FOLLOWING the success last year of their award-winning "Explode with Growth" Superforum featuring "Dragons’ Den" entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne, Ignite Scotland are relaunching their quarterly Business Builder Forum programme for Ayrshire business people, with the first event called "Learn the Secrets of Super Growth" taking place on Wednesday 28 June at the Thistle Hotel, Irvine between 1.15pm and 5.15pm.
The special launch price of £49 +VAT (regular price £69 + VAT) includes buffet lunch and refreshments.
Ignite Scotland is the brainchild and offshoot of Irvine-based chartered accountants Robert J Hart & Co.
The Ayrshire firm, founded in 1976 and now employing a team of 30 people, is best-known for its initiatives in helping small and medium-sized Scottish businesses to improve their performance and increase profitability.
In April, Robert J Hart & Co were voted UK Accounting Firm of the Year by 200 of their fellow accountants throughout the country.
Commenting on the new Business Builder Forum programme, Ignite Scotland managing director Ian Macdonald said: "The quarterly Business Builder Forum is aimed at ALL business owners and management teams who really want to get more from their business and also wish to get more of their life back."
"Every business should be there, but the main criterion is that you have a genuine desire to enhance or improve your business performance and an interest in finding simple ways to do it.
"At each Business Builder Forum, a different topic will be covered and you will learn how to identify and implement simple, yet powerful strategies that will work for your business.
"And in addition to the main topic, we will be joined by an expert guest speaker who will give a presentation on other hot topics and current issues important to all businesses."
Spirit AeroSystems completes purchase of BAE Systems Aerostructures
1 April 2006
The American company Spirit AeroSystems Inc with headquarters in Wichita, Kansas today announced that it has completed the purchase of BAE Systems Aerostructures business unit located in Prestwick, Scotland, and Samlesbury, England.
Spirit paid £80 million for the business, which has been renamed Spirit AeroSystems (Europe) Limited. The sale was announced in January.
“We are delighted to officially welcome the newest members of the Spirit AeroSystems team,” said executive vice-president and chief operating officer Ron Brunton. “We look forward to building on the excellent foundation for quality and the reputation of delivering unique solutions to customers that our newest aerostructures business unit has established in the industry.”
Spirit AeroSystems (Europe) Limited produces structural components, chiefly on wings, similar to that in Spirit’s business unit in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but on different airplane programmes. More than 80 percent of the European unit’s revenue is earned on Airbus airplanes, including the A320 family, the A330 and A340, and the A380. The remainder is from the Boeing 767 and 777, and from the Raytheon Hawker 800XP.
“Joining the Spirit AeroSystems team marks a new and exciting phase in the development of our business,” said Neil McManus, vice-president and managing director, Spirit AeroSystems (Europe) Limited. “We must capitalize on the opportunities this presents for our business, the employees and our local communities.”
Spirit’s European business unit employs over 800 people in the United Kingdom, and has a history dating back to the early days of large scale airplane production in Scotland in the 1930s.
“Acquiring the aerostructures unit fits our long-range strategy of growing our business and becoming the top tier one supplier/partner of aircraft components in the aerospace industry,” said chief executive officer Jeff Turner. “Our new Spirit AeroSystems (Europe) employees bring great capability plus valuable knowledge and insights required to work with our new customers.”
Spirit AeroSystems is the world’s largest independent supplier of structures for commercial aircraft. Formed by Onex Corporation in June 2005, Spirit continues its work on designing and building part of every Boeing commercial aircraft currently in production. Spirit also designs and builds aircraft production tooling, has composite capabilities, and provides spares and aftermarket support to airlines.
The completion of the giant Airbus A380 was seen as major coup for Europe’s engineering sector. But few realise just how much of that success is due to the expertise of Scottish engineers. With cash-rich Dubai now aiming to manufacture aircraft, will our lack of interest in the sector see another lucrative industry disappear? By Kenny Kemp.
HIS Royal Highness the Duke of York flew into Scotland yesterday for an official visit to some of Ayrshire’s key aerospace companies.
As the UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, the Duke met with Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire chief executive Evelyn McCann and key representatives from industry.
The visit to Ayrshire included tours of Goodrich and GE Caledonian, both of whom have well established global reputations.
The Duke of York said that penetrating international markets required clear strategies that built upon Scotland’s strengths in the high-tech arena: “It is clear that Scottish aerospace companies have individually identified a number of routes to strengthen their foothold in the international market. Not only must they trade on their strengths, but also I believe that it is essential that companies work together specifically to develop the critical mass to bring about the best benefit to the Scottish economy and the UK aerospace sector in general.”
