your Ayrshire business

business the magazine of ayrshire chamber of commerce and industry

your yrshire

Tantalise

SPRING 2013 £2

Inside: Foreign Exchange – anew chamber benefitPage 13Festival of FlightPage 15New members Page 21

partners for businessAyrshire Chamber wishes to acknowledge the support of the followingcompanies as sponsors of our Partners for Business programme.

Published by West of Scotland Media on behalf of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry2013. No part of this magazine may be copied, scanned or reproducedwithout the express permission of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce.The views expressed in editorial and/or advertising in “Your AyrshireBusiness” are not necessarily those of the Editorial Committee ofAyrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Articles submitted forpublication will be considered at the Committee’s discretion and maybe subject to editing. Publication is not guaranteed.

contactsAyrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Suite 1005,

Glasgow Airport, Prestwick KA9 2PL

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.ayrshire-chamber.org Tel: 01292 678666

PRESIDENT Willie Mackie

CHIEF EXECUTIVE Valerie Russell

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Helen McBride

magazineEditorial Content:

Design, Typesetting & Publisher:

Print & Distribution:

[email protected]

www.brown-bros.com

NO one can be blamed nowadays for being selfish, whether thatbe with their valuable time or with finances. Every invoice isscrutinised and questioned and your Chamber subscription maybe one of those. Happily, there has been no increase insubscriptions for the past two years and of course I am going tosay membership is good value for money, but did you know thatit can actually save your business money, support growth andstaff development?

If you’re in business in Ayrshire, you should be in the Chamber.Whatever your size or sector, we can help your business succeed.

So, what’s in it for you?With our expert business knowledge and our finger firmly on the

pulse, we can help boost your ability to grow and develop yourbusiness—and also save you money.

Ayrshire Chamber membership is not only affordable, but highlyvaluable.

Our range of business support services include:• Creating business opportunities for you through networking & events• Providing you with FREE professional services, including HR & Legal• Developing skills and knowledge relevant to your business• Offering exclusive deals and benefits to cut your costs• Representing your views on both local and national issuesMarch will see the introduction of two new Chamber services; both

aimed at saving members money – Moneycorp Foreign Exchange andJumpstart which ensures businesses are taking full advantage of taxsavings on research and development – watch out for full details!

Why not call into the Chamber or arrange a meeting to find out moreand ensure you are making the most of your membership!

Don’t forget our referral scheme which rewards you for spreadingthe word – you could be our next Chamber Champion.

There is no denying that things are still tricky out there, but yourChamber is as confident about the future of Ayrshire as it’s ever been.

2013 has got off to a flying start with events and training workshopsand at the time of writing this we are expecting 430 guests at ourAnnual Dinner. Thanks to our Sponsors, Principal SponsorGlaxoSmithKline, all those attending for their continued support. Thewinners of the Business Excellence Awards will also be announced atthis dinner and we thank all the sponsors of these awards.

We welcomed Barr Ltd, Hillhouse Quarry and West FM as newPartners for Business and we looking forward to working with themall.

February saw us retain our Investor in People standard and we haveundergone our British Chambers of Commerce Accreditation, thusensuring we are best placed to support your business.

I look forward to meeting or hearing from you throughout the year.Val Russell,

Chief Executive, Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce

2 your ayrshire business spring 2013

YourChamberfor theSpring Chief Executive:

Valerie Russell

[email protected]

What’s in it for me?

3your ayrshire business spring 2013

The current U.K. Kitchen Retailer of the Year

Commission your kitchen from the industry’s leading company

10/12 West Netherton Street, Kilmarnock KA1 4BU Tel: 01563 530 838 Hayes Garden Land. Tarbolton Road, Symington, Ayrshire KA1 5PD Tel: 01563 831 340

www.jsgeddes.com Both showrooms open 7 days

Callerton Poggenpohl J S Geddes Collection

Down at t’mill

VENISON, haggis, tartan, laceand… office furniture joinedtogether in the opening of theSaxen Ltd office furnitureshowroom in Newmilns inJanuary. Depute Provost JohnCampbell cut the ribbon and theshowroom was officially opened.

Depute Provost Campbell said,“It’s great to see a local businessexpand to such an extent that it has

to open new premises toaccommodate the amount ofbusiness it’s receiving and the staffit has been able to employ. I wishSaxen Ltd every success with itsnew venture and hope that thebusiness is well supported locally.”

The stylish office furnitureshowroom had a Burns themedlaunch in honour of local Ayrshirehistory and the famous Bard,

Robert Burns. The Cook Schooloffered a cookery demonstrationwith a mouth-watering delight oftasters include leek and tattie soupand venison and haggis pie.

The new Saxen showroomoccupies a century old former lacemill which neighbours one of thelast remaining local lace mills inproduction, Morton, Young &Borland. Guests were invited to aguided tour of the lace mill toexperience the previous life of theSaxen showroom.

Guests at the event included;architects, specifiers, designers,East Ayrshire Council, AyrshireChamber, West FM radio, localpress and businesses. Many wereimpressed with the transformationfrom Victorian lace mill tocontemporary showroom.

Saxen Ltd was established in2007 and is run from the officesand showroom premises inNewmilns, Ayrshire by a dedicatedteam offering a personal level ofcustomer service.

Chamber members canexperience the new premises firsthand, when Saxen host anetworking evening on 21st March.See the Events Diary on Page 22 fordetails.


Bowls Scotland Lawn Bowls

Challenge at TheNational Centre

THE 2014 CommonwealthGames are fast approaching , soat Bowls Scotland we want toshow you just how fun, enjoyableand sociable lawn bowls can beand whether you’re entertainingclients, shouting your staff to awell-earned after work treat orholding a team building event,the National Centre for Bowls atNorthfield is just for you!

Your host will begin by providing ashort, fun and informative bowling

training session using our fantasticnew teaching cards and games.You will learn the correct techniquefor rolling a lawn bowl, the objectiveof the game, how to score and whatall the various pieces of equipmentare for.

In addition, your host will arrangeyour group into teams and a roundrobin style competition will follow.A buffet will follow the competitionin the club house and the bar willbe open throughout; so you arewelcome to soak up the sunshine

and take your drinks outside whilstyou bowl! Bowls Scotland is here toensure that your evening is as fun,relaxing and enjoyable as possible;but we also hope to uncover somebowls stars of the future!

Bowls Scotland is the NationalGoverning Body for Lawn Bowls inScotland and is responsible for theadministration, development andorganisation of the outdoor gamein Scotland. We currently have 880member clubs located throughoutthe country, with approximately73000 members; making bowlsone of the biggest sports inScotland. We hope that bydeveloping events such as this wecan highlight the benefits of bowlsand the merits of being involved ina community sport, played on localgreens at local clubs!

Chamber Bowling Event 24thApril, enter a team of four for £50.


MANY small businesses arestruggling to find customers in theface of unprecedented change. Ourchanging buying habits are movingmarket share online, to out of townparks where multiples dominate,and to supermarkets who aremoving into wider ranges ofproducts and services.

“As consumers, we often don’trealise the impact this change ishaving on the local economy,” says KenRobb, “When we complain aboutshops closing and jobs being lost, wedon’t realise that the small businessesat the hub of our community areaffected when we choose to buysomewhere else or in a different way.”

Buy2Give is an idea that will not onlyhelp charities struggling for funds, butwill also give our local people a newincentive to buy from local businesses

as opposed to elsewhere! When webuy using our Buy2Give Card, our BigHearted local businesses will help tofund our local organisations by giving2 of sales value back. At the sametime, they will increase their sales!

