Special feature on Raploch Laying the foundations for a sustainable future

Business research and informationHow to find statistics and business information

Gordon Ramsay’s Gala DinnerStars support Spina Bifida charity at Castle event

Business spaceOpportunities at Springkerse

Business profileFalcon Foodservice Equipment

Planning updateApplication for boutique hotel at Spittal Street

0��� �77 7000

Winter �00�/0�

inside this issue...

� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

If you need this information in large print, Braille, audio or in another language please contact 0845 277 7000 and quote reference number 7064.

Cover photo: Local business man and celebrity chef Nick Nairn with Gordon Ramsay - please see article on page 7 for more information. Photo by Peter Sandground.

ContentsLocal business news 3

Sponsors and stars lined up for 7Gordon Ramsay’s Gala Dinner...

Gordon Ramsay’s Christmas Appeal 7 for the Scottish Spina Bifida Assoc.

Business profile: 8Falcon Foodservice Equipment

IT and web training for Stirling 9farmers

Enhancing the evening economy 9

At your service: Licensing 10

Business space developments 12

Planning applications update 13

Stirling’s Winter Festival 13

Commercialise your ideas 13

Special feature - Raploch 14

New college campus for Stirling 17

New initiative to help unemployed 17

Sector feature: Retail 18

30 second interview 20

Interview with Kate Sankey, owner 21 of West Moss-side Organic Farm

Special feature: Research & 22information for businesses

Intercontinental Rally Challenge 24comes to Stirling

Support for local businesses and 25 communities in Rural Forth Valley

BBC Christmas drama filmed on 25location in Stirling

Economic facts 26

Christmas Park & Ride 28 opening times

Forthcoming events/training 28

Welcome

Stirling Eye is compiled and produced by Stirling Council Economic Development Department.

If you have any interesting news with a business or economic focus, or would like to comment on this publication, please contact:

Joëlle Russell, Business Research & Intelligence ExecutiveEnvironment Services, Economic Strategy & Intelligence, Stirling Council, Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET

Tel: 01786 442778 Email: russelljl@stirling.gov.ukWeb: www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Printed on recycled paper.

At a time when the media seems to

bring yet more bad news each day it

is encouraging to see so many local

businesses achieving success. This

edition of Stirling Eye features a

number of those successes and my congratulations to them all.

The economy has been, and still is, the hot topic. At a time

like this it is important that we try to ensure that as much

of the money circulating in the local economy stays in the

local economy. I am pleased to note that local businesses

are gaining business from each other and from the Council’s

agencies. The features on Falcon and the Raploch URC

highlight the good work that has been achieved with local

suppliers.

Our profile on Council services in this edition focuses on

Licensing and the changes that are taking place in that field.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy

and enjoyable Christmas.

Councillor Scott Farmer

Depute Leader of Council and Corporate Resources and

Economy portfolio holder.

�www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

Local business newsStirling Business Panel update…Stirling’s Business Panel now has over 500 members! If you are not already

a member and would like to join or find out more, please contact Bill Fortune

on 01786 443172, or email panel@stirling.gov.uk

The 2008 Annual Business Panel Survey

was sent out to members in October.

The results of the survey will be used to

influence future Council plans and strategy,

particularly where related to businesses and

business needs. If you have not already

returned your survey questionnaire, please

do so before the end of December.

The Stirling Business Panel is broadly

representative of the Stirling business base

with 39 per cent of members from rural

Stirling and 61 per cent from urban areas.

The Panel also represents a broad range

of business sectors and size

bands, allowing the results

of the Business Panel survey

to be used to provide a

representative view of the

Stirling business community.

Please look out for the

results of the 2008 Annual Business Panel

Survey in a future edition of Stirling Eye!

The Business Panel Executive Group has

also been active, with a second meeting

in September. Collette Filippi of the Falkirk

Business Panel presented to the group,

describing progress in

development of the Falkirk Business Panel.

Other topics discussed were procurement,

developing a Panel website and considering

an event for Panel members in early 2009.

www.stirling.gov.uk/businesspanel

Denvir win Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year AwardCongratulations

to Stirling

based Denvir,

the UK’s first

dedicated

brands agency

who won

the National

Business

Awards for

Scotland’s small

to Medium

Sized Business

of the Year in September.

Denvir beat off tough competition in the category, including Mackies

of Scotland, Independent Women, Churchill Drilling Tools and Spurr

Energy.

Denvir’s Managing Director, Suzanne George said: “We are

absolutely thrilled at winning this award! Denvir has grown

considerably in the five years since I set up the company becoming

a £2.5 million turnover company with 30 qualified, experienced

employees based in Scotland, operating UK-wide.”

www.denvirgroup.com

Business awardsStirling Eye is delighted to announce a number of award winning Stirling businesses…

Contract Scotland are awarded Community MarkCongratulations

to Stirling

based Contract

Scotland

who were

awarded their

Community

Mark in July at

a Business in

the Community

Awards Dinner in London.

Contract Scotland is one of only 21 companies in the UK to

achieve the standard, and the only recruitment consultancy. The

Community Mark is awarded to companies that demonstrate a

long-term positive impact on the communities that they serve.

Colin Woodward, Director of Contract Scotland said: “Achieving the

Community Mark is the continuation of our Community activities

which started in 2003 and have so far helped those furthest

removed from the market place into the Scottish Construction

Industry at a time when the skills shortage in the sector has been

most marked. We are justifiably proud of this achievement.”

www.contractscotland.co.uk

� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Local business news

�

Visual revolutionStirling Optical, a family run opticians in the

city centre of Stirling, has become the first in

the area to provide the latest Orthokeratology

(Ortho-k) technology for contact lens wearers.

The revolutionary technology uses a custom-

made lens, which is worn overnight and taken

out during the day. Wearers vision is corrected

throughout the day, without the need to wear

spectacles or contact lenses.

Over forty years ago, opticians discovered that it was possible to use contact lenses to reshape

the cornea and correct the eye’s resolving power. These early lenses were difficult to produce

to a repeatable level and were not a success. With the arrival of precision technology and

gas permeable lenses, the latest developments mean that advanced individual lenses can be

engineered to gently correct your eyesight as you sleep.

The Ortho-k lenses provided by Stirling Optical are manufactured in Scotland by Scotlens and

are a convenient, risk free alternative to laser surgery.

OSTA sold to Snowie’s Adamo HotelsOSTA has been sold to Adamo Hotels just three weeks after being placed on the open

market. The boutique hotel and restaurant is located in the former Bank of Scotland

regional head office in Stirling.

OSTA was sold by Knight Frank on behalf of Morris Inns Group Ltd. David Reid, a partner at

Knight Frank said: “Literally within a few weeks of going on the open market, I had four

sets of buyers seeking to purchase OSTA, which is without doubt one of the most admired

and handsome buildings in Central Scotland.”

Adamo Hotels Chairman Euan Snowie advised: “With the Queens Hotel in Bridge of Allan

just finished refurbishment and with another new hotel in Stirling to open in the near

future, OSTA offered too good an opportunity to miss.”

“I have an excellent management team in place and the obvious synergy of having

another boutique hotel round the corner fits perfectly with my over all expansion plans

for Adamo Hotels. I plan to continue running OSTA in its current format for the next few

months and then I’ll review customer opinions before making any fundamental changes.”

Pet Royale Limited secures Poppyscotland loanDenise Ward, from Stirling, was the

first person to receive a loan through

Poppyscotland’s new loan scheme for small

businesses aimed at ex servicemen and

women in Scotland.

The £3,500 loan has helped Denise get her

pet boarding business, Pet Royale Limited,

off the ground. Denise has used the loan to

purchase vital pet transportation equipment,

create a corporate identity for the business,

to advertise her services and cover the cost

of public and employer’s liability insurance.

Denise served in the Royal Air Force for six

years between 1972 and 1978, making

her eligible for the loan. She also had to

engage with Business Gateway as part of

the conditions of receiving the loan. And

with bookings running well in to next year,

it is safe to say that Pet Royale is off to a

flying start!

Poppyscotland offers veterans wishing to start

-up in business access to loans of up to £7,500

to get their business off the ground and

professional advice and mentoring both pre and

post business start-up. For further information on

Poppyscotland, please phone 0131 557 2782

or visit www.poppyscotland.org.uk

For more information on

Pet Royale Limited, please visit

www.pet-royale.co.uk

�www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

Local business news

Naughtie Chancellor installed at UniversityDr James Naughtie, one of Britain’s best-

known broadcasters, has succeeded Dame

Diana Rigg as Chancellor of the University

of Stirling.

James was born and educated in

Aberdeenshire and began a career in

journalism in 1975 with the Press and

Journal and wrote for the Scotsman

and Guardian before moving into

broadcasting. Currently, he presents

Today on BBC Radio 4, and is host of the

network’s monthly Bookclub. For the

Today programme, he has travelled to

more than two-dozen countries, and has

written and presented two acclaimed

series on American politics.

James was formally installed as Chancellor

at a ceremony in October, where the

University also awarded honorary degrees

on The Rt Hon Jack McConnell MSP, Louise

Martin CBE and Jasminder Singh OBE, in

recognition of their contributions to society.

Distillery contract for Rok Stirling Stirling based Rok has begun work on a project to improve and expand the historic

Cameronbridge distillery. The Cameronbridge distillery first opened in 1823 and is located

on a 20-acre site in Fife. The distillery was the first in the world to produce grain whisky on

a large scale and its current output is used in Diageo blends including Johnnie Walker, J&B

and Bell’s alongside white spirit brands such as Tanqueray, Gordon’s Gin and Smirnoff Vodka.

Willie Boyce, project manager for Rok Stirling, said: “Cameronbridge has a capacity to

produce 66 million litres of alcohol each year. Diageo, the owners and operators of the

site have plans to increase annual output to around 100 million litres and we are working

on expanding the facilities and infrastructure to facilitate this growth.”

www.rokgroup.com

The Titan Crane, Clydebank

Stirling companies help to secure prestigious awardsThe skills and expertise of two local companies, Eastfield Engineering and Rok,

have helped to secure prestigious awards for Gleneagles and the Titan Crane.

Eastfield Engineering help complete Titan rebuildFallin based Eastfield Engineering provided

specialist-riveting expertise as part of the £3

million rebuild of the A-listed Titan Crane in

Clydebank. The completed Titan Crane and

Visitors Centre recently won an International

Award for Architecture, organised by the

Chicago Athenaeum Museum.

The Titan Crane was one of only 14 projects

from the UK to be given the award, in

recognition of its iconic status as a symbol

of the Clyde’s industrial heritage, and as a

catalyst for the current regeneration of the

Clydebank waterfront, the former location of

the Clydebank shipyards.

