Ayrshire Scotland Business News

2009-11-23T13:03:00.011Z

Dalmilling Primary School’s £3 million refurbishment completed

PUPILS, staff and members of the local community are benefiting from the completion of a £3 million refurbishment programme at Dalmilling Primary School in Ayr.

The extensive work, which was phased over a 4-year period, has transformed the school buildings with new external cladding, toilets, ceilings, floors, heating system, electrics, windows and ICT equipment. All classrooms were also redecorated and refurbished.

A significant part of the refurbishment project at Dalmilling School was carried out by Ayrshire-based building contractors William Skinner & Son, - project manager Jim McCurdy.

William Skinner & Son managing director Sandy Cunningham (pictured above) commented: “We value greatly the excellent working relationship that we have built up with South Ayrshire Council, and are delighted to have contributed significantly to this latest part of their schools refurbishment programme.

“We carry out work throughout the UK, but will always remain true to our roots here in Ayrshire”

A special evening was held at the school for invited guests, pupils, staff and parents, to celebrate the completion of the work. The entertainment, that was enjoyed by all, included several songs by the school choir, children’s thoughts, a pageant, ‘The Wee Malkies’ and ‘Reply to the Wee Malkies’.

Councillor Douglas Campbell (pictured above), who officially opened the newly refurbished school said: “Dalmilling Primary has been transformed beyond all recognition.

“All the staff at the school are very enthusiastic, and they ensured that the education of the pupils continued as normal during this extensive refurbishment, and created an atmosphere in which the pupils can learn and grow into happy, confident and knowledgeable young people.

“The changes at the school clearly demonstrate our commitment to education, and to upgrading the school estate to ensure our children enjoy a quality education in a quality environment. Since 2008, as part of the PPP project, schools have also been completed at Monkton, Alloway, Barassie, Belmont and Prestwick with a new annexe completed at Kyle Academy.

Bill Milligan, head teacher of the school said: “Dalmilling Primary will celebrate its 50th birthday in April 2010, and the complete refurbishment of the building ensures that the school is more than fit to see the community through another half century and beyond.

“We are very proud of our past traditions and service to the community, and are keen to build on that sure foundation as Dalmilling Primary seeks to respond to the many challenges of the future. The opportunities afforded by a building now fit for the 21st century education are many, and these opportunities will not be lost as we work to provide an education that strives for excellence.”

More images available on Flickr CLICK HERE

South Ayrshire Council - Working to establish South Ayrshire as the most dynamic, inclusive and sustainable community in Scotland.

Contact William Skinner & Son:

Sandy Cunningham
Managing Director
William Skinner & Son
Cunningham House
Highfield
St Quivox
Ayr KA6 5HQ
Ayrshire, Scotland

Tel: 0845 051 9060
Fax: 01292 671133
E-mail: scunningham@williamskinner.co.uk
Website: www.williamskinner.co.uk

LINKS:

PR-Inside allmediascotland

* * *

There are currently 619 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click the magnifying glass symbol.

* * *

2009-11-21T13:20:00.009Z

CKD Galbraith offer Edwardian villa with Loch views on Arran

CKD Galbraith and Arran Estate Agents are marketing a most impressive and well appointed Edwardian House enjoying a superb waterside setting, lying in the heart of Lochranza on the North Eastern coast of the Isle of Arran.

[NOTE: A full selection of photographs of Benvaren and its surrounds is available on Flickr. To view CLICK HERE.]

Benvaren is a superb family residence dating back to 1911. With delightful gardens, the villa has superb views set amid spectacular scenery. The accommodation includes 4 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, kitchen (pictured below), utility rooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 shower rooms. The beautiful wood panelling in the Reception Hall, together with feature fireplaces, cornicing and picture rails all show a style typical of Edwardian Houses.

A former laundry and toilet, together with former maid’s room have Planning Consent to convert to a one bedroom annexe.

The mature and well kept gardens, which are a particular feature of the property, provide a wonderful backdrop slopping gently down towards the shore of the loch.

The village of Lochranza is truly stunning, lying snuggled in a sheltered valley along the edge of the loch, against an imposing backdrop of the surrounding hills. The nearby 17th century ruins of Lochranza Castle were once a royal hunting lodge and an earlier castle on the same site is believed to be where Robert Bruce stayed on his arrival from Ireland in 1306.

Often referred to as 'Scotland in Miniature', the Isle of Arran has the best of all the many characteristics of Scotland. From a rugged and mountainous interior in the north, green rolling hills and woodland in the south, the beautiful coastline with pretty villages and sandy bays benefits from the warm climate of The Gulf Stream. A ferry service from Lochranza provides a Summer link to the Kintyre peninsula, known as Arran’s “back door”, whilst a further regular service to the mainland operates from nearby Brodick.

Benvaren is probably one of the “hidden gems” of Lochranza and it is rare for such a property to come on the market.

Offers Over £485,000 are being sought for Benvaren. For further information please contact the selling agents.

CKD Galbraith
7 Killoch Place
Ayr KA7 2EA
Ayrshire, Scotland

Contact: R A Cherry BSc MRICS
Tel: 01292 268181
Fax: 01292 292300
E-mail: bob.cherry@ckdgalbraith.co.uk
Web: www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

CKD Galbraith is one of Scotland’s leading independent property consultancies, with expertise across a broad spectrum of property-related services.

CKD Galbraith operates from 12 offices across Scotland, bringing the firm’s clients a wealth of experience in:

* Residential property sales and lets
* Commercial property sales and management
* Estate, farm and forestry sales and purchases
* Estates, farming and land management
* Building surveying
* Forestry
* Sporting holidays
* Holiday homes

* * *

There are currently 618 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click the magnifying glass symbol.

* * *

2009-11-16T21:27:00.006Z

‘Thistle do’ nicely for tourism and golf in South Ayrshire

THE Senior Open Golf Championship, held at Troon in 2008 has been recognised by Event Scotland, after reaching the finals of the International Events and Festivals category of their 2009 Scottish Thistle Awards.

[Pictured: Tom Watson, runner up at the British Open Championship at Turnberry in 2009, and British Seniors Champion in 2007, 2005 and 2003.]

As one of the key golf events on The European Senior Tour, the Championship was contested over the links course at Royal Troon Golf Club, and attracted over 41,000 spectators and participants from 34 countries across the world.

Tours were arranged for key representatives to visit local attractions such as Burns Cottage, Culzean Castle and whisky tasting at Turnberry.

Another successful and new initiative was the introduction of a ‘Family Day’ with a range of special activities for children, which included clubgolf – an initiative linked to promoting junior golfing excellence.

A total of 36 tourism related businesses and events from all over Scotland were honoured at the awards, which are possibly the most coveted accolades in the industry, celebrating quality and innovation across a range of categories.

Provost Winifred Sloan said: “For the Seniors Open to reach the final of the Scottish Thistle Awards is a direct reflection of the hard work and commitment of all those involved in bringing the Championship to South Ayrshire.

“The event ranks as one of the biggest in the golfing calendar, and we were fully geared up to promote South Ayrshire as a vibrant and welcoming tourist destination - a message we were proud to repeat for the 2009 British Open Golf Championship held at Turnberry in this, the Scottish Year of Homecoming.

“Tourism and the economic benefits it brings is a key driver in South Ayrshire’s Council’s aim to establish this area as the most dynamic, inclusive and sustainable community in Scotland.

“On behalf of the Council, I extend my warmest congratulations to all those involved in ensuring the success of the Seniors Open, and their recognition at national level is richly deserved”.

Well over 200 entries were received for this year’s Scottish Thistle Awards. Each category has its own independent panel of judges, who work to a strict scoring system to determine the shortlist of entrants, finalists and eventual winners.

Now in their 18th year, the Event Scotland Thistle Awards are open to all businesses operating in Scotland’s tourism industry.

Bringing together organisations from every sector of tourism in Scotland, the Awards ceremony is staged annually at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. The Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of the finalists who are exemplars in their field and whose hard work and innovation has been commended by panels of their peers.

In particular the awards seek to recognise and reward:

* Excellence in Scotland’s tourism industry in all areas and at all levels.

* Quality service and products which reflect all that is great in Scotland’s world-reputed and foremost industry.

* Professionalism, innovation and creative thinking within the industry.

South Ayrshire Council: “Working to establish South Ayrshire as the most dynamic, inclusive and sustainable community in Scotland.”