With 10,000 Buy2Give Cardholderstargeted for Ayrshire by the end of the

year, we are really hopeful that we canhelp to slow down the decline of localbusiness and make a difference.’

The Buy2Give Business Network isnow 40 strong and the company areinviting new businesses to join, aimingto increase the purchase opportunitiesfor cardholders to over 100.

“Progressively, Buy2Give consumerswill be able to buy virtually everyhousehold need with the card,” saysDonald McCallum, “Businessesinvolved already include Solicitors,Financial Advisers, Podiatrists,Tradespeople, Printers, Coffee Shops,Pet Shops and Shoe Shops! They wantto help the local community by givingBuy2Give cardholders an irresistiblereason to buy from them!

“It’s not just businesses sellingdirect to consumers who can getinvolved,” continued Donald,“Businesses and Charities can use theBuy2Give Card for their own supplies.”

Businesses – want to join the BigHeated Revolution?

Visit www.buy2give.org.uk to findout more!

Or simply contact Donald or Ken on01563-852253 or 07812593851.

Buy2Give founders Donald and Ken

Chamber Members are invited to join the Big Hearted revolution!

Happy feet FOR most of us who have had ourfeet wrapped in cosy socks allwinter, spring is a time to get ourfeet out of hibernation.

With the average person takingaround 10,000 steps per day and115,000 miles over a lifetime, a tripto the chiropodist or podiatrist coulddefinitely be in order to ensure yourfeet look and feel healthy. Visiting apodiatrist can be very useful in the

prevention, detection, diagnosis andtreatment of many foot disorders.Our feet are great indicators ofhealth issues present in our bodies,with early symptoms of diabetes,arthritis and circulatory problems allshown in the feet, so it important tolook after them.

Here at the Chamber we have anew neighbour. Prestwick AirportPodiatry Clinic opened for business

on 7th February. The clinic operatesfrom the First Aid Room on the firstfloor of the terminal building and willbe there the first Thursday of everymonth from 9am-7pm. Run byPodiatrist Dr Vicki Fiddes, airport andChamber staff have already tip-toedalong to an Open Day to try out theservices.

Vicki explains, “Podiatry hastraditionally been a nail cuttingservice for elderly patients. Ourethos is a modern approach toPodiatry provision, pushing theboundaries of care to offer patientsthe most up to date evidence basedtreatments. We offer a wide range ofservices to a variety of people,ranging from children withdevelopmental problems resulting inpoor foot mechanics, to young adultswith ingrowing toenails. We managethose who are high risk, such asthose with diabetes and canenhance sports performance throughthe provision of special insolescalled foot orthoses.”

Look after your feet, you only getone pair, and don’t forget that if yourcompany subscribes to the ChamberPrimary Health Plan throughWestfield Health, you can claim forPodiatry treatments from registeredpractitioners like Vicki.

To book your appointment at thenew Prestwick Airport Podiatry Clinicvisit www.vickifiddespodiatry.co.uk

In partnership with

Special offer for Chambers members50% off your Chambers membership OR 10% cashback on premiums

For more info call 0800 387 754 or visit www.axappphealthcare.co.uk/chambers

Terms and conditions apply.

Calls may be recorded and/or monitored for training, quality assurance and a record of a conversation.

AXA PPP healthcare for small businessesAn exclusive support package to help keep Chambers members and your businesses in tip-top health.

“ I need my staff healthy, happy and here”

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New product optionsfor Chamber PackageAXA PPP healthcare areintroducing two new productsto the Chambers HealthcarePackage: Business HealthSelect and Business PriorityHealth. The products werelaunched in January to thedirect market and to a numberof selected intermediaries. Theproducts have proved to bevery successful and have beenwell received by ourcustomers.AXA PPP healthcare will be

giving Chamber of Commercemembers access to both of these products by expanding thecurrent Chamber HealthcarePackage.

The two products will be offeredalongside the existing productsgiving Chambers member’s evenmore choice when purchasingtheir business health insurance.Business Health Select andBusiness Priority Health will beavailable with the 50% discounton Chamber Membership for 3years.The new products are modular

so can be personalised to suitthe specific needs of anybusiness, including cover leveland budget. For smallbusinesses, which count onrecruiting and retaining the bestpossible people, the flexibility totailor health insurance productsgives companies the opportunity

to offer a competitive employeebenefit that both current andfuture employees will really value.With prices from as little as 31pa day for a scheme with 3employees; our Business PriorityHeath product offers great valuefor money. If you are looking toswitch to us from another healthinsurance provider why not see ifwe can match your needs andbeat your renewal premium by insome cases up to 15%.It only takes 10 minutes to get

a quote over the phone so call0800 38 77 54 and mention thatyou’re a Chamber of Commercemember to get a no obligationquote.

Expanding inAyrshireAYRSHIRE based LineaConstruction has moved to newlarger premises in Ayr and haverecruited the support of aBusiness Development andMarketing consultant to help themin their drive to secure newbusiness.Established in 2006 Linea

Construction has become a marketleader in commercial and industrialprojects ranging in value from £50K -£2M, including refurbishment andnew build contracts. Linea havedeveloped their business workingwith local and regional clients and viarelationships with key architect andsurveying practices. They arecurrently working on projects withrepeat Public and Private sectorclients and are looking to expandtheir client base with the support oftheir new appointment.

John Fergusson, CommercialDirector said “My partner, Jim Payneand I had a very simple philosophywhen we started the business in2006 and that was to always knowwhat our clients want and to be ableto service them. We have been veryfortunate in the relationships we havenurtured with our clients and as suchwe are coping with the currenteconomic downturn relatively well.We have wanted to move to largerpremises for a while and our newlocation in Ayr is perfect, offeringgood office and warehouse space andplenty of parking for visitors. Tocoincide with our move we haverecruited the support of SusanCardwell, Business Development andMarketing Consultant. Susan hasover 13 years experience in theconstruction sector, laterally workingas Business Unit Head for Morris &

Spottiswood and Marketing Managerbefore that. I have full confidencethat she can help us raise ourbusiness profile and secure newopportunities.”In a recent report the Scottish

Government said it agreed with theRoyal Institution of CharteredSurveyors (Rics) that investment inconstruction was needed to supportScotland's economy. Finance Secretary John Swinney

confirmed the start of work on a£205m package of publicconstruction and maintenanceprojects, which is estimated tosupport approximately 2,000 jobsacross Scotland in 2013-14 and willparticularly benefit the constructionsector.Susan Cardwell said “I’m delighted

to be supporting Linea Construction.They have a very refreshing approachto managing their clients’ projectswhich gives me a lot of confidencewhen I’m discussing new businessopportunities on their behalf. Theykeep things very simple by beingthere, knowing everything that’s goingon and keeping costs to a minimum.I intend to capitalise on both publicand private budgets and also keepthings simple for their marketing.”



Make themost of thefarming SinglePaymentScheme (SPS)for 2013while you canEACH year billions of pounds are paid to over 100,000farmers across the UK as part of EU’s common agriculturalpolicy. There has been much discussion about ways in whichthe SPS should change, and from 2014 the Department forEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said itintends to move towards abolishing them in the seven yearsbetween 2014 and 2020 so if you are one of those whoqualify, you need to make the most of that money this year.

There is significant opposition to the move, as concerns are highthat the profitability of farmers would be “severely undermined” ifthe SPS was removed, and their ability to plan for investmentwould be removed without the income stability that the SPSprovides.