John Davidson of Eastfield Engineering said,

“It was a privilege to work on the restoration

of the Titan Crane as it is a great landmark

on the Clyde. Our involvement was to

supply and fit pot headed rivets to bring

back the original structure of the Titan Crane”.

www.eastfieldengineering.co.uk

To find out more about Titan and

regeneration of the Clydebank Waterfront,

please visit www.titanclydebank.co.uk

DiD you know?

The Titan crane assisted in the building of many famous ships including The Lusitania, The Queen Mary and the QE2. Standing 150 feet above ground level, Titan is still the most prominent and recognisable object on the Clydebank skyline.

Gleneagles Spa wins awardRok’s building and maintenance team in

Stirling is celebrating after two prestigious

awards were presented to a world-renowned

venue it completed earlier in the year.

The Spa at Gleneagles by ESPA, part of the

AA Five Red Star resort in Perthshire, has

been awarded the prestigious Condè Nast

Readers’ Award for favourite UK Hotel Spa

as well as the British Beauty Award for Hotel

Destination Spa of the Year. The spa opened

in March, following Rok’s work on building

and fitting out the luxury facility.

John Smith, Senior Site Manager for Rok

said: “We are thrilled that the spa is

receiving the praise it duly deserves and

these awards recognise the hard work and

dedication of all involved.”

www.rokgroup.com

Gleneagles Spa

Business welcome…Recently Stirling has welcomed various

businesses and business start ups

to commercial premises in the area,

including:

Amaryllis FlowersA new business offering full floristry

services. The business is located in McLaren

Terrace, St Ninians.

www.amaryllisflowers.co.uk

Bill CrusadersA new business offering membership

services to residents, helping them save

on gas and electricity bills and more. Bill

Crusaders’ call centre opened in King Street,

Stirling in November.

www.billcrusaders.com

BaressensualsA new lingerie boutique specialising in

bra fitting for women post breast surgery

– please see www.baressensuals.com for

further information on events. The business

is based in Henderson Street, Bridge of

Allan.

BPM ClothingBPM Clothing is a new men’s fashion

retailer. The business opened in October

and is located in the Stirling Arcade.

Tel: 01786 460310

Fleurtations & TemptationsFluertations & Temptations, formerly of

Kildean Market has now moved to Back

O’Hill Industrial Estate, Stirling. The business

is a specialist florist and recently expanded

to include sale of gifts.

www.fleurtationsandtemptations.co.uk

Pots and Pans WarehousePots and Pans recently relocated

from King’s Street to the Thistles

Centre. The shop specialises in the

sale of specialist cookware.

www.pots-and-pans.co.uk

Refinish LimitedA new business start-up specialising

in minor car cosmetic body

repairs. Refinish Limited opened in

September 2008 and is located in

Broadleys Business Park.

www.refinish.ltd.uk

Shenanegans CraftsA new business providing a range of craft

materials and childrens toys. Shenanegans

Crafts opened in September and is located

on the High Street, Dunblane.

Tel: 01786 826975

Spotlight TVA new business specialising in dedicated

broadband TV channels for business.

Spotlight TV was started up in July this year

and is located in the Alpha Centre, Stirling

University Innovation Park.

www.spotlighttv.tv

Stirling BagpipesA new business specialising in bag pipe

manufacture, restoration and retailing.

The business will open in December and

is located on Broad Street, opposite the

Tolbooth.

www.stirlingbagpipes.com

Thomsons CoffeeA new shop specialising in roasted coffees

and tea blends. The shop recently opened

and is located on Broad Street.

www.thomsons-coffee.com

A Wee SweetieA new business specialising in the sale of

traditional sweets and candies. The shop is

located in the Stirling Arcade.

Tel: 01786 445599

If you have recently set up a business in the Stirling Council area and would like a mention in Stirling Eye or would like to

report a business news story, please contact Joëlle Russell on 01786 442778 or email russelljl@stirling.gov.uk

**STOP PRESS** As Stirling Eye went to

print, Janie reported that she was in process

of opening a new chocolate shop next to

her existing shop (A Wee Sweetie) in the

Stirling Arcade. The chocolate shop will be

open by December.

YouthA new shop specialising in sale of branded

clothing for teenagers. The shop opened in

August and is located in Friars Street.

Tel: 01786 446583

Zingerman’s Bar & GrillA new restaurant and bar located on Port Street,

Stirling. Zingerman’s opened in June 2008.

www.zingermans.co.uk

� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Local business news

Stirling researcher named in world top fifty

A Wee Sweetie shop, Stirling Arcade

A senior researcher at the

University of Stirling has

been named by an American

magazine as one of the most

influential people in the

world in his field.

Professor Rory O’Neill, who

is Honorary Professor in the

University’s Occupational and

Environmental Health Research

Group, has been selected in

a global list of the 50 most

influential environmental

health and safety leaders.

He said: “I am delighted to

have this recognition, which

will help to keep our work in

the public eye. Occupational

health and safety needs far

more attention - market driven

deregulatory approaches have

left workers less secure and

less content at work. Unless we

act now to deliver better, more

satisfying jobs we’ll see new

epidemics of work related heart

disease,

suicide and

stroke.”

The survey

was conducted by Occupational

Hazards magazine, an American

business magazine which

serves the occupational safety

and industrial hygiene market.

7www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

This Christmas Gordon Ramsay is appealing to the business community to help support The

Scottish Spina Bifida Association.

Rather than buy your clients and colleagues expensive or unwanted Christmas presents, Gordon Ramsay

is asking people to make a donation to the Charity instead. “In these tough financial times why not just

have a simple Christmas collection and know that whatever

you give will help over 3000 children, young people

and families all over Scotland who are affected by spina

bifida and hydrocephalus. Most of those born with these

conditions will have lifelong disabilities. They really need

your help. Do something special this Christmas; support the

Scottish Spina Bifida Association.”

How to support:Donations can be made via the Scottish Spina Bifida

Associations website at www.ssba.org.uk, over the phone

with a visa, delta, master or switch card on

01236 794505 or can be sent

to the Charity at their Family

Support Centre at The Dan

Young Building, 6 Craighalbert

Way, Cumbernauld, G68 0LS.

Gordon Ramsay’s Christmas Appeal for the Scottish Spina Bifida Association

DiD you know?

SSBA was founded in Glasgow in 1965 by a group of parents. 40 years on, The SSBA provide the only specialist Family Support Service in Scotland.

In 2006 Gordon Ramsay OBE, the charity’s Honorary Patron, officially opened the Scottish Spina Bifida Association’s purpose built family support centre in Cumbernauld.

Sponsors and stars lined up forGordon Ramsay’s Gala Dinner...The Scottish Spina Bifida Association, who staged Gordon Ramsay’s All Hallow’s Eve Gala Dinner at Stirling Castle on Thursday 30th October 2008, raised a staggering £100,000 with a little help from Prudential, the Stirling based Life and Pension provider, who was the main sponsor of this dazzling red carpet event.

Gordon Ramsay OBE, the

Charity’s Patron, hosted the

event and was joined by actor

and West End star, John Gordon

Sinclair; who introduced the

guests to Stirling Castles ghostly

past. Janet Street-Porter, often

dubbed as Gordon’s worst

nightmare; was the after

dinner speaker. Direct from the

critically acclaimed Broadway

revival of Les Miserables was

John Owen Jones, legendary

star of the West Ends’ Phantom

of the Opera; who performed

showstoppers from West End

musicals.

An excited Gordon Ramsay said,

“I am really pleased Prudential

supported the Association, it is

such an important Scottish Charity,

I cannot thank them enough.”

He continued, “The dinner

was attended by leading

personalities from Britain’s

business and media

communities. Once the guests

entered the castle the gates

were shut behind them and

they found themselves in one

of the most spectacular settings

in the world sumptuously and

dramatically dressed in damson

and black, by 88 Events,

Scotland’s leading specialist

Events company who were also

sponsoring the event.”

He added, “Guests sipped

champagne in the Chapel Royal

and then joined me in the historic

Great Hall and experienced the

ultimate Ramsay Nightmare as

I hosted an exciting evening

of world class entertainment

to celebrate the most haunted

night of the year.”

Deborah Roe, Head of Fundraising

for the Scottish Spina Bifida

Association said, “We are

delighted that Prudential

sponsored Gordon Ramsay‘s

Gala Dinner despite all the

financial headlines and warnings

of credit crunch nightmares.”

She continued, “With Prudential’s

help we raised vital funds for the

Charity; every year we require to

raise over £500,000 to run the

Family Support Centre and its

services, for which we receive

only 10% statutory funding.”

Andy Curran, UK Sales Director at Prudential said, “Participating actively in the community is important and

we are pleased that our involvement

has helped the Scottish Spina Bifida

Association raise much needed funding

for its activities.”

� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Business profile Falcon Foodservice Equipment

Falcon is the UK’s leading manufacturer of commercial catering equipment

and is part of Ali SpA, Europe’s largest foodservice group.

They were established over 150 years ago in

Falkirk and now have 250 staff and an annual

turnover of £25 million.

The business relocated in 2003 to a 132,000 sq

ft factory at Wallace View, Stirling that allowed

the company to focus on ‘clean’ manufacturing processes. The

facilities include an on-site Brand Technical Centre that hosts an R&D

laboratory, development kitchen and a state of the art design office.

Customers range from public sector clients such as schools, prisons

and hospitals to restaurants, hotels and gastropubs within the private

sector. Recent projects include the supply of kitchens for the new

Wallace High, Stirling and St Modan’s secondary schools!

Foodservice equipmentStandard products account for 50 per cent of production, such as the

Dominator six-burner range described as the

‘BiC pen’ of the catering world. The other

half is based upon specialist products such

as wok cookers and individual designs for

top kitchens – including the design and

manufacture of Bespoke Cooking Suites for

the Champany Inn near Linlithgow and the

St Andrews Links Club House.

Falcon has also recently supplied

bespoke catering units for eight

T45 Royal Navy destroyers. The

units were so big that after

leaving Stirling on pallets, the

exterior of the ships had to be

built round about the units!

Flexible specialisationThe specialist products such as the wok cooker are built from start to

finish by one person within their own individual operating cell.

Standard products on the other hand, are line assembled. The units

are passed down an assembly line with components added at each

station to create the finished product.

David Wilson, Engineering Manager said, “We pride ourselves on

flexible specialisation, with workers being able to move easily from

one production line to another.”

� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Moving with the timesFalcon was among the first

equipment suppliers to be

awarded the prestigious

environmental ISO14001

certification.