* * *

There are currently 617 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-11-13T21:22:00.011Z

CKD Galbraith offer superior Ayrshire country house for sale

THE Ayr office of independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith is offering for sale a well appointed country house in Ayrshire with attractive gardens and a large enclosed paddock.

[CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO VIEW / DOWNLOAD FULL-SIZE VERSION.]

Carston House (pictured above) is a superb refurbished and extended country house with grazing land in a secluded and attractive location lying close to the village of Drongan, approximately 8 miles from Ayr.

The property benefits from excellent views over the surrounding countryside and is in a convenient location for easy access to Ayr, Glasgow and beyond via the newly improved A77 and M77.

From Carston House, Glasgow city centre can be reached in approximately 50 minutes. In addition, there is a regular train service from Ayr to Glasgow, and Glasgow Prestwick Airport is only about a 20 minute drive away, offering regular domestic and international flights.

Carston House, which is believed to have originally been constructed around 1850, offers substantial family accommodation over two storeys comprising a large well-appointed kitchen/dining room, lounge, utility room, shower room, office/bedroom 5, bedroom 4 and impressive hall on the ground floor, and a spacious upper hall, 3 bedrooms and family bathroom on the first floor.

The property is in excellent order throughout and has been finished to an exceptionally high standard. A new kitchen (pictured above) has been installed in the last year. The property benefits from oil fired central heating and double glazing.

Adjacent to the house is a large garage, a small outhouse with fenced storage area, and a substantial glasshouse which extends to approximately 100’ x 40’. The grazing land extends to approximately 1.5 acres and sits adjacent to the house.

The garden is an excellent feature of the property with a fully enclosed and secluded landscaped sun trap garden to the rear of the property with a lawn, gravelled area, hedges and shrubs, gate with access to the paddock, and an extensive lawn to the front of the house which has been planted with a range of young trees, shrubs and hedges.

There is also a tarred drive and extensive gravelled sweep with spacious parking area for several cars. In addition, and adjacent to the house, there is a large glasshouse (approximately 100’ x 40’) with power, light and water and an uncovered gravelled working area. The glasshouse is of galvanised aluminium construction with dwarf block walls and hardcore floor.

There is also a detached garage (19’5” x 18’7”) and a useful small brick outhouse with slate roof (12’7” x 9’7”).

There is a paddock adjacent to the property of approximately 1.5 acres.

Carston House is a charming country house offering substantial family accommodation in a secluded yet highly accessible location.

CONTACT:

R A Cherry BSc MRICS
CKD Galbraith
Ayr Office
7 Killoch Place
Ayr KA7 2EA

Tel: 01292 268181
Fax: 01292 292300
E-mail: bob.cherry@ckdgalbraith.co.uk
Web: www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

[Pictured: Bob Cherry, Director of independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith. Contact details above.]

LINK:

allmediascotland

* * *

There are currently 616 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-11-13T12:04:00.005Z

Scottish housing market is on the rise

THE worst of the housing market downturn is now past, with some areas of Scotland showing price increases, according to the latest Scottish House Price Monitor from Lloyds TSB Scotland.

[Pictured: Lloyds Banking Group Scotland chief economist Professor Donald MacRae.]

In the three months to 31 October 2009, the quarterly price index for the average domestic property in Scotland rose 0.7 per cent on the previous quarter. Following seasonal and mix adjusting, the average Scottish house price rose slightly from £152,561 to £153,605.

On an annual basis, Scottish house prices have fallen by 7.5 per cent. However, prices are now beginning to increase once more.

The volume of house purchase transactions is down 32 per cent on the levels recorded for the same period last year. The number of transactions reached its lowest point in May 2009 but has since been on an increasing trend with the number of transactions in October 33 per cent more than in May. Similarly, average house prices reached their lowest point in March, but have increased in four of the last seven months, providing further signs of a slight recovery in the Scottish housing market.

All areas continue to report an annual fall in prices ranging from -0.7 per cent in the South East (excluding Edinburgh) to -9.8 per cent in Dundee. Price movements in the latest quarter are particularly volatile with larger swings than normally experienced over the last ten years.

Lloyds Banking Group Scotland chief economist Professor Donald MacRae said: “Consumer confidence has recovered from the lows of one year ago, and is now back in positive territory, but is still below the levels of pre-credit crunch. The cost of borrowing has reduced for many mortgage holders while there is now a perceptible increase in the level of mortgage availability including first time buyers. The Scottish housing market is beginning to recover.”

* * *

There are currently 615 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-11-10T17:43:00.004Z

Philip Mancini is new UK ice cream champion

WHEN it comes to making ice cream, Philip Mancini takes some licking - and to prove it he has been officially crowned the ice cream king of Great Britain.

Philip swept the board at the national ice cream competition run by the Ice Cream Alliance, collecting five trophies including two champion of champions trophies.

[Pictured: Philip Mancini receives his awards from Zelica Carr, chief executive officer of the Ice Cream Alliance.]

The Mancini family has been making ice creams for 96 years, and Philip used the skills handed down through three generations to melt the judge’s hearts.

“To make great ice cream you need passion and dedication to ensure your product is so much better than anyone else’s,” said Philip, whose family business has been based at the Royal Café, New Road , Ayr since 1925.

“To me, ice cream should have a silky soft feel that melts in the mouth with flavours that light up your taste buds.

“We are always looking to try different ingredients and ideas to excite our customers. For example, we have just launched a new flavour called Blushing Bride which is made from smooth white chocolate ice cream and raspberry ripple puree.”

The Mancini ice cream business was started by Philip’s grandfather Antonio in 1913 and Philip is the third generation to run the business, and he is hoping his son Mark, who helped make the award winning chocolate ice cream, will become the fourth generation in the business.

Philip has worked in the business since he was a boy and when his father, Michael, retired in 1991 he took over the business with his sister Anna.

“We are very lucky to work in such a wonderful business. People love ice cream and no matter what the Scottish weather is doing people still want ice creams,” said Philip.

“We have customers who come from far and wide to sample our ice creams and why not - ice cream is the food of the gods!”

Philip’s haul included trophies for best artisan ice cream, best chocolate ice cream, best mango sorbet and a double champion of champions win.

He said: “We worked hard to get our entries perfect and I thought we may win one trophy but to get five is just incredible – I can’t believe it!”

Zelica Carr, chief executive officer of the Ice Cream Alliance, which runs the competition, said: “To win five trophies is a truly outstanding achievement by Philip and his family. They were up against extremely strong competition but their ice creams were exceptional.

“The ice cream industry continues to flourish and the quality and flavour is increasing every year. The industry is now worth more than £4 billion in the UK.”

The Ice Cream Alliance represents more than 750 businesses in Great Britain and Ireland involved in the manufacturing, retail and catering of ice cream and related products

The ICA has long established links with all Government bodies, particularly DEFRA and the Department of Health (DoH) and is continually involved in putting forward and supporting the views of its members.

Incorporated in 1944, and formerly known as The Ice Cream Association of Great Britain and Ireland, the ICA provides an ever-developing forum for suppliers, retailers, caterers and manufacturers of ice cream products.

LINKS:

www.mancinisicecream.co.uk

allmediascotland

* * *

There are currently 614 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-11-10T16:03:00.004Z

Double celebration as Julie wins ‘Best Travel Agent’ title

AYRSHIRE based travel agent Julie Muldoon is celebrating after Travel Counsellors was named the UK’s Best Travel Agent at the 23rd annual Guardian, Observer and Guardian Unlimited travel awards, as voted by its readers, regaining the title after winning the award for two consecutive years in 2006 and 2007.

This a double celebration for Julie, as this month she celebrates her 30 year career in travel, having worked in a number of high street travel agencies before joining Travel Counsellors four years ago.

“I love working in travel and can’t believe it has been 30 years since I started my career – the time has just flown by,” says Julie. “I joined Travel Counsellors because I wanted to provide my customers with a unique travel service, being available to them around the clock. This has obviously paid off as we have been given such a prestigious award as the UK’s Best Travel Agent. I am proud to work within an industry I love and within such an innovative, customer-focused company.”

Readers of the Guardian, Observer and Guardian Unlimited were asked to rate the quality of service they received on their holidays with Travel Counsellors scoring a highly impressive 99.7% overall in the category.

