Commission Scotland, Visit Scotland and Destination D&G. We also work with local and national businesses in the private sector including the Gretna Green Group, Smiths, Aston Hotel and AMD Contract Services. dgArts acts as a single point of contact for arts information, contacts, commissions, support and development. It leads on initiating projects and commissions and stimulates ambition in other organisations and projects through advice, expertise, experience and contacts
dgArts currently employs eleven staff and generates income of over £500k pa for a wide range of regional creative industries including artists, designers, performers and writers, as well as graphic designers, printers, photographers and event services.
dgArts had over £1 million turnover in 2008-9 which was invested directly in arts provision in Dumfries & Galloway across a range of areas. It generates income through providing contracted services to Dumfries & Galloway Council, Creative Scotland and other agencies and stakeholders, through project management of arts projects, as well as directly through sales and promotions.
Dumfries & Galloway Arts is Good for Business
ADVERTISING FEATURE
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Chamber LunchTuesday 26th October sees the return of the biggest event
in Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce’s events calendar. The Chamber’s Annual Lunch takes place from
11:45am – 2:30pm at Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries and this year’s event welcomes Gavin Hastings OBE, former Scotland Rugby Captain as keynote speaker. Gavin and his business partners Graham and Maggie Watson run Positive Leadership Limited from their offices at Earlsferry in Fife. Gavin will be presenting at the lunch on the links that can be made between leading successful teams at the highest level of world rugby and in the world of business.
This event follows on from the successful lunches held in previous years where Chamber welcomed Charan Gill MBE and Sir Tom Farmer CBE as keynote speakers, both events attracting well over 200 people. This is an ideal opportunity to meet up with other like-minded business people, relax and enjoy a delicious 2 course meal and hear Gavin speak.
If you would like further information on this prestigious event or to book a place, please contact Amanda Hannah at Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce on 01387 270866 or email [email protected]. Ticket prices are £25 + VAT per head for Chamber members and £30 + VAT per head for non-Chamber members. A table of 10 is £250 + VAT for Chamber members and £300 + VAT for non-Chamber members.
Chamber lunCh
Gavin Hastings arrived at Cambridge University (where he studied Land Economy) via George Watsons College in Edinburgh and Paisley College of Technology. He played
in two Varsity Matches in the mid 80’s Captaining the Light Blues just 5 weeks before winning his first Cap for Scotland in an 18 points to 17 victory over France, kicking 6 penalty goals in the process. 60 further Caps followed including 20 as Captain and he retired having played in the first three Rugby World Cups and touring with the British Lions to Australia in 1989 and as Captain to NZ in 1993. Among his highlights were being part of only the 3rd Scottish Team to win the Grand Slam in 1990 and scoring a last gasp try in Paris in 1995 after 26 years of waiting. A party was long overdue on that occasion!!
He captained every team he ever played for including Watsonians, Cambridge University, London Scottish, Scotland, the Barbarians and the Lions and is widely recognised as one of the finest players of his generation having amassed 733 points in Test Match rugby over a 10-year period. He was awarded an OBE in 1994 for services to rugby and was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2003.
As an amateur player Gavin qualified as a Chartered Surveyor working with CB Richard Ellis in London and Glasgow before following his passion and working in sports marketing and setting up his own business on his retirement from International Rugby. He sold the company some 10 years later and is now a Director of two separate businesses which he has started with former work colleagues. Hi Events specialises in Corporate Events and Hospitality and Positive Leadership is a consultancy whose mission is to help business leaders excel under pressure. Gavin also is on the Advisory Board of HSBC Bank in Scotland and sits on the Board of Edinburgh Rugby.
gaVin hastings biography
A keen golfer playing to a 5 handicap, Gavin enjoys family life with his wife Diane and children Adam and Holly and being an unofficial Ambassador for his sport and his country.
Dumfries & Galloway Arts is Good for Business
Photograph courtesy of Dumfries & Galloway Life
Magazine
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Mountain Bike Business Network
In the world of mountain biking there’s always something exciting happening. But the launch of the new Mountain Bike Business Network website is really
big news.
The site – www.eat-sleep-ride.com – was designed by Chamber Members Infrared Design and is a real innovation in tourism for Dumfries and Galloway.
MBBN Project Manager, Tracey McNeish, said: “The new website is a real step forward for the MBBN and I’m delighted it’s up and running.
“The main feature of the site is the Find It section which takes users to an interactive Ordnance Survey map which shows map pins for each of the 7stanes and the trails at Drumlanrig as well as pins for each of the businesses. Users can search the map for accommodation, places to eat, bike hire and sales and other activities using the Eat, Sleep, Ride and Other Activities. Because the trails and businesses are shown on a map it’s easy to see which ones are nearest the trail the users want to visit.”
Once visitors have found the business they want to go to they can click through to a members page where they’ll find information about the business including contact details and a link to the business’s own website.
Tracey added: “This site is for the exclusive use of MBBN members so visitors can be assured that businesses featured on the site are geared up for mountain biking customers. That means they can be sure of a warm welcome wherever they go.”
The Mountain Bike Business Network is a Chamber of Commerce project that works with local tourism businesses delivering products and services to the visitors coming to Dumfries and Galloway. The Network aims to establish the region’s reputation as a world class mountain biking destination by 2011.
There are currently over 70 businesses in the Network, working together to make this ambition a reality. Here are just a few of the people behind the businesses making this region great.
richard hermon, galloway activity Centre
The Galloway Activity Centre is the place to be whether you want to try your hand at a host of activities or polish up your existing skills. The centre is owned by Richard Hermon, a former Army Major who took the business over from his father in 1995.
The business has gone from strength to strength and it now plays host to over 7,000 visitors every year. Richard is an active member of the Mountain Bike Business Network Committee and sits on the Board of the Community Interest Company which will secure the future of the mountain biking at the 7stanes in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.
Galloway Activity Centre takes pride in offering a quality service to outdoor sports enthusiasts coming to the region. For holiday-makers the Centre is a great place to spend a taster day trying out a range of activities or to learn a sport on a National Governing Body certificated course running over two three or five days. Families, groups and individuals can book in for a quarter, half or full day of activities of their choice. That includes sailing, windsurfing, powerboating and paddlesports on the water. And for the landlubbers they’ve got outdoor Laser Quest, archery, mountain biking, orienteering and climbing.
Richard commented, “The climbing activities can include the tower, tree climbing, group climbing on the Jacob’s Ladder and the nerve-testing leap of faith. And next year we’re introducing fly fishing on our newly stocked pond.”
eat-sleep-riDe.ComBy Tracey McNeish, Project Manager, Mountain Bike Business Network
Sailing on Loch Ken
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But the centre isn’t just a place to play, those who are serious about outdoor sports can undertake instructor training including RYA Dinghy, Powerboat and Windsurfing Instructor courses and BCU Paddlesport courses. And both groups can book into the loch-side accommodation so they don’t have to leave this beautiful spot when the day of fun or learning is over.
“Our bunkhouse Lodge sleeps up to 20” said Richard, “which makes it ideal for groups and families. It’s got a comfortable lounge with TV, DVD and video as well as a well-equipped kitchen and five bedrooms. The cabins are a little more basic – it’s posh camping, they have heating and lighting. But they still provide warmth and comfort after a day on the loch or out on the trails. It’s a lovely spot for camping and if you prefer a bit more luxury when sleeping under canvass there’s always the tipi and Yurt which, with their log burning stoves are a bit more special than your own tent.”
For further information about the Galloway Activity Centre please visit their website at www.lochken.co.uk or find it on the MBBN website at www.eat-sleep-ride.com
ruth asbery, bottle green biking
At just 23 Ruth Asbery is a real regional success story. Ruth is the owner of Bottle Green Biking, which specialises in mountain bike tuition and is based just outside Castle Douglas.
She grew up in Dumfries and Galloway but left the region for Glasgow to take on a BA in Sport and Physical Activity at Strathclyde University. Ruth travelled to Canada for her second year of studies where she attended Laurentian University Ontario before heading home to do work experience with the local office of the Forestry Commission Scotland’s 7stanes team.
Soon after Ruth was off on her travels again, this time for seven months in New Zealand, three of which were spent working in a bike shop where she expanded on her already extensive knowledge of bikes and biking.