David Wilson said, “We have

worked hard to achieve this

accreditation, working with Envirowise

and the Carbon Trust to increase energy

efficiency. The Carbon Trust sent out

a locally based energy consultant to

review our operations, and on the back

of his recommendations, we invested

around £100,000 in energy efficient lighting and

exterior light sensors. We also had a new heating system installed by

Stirling based Mac Heating and expect to achieve pay back from

investments within two to three years.”

Part of adapting to changes in customer demand has involved

investment in research and development. The company invests

continually – in technology, training and staff.

Never too big to learnLooking to the future, David reported that Falcon is looking to

integrate more of their management systems, and will use a newly

purchased CAD system to help them develop products faster.

He added, “You are never too big to learn. Manufacturing is tough,

but we stay competitive by adapting to change. By continually

improving products, we help clients such as the NHS meet energy

and operating targets.”

“We are also involved with the Government backed Onsite Insight

programme, which is aimed at helping businesses learn from one

another. So far we have been on a number of field trips visiting other

manufacturers, including Mitsubishi in Livingston and Stirling based

United Closures and Plastics.”

ContactTo find out more about Falcon Foodservice Equipment or how

they achieved ISO 14001 accreditation, please contact Barry Hill,

Group Marketing Manager, on 01786 455227, email

bhill@falconfoodservice.com or visit www.falconfoodservice.com

Stirling Eye randomly selects a business to profile each quarter using the Council’s business database.

T45 Destroyer

�www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

IT and web training for Stirling farmersStirling Enterprise (STEP) has been

given the green light by the Scottish

Government to deliver a year-long IT and Web Outreach initiative,

aimed specifically at farmers in the Forth Valley area.

The local enterprise trust, who also deliver Business Gateway

services in the Stirling District area, has secured £18,450 of funding

from the Skills Development Scheme (SDS) which falls under the

Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) umbrella.

STEP itself will contribute a percentage to the total running cost of

the programme, with participants contributing a small nominal fee

to secure a workshop place.

The first of the mobile workshops hit the road in late November in

Drymen, equipping local farmers and their families with the IT know-

how and web provision to access and negotiate the SRDP website

and confidently tackle the on-line application process.

Further outreach workshops will allow local farmers access to two-

hours worth of IT and Broadband provision and an IT professional.

The workshops will be held in local hotels in the Stirling,

Clackmannan and Falkirk areas in an evening format and participants

will have the option of a one-hour individual follow-up support

session to consolidate or refresh their knowledge.

Caroline Brown, Rural & Farm Support Officer for Stirling Enterprise

(STEP) commented:

“We are delighted to have secured this funding and are keen to get

out on the road and meet with local farmers and start delivering

the training as opposed to talking about it. Through our Business

Gateway activity, we already have good links with farm businesses

in the area and we have been working closely with NFU Scotland

and SAC to extend and develop that.”

Dates of SRDP workshops: l 28th January 2009, 7-9pm at the Harviestoun Hotel, Tillicoultry.

l 26th February 2009, 7-9pm at Glenskirlie House, Banknock.

l 25th March 2009, 7-9pm at the Bridge of Lochay Hotel, Killin.

To find out more about outreach workshop dates and venues,

please contact Caroline Brown, Rural & Farm Support Officer on

01786 463416 or email cbrown@stirling-enterprise.co.uk

Enhancingthe eveningeconomyAs reported in the last edition of

Stirling Eye, Stirling’s Community

Safety Partnership is driving

forward a range of evening

economy projects. The projects

have been brought together in the

form of a City Centre Night-time Economy Action Plan.

Andy Kennedy, Stirling City Centre Initiative Manager, said, “Work on

two of the new projects – ‘Safe Base ‘08’ and ‘Enhanced public transport

provision’ – is at the final planning stage and other projects are already

being delivered. The key focus of all project activity is to increase community

safety and bring additional economic benefit to the city centre.”

Project activities include:

l Best Bar None 2008 – nine city centre licensed premises have

submitted applications – awards were due to be made as Stirling Eye

went to print, so a full update will be provided in the Spring Edition.

l CCTV camera replacement programme – six new CCTV cameras

have been installed to monitor the busiest pedestrian routes of the

night-time economy.

l Enhanced lighting – ‘white’ lighting has been installed on the

same routes as the CCTV cameras – this coordinated approach will

enhance personal and community safety.

l Safe Base ’08 – this facility utilises specialist personnel and offers

support to vulnerable individuals (e.g. individuals who have

consumed excessive levels of alcohol, single lone females, etc.).

The pilot project will operate on key festive nights from ‘The

Basement’, on the Back Walk until late December 2008.

l Enhanced Transport Provision

– based on the findings of

research undertaken by an

independent consultant

and work done with young

people through Stirling

Council Youth Services, it

was highlighted that the

public would use buses

if later services were run

and appropriate safety

measures put in place.

First Bus has responded

by providing additional

services at key times.

Evaluation criteria will be

put in place to assess the

effectiveness of each of the projects.

Pictured from Left to Right: James Cuthbertson from Gartentruach Farm, Buchlyvie; Colin Clark, IT & Web Advisor, Stirling Enterprise (STEP); Jim Fraser, Business Gateway Advisor; Caroline Brown, Rural & Farm Support Officer

10 STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

At your service Licensing

WhAT iS LiCENSiNG?Stirling Council is responsible for issuing a wide variety of licences. This legislation is in place to ensure the safety and welfare of the community.

Do you comply with the new liquor licensing system?Stirling Licensing Board is gearing up for

the biggest change to the liquor licensing

system in over a quarter of a century.

We are currently half way through a

transition period before the new licences

come in to effect on 1 September 2009. All

businesses must be issued with the new

licence before this date. Anyone with a

current liquor licence must apply to have that

licence converted into a new premises licence.

What are the changes?

Previously, businesses have been trading

with liquor licences under the Licensing

(Scotland) Act 1976. This Act has seven

types of licence for different businesses, for

example, public houses, hotels etc. Under

the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, the liquor

licence will be the same regardless of the

nature of the business. This new licence will

be called a premises licence.

The Licensing objectives of the new act

are to prevent crime, disorder and public

nuisance, to secure public safety, protect

and improve public health and to protect

children from harm.

Each premises licence must also have a

designated premises manger who holds a

personal licence. The premises manager

must go through a certified training course

to be granted a personal licence.

Liquor licences are dealt with by Stirling

Licensing Board. This board is made up of

eight elected members and meets four times

each year. Other licences are dealt with by

the Council’s Regulatory Functions Panel.

The licensing section provide advice and

assistance on the wide variety of licences

required by business and are always happy

to help if you have a specific licensing

enquiry. The Licensing Section is based in

Municipal Buildings, Corn Exchange Road,

Stirling and opens between the hours of

9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday. Contact

licensing@stirling.gov.uk or telephone

01786 432294.

Activities that require a licence...

Nicy-Tams Bar & Bothy

Alcohol - See ‘Liquor’.

Approved Ceremony Venue - To use

premises for Civil Weddings, Partnerships,

naming and renewing vows.

Betting and Gambling - Premises

licenses for betting, bingo and gaming

machine permits.

Cinemas - To use premises for film

exhibitions.

Firework Displays - Licence required for

firework displays.

Game - Licences required to deal in Game

and also to kill the game.

hypnotism - See Public Entertainment

Licence.

Late hours Catering Licence - To

sell meals / refreshments to the public

between 11pm and 5am.

Liquor - Any sale of alcohol requires a

licence. Various licenses depending on

your business.

Lotteries, Raffles - Registration of

non-commercial society, Lotteries, Raffles,

small fund raising facilities.

Market Operator’s Licence - For the

sale of goods offered by more than one

seller on any private market.

Metal Dealer’s Licence - To buy and

sell scrap metal.

Methylated Spirits - To allow sale of

Methylated Spirits and Surgical Spirit.

Private hire - See ‘Taxis’.

Public Entertainment Licence - Required for halls, discotheques,

proprietary clubs, barns, marquees,

swimming pools etc while being used for

any public entertainment function.

Public Charitable Collections - For any

Street or House-to-House Collections.

Public Procession - To hold a public

procession.

Second hand Dealer Licence - Dealer

in second hand goods or articles of any

description.

Street Trader Licence - Required to

carry out street trading in any public place.

This includes trading from a vehicle, a

kiosk or moveable stall, e.g., Ice Cream

Vans etc.

Tattoos and Skin Piercing - Required

by any business which involves

Acupuncture, Cosmetic Skin Piercing and

Electrolysis or Tattooing.

TaxisTaxi Vehicle Licence - Vehicles that can ply

for hire in the street.

Private Hire Vehicles - Vehicles cannot ply

for hire in the street.

Taxi Driver Licence - Able to drive both

taxi and private hire vehicles.

Private Hire Driver Licence - Able to drive

a private hire vehicle only.

Temporary Public Entertainment - This licence is required when an activity

or event will last for a period of one day

to six weeks, for example, funfairs, Shows,

Fun days, Circuses etc.

Theatres - To use Premises for the

performance of plays.

Venison Dealer - A licence is required by

anyone who deals in venison.

Wheelie Bin Washing Service - Washing of wheelie bins (classed as street

trading).

Window Cleaner - A licence for this

activity is required when carrying out the

trade of, or being employed as, a window

cleaner.

11www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

Licensing At your service

Temporary Licensing Team Leader

PROFILE

Name: Stephanie Gibson

Role: Processing licensing applications and providing advice

and information to members of the public on all aspects of

licensing.

Key areas of expertise: Stephanie provides friendly,

impartial advice to businesses, public and licence holders on all

aspects of the licensing service, licensing laws and procedures.

She helps to protect the interests of local consumers and

businesses by ensuring businesses comply with the relevant

licensing laws.

Current workload: Currently Stephanie is dealing with

all of the applications for the new premises licence (see liquor

licensing article). At the moment there are 96 applications

being processed.

Stephanie must ensure that all applications are dealt with in the

timescale allocated by the relevant act and prepares agendas

and reports for submission to the Licensing Board and the

Regulatory Functions Panel who approve licence applications.

The team also deal with complaints regarding noise from licensed

premises. These complaints are referred to the noise team

within the Council for investigation. However, the licence holder

is also made aware of the complaint so that they can provide a

response and work together with the Council to resolve the issue.

Complaints regarding un-licensed window cleaners and street

traders are passed on to the police as they enforce all licences.

It is important to investigate un-licensed traders to protect

the public and also to protect legitimate licensed traders from

competitors who fail to comply with legislation.

Name of company: DR Taxi’s

Stirling Eye caught up with Jim

Hughes, Managing Director of DR

Taxis, to find out more about his

recent expansion and application

for more vehicle licences.

Jim originally set up DR Taxis in 2004. The business started with

one taxi and through Jim’s commitment to provide a superior

level of customer service and professionalism took off rather

quickly through word of mouth recommendations.