In its fifth report, entitled ‘The Common Agricultural Policy after2013’ the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committeehighlights that “over half of UK farms would be unprofitablewithout subsidy”, and that “ending direct payments isunachievable in the short term”.

One of the biggest issues is the farmers’ place in the supplychain, as they are struggling to get the costs of their productionproperly covered because they are squeezed ever tighter by thesupermarket chains who want to maximise profit while keepingcosts to customers as low as possible.

Choosing the best way to receive this money can save a smallfortune, but it can be difficult to make that decision in advance.Your payment is always calculated in euros based on the size andproduction of your land and it is your decision whether you receiveyour funds in pounds sterling or euro. If you select sterling yourentitlement is calculated based on the official payment rate setby the European Central Bank on 30th September 2013automatically. Many UK farmers recognise that selecting to receivetheir payment in euro allows them the flexibility to target and fixan exchange rate they are happy with at any point during the year.

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce offers you access to currencyexperts through the Chamber Foreign Exchange Service who willwork with you to help you get the best rate for your farming subsidyno matter what happens between now and the end of September.

The difference to your pocket can be considerable. For example,last year’s ECB fixed rate was 79.805p. If you were due to receive€100,000 in subsidy, this would have given you £79,805. Gettingthat same subsidy at 85p means you would receive £85,000 –an additional £5,195, simply because the exchange rate wasbetter.

Using the tools available through the account managers throughthe Chamber Foreign Exchange Service, you can shelter your

subsidy and get the best deal you can this year.If you want to find out more about how we can help you boost

your farm subsidy, and would like to discuss your upcomingneeds, call 0800 710 1040, for more information or [email protected] dates to remember:

Rate EUR Amount GBP ValueOfficial SPSrate 2012 0.79805 €100,000 £79,805

2012 Market 0.82304 €100,000 £82,304Average

2013, at time 0.86453 €100,000 £86,453of writing

Your 2013 application:

Application submitted by 15 May 2013

Changes can be submittedwith no charge by 31 May 2013

Changes can be submitted but with a penalty by 9 June 2013

Payment window closes 30 June 2013

Your 2013 payment:

2013 rate set 30 September 2013

Payment window opens 1 December 2013

Payment window closes 30 June 2014


A FAMILY-runestate agency inAyr has openeda second officein the towncreating newjobs.

Donald RossEstate Agentshave opened anew office, just acouple of doorsdown the roadfrom thebusiness’ mainoffice, and willfocus exclusivelyon propertylettings, a newservice for thecompany whichhas focussedexclusively onresidential sales.

MD, Steven Miller said: “The opening of our new lettingsbranch is a great moment for us, substantially increasing ourpublic visibility and the range of services we’re able to offer.Whilst the past couple of years have been challenging for theproperty sector, we have continued to grow by remainingtotally focussed on our clients’ needs. We’ve worked closelywith Bank of Scotland for many years, with the regularguidance from our relationship manager proving invaluable,and it’s fair to say that the opening of the new office wouldn’thave been possible without this support.”

Jacqui Webster, relationship manager for Bank of Scotland,said: “Donald Ross Estate Agents new expansion underlinesits commitment to the town. At Bank of Scotland we remaincommitted to supporting strong local businesses like DonaldRoss Estate Agents in achieving their growth ambitionsthrough our teams of dedicated property relationshipmanagers, and as part of Lloyds Banking Group we lent £10billion to SMEs across the UK in the first nine months of2012.”


BSI gives itsseal of approvalLAWRENCE McPherson Associates ISO 9001 accreditedQuality Management System passed its 3 yearreassessment. The audit, which was carried out by theBritish Standards Institute, is the first majorreassessment of the Quality Management System sincethe Practice initially attained ISO 9001accreditation in2010.

Architectural partner, Stephen McGhee, said "We aredelighted that the BSI has continued to give their re-approvalof our Quality Management System. This reassessmentcomes months after our recently achieved CHAS (ConstructionHealth and Safety) accreditation. Combined with ourcommitment to our ISO 14001 accredited EnvironmentalManagement System, the Practice continues to put 'quality'at the core of our service provision."

Music toyour ears?Research finds businessowners believe musicincreases salesMUSIC licensing company PPL is encouragingScotland’s businesses to boost profitability byusing music legally in the workplace.Latest research by the organisation has found

that music in the workplace is vitally important tobusiness success. In a survey of Scottish SME’s,more than a third (37%) of owner-managersquestioned believed that playing music canincrease trade or results. It also found that silencein the workplace is far from golden; with almostone in five (18%) admitting that they would preferto lose a day’s trade, than operate in a silentenvironment.Christine Geissmar, Director of Operations at

PPL said: “We know that playing music has hugefinancial benefits for businesses. We areencouraging businesses across Scotland to findout how they can enjoy the benefits of music, whilebeing legally compliant.”Research found that business owners believe

music can bring both emotional and financialbenefits to staff and customers alike. More thanthree quarters reported that playing music in theworkplace increases staff morale. Almost 70% feltthat background music can help relieve tensionand awkward silences in the workplace.Music Psychologist, Dr Vicky Williamson

commented: “Music positively influencesconsumer mood/emotional states through psycho-physiological reactions and autobiographicalmemory associations. Silence by comparison canbe intrusive, as it throws unwelcome attention onthe consumers’ behaviour. Music also provides aneffective and adaptable tool for bringing a senseof pleasure and relaxation to the workenvironment, thereby promoting a positiveattitude, higher job satisfaction and boosting asense of brand identity and loyalty. A completelysilent work environment can lack stimulation,interest and, for many people, a dynamic andcreative source of energy.”The findings are part of the joint MusicWorks

campaign from PPL and PRS for Music, designedto highlight the financial as well as emotionalbenefits that music can bring to business. Formore information about when a licence is neededand how to purchase one, log onto:ppluk.com and prsformusic.com

Laying foundationsfor growth


WILL you be ready for the Waste(Scotland) Regulations by 2014? Asof 1st January 2014 business of allsizes and across all sectors inScotland will be required toseparate all waste by paper, metal

and glass ready for recycling. Thereare also requirements on food wastedisposal.

Regulation doesn’t have to be aburden, and following the Waste(Scotland) Regulations will not only

RubbishManagement

Local firms get up to speedon new pension rulesSTARS of Dragon’s Den and the Apprentice have beenleading a government advertising campaign to raiseawareness of new pension’s legislation that wasintroduced in October 2012. This is the biggest everchange to work place pensions. From October onwards,the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) and autoenrolment began to take effect. Businesses of all sizeswill need to plan for auto enrolment to ensure they areadhering to the new legislation as it is a legalrequirement.

To raise awareness locally Ayrshire Chamber member,Munro Partnership, held a seminar at the Western HouseHotel in Ayr. Over 30 Ayrshire employers attended. Theseminar covered the key issues that employers must beaware of to comply with the auto enrolment rules.

In short the new regulations mean:-

• Employers must automatically join employees into eithera qualifying workplace pension or the new default NEST

• Pay minimum contributions for eligible employees intotheir pensions

• Ensure processes are put in place to adhere to the newpension rules

All businesses are affected by the new legislation and mustcomply with their legal obligations. Some of the feedbackreceived after the presentation showed that in some casesemployers do not fully understand the implications of the newrules and what they have to do to adhere to them.