The lure of Dumfries and Galloway and its world-class mountain bike trails was too great to resist and Ruth returned home to set up her business. While the travel bug is still with her she’s never looked back.
“Mountain biking is fun” said Ruth, “but I take my business and my responsibility to my clients seriously. I am a qualified Mountain Bike Leader and I have a BASP first aid award. Put that together with my degree in sport and my CYTECH mechanics qualification and you have a coach that people can have confidence in”.
Bottle Green Biking offers tuition at all levels from families and beginners to intermediate and advanced riders. In addition they also take clients on guided rides through Dumfries and Galloway’s beautiful countryside and can tailor those to suit abilities and budgets. They also offer biking holidays from two to seven days centred on the 7stanes.
Ruth added “Dumfries and Galloway has some of the best biking in the world and I want to show it off to as many people as possible.”
For further information on Bottle Green Biking please visit the website at www.bottlegreenbiking.co.uk or find it on the MBBN website www.eat-sleep-ride.com
Ruth Asbery in action
Solicitors & Legal
Gillespie Gifford & Brown has years of experience in many aspects of the law. Our experienced team work closely together to consider all the issues relevant to your needs. We understand that few legal problems stand alone. What are your requirements? Contact us and we can work together to meet them.
• Residential and CommercialConveyancing and Leasing
• Court Work
• Wills, Powers of Attorney and Elderly Client matters
• Winding Up Of Estates
• Agricultural Law
Estate Agents
We are unique in South West Scotland in having Estate Agency Offices with dedicated estate agency staff across the region in Dumfries, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbright and Dalbeattie.
In marketing your property with us you benefit not only from the wide geographical spread of our offices but also from the advantageous location of each of our offices in busy pedestrian areas. Why not contact us for further information on our Estate Agency service.
Personnel
DumfriesTel: 01387 255 351Fax: 01387 257 306135 Irish StreetDumfriesDG1 2NT
Castle DouglasTel: 01556 503 744Fax: 01556 503 094135 King StreetCastle DouglasDG7 1NA
DalbeattieTel: 01556 611 247Fax: 01556 611 62633 High StreetDalbeattieDG5 4AD
KirkcudbrightTel: 01557 330 539Fax: 01557 331 05927 St. Cuthbert StreetKirkcudbrightDG6 4DJ
www.ggblaw.co.uk
Find us on
Gavin ScottKirkcudbright resident Partner
Iain McDonaldCastle Douglas resident Partner
Valerie A McElroy Dumfries resident Partner
Abby Claire McAteerDalbeattie resident Partner
William G Coulthard Firm’s chamber practitioner
Adam TurnbullAssociateSolicitor
At a time when good news is scarce, the Partners of Gillespie Gifford & Brown are delighted to announce the recruitment of Assistant Solicitor, Mickey Breen. Mickey was brought up in Dumfries and having completed his Law Degree and Diploma in Legal Practice in Dundee, he moved to
Edinburgh to train before joining us as an Assistant Solicitor in September.
Based in our Dumfries office he will assist the Resident Partner, Valerie McElroy, with Residential and Commercial Conveyancing and Leasing, Guardianships and Powers of Attorney amongst other things. Mickey also has a wide ranging experience in Commercial and Litigation practice, his main areas being Insolvency and Debt Recovery with an interest
in Employment Law. Valerie and Mickey, together with assistance from Tommy McCaulay, Scottish Law Accountant and Executry Paralegal, and our experienced support staff continue to develop the Firm’s Elderly Client business.
Statistically people in the UK are living longer and as a result, issues affecting the older client form an increasingly important focus for our business. In Dumfries, and across our other offices in Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbright and Castle Douglas, we have a team of solicitors experienced in older client issues, including Powers of Attorney, Guardianships and Intervention Orders. Home and hospital visits can be arranged to suit our clients’ circumstances and they can always be assured of a professional, yet practical and friendly, service.
GGB NEWS
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Gillespie Gifford & Brown LLP
DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY PROPERTIES
www.ggblaw.co.uk
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Events News
The British Pipe Band Championships was a colourful and spectacular celebration of piping. The event, which took place for the first time in Annan in June, attracted more than 2500 pipers, representing 115 pipe bands and 4000 paying spectators. The Championships, co-managed by Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, were worth £152,000 of additional value to the regional economy. The Council retains the rights to the event until 2012.
Art lovers from across the UK and further afield flocked to Dumfries and Galloway for Spring Fling over the May bank holiday weekend this year, helping to make Scotland’s premier annual art and craft open studio event, now in its 8th year, a record-breaking success.
With Spring Fling 2010 well and truly flung, evaluation based on both visitor and participant feedback suggest that the open studio event received 10,915 visitors (an increase of 23% on 2009) and that the total spend in the region during the event (including that spent on accommodation, food and at local visitor attractions) was £946,287 (up from £739,526 in 2009). The feedback also suggests that overall visitor satisfaction was high; over 1200 evaluation forms were returned with 97% of Spring Flingers rating the event as excellent or good.
For breathtaking scenery, fire sorcery and eclectic live music there is no better Festival anywhere on the planet than the Wickerman. Visitor numbers in 2010 remained constant with those of 2009, which in turn was a good increase over the 2008 figures. The Wickerman Festival remains Dumfries and Galloway’s most important event in economic terms, with a 2009 EventScotland study identifying that it was worth £2.1m to the Scottish economy.
Kirkcudbright is a superb events destination and the quirky Glasgow Girls summer exhibition recorded an impressive 30,500 visits over the high season at the Town Hall. The Council and Kirkcudbright 2000 are continuing to work in partnership to bring great exhibitions to the artists town, to the benefit of the regional economy, which as Spring Fling demonstrates is full of creative artists, and 2011 will see the Glasgow Boys – Scotland’s famous colourists – feature as the main exhibition in the town.
Dumfries and Galloway Council is to invest £24,000 per annum over three years to support the economic and cultural growth of the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival and Lockerbie Jazz Festival – two great festivals with impressive track records and excellent future prospects. The festivals have been designated ‘beacon events’ under the unique Council programme for identifying and assisting growth festivals with the ingredients to become national and international in scope and quality. This funding should see substantial increases in the festivals economic impacts and prove popular with local lovers of the arts and live music.
Finally, the Council is pleased to announce that the Tour of Britain is to return to the region in 2011 – and is likely to be staged over one of the weekends of the Tour to create maximum benefit to Dumfries and Galloway. The Council is serious about supporting cycling, and will invest £35,000 in 2011 to bring this rejuvenated national event to our area.
eVents newsBy Ian Barr, Events Strategy Officer, Dumfries and Galloway Council
the Council has an active festivals and major events strategy which is overseen by the economic Development service.
2010 has been another extremely eventful year for Dumfries and galloway, which is becoming renowned as a special region for festivals and events.
CTS aims to offer a service that is:
Convenient – a single point of contact in • the collegeFlexible – delivery at a time and place to • suit the needs of the businessCustomised – to meet the needs of the • business
For a full programme and Booking Form, or to find out more about the range of services and courses available from CTS please contact Jackie Kelly on 01387 734198 or email [email protected].
Administration
Care Courses
Catering & Hospitality
Computing
Electrical Engineering
First Aid
Health & Safety
Management & Accounting
On-Line Learning
Skillseekers & Modern Apprenticeships
Gas Training and Assessment
Vocational Qualications
We offer a range of short courses and customised solutions in key business activities including:
Tel: 01387 734198/9 Email: [email protected]
Dumfries & Galloway CollegeBankend Rd,
Dumfries DG1 4FD
Scottish Charity Number: SCO21189www.dumgal.ac.uk
FUNDING SUPPORT
Individual Learning AccountIf you earn £22000 or less you may be entitled to Individual Learning Account (ILA) funding for some of the CTS courses. To find out more contact ILA Scotland on 0808 100 1090 or go to www.ilascotland.org.uk.
Flexible Training OpportunitiesFlexible Training Opportunities gives businesses with under 50 employees the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 towards employee training costs.
Skills Development Scotland will refund 50% of the cost of up to 10 training courses with a maximum value of £500 per course.
For advice on how to apply, call free on 0800 783 6000.