Within the first year Jim added another two vehicles to the fleet

to cope with growing demand and has added new vehicles every

year since.

Earlier this year the company expanded again and now provide

everything from 4 seat to 8 seat executive vehicles including

wheelchair access vehicles.

Licensing laws state that both the vehicles and the drivers

require separate licences. Drivers are responsible for obtaining

their own licences and the company is responsible for obtaining

the relevant licences for each individual vehicle.

Having worked with the licensing department closely over the

past four years, Jim knows the licensing system. However, with

changes to licensing acts and different local regulations being

brought in from time to time, it can prove to be a confusing

process.

Jim said, “The licensing department provide friendly, professional

service and over the years I have built up a very good rapport

with the staff. Although they are always very busy, it is

reassuring that they are always available and happy to advise

and help me with any problems.”

The issuing of licences can take around six weeks to process,

so Jim had to apply for additional licences well in advance of

operating new vehicles. Once all licences had been approved

by Stirling Council and processed by the licensing department,

Jim was able to provide additional vehicles to serve his growing

number of customers.

Jim said “ The licensing department has been instrumental in

helping us to expand our company over the years and we will

continue to listen and take advice from them on our future

development plans.”

DiD you know?

Since it became legal to marry anywhere with a temporary approved venue licence, there have been some interesting venues for wedding ceremonies, such as: the Summit of Ben Lui, Trossachs Trout Farm and the War Memorial at the base of Ben Lomond.

Licensing case study

DiD you know?

DR Taxis is the only taxi company in Stirling to have credit card machines fitted in every vehicle, making it even more convenient for customers to pay.

1� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Artist’s impression

of new Stirling

Agricultural Centre

The rural area is also benefiting from a new feature development on a

site extending to around 21 hectares (52 acres).

Situated close to junction 10 of the M9 motorway the development known as the Stirling

Agricultural Centre will be the principal auction mart for Central Scotland as well as the new

headquarters for United Auctions.

The development by Elphinstone Land Limited will provide opportunities for agricultural and

service operators or companies associated with the agricultural industry.

Extending to around 18,580 sq m (200,000 sq ft) the development includes a new agricultural

centre, retail and office space, restaurant /café as well as extensive car parking facilities.

Aimed at agricultural related uses the retail units on the ground floor extend from around

199 sq m (2,139 sq ft) to 644 sq m (6,928 sq ft) with first floor office suites from around

141 sq m (1,522 sq ft) to 642 sq m (6,906 sq ft). Space is being promoted for lease at

rental of £161/ sq m (£15.00/ sq ft) for retail and £135/sq m (£12.50/ sq ft) for office.

Already well underway the Centre is scheduled for completion Summer 2009.

For further information please contact Stephen Gunn or Ewan Mackay of agents SGM on

0141 285 7940 or email stephen@sgmproperty.co.uk or ewan@sgmproperty.co.uk .

Stirling Agricultural Centre

Business space developments

Whitehouse Road, Springkerse

New developments on Whitehouse Road,

Springkerse will provide more than 3,270 sq

m (35,230 sq ft) of much needed industrial

space for a range of potential occupiers.

The first development at 22 Whitehouse

Road will provide 6 units each of around 120

sq m (1,292 sq ft), which can accommodate

requirements up to 600 sq m (6,460 sq ft).

Local builders Zanart Ltd are developing the

site. Zanart Ltd intend to occupy one unit

themselves with the remaining space for

lease on flexible terms or for sale. Rental of

£70/ sq m (£6.50/ sq ft) is currently being

quoted.

Springkerse Industrial Estate, Stirling The amount of industrial property available to rent or buy in Stirling continues to be low in

comparison with the Scottish average. This shortage is driving a number of speculative new-build industrial developments within

Stirling, including sites in Springkerse Industrial Estate, Stirling’s largest industrial location.

New development at 22 Whitehouse Road under construction

Another development at 12 Whitehouse

Road will provide 15 units with sizes ranging

from around 235 sq m (2,530 sq ft) to 242

sq m (2,605 sq ft). The 0.78-hectare (1.93

acre) site will provide around 2,553 sq m

(27,480 sq ft) of space in total.

It is anticipated that rental over £65/ sq m

(£6.00/sq ft) will be quoted depending on

development timescales.

Borrowmeadow Road, Springkerse

There are also proposals being

developed for a new business campus at

Borrowmeadow Road, Springkerse.

Initial proposals include detached two and

three storey office buildings with space from

around 350 sq m (3,750 sq ft) to 2,408 sq

m (25,764 sq ft) within a prominent 0.92

hectare (2.28 acre) site. The development

will include some managed office space

with shared services (reception, broadband,

telephone etc.) and also some detached

suites.

John Quinn of Bluewater Scotland LLP

confirmed, “Although proposals are at an

early stage with discussions ongoing, I hope

that an Innovation Park/Sports associated

business campus development will be

advanced some time next year.”

Further details and artist’s impressions will

appear in a future edition of Stirling Eye

and more information can be obtained at

this stage from John Quinn of Bluewater

Scotland LLP on 01786 832440, mobile

07876 658980, or email john.quinn@

bluewaterscotland.co.uk .

The letting agents for both developments

are J&E Shepherd. Surveyor Sandy Falconer

said, “Despite the present difficult economic

climate, competitively priced new light

industrial space within Springkerse demonstrates

industrial space opportunities for business as

well as continued investment and confidence

in the local marketplace in Stirling.”

For more information on space within

these developments please contact Sandy

Falconer, J&E Shepherd on 01786 450438,

mobile 07818 002170, or email sandy.

falconer@shepherd.co.uk .

1�www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

Planning applications updateA number of planning applications with

a significant business focus have been

submitted to Stirling Council since the last

edition of Stirling Eye (September) and are

still being considered, pending a decision.

These include:

l An application by Glenbervie House Hotel

Ltd to change the use of a building at 33

Spittal Street, Stirling to a hotel with

extensions to house leisure facilities and

ancillary accommodation (3,672 sq m hotel).

l An application by KW Properties for the

renewal of outline planning permission

for a hotel with 18 hole golf course and

clubhouse, public footpath/cycleway,

construction of access road and new

junction (110 hectares golf course) on land

at Park of Keir, Dunblane.

l An application by Wordie Properties for a

six storey hotel development with ancillary

bar and restaurant, including servicing

access and landscape details (6,492 sq m)

Planning schedules can be viewed at www.stirling.gov.uk/planningschedule

on land and property at 14-16 and former

toilets, Dumbarton Road East, Stirling.

l An application by Kippendavie Group

Trust for the development of an 18

hole golf course with club house, car

parking, open air practice facilities

(renewal of permission under Article

5 of General Permitted Order 1992)

(98 hectares golf course) on land at

Kippendavie, Ramsay Drive, Dunblane.

Commercialise your ideasScotland has long had an excellent track record for producing new and innovative ideas but it is the

commercialisation of these ideas where we have fallen down in the past. However, one Scottish agency has

been working hard to change this scenario and maximize the potential of Scotland’s intellectual property.

The Innovator’s Counselling and Advisory

Service for Scotland (ICASS) is a Scottish

Government initiative which helps to

commercially exploit Scotland’s intellectual

capital by protecting intellectual property

and seeking routes to market.

Delivered by one of Britain’s largest and

most successful enterprise trusts The GO

Group, ICASS provides specialist counselling

and advice for Scotland’s inventors and

small innovative companies. The service

is free and completely confidential and

innovators can get advice on how to develop

their ideas into actual products and processes.

One local businessman to have benefited

is Gordon McKenzie who has invented a

unique product called RampRidge™. Fitted

in minutes, the RampRidge™ is a clever,

quick and effective patented solution to the

problems associated with wheelchair access

over UPVC doors. Gordon’s product has really

taken off and he said, “It was my local

advisor Bob Williamson who first directed

me to the Patent Office and gave me helpful

information about how to get started

and safeguard my intellectual property. I

have found the information and direction

provided by ICASS invaluable.”

The ICASS service is available throughout

Scotland, through its network of Advisors

who hold regular surgeries.

Visit www.icass.co.uk for more

information or contact Bob Williamson on

07714 411829.

Stirling’s Winter FestivalStirling’s Winter Festival kicked off on 22nd November with a visit from Santa and his reindeer!

The Thistles Santa and his real reindeer paraded their way from the Corn Exchange, down King

Street, to a pen outside Costa Coffee. Santa was accompanied on the festive procession by the

cast of Mother Goose, the Christmas pantomime being shown at the macrobert.

In the lead up to Christmas, Santa will be located in a brand new magical grotto in the Thistles,

beside HMV.

Stirling’s Winter Festival continues through December and wraps up with the Stirling

Hogmanay festivities. To find out more about Stirling’s Winter Festival and Hogmanay

celebrations, look out for the Winter Festival leaflet available from the Thistles Shopping

Centre, Stirling Council libraries, the Albert Hall, the Tolbooth, the macrobert and other venues.

www.stirling.gov.uk/property

1� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Special feature - Raploch

Old schools provide foundations for new Raploch This Summer Raploch URC knocked down four old school buildings to make

way for some of the 900 new homes being built in the regeneration.

RAPLOCh: talking about regenerationRaploch’s ten-year £120M transformation into a 21st century community is bringing

increased opportunity, employment and choice to its proud residents.

In 2004 Raploch was awarded Urban Regeneration pathfinder status by the

Scottish Government. Two years later the Raploch Urban Regeneration

Company (URC) was established to drive forward the

regeneration and in that short period of time progress

has been both skilful and rapid.

Key to its success is the URC’s close relationship

with local people and its focus on strong community

involvement. Locals have been involved in the decision-

making process, as the regeneration has progressed.

The URC hope that Raploch will eventually share in the prosperity and

economic activity witnessed by the rest of Stirling and just two years into the

regeneration process it is clear this challenging goal will one day be a reality.

However, despite the great successes already achieved, the URC continues to look to the future and

the Raploch it envisages for residents. This includes its aims to grow house prices in the area from an average

£28,000 to £178,000, double the percentage of owner occupiers to 40% and significantly reduce crime levels by 2017.

Recently appointed Chair of Raploch URC, Dr Campbell Christie CBE, said: “It’s a tremendously exciting time for Raploch and we’re all

committed to ensuring a bright future for all generations of the community.”

The URC teamed up with Stirling Council,

Stirling Council Corporate Asset Management

and WRAP (Waste & Resources Action

Programme) to ensure materials from the

demolitions were recycled and reused

– with estimated savings of up to £60,000.

A spokesman for Raploch URC said: “This

underlines the URC’s commitment to both

value for money and sustainable practices.

“We believe this removed around 500

vehicle movements, negating roughly 15

tonnes of carbon emissions, not to mention

a financial saving in terms of fuel.

