Ayrshire Scotland Business News

Elite Ayrshire Business Circle chairman Norman Geddes talks with First Minister Alex Salmond

2012-02-08T10:10:00.005Z

Elite Ayrshire Business Circle executive chairman and Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors senior partner Norman Geddes has attended a private lunch in the Scottish Parliament with the First Minister Alex Salmond.

The First Minister demonstrated his knowledge of current business issues and was keen to hear about matters of interest to Ayrshire business. Topics raised included planning delays on renewable energy projects, the agricultural economy and the dairy industry, the new ferry terminal at Cairnryan and the Maybole bypass.

The First Minister affirmed his general support for the Maybole bypass, although he stressed at present there were no firm plans or allocation of funds.

The First Minister also talked about initiatives of the Scottish Government to generate business with other countries and in particular spoke of his recent visit to China.

Norman Geddes gave to the First Minister a letter congratulating him on his initiative with China, and told him that Elite Ayrshire Business Circle members JB Management had been represented on the China visit.

He told the First Minister about the recent meeting jointly promoted by South Ayrshire Council and the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle which had been addressed by the Chinese Consul General, Mr Li and which had attracted over 60 delegates.

The letter invited the First Minister to accept an invitation from Ayr Racecourse to attend the Scottish Grand National, and indicated that a similar invitation had been extended to Mr Li.

The First Minister thanked the Chairman and indicated that, subject to any diary commitments, he hoped to attend the Scottish Grand National. It is hoped to extend the connections between Ayrshire and China. Wuhan Racecourse in China have indicated that they are seeking a link with a UK racecourse, and this initiative is being considered by Ayr Racecourse.

LINKS:

Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors

Elite Ayrshire Business Circle

Kilmarnock celebrates Chinese New Year “The Year of the Dragon”

2012-02-06T22:17:00.003Z

Dragons were on the loose in Kilmarnock Town Centre drawing crowds of shoppers as local school pupils joined in celebrations to mark the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon.

[Pictured: East Ayrshire Council Provost Stephanie Young (right) with Kuloc Chinese Association chairperson Thomas Ho.]

The event was organised by the Kuloc Chinese Association in partnership with East Ayrshire Council. Pupils from Grange Academy participated in the Dragon dance and other East Ayrshire pupils sang the Friendship Song. Thereafter there was a display with the dragons and Lion from the Glasgow Hong Look Dragon and Lion dancing Troupe.

Provost Stephanie Young said: “Good weather and a great turnout made all the preparations for this auspicious date in the Chinese calendar worthwhile. It was great to see the spectacular dragon dance and really celebrate the strong links that Kuloc have built in our community.

“I’ve had the great pleasure to work in partnership with Thomas Ho and Kuloc on many occasions during my tenure as Provost of East Ayrshire Council and they have always been extremely supportive of my charity appeals, taking part and contributing to fundraising at every opportunity.

“Today we’ve been joined by pupils from East Ayrshire to enjoy and take part in this colourful spectacle. Together with the huge success of the Mandarin classes on offer through Grange Academy at the “Confucius Hub” for Ayrshire and the many activities offered by Kuloc, our cultural links with the Chinese community in East Ayrshire are going from strength to strength.”

Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant offers two special Valentine’s Day menus

2012-02-03T19:05:00.008Z

Celebrity TV chef Mafiz Ali has concocted not just one, but TWO enchantingly romantic menus at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant in Minishant, South Ayrshire to celebrate St Valentine‘s Day on Tuesday 14 February.

And the restaurant’s history and beautiful setting will add additional touches of spice and romance to what will undoubtedly be a night to remember for everyone fortunate enough to be there.

For Ayr Spice Indian Cuisine is housed in the fine old red sandstone Memorial church at the entrance to the picturesque village of Minishant, 5 miles south of Ayr on the A77. The church was erected by the thread magnate Sir Peter Coats of nearby Auchendrane, in loving memory of his wife Glorianna, who died in 1877.