If you are an employer and require more information on thenew legislation then visit www.thepensionsregulator.gov.ukor email [email protected] if you needassistance and advice.

make your business legally compliant;it also makes commercial sense too,as effective waste management canhelp your business to: • Reduce your operating costs • Understand why your waste isactually an important resource.• Improve your organisation’senvironmental credentials

To help Ayrshire businesses getready in time for the change andunderstand their requirements; ZeroWaste Scotland is running a number offree briefings sessions which willcover: • The legal requirements of theregulations and what businessesmust do to comply• How effective waste managementand resource efficiency can benefityour business and the environment• How to negotiate your wastecontract to meet the regulatoryrequirements• What support is available and howto access it.• Case-studies of businesses alreadyon board and how they have benefited

- 06-Mar 2- 4pm Gailes Hotel, Irvine,KA11 5AE

- 07-Mar 8- 10am Ayr Racecourse,Ayr, KA8 0JE

- 07-Mar 2- 4pm Glencairn Room, TheDower House, Dean Castle CountryPark, Kilmarnock

For more information and bookings see:www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/regsbriefings


Tel: 01655 883251 Fax: 01655 882511 Mobile: 07768 624954

CONTRACTS UNDERTAKEN

New water mains installed, drainagework (land drainage, golf courses etc),kerbing, paving, monoblock, etc.Suppliers of drainage pipe, underground,sewer water pipe and fi ttings.CONTRACT HIRE JCB,TRACTOR AND ATTACHMENTS24-26 KIRKOSWALD ROAD,MAYBOLE, AYRSHIRE KA19 7TX

PLANT HIREJCB Track Machine• 3CX 4x4 for hire (also self drive)• Rock Breaker for 3CX 4x4• Tractors and Dump Trailers• Gravel Infi ll Trailer• Tractors Self Drive• Dumper, 2 Ton Roller etc• Trailer Gritting Machines• Hanamag Loading Shovel• Mini Excavator Hire•

jamiesonplant hire and contractors

business the magazine of ayrshire chamber of commerce and industry

your yrshire

To advertise in the next edition of

call Stuart Penningtonon 07792 362 587 or

email [email protected]

Charities get online Gift Aid serviceCLAIMING gift aid repayments will be quicker andeasier for charities and sports clubs from April,according to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The department is writing to 110,000 charities andCommunity Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) informing themthat, from 22 April, they can enrol to make repaymentclaims online, through the HMRC website.

The new service, called Charities Online, is beingintroduced in response to feedback from charities. Theywill be able to get information on how to use the systemfrom the HMRC website (www.hmrc.gov.uk/charitiesonline).

Sajid Javid, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, said,

“Charities Online is a significant step towards reducing theadministrative burdens that can be a weight on charities.Claims will be processed more quickly, as well as savingon postal costs and delays. The service will be moreaccurate, with built-in checks.”

Separately, the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme(GASDS) is also being introduced in April. This will allowcharities and CASCs to claim top-up payments on cashdonations of £20 or less without the need to collect GiftAid declarations. Charities will generally be able to claimpayments on small donations of up to £5,000 each year.

Fife Regatta 2013Firth Of ClydeScotland

AFTER the resounding successes ofthe previous three Fife Regattas thedates of the 2013 event have beenannounced as 28th June to 5th July.

This invitation only event invites thefamous William Fife designed and builtclassic yachts to return to theirbirthplace on the Firth of Clyde, Scotlandand to participate in a unique regatta. Aswith the previous Fife Regattas,participants will enjoy spectacularscenery and hospitality, but with a newitinerary that combines past favouriteswith new destinations.

The event will be based at Largs YachtHaven, the marina adjacent to the site ofthe Fife boatyard, and over the course ofthe week the fleet will sail to Rothesay,Isle of Bute, through the magnificentKyles of Bute to Tighnabruaich andonwards to Portavadie on Loch Fyne.The event comprises racing and cruising,a busy social programme with a Scottishflavour and even a short cruise on boardthe famous paddle steamer, Waverley.

The full itinerary is available onwww.fiferegatta.com.


Introducing a newChamber Benefit... Foreign ExchangeIF your business dealsinternationally, the ChamberForeign Exchange service canhelp. Provided through the buyingpower of the British Chamber ofCommerce, Ayrshire Chamber isable to offer the UK’s leadingForeign Exchange andinternational payments servicewith exclusive discounts andservices to our members. Throughour FSA regulated and longstanding partner Moneycorp,Chamber Foreign Exchangeprovides our members with highlycompetitive exchange rates, lowtransfer fees and a level of servicetailored to your business needs.

Chamber Foreign Exchangeprovides members with:

• Highly competitive rates ofexchange whenever you trade• Reduced transfer fees (savingup to £30 per transactioncompared to high street banks)*• Free Foreign Exchange HealthCheck & Report worth upwards of£250*• Full suite of Foreign Exchangeproducts and services includingFSA regulated vanilla and zerocost options• Industry leading online dealingand payments systems• Personal MSTA qualifieddealer to help make moreinformed currency decisions,keeping you abreast of themarkets, and help with FXbudgeting• Access to market orders, totarget specific rates of exchangeand secure prices 24 hours a day,7 days a week

• Fast, worldwide transfers,including same-day settlement

Our partner Moneycorp has beentrading foreign currencies since1979 and traded over £11 billionin currencies last year making 2.4million transactions. With 577dedicated employees, marketleading accounts and creditratings, Moneycorp is the UK’sleading provider of ForeignExchange services. TTT MoneycorpLtd is authorised and regulated bythe Financial Services Authority forthe provision of payment services.

In addition, Moneycorp FRM isauthorised and regulated by theFinancial Services Authority for theconduct of designated investmentbusiness.

To establish the savings availableto you call 0800 710 1040, [email protected] or visitwww.moneycorp.com/chamberfx.

*Exclusive to Chamber members

NO SMOKING DAY 2013IMPROVE the health and wealth of your company andencourage your employees to quit smoking this NoSmoking Day, Wednesday 13 March 2013.

With smokers taking on average two or three more sick daysa year than their non-smoking colleagues, why not get involvedin the 30th anniversary of this successful health campaign?

This year smokers are being encouraged to 'swap their fagsfor swag', and consider what they could afford to buy if theywere to quit for a day (saving £7), a week (£49), a month(£210) and a year (£2,555). That could pay for a holiday!

Holding No Smoking Day activities could not only improve theprofitability of your business, by boosting the health of yourworkforce, but it could raise the profile of your company as ahealth improving organisation in the local media.

For further information, support and limited resources pleasecontact your local stop smoking service: Fresh Air-shire 0800783 9132 or [email protected]

Or alternatively log on to www.nosmokingday.org.uk whereyou will find further information and be able to purchaseresources.

Talk to the Healthy Working Lives experts FREE on:08000192211 www.healthyworkinglives.com


Under PressureWE’VE all experienced it –that feeling of dread as the‘to do’ list gets longer andtime ticking by at an alarmingrate. It can feel as thoughthere just aren’t enough hoursin the day to get everythingdone. In today’s difficultclimate when budgets aretighter than ever before, it’seasy for this feeling tobecome a daily occurrence.

Worrying constantly is asymptom of stress – a conditionthat while many of us choose toaccept as a ‘normal’ part ofworking life, can take a majortoll on your health andwellbeing.

Stress can affect yourappetite, cause you to smoke ordrink more and lead to physicalproblems such as headachesand dizziness, breathlessnessand muscle pain. Sufferers maylose their temper more easilyand find it difficult toconcentrate - bad news foremployers who need aproductive and happy workforcenow more than ever.

Long term stress can cause arange of serious healthcomplications includingdepression and insomnia, highblood pressure and heartdisease.

So, what can be done to helpease the pressure?