S o u t h o f S c o t l a n d
BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
KNOWLEDGE
Are you an independent business with fewer than 250 staff?
Are you located in Dumfries & Galloway?
Do you have an idea to develop your business but are not sure how to take this forward?
Are you looking to make changes in your business to improve efficiency and performance?
Do you want to develop and make best use of the skills of your staff?
If you answer “yes” to all or some of these questions why not contact South of Scotland Business Solutions?
We are a professional team keen to listen to your business ideas and discuss your business needs with you.
In collaboration with academic experts we can develop a tailored solution that is right for your business.
The South of Scotland Business Solutions project involves all the Colleges and Universities in the South of Scotland working together in an innovative way to link their services and knowledge and by doing so support the local businesses in dealing with the challenges that face them in this rural environment.
We are looking forward to hearing from you!Eva Milroy, Business Liaison Officer, tel 01387 702345 or 07711520042, email [email protected].
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Feature
When the most high profile victims of the recession, Woolworths and Threshers, crashed into administration last year it dealt a sore
blow to two Dumfries & Galloway Chamber members.
As Scotland’s leading supplier of volume gifts and souvenirs Thistle Products, based in Dalbeattie, have a dominant market position and a diverse customer base that ranges from major high street multiples to small, independent retailers. When the crunch came one of Thistles’ biggest customers, Woolworths, was the first retail giant to fall while the rest of the high street froze, worried they would be next.
Thistle lost thousands when Woolworths collapsed but Director Paula Gibson says it could have been much worse.
“We realised all wasn’t well with Woolworths probably a couple of years before it went into administration. Credit checks weren’t positive, invoices were being paid slowly and key members of staff seemed
nervous. We took notice of these rumblings of concern and introduced strict financial control measures, like restricting stock levels, which meant we weren’t too badly exposed to loss.”
However growth in the retail sector is all about confidence and the collapse of Woolworths sent ripples of fear across the high street, which had a devastating impact on Thistle Products. “Suddenly the orders just stopped,” explained Paula. “It was as though seeing Woolworths fail so spectacularly had shocked our customers into paralysis. Individual shops might place an order but their head office would call a halt, restricting buying for a month or more. No one was interested in new lines, stock levels in stores were dwindling as people expected the recession to get worse and worse. Caution became inaction, and that fear wasn’t helped by news reports that were filled with doom and gloom.”
A strong foundation of solid business planning laid four years earlier following a management buyout helped the company develop and execute a plan for recession recovery which is still unfolding. While the retail sector stalled and competitors became defensive, Thistle Products did the opposite realising that the recession presented an opportunity to increase market share.
“We knew our customer service was already the best in the industry so we went on the offensive,” said Paula. “We actually had a really positive story to tell because product sales held up well throughout 2009, so we told our good news stories to the industry, opened a lot of new accounts and strengthened existing accounts as a result.”
A tale of two recoveriesBy Lorna Young of indigo Words [email protected]
“we realised all wasn’t well with woolworths probably a couple of years before it went into administration.”
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Actions taken by the company included the introduction of telesales, adding value to a mobile sales team through offering customers merchandising and sales promotion support, starting a customer newsletter with a positive optimistic tone, introducing new lines and rebranding existing ones. A new racking system was introduced to improve warehouse efficiency, internal restructuring maximised resources and ensured expertise and skills were appropriately used and significant investment in a retail website has recently come to fruition. Targeting overseas markets the move towards online retail has transformed Thistle from a supplier to the retail sector to a retailer themselves Knowledge is key to succeeding in the retail sector and Thistle Products has taken an innovative approach to gathering marketing intelligence.
The New Product Development team at Thistle began a programme of client meetings to find out more about their customers, for example, discussing customers’ business objectives and examining their visitor profiles and spending behaviour. This process has impacted positively on the product development process; inspiring both new product ideas and packaging, branding and positioning for existing ranges.
After a difficult couple of years Thistle Products are emerging from recession stronger and poised to make the most of a changing marketplace. Paula says, “Buying behaviour has changed in recent years and the recession was a real wake up call to everyone in and serving the retail sector. For those companies who can anticipate and respond to market changes, the opportunities are there for the taking.”
paula gibson, thistle products, Dalbeattie
Positive Response had just three months notice of a third of their annual turnover being wiped off the books when First Quench, the group that owned
Threshers, was wound up. A painfully short time for a company whose normal customer acquisition period is 18-24 months.
“It was a very difficult time,” said Pat Hobson, Managing Director of Positive Response. “We found ourselves watching a business that we had extremely strong links with simply unravel and cease to exist. We were there throughout the process for their members of staff, all the time knowing that when their company stopped trading our company would be faced with a serious drop in turnover.”
For Positive Response, who specialise in a unique staff safety monitoring system called Staffsafe, a tightening of the belts was essential. Natural wastage reduced staffing costs while remaining staff took on increased responsibilities. Refreshingly all members of staff made it clear that they did not want a pay rise.
A tale of two recoveriesBy Lorna Young of indigo Words [email protected]
“The recession was a real wake up call to everyone.”
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FeaturePositive Response has an impressive sounding client
list filled with big brand names and retail chains, but such clients don’t come quickly or easily. Selling their Staffsafe into retail multiples takes around two years from initial contact to installation roll out, so Positive Response focussed on reducing that period to nearer one.
“There was no quick fix to the situation we found ourselves in. Threshers was by far our biggest client and we monitored around 2,200 stores in the group. When the business was wound down there were only around 150 of the stores sold, and while we continue to provide
a service to most of those over 95% of our Threshers business just stopped at the end of 2009.
“At the time Threshers went under we already had quite a few leads, all at the early stages, so drove the customer acquisition process forward, converting interest into trials, trials into sales and sales into full-scale roll out across chains.”
Staffsafe is a monitoring system that focuses on the safety of people rather than property or stock and Pat says recommendation is the single biggest marketing tool they have.
“It’s such an unusual and flexible product that it’s difficult to market in a traditional way, so many of our best sales leads come via word of mouth. For example, last summer the National Security Manager for McDonalds phoned up, introduced himself and then sharply said ‘Why haven’t I heard of you before?’. He’d been told about Staffsafe by a new member of his team and it seemed to be exactly what he was looking for.”
McDonald’s invited Positive Response to take part in a three-way trial competing with two market leaders and Staffsafe blew its competitors out of the water. Systems are now being installed throughout McOpCo
restaurants and Positive Response will soon be guests at McDonalds’ AGM at Marbella in October. With other recent installation roll-outs including William Hill, Bookers, DHL and One Stop, a subsidiary of Tesco, plus trials going into a variety of other big retail names, Positive Response’s recovery from the loss of Threshers is looking healthy and sustainable.
Pat believes it’s their approach to working with clients which will help the company achieve a full and exciting recovery from the recession.
“Staffsafe is a monitoring product which, on the face of it, looks quite simple but we use it to solve tricky business problems by continually changing the way it interacts with our customers and our monitoring centre. Every one of our new customers has had a specific logistical, security or operating problem that we’ve been able to solve by working in partnership with them and
evolving the Staffsafe product. While it would have been nice to have the cushion of monitoring over 2,000 Threshers stores, the future of our company is nevertheless looking very exciting indeed.”
For more information on Thistle Products go to www.thistleproducts.co.uk or call 01556 611292. For more information on Positive Response and Staffsafe go to www.positiveresponse.com or call 01387 702388.
“in a three-way trial … staffsafe blew its competitors out of the water”
pat hobson, positive response, Dumfries
Brand new, modern Legal Practice providing bespoke, efficient, reliable and cost effective legal services to the people of Dumfries and surrounding areas.
Including:- Business Sale / Acquisition •Property Purchase / Sale / Lease •Employment Law •Civil Litigation •Debt Recovery•
AlsoFamily and Child Law Specialists•Wills•Powers of Attorney •Executries •Elder Client Care •
Jenny Colledge and Lynda Vaughan have brought to their Partnership, a wealth of legal experience and local knowledge and together provide a complete range of legal services.
Lynda Vaughan can be contacted in relation to all property matters including business acquisition and sale, purchase and sale of property and the Lease of commercial premises.