“Companies tendering for the contract had

to assess the likely demolition arisings

by undertaking pre-demolition audits as

well as costing approaches, which will

provide the URC with a stockpile of recycled

materials for future use on the new housing

developments and for road capping

layers.”

The URC adopted the principals of

the approach for efficient use of

materials in regeneration projects, published

by WRAP. Presented as a good practice

step-by-step guide, it draws together the

Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Demolition

Protocol, site waste management planning

and increasing recycled content, into one

clear and common approach that links

the demolition and new-build phases of

regeneration projects.

A demolition recovery index of 90% was

estimated by carrying out an audit of total

tonnage of materials against potentially

recoverable tonnage of material. Its

calculation was a condition of the tendering

process and it was estimated a cost saving

of between £37,500 and £60,000 could be

achieved.

Dave Marsh, Construction Project Manager

at WRAP said: “Using the Regeneration

Guide approach from the early stages of a

project can ensure that benefits and savings

are embedded in that project. Its use at

Raploch has demonstrated that linking the

demolition and build phases ensures the

most efficient use of the existing materials

on site – this minimises waste to landfill,

gives financial savings, and reduces the

carbon impact. I hope this will encourage

other regeneration projects to adopt the

Regeneration Guide approach to realise

similar benefits.”

1�www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

Raploch - Special featurewww.raploch.com

Real benefits for the communityFaced with a high proportion of unemployed people (45%), the Raploch area had a major problem.

Sustainable Community Enterprise offered

one solution to address this and in just two

years of providing training opportunities

to locals it has seen more than

60 of them go into full-time

employment.

The project provides construction and

horticulture training and is unique in that

it strives to ensure job opportunities go to

local people. Developed over a number of

years Sustainable Community Enterprise

is now an accredited Learndirect Scotland

Centre and delivers SQA qualifications.

One successful trainee who has first-hand

knowledge of its benefits is Chris Kotrys.

Chris fought back from redundancy to bag

the title of Career Changer of the Year at

Learndirect Scotland’s Celebration of

Learning awards 2008.

After seeing an advert for the

Sustainable Community Enterprise

in a local newspaper Chris wasted no

time in applying for training and soon

had an SVQ Level 2 in Construction and

a full-time job under his belt.

Chris said: “I want local people to open

their eyes to this wonderful opportunity

which is right under their noses. I’ve

recommended the Sustainable Community

Enterprise to all of my friends. It’s free and

I’ve walked away with invaluable training, a

qualification and a job at the end of it. They

even said that if I was stuck in the future

then I should just give them a call.”

Nicole DeBrincat, Development Manager

for the Raploch Sustainable Community

Enterprise, said: “This is a great success

for Chris and the Sustainable Community

Enterprise and we are sure it is just the start

of a very bright future for him. We want

more people to follow Chris’ example and

be aware of the real opportunities training

with us can bring.”

The Sustainable Community Enterprise

now also provides customised training to

employers and their staff and to individuals

seeking to buy their own training, such as

first aid or manual handling, which can be

provided on a single day basis. This training

is available both to local companies and

to firms across Scotland and helps position

Sustainable Community Enterprise as a new

learning centre for Stirling.

The Raploch Sustainable Community

Enterprise can be contacted on

01786 465 825.

John Hendry, Raploch URC Vice Chair and Campbell Christie, new Chair of Raploch URC

DiD you know?

Chair of Raploch URC, Dr Campbell Christie’s impressive CV includes his work as general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, Chair of British Waterways Scotland, and vice chair of the British Waterways National Board. Dr Christie will head a newly-shaped board of directors of the URC to guide the area’s regeneration efforts.

DiD you know?

Stirling Bridge, the site where William Wallace and Andrew Moray defeated King Edwards’ army in 1297, forms a major part of the Raploch walkway development along the River Forth.

DiD you know?

The Regeneration Agreement includes a 28-day Priority Purchase Scheme to ensure that the local people have the first opportunity to purchase a new home before they are made available on the open market.

1� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

The Raploch community benefits from regenerationAnother innovative feature of the Raploch

regeneration is the Community Benefits in

Procurement (CBiP) clause. This is written

into the legal agreements with both

housing developer R3 and roads contractor

RJ McLeod to ensure that employment

and training opportunities are created as a

direct result of the regeneration. A pilot for

the Scottish Government, it has since been

hailed by Finance and Sustainable Growth

Secretary John Swinney MSP as a best

practice case study.

This clause also benefits Sustainable

Community Enterprise trainees by providing

practical work experience as part of their

training programme, which can, and does

lead to employment.

As part of R3’s commitment to CBiP, they

will provide 225 employment and training

opportunities through the housing element

of the regeneration, managed by the

dedicated staff in the Recruitment Office of

the Resource Centre.

Suzanne Granger, R3 project manager adds

“R3 has built the new Raploch Resource

Centre in the heart of the community to

ensure that all local people can access

general information regarding the

regeneration project and also register

with the Recruitment Office, in order to

be considered for fantastic training and

employment opportunities.”

Another element of the CBiP clause is for

R3 to ‘open the doors’ to allow Stirling-

based businesses the opportunity to tender

for sub-contracting work. To date local

businesses Deeside Timber Frame, Clyde

Insulation and Keller Ground Engineering

have been among local businesses securing

contracts with a value in excess of £1m.

Local business Keller Ground Engineering

have been involved in the deep foundation

Special feature - Raploch www.raploch.com

works for many of the buildings under

construction at Raploch. David Whyte,

Regional Manager for Keller said, “I am

delighted to be involved in the regeneration

of Raploch. While we work all over the

world, there is something particularly

satisfying about being involved in a project

that I can see from our office window in

Castle Business Park!”

David continued, “I chose to move our office

from Glasgow to Stirling some years ago.

Stirling is more central in Scotland, making

it easier to access all of the other business

areas and regeneration sites, including

Raploch. This has proved to be a good and

successful decision and we are hopeful

to continue to win work on the Raploch

project.”

Keller Ground Engineering has provided

specialist Vibro Replacement Ground

Improvement and Driven Cast Insitu Piling to

support the foundations for the two, three

and four storey buildings at Raploch.

R3 has also committed to supporting the

Sustainable Community Enterprise (SCE)

in securing their own sub-contract work.

Among the contracts already won by SCE

were renovating R3’s temporary sales office

on Drip Road and installing the landscape

around the Resource Centre which opened

in the autumn of this year.

David Whyte,Keller Ground Engineering

17www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

New college campus for Stirling Forth Valley College is poised to

launch an exciting new era for

education and training in central

Scotland, thanks to an investment

package worth more than £50

million.

New initiative to help unemployedA new initiative, Workcraft, was launched in September to support people from

disadvantaged communities in Forth Valley, Fife and Tayside into employment

over the next seven months.

Workcraft provides one-to-one support for

customers and employers

Funded by Jobcentre Plus through the

Disadvantaged Area Fund (DAF), Workcraft

is delivered by Stirling-based Company

Triage Central Limited and is targeted at

people not on existing programmes such

as New Deal and Training for Work.

In its first four weeks of operation,

Workcraft has already placed more

than twenty people into employment

across a range of occupational sectors.

Beneficiaries have included those who

have recently been made redundant to

those returning after longer

spells away from work.

Workcraft will support employers

by providing a ‘no cost’

recruitment service, eliminating

advertising costs, screening

and assessing candidates,

matching suitable candidates to

vacancies and providing a post-

employment aftercare service. Funding may

also be available for job specific training.

For more information on Workcraft,

contact Peter Boulton on 01786 451513

or mobile number 07979 534029.

The package is the result of one

of the largest ever investments

made by the Scottish Funding

Council and the College’s own

multi-million pound outlay.

The investment will be used

to deliver new state-of-the-art

learning campuses in Stirling

and Alloa, and to improve

facilities in Falkirk.

And the story is not just about

bricks and mortar. As shown

by the recent outstanding

inspection report by Her

Majesty’s Inspectorate of

Education (HMIE), Forth Valley

College is at the top of the tree

when it comes to providing

effective learning and teaching

- a hard-won accolade that

reassures learners and the

business world alike that the

College is second to none in

providing quality courses that

produce quality employees.

Stirling campusThe College has secured a new

site at Kildean on the banks

of the Forth, at the heart of

what will be an exciting new

business location in Stirling.

When completed, this will

arguably be the most attractive

learning location in Scotland,

with wonderful riverside views

and walks, and great visibility

from the adjacent motorway.

The new campus will also

be at the centre of a new

business growth area in Stirling,

will have excellent transport

links, and will be close to the

College’s existing Raploch

Campus.

Development of this wonderful

site will begin in August 2010,

with completion in February

2012, ready for the 2012/13

academic session.

Speaking about this hugely

ambitious and broad-ranging

project, Forth Valley College

Principal Linda McKay said,

“These truly are exciting and

transformational times for

Forth Valley learners. This

project is the realisation of

the vision that we had when

we amalgamated Falkirk

and Clackmannan colleges in

August 2005.

“I know that I speak for every

single member of College

staff, its Board and our

stakeholders when I say that

we are all as committed as we

possibly could be to bringing

this vision to fruition.”

1� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

RETAiLThe importance of the retail sector to

Scotland has increased over time and

currently accounts for £21 billion of

turnover. This is 12 per cent of total

turnover for all enterprises in Scotland.

Retail also provides employment for

238,000 people, some 11 per cent of

the national workforce. Contrary to

popular belief, employment in retail is

not all part-time, in fact some 45 per

cent of employees are full time. The

sector in Scotland does have a higher

percentage of female employees than

the rest of the UK.

Retailing in the Stirling area is (with

the exception of Health/Social work)

the highest provider of employment at

12 per cent.

Expenditure on retail at the Stirling

area level is difficult to measure

due to data collation reliability

and commercial confidentiality.

However in a recent benchmarking

report compiled for Stirling City

Centre Management, spending on

‘comparison’ goods (clothing, gifts,

electrical, furniture etc) throughout

Stirling’s catchment was estimated

by national data collector ‘Promis’ at

£588 million.

The sector is dynamic and

constantly changing with new

ways of buying goods available for

potential purchasers and demands

from customers increasing. In a

recent national survey, increasing

competition, attracting new customers,

business regulations and attracting

appropriately qualified people were

identified as key challenges. Stirling

Eye spoke to a sample of retail

professionals in Stirling to seek their

views on retailing in the Stirling area.

Sector feature

Point of view from Thistles CentreColin Moulson, Manager of the Thistles Centre gives

his views on changes to the retail sector…

how many units are there in the Thistles Centre?97 units.

how big is the Thistles Centre?524,000 square feet.

