Members’ News

Concept Dundee helping save the planet –one tree at a time

The Concept Dundee team reaffirmed their commitment towards sustainability with a day planting trees in the Scottish Countryside.

The team joined the Woodland Trust for one of their many Carbon Capture tree-planting days planned for 2019. Carbon Capture is a project that aims to reduce the environmental impact made every day by businesses, whilst also helping them become more sustainable by planting trees in their local areas. After a quick introduction, the team ventured out into the planting site; a cleared field on the edge of the woods that has been deer fenced ready to grow new native woodland. 500 saplings were planted, complete with supportive cane and vole protection before our team broke for lunch. The final part to the day included guided walks through the beautiful woodland before clearing rhododendron, an invasive species to the area. The trees planted at Kinclaven Woods, Perth, are part of a bigger project to expand the site with new native woodland whilst maintaining the ancient woodland that so many come to enjoy for now and for years to come.

“carbon capture is a project that aims to reduce the environmental impact made by everyday businesses...”

As Scotland’s only hospice service for children, CHAS is constantly trying to reach as many people as possible. Not only to raise funds so that we can continue to grow our services, but also to raise awareness to those families who might not have found us yet.

Teamwork is therefore also two-fold for us: working as a team across all our different income streams to provide options for different demographics of people to take part in something that suits them; and providing those teamwork opportunities for companies and businesses to work together on something that will truly make a difference to our families.

Workplace fundraising is a fantastic way for companies and businesses to pull together and do something good, and there are lots of ways to do this: volunteer together; hold a bake sale across the teams in the office; take part in a challenge like the Kiltwalk; or join in with Festive Friday, to name just a few.

On 13th December, we’re asking workplaces to don their festive jumpers, socks or hats and bring a donation to help us raise vital funds for children with life-shortening conditions across Scotland. One day at Rachel House costs CHAS over £5,500. Imagine if we could raise that during Festive Friday and pay for Christmas Day?

This will give our families staying at Rachel House a Christmas full of lovely memories, all while their child receives the specialist care that they need. Sign up by emailing: emmamoore@chas.org.uk

“Workplace fundraising is a fantastic way for companies and businesses to pull together and there are lots of ways to do this...”

members’ NEWS CONTD. Andrew Carnegie Business School helping to create professional and successful employees

The Andrew Carnegie Business School, part of Fife College is offering businesses in Dundee and Angus the opportunity to upskill their workforce through bespoke training and recognised project management qualifications.

The School believes that employees are a business’s most valuable asset, so investment in their development is an investment in the future success of your business and this should never be underestimated.

Following a successful open day in Dundee in October, the school is offering courses to all organisations from all sectors and industries for anyone working within a project management environment.

A spokesperson for the School said: “Your people manage and control your business – they are the ones who give you the competitive edge and the efficiency to succeed in a competitive marketplace. Moreover, by offering your employees the opportunity to undertake either bespoke training or recognised project management qualifications, you are demonstrating your

“your people manage and control your business - they are the ones who give you the competitive edge and the efficiency to succeed...”

commitment to their career development. People who can meet their own career development goals while working with your organisation will instil their newly found knowledge and understanding to others in your organisation. These qualifications will also assist them in their job role performance and understanding, and will translate into a more productive and efficient work force strengthening your competitive position. “We are proud to deliver complete Project Management training solutions that will help

Over the past two years the national charity, which is the only organisation to solely work with people with PMLD and their families, has been working with clients such as National Gallery of Scotland, Kelvingrove Museum, HMS Unicorn, Cornerstone, Aberlour Child Care Trust, Capability Scotland, Enable and Edinburgh City Council, all of which work with, or welcome people with PMLD into their venues. PAMIS has a range of learning and development resources that support inclusion, developing skills and knowledge within those caring and supporting the person with PMLD. These include learning to become a multi-sensory storyteller, understanding how to communicate with someone who is non-verbal and has limited means of communications, postural care, bereavement and loss and Emergency First Aid at Work. Additional information about applying first aid to someone with PMLD i.e. CPR on someone with a compromised body shape is also available. PAMIS’ team of trainers includes external practitioners such as physiotherapists, a speech and language therapist and an occupational therapist. PAMIS also supports the involvement of family carers as co-educators, a model that has been developed over the past 25 years and ensures accessible, relevant and successful delivery of courses. If you would like to talk to PAMIS about developing the skills of your team please visit: http://pamis.org.uk/services/training/ or contact Fiona Harper, Business and Development Director, at f.k.harper@dundee.ac.uk.