The awards took place in Bangkok, Thailand last month and were attended by over 100 travel industry professionals. Based on the longest running survey of its kind the questionnaires were completed by 19,248 Guardian, Observer and Guardian Unlimited readers, rating their experiences as excellent, good, fair or poor.

Travel Counsellors is one of the UK’s largest independent travel companies, with over 1,100 professional Travel Counsellors, working from home throughout the UK and overseas. Julie adds; “I would like to thank my customers who may have voted and helped us win this fantastic accolade. It is a public acknowledgement from my customers that the level of service I provide to them is a cut above the competition.”

The company, which now operates across seven countries and is the largest home-based travel company in the world, provides Julie with unrivalled support and award winning technology, enabling her to tailor-make travel arrangements for her customers at competitive prices. Plus because Julie works from home she is available to her customers at a time convenient to them, including evening and weekends. This unique level of personal service has also resulted in Travel Counsellors being one of the top scoring companies in the world when it comes to customer loyalty, with a world beating score of over 90% in its customer satisfaction survey.

David Speakman, Chairman and Founder of Travel Counsellors commented “Travel Counsellors attracts the cream of the industry, and this award reflects the unique level of personal service and exceptional travel advice that each and every one of our agents provides to their customers, and I would like to thank Julie, who has contributed to this success and our accolade as the UK’s Best Travel Agent.”

To speak to Julie about your travel requirements call 0845 058 7221, e-mail julie.muldoon@travelcounsellors.com or visit www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/julie.muldoon

LINK:

allmediascotland

* * *

There are currently 613 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-11-09T14:05:00.003Z

South Ayrshire Council launches affordable housing project

COUNCIL tenants, elderly and vulnerable residents in South Ayrshire may soon benefit from the first Council house building programme for more than 30 years.

[Pictured: Councillor Douglas Campbell, Portfolio Holder for Housing, with the newly agreed SHIP document.]

Agreed at a special meeting of South Ayrshire Council today, the proposed new Council houses form part of the Council’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan (SHIP) which aims to provide almost 500 additional houses for rent between 2010 and 2015, to be undertaken by the Council and local Housing Associations.

The plan will now be submitted to the Scottish Government, who provide the funding for social housing via the Affordable Housing Investment Programme.

If the Council’s full bid for funding is successful, a total of 68 new Council houses would be built in the North Ayr area.

In addition, building work is already scheduled for 61 new houses in South Ayrshire, in 2010/11 in conjunction with local housing associations, with a further 90 the following year.

Additional developments are also planned for Fisherton, Girvan, Ayr and Prestwick as part of the five year plan.

Commenting on the SHIP and the bid for additional money, Councillor Douglas Campbell, Portfolio Holder for Housing said: “The SHIP sets out how we intend to start increasing the availability of houses to rent across South Ayrshire.

“We know there is more be done to deliver the number of houses we need across the area. This needs to be balanced against the reality of what we can achieve in the present economic climate, given some of the financial constraints and pressures we face.

“In the course of the coming five years, we will continue to explore every opportunity to develop and build houses to rent for those most in need, but SHIP marks the first very positive step towards that goal.

“Moving on, I am particularly pleased that tenants, residents and landlords have all been involved and a South Ayrshire Registered Social Landlords’ Forum has been set up in order that we can further consult with members, listen to what they say and include this in the SHIP.

“We’re likely to know in December if our proposals to build the first new Council houses in this area for three decades will be successful, but the Council is already committed to improving and building on our existing stock of housing in order to meet increasing demand for houses to rent.

“Our strategy has taken into account the changing nature of this area and is forward looking in terms of how we can accommodate the needs of elderly, homeless and vulnerable people in this community and we will continue to do all we can to deliver on this.

“The SHIP is an important element in delivering the Council’s vision of making South Ayrshire the most dynamic, inclusive and sustainable community in Scotland”.

* * *

There are currently 612 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-11-08T12:49:00.002Z

Former nightclub with development potential in Ayr for sale

A former nightclub with development potential in Ayr is being offered for sale.

Located on Nile Court, a prominent town centre location adjacent to High Street, the property offers an attractive development opportunity. Formed over three levels within a sandstone property, the 4,600 sq ft former nightclub has been finished to a shell standard throughout with full fit out required. The building would lend itself to retail or office use subject to local authority consent.

A spokesperson for the selling agents commented: “Nile Court lies around 50 yards from High Street, Ayr’s prime retailing location. As such, the premises offer a rare opportunity to acquire substantial freehold premises in a busy town centre location.”

E-mail: AyrshireBusiness@aol.com

* * *

There are currently 611 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-11-07T14:11:00.004Z

Bar and restaurant in Ayr with development potential for sale

A fully fitted bar and restaurant with development potential is offered for sale in Ayr.

As its name suggests, The Waterside, located on the town’s South Harbour Street, occupies a prominent riverside location. The detached single storey property of stone construction comprises a bar, restaurant, beer garden and children’s play area, kitchen with walk-in chill, cellar and private parking.

A spokesperson for the selling agents commented “This attractive 3,145 sq ft property benefits from a high quality fit out, and sits within a site extending to 0.25 acres. We consider it is likely to appeal to a broad range of licensed trade operators, and also offers potential for alternative use.”

Whilst the property holds a current premises license under the terms of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, there is also scope for residential, office or retail use subject to local authority consent.

E-mail: AyrshireBusiness@aol.com

* * *

There are currently 610 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-11-06T18:52:00.003Z

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill visits Ayrshire

THE Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill MSP paid an inaugural visit to the new Ayrshire Civil Contingencies Team offices, located in Robertson Road at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport.

[Pictured: Cabinet Secretary for Justice Kenny MacAskill and South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan are pictured holding the plaque that the Cabinet Secretary unveiled during his inaugural visit to the new offices of the Ayrshire Civil Contingencies Team, located at Glasgow Prestwick International Airport, also pictured are representatives from North and East Ayrshire Council along with representatives from the agencies the team work with.]

Employees from North, South and East Ayrshire Councils, who previously worked in the Emergency Planning sections of their respective Councils, have now been formed into one Ayrshire Civil Contingencies Team. The Team was formed following discussions between the three councils about the benefits of merging this service. A Steering Group was formed to oversee the transition and future development of the service.

Since December 2008 the employees have been working together. Funding contributed by the Scottish Government enabled members of the Team to relocate, refurbish their office accommodation to meet their specialised needs and to update their IT capability.

After his inaugural visit, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill MSP said: “Working together with local authorities, law enforcement agencies and other organisations, we are committed to enabling our communities to withstand emergencies of all shapes and sizes where these cannot be prevented. We must use resources flexibly and pragmatically, and promote resilience across the public, private and voluntary sectors.

“The Scottish Government was happy to assist with the start-up costs for the Joint Ayrshire Civil Contingencies Team. This new service will ensure strategic priorities in Ayrshire can be identified together and decisions taken jointly about how the vital civil contingencies specialists are deployed.

“There has been a great deal of detailed work involved in creating this new service which will enable more effective multi-agency working and help the three Ayrshire Councils work together in preparing how they respond to any emergency incident in or affecting their council areas.”

The Team address all aspects of civil contingencies planning, which is governed by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Under this Act local authorities have been classed as a ‘Catergory 1 Responder’, giving the Council the same powers and duties as the emergency services. Each council has a statutory duty to respond to emergencies, their main role being to care for uninjured people who have been affected by an emergency incident, to assist and support the emergency services and to lead the recovery process.

The aim of the Team is to ensure that the Ayrshire Councils provide a high quality and effective emergency planning service, by working to wherever possible prevent emergencies taking place. If an emergency situation does occur, the Team will make sure that all Ayrshire Councils have plans and arrangements in place to respond to and counteract the effects of any emergencies that do occur.

The Provosts, Leaders, Chief Executives and members of the Steering Committee from North, South and East Ayrshire Council were present were representatives from Scottish Resilience Civil Contingencies Unit, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Scottish Ambulance Service, Maritime Coastguard Agency, Glasgow Prestwick Airport and Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.

Everyone was welcomed to the event by South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan who said: “Communities across Ayrshire are diverse, by having one highly skilled Ayrshire Team we know that we are prepared for whatever emergencies may face us in the future. The Team are involved in a range of ongoing training programmes and exercises so that they maintain their skills. The offices have been refurbished to meet their requirements so that they can help prevent emergencies arising and also to deal with them when they occur.”