The special St Valentine’s Day menu will be available from Friday 19 February to Saturday 18 February by prior booking only. Normal A la carte menu always available.

Ayr Spice Bangladeshi Restaurant, Minishant
St Valentine’s Day, 2012
Candle-light dinner
Welcome rose and a glass of sparkling (Asti) for each couple

Set meal A: £16.95

Starters:

* Honey Dew Melon
* Machli roll (spicy mashed fish roll)
* Piaza Bora (onion bhaji) – onion and ground lentils deep-fried with herbs and spices
* Tikka Delight – an assortment of chicken and lamb tikka and sheek kebab served on a sizzler

Main courses:

* Sally Jadalo chicken or lamb cooked in honey and apricot (Mafiz’s own recipe)
* Badami Passanda chicken or lamb – tender lamb or chicken marinated in yogurt in a special blend of herbs, spices and almonds in a light and creamy sauce with a dash of red wine.
* Chicken or lamb Tofa – a very special dish from the Chilaura district - roasted pieces of chicken or lamb cooked with green chillies, tamarind, fresh coriander and green pepper and served with an aromatically-spiced sauce.
* Shobji special Kufta – lightly-spiced mixed vegetables cooked in a spicy sauce with baked tomato and capsicum and garnished with spring-onion and coriander.

Coconut, lemon or fried rice
Choice of naan bread

Set meal B: £19.95

Starters:

* Tandoori lamb chops (lamb chops in a specially-prepared spice sauce)
* Priya Goshty roll – lamb or chicken cooked with fresh onion and spices and served with a lightly-fried Puri-bread.
* Bengali stir-fry – delicious filet of fresh-water fish marinated in Ayr Spice “Spicy sauce” with fresh herbs and grilled in a charcoal oven.
* Salmon samosa

Main courses:

* Mango extra murgi korma – chicken with almonds and sliced mango cooked in a rich, creamy sauce with a dash of “Grand Marnier” – the perfect Valentine’s special!
* Tetul Tanga – chicken, lamb or vegetable Kofta cooked in a home-made spicy and sour sauce creating a unique flavour and garnished with spring-onion and coriander – highly recommended!
* Beef Shatkova Bhuna - beef slice cooked with Shatkova (citrus fruit) from the Sylhet region of Bangladesh with a unique, authentic, sour flavour.
* Tikka sliced chicken or lamb – barbecued lamb or chicken cooked with mushrooms, green peppers, onion and selected herbs (Jagannath pur style)

Mafiz’s special rice, lemon or fried rice
Choice of naan bread

Desserts:

* Gulab jam
* Kufi – Bangladeshi ice-cream

BOOKING:

Mafiz Ali
Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
Ayrshire
KA19 8EX

Tel: 01292 441 413

Web: www.ayrspice.info

CKD Galbraith report encouraging 2012 start for Ayrshire housing market

2012-02-01T18:58:00.006Z

Scotland’s leading independent property consultancy, CKD Galbraith has reported a slightly more positive start to the year than expected, having experienced an encouraging level of activity in the Ayrshire property market.

Following research conducted by CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office for the first month of 2012, the firm noted an increase in the number of property viewings and new applicants registering.

The number of property viewings during January 2012 is up 50% on the same period for 2011, whilst the number of new buyers registered with the firm and actively seeking property in Ayrshire has increased by 63%.

Throughout 2011, CKD Galbraith sold property in excess of £200million across the whole of Scotland and the like-for-like data for 2011 compared to 2010 showed that viewing figures were up last year for the firm as a whole by a staggering 148%, with the number of properties sold during 2011 increasing by 16%.

Bob Cherry (pictured above), partner of CKD Galbraith and head of residential in the Ayr office said: “We have been encouraged by the recent more positive interest we have witnessed recently for the start of the year, and we hope that this might indicate a degree of confidence returning to the property market.

“There are serious buyers out there willing to purchase, but it remains very much a buyer’s market, so it is critical that property is priced accordingly and professional marketing is more important than ever. We believe now may prove the right time to buy.”