PAMIS bolsters training resources for clients Dundee based charity, Promoting a More Inclusive Society (PAMIS) has been growing and developing their portfolio of training and development to support the skills of the teams working with people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD).

create professional and successful project managers who will take your business forward. To discuss your needs in detail and how we can support you in the development of your team, call 0344 248 0152 or email sales@fife.ac.uk.”

“we are proud to deliver complete Project management training solutions that will help create professional and successful project managers...”

“Pamis also supports the involvement of family carers as co-educators...”

members’ NEWS CONTD. 119 apartment City Quay development marks another success for Hillcrest’s development team TAYSIDE MARKETING AGENCIES JOIN FORCES

Hillcrest’s development team has recently brought their latest Dundee development plans to fruition, culminating in Council Leader John Alexander and Councillor Anne Rendall cutting the turf to mark the start of work at the City Quay site.

The 119 apartment, £13m development will consist of 53 flats for social rent and 66 for midmarket rent across two blocks, and will offer a mixture of one and two bedrooms. The ground floor of the block located on Victoria Dock Road will also offer the area’s first retail space. Following over a year of planning by Hillcrest’s development team, the turf cutting marks the project moving into the construction phase, where the plans will finally come to life. The team has been working hard on a number of developments across not just Dundee, but Angus, Edinburgh, Perth and Kinross, and Aberdeen City and Shire. They are currently overseeing a number of projects coming to life around Dundee. Derby Street, being developed in partnership with Dundee City Council will deliver 163 homes in the Hilltown, while the development at Seagate will deliver 28 homes near the city centre. The Victoria Dock development will be delivered early 2022 within the city’s wider waterfront regeneration area, only a short distance to the V&A. Council Leader John Alexander, said: “This is an exciting housing development for the city, one of many in the near future. This is a comprehensive investment in accommodation to meet people’s modern needs and aspirations, in a highly sought after area.”

MacIntyre Chocolate Systems sub contract machinery for local project Sub-contract machining of Power Take Off (PTO) drive shafts was recently undertaken by MacIntyre Chocolate Systems for a local company.

MacIntyre were pleased to have their extensive machining capabilities utilised for such an important project. Energy saving is paramount in today’s world – which was a major factor in the redesign by the MacIntyre team of their New Generation Refiner/Conche for chocolates and other fat-based masses. Having the opportunity to diversify capabilities in another sector with the same ethics in mind made the project personally rewarding for the company. Situated in Arbroath, MacIntyre’s inhouse machining expertise, experience and extensive capabilities is only available at one other plant in Scotland, resulting in a wide range of products and bespoke projects. The plant includes a Richards Vertical Turning Lathe used to machine cylinders for their largest 5000Kg Duplex Refiner/Conches but which has the capability of handling diameters of up to 3.5 metres. In addition, their Asquith machining centre, table size of 2 metres x 4 metres, provides a wide scope for many projects. The plant’s Mazak A16 also offers versatility in turning and drilling a variety of components. Completing MacIntyre’s manufacturing capabilities is a team of highly skilled coded welders with full fabricating and rolling facilities up to 2 metres wide, 30mm thick, while the final assembly shop gives the team the capability of offering complete turnkey projects through to electrical controls.

Two Perth based full-service marketing agencies Volpa and Fraktul have joined forces, further strengthening Volpa’s position as one of Scotland’s top independent marketing agencies.

The partnership, which sees Volpa’s team boosted by the strategic marketing expertise of Fraktul’s founder and managing director, Stephen Gorton, brings a stronger B2B focus to the award-winning agency. With more than twenty years’ marketing experience, including senior marketing roles at Kier Construction, Halcrow and Millard Consulting, Stephen is a Chartered Marketer who founded Fraktul in 2009. In 2014, he was responsible for the rebrand of one of Scotland’s largest recyclers, Binn Group, and has provided marketing since which has helped to increase turnover from £10 million to £16 million. Stephen will take up the senior management role of Account Director at Volpa and will continue to service Fraktul’s extensive client base of more than 100 clients, which he has built up over the last decade. Stephen’s appointment is the latest in a series of senior appointments for the award-winning agency. Former Head of Marketing at Crieff Hydro, Sarah Brown, has recently joined the agency as a senior account manager, which followed the appointment of Emma Davies as senior account manager, who brings more than 18 years of PR experience in the B2B agency environment and who also previously ran her own PR agency. Tricia Fox, founder and MD of Volpa, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to be joining forces with Fraktul and welcoming them into Volpa’s den, further strengthening our credentials as one of Scotland’s leading marketing agencies.”

members’ NEWS CONTD. Teamwork contributes to global success of Glencadam Distillery

Glencadam Distillery was established in 1825 in the heart of the ancient town of Brechin, and is one of the oldest whisky distilleries in Scotland. It has enjoyed a long and interesting history, having been closed during both World Wars and used to barrack soldiers. To this day you can still see the evidence of this at the distillery.