When did it open?The Thistles Centre opened in 1976 and the Marches

mall in 1997. The original Centre was refurbished in

2002.

What types of tenants are there?The main retail tenants consist of mass-market department stores and high street fashion

operators.

how have tenants changed over time?Retailers are now more focused on sales returns per sq ft and this has caused re-

engineering of units to satisfy retailer needs for today’s consumer market.

How has the customer profile changed over time?It hasn’t changed that significantly, but our research has shown that people are travelling

further to come to The Thistles.

how have customers’ demands for goods changed over time?Customers today are more aware of what they want, with greater knowledge about

goods and a wider range of shopping choices.

What do you think the biggest issue is facing national retailers?There are two major issues. Scotland is at saturation level in the provision of large

warehouse and out of town retailing. Secondly the expansion of the internet has changed

the way people purchase goods. These issues have had major impacts on how retailing

works as an industry and the saturation means retailers need to carefully choose where

they have retail units.

Are there any particular types of retailers you would like to attract to the centre? We would like to attract other fashion/lifestyle brands such as H&M and Borders. They

would provide further diversity to the retail offer in Stirling.

What are the future plans for the Thistles?Standard Life, the owners of the shopping centre are constantly doing appraisals on

development opportunities to try and continue to improve the retail offer in Stirling.

However this is no easy task given the major investment that is required and we also need

to be mindful of other retail developments being given the go ahead in the Stirling area.

What two things would you like to see done to improve Stirling as a retail destination?A robust planning system that as a priority, seeks to protect the city centre retail core and

secondly, John Lewis, right in the heart of Stirling ! !

1�www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

independent retailer point of viewDouglas Wood of WoodWinters Wines & Whiskies in Bridge of Allan and Andrew Pemberton of Pemberton’s Sewing Shop in Stirling provide their views on changes to the retail sector…

Sector feature

WoodWinters Wines & WhiskiesAndrew Pemberton

how long have you been trading in the Stirling Council area? Why did you choose this location?

Has your customer profile changed over time?

have you changed your service to meet the demands of customers?

What is the biggest issue affecting independent retailers?

What are the strengths of retailing in Stirling?

What are your future plans for the business?

www.woodwinters.com

Douglas WoodWoodWinters Wines & Whiskies

3 years.

We identified a gap in the market in Bridge

of Allan for a good independent wine

retailer.

Yes, our customers now want to learn more

about flavour, demanding a greater range

of quality wines. People are becoming tired

of falsely discounted wines in supermarkets

and are looking for value for money.

Yes, we’ve increased our range of quality

wines, but particularly those under £10.

We’ve also strengthened the investment

arm of our business, taking on a new

employee to provide specialist advice on

investment wines.

Maintaining a good presence, e.g. through

press and advertising. It’s no longer simply

enough to have a good shop frontage, we

need to actively reach out to customers.

To maintain advantage over larger retailers,

small independents need to move quickly

with demand and be agile in responding

to the market while maintaining quality

customer service.

The key strength is that local businesses

work together. We’ve worked closely with

The Running Company, Queens Hotel, Royal

Hotel, L’Angevine, Bang & Oulsen and

Bravado running wine tasting at various

events.

We are opening a new warehouse in

Springkerse and a new retail unit in

Edinburgh. Over the long-term, we plan to

open further retail outlets in Glasgow and

Perth.

Andrew PembertonPemberton’s Sewing Shop

Since 1973.

Stirling provided a really good central

point with easy access for customers from

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Dundee.

Not really – customers still want the same

standard of quality. Sewing products

continue to develop however, with

changes reflecting technological advances

and fashion cycles.

Our service has remained constant in terms

of quality and customer service, but we

have introduced a web-shop – internet

sales now account for 20 per cent of sales

and we are selling sewing items to a

number of countries including America,

France and England.

The biggest current issue is the problem

with the banks. Banks don’t want to

lend to businesses or consumers, which is

having a big impact on the retail sector.

Fortunately we are well established, but

it is harder for new retailers who need to

find money to purchase stock.

Recessions are strange times though – we

find that sales increase as more people

look to sew and repair their own clothes!

The new Park and Ride facilities have been

a great boost, making the city centre more

accessible. I’m also really pleased with the

new look of Friars Street following recent

streetscape improvements.

To continue providing a quality service!

www.psmc.co.uk

�0 STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Name: Julie Campbell & Tony Bancewicz

Job Title: JC: Optician TB: Practice Manager (Business Partners)

Place of work: Stirling Optical, Port Street, Stirling

How do you get to work? JC: Drive own car TB: Cycle and train

What is your favourite place to eat out? Why? JC: My Mum’s, great food and it’s free!!

TB: The Old Smiddy, Killin, Great food and great service.

What do you think the Stirling area could most benefit from? JC: A comedy club TB: More cycle lanes

What is your favourite colour? JC: Red TB: Tartan!

What is the best thing about doing business in Stirling? JC: There is a good mix of big chains and independent retailers

TB: People travel from all over to come to Stirling, it’s nice to meet such

a diverse clientele as well as all of the tourists you meet.

What do you think the biggest issue is for businesses in JC: The domination of marketing power that the big chains have.

the Stirling area? TB: Increasing internet sales.

What is the biggest issue for your business? JC: Letting everyone know we are here!

TB: Overcoming the perception that a family run business is more

expensive that its larger competitors.

What is your favourite shop? JC: Let’s Party - and it’s right next door!

TB: Mothercare!! (See ‘Did you know?’)

What is your greatest ambition? JC: To travel the world

TB: A healthy and happy family and to own a chalet in the Alps.

30 second interview

DiD you know?

Stirling Optical has recently had a ‘baby boom’ with three members of staff welcoming baby girls since the last edition of Stirling Eye!

Sector feature

The Stirling ArcadeChina Merchant and Town

Councillor William Crawford

built the Stirling Arcade

between 1881 and 1882.

In 1882, the Arcade occupied the

very heart of the Royal Burgh

of Stirling, connecting Murray

Place and King Street. It was a

thriving and fashionable place

extending to 22,333 square feet,

including 39 shops, the Douglas

Hotel fronting the Railway Station,

a large Temperance Hotel facing

onto King Street and at its very

centre, the Alhambra Theatre.

William Crawford died in 1894

and his family later sold the

Arcade. Tenants at the start of

the twentieth century included

a rubber goods shop, a large

draper saloon, tea merchants,

jewellers, a licensed house,

a restaurant, William Lows, a

fruiterer and a billiard hall. Over

the years the Arcade has had

various names including the

Stirling Arcade, Alhambra Arcade

and Crawford Arcade.

The Grade B listed Alhambra

Theatre was designed by Stirling

architect John McLean. The

Theatre closed in 1939 and

is now unused and hidden

behind retail units. The form

of the auditorium is still

evident however, with an

ornate twisting staircase in the

entrance and fragments of

plaster decoration remaining.

The Arcade recently underwent

extensive renovation and was

re-launched this year as the

‘Stirling Arcade’. It is still

home to an array of small

specialist businesses, including

Betti Loves It women’s fashion,

A Wee Sweetie candy shop, BPM

gents clothing, Andy Simpson

Music Centre, Ebu beauticians,

Pretam Beau hairdressers, EC

Café, Silver Gems jewellers, Kiddie

Kouture children’s wear, Cornish

Pasty Bakery and Abacus toy store.

Andy Kennedy, Stirling City

Centre Initiative Manager

said: “There are currently a

number of opportunities in the

Stirling Arcade and the owners

are looking to attract even more

specialist independent retailers

to the heart of the city.”

�1www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

Kate, can you tell our readers a bit about your farm?I run West Moss-side farm, an organic

conservation farm located on the edge of

Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve. My

farm business is based on farming organic

Shetland beef cattle, organic hay and oats.

Five years ago I decided to go for a complete

change and diversified the farm business

through the sustainable conversion of a

steading and hayloft into a learning centre.

Where did your inspiration come from for the learning centre?I have always been interested in nature and

the environment, part of living on Flanders

Moss I guess! My aim was to create a centre

of excellence for people wanting to learn

about local crafts. Many of the courses

developed at the centre involve use of nature

in a sustainable way, and get their inspiration

from the natural surroundings including

basket making using willow coppiced from

the banks of the local Goody Water, and

natural papermaking using materials found

on the moss.

The conversion took around a year to

complete…the result of a lot of hard work by

local builder Duncan Kinloch and joiner Bobby

Cameron! St Ninians based IT specialist

Stephen Rubin contributed to the unique

interior design and project management,

incorporating all of the state-of-the-art IT

and telephone conferencing facilities that

interviewwithKate Sankey,owner ofWestMoss-sideOrganic FarmStirling Eye caught up with Kate Sankey to find out more about her farm diversification project…

make the centre a really versatile space for

a variety of corporate activities. I decorated

the interior with local crafts, resulting in

a unique space, which is used for a wide

variety of activities and events... we’ve even

had a wedding held here!

how did you fund the farm diversification?I contacted the Government Farm Business

Diversification Scheme (now part of the

Scottish Rural Development Programme) and

was provided with advice on how to produce

a business plan and apply for funding. I had

to make sure that my ideas were financially

viable and would provide a return in the

long run. Once I’d worked out a viable plan,

I stuck to my environmental principles by

sourcing natural, local and reused materials…

and also tried to keep costs down – Ebay was

key to this process!!

I also received mentoring support through

the Trossachs Enterprise & Rural Mentoring

Scheme (TERMS) gaining

valuable marketing advice. I have also

acted as a mentor through TERMS to other

entrepreneurs on areas where I have a lot

of experience, including farm diversification!

And the networking events have been great

for making contacts, seeking advice and

bouncing ideas around.

Do you have plans to diversify West Moss-side further?Yes! I’m currently looking into the possibility

of working with Paul Millard from Red Kite

Yurts to provide green accommodation. I

would like to have a couple of yurts in the

natural woodland on the farm that can be

used by people wishing to do residential craft

courses. I want to look at using composting

loos, natural rainwater and solar showers

and other environmental technologies. I

would also like to convert another part of the

steading into a catering facility for the centre

and might look at providing this space to a

social enterprise involved in organic food.

However, these ideas are still very much

at concept stage! I am engaging with the

new Scottish Rural Development Programme

(SRDP) to look at funding potential, as well

as researching other ways of bringing the

projects forward.

To find out more about West Moss-side

Centre & Organic Farm, please contact

Kate Sankey on 01786 850428, email

info@westmossside.com or visit www.

westmossside.com

Kate Sankey

The name game!Every year, calves born at West Moss-side Farm

have names beginning with a different letter, and

the names of every cow’s calves follow a different

theme. This year was the year of ‘J’ (so that’s 10

years!!). Amy calved while a group from BTCV and the

Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group were meeting at West Moss-side, so Kate asked the

group to come up with a name for the heifer calf. Amy’s theme is trees so the group

chose the name Juniper!