North Ayrshire Provost Robert Rae said: “I am very pleased that the Ayrshire Civil Contingencies Team is now established. Thanks are due to all the staff who have brought about this successful merging. I welcome and support any initiative that means improved services to the public and prevents duplication of effort. The new Ayrshire Civil Contingencies Team does this.”

East Ayrshire Council Provost Stephanie Young said: “It is good to know that in the event of any contingency, we will be well prepared in Ayrshire. No one can predict what might happen in the future, but having this trained and capable team on hand gives us a measure of security. It is essential that East, North and South Ayrshire work together, and I am delighted to be present at the opening of this new base.”

* * *

There are currently 609 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-11-05T13:35:00.008Z

Elite Ayrshire Business Circle to meet at Turnberry Hotel

THE next meeting of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle will be held at 8.30am on Thursday 26 November.

It will be hosted by the Circle’s latest new member, Turnberry, A Luxury Collection Resort, Scotland.

Director of Sales and Marketing Stephen Walker and his team will be giving a presentation about The Luxury Collection, a glittering ensemble of more than 70 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts. A complimentary buffet breakfast will be provided, and Turnberry have promised the best pastries and bacon butties in the land.

To mark the occasion, all members attending this meeting will be entered into a prize draw, and two lucky winners will each receive a complimentary two-ball game of golf on the world-famous Ailsa Course at Turnberry. So each winner can enjoy a round of golf themselves, and invite a business colleague or guest of their own choosing. Games must be played by 31 March 2010.

And the meeting will also include the opportunity of taking a guided tour following the recent renovation of the Turnberry Resort.

Members, guests and anyone interested in joining the Circle will be most welcome.

Please e-mail famepublicity@aol.com if you will be able to attend, and bring a business card with you to participate in the Prize Draw.

Murdoch MacDonald
Elite Ayrshire Business Circle
Registered Office
Dalblair House
46 Dalblair Road
Ayr KA7 1UQ
Ayrshire, Scotland

Telephone: 01292 281498
Mobile: 07833 667322

THE ELITE AYRSHIRE BUSINESS CIRCLE

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle is an association founded in 2007 by some of the top companies in Ayrshire.

Its purpose is to publicise its members, and to celebrate and promote the rich diversity of industry, commerce and business services available within the county boundaries of Ayrshire.

[Norman Geddes (left), senior partner at Frazer Coogans Solicitors, is the executive chairman of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, and Murdoch MacDonald (right), proprietor of PR consultancy Fame Publicity Services is managing director of the Circle.]

Members include the Clydesdale Bank, Ayr Racecourse, Western House Hotel and South Ayrshire Council. and member company activities include broadcasting, building and construction, architectural practice, estate agency and land management, chartered accountancy, insurance broking, legal services, golf club management, marketing services and brand creation, web design and public relations consultancy.

For further information about The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and to apply for membership, e-mail eliteayrshire@gmail.com

Website: www.eliteayrshire.com

LINK:

PR-Inside allmediascotland

* * *

2009-10-30T21:19:00.010Z

Creative marketing agency Paligap
launches luxury chocolate range

AYRSHIRE-based creative marketing agency Paligap has just launched the “Chocolati” brand of fine luxury chocolates on behalf of clients Renaldo’s.

[Pictured: Paligap marketing manager Nick Lambert (centre) celebrates the launch of Chocolati with Renaldo’s proprietors husband and wife team Linda Galli (left) and Silvio Galli (right).]

Renaldo’s, who have sold luxury hand-made chocolates from their shop in Ayr for years, approached Paligap in August with the intention of taking the chocolates to a wider audience via the Internet.

After a few consultations and some research, Paligap proposed that the chocolates should have their own brand as opposed to selling them under the Renaldo’s brand, and that the best route to market would be direct mail, ensuring a targeted and specific audience.

Using socio-economic profiling, Paligap determined who was most likely to buy the chocolates, where to find these people, and what the chocolates should be called.

The name decided on was “Chocolati”, a sort of merge of Italian and English that just seemed to ring off the tongue and position the product correctly. Packaging was then designed to house the chocolates, and while that was being produced, a direct mail brochure was designed and the chocolates were photographed (none of them were returned to the client).

Paligap then developed a website for the brand that also takes orders, offering another channel to market, and Royal Mail Door to Door was chosen to distribute the mail order brochures to the designated addresses.

Paligap managing director Stephen Cosh commented: “This was a tight and concise start-up, direct mail and e-commerce campaign for a new brand. It was all researched, designed and delivered within two months, resulting in a happy client with another arm to their business.”

Visit Chocolati online at www.chocolati.co.uk

Paligap
Apex House
1 Carrick Road
Ayr KA7 2RA
Ayrshire, Scotland

Contact: Stephen Cosh, Managing Director
Tel: 01292 263777
Fax: 01292 285334
E-mail: stephen@paligap.com
Web: www.paligap.com

LINKS:

allmediascotland The Drum PR-Inside OpenPress PR-GB LIVE-PR

* * *

There are currently 607 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-28T19:45:00.004Z

Ayrshire secures hundreds of jobs

HUNDREDS of Ayrshire jobs have been secured or created with the help of almost £10 million of Scottish Government support, it was announced today.

[CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO VIEW/DOWNLOAD FULL-SIZE VERSION.]

Investment projects by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Irvine and Prestwick based Aerospace firms Slingsby and Spirit have been awarded £9.8 million in Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) funding, training support and R&D grants, aimed at safeguarding 486 jobs, creating 45 new posts, and delivering a combined £54 million of investment into the Ayrshire economy.

First Minister Alex Salmond visited the Ayrshire sites of GSK, Slingsby and Spirit today where he met staff whose futures have been secured with the help of the RSA funding.

GSK manufactures pharmaceuticals, Spirit specialises in wing components for aircraft including the Airbus A380, and Slingsby manufactures composite products for aerospace and defence industries.

First Minister Alex Salmond said: “The Scottish Government recognises the real challenges that individuals, families and businesses face in the current economic climate, and that is why we are working hard to strengthen the economy and to increase employment opportunities.

“We are using every tool at our disposal to stimulate Scotland’s economy, including nearly £10 million in various forms of government support to help secure and create 531 jobs in Ayrshire and to attract £54 million of private investment to the area.

“I am delighted that GSK, Slingsby and Spirit have demonstrated their confidence in Scotland’s economy, and the skills and experience of the local workforce, with their plans for significant investment in the Ayrshire area.

“RSA and other grants help to attract investment into our communities, create new opportunities for employment and support much needed jobs across the country - all of which are vital to increase growth and ensure Scotland enjoys a strong economic recovery.”

GSK Irvine site director Alan Catterall said: “We are delighted to welcome Scotland’s First Minister to our factory as part of his Ayrshire visit. The factory is investing £31 million over the next three years to secure a robust future. This investment is supported by the £4.6 million RSA grant from the Scottish Government. This partnership will secure 330 highly skilled jobs in the production of antibiotics in Scotland. A training grant of £275,000 from the Scottish Government will provide for additional skills enhancement for the GSK staff on site.”

Scott McLarty, operations and HR director for Spirit AeroSystems (Europe) Limited said: “Opening our new R&D facility in Scotland is an important part of ensuring that Spirit maintains and grows its critical role in the design, development and manufacture of aircraft wing structures.

“We intend to remain at the leading edge of this technology and the new centre here at Prestwick underlines our commitment to that goal.”

Managing director of Slingsby, Steven Boyd, said: “We took the decision to expand at Prestwick not only to tap into the potential market, but also to benefit from the excellent skills base that exists north of the border. We have not been disappointed. I am delighted with the progress in the business to date, and look forward to a bright future based on our ability to innovate and provide cost-effective solutions for customers in the aerospace, defence, marine, energy and other markets.”

Lena Wilson, chief operating officer of Scottish Enterprise and CEO of Scottish Development International, said: “This investment in the Ayrshire economy is excellent news and the decision by GSK, Slingsby and Spirit to continue to invest here underlines Scotland’s position as a first-class place to do business. Each of these companies are excellent examples of forward thinking, ambitious and innovative businesses who set their sights high and contribute significantly to the Scottish economy.”

GSK Irvine will receive a RSA grant of £4.6 million and £275,000 Training Support that will safeguard 330 jobs and secure £31 million of investment to the site.