Having recently set up their own business, Lynda and Jenny are now able to combine that experience with their own professional experience in the area and are ideally placed to support clients starting out in business for the first time as well as when the business grows. Lynda stresses the importance of contacting your Solicitors at the outset of any acquisition to obtain good advice and a realistic assessment of the time scales involved, particularly in relation to commercial lets.
In addition, Lynda undertakes a wide range of chamber business providing support to commercial clients and their families including the preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts and Executries. She was one of only 3 local Solicitors to develop the Dumfries & Galloway Standard Missive and currently sits on the Dean’s Counsel of the Faculty of Procurators of Dumfries.
Jenny Colledge can be contacted regarding the legal aspects of employing staff, debt recovery and other civil litigation matters, all of which are crucially important to both new and expanding businesses.
Jenny was Accredited by The Law Society of Scotland as Specialist in Family Law in 2004 and the majority of her case load relates to Family Law matters including separation, divorce, cohabitant’s claims and actions relating to children. At present, she is the only Solicitor who has been accredited as a Family Law Specialist in Dumfries & Galloway and, as such, has an impressive client base.
Both Solicitors understand the need for clarity in relation to legal costs. Fees will be discussed at the outset of any case and, in certain circumstances work will be undertaken for a fixed fee. Colledge & Vaughan LLP are keen to ensure that anxiety in relation to legal costs does not prevent you from obtaining specialist advice. They guarantee that their fee quotes will be competitive and that their clients obtain value for money.
Contact either Lynda or Jenny on 01387 240044 to arrange an appointment or to have an informal chat.
Email: [email protected]: www.colledgeandvaughan.co.uk
Colledge & Vaughan LLP, Sol ic i tors & Estate Agents30 Cast le Street , Dumfr ies DG1 1DU
Tel: 01387 240044 • email : [email protected]
PROPERTY & BUSINESS ACQUISITIONWhether you are purchasing, selling or leasing a property, we will ensure an efficient service and provide excellent exposure for your property, and all at competitive rates.
CHILDRENCases involving children can be stressful. We have the expertise to advise you on all aspects of the law relating to children.
SEPARATION/DIVORCESeparation from your cohabiting partner or spouse can be a complex business. We will ensure that your case is dealt with efficiently with minimum fuss.
CIVIL LITIGATION & DEBT RECOVERYWe have experience in dealing with each of the 4 civil processes, being small claims, summary causes, summary applications and ordinary actions. Whatever your query we are happy to assist.
WILLS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEYThe consequences for a deceased’s family if no Will is in place can be very distressing. It is essential to review your Will on a change in personal circumstances. For the older client careful consideration should be given to putting in place a Power of Attorney. Having proper arrangements in place will avoid anxiety, uncertainty and expense at a later date and will be hugely advantageous for family members.
EXECUTRIESWhen there is a death in a family there is a lot to think about. We pride ourselves in dealing with executries sympathetically, and efficiently, keeping family members fully up to date at each stage of the process.
Colledge & Vaughan
Velocis has offices in Dumfries and London supplying professional and reliable IT support.
Velocis believes that IT support is not just about fixing a computer that has stopped working and moving on to the next job, it’s about supporting businesses and building
a lasting relationship based on trust and understanding.
If you’re looking for a fresh and innovative approach to your IT support, and want an IT company that you can trust, then why not give us a call or drop us an e-mail to discuss how we can help you.
Velocis LtdBusiness IT Sales and Solutions
B U S I N E S S I T S A L E S A N D S O L U T I O N S
SERVICES AVAILABLE
• BUSINESS IT SUPPORTWe offer a range of support options that will suit any business.
• NETWORK ADMINISTRATIONWe consult, supply, install and support servers, work-stations, and networks.
• HARDWARE AND SOFTWAREWe can supply and install any hardware or software to meet your needs.
• DATA SECURITYWe offer various backup and disaster recovery solu-tions.
simplifying IT
Dumfries | Tel. 01387 648258 | email:- [email protected]
WWW.VELOCIS.CO.UK
at Monaghan Jewellers
105 Irish Street, Dumfries DG1 2NP Tel: 01387 266441 www.monaghan-jewellers.com
SHOP
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Financial Tips
By Mike Taylor, The Local Bookkeeper
Even the most efficient businesses need regular reassessments of their finances and often not regularly enough.
The Local Bookkeeper Dumfries has put together a list that could help you improve the prospects of your business!
• ReviewYourBusinessPlan.
Firstly 54% of businesses have no formal business plan so if you do not have one, get a business plan!
• Takethetimetolookathowyoucanbetter manage your cash flow.
Being able to identify ways you can manage costs and improve your cash flow is crucial. It is essential that businesses of all sizes have a ‘financial cornerstone’ to advise in their business who will be able to advise you on how to better manage your cash flow.
• Startrunningcreditchecksanddevelopanage debtor system
They say the best cure is prevention; this cannot be truer when it comes to customers that will not pay on time.
• Startassessingyourprogressoncurrentreports instead of historic end of year accounts
Having Management Accounts allows you to see what direction your business is heading in now instead of leaving it until you see your end of year report when you are then unable to do anything about it.
• Dismissthemyththatanybusinessis‘toosmall’ for a professional financial help or does not need it.
As long as your business has incomings and outgoings, you will need help to better utilise or even increase your cash flow.
Further information go to dumfries.thelocalbookkeeper.co.uk, or by calling 01461 718064
Watch your figures!
53 Newall Terrace, Dumfries, DG1 1LN Tel - 01387 269045 • e-mail - [email protected]
www.criffel-cleaning.co.uk
•Contract Cleaning
•Commercial Window Cleaning
•Domestic Cleaning
•Carpet Cleaning
•Washroom Supplies
•Feminine Hygiene Units
Need to learn new skills?
Want a highly skilled and motivated workforce?
Discover YOUR potential with UNIQUE SOLUTIONS
We offer a flexible and modern approach to your company and individual training needs
Contact Linda or Lynne on 01387 261003 or 01848 200218 e: [email protected]
SVQS | MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS | BESPOKE TRAINING
Unique Solutions
www.unique-solutions.co.uk
Development for your future
Santa’sGrotto will be open
COME AND SEE
WITH HIS REINDEERWITH HIS REINDEER
COME AND SEE
WITH HIS REINDEERWITH HIS REINDEER
SantaSaturday
20th NovemberStarts at 12 noon
Festive Carvery being served
KIDS EAT FREE WITH ANY PAYING ADULT!
(Saturday 20th November only)
Moffat Woollen Mill is a trading name of The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Limited, a company registered in Scotland, Reg No. SCO24081. Registered Offi ce: Waverley Mills, Langholm, Dumfriesshire, DG13 0EB.
Moffat Woollen Mill, Ladyknowe, Moffat, DG10 9EP Tel: 01683 220134Open 7 days a week 9am - 5pm
ChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasChristmasthis from Moffat Woollen Mill
NOWAVAILABLEINSTORE!
PURE LUXURIOUS CASHMERE
Festive Wicker Hampers
HALF PRICE FROM £40
Cashmere Cardigan shown
was £170 now £85
GIVE THE PERFECT GIFT
Ready made or create your own
(with anything you like)
FREE delivery within a 30 mileradius
Moffat Woollen Mill is the ideal one stop location for all the family. With amply FREE car parking and easy access from Moffat Town. Moffat Woollen Mill is one place you must visit this year for Christmas Shopping.
Instore we have a wide range of Clothing, Gifts, Souvenirs, Homeware, Large selection of Food and not forgetting our very popular Spirit of Scotland Whisky Shop where you will find a Malt or two to suit each and everyone’s tastes.
This year we are very excited to announce for the first time at Moffat Woollen Mill that Santa and his Reindeer will be visiting the store to do his Christmas Shopping on Saturday 20th November from 12 Noon.
After you have finished your shopping why not visit our Licenced Restaurant or our Coffee shop, which serves Costa Coffee. Our Restaurant is open daily from 9.00am serving a selection of breakfast items. Light snacks and main meals are served from 11.30am. From a bowl of delicious homemade soup served with one of our freshly made sandwiches to a full 3-course lunch. We also offer a fantastic Tea for 2 for only £8, freshly made Pancakes served with mouth-watering fillings. Every weekend we have our popular Roast Carvery served with all the trimmings for only £6.95.