The findings of a study carriedout by wellness solutions

provider Vielife suggest thatimproving your diet could have apositive impact. Research foundthat working adults who have a poordiet are more likely to suffer fromstress, low productivity and low jobsatisfaction. Those with goodnutrition achieved a 6% higher jobsatisfaction score, and a 15%higher mood score. Additionally,almost 40% of people with a lownutrition score had high stresslevels and 50% more sicknessabsence than those with goodnutrition.

As well as lifestyle changes,talking therapies such ascounselling and cognitivebehavioural therapy (CBT) are widelyrenowned for helping peoplesuffering from stress, anxiety ordepression to deal with negativethoughts and feelings and makepositive changes.

Westfield Health’s ChamberPrimary Health Plan, which isavailable to all members of AyrshireChamber of Commerce, offers

employees a full confidentialcounselling service, including a24 hour counselling and adviceline, as well as up to six face toface counselling sessions orcognitive behavioural therapy(CBT) sessions.

The Government’s ‘No HealthWithout Mental Health’ strategyemphasises the importance oftalking therapies such ascounselling and CBT in helpingtreat stress, anxiety anddepression. For more information about

the Chamber Plan, visitwww.westfieldhealth.com/chamber or call 0845 602 1629,Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm.


New Festival Takes OffMARKING the centenaryof flying at Prestwick, thePrestwick World Festivalof Flight launches onFriday August 30th andruns for ten days.With the support of

South Ayrshire Council,Prestwick Airport,Prestwick RoyalAeronautical Society, theRAF Association, and localaerospace companies, theprogramme will be apopular mix of; airdisplays, exhibitions, filmsand performancecelebrating the adventureof flight, andcommemorating Prestwickand Scotland’s place in thehistory of aviation.The Festival will

introduce the World’s firstAviation Film Festival andan Aviation Book Festival.These will be supported bymusic, theatre, poetry,exhibitions, song andstorytelling for all ages.With emphasis onactivities for families and

children, there will besomething for everyone! Festival curator George

Kerevan explains, “TheFestival aims tocomplement the existingvisitor product in Ayrshireand Arran by tapping intothe growing internationalaviation heritage market.With only 5% of currentvisitors to Ayrshire comingfrom outside the UK, thefestival should helpreinforce this vital sector.”With long term vision for

the Festival to become amajor event in both the UKand International aviationheritage calendar, there isscope to create apermanent publicexhibition of aircraft andartefacts recordingPrestwick’s significantrole in aviation history, aswell as a legacyprogramme encouragingyoung people in Ayrshire tobuild careers in aerospaceengineering, and promotePrestwick Airport asScotland’s aviation capital.

Airportgears upfor busysummerdespitetoxic tax!GLASGOW Prestwick Airport is upbeatabout its prospects for 2013 followingdouble-digit growth in a robust lastquarter. Passenger numbers were up,showing a 29% year-on-year increase forthe three-month period November 2012to January 2013.

Chief Executive Iain Cochrane was

cautiously optimistic. “January’sfigures represent a satisfying start tothe year and the outlook for the rest of2013 is very encouraging as wecontinue to adapt to the challenges ofan ever-evolving industry,” he said.“Thanks to new routes and extrafrequencies announced by our partnerRyanair for our summer programme,looking ahead we expect passengernumbers will continue to rise.”

He added: “Our strategy ofpositioning Glasgow Prestwick asScotland’s low-cost gateway to popularholiday destinations is paying off, withan increased number of flights to theMediterranean and Canary Islands.”

The airport’s confidence is based onRyanair’s decision to increase thenumber of its routes to 27, while thenumber of flights per week increasesby 10% from 86 to 95. In response,the airport announced the creation of50 new fixed-term jobs from the end ofMarch, in a number of passenger-focused areas.

Mr Cochrane commented: “As wellas sending Scots off on their holidays,we look forward to welcoming largenumbers of visitors from Poland, Italy,France and Spain. In this regard, weknow that the airport performs a vitalrole as an economic driver for Ayrshire.A recent report by York Aviation, "TheEconomic Impact of Glasgow Prestwick

Airport" shows that last year we:• supported 1540 jobs locally and

helped boost the Ayrshire economy byalmost £64m;• supported 670 jobs specifically

in Ayrshire tourism;• continued to put Ayrshire “on the

map” which is important in attractingand retaining inward investment inthe area;• helped anchor the Aerospace and

MRO (maintenance, repair andoperations) cluster around the airportwhich shows that Glasgow Prestwickplays a key role in securing activityhere.

“However, our task in helping to builda stronger Ayrshire economy continuesto be frustrated by the imposition of AirPassenger Duty, a toxic UKGovernment tax that damages tourismand weakens Scotland'scompetitiveness. We once had 8 dailyflights to London Stansted which werewell supported by Ayrshire business;now, because of the tax, we have none,depriving the business community ofregular, direct, low-cost access toLondon markets. We therefore renewour call for the tax to be devolved tothe Scottish Government so thatrevenues raised can support Scottishaviation and help attract new routes."


Saying itwithflowers

BEING a small independentbusiness, I had to ask myselfwhere are the misconceptions inflowers and floral arrangementswithin the modern businessenvironment. The answer is notan easy one to define. Mostpeople associate flowers andfloral arrangements withbirthdays, weddings, funerals etc.and whilst this is a majorpercentage of the market, thereis real scope for flowers in abusiness environment that peoplesometimes fail to perceive.

In a modern society wherecustomer service is paramount,businesses should be looking atwhat takes them from customersatisfaction to customer delight.Can flowers do this? I think theanswer is yes, especially when alarge portion of new and repeatbusiness comes from referral andrecommendations, the simpleflower can hold the key to acustomer being happy and acustomer being delighted.

Coming from a Customer Serviceenvironment I always refer to thesimple analogy of everyone is acustomer and so I look inwards tounderstand what would make meappreciate the service I receive andit is the little things that will take aservice provided from excellent toexemplary.

A floral arrangement as a thankyou for new or repeat business canbe the differentiator betweenyourself and your direct marketcompetitor or indeed coming into areception area bedecked with an eyecatching floral arrangement sets thebest first impression. Neverunderestimate the humble flowerand what it can achieve for yourbusiness.

by David Wales, Bloomingwales Florist

Apprenticesset to go far!LOCAL travel agency Thorne Travel,based in Kilwinning, is one of manylocal businesses that are succeedingdue to adopting the apprenticescheme, an initiative aimed atgetting young people intoemployment. Owner Shona Thornehad a strong vision anddetermination to bring back the localhigh street and opened in 2009 withfour employees.

The business is continuing to expandwith 15 staff now currently employed.Shona’s first apprentice ChristinaHeywood is now in her second year of abusiness degree in Glasgow Universitywhilst continuing to work two days at theagency. By working with the localcouncil, Shona has employed a “back towork” employee and another twoapprentices. “It feels great to know that

I’ve contributed to improving prospectsfor our young people.” says Shona.

This mix of staff works well for Shona,employing experienced andknowledgeable travel consultants withyoung locals looking to gain experienceand employment in the travel industry.Shona believes that the youngergeneration have much to offer growingbusinesses, “The apprentices comewith a whole different skill set; energy,enthusiasm and great computer andinternet knowledge, an area that hasbecome invaluable to the expansion ofmy company. Training a new employeefrom grass roots up ensures thatstandards are set and kept through thebusiness.”

The future is bright for Thorne Travelwith plans to develop and diversify intothe internet and student market.