Slingsby will receive £249,000 in RSA and £348,312 in training assistance which will secure £1,247,000 investment into the site and help to create 28 jobs.

Support to Spirirt of £4,300,000 for various projects is aimed at securing total investment of over £21 million into the site and will help to safeguard 156 jobs and create 17 jobs, as well as keeping the company at the cutting edge of technology.

In the last quarter (July to September), RSA funding offers have been accepted by 32 businesses, linked with overall planned capital expenditure of more than £70 million and the planned creation and safeguarding almost 2,500 jobs across Scotland.

LINKS:

Spirit Aerosystems

GlaxoSmithKline

Slingsby Advanced Composites

* * *

There are currently 606 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-28T13:31:00.010Z

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks make
2-year £10 billion lending pledge

National Australia Bank Group, owner of the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, today released full year results for its UK Region’s operations for the 12 months to 30 September 2009. Unless otherwise stated, figures are comparisons with the 12 months to 30 September 2008.

Highlights are:

Financial Performance

• Underlying profit up 2% to £529 million
• £108 million pre-tax profit (down from £343m)
• Retail deposits and longer term funding cover 101% of lending
• Strong liquidity with liquid assets of £8.7 billion – three-fold increase in two years

Customer Support

• £10 billion of new business and mortgage lending pledged over next two years
• £4.1 billion of new business and mortgage lending in the past 12 months
• Average gross loans and acceptances increase 7% to £33.5 billion
• Average retail deposit volumes up 14% to £20.8 billion: almost four times industry average

Business Performance

• Provisions coverage ratio strengthens to 1.36%
• Mortgage balances three months in arrears less than a third of UK industry average
• Cost income ratio improves to 54.2% in the second half (from 57.7% at March 2009)
• Costs reduce by £48 million (7%)

Lynne Peacock, Chief Executive (pictured below) said: “We’ve kept our business safe, secure and in the best possible shape by maintaining a strong capital position and supporting our customers in these challenging times. We’re now moving up a gear.

“Today we are pledging £10 billion of new lending to support business and mortgage customers over the next two years. In achieving this, we will maintain our prudent credit and asset quality controls, just as we have in over £4 billion of new lending in the past year. Our pledge of additional funding is a considerable commitment for a business of our size. It will
help to ensure customers continue to have real choice in a consolidating market and are supported when they need it most.

“We will continue to avoid the excesses of the sector and will maintain our careful strategic approach. Independent of Government capital support, we remain profitable, well capitalised and with clear underlying strength. The fundamentals of our business are strong and we are well positioned to capitalise on future growth opportunities.”

Financial Performance

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have continued to deliver a strong and profitable performance in exceptionally poor market conditions. Pre-tax profits of £108 million were made in the year (compared to £343m in the year to September 2008). Underlying profit before tax was £529 million, up 2% (from £518m).

In a twelve month period which has seen the removal of several leading independent banking names from the high street and impairment charges totalling £67 billion reported by the leading UK banks, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have reinforced their reputations as strong conventional banks with sound management.

In order to build for the future, capital has been protected while the underlying business momentum has been maintained. The clear priorities of the management team continue to be to support customers and keep the Banks strong, safe and secure by further strengthening the balance sheet. This approach has ensured the Banks have continued to outperform peers across a number of key measures.

A consistently prudent and disciplined approach to liquidity and funding has been maintained since the management team outlined its current strategy back in 2005. At 30 September 2009, Clydesdale Bank held a portfolio of liquid assets totalling £8.7 billion – over three times the level held prior to the market disruption.

Reflecting the continued double-digit growth (14%) in customer deposits and increased longer term wholesale funding, retail deposits and longer term funding cover 101% of lending - a very strong position to be in.

While the business maintains a conservative risk position, capital ratios were further enhanced during the period. As previously reported, the Group invested £700 million of additional capital in December 2008, strengthening an already robust capital base. At 30 September 2009, the Tier I capital ratio was 8.2%.

Investment continued on systems and processes with total cash spend of £87 million in the year, comparable with the prior corresponding period (£89 million). Investment was directed into three broad categories - efficiency and simplification, compliance and revenue generation.

Supporting Customers

Open for business throughout the market turmoil, a clear and enduring commitment of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks is to support customers in this challenging environment.

During a period in which lenders have been criticised for low lending volumes, £4.1 billion of new lending was advanced in the year – including new business lending of £2 billion and new mortgage lending of £1.8 billion.

Average gross loans and acceptances increased by £2.1 billion (7%) to £33.5 billion. Business lending was up almost 10% and mortgage lending by over 4%.

In July 2009, the banks pledged £1 billion of new lending would be made available. This was advanced to customers in just 3 months.

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have now pledged to make £10 billion of new lending available to support business and mortgage customers over the next two years. This will be achieved while maintaining prudent credit and asset quality controls. Given the relative market size of Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks, this major financial commitment is a clear signal of the Banks’ commitment to playing its part in helping to get the UK moving again.

Innovative and attractive products backed by the strength and security of its brands have also continued to attract strong deposit in-flows. An extra £2.6 billion of deposits (up 14% to £20.8 billion) was attracted in the period – almost four times the UK industry average.

The strength of the brands is also evident in the net increase of over 50,000 customers (up 2%) in the year which was achieved as a result of continued retention and increased acquisition rates.

Relative to peers, customer satisfaction has continued to strengthen and the Banks’ reputation has also continued to rate highly among key external stakeholders.

During the boom years, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks steadfastly refused to change its lending policies. Taking a very conservative view of risk and lending on the basis of affordability, the Banks did not offer sub-prime or self-certified borrowing.

This prudent approach has helped the Banks to record one of the lowest repossession rates in the industry – just 84 in the 12 months since September 2008 compared to over 24,000 repossessions for the UK banking industry in the first six months of 2009.

For customers who have faced financial difficulties, Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have continued to build on their range of initiatives to support business and personal customers. Pro-active assistance provided by the Customer Support Unit, for example, has helped hundreds of retail customers in financial difficulty keep their homes. For small and mid corporate businesses facing financial difficulty, dedicated support is provided by the Business Recovery Unit. This ‘intensive care’ unit works to help businesses back to full health.

Business Performance

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks continue to take a prudent and disciplined approach to managing risk.

While reflecting the impact of the current external operating environment, asset quality remains robust. Driven by the economic conditions, increased bad and doubtful debt levels continue to compare favourably with industry averages and have been mitigated by the relationship-based model and considerable proactive management of asset impairment throughout the year.

As a prudent response to the continued market fragility, the bad and doubtful debt coverage ratio was strengthened to 1.36% (from 1.27% as at 31 March 2009). This, coupled with the significant deterioration in the economic environment, has resulted in an increased bad and doubtful debt charge of £246 million (to £421m). Relative to peers, performance remains strong.

Mortgage balances 90 days past due as a percentage of total mortgages are less than a third of the UK industry average (0.80% at 30 September 2009 compared to 2.43% for the industry as at 30 June 2009). Gross Impaired Assets as a percentage of Gross Loans and Acceptances at 1.75% compares favourably with UK peers.

Excellent cost control and ongoing business efficiency improvements delivered a £48 million (7%) improvement in the year - particularly impressive given the continued strategic investments. This strong and disciplined cost control also helped the cost income ratio improve to 54.2% in the half (from 57.7% at 31 March 2009) and 55.8% in the year (compared to 57.9%) – a significant achievement in the current market environment.

The business has undergone a significant transformation over the past five years and is in good shape. A consistent strategic management approach, coupled with the creditable level-headed approach of its employees at a time when others were distracted, has ensured the business is well placed to take advantage of future growth opportunities.

Adding an Ayrshire perspective, Clydesdale Bank Financial Solutions Centre managing partner Willie Mackie (pictured above) commented: “We are looking to expand our Commercial, Agricultural and Private Banking businesses in Ayrshire as part of the Bank's wider pledge of £10 billion to support business and mortgage lending over the next 2 years.

“We remain well positioned within the local marketplace to capitalise on future growth opportunities.”