From the 20th November Our Festive Lunch will be served, 3 Courses Only £10.95. (2 Course £8.95 or 1 Course £6.95) Group Bookings are welcomed as well as Family & Corporate lunches. For more information on our foodservice please contact Shona or Susan on 01683 221205
This year we are offering a FREE delivery of our Luxury Christmas Hampers to Business members of the Dumfries & Galloway Chambers of Commerce. Our hampers are so easy for you to shop. Pick your own hamper or select one of our ready-made and we will packed it and deliver direct to your door.
For more information on any of our services or to book a Corporate shopping afternoon contact Thomas on 01683 220134 were we can arrange discount cards for your group.
Words of Wisdom (I Hope…)
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Showcase
Hidden behind the blue screens on Dumfries High Street is the most ambitious project ever undertaken by Chamber – The Showcase.
The project was born with a decision by the Scottish Government to plough money into Scotland’s many struggling town centres. A £60m pot for one off capital projects was set up and communities were invited to bid for this with only the best projects likely to be successful. Chamber was happy to team up with the Council and DG Arts and develop a bid under the title of “Dumfries – regional capital”. This bid was successful and almost £2m was committed by the Scottish Government to Dumfries – making it one of the largest single projects.
The Council has now delivered their parts of the project with the purchase of the vacant “Bakers Oven” shop and also the Timpson’s shop. Both properties will be key to attracting in much needed investment in a wider redevelopment project.
DG Arts appointed John Kennedy to work on an arts project to focus on local heroes. John recently moved his family to live in Dumfries and Galloway and trained as a Landscape Architect now carries out commissions in public art throughout the UK. While it is the buildings and spaces that create a sense of place, which makes Dumfries unique, it is the people and their work – successes and failures – that have made these buildings. To understand the town you must see the people and their stories behind the buildings.
The Chamber has been concerned over the declining fortunes of the Town centre made worse by the worst economic recession we have seen. Town Centres have always had to change and adapt as changing retail patterns emerge. We have seen the advent of the national retailers edge out local family run business and now we see the Internet and out of town retailing put further pressure on high streets. To survive we believe that the Town centre needs to change and adapt and simply sitting still and complaining will ultimately lead to disaster.
Town Centres have always been a place to shop but they have also been much more. They were traditionally the place to do business and to meet friends and acquaintances, to unwind and relax, to be entertained, but above all they should showcase what this region is and who we are. Town centres need to be vibrant and vital places where people come for lots of different reasons – but they come to enjoy the place and its people.
With this in mind the Chamber suggested buying an empty shop on the High street and completely renovating it – paying particular attention to the first and second floors – could we start a trend to bring back some of the activities that have deserted the town centre? Over the years most shops have tended to ignore any space above the ground floor leaving the upper floors as storage space at best. Attempts to re introduce homes above the shops have all proved difficult and expensive to meet the building and fire regulations.
The Showcase will have five workspaces on the first and second floor and a shared meeting room. These workspaces will be ideal for any new business or a business that wants to be at the heart of the Town. We are looking particularly for businesses involved in the creative industries, in design, marketing, photography etc. We are particularly interested in businesses that look to promote the region or its products.
Showcase
These workspaces will be ideal for any new business or a business that wants to be at the heart of the Town
The Queen recently opened the new stage area at the Plainstanes. You may also have noticed the new CCTV cameras being installed in the Town to provide a long overdue upgrade to the system. Keeping the Town safe has to be a key priority to attract people into the town and generate the extra expenditure that we all want to see.
Each workspace will be secure and accessed from the High Street and fully equipped with broadband and telephone services. For small businesses looking for that extra help we will be able to offer assistance with manning the phones, photocopying mail etc. We will also just be there to help and advise in an emergency. The full range of Chamber member services including business mentoring, Chamber HR and Chamber Insurance are also available free to member businesses.
We are still working with the Council on a number of ways to manage the ground floor retail/exhibition space and will release these details as soon as possible
We are looking particularly for businesses involved in the creative industries, in design, marketing, photography etc.
We are particularly interested in businesses that look to promote the region or its products.
These workspaces will be ideal for any new business or a business that wants to be at the heart of the Town
Lost the personal contact with your accountant?
Lack of proactive & timely advice?Lots of jargon, but sceptical of their expertise?Lots of talk, but no action?Losing sleep over late accounts?
Make the right move...Tel: 01461 202732 Marion Nolanwww.saint.co.ukTel: 01461 202732 Marion Nolan
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COC A5 ad.qxp 15/09/2010 10:37 Page 2
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Health & Safety
penalties
The current recommendation in respect of a fine following a successful prosecution under this Act as a result of a fatality is 10% of the company’s turnover, the house builder George Wimpy was fined £300,000 when a contractor was killed on site whereas a fine based on 10% of its 2006 turnover would have cost the company £239 million. Against this the level of fine recommended for a successful prosecution on Indictment under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 following a fatality is £100,000.
The penalty faced by an officer of a company, prosecuted under The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, who was charged with an offence under section 37 of The Health and Safety at Work Etc Act, would be a prison sentence not exceeding two years if both charges were proved.
Current prosecutions
There is one prosecution currently before the courts under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act and that is against Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings and its Managing Director. The case has been adjourned until February 2011 due to the state of health of the Managing Director. It is unlikely that there will be many other cases raised until this one has been tried and there has been some legal discussion around the law and a penalty set.
It is seen as legislation that can be used to great effect where other legislation doesn’t apply, such as a driver at work who is known to be either suffering from sleep deprivation or any other condition that causes him to lose concentration and as a result kills a pedestrian or other road user.
It is not anticipated that there will be many cases brought in connection with health and safety at work however as it will be reserved for those instances where the breach of duty is so manifestly gross that no other course of action will suffice.
the moral of the story
It is now even more imperative than ever before that business owners and senior managers ensure that they manage their company well in terms of the health and safety of their workforce to avoid exposure to prosecution under this new offence. This, as always, extends to actually managing the risks from the work that they do and not producing reams of meaningless paper that is largely ignored by both management and workforce.
For more information contact Plansafe Solutions on 01387 255535 or go to www.plansafe.co.uk
Corporate manslaughterBy David Wood, Plansafe [email protected]
After years of discussion and debate the Corporate manslaughter and Corporate homicide act was enacted in July 2007 and came into force on 6th
april 2008.
Organisations can now be charged with the offence of Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide if the way that its activities are managed or organised:
• Causes a person’s death; and
• Amounts to a gross breach of a duty of care owed by the organisation to the deceased.
An organisation can be a limited company, a partnership, a corporation, trade union or police force but can only be considered guilty of such an offence if the way that its activities are managed or organised by its senior management is a substantial element in the alleged breach.
For many years attempts had been made to bring charges against companies and officers of companies under the existing Manslaughter and, in Scotland, Culpable Homicide, legislation for deaths that occurred as a result of work activities which were seen as being in flagrant breach of health and safety law and practice without any degree of success.
Both the law concerning Manslaughter and Culpable Homicide required the prosecution to identify a controlling mind whose direct influence had either brought about the circumstances of the death or had demonstrably failed to act to avert such circumstances arising. In most cases this was almost impossible to prove, it was seen therefore that an offence was required that had sufficient gravitas and severity of penalty so as to act as a serious deterrent to companies who failed to honour their duties under the law. It is still necessary to show that the gross breach of a duty of care was brought about by a management failure at senior level however.
what have we to fear from this dreadful sounding legislation?
As with most laws nothing if we fulfil the legal duties imposed on us in the running of our businesses by other Health and Safety legislation. If, on the other hand, we run or manage our businesses in a manner which results in a “Gross breach of a relevant duty of Care” then we have much to fear. The penalties intended to be inflicted for a successful prosecution under this Act are crippling and will seriously bring into question whether a business so prosecuted could survive the financial impact of the resulting fine particularly if coupled with the publicity that could ensue if a Publicity Order was made against the organisation in question.
Financial Tips
Have you received a letter telling you that you either owe tax or are due a repayment?
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a new computer system which makes it easier to prepare year-end reconciliations and highlight discrepancies, such as errors in coding notices.
A major problem is getting to speak to someone at HMRC. Agents are fortunate enough to have dedicated telephone lines, but the ordinary taxpayer has limited access.