Prices achieved for all properties sold by the firm during 2012 were, like 2011, on average within 0.5% of the asking price, highlighting the firm’s unrivalled local knowledge of the market and expertise in setting prudent valuations.

There are currently over 2400 active buyers registered on the firm’s advanced marketing database with approximately 20% being cash buyers.

A recent example of a positive property sale in the area is Duisk Lodge (pictured above) by Barrhill, Ayrshire, a delightful country house in private wooded grounds. It was marketed at offers over £225,000 and sold at the closing date for £311,000 in October 2011 after receiving four offers of interest.

Currently for sale through CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office at offers over £180,000 is Nether Failford (pictured above) in South Ayrshire, an attractive Victorian Coach House requiring complete refurbishment in a sought after rural location. This property recently came on to the market at the beginning of January and has already received 36 viewings and five notes of interest.

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 200 people in offices in Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.

The company’s rural arm specialises in farm sales and purchases, the management and sale of large estates and woodland, valuations and building surveying work.

www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Alloway steps back in time to celebrate life of Burns

2012-01-31T21:03:00.004Z

The fourth Alloway 1759 event on Sunday 29 January celebrating the birth and life of Scotland’s national Bard, Robert Burns has again been hailed as a resounding success.

People from all over South Ayrshire and some from well beyond, enjoyed sights, sounds and tastes from a bygone era, marking the work and legend of the nation’s greatest Scot.

Opening the event, South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan (pictured above said: “Alloway 1759 is now in its fourth year – having been created to mark the Year of Homecoming in 2009 – and it has fast become a ‘must see’ attraction.

“Alloway village was transformed into a time gone by and it really added to the fun family event. There really was something for everyone to enjoy, music, poetry, acting, singing, dancing, walks and much more.

“The work of Burns was brought to life and everyone had a great time.”

Councillor Margaret Toner, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure for South Ayrshire Council said: “Every year this excellent event keeps growing, with new and innovative ideas on ways to celebrate the life and works of Robert Burns.

“It is now an established part of the national Winter Festivals programme, offering an afternoon as much about fun and celebration as it is about inspiration, education and information and I think that’s exactly how Rabbie himself would have wanted it.”

“South Ayrshire Council is committed to encouraging tourism and the promotion of all that we do best – and what better way to put the area on the map so early in the New Year than celebrating the life, work and legacy that is Rabbie Burns?”

Events in Alloway took place in and around Burns Cottage and the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and many of them were free. Visitors enjoyed celtic music, Ayrshire Farmers Market, Maybole Pipe Band, the arrival of Rabbie, an outdoor Ceilidh, Hipshot theatre company, Alloway Amble, poetry recitals, singing, haggis hurling and much more.

All weekend there were guided tours of Rozelle House available.

Alloway 1759 was the first of two annual events in South Ayrshire celebrating Burns.

The next event, the Burns an’ a’ that! Festival will take place from Wednesday 30 May to Sunday 3 June 2012.

For information about events in South Ayrshire CLICK HERE

South Ayrshire Council is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Ayr Racecourse stages Winter Warmer Raceday

2012-01-29T17:06:00.004Z

Ayr Racecourse stages its third January meeting on Monday 30 January with the Winter Warmer Raceday due off at 12.50pm with the opening race The BetVictor.com Novices’ Hurdle.

There will be eight races on the card and the feature race is the BetVictor.com Handicap Hurdle Race due off at 3.25pm.

Leading trainers at the track Jim Goldie, Lucinda Russell and Donald McCain should all have runners and the afternoon ends with the Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor.com Standard National Hunt Flat Race for conditional and amateur jockeys.

Ayr raced on Tuesday 17 January with Donald McCain and Jason Maguire teaming up for a double initiated by Lexi’s Boy (5/2) in the BetVictor.com Maiden Hurdle followed by Total Rebellion (16/1) in the Play Casino At BetVictor.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

A hefty gamble was landed on Yes Tom (7/4 fav) in the Bet Mobile At BetVictor.com Novices Chase for County Antrim based trainer Roy Wilson and jockey Paddy Brennan. Biggest priced winner on the day was Shooting Times (25/1) for Dumfries trainer Andrew Parker and young jockey Robert McCarth.