Clydesdale Bank
Financial Solutions Centre
43 Alloway Street
Ayr KA7 1SP
Ayrshire, Scotland

Contact: Willie Mackie, Managing Partner
Tel: 01292 272072
Fax: 01292 280202
E-mail: william.mackie@eu.nabgroup.com
Web: www.cbonline.co.uk

LINK:

allmediascotland.com

* * *

There are currently 605 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-24T12:39:00.005Z

Irvine firm wins major regeneration
contracts in Saltcoats and Ardrossan

WORK is due to start later this month on iconic projects in the regeneration of Ardrossan and Saltcoats, Irvine Bay Regeneration Company announced this week.

Local contractors McLaughlin Construction of Irvine will go on site from 26 October at the former Jack Miller Hotel and Saltcoats station building.

The work is being undertaken after funding of almost £1.5 million was secured from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund.

The Government fund is making £60m available to projects across Scotland this year. The former Jack Miller Hotel building in Ardrossan (pictured above) will provide office accommodation for businesses in the area. Irvine Bay hopes to provide financial support, as part of a larger private investment, to refurbish the Harbour Bar and bring it back into use as a restaurant and bar to support the developments at the marina. In Saltcoats, the former station building (pictured below) will be redeveloped to provide retail space or office space and also a restaurant.

Baroness Margaret Ford, Chair of Irvine Bay said: “Bringing these buildings back to life will make a tremendous difference to the look and feel of both Ardrossan and Saltcoats and I am delighted that we have a local contractor in place and are starting work.”

McLaughlin Construction director Shaun McLaughlin said: “We are delighted to have been awarded these prestigious contracts within our local area and look forward to continuing our successful working relationship with Irvine Bay Regeneration Company. These contracts help us to maintain our locally based workforce together with our existing apprenticeship scheme in addition to improving the local environment for the benefit of all.”

Irvine Bay chief executive Patrick Wiggins added: “We are delighted to be able to move ahead with these projects so quickly. We will continue to press ahead with other developments in the town centres which will help to attract and grow business activity in the area. There is currently a shortage of good quality office accommodation around Irvine Bay and we are actively seeking to deal with that issue.”

Irvine Bay Regeneration Company

Irvine Bay Regeneration Company seeks to develop and revitalise the five towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Kilwinning and Irvine in North Ayrshire through a £100 million, ten year programme to boost the local economy and make the area an attractive and prosperous place to live, work and to visit. Partners are North Ayrshire Council, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government.

* * *

There are currently 604 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-23T21:17:00.005Z

New Prestwick Academy building officially opened by Lord Lang

THE new Prestwick Academy building was officially opened on Thursday 22 October 2009 by the Rt Hon Lord Ian Lang of Monkton (pictured below).

An important part of South Ayrshire Council’s £76 million investment programme in schools, the new Prestwick Academy, which cost approximately £26 million, was designed and built as an exciting and inspiring learning environment. It provides indoor and outdoor facilities that will serve the people of Prestwick and surrounding areas for many years to come.

[Lord and Lady Lang are pictured with the plaque that Lord Lang unveiled to mark the official opening of the new Prestwick Academy building.]

After officially opening the new school building Lord Lang said: “This is a top quality building, and I warmly congratulate the South Ayrshire Council and all those involved in its planning, design and construction. It takes its place within an impressive Council programme of school modernisation throughout the area.

“Quality begets quality. I hope that the new Prestwick Academy will inspire teachers and pupils alike for many years to come, to deliver and to benefit from a top quality education. I consider it a great privilege to be asked to participate in the official opening ceremony.”

The guests at the official opening ceremony enjoyed a full programme of entertainment provided by talented pupils that included a string orchestra, Scottish Highland Dancers, folk groups, fiddle orchestra, the school choir, Les Miserables Medley by the school show June 2010 cast.

Since 2008 schools have also been completed at Monkton, Alloway, Barassie and Belmont, with a new annexe completed at Kyle Academy.

Councillor Hywel Davies, the Council’s Lifelong Learning Portfolio Holder said: “The new school building is a fitting place for young people to learn, prosper and grow into active citizens. Our young people deserve the best possible schools that we can provide, and Prestwick Academy is certainly a place that pupils, staff and the communities it serves can be proud of.

“Schools are about more than buildings, the entertainment provided by the pupils at the opening ceremony clearly demonstrated the wide range of talents the pupils have. Pupils are the heart of any school, however, a modern learning environment provides them with a place to learn new skills, build on their existing knowledge and gain valuable life experience.”

Head teacher Gordon Bone said: “The new Prestwick Academy building is allowing us to develop further our approaches to learning and teaching. It provides us with a modern learning centre designed to equip our young people with the necessary skills, knowledge and positive attitudes to achieve their full potential and enable them to lead healthy, productive lives.

“By instilling adaptability, independence and a strong sense of positive values we will assist our young people to realise their ambitions and build a better future for all.”

LINK:

allmediascotland

* * *

There are currently 603 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-19T12:11:00.007Z

Building contractors William Skinner & Son
complete £550,000 Corby project

Building contractors William Skinner & Son, based in Ayrshire, Scotland and Cambridge, England, have completed a £550,000 contract for Land Securities PLC in Corby, Northamptonshire.

The work involved the stripping out of an existing unit to form a shell, and subsequent sub-division into a ground and first floor shell unit for HSBC Bank, formation of 2 flats on the upper floor, and contractor design of steel and glazed canopy and formation of three shell units for shops on the ground floor.

The works were carried out by Skinners project manager Jim McCurdy and site manager Ronnie Butcher.

Land Securities (Corby town centre owners) and Corby Borough Council are currently working with Urban Regeneration Company North Northants Development Company (NNDC) (formerly Catalyst Corby), the East Midlands Development Agency (EMDA), the Government Office for the East Midlands (GOEM), English Partnerships and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to regenerate Corby town centre as part of the masterplan for the whole town.

Land Securities is a FTSE 100 company and the largest Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in the UK on the basis of equity market capitalisation. It now owns and manages more than 2.7 million m2 of commercial property, from London offices to major shopping centres and out-of-town retail parks.

www.landsecurities.com

ABOUT WILLIAM SKINNER & SON

Building contractors William Skinner & Son’s Ayrshire and Cambridgeshire bases cover Scotland, South East and Eastern England with a range of activities centred on building refurbishment, mainly of retail stores and shopping centres. Joinery manufacture, metal fabrication, special finishes and terrazzo tiling are amongst the special skills offered.

William Skinner & Son are approved Sika Trocal single ply roofing membrane installers. Experienced and highly skilled operatives carry out a range of schemes from small repairs to major installations on very large buildings, and are trained to apply the Kemper roof repair system. Skinners frequently supply and fix ward decking systems in conjunction with roofing works.

The Company also offers contract maintenance and has recently diversified further into custom garden structures, notably treehouses, and solar thermal systems – for which it is now fully Microgeneration Certified.

Skinners’ recently introduced renewable energy survey service is already in demand, supporting its offer to install any kind of renewable energy system.

Founded in Ayrshire in 1964, Skinners made their first move down south into England six years ago. But the company’s recent expansion and diversification into new areas of business made it necessary the purchase of their own larger facilities comprising an 8,000 sq. ft yard, 1,900 sq. ft of office space, and a 1,620 sq. ft warehouse.

The new premises in Meldreth, near Cambridge, were officially opened in 2008 by Andrew Lansley, MP for South Cambridgeshire. Pictured above: William Skinner & Son chairman John Quinton (left) and managing director Sandy Cunningham (right) with Andrew Lansley MP (centre) at the official opening of Skinners' new Southern Division offices in Meldreth, Cambridgeshire.

William Skinner & Son managing director Sandy Cunningham (pictured above) said: “Our commitment at Cambridge is a measure of the importance to us of the market in London, the South East, Midlands and East Anglia.

"The Meldreth base provides high quality warehouse, workshop and office accommodation from which we are already developing our capacity and increasing our market penetration. It is capable of supporting several times its present level of activity.”

Further information:

Sandy Cunningham
Managing Director
William Skinner & Son
Cunningham House
Highfield
St Quivox
Ayr KA6 5HQ
Ayrshire, Scotland

Tel: 0845 051 9060
Fax: 01292 671133
E-mail: scunningham@williamskinner.co.uk
Website: www.williamskinner.co.uk

OR:

William Skinner & Son
Southern Office
College Farm Business Centre
North End
Meldreth
Cambridgeshire
SG8 6NT
England

Tel: 0845 051 9070
Fax: 01763 262916

LINKS:

PR-Inside OpenPress PR-GB

* * *

There are currently 602 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-17T12:47:00.005Z

Strictly Come Dancing reaches Ayr Town Hall!