Ayr builder scoops topindustry awardCOLLINTON Homes Ltd hasscooped a Master Builder of theYear Award, for Large RenovationProjects in Scotland. The MasterBuilder of the Year Awards, is anationwide search by theFederation of Master Builders(FMB) to find the best builders inthe UK. Nominations must comefrom a satisfied client, andbuilders are judged on theirtechnical ability together withtheir customer service skills.

Collinton Homes Ltd won for theirconversion work on a steading into afamily home and will now go throughto compete in the national finals. Thenational winners of the 11th MasterBuilder of the Year Awards will beannounced by architect and TVpresenter George Clarke at aceremony in London on 20th March.

Grahame Barn, FMB ServicesDirector for Scotland, said: “Thestandard of entries this year isamongst the highest we have seen

and reflects the expertise, attentionto detail and professionalism of theregion’s builders. What really standsout is the extent to which ourregional winners were prepared to gobeyond the call of duty to build agood working relationship with theirclients. Collinton Homes Ltd shouldfeel justly proud of their achievementin winning the Large RenovationProjects in Scotland prize, and wewish them success in the nationalcompetition.”

If Collinton Homes Ltd wins theoverall Master Builder of the Yeartitle, they will drive away in the brandnew Nissan Light Commercial Vehicleof their choice worth up to £20,000,while the client who nominated themwins a fantastic £3,000 cash prize. Good luck Collinton Homes Ltd!


Chamber membershipbrings concrete resultsMAKING new contacts is oneattraction of attending AyrshireChamber events and "An Audiencewith Maitland Mackie" proved to beuseful for Dianne and Paul Harrisonand Tosh Lubek when they met atthe pre-event reception.

MJ Harrison Supplies, the soleScottish distributor of Moore ConcreteProducts, regularly exhibits at tradeshows including the Royal Highlandshow, but as Paul Harrison told ToshLubek, "Who wants to carry your bulkyprinted brochure all day but a businesscard alone offers limited informationabout us". Tosh Lubek, from ToshLubek Productions, suggested analternative, the DVD Video Business

Card. The size of a credit card, it can easily

be slipped into a pocket. Like a normalbusiness card it can be printed withyour logo and contact information butit can also include a promotional videoabout your business and pdf files ofyour company brochure or leaflets.

Both Paul and Dianne appear in theirvideo which also features testimonialsfrom their customers. As Dianne says,"They tell their story about workingwith MJ Harrison Supplies and whensomeone sees a real person talkingabout your business they can instantlytell that your client is being sincere.The effect is much more powerful thanjust reading a customer's testimonial."

Dianne also appreciated the versatilityof their promotional video produced byTosh, "Not only is it on the DVD VideoBusiness Card but we could also showit on a TV display at our trade standand put it on our website."

Paul adds,"We supply pre-stressedconcrete products to agricultural,construction and industrial customersand because our brochure leaflets areon the DVD our customers can viewand then print the ones they need.That saves on our printing costs and isenvironmentally beneficial because itcuts down on total paper use."

Another example of Chambermembers doing business together.

Community Connections

MUNRO Partnership, CharteredFinancial Planners based in Ayr,undertake a community connectionsprogramme with their staff. Staff paya monthly amount into a communityconnections fund which is matchedby the company. The money is thenallocated on a regular basis to localcharities as nominated by the staff.

Recently, the company have donated£1,400 to local charities through thefund, including £400 to Aberlour OptionsAyrshire, which provides overnight respiteto children and young people withcomplex learning and physicaldisabilities. Quarrier’s Homelife SouthAyrshire, a housing support projectsupporting adults with learningdifficulties to live in their own home and

to be a part of the local community,benefited from a donation of £300 andSouth Ayrshire Dementia SupportAssociation was nominated to receive£150. This charity was set up by localpeople to provide services for peoplewith dementia and their carers in the Ayr,Prestwick and Troon area.

A charitable way to support localcommunities.


Work Experience

“DECLAN, from MarrCollege, feels that histime here has been reallyenjoyable and he haslearned a lot from theWoodward Technicians.He particularly likes thefact that he has been ableto get involved in allaspects of the productlines throughoutAssembly and Test.

“He found the newgeneration products veryenjoyable and alsocommented that it wasgreat to see the mechanical

Declan, from Marr College, at Woodward AircraftEngine Systems

Building Bridges

Dr. Do-a-lot!“I THINK WorkExperience forschool pupilsis an excellentidea. It lets thepupil see whatit is like to bein a workingenvironment.

“Some of thepupils realisethat VeterinaryMedicine is their vocation and volunteer at the surgery togain experience before applying for Vet School. Somepupils decide that it’s not for them; had the opportunityfor work experience not been available they may well havechosen the wrong career.

“I hope to continue to work with the Chamber for manyyears to come.”

Anne MacintoshPractice Manager

Hollow Park Veterinary Surgery

A Technical Challenge?

Bright Sparks

Cristina from Girvan Academy at South AyrshireCouncil, Civil Engineering

“ON the fourth day of my work experience placement in Civil Engineering at BurnsHouse in Ayr I arrived at 8:35 and was introduced to the workers in the bridgesdepartment.

“Around 10 o’clock, Douglas, Sandy, Stuart and I departed towards Pinwherry. We lookedat a bridge that had been damaged by the large trucks that drove through it. Measurementsof the ground level needed to be taken to be able to analyse the structure of the bridgefrom the computer at the workplace. For this purpose we made use of a theodolite, whichis an instrument used to measure angles and directions. For it to work properly, it needs tobe horizontally positioned with the ground and mounted on a tripod.

“I really enjoyed my time at South Ayrshire Council and have learned a lot from myexperience.”

complexity of the older mature products.“My feelings on the programme are very

positive my team here enjoy having the kidsin the facility and passing on some worldlyexperience in a laid back work environment.The team ensure that all of the needs ofthe work experience candidates that comethrough are met and they are well lookedafter. We allow access to all areas ofproduction and Engineering as well asSales and Admin.”

Andy MarshallOperations Supervisor

Woodward Aircraft Engine Systems

“EDF Energy, HunterstonB, in West Kilbride, offerslocal secondary schoolsthe opportunity to visitsite for a one-week workexperience placement.

“This is an importantpart of education for pupilsas it builds on skills andbehaviours for futureemployability and allowspupils to learn about theworkplace in a real lifesituation.

“Some of the benefits forpupils include raisingawareness of health andsafety in the workplace,developing existing skillsand knowledge andimproving confidence andtransferable skills.

“The station also benefits from takingpart in this scheme as it allowsHunterston B to promote careers withinour industry as well as increase pupils’enthusiasm with regards to STEM basedsubjects.”

Nikki Macfarlane Communication Coordinator, HR

Hunterston B, Nuclear GenerationEDF Energy


Education LinksEngineering Design ChallengeBUDDING young engineers fromS2 year groups across NorthAyrshire took up the task ofresearching, designing andmaking solutions to a genuinelytough engineering problem.

The forty two finalists of pupilswere among over four hundredtaking part in the North AyrshireDesign Challenge days. The events,which kicked off in August last year,aim to encourage more youngpeople to study and considercareers in science, technology,engineering and maths (STEM).

The theme of the Challenge Dayprogramme final this year is RemoteOperations. Students work in teamsto design and make a prototypedevice that can be operatedremotely to simulate a heart andkidney transplant. Objectsrepresenting the human heart andkidney must be picked up andaccurately placed in theirappropriate holes in a cut-out of ahuman torso.