In 2000 it was mothballed, and lay silent for three years before being bought by Angus Dundee Distillers, who saw the huge potential for this hidden gem of the Eastern Highlands. Throughout the years, the distillery itself has remained mostly unchanged, and retains all the original character and charm from when it was built in 1825. It has two unique stills, which produce a rare “Eastern Highlands” style of whisky, which is very fruity and slightly spicy. The distillery is a key part of the community and has many links to local people and businesses, including being one of the main sponsors of Brechin City FC.

Most of the Glencadam team have worked at the distillery for many years, honing their skills and developing their whisky experience by working in different parts of the production process, from the still room to maturation and blending.

It is this hard work and experience which has contributed to Glencadam’s success, making it a global brand which has won many awards for the quality and excellence of its unique whisky, all produced by the team in Brechin.

“the distillery is a key part of the community and has many links to local people and businesses...”

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members’ NEWS CONTD. Italian Grill showcases a brand-new chef & front of house team!

With an exceptional food offering, mixing traditional Italian food with Scottish execution, The Italian Grill in City Square is gearing up for the festive rush with a new team on board. The 150-cover bar and grill also has a new menu to offer diners, showcasing dishes such as basil gnocchi with minestrone and pesto, together with mouth-watering steaks, and pizzas cooked in its wood fire oven.

Diners keen to soak up the atmosphere of a busy service can book the two-seater Chef’s Table where they can observe new Head Chef, David Tough, at work with his brigade. Manager Jonnie Armitage explained the new set up: “The lead up to Christmas is always a very hectic time for us, and this year more than ever we expect Dundonians to be out in force celebrating, along with visitors from other cities coming to see the V&A and other attractions of the City. There is definitely a real buzz. We are very excited to have our new team, led by David, our fantastic new Head Chef, and a native Dundonian. Corey our Bar Manager, responsible for creating our amazing cocktails and inventing some of his own, leads up front of house, along with myself. We are ready and waiting to show off our delicious festive fayre, and professional service.” A tasting menu, and a cocktail masterclass with either snacks or a meal, are also available at The Italian Grill, and make ideal Christmas gift experiences. Chamber members can enjoy a 10% discount from their total bill, Monday to Thursday, with a free bottle of house red or white wine per three diners. For bookings on Fridays and Saturdays, they can take advantage of the 10% discount off the total bill, or the free bottle of wine per three diners. Bookings are subject to availability and must be booked by 31st December to redeem the offer.

“a tasting menu and a cocktail masterclass...”

Sleeperz Dundee welcomes two new additions to the senior team

“... they want to be part of dundee’s changing landscape and the future of this amazing city.”

Joel Ghodke from Edinburgh joins as the new Deputy General Manager bringing with him a wealth of experience from a highvolume branded background. Gemma Herd from Pittenweem joins Sleeperz Dundee as the new Front Office Manager from the Hotel Du Vin in St Andrews. Joel and Gemma are both highly enthusiastic and extremely committed to take the hotel further and build on its success.

General Manager, Manny Baber, commented: “I am extremely excited to work with Joel and Gemma who bring with them real passion for the industry and a hunger to develop their careers and more importantly, they want to be part of Dundee’s changing landscape and the future of this amazing city. We have been open for just over a year and have quickly become known for our customer focus and service delivery, Gemma and Joel are perfect for making this even more successful.”

MacRoberts moves forward with plans to increase Dundee presence

MacRoberts is increasing its presence in Dundee to take advantage of vibrant opportunities in the city. The firm intends to do this by doubling employee numbers and increasing office size after six years in Tayside.

“Client demand means we want to have a strong presence on the East coast,” Managing Partner Neil Kennedy told The Herald.

Expansion plans follow a successful financial year, and MacRoberts has enjoyed a 4% increase in revenues to £18.8m and a 12% rise in profits to £5.9m. This success is reflected in the firm’s recently overhauled remuneration system. “During the last financial year we more than doubled our bonus to non-partners, paying out 120% of what we paid out in the previous year,” Neil said. “It’s based on individual achievement, the achievement of teams and there’s an all-firm bonus.” In addition to getting paid well for the work they undertake, teams can work in a way that suits them, whether at home or in any of the firm’s locations. This practice is championed by Mr Kennedy who himself is not tied to one particular desk. His strategy of spending time in each of the firm’s offices each week is designed not only to show leadership when it comes to working flexibly but to ensure he is accessible to all. “In business, people talk about doing simple things well; in a people business if you’re not visible and speaking to people then you’re doing it wrong.”