BUILDING on the very successful afternoon Troon Tea Dances held at Troon Concert Hall, South Ayrshire Council recently held two ‘come and try’ events at Ayr Town Hall.

[Pictured: Provost Winifred Sloan along with Councillors Eddie Bulik, Douglas Campbell, Bill Grant, Elaine Little and Margaret Toner, all took to the floor at a packed Town Hall.]

Arranged to encourage people to come to the Town Hall, the Tea Dances ran at lunchtimes and proved extremely popular, even attracting several twinkle-toed councillors, including Provost Winifred Sloan, who said: “Ayr Town Hall is a wonderful venue, and lends itself to dancing extremely well.

“The refurbished interior, spacious floor and facilities are first-class, and it deserves to be recognised as a top entertainment venue in its own right."

Over 100 dancers took part during the first taster session, and 120 came along for the second.

Those who took part enjoyed an afternoon of dancing to the melodic sounds of the highly acclaimed keyboardist Alan McPike, whose tasteful arrangements and knowledge of all the classics brought the music to life with a ‘Big Band’ sound.

The taster sessions proved so popular that more may soon be organised – so put your dancing shoes on standby and watch this space!

* * *

There are currently 601 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-16T13:28:00.006Z

Ayr Racecourse Christmas party nights to hit all time high

CHRISTMAS Party Nights at Ayr Racecourse are set to break all records this year, topping last year’s total of 18,000 revellers.

The fun starts on Friday 27 November, and the venues are the Ayrshire Suite, Princess Royal Suite and Western House Hotel.

There are still a few places left on the following nights – Friday 27 November, Thursday 3 December, Sunday 6 December, Thursday 10 December, Sunday 13 December, Wednesday 16 December, Thursday 17 December, Sunday 20 December, Monday 21 December, Tuesday 22 December and Wednesday 23 December.

Ayr Racecourse general manager Geoff Green (pictured above) commented: “We have already sold out on all Fridays and Saturdays in December, and other nights are filling up fast.

“Our reputation for providing great Christmas nights out goes before us, and as a result we should smash last year’s figures. It is possible we could hit the 20,000 mark, which would be fantastic.

“We are now the number one venue for Christmas Party Nights in Scotland.”

For more information on Christmas Party Nights at Ayr Racecourse contact Marion Patterson on mpatterson@ayr-racecourse.co.uk or by calling 0870-555510.

LINKS:

allmediascotland PR-Inside free-press-release PR-GB

* * *

There are currently 600 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-15T18:36:00.005Z

Scotland’s businesses better prepared for recovery than rest of UK

Scotland’s businesses, although reeling from the effects of recession, are more prepared to face a return to economic growth than their counterparts across the rest of the UK, according to a new study from Bank of Scotland.

[Entrepreneur and Dragons' Den judge James Caan: “Those businesses that have adapted, diversified and are prepared for the upturn are well placed to prosper and grow as the economy recovers.”]

The research reveals that a quarter of Scotland’s firms (26 per cent) have put a plan in place to help them grow, more than any other region across the UK. Scotland’s firms have also been taking other positive steps to ready themselves for a recovery. Four in ten (42%) have made cutbacks to get themselves in shape, and a third (32 per cent) believe that these have improved their business processes.

In a sign that many businesses believe a recovery is on the horizon, more than half (58%) of those who have taken action have done so within the past few months. Those businesses that have started to prepare for recovery are also clear about the importance of taking action. Three-quarters (74 per cent) say they need to act now in order to benefit, while two-fifths (41 per cent) say they don’t want to lose out when the recovery arrives.

However, despite widespread recognition (40 per cent) that taking action to prepare for the upturn is essential for long term survival, one in six (18%) firms have still not taken any such steps. More worryingly, of those that have not taken any steps, just under half (42 per cent) don’t believe they need to do anything to ensure their business is ready to benefit as the recovery starts to gain momentum. One in six (17 per cent) admitted that they had not even thought about the steps they might take.

Despite this laissez-faire attitude on the part of the few, Scotland’s businesses are conscious of several business risks which might leave them unable to exploit the upturn.

More than half (55 per cent) believe their business will suffer from low cash resources, while a fifth (21 per cent) believe depleted capital will be an issue. More than third (37 per cent) fear they will lack the capacity to meet demand for their products and services, while just over one in eight (13 per cent) are concerned about potential management or strategy gaps.

Donald Kerr, Head of Commercial Banking for Scotland said: “Recession has weighed heavily on Scotland’s businesses, and it is easy to see why talk of a recovery might bring welcome relief. But in the same way that we have encouraged firms to take action to survive the downturn, they will also need to prepare for the return to growth.

“The shape and scale of any recovery is still uncertain, but one thing is clear – those businesses already looking towards the upturn and planning how to make the most of it, are the ones which will thrive. And those firms that sleepwalk towards recovery risk not just losing out, but falling into the overtrading trap.”

Entrepreneur and Dragons' Den judge James Caan (pictured above) said: “Those businesses that have adapted, diversified and are prepared for the upturn are well placed to prosper and grow as the economy recovers. Businesses without a plan seldom go far, and that’s especially true in times like these. It’s important that companies act now to plot how they’ll approach the opportunities that exist in the prevailing economic climate.”

* * *

There are currently 599 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-14T10:07:00.011Z

MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers
achieve Chartered Broker status

MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers, based in Ayr, has become the 6th insurance broker in Scotland to achieve Chartered Broker status.

The status, awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute, recognises general insurance brokers for their professionalism and commitment to qualifications in the insurance sector.

[Pictured: British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) chief executive Eric Galbraith presenting the certificate to MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers (MCIB) managing director Ian Warnock marking MCIB‘s achievement of Chartered Broker status. Left to right: MCIB director Karen Fitzgerald, chairman Alan MacKay, Ian Warnock, MCIB director David MacKay, and Eric Galbraith.]

The status was acknowledged by industry leader Eric Galbraith, chief executive of the British Insurance Brokers’ Association, who visited MacKay’s to welcome their achievement and dedication to professionalism and training.

MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers managing director Ian Warnock said: “This is a great achievement. We have put a huge amount of dedication and investment into training to benefit both our staff and customers, and this has really contributed to our professional service.”

BIBA chief executive Eric Galbraith added: “I am delighted that MacKay’s have chosen to recognize the importance of professional qualifications by achieving chartered status.”

About BIBA

The British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) is the UK’s leading general insurance organisation representing the interests of insurance brokers, intermediaries and their customers.

BIBA membership includes 1700 regulated firms. Insurance brokers and intermediaries distribute nearly two-thirds of all UK general insurance. In 2007, insurance brokers and intermediaries generated £1.5 billion of invisible earnings, and they introduce £22 billion of premium income into London’s insurance market each year.

BIBA is the voice of the industry, advising members, the regulators, the Government, consumer bodies and other stakeholders on key insurance issues. BIBA provides unique schemes and facilities, technical advice, guidance on regulation and business support and is helping to raise, and maintain, industry standards. BIBA works closely with the Chartered Insurance Institute to provide training to those working in the industry and actively participates in helping the industry and its customers deal with some of the major issues of the day.

BIBA members provide professional advice to businesses and consumers, playing a key role in identification, measurement, management, control and transfer of risk. They negotiate appropriate insurance protection tailored to individual needs and operate to a very high standard of customer service with the aim of ensuring peace of mind, security, financial protection and the professional advice required.

To find your nearest BIBA broker visit the ‘Find A Broker' section of the BIBA website, www.biba.org.uk or call BIBA’s consumer helpline on 0870 950 1790

About MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers (MCIB)

MCIB is a leading corporate insurance broker based in Ayrshire. MCIB was established in 1989 and has grown to become one of the top 10 leading independent brokers in Scotland. The aim is to look after their clients' insurance requirements, and design a programme that protects their assets revenues and liabilities.

MCIB prides itself on customer service, with every client having a key personal contact to look after their insurance programme.