Each of the seven school heatsleading into the North Ayrshire Finalinvolved up to 10 teams of sixpupils. The Design Challenge daysstarted in 2009 with assistancefrom the Institute of Engineeringand Technology. The event has gonefrom 6 teams of 6 pupils to workingwith over 400 pupils across NorthAyrshire.

John Allison, Faculty Head ofTechnologies at AuchenharvieAcademy, said, “The DesignChallenge Day programme is allabout inspiring and attractingtomorrow’s engineers. Engineeringis often seen as an invisibleindustry amongst young people.They also have preconceived ideasabout what engineers look like andthe jobs they do. The pupilsattending the challenge days willexperience hands-on, practicalevents to challenge theirperceptions, and make them realisethat engineering is an exciting,rewarding career path.”

S3 PUPILS from KilmarnockAcademy got to see the ‘world ofwork’ thanks to IBM in Greenock.

IBM is a global company whichemploys over 2000 people andfavours young people who havestudied a foreign language.

Pupils recently toured the plantand spent time in the InternationalContact Centre as well as learningabout the importance of studying aforeign language in today’scompetitive job market. They weregiven a talk on how being able tocommunicate in a foreign languagecan be to their advantage whencompeting with other young peopleof the same age not only fromScotland but from other parts ofEurope.

It was an excellent opportunity forthe pupils to practise their French,improve their communication skillsand to meet French speakingemployees from the company.

The nextIBMers?

Employ-Ability ProjectEMPLOY-Ability is a ‘Citizen LeadershipProject’ for people with learning andother disabilities, delivering a range oftraining and activities focusing onconfidence building, new skills, access tovolunteering, work placement,employment opportunities and socialnetworks.

The project is a result of consultationsshowing clear evidence of the many barriersdisabled people face when trying to accesswork and volunteering opportunities.

Additional evidence confirms the multiplebarriers experienced by people who havedisabilities and who are ultimately isolatedand excluded from mainstream society.

In our society it is widely recognised that‘work is good for you’ and has a hugeimpact on people’s health and wellbeing.

The Employ-Ability programme will have apositive impact on people’s lives byaddressing the disadvantages that peoplewith learning disabilities face in accessingtraining, work placements and mainstreamemployment in society. It will enable peopleto feel valued and to contribute meaningfullywithin their local community and the widersociety.

Critical to the project is the involvement ofemployers and businesses willing to supportthrough offering work placements. JimWithers, from Respite Now, says, “Even if it’sonly for a couple of hours, we welcome anyoffers of support. We know that with theright support everyone is employable.”

Get in touch at [email protected]


NEW Chair of Scottish Chambersof Commerce (SCC), Nora Senior,takes up the position with clearaims in mind to ensure that theorganisation builds on its uniquerole in helping to create the rightenvironment for business andsociety as a whole to flourish.

Nora, who is the firstbusinesswoman in the SCC’s 64-year history to be honoured withthe office of Chair, outlined hervision:

“My focus for the ScottishChambers of Commerce will bearound three key themes, woveninto the Chamber movement, ofcollaboration, connection andcommunication.

“Each of these themes isimportant not only to our work inScotland, but also to ensuring thatwe optimise SCC’s place in theworldwide Chamber of Commercemovement for the benefit ofScottish businesses and theScottish economy. The Chamber ofCommerce brand is a truly globalone, and under my leadership, SCCwill make full use of theinternational connections that wehave through the global network ofChambers to enable Scottishbusinesses to grow theirinternational reach. Increasingbusiness internationalisation is akey plank of the ScottishGovernment strategy for economicgrowth, and one where SCC has aunique contribution to make.

“Utilising connections,collaborating to achieve, andcommunicating effectivelywill ensure that SCC candrive forward Scottishbusinesses’ priorities.Businesses in Scotland candeliver growth – butimprovements to thebusiness environment arenecessary to ensure thatthey can operate at fullstretch. Our businessesneed the right people –which means fullyoverhauling our careersservice to ensure that youngpeople have supportthroughout their educationto make meaningful choicesabout what and how theystudy.

Our businesses also needan infrastructure which is fitfor purpose –not just decenttransport connections, butaccess to enhancedbroadband to boostproductivity and tradingopportunities.

My priority will be to supportbusiness and job creation, ensuringburdens on business are reducedand barriers to growth are removed.I am looking forward to working withthe SCC network to exploit everyopportunity we have to enableScottish business to perform at itsbest. We will celebrate Scottishbusiness, and ensure that ourcompanies get the recognition they

deserve.“The Scottish Chambers network

and membership is continuing togrow as businesses, both large andsmall, see the advantages ofstrengthening commercialconnections and being effectivelyrepresented at Scottish, UK andEuropean level.

“I am hugely honoured to take upthis prestigious position”

Nora Senior Sets Out BusinessPriorities As She Takes Up ScottishChambers Of Commerce Chair

SCC Welcomes Continued Fall InUnemploymentCOMMENTING on the news that Scottishunemployment fell by 13,000 in the threemonths to December, Liz Cameron, ChiefExecutive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce,said:

“It is good news that unemployment in Scotland hascontinued its downward trend, and it is particularlyimportant to note that youth employment fell by 28,000over the course of last year. This has undoubtedly beenassisted by the focus on youth employment that hasbeen evident on the part of the Scottish Government in

2012 and Chambers of Commerce across Scotland have also sprunginto action to help tackle high levels of youth unemployment.

“Scottish Chambers of Commerce are supporting businesses acrossthe country through our Graduate Recruitment Incentive programme,operated in partnership with the Scottish Government. Newemployment opportunities are being created for Scotland’s graduateswithin small and medium sized businesses, and access to dedicatedsupport is being provided to assist employers through the recruitmentprocess. To further encourage engagement between small businessesand graduates, careers zones are being delivered to extol the benefitsof a career in one of Scotland’s vibrant, growing businesses.

“Chambers of Commerce are serious about assisting businesses totake on more young people and we will continue to work to deliver realbenefits for Scotland’s economy and its young people.”


A1 Collision (UK) Ltd.KilmarnockTel: 01563 573440Contact: Terry McPartlandVehicle repair centre

Ayrshire Construction Safety Group, Hamilton

Tel: 01292 521888www.acsg.co.uk

Contact: Maria WatsonEnvironment & quality adviser, H&S

advice and training.REFERRED BY: RDK Construction

Catkins FlowersAyrTel: 01292 270340www.catkinsflowers.co.ukContact: Charles Douglas-BraidFlorists

D P RoofingNew Cumnock

Tel: 01290 332006Contact: David Phillips

RoofingREFERRED BY: Wm. Duncan &Co.