Scottish Enterprise highlighted the potential for Scottish companies to rise to the challenge and compete at international level, by combining the efforts of individual companies and the public sector. While Ayrshire has a strong regional reputation in aerospace, Evelyn McCann underlined the need for closer working links across Scotland in order to develop better scale and become even more competitive at international level.
Scottish Enterprise’s aims to bring closer collaboration in the industry has been boosted by the creation of industry body SBAC (the Society of British Aerospace Companies) Scotland. The council, based in Ayrshire, is likely to act as a co-ordinator of best practice and will forge strong working links with industry, essential to the development of a successful Scotland-wide aerospace proposition.
Goodrich Corporation came to Prestwick in 1996 and now employs over 220 people, enjoying significant growth. They are the first tenant of the new Prestwick International Aerospace Park, investing £9m in the new building with an option to expand. Goodrich maintain and repair nacelles and thrust reversers for Europe, Africa and the Middle East from their base at Prestwick .
Goodrich managing director Steve Callan said: “I was very pleased to welcome His Royal Highness to the Goodrich facility and the new Prestwick International Aerospace Park. Goodrich’s growth has proven that Prestwick offers a strong available workforce that can provide a base for international competitiveness. The Duke of York shared our enthusiasm for the area, and it was a pleasure to host his visit to our premises, which also included meetings with other aerospace and related companies in the area.”
GE Caledonian managing director David Crews said: "It was a privilege to welcome His Royal Highness to GE Caledonian and share with him the achievements of the business. This success is reflective of the continued support, energy and innovation from our employees."
GE Caledonian is part of the GE (General Electric) Group, employing more than 900 highly skilled workers in Ayrshire. Established in 1980, the site celebrated 25 years in operation in 2005 and was awarded the 'Best Performing Business Award (over 250 employees)' in both the local and national Scottish Enterprise awards in 2005.
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Tide is turning at
Ardrossan Harbour
23 December 2005
THE perception of Ardrossan and the surrounding area has risen significantly among residents and visitors to Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson following a £5.8m investment in developing Ardrossan Harbour.
Ardrossan Marina
An evaluation of the local area, carried out by Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, has indicated that more people have chosen to live there as a direct result of the investment. The area is also now attracting a higher proportion of employed people and a lower proportion of retired people, compared to Ayrshire as a whole, boosting the area’s economic fortunes.
The masterplan for the development of Ardrossan Harbour was prepared and jointly funded by SE Ayrshire, Clydeport and North Ayrshire Council. Implemented in 2002, the plan showed the potential to maximise the potential of the Marina and attract further private developments that would broaden the local economy.
Already the development has secured residential investment of more than £6 million from Persimmon Homes to build more than 100 flats.
Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire chief executive Evelyn McCann said the findings of the report paint a very bright picture for the future of the three towns: "Perceptions of the harbour area has changed dramatically. Previously people were scoring the area around three of 10 in terms of favourable perceptions. Now that figure is almost at seven out of 10, so that’s quite a significant shift.
"What’s really important now is that other investors capitalise on this development and look at how they can add to what’s already been built and what else has been planned. The masterplan includes future development of further houses, a supermarket, bars and restaurants, however there is great scope for additional investment in wider leisure and retail space.
"This is a multi-faceted opportunity and it is on course to make a really positive impact on Ardrossan and the wider three towns."
The report by Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire sought feedback from new and existing residents in the three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson, as well as visitors to the area.
Visitors to the area gave positive insight into how they see the Ardrossan Harbour developments having improved the overall image of the town. The evaluation also noted that the improvements have encouraged visitors to consider spending more time in the area.
Based on the feedback, it’s believed the proportion of visitors to the three towns is likely to increase further if additional developments (such as retail, bars and restaurants) take place.
North Ayrshire Council leader Councillor David O’Neill said: "Ardrossan has long been one of the Council’s main targets for regeneration, so we are delighted to see these excellent results from this project which from the start showed confidence in the town’s potential.
"The area around the harbour has been dramatically improved. We hope it will be the springboard for more investment. The Council and its partners are committed to regenerate not only Ardrossan but the whole Irvine Bay area - the Three Towns, Kilwinning and Irvine itself. Ardrossan Harbour has shown what can be done."
Clydeport Ltd property director Euan Jamieson added: "The partnership has made fantastic progress to date, and the reported perception change is very heartening. However, there are more improvements currently underway, and there is still more to come. We are all working together to create an environment that local people can be proud of, and which creates the potential for increased tourism and further investment in the area. Things are looking very good at Ardrossan."