MCIB strives to be at the forefront of the insurance broking sector, and believes that the commitment shown in achieving Chartered Status is reflective of how the business is run.

www.mackaycorporate-brokers.com

MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers are founder members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Enquiries:

MacKay Corporate Insurance Brokers
38 Miller Road
Ayr KA7 2AY
Ayrshire, Scotland

Contact: David MacKay
Tel: 01292 611028
Fax: 01292 611179
E-mail: d.mackay@mackaycorporate-brokers.com
Web: www.mackaycorporate-brokers.com

LINKS:

OpenPress Pr-Inside

* * *

There are currently 598 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-13T20:46:00.003Z

Scottish companies should be Twittering more

TOO many Scottish companies are wasting a golden opportunity to vastly increase their visibility on the Internet because they are not making full use of social and business networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

That’s according to Murdoch MacDonald, managing director of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and proprietor of PR consultancy Fame Publicity Services.

He says: “There is now a considerable number of sites that can either be used for trivial purposes like exchanging gossip and holiday photographs, or alternatively taken practical advantage of in order to increase market awareness of a company’s products and services.

“In order to best survive the remainder of the current recession and take advantage of the coming economic recovery, Scottish companies need to make sure that future potential customers can find them more quickly and easily on the Internet, and that they are more prominently visible than any of their competitors.

“They should ignore the trivial aspects of networking sites, and make it their business to find out how proper use of them as part of an integrated Internet PR campaign can make a real, positive and tangible difference to their future company performance.”

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle offers its members a groundbreaking and cutting edge Internet PR and publicity service, including use of Twitter and Facebook, not to mention business networking sites and Internet newswire sites, as part of their subscription package.

www.eliteayrshire.com

www.famepublicity.co.uk

* * *

There are currently 597 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-13T10:31:00.002Z

Libertine launch set to enliven Ayr’s nightlife

THE launch this month of Libertine, a new bar and casual dining venue on Ayr’s River Street, is set to enliven Ayr’s nightlife with a string of established and emerging music artists booked to appear over the next few months alongside the start of a bi-weekly Songwriters Club on 19 November and a monthly Stand Up Poets night on 26 November.

With a distinctive bohemian and edgy vibe, Libertine’s upstairs performance room will offer a diverse range of performances, from acoustic music sets to stand-up comic slots and small theatre productions.

Libertine is the latest venture from lifestyle entrepreneur Gordon Richardson (pictured above), founder of coffee and music house chain Beanscene, the result of a pioneering alliance between his onebiggroove umbrella group and Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprises.

Richardson said, “Libertine is a bar and casual dining facility and is very much performance based through its extension of the ‘house gig’ concept. There’s no doubt that the musicians and other performance artists we’re bringing to the venue will deliver a refreshing new dynamic to Ayr’s nightlife.

“It’s not just about evenings though, Libertine is an all-day affair. Opening from 10am and offering an outstanding range of coffees, deli sandwiches and pastries, soft and ice blended drinks, Libertine also offers a tempting selection of hot and cold tapas, stone baked pizza, burgers, quesidillas, nachos, beers and wines throughout the day and into the evening.”

Artists already scheduled to perform at Libertine include two time Grammy award-winning American singer/songwriter Jon Vezner (3 November), legendary folk singer/songwriter Dick Gaughan (5 November), Boo Hewerdine (18 November), formerly of The Bible and writer of the number one hit ‘Patience of Angels’, hotly tipped emerging Glaswegian Roddy Hart, who’s opened for the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Teddy Thompson and Ray Lamontagne (22 November) and acclaimed performer and former Daintees main man Martin Stephenson (3 December) – tickets for all shows are available now from Tickets Scotland on 0141 204 5151 or online at www.ticketweb.co.uk

Featuring original poetry, verse, rhyme and comedy from the country’s best exponents of the spoken word, ‘Stand Up Poets at Libertine’ takes place on the last Thursday of every month. Commencing 26 November renowned performance poet and resident MC Robin Cairns introduces, New Cumnock native, the hilarious Rab Wilson with fellow Ayrshire homey Sheila Templeton and the endearingly caustic Andy Fleming. There will also be three open mic slots promoting new and emerging talent each month.

‘Libertine Songwriters’, meanwhile, is a bi-weekly platform for new talent anchored each week by an emerging artist. Commencing December 10 host John Alexander will perform two sets and MC four open mic slots. A winning artist will be determined by audience vote and that artist will be invited to host the evening at a future date.

Libertine Songwriters will be recorded and will yield the release of periodic ‘Libertine Sessions’ compilations in both CD and digital formats. New artists interested in performing at Libertine Songwriters should submit demos to Ross McKenzie, Libertine, 7 River Street, Ayr, KA8 0AX.

Libertine is part of onebiggroove.com - a digital lifestyle, entertainment and media business model encompassing; music retail, recording and distribution, broad and narrowcasting, publishing, TV and film, artist management/promotion and lifestyle/retail products, goods and services.

* * *

There are currently 596 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *

2009-10-11T11:01:00.013Z

Turnberry Hotel and Golf Resort joins Elite Ayrshire Business Circle

THE world renowned Turnberry Hotel and Golf Resort, host of the Open Golf Championship this year, has become the latest new member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Turnberry Hotel and Golf Resort's Director of Sales & Marketing Stephen Walker commented: “Turnberry is one of Ayrshire’s true icons, recognised globally as a haven for world-class golf and hospitality.

“Our role as both a major employer and local community player is one we take very seriously.

“Working with initiatives like the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle supports this objective ideally.”

[Pictured left to right: Norman Geddes, executive chairman of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and senior partner at Frazer Coogans Solicitors; and Murdoch MacDonald, managing director of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle and proprietor of Fame Publicity Services.]

And in a joint statement, Elite Ayrshire Business Circle executive chairman Norman Geddes and managing director Murdoch MacDonald (pictured above) said: “We are delighted to welcome Turnberry Hotel and Golf Resort’s accession to membership of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

“Turnberry will complement admirably our existing member companies and businesses, and we look forward to working in partnership with Stephen Walker, Tracey Smith and their colleagues to create further worldwide publicity both for Turnberry and for Ayrshire business as a whole.”

Turnberry Hotel and Golf Resort

Opened in 1906, Turnberry was originally known as the Station Hotel.

In the mid-20th century, when it was owned by British Transport Hotels (BTH), there was a national concern that the upkeep of this established, luxurious hotel would not be maintained. After a number of disappointing years of low occupancy, BTH placed Turnberry on the market. Over the next few decades, a number of different proprietors made significant investments in guest rooms, conference amenities and spa facilities that raised Turnberry’s profile. In particular, Turnberry’s dedicated centre for health and relaxation was extremely innovative when it was introduced in the 1980s—and put the resort on the modern-day map.

The new millennium brought a new owner: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Starwood’s vision for Turnberry included a variety of improvements. The red-roofed houses by the roadside, originally built as staff accommodation, have been converted into guest lodges, offering space and seclusion to large groups. The state-of-the-art Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy and the newly built Kintyre course have commenced operations. And the Outdoor Activity Centre—which allows guests to make the most of Turnberry’s 800 acres and the Ayrshire countryside beyond—has completed Turnberry’s transformation from a largely seasonal, golf-focused resort to a year-round destination with an abundance of activities that appeal to a wide audience.

Leisurecorp, a division of Dubai World that is one of the world’s most innovative and renowned golf development entities, took ownership of Turnberry in October 2008 and closed the hotel immediately for a dramatic refurbishment ahead of the 138th Open Championship that took place in July 2009. Internationally renowned interior designer Mary Fox Linton was appointed to lead the renovation, which, with the help of a heritage consultant, saw the 103-year-old hotel restored to the vision of its original architect while accommodating the needs of the modern guest. The property is now a member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection® portfolio.

It is the intention of Leisurecorp, with the contributions of its partners, to make Turnberry the top golf and resort experience in the world.

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle was formed in 2007 by some of the top companies in Ayrshire. Its mission statement is to publicise its members, to celebrate and report the wealth and rich diversity of entrepreneurial talent and business excellence that flourishes here in Ayrshire, and to raise still further Ayrshire‘s profile throughout the world as an ideal place to live, work and visit.

A further selection of Turnberry images is on Flickr: CLICK HERE

www.turnberry.co.uk

www.turnberryresort.co.uk

www.starwoodhotels.com

www.dubaiworldchampionship.com

www.eliteayrshire.com

LINK:

PR-Inside

* * *

There are currently 595 Ayrshire business stories permanently archived on this site. To locate those of most interest to you, please use the site search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Type your search term in the white box, then click “SEARCH BLOG”.

* * *