If you get a calculation showing more tax due, do not assume that the calculation is correct. Request details and check the figures. If they are correct and if HMRC has had information for a period of time, the tax can be written off if you had reasonable grounds to believe your affairs were in order.
Underpayments totalling less than £300 will not be collected. Underpayments of between £300 and £2,000 may be collected through a PAYE code adjustment, or spread over three years in cases of genuine financial hardship.
If you are due a repayment of tax, you should still check the calculation – HMRC may charge a penalty if too much tax is repaid and you don’t notify this fact. Taxpayers who have overpaid tax for the two years to 5 April 2010 should consider whether the same situation has arisen in earlier years – a claim may be worthwhile.
If you require any further information or tax advice, call Fiona Wilson on Dumfries 01387 955900 or email [email protected]
paye the right amount of taxBy Fiona Wilson, Tax Consultant, Armstrong [email protected]
By Fiona Wilson, Tax Consultant, Armstrong Watson [email protected]
hardie
David Hardie Engineering LimitedCivil Engineering Contractors
Industrial • Commercial • Domestic
For All Your Construction Requirements
Sewers • Roads • BridgesInfrastructure Works
Tel: 01387 750740 • Fax: 01387 [email protected]
Poplar, Brasswell, Dumfries DG1 4PH
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Business Leadership
% Change I Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Top 20 + 1.6 + 4.0 + 8.4 +3.0
S&P 500 - 37.0 - 8.4 - 2.2 - 1.4
Why Better Business Leadership Matters in ScotlandBy Graham Watson, chief executive of Positive Leadership Limited
The business leadership deficit in Scotland has recently become an important topic of conversation.
The chairman of Scottish Enterprise, Crawford Gillies, wrote earlier this year that: “The lack of leaders with high aspirations, able to lead their organisation to reach their full potential, cuts across virtually all of Scotland’s economic challenges... It is the thing holding back many companies and our economy from reaching their full potential.... The challenge facing many of our companies is what I would describe as “satisfactory underperformance.
Reversing a trend of poor leadership is an organisation-wide challenge and is vital if Scottish business is to deliver sustained high performance in an increasingly competitive world. For example, comparing the total return for the 20 Best US Companies for Leadership in the 2010 BusinessWeek.com/Hay Group survey against the S&P 500 shows the following:
However, addressing the current leadership shortcomings in Scotland is not simply a matter of more and/or better quality leadership training and development. Leadership development needs to be integrated into business strategy in the same way that elite athletes are able to integrate preparation for high performance with their own game plan for winning, in a manner which allows them to deliver their best performance when it really matters.
This can be achieved when business strategy is aligned with a set of leadership values. Once you know what you value as a leader, you can bring about end results that are aligned with your values. So, in the Positive Leadership™ model: Values + Strategy = Desired Results
As the chairman and CEO of General Electric, Jeff Immelt said recently:
“The future belongs to leaders who want to win, without ever losing track of their values. We live in a day when the best people can work anywhere. They will follow only authenticity.”
Making the transition to this high commitment, high performing culture, which is robust even in times of high pressure, is not easy. Nevertheless, the results are worthwhile.
Deliberately applied, the principles of Positive Leadership™
will help leaders throughout the organisation to become leaders of value and values.
High performance, even under pressure, can be achieved by more Scottish businesses. Extraordinary leadership need not be the preserve of the few.
For more information on Positive Leadership Limited go to www.positiveleadership.co.uk
Adrenaline junkies across the country are making their
way to the beaches of Dumfries and Galloway for a high-octane thrill of a lifetime.
Launched at the start of the year by 23 year old entrepreneur Carol-Ann Brown, with help from Business Gateway, F5 karting gives participants the chance to race across the white sands of Southerness Beach at high speed in
state of the art ‘blokarts’. The karts, which resemble three-wheeled buggies with a sail attached, are easy to master and as such Carol Ann has had a stream of customers since the start of the year, ranging from eight year olds looking for an unusual birthday party to city executives wanting to organise team building exercises.
“The business is doing really well and we are now gearing up for the autumn season.” says Carol-Ann. “The beaches in Dumfries and Galloway are fantastic but there was no one offering beach sport activity.
Once I knew there was a gap in the market I started looking into setting up my own business and that’s when Business Gateway helped out.” The advice has clearly paid off as the business is now motoring and Carol-Ann has just taken delivery of four new blokarts from a supplier in Holland.
“I now have 6 karts that will allow me to work across Dumfries and Galloway and in Ayrshire. In two or three years I hope to launch another mobile unit on the east coast.” Although Carol-Ann has been sailing since she was sixteen and has a passion for outdoor sports, the young entrepreneur knew that she would need specialist help to get the business off the ground.
“We have been working closely on a one to one basis with the business and Carol-Ann has also attended a range of free workshops,” says Business Gateway adviser, Heather Richardson. “We also pointed her towards the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) and Dumfries and Galloway Council who provided funding from their small business grants scheme.” Through a combination of online advice, one to one support and a local programme of free workshops, Business Gateway is helping new and existing businesses to grow and prosper. The “Financial Assistance for Small Businesses” scheme can provide grants for business development in Dumfries and Galloway.
For more information go towww.f5karting.com or call 07841 208862.
blowin’ in the winD
Taking safety to higher levels
How safe are you?
If its health and safety, we know what we are talking about.Don’t grapple for health and safety with your fingertips, call Plansafe Solutions to help you get a firm hold and avoid a fall.
Plansafe Solutions Ltd, 49 Buccleuch Street, Dumfries, GD1 2ABTel: 01387 255535 Web: www.plansafe.co.uk: E-mail: [email protected]
n Health & Safety Management Softwaren Risk Assessmentsn Fire Assessmentsn Asbestos Surveys
n Asbestos Awareness Trainingn CDM Coordinatorsn Noise & Vibrationn General Health & Safety Advice
Plansafe Solutions Ltd, 49 Buccleuch Street, Dumfries, DG1 2ABTel: 01387 255535 Web: www.plansafe.co.uk: E-mail: [email protected]
Health & Safety Management Software Risk Assessments Asbestos Surveys Asbestos Awareness Training CDM Coordinators
Noise & Vibration General Health & Safety Advice Fire Risk Assessment Legionella Assessment and Management Integrated Management Systems
Taking safety to higher levels
If its health and safety, we know what we are talking about.Don’t grapple for health and safety with your fingertips, call Plansafe Solutions to help you get a firm hold and avoid a fall.
How safe are you?
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Out & About
Amanda’s second new business this month is smooth sensations operating from
the Midsteeple, Dumfries since February. Set up by Tara Duff (23) originally from Lockerbie, educated at Lockerbie Academy, but now living in Torthorwald.
A. What made you decide to set up your own business?
T. I moved back to the area to take a year out after university, to decide if I wanted to travel, work or go on to further education. Starting a business had never even crossed my mind as a possibility. I was only able to find part time jobs in a shop and a call centre. I then realised how much Dumfries was lacking in comparison to the cities. I lived in Stirling and it was thriving with similar concepts to the one I had so I thought it was worth bringing such a business to Dumfries and Galloway. I made some notes and ideas and made an appointment with Business Gateway.
A. What preparation did you do before setting up your own business?
T. I played about with lots of different ideas, and researched a lot of suppliers. I took a trip to Hawick to visit the smoothie bar there but on arrival I discovered it had shut down. I asked some surrounding shops and a few locals about why they thought it hadn’t worked, just to get some pointers. I spent hours working on a business plan, cash flow projections, menu’s, funding options and property searching. I didn’t have the first idea where to start with regards to planning and setting up. I could not have done it without the guidance and help from the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) and Business Gateway. They gave me a template business plan which I worked on, whilst also having regular meetings with my business advisor to discuss any problems or concerns I had.
A. What do you enjoy most about having your own business?
T. I love being able to be creative and put my own ideas into practice. I also enjoy being able to give the customer service that I wasn’t always able to give in the past when working for somebody else. Since it’s my shop if someone asks for coffee in their pineapple smoothie they can have it! This is what appeals to a lot of people, I try to always give the customer exactly what they want and they love seeing their drinks prepared fresh in front of them!