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Internet boost for
Ayrshire companies
LEADING solicitors Frazer Coogans announce the launch of a new Internet project that will allow all Ayrshire businesses to significantly raise their profile to the outside world, as well as boosting business between local companies.
The Ayrshire Industry, Business and Commerce WebRing has been designed to link the websites of hundreds of local companies in order to increase their rankings on top search engines like Google, MSN and Yahoo.
More and more companies are using search engines in order to source new customers and suppliers, and it is vital for any business to achieve the highest possible ranking – if possible on the first page of search results for words or phrases relevant to their business.
One of the criteria Google uses in order to rank websites is to count the number of links they have from other websites.
So companies joining the Ayrshire Industry, Business and Commerce WebRing will instantly have links to their website from all the other participating members, thus boosting their search engine ranking.
Frazer Coogans Solicitors senior partner Norman Geddes explained: “Until now, establishing such a network of interconnections would have been extremely time-consuming. A long list of links on your company website would also have created a cluttered look that would not have been aesthetically pleasing.
“But with this new WebRing, all that is necessary is one small unobtrusive banner on the front page of a company’s website. And once up, this remains the same and does not change, however many other businesses join the Ring.
“The banner is a hyperlink to the Ring hub, from which “spokes” provide links to all member businesses. And it is this interconnectedness that will give a vast Internet boost to all participating Ayrshire companies.
“The WebRing will also stimulate business between Ayrshire companies. If you are looking for a particular product or service, all you need to do is click on to the banner, and source your needs online from the list of Ring members.”
Norman Geddes concluded: “All of us at Frazer Coogans Solicitors are delighted to be launching the Ayrshire Industry, Business and Commerce WebRing, which is dedicated to celebrating and promoting the rich diversity of industry, commerce and business services available in Ayrshire.”
To receive your FREE invitation to join the Ayrshire Industry, Business and Commerce WebRing, e-mail your business website URL to: Ayrshirewebring@aol.com
STEWARTON man Gregory Barnett has come together with three other young entrepreneurs to create a new business venture and independent telecommunications company, Access Business Communications - or ABC.
Gregory, Scott Allison and Athol Haas (all 30) and David Munro (34) each have around ten years experience of business management in the mobile communications industry.
They recently decided to pool their knowledge and expertise to become joint directors and shareholders of ABC. The company will specialise in the provision of communications solutions to small and medium-sized businesses throughout central Scotland.
David Munro, Scott Allison, Athol Haas and Gregory Barnett.
Based near Charing Cross in Glasgow, ABC aims to be one of Scotland’s leading telecommunications providers. A turnover in excess of £3million is anticipated by the end of this financial year.
“We wanted to create an independent business that combined the fresh ideas of four industry veterans– something that rarely happens in this fragmented industry,” says Gregory.
The company will offer dedicated account management with free bill analysis, quarterly reviews and bespoke tariff packages. This is in addition to the latest mobile data solutions, handsets and accessories as well as landline and internet services.
“We have all built up a strong understanding of the communications needs for small to medium sized businesses in the area,” continues Gregory.
“We’ve found that many SMEs are bewildered by the array of the networks, mobile phone handsets and communications devices that are currently available. In fact, independent industry analysts have concluded that around 70% of businesses are currently on inappropriate tariff packages.
“We’re confident that our combined expertise and impartial advice will appeal to local business owners who are looking for a one-stop communications solution,” he adds.
A SPECIAL Mother’s Day lunch and dinner menu has been prepared for families celebrating on Sunday 26 March at the Fairfield House Hotel in Ayr, Scotland this year.
Fairfield House is the only hotel in Ayr with two rosettes for food, and has been nominated in the Informal Dining category of the Scottish Hotels of the Year Awards 2006.
Head chef Will Hay has called upon all his culinary skills to prepare a feast of dishes for all mothers and families who love good food.
Before coming to the Fairfield House Hotel, Will headed up the kitchens in restaurants owned by celebrity TV chef Gary Rhodes.
His speciality is to use fresh local produce cooked in a traditional manner but with an unusual twist.
Will’s special Mother’s Day menu at the Fairfield House Hotel costs just £18.50 per adult and just £9.50 per child under 12 and is available on Sunday 26 March from 12 noon until 9pm in the evening.
The Fairfield House Hotel has recently been transformed by a major £750,000 refurbishment programme.
The ground floor of the building, including the reception area, bar, and restaurant has been renovated, creating a stylish but not ultra-modern look that blends in perfectly with the hotel’s striking exterior on the edge of the Low Green looking out over the Firth of Clyde.
General manager Stuart Maxwell says: "Perhaps in the past there may have been a tendency for the hotel to have been regarded as slightly stuffy - a place where people might go once a year for a special occasion.