�1www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

�� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Special feature - Research & information for businesses

Business research and informationFinding statistics and information for business plans, funding applications, targeting customers and general market research can be tricky if you don’t know where to look. The Research Team at Stirling Council give you a snap shot of what information is freely available online.

What is the latest population and household information available? The latest population figures available are the 2007 Mid Year

Estimates (published June 2008). This information is published

annually and is available for different age bands and sex for each

Council area. Population estimates are also available for each

settlement or town e.g. Bannockburn, Callander. This information

can be found on the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS)

website – www.gro-scotland.gov.uk

The latest household statistics are the 2007 Household Estimates.

This dataset gives estimates of the number of households and

trends in household types. This information is available at GROS for

each Council area. Information for smaller areas can be obtained

from Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics (SNS) – www.sns.gov.uk

Looking to the future, population and household projections up to

the year 2031 can be accessed on the GROS site.

What about smaller areas?Sometimes it is helpful to get information on specific places

within the Stirling Council area. Stirling Council is split into 7

electoral wards and there’s lots of information available for these.

Getting even smaller, there are areas called datazones. These are

the smallest areas for which statistics are commonly available.

There are 110 datazones in the Stirling Council area!

The table below gives you the number of households, population

and sources of information for the key geographies (starting from

the largest geography to the smallest).

Geography

Local Authority

– Stirling Council

Wards (electoral

boundaries – 7 in

Stirling Council

area)

Settlement

(towns and

villages)

Data Zones

Number of households

37,328

5,000 - 7,000

Varies

250 - 500

Population

88,190

12,000

– 15,000

Varies

500 - 1,000

Sources of statistics for this geography…

SCROL (census

results), GROS,

NOMIS, SNS

SNS

SCROL and GROS

SNS

What are the best sources of information for key statistics?GRO (General Register Office) Scotland - provides a range of statistics on population, households, births, deaths, marriages, life expectancy and popular names.www.gro-scotland.gov.uk

Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics - particularly useful source for small areas – provides statistics on population, households, access to services, community care, health, economic activity, benefits and tax credits, education, skills and training, health, housing, and the index of multiple deprivation. www.sns.gov.uk

Scottish Census Results OnLine (SCROL) - Although now a few years old, the 2001 Census provides comprehensive information on socio-economic classifications, ethnicity, demographics, education, health, home accommodation and dwellings, work and transport.www.scrol.gov.uk

Nomis - the best place for labour market information, including employment, unemployment, qualifications, earnings, benefit claimants and businesses. www.nomisweb.co.uk

Stirling Council Research Team - pull together key statistics on the Stirling area to produce ‘Stirling at a Glance’, which is updated monthly: www.stirling.gov.uk/stirling_at_a_glanceA selection of key sources can be found at www.stirling.gov.uk/local_informationThey can also assist you in finding or understanding statistics.email: research@stirling.gov.uk Tel: (01786) 442992

Example of a datazone

© Crown

Copyright.

All rights

reserved.

Stirling Council

100020780

(2008).

��www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

Special feature - Research & information for businesses Research & information for businesses - Special feature

Youth – �-1�, Friars Street, StirlingYouth opened its doors in August, providing designer fashion for

girls and boys aged 9-16. The owner Craig Hopkins found a niche

in the market to provide clothing to youngsters as an alternative

to adult clothing. Craig set up his business based on his own

observations of the clothing market. He already has plans to

expand with the opening of a store just for girls after Christmas.

He is also looking at the possibility of opening further retail units

in neighbouring towns.

Research and information requirements:To help plan for expansion Craig will need population, school roll,

household formation and income information.

Sources of research and information:There are three main

sources Craig can easily

access online; Scottish

Neighbourhood Statistics

for school rolls and

household information,

General Register Office for

population and Nomis/

SNS for income figures.

What type of information do enterprises require?Stirling Council’s Research Team caught up with a local business and voluntary organisation to find out more about their research requirements.

Business informationThere are a number of resources that you can use. Here we take

a closer look at the Business Gateway Information and Research

Service and the National Library of Scotland’s Scottish Business

Information Service (SCOTBIS).

Business Gateway information and Research ServiceThe Business Gateway Information and Research Service can tailor

information specifically to your needs.

The Service can provide a range of information – some free and some

at a charge. Examples of the type of information the service can

provide include:

l A list of Irish knitwear manufacturers or Scottish cheese makers

l Financial information on a local or national competitor

l Trends in the soft drinks market or the outlook for the

optoelectronics industry

l Press and trade articles which mention your industry or company

l Detailed demographics on the population of Stirling

l Statistics on Scottish car usage or total UK manufacturer sales of

rubber tyres

You can access the Business Gateway Research and Information

Service for free by contacting Business Gateway. Charges only apply

if you require data from a charged source, e.g. mailing lists from

Equifax or FAME.

To find out more, please email info@bgateway.com or phone 0845

609 6611 and ask your Business Gateway Adviser about assistance

available through the Research and Information Service.

SCOTBiS - Global business information at your fingertipsThe National Library

of Scotland’s SCOTBIS

(Scottish Business

Information Service)

– www.scotbis.com

– provide a free business

information enquiry

service. One of the main

advantages of this service

is that you can access

information entirely

online.

SCOTBIS can provide businesses with company financial accounts,

news information, market research and mailing lists directly through

the web. While it is free to register and use the enquiry service,

there may be nominal charges for data from some sources – for

example it may cost around £10 for a mailing list of 100 businesses.

To find out more about services offered through SCOTBIS, please

contact John Coll on 0131 623 3816, email j.coll@nls.uk or visit

www.scotbis.com

Fallin Community Enterprises – www.recyke-a-bike.co.ukFallin Community Enterprises

(FCE) is a not-for-profit

organisation. FCE established a

bicycle recycling service known

as Recyke-a-bike in June 2006,

which is helping to reduce the

impact of waste on the

environment as well as providing

employment and training opportunities within the Fallin area.

Research and information requirements:Manager Alasdair Tollemache said, “Statistics are very important

for our grant application work to provide hard evidence to back-

up funding requests. Up-to-date figures are also used for planning

work and our future developments.”

Sources of research and information:Alasdair uses the Scottish Neighbourhood Statistics (SNS)

online mapping system to identify datazones in the places he

is interested in, e.g. Fallin and the Polmaise community council

area. He can then access a range of statistics through the SNS

website, including population projections, number of young

people, number of unemployed and deprivation data.

�� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Intercontinental Rally Challenge comes to StirlingStirling and Perth & Kinross will play host to the

final round of the prestigious Intercontinental

Rally Challenge (IRC) on November 19-21, 2009,

forming a centrepiece event within the Homecoming

Scotland celebrations. The IRC is all set to start in

January 2009 with the closed mountain road stages of the world famous

Monte Carlo Rally and conclude with its newest event, officially named the

‘Rally of Scotland’. There are ten rounds in total, and host countries in 2008

included Spain, China, Italy and Switzerland.

The announcement about

the event - secured by

EventScotland, the national

events agency, in partnership

with Stirling and Perth and

Kinross Councils - was made

by the First Minister on 14th

October.

Making the announcement the

First Minister of Scotland, the Rt

Hon Alex Salmond MSP said:

“Scotland’s reputation for

leading innovation and setting

new standards in the motor

sport industry makes it an ideal

location for the Intercontinental

Rally Challenge finale. The

event will be made even more

special as it will be one of

the signature events in our

Homecoming programme. For

2009 we are inviting Scotland’s

friends and family to return

home to celebrate our strengths

and culture.

“Today that invitation is being

extended to the countless rally

fans and enthusiasts around

the world. With dramatic

landscapes, warm hospitality

and fierce competition – I hope

that many will answer the

Homecoming rally call.”

The Intercontinental Rally

Challenge was introduced in

2006 as a new rally series,

carrying the endorsement of

the FIA and is closely based on

production cars, with 2 litre,

normally aspirated engines.

This format is designed to

attract more manufacturers to

the sport and is now supported

by Fiat, Honda, Mitsubishi,

Peugeot and Volkswagen.

The international-status event

will be decided by three days

of competitive driving over

timed Special Stages on closed

Forestry Commission Scotland

gravel roads and will include

a ceremonial start, service

stop and high profile village

featuring additional activity

for the many thousands of

spectators expected.

Eurosport is the global

promoter of the IRC series and

will be showing live footage, as

well as highlight programmes,

through their international

network. The event will attract

around 8.5 hours coverage

in total, with 1.5 hours of

this being live. The

broadcast will showcase

Stirling’s natural assets, with

the route taking in some of the

most stunning scenery the area

has to offer.

The event, which is also due to

take place in 2010 and 2011,

will benefit from significant

TV and media exposure.

Organisers also anticipate

spectator numbers at the event

to grow in excess of 100,000

as the event becomes more

established.

Councillor Scott Farmer, Depute

Leader of Stirling Council

and Corporate Resources and

Economy portfolio holder

said, “I am delighted to

welcome this

prestigious and exciting event

to Stirling. As joint hosts of

the Intercontinental Rally

Challenge, we believe that the

event will provide a unique

platform for showcasing Stirling

and the beauty of its landscape

to the world, thereby boosting

tourism and delivering major

economic benefits to the

community”.

“The Council looks forward to

working with EventScotland and

the promoters, International

Motor Sports, who have

a proven track record for

delivering motor rally events

throughout the world. As a

country with a rich motor

sporting heritage, we are also

committed to ensuring - in

partnership with the organisers

and the Forestry Commission -

that there is no negative impact

on the local environment.”

For more information contact

Caralin Montgomery-Cichy,

Events & Film Liaison Executive,

on 01786 442 535, email

montgomerycc@stirling.gov.uk

Scottish Rally Championship © Rally-photo.com

��www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

BBC Christmas drama filmed on location in Stirling Keep a look out for ‘The 39 Steps’, a great one-off drama, which makes its television debut

on BBC One this Boxing Day (26th December).

Based on the classic novel by Scottish author John Buchan, and set in the build up to

the First World War, The 39 Steps is a roller coaster action adventure, full of excitement,

danger, fun and romance. It stars Rupert Penry Jones (Spooks, Burn Up) as the main

character, Richard Hannay.

Filming for the drama took place throughout Stirling at various locations including Stirling

Castle, Loch Katrine and Touch Estate and also in Edinburgh.

Support for local businesses and communities in Rural Forth Valley The new Forth Valley & Lomond LEADER funding programme was launched in

October at Callendar House, Falkirk. This new programme will award grants across

the rural Forth Valley area until 2013, including the whole of the Stirling Council

area outwith Stirling city itself.