A. What’s the hardest thing about running your own business?
T. The hardest thing is also the best thing, not having anyone to answer to. The comfort you get from not having complete responsibility and having to answer for everything has a lot to be said for! Sometimes making decisions is hard, if it works then that’s great but more often than not it doesn’t so it’s finding the strength to get back up and try another idea.
Out and about with Amanda
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A.What advice would you give anyone thinking of setting up their own business?
T. The most vital part is ensuring you have the support from your family and friends. They are the ones who will be there to pick you up and remind you how lucky you are to be where you are. Make sure you have confidence in your idea, work on your strengths and ask for help on your weaknesses. I struggled to find the confidence to approach people on the street to try my samples… so I asked some friends to help with that part. Also Business Gateway has to be your first stop, they help keep your feet on the ground and they suggest things that you might otherwise overlook during the research and planning stages.
A. What are your most popular smoothies?
T. These would have to be Mango Tango that’s mango and raspberry and Smooth Bananberry which is banana and strawberry. I try to meet everyone’s requests and put my most outrageous request of the week on the smooth sensations Facebook page. The two most bizarre requests I’ve received have been vanilla and coffee frappe with jelly beans and apple juice, strawberries, banana, yoghurt and peanut butter!
A. Have you met any interesting people through your work?
T. I’ve developed really good working relationships with my regular customers and enjoy meeting all the tourists that stop in for a drink. I also recently attended my first Chamber of Commerce event and through this had the opportunity to meet some really inspiring, hard working people.
A. What’s the best thing about living and working in Dumfries and Galloway?
T. As I have grown up here it is nice to be a part of making the area better. We are all aware of the town centre’s steady downfall over the years and I am looking forward to watching it grow into the beautiful thriving town it can be again - hopefully watching smooth sensations grow at the same time as employment rises again and people have money to come and shop in the town centre.
A. What are your aspirations and plans for the future?
T. I hope to open another few shops and work on being mobile so I can attend festivals and events. Once I am well established I plan to go back to university to do my social work degree, as that was my original career plan!
Smooth Sensations can be found at 5 Midsteeple, High Street, Dumfries. DG1 2BH Tel: 07988 325478
growing up with business gateway
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Are you a budding entrepreneur looking to turn your business dream into a reality or perhaps you are an existing business looking for ideas to take your venture
on to the next level?
Whatever stage your business is at, Business Gateway can provide the help and support you need to get things moving. Through a combination of online advice and a local programme of workshops and events, businesses across Dumfries and Galloway are getting the support they need to make a success of their venture.
From business planning and finance to marketing, sales and environmental issues, the average businessman or woman has to consider a vast range of information in their day to day operations. But with so much to think about, where do you start? To help businesses find their way through this information maze, Business Gateway has developed a comprehensive online resource which provides clear signposts to the advice that is right for each individual user. And to make things even easier, a series of interactive tools are available to guide businesses through every step of the process.
To complement the online presence, Business Gateway has also developed a wide ranging programme of events and workshops that address the needs of businesses at a local level across the county. Led by professional business advisers, the events cover a range of business topics that are important to local businesses. Many Dumfries and Galloway businesses have secured invaluable advice from attending the workshops over the past year and now the team has taken all the feedback and used it to further develop the events programme.
Full details of upcoming events can be found on the website, however, these include:-
Personal and Business Planning – it is essential to have a realistic, working business plan when you are starting up in business. This workshop shows you how to create a robust business plan.
Marketing and Market Research – This workshop will help you understand your competitors, identify your customers and understand the things you need to consider for effective marketing.
Resource Planning and Management – this workshop helps you to manage a profit and loss account, produce a cash flow statement and understand the meaning of working capital.
Website Builder Part 1 – This workshop will help you examine your requirements and explain the website building options available to you.
Website Builder Part 2 – A follow on from Website Builder Part 1 this workshop will teach you how to build an attractive and effective website for your business
Bookkeeping – This workshop aims to equip you with an understanding of bookkeeping principles and demonstrates why keeping financial records is so important to the success of your business.
To book your FREE place or to find out how Business Gateway can help your business visit www.bgateway.com or call the Dumfries & Galloway office on 0845 875 0161.
bus inessga teway
BusinessHelp & Support
growing up with business gateway
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Welcome to New Chamber MembersSmiths at Gretna GreenGretna Green DG16 5EAContact: Darren LloydTel: 01461 337007Email: [email protected] Web: wwwsmithsgretnagreen.comAward-winning business hotel centrally located for every form of business need: informal meetings in Smiths coffee lounge or private space in the Boardroom, to large corporate events in the conference suites; private dining areas to entertain clients to banqueting suites, each with their own private garden. Full meeting dynamics with all the technology you need; space for registration and breakout; delegate working lunches to rosette restaurant dining. An efficient, dynamic and stylish hotel offering flexibility and an adaptability to meet all your needs.Stopping over at Smiths? Enjoy more than just a bedroom; Smiths 50 rooms are spacious well designed living environments. Choose from Deluxe Double to one of the individually designed suites or the Penthouse Apartment. The experienced team at Smiths will look after your team-building events, product launches, conferences and seminars…perfect location just off M6/M74 and A75…a hub for business away from the hubbub.
Turning Point ScotlandNewall House 22 Newall TerraceDumfries DG1 1LWContact: Kath Lord-GreenTel: 01387 247123Email: [email protected]: www.turningpointscotland.comTurning Point Scotland is a charity providing person centred care in substance misuse, learning disabilities and mental health.
EDTC Technology Gateway1 Michaelson SquareKirkton CampusLivingston EH54 7DPContact: Stephen Burns Tel: 01506 407140Email: [email protected] Web: www.edtc.org.ukEDTC Technology Gateway provides technical advice and support to Scottish SME’s and entrepreneurs involved in the design and development of new and existing products. EDTC can advise on: electronics and mechanical design, manufacturing, product certification, materials selection and issues, technology options, rapid prototyping, funding routes.
Kingmoor Northwest LtdUnit 9 Broom Industrial EstatePowfootAnnan DG12 5PQContact: Shona Eckersley Tel: 01461 700283 Email: [email protected] Web: www.kntraining.co.ukWe carry out a wide range of bespoke General Health and Safety Courses for all business sectors. We are specialists in Plant and Machinery training/assessment and also undertake a wide variety of Construction NVQ’s and Roads and Streetworks Courses. All training and assessment is tailored to meet your requirements.
Hometyre (Dumfries & Carlisle)9 Alexandra MeadowsLockerbie DG11 2SAContact: Anne & Andy Lyndon Tel: 01576 205667Email: [email protected] Web: www.hometyre.co.ukHometyre are tyre specialists with a difference - we come to you at a time to suit you and at your chosen place, either work or home. We are a local business which is part of a national network. Hometyre can handle any type of vehicle from the family car to light commercials as well as caravans (including Tyron bands) and trailers.
Selkirk Arms HotelHigh StreetKirkcudbright DG6 4JGContact: Chris Walker Tel: 01557 330402Email:[email protected] Web: www.selkirkarmshotel.co.ukQuality townhouse hotel, restaurant, bistro, 2 bars and meeting rooms.
Wells P.A.T. ServicesArdenholm CottageHolmendMoffat DG10 9JYContact: Bill Wells Tel: 01683 221633Email: [email protected] Web: www.wellspatservices.co.ukPortable appliance testing for small to medium sized businesses in order that they comply with current health and safety regulations and Electricity at Work regulations.
Cairndale Hotel & Leisure ClubEnglish StreetDumfries DG1 2DFContact: Matthew Wallace Tel: 01387 254111Email: [email protected]: www.cairndalehotel.co.ukLocal family business founded by the late James Wallace (Master Butcher). Current interests include the Cairndale Hotel and Leisure Club in Dumfries and Newton Gardens Filling Station. Cairndale Hotel boasts 91 en-suite bedrooms, two restaurants, cafe bar, conference and banqueting facilities (500) and the Barracuda Leisure Club with a healthy local membership.
Laggan Outdoor LtdGatehouse of FleetCastle Douglas DG7 2ESContact: Duncan McConchie Tel: 01557 840217Email: [email protected]: www.lagganoutdoor.co.ukOutdoor activity provider for all the family. Team building and corporate days.