Dickson & Co.IrvineTel: 01294 311213www.wgdickson.co.ukContact: Billy DicksonAccountants

Directional LettingPrestwick

Tel: 01292 478123www.directionalletting.co.uk Contact: Stephen McVeanLetting & estate agent

REFERRED BY: LAH Travel

DM Roofing & Roughcasting Ltd. Dundonald

Tel: 01563 852542www.dmroofing.co.uk Contact: Dougie MabonRoofing & render services

REFERRED BY: QTS

Geppettos Cafe KilmarnockTel: 01563 539887Contact: Janice KirklandCafeHillan CarpentryPrestwick Tel: 07966 713 033www.hillancarpentry.co.uk Contact: Andrew HillanBespoke carpentry

IT FactAyr Tel: 01292 442541www.itfact.co.ukContact: Jackie HitchenIT support

Kilmory Public Hall Isle of ArranTel: 0770 870564Contact: Jean ClarkCommunity hall

Kylestrome HotelAyrTel: 01292 262474Contact: Yvonne GormanHotel, bar & grill

MacDunn Ltd.AyrTel: 07585229076Contact: Michelle ThomsonSubway franchise

McCain Consulting Ltd.Hurlford Tel: 07445 420920www.mccainconsulting.co.ukContact: Jim McCainCommercial & residential propertyconsultant

Passion Caterers Ayr

Tel: 07732338581www.passioncaterers.co.uk

Contact: Hazel AdairOutside caterersREFERRED BY:

BCS Training & Consultancy

Phat Daddy GraphicsMonktonTel: 01292 687612www.phatdaddygraphics.comContact: Paul MurphyGraphic design & branding

PinocchiosKilmarnockTel: 01563 573252Contact: Saddie SmithCafe

Playbrokers Ltd. Kilmarnock Tel: 0845 226 8272www.playbrokers.comContact: Michael LangsfordChildrens outdoor play equipment

QTS Group Ltd. DrumclogTel: 01357 440 222www.qtsgroup.co.ukContact: Phyllis CockburnEngineering infrastructure & trainingacross rail, utility & construction

Serendipity EMS Ltd.TroonTel: 01292 314523www.sems.meContact: Ron AitkenEvent management software

Solar Panels Scotland Ltd.Kilmarnock

Tel: 01563 536640www.solarpanels-scotland.com

Contact: Gemma CollinsPV solar installations & photovoltic

infrared heatingREFERRED BY: Referral Exchange

Solutions on Demand Ltd. StewartonTel: 08450945121www.solutionsondemand.co.ukContact: Martin BoyleWebsite design, IT support, backupsolutions, laptop repair & searchengine optimization

Super AssistantKilwinning

Tel: 07828925820www.superassistant.co.ukContact: Lorraine Hart

Virtual assistance for smallbusinesses, entrepreneurs &

professionalsREFERRED BY: Sleek Media

The Ayrshire Community TrustArdrossanTel: 01294 443044www.theayrshirecommunitytrust.co.ukContact: Stephen McLaughlinCreating resilient communities throughvolunteering, social enterprise andlifelong learning

The Waterfront RestaurantAyr

Tel: 01292 280212www.waterfront-ayr.co.ukContact: Alasdair KerrRestaurant and bar

REFERRED BY: John Kerr & Co.

UPM CaledonianIrvineTel: 01294 314214www.upm.comContact: Gordon McLeanIntegration of bio & forest industriesinto a new sustainable & innovationdriven future

The Board of Directors is delighted to welcome the following companies as recentlyjoined members of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

We want to recruit more members to strengthen our business network and create more business opportunities foryou. We're asking you to help by referring companies you know to us. When they join, we'll reward you with a

choice of special offers to help your business. Call the Membership Team on 01292 678666.


CHAMBER TRAINING ACADEMYBest Practice & Management Skills13th March8.30-11amVenue: Ayrshire Chamber BoardroomCost: £35

Business BreakfastYES Campaign with Jim Mather MP15th March8.30-10.30amVenue: Aviator Suite, Prestwick AirportCost: FREE

International Trade Event “Hong Kong the Gateway to China”20th March4-6.30pmVenue: Blairquhan CastleSponsored by HSBC Cost: £10

Schmooze and Network with Saxen 21st March5.30-7.30pmSponsor & host: SaxenShowroom,NewmilnsCost: £15

Personal Licence HolderServeWise & City & Guilds ‘ScottishPersonal Licence Holder VQ7104-01’26th March9.30am - 5pmVenue: Ayrshire Chamber BoardroomFacilitated by Emery TrainingCost: £144

CHAMBER TRAINING ACADEMYManaging Conflict and Performance27th March8.30- 11amVenue: Ayrshire Chamber BoardroomCost: £35

CHAMBER TRAINING ACADEMYSign and Be Heard18th April8.30 – 11amVenue: Ayrshire Chamber BoardroomCost: £35

Chamber Bowls with Bowls Scotland Team event and networking24th April5-7.30pmHosts: Northfield Bowling CentreCost: £15 per person or £50 perteam of 4

Chamber NetworkingThe natural selection16th May5.30-7.30pmVenue: South Beach Hotel, Troon Cost: £15

Providing you with the opportunity to meet contacts, expand your knowledge and grow your business

Events DiaryEvents Diary Spring2013

Prices shown are Chamber Member rates and include VAT unless otherwise stated.

To book or for more info www.ayrshire-chamber.org or call 01292 678666

by Yvonne MunroEvents Co-ordinator

Our Christmas Networking was agreat success. Centerstage,Kilmarnock provided theirimpressive space and theatre foran evening of informal networkingand shopping, rounded off by anoutstanding youth group who tookthe stage for a fantastic routine ofsong and dance. Thanks toCenterstage for a great night’sentertainment and to Browningsthe Bakers for the delicious warmKillie Pies!The Permanent Secretary, Sir Peter

Housden was our guest in December.

He was welcomed to Ayr College,Aerospace Centre of Excellence andenjoyed an interesting tour of thetraining centre before heading to theHatchery at Dundonald, where he wasintroduced to some new and up andcoming businesses. Lunch wascooked by pupils at St Joseph’sAcademy, under the expert guidanceand training from the CookSchoolScotland chefs. Sir Peter said, “Thesessions with Business Leaders wereinstructive and useful, and our timeat St Joseph’s was a delight – what awonderful group of young people!”

Constitutional debate began with abreakfast session from Sir AlistairDarling MP, delivering the “Better

Together Campaign”. Over 60businesses representatives gatheredin the Aviator Suite, Prestwick Airportfor a constitutional debate anddiscussion on the forthcomingindependence referendum. The YESCampaign breakfast is coming toAyrshire in March (see diary dates).The Marine Hotel, Troon was host to

the first Networking session of theNew Year. Over 30 delegatesgathered in the stylish surroundingsfor a tasty buffet before a facilitatedspeed networking session. Eachdelegate delivered their 90 secondpitch to every other delegate in theroom. Thanks to the Marine forsponsoring!The Behind the Scenes Tour of

GlaxoSmithKline was a “sell out”!Members had a first-hand experienceof the antibiotic fermentation processin the labs of the Ayrshire plantbefore enjoying a networking lunch.Congratulations to GSK, celebrating40 years in Ayrshire this year!

Over 25 of our members joinedGlasgow and Edinburgh Chambermembers at 29 Royal ExchangeSquare, Glasgow for The ReactionChamber lunch, taking up a fantasticopportunity to widen business

contacts with over 120 delegates.The speed networking lunch, wasstructured in a way that maximisedinteraction with fellow businesspeople.

Proving popular, our Behind theScenes Tour and Lunch at the ArdaghGroup in Irvine was fully booked withover 40 businesses enjoying an eyeopening factory tour, presentationand networking lunch. The Irvinebased facility of the Ardagh Groupproduces and supplies glass bottlesfor the spirits industry. Delegatesfollowed the manufacturing processfrom start to finish. Thanks to Ardaghfor hosting.

The Chamber Training Academycontinues to grow, offeringinformative breakfast workshops inconjunction with our trainingpartners. Recent workshops haveincluded Social Media with Bread andButter Marketing, Presentation Skillsby Deva Training, Turbo Charge yourCommunication Skills by Alf HattonAssociates, Selling Skills by StimuliTraining Ltd and Reporting on Sage byEureka Solutions.


Events round up Events round up

ummerSBall

Saturday 8th June 2013Grand Marquee

Lochgreen House Hotel, Troon

For tickets or further information please contact our events team

T: 01292 288488E: [email protected]

Main Sponsor

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