An extra for ‘The 39 Steps’ during filming at Stirling Castle

One of the priorities of the

programme is ‘Supporting

sustainable local enterprise’,

and while individual businesses

can’t apply for funds to LEADER,

there are a number of ways

that you can get involved:

l LEADER wants to support

connections between local

producers, distributors and

rural retailers.

l We can encourage projects

that support the start up

and development of local

enterprise.

l Ideas that support a more

enterprising voluntary and

community sector could be

LEADER funded.

how businesses can get involved Businesses in rural areas can

help community projects in a

number of ways:

l In-kind support – a recent

LEADER project, The Throsk

Hub received lots of support

from local businesses who

helped with demolition

of an old prefab building

to make way for a new

community Hub. Gh Groundworks Ltd and MTS Recovery & Repairs

contributed time and

resources to the demolition

process and without this

support, it is likely that the

community would still be

struggling to get funding.

l You might be able to help

community groups develop

a project by providing

meeting space, access to

a computer, or putting up

notices and making sure

that the rest of the area

know what’s happening.

l By getting involved in

community plans you can

make sure that business

needs are included.

how businesses can benefit While individual

businesses can’t apply

for funding from

LEADER, associations of

local companies or trade

groups can apply for a

range of projects. Ideas

must be innovative and

able to demonstrate

some benefit to the

community. Previously,

trade associations have

applied for funding to LEADER

to improve access to an area,

provide joint marketing of local

products, support broadband

provision in rural areas, and

develop better visitor services

to encourage visitors to stay

longer in one place.

More information and how to applyTo apply for funding, you need to submit an initial enquiry form to the Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER Support Unit. More information is available on the website www.fvl.org.uk . If your business or community group already has an idea for an innovative project, please contact info@fvl.org.uk or complete a copy of the Initial Enquiry Form which is available on the website.

MTS Recovery & Repairs – “Happy to support the Throsk community!”

�� STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Economic factsPopulation and Households Stirling �000-�007 % Change �000 �001 �00� �00� �00� �00� �00� �007 Stirling Scotland

Total Population 86,160 86,200 86,150 86,370 86,370 86,930 87,810 88,190 2.4% 1.6%

Working Age Population 54,058 53,771 53,501 53,667 53,268 53,588 54,310 54,367 0.6% 2.7%

Total Number of households 35,206 35,544 35,961 36,454 36,658 36,958 37,164 37,328 6.0% 5.0%

Source: General Register Office for Scotland

Employment RateFigure 2: Employment Rate (as % of Working Age Population)

Source: Annual Population Survey (Nomis)

77.0

76.0

75.0

74.0

Empl

oym

ent

rate

2004 2007

Growth in Number of Jobs �000 �001 �00� �00� �00� �00� �00� �000-�00� �000-�00� Change % Change

Stirling 40,600 42,100 41,300 40,900 42,800 45,600 46,400 5,800 14%

Scotland 2,234,300 2,299,800 2,279,500 2,307,000 2,340,000 2,391,400 2,370,600 136,300 6%

Source: Annual Business Inquiry (Nomis)

Enterprise �00� �00� �00� �00� �00� �007 �00�-�007 �00�-�007 Change % Change

Stirling 449 534 460 452 474 480 31 6.9%

Scotland 18,518 21,468 20,808 21,383 23,468 25,041 6,523 35.2%

Source: The Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers

Business Survival RatesFigure 6: 3 Year Business Survival Rates - VAT Registered Businesses

Source: Small Business Service

80

75

70

65

60

3 Ye

ar S

urvi

val R

ate

- %

1999 2002Year business registered for VAT

Figure 1: Population and Households

Figure 4: Jobs Growth

Figure 5: New Business Starts

Stirling

Scotland

Business DensityFigure 7: Number of VAT Registered Businesses per 10,000 Population

Source: VAT Registrations and De-Registrations (Nomis)

500

400

300

200

100

0

No.

VAT

Reg

. bus

ines

s pe

r 10

,000

pop

ulat

ion

2000 2006

Stirling

Scotland

Unemployment RateFigure 3: Unemployment Rate (as % of Working Age Population)

Stirling

Scotland3.5

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

Une

mpl

oym

ent

rate

Source: Claimant Count with Rates and Proportions (Nomis)

September 2003 September 2008

�7www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye STIRLING EYE Focus on the local economy

VAT Registered BusinessesFigure 8: VAT Registered Businesses in 2006 – Percentages based on stock of VAT registered businesses Stirling – Number Stirling - % Scotland - %

VAT Registrations 280 8.7% 8.6%VAT De-registrations 215 6.7% 6.7%Stock at start of year 3,210 - -

Source: VAT Registrations and De-Registrations (Nomis)

QualificationsFigure 11: % of the Working Age Population Qualified to SVQ Level 4+ (or equivalent) and % with No Qualifications, 2007

Source: Labour Force Survey/Annual Population Survey (Nomis)

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0% o

f w

orki

ng a

ge p

opul

atio

n

Stirling

SVQ Level �+

No qualifications

Scotland

EarningsFigure 13: Average Gross Weekly Earnings of people working full time �00� �00� �00� �00� �00� �007 �00�-�007 % Change

Average Gross Weekly Earnings – Residents – Stirling £425.9 £428.4 £419.7 £455.3 £472.1 £478.9 12.4%Average Gross Weekly Earnings – Residents – Scotland £369.3 £381.8 £390.6 £409.8 £427.9 £441.0 19.4%Average Gross Weekly Earnings – Workers – Stirling £376.4 £377.8 £390.1 £382.6 £419.3 £434.2 15.4%Average Gross Weekly Earnings – Workers – Scotland £371.7 £381.3 £390.4 £408.6 £428.1 £441.5 18.8%

Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Nomis)

Industry

Figure 9: Employment by Industrial Sector, Stirling, 2006

Source: Annual Business

Inquiry (Nomis)

Employment by Industrial Sector, %

Occupational DistributionFigure 10: Occupational Distribution, Stirling, 2007

Occupational Distribution of workers in Stirling, %

Source: Annual Population

Survey - Workplace Analysis

(Nomis)

Source: VAT Registrations and De-Registrations (Nomis)

Visitors to the Stirling AreaFigure 12: Tourism Revenue, Tourist Days and Visitors to Key Attractions in the Stirling Council AreaVisitors �00� �007

Argyll’s Lodging 54,054 50,573

Bannockburn Heritage Centre 65,871 61,410

Blair Drummond Safari & Adventure Park 402,701 433,070

Mugdock Country Park 543,055 559,695

National Wallace Monument 119,526 135,000

Old Town Jail 27,328 30,719

Stirling Castle 385,755 389,011

Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum 44,264 40,859

Tourism Revenue (£’s millions) 388.83 390.45Tourist Numbers (thousands) 4,366.60 4,323.50

Source: Scottish Tourism Economic Assessment Model; Visit Scotland; Mugdock Country Park

11.8 14.1

13.6

14.7

11.0

12.6

5.7

11.6

4.9

Useful web linksBusiness Gateway – www.bgateway.com

Forth Valley College – www.forthvalley.ac.uk

Forth Valley Construction Forum – www.forthconstruction.co.uk

Forth Valley and Lomond LEADER – www.fvl.org.uk

Funding Search Facility – www.stirling.gov.uk/business/funding

The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park – www.lochlomond-trossachs.orgLottery Fund – www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/scotland

Property Search Facility – www.stirling.gov.uk/property

Raploch Urban Regeneration Company – www.raploch.com

Scottish Chambers of Commerce – www.scottishchambers.org.uk

Scottish Enterprise – www.scottish-enterprise.co.uk

Scottish Government – www.scotland.gov.uk

Scottish Parliament – www.scottish.parliament.uk

Stirling Business Directory – www.stirling.gov.uk/business/directory

Stirling Business Panel – www.stirling.gov.uk/businesspanel

Stirling Council Business Pages – www.stirling.gov.uk/business

Stirling Enterprise (STEP) – www.stirling-enterprise.co.uk

Stirling Eye – www.stirling.gov.uk/stirlingeye

Stirling University innovation park – www.suip.co.uk

Trossachs Rural Mentoring Scheme – www.ruralmentoring.co.uk

University of Stirling – www.stir.ac.uk

Visit Scotland – www.visitscotland.org

Stirling Council Environment Services, Viewforth, Stirling FK8 2ET phone: 0845 277 7000

email: info@stirling.gov.uk text: 0771 779 0001 web: stirling.gov.uk

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Christmas Park & Ride opening timesPark and Ride services in

and around Stirling have

been extended for the

Christmas period.

In addition to the usual Monday to Saturday service (7.30am to

6.30pm, except Thursday when services are extended to 8.30pm),

a Sunday service will operate in December from the Castleview and

Springkerse sites, 10.00am to 6.00pm.

EVENTS CONTACTSStirling – STEPTel 01786 463416, email reception@stirling-enterprise.co.uk

Alloa – CETERISTel 01259 726430, email aharrick@ceteris.co.uk

Falkirk – FEATTel 01324 665500, email mandyc@feat.org.uk

Forthcoming events/trainingDecember �00�2nd morning – Stirling – Get Real Results From Your Website.

2nd evening – Stirling – Marketing Your Business.

4th morning – Alloa – Negotiation Skills.

11th evening – Stirling – Advertising and Promotion.

January �00�20th evening – Falkirk – Improve Your Search Engine Ranking.

22nd morning and afternoon – Alloa – Customer Care 1 and Customer Care 2.

23rd morning – Falkirk – Credit Control.

28th morning – Stirling – Improve Your Search Engine Ranking.

29th Stirling – Women Into Business: Business Planning.

Service contactsAdult Learning, Stirling Council

Lynne Gibbons, Tel: 01786 432360, email: gibbonsla@stirling.gov.uk

Building Standards, Stirling Council

Cecil Stokes, Tel: 01786 432203, email: stokesc@stirling.gov.uk

City Centre Management, Stirling Council

Andy Kennedy, Tel: 01786 442534, email: kennedya2@stirling.gov.uk

Economic Strategy & intelligence, Stirling Council

Hugh Lightbody, Tel: 01786 442593, email: lightbodyh@stirling.gov.uk

Employability Service, Stirling Council

Gordon Wright, Tel: 01786 442866, email: wrightg@stirling.gov.uk

Planning, Stirling Council

Peter Morgan, Tel: 01786 442914, email: morganp@stirling.gov.uk

Tourism, Marketing & Rural Development, Stirling Council

Deborah Murray, Tel: 01786 442821, email: murrayd@stirling.gov.uk

Trading Standards & Licensing, Stirling Council

Neil Chalmers, Tel: 01786 432170, email: chalmersn@stirling.gov.uk