The School of Excellence107 Irish StreetDumfries DG1 2NPContact: Kim Monaghan Tel: 01387 266850Email: [email protected] after school tuition and adult learning.
Criffel Cleaning Services53 Newall TerraceDumfries DG1 2NPContact: Jim McMeeken Tel: 01387 269045Email: [email protected]: www.criffel-cleaning.co.ukA domestic and commercial cleaning business.
Colledge & Vaughan LLP30 Castle StreetDumfries DG1 1DUContact: Linda Vaughan Tel: 01387 240044Email: [email protected]:www.colledgeandvaughan.co.ukColledge and Vaughan LLP is a brand new, modern, legal practice. The principal members are Jenny Colledge and Lynda Vaughan, who each have over 13 years legal experience.
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Rathbone Training39A George StreetDumfries DG1 1EAContact: Lesley Arkison Tel: 01387 255274Email: [email protected] Web: www.rathboneuk.orgThe Rathbone centre in Dumfries opened in August 2009. The core programmes on offer at the Dumfries centre are Get Ready for Work and Lifeskills. The Get Ready for Work Programme is aimed at unemployed 16 - 18 year olds. There are four categories within the programme depending on individual needs. The categories are Life Skills, Personal Skills, Core Skills, and Vocational Skills. The Lifeskills programme provides a stepping stone for young people who, for various reasons, find it difficult to make a full time commitment to training. Topics covered include budgeting, living independently, healthy lifestyles, sexual health, money advice, thinking of career plans and many other issues affecting young people.
CN MagazinesMedia HouseBarras LaneDalstonCarlisle CA5 7LXContact: Richard Eccles Tel: 01228 713000Email: [email protected] Web: www.cngroup.co.ukPublisher of regional magazines including 2009 Scottish magazine of the year, Dumfries & Galloway Life. Creative and marketing services, contract and customer publishing, books, brochures, leaflets and e-magazines.
The Food Train30 Castle StreetDumfries DG1 1DUContact: Michelle McCrindle Tel: 01387 270800Email: [email protected] Web: www.thefoodtrain.co.ukThe Food Train is a grocery shopping, befriending and household support service for older people in Dumfries & Galloway.
abc recruitment servicesAnderson Chambers34 Great King Street Dumfries DG1 1BDContact: Clive Rumbold Tel: 01387 270718Email: [email protected]: www.abcrecruitment.co.ukabc recruitment services aims, guarantee to give you the best recruitment service. So confident in the quality of candidates and their techniques, abc recruitment services is the only recruiter in the region to offer a full money back guarantee. No placement : no fee - means you don’t pay a penny unless you get a result!
Jacquies34 WhitesandsDumfries DG1 2RSContact: Jacquie Brown Tel: 01387 269077Email: [email protected]: www.jacquiesbeauty.co.ukSpecialising in treatments that achieve accurate results, the team are mentored by Jacquie herself and pride themselves in their attention to client satisfaction. The skincare range is by “Guinot”, the internationally recognised market leader that complements the salon profile, achieving a place in the beauty hall of fame. The salon has private treatment rooms and is completely air conditioned. Treatment areas are separated from general public access for complete confidentiality. All the therapists are fully qualified and are continually updated in the ever-changing technological advances within the beauty industry. Treatments available include massage/body treatments, facials, hair removal/laser hair reduction, manicures and pedicures, eyebrow tweezing and tinting, moisturising self tanning treatments and vibraxis.
Armstrong Waste Management LtdNewton Road Industrial EstateGlasgow RoadDumfries DG2 0EFContact: George Conchie Tel: 01387 721333Email: [email protected]: www.armstrongwaste.co.ukWaste management, skip hire, road sweepers, trade waste, confidential waste and recycling.
EducommDirect LtdUnit 9HNew YardClayflattsWorkington CA14 3YEContact: David Gregory Tel: 01900 65139Email: [email protected] Web: www.educommdirect.co.ukOffice, education and contract furniture, lockers, shelving, all storage solutions, first aid and office supplies.
Burdens LtdDumfries Enterprise ParkHeathhallDumfries DG1 1TSContact: Max Gibson Tel: 01387 266770Email: [email protected]: www.burdens.co.ukBurdens Limited are the UK’s leading supplier of civil engineering and building materials to the infrastructure, environmental and industrial markets. Burdens product range spans more than 18,000 lines, from gas and water pipelines to environmental-management systems such as rainwater harvesting.
Velocis Ltd 31 Main StreetNew AbbeyDumfries DG2 8BYContact: Laura DowntonTel: 01387 648258Email: [email protected]: www.velocis.co.ukVelocis are experts in providing technical solutions to enable your business to better use IT. We have a wide range of IT sales and support solutions including hardware and software sales, support services, server installation and support, network and infrastructure design, network and security solutions.
Calmac Developments Ltd Nether BrookfieldCraigs RoadDumfriesDG1 4UTContact: George McCallTel: 01387 720233Email: [email protected] is a company trading principally in food retail shops; hotel; flower shop and property development.
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Events Diary 2010/2011noVember
Chamber annual lunCh
26th October 2010
easterbrook hall, Dumfries; 11:45am – 2:30pm;
This is the biggest event in the Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce calendar; this is a lunch NOT to be missed. Come and hear from our Keynote speaker Gavin Hastings OBE, former Scotland rugby captain.
Cost: £25 + VAT per ticket for Chamber members; £30 + VAT per ticket for non-Chamber members
£250 + VAT for table of 10 for Chamber members; £300 + VAT for table of 10 for non-Chamber members
finanCial aDViCe + networking
9th November 2010
aston hotel, Dumfries; 5:30pm - 7:30pm;
10 Tax Saving Tips to keep the tax man at bay presented by Graham Poles and Nigel Holmes, Tax Directors for Armstrong Watson followed by networking
Cost: £5 per head for Chamber members, £10 per head non-Chamber members
annual general meeting
15th November 2010
station hotel, Dumfries; 5:30pm – 8pm finish;
Catch up with what Chamber has been doing over the past year and tell us what you think! Keynote speaker will be Jeremy Sainsbury, Director of Natural Power a local firm that is now operating worldwide.
Cost: FREE
January
young entrepreneurs + networking 26th January 2011
the Cairndale hotel, Dumfries; 5:30pm – 7:30pm;
Come along and be inspired by PSYBT’s young entrepreneurs! See what they have achieved through one of the UK’s hardest economic downturns and meet these inspirational young people.
Cost: FREE
february
Corporate proteCtion + networking
16th February 2011
the station hotel, Dumfries; 5.30pm – 7:30pm;
Some simple ideas to protect your business presented by Trevor Knowles of HK Financial Services followed by networking.
Cost: £5 per head for Chamber members, £10 per head for non-Chamber members
stress anD how to Deal with it
28th February 2011
the Cairndale hotel, Dumfries; 5:30pm – 7:30pm;
How to spot the early signs of stress in the workplace and ways of dealing with it presented Kate Robson from NHS Healthy Working. Jacquie Brown from Jacquie’s Premier Beauty Salon will give some unusual and innovative ideas on treating stress. Plus a chance to network.
Cost: £5 per head for Chamber members, £10 per head for non-Chamber members
marCh
employment law upDate
9th March 2011
the Cairndale hotel, Dumfries; 5.30pm – 7.30pm;
Keep up to date on the ever changing employment law scene with a return visit from the experts from Brodies LLP.
Cost: £5 per head for Chamber members, £10 per head for non-Chamber members
Armstrong Waste Management LtdCommitted to delivering a cleaner, greener future to the local environment
Armstrong Waste Management Ltd Newton Road Industrial Estate, Glasgow Road, Dumfries, DG2 0EF
Tel: 01387 721333 • Fax: 01387 720025www.armstrongwaste.co.uk
Based in Dumfries, AWM has built its reputation on providing customers with flexible waste solutions to suit individual needs. Our experienced management, supported by highly skilled operators, aim to provide unrivalled levels of customer service to a wide range of business and domestic clients.
Our aim is to offer a cost effective quality service, minimise the impact of waste on the local community and to promote waste minimisation, reuse and recycling wherever possible.
Skip Hire
Trade Waste
Recycling
Road Sweeping
Landfill Site
Site Clearance
Transfer Station
Soil & Aggregates
Construction
AD