"But if that was ever the case, things have certainly changed now, as we have succeeded in creating a relaxed, informal atmosphere with prices that are eminently affordable.
"The result is that our clientele come back on a much more frequent basis, whether it be for coffee, a quiet drink, lunch or an evening meal."
Traditional Roast of Scottish Beef with Yorkshire Pudding
& Red Wine Gravy
Poached Salmon with Hollandaise Sauce
Beer Battered Cod with Tartare Sauce & Handcut Chips
Baked Penne Pasta with Tomatoes, Courgettes & Parmesan
**
Selection of Ice Creams
Local Cheeses & Arran Oatcakes
Steamed Chocolate Pudding with White Chocolate Sauce
Vanilla Rice Pudding with Caramelized Bananas
Strawberry Crème Brulee
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Two awards for Ayr bakers
AN AYR bakery firm has carried off two major prizes this week.
The Dessert Depot, run by sisters Frances Barron (47) and Ellen McPherson (52) in the town’s Green Street Lane, has gained two of this year’s Great Taste Awards, presented by The Speciality Fine Foods Guild.
This is Dessert Depot’s first year participating in the event.
The company’s strawberry and white chocolate cheesecake won a silver award, while their caramel apple shortcake gained a bronze.
Speaking about the awards to Ayrshire Business, Frances said: “All of the hardworking, skilled and dedicated team at the Dessert Depot are delighted with these prestigious awards, which reflect our commitment to high standards and quality handmade desserts and patisserie.”
Frances and Ellen, originally from Drongan, started the Dessert Depot from scratch. They leased an industrial unit, fitted it out using their own savings and a small loan from the bank, and opened for business on 3 January 2003.
At the Dessert Depot they make a range of handmade desserts, patisserie and artisan traybakes. Their traybakes are made from traditional recipes with a contemporary twist.
They also use recipes that their mother passed on to them. She was the main inspiration for them to start their own business. Sadly she died in February 2002, and did not live to see her two daughters gain success.
In less than three years, the two sisters have built up their business from nothing. Their sales figures have risen consistently. Last year they doubled to £100,000, and this year they are targeted to hit £250,000.
Frances and Ellen started off selling their products to coffee shops, delis and hotels. Their aim was always to build a sustainable business with an infrastructure that would support them as they moved forward and grew their business.
They now have two distributors, and Dessert Depot products can be found in establishments from Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Ayr to Oban.
In addition they also have a sales agent generating sales in Dumfries and Galloway.
Earlier this year, with part-funding from a Small Business Improvement Grant provided by South Ayrshire Council, they took the lease of the empty unit next door, which doubled their floor space and made room for new much needed packaging machinery, greater oven capacity and a walk-in chill.
IMAGINE, if you will, that you are at a wedding reception, birthday celebration or an office party.
There in the middle of all the food, drink and other goodies stands an impressive fountain, lit from below to show it off in all its glory.
From this fountain is flowing a seemingly endless stream of hot molten chocolate, and around it are laid a selection of tasty dips.
Confronted by this vision, those of us blessed with a sweet tooth would think that we must be dreaming.
Now Alloway entrepreneur James Kahn is in the business of making this dream come true.
James’s new company Chocolate on Demand is hiring out the chocolate fountain, complete with operator and accessories for social and business functions all over Scotland, and even down south.
Menus and options are displayed on the company’s website at www.chocolateondemand.com and orders are taken by phone or online.
James (41) told Ayrshire Business this week: “We think that Chocolate On Demand’s chocolate fountain will be the latest trend to take Scotland by storm.
“We can make any wedding party or a general function a truly memorable event. People think that they are hiring a chocolate fountain. But what they get is an icon that will ensure that people remember the event for years to come.
“Our top priority is to exceed customers’ expectations.
“The flowing chocolate from the tower is as pleasing to watch as it is to taste, and fills the room with a warm chocolaty aroma, making it utterly irresistible.”
This is not James’s only business. He also runs Smart Learning Solutions, an IT computer training and web design company offering computer training, web site design and development services.
Both companies are run on the principle of exceeding customers’ expectartions.
Smart Learning Solutions, which is accredited by LearnDirect Scotland and Investors in People, offers people free retraining if they are dissatisfied with the results of their initial course.
Not content with having set up two businesses, James is still on the lookout for other innovative products and services to bring to market.
His ambition is to create as many quality jobs for Ayrshire folk as possible. Already he is looking for people to host the chocolate fountain at future functions and events.
And he is not afraid of possible competition from other up and coming entrepreneurs – in fact he welcomes it. He will even sell you your own chocolate fountain if you want to set up in business for yourself!