Find out more about the Winter Warmer Raceday: CLICK HERE

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

University of the West of Scotland and Scottish Agricultural College open £81 million Ayr Campus

2012-01-26T23:24:00.002Z

University of the West of Scotland (UWS) and Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) are officially launching their new £81 million Ayr Campus at a ceremony on Friday 27 January 2012.

Michael Russell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, together with Lord Jamie Lindsay, Chairman of the SAC Board, and Lord Robert Smith, Chancellor of UWS, will perform the formal launch.

The new 18,000m2 campus, which was developed by UWS in partnership with Scottish Agricultural College (SAC), is situated on the Craigie Estate, next to the River Ayr.

The new campus, part of University of the West of Scotland’s multi-campus £200million development programme, creates a truly innovative learning environment for students.

Developed in consultation with Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the new Campus, which was built by Lend Lease, provides Ayrshire with one of the UK’s most modern, environmentally friendly and sustainable Higher Education learning environments.

The new building is designed to the highest environmental rating – BREEAM Excellent (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) – adopting sustainable strategies within it design and operation.

Professor Seamus McDaid, Principal and Vice Chancellor of University of the West of Scotland, said: “We are delighted to officially launch our new £81 million Ayr Campus which is a landmark development for Scottish higher education and provides our students with an inspirational learning environment.”

Professor Bill McKelvey, Principal of SAC, said: “We are very proud of the new campus, which is the result of a strong partnership between SAC and UWS. By joining forces, the institutions have created a campus that brings great benefits and opportunities for the students who study here, to our staff, to the wider community and to the two institutions as a whole. SAC looks forward to the additional opportunities for collaboration with UWS that this campus opens up. There are exciting opportunities ahead for developing the curriculum and for developing and promoting the campus as a key resource for all of the communities of the West of Scotland.”

Cabinet Secretary for Education Michael Russell said: “Both the college and the university have had a long and fruitful relationship with the town of Ayr and this new development will see their presence greatly enhanced through even closer collaboration.

“This kind of joining up, which will have benefits for both institutions and their students, is precisely the kind of partnership we want to see as we reform Post-16 education in Scotland. And as someone brought up in the neighbouring town of Troon, it is a particular pleasure to see such innovation so close to my former home!”

Mark Batho, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said: “I’m delighted that SFC’s funding has enabled both institutions to come together in this collaborative approach to provide new educational opportunities in the West of Scotland. There is overwhelming evidence that new buildings lead to better learning. This wonderful new campus now gives staff and students from both institutions the opportunity to demonstrate that.”

The £81 million Ayr Campus development includes new student residences, situated adjacent to the Campus.

Scottish Government convenes new Council of Economic Advisers

2012-01-24T16:38:00.004Z

A group of expert economic advisers to the Scottish Government has held its first meeting of the new Parliamentary session.

The first meeting of the new Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) – which includes two Nobel Laureates – focused on the Scottish Government’s priorities of jobs and recovery, internationalisation and economic levers during a six-hour session in Edinburgh.

Eight members of the council joined First Minister Alex Salmond and Finance Secretary John Swinney at Bute House. They were joined via teleconference from New York by Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph Stiglitz, who will also attend a special session of the CEA in Aberdeen next month.

Crawford Beveridge has been appointed to the post of CEA chair.

Mr Salmond said: “The Council of Economic Advisers includes some of the world’s foremost economists, academics and business people – including two Nobel Prize winners.

“They are giving their expertise free of charge to help us develop ways to grow the Scottish economy in the context of tough economic times across the UK and overseas.

“Next week the Scottish Government will publish our consultation on holding an independence referendum, which we will stage in autumn 2014. With independence we will gain the full economic powers required to stimulate the economy on Scotland’s terms.

“But until then we will keep working day and night on job creation and wider economic growth. The Scottish Government is making progress by investing in infrastructure now to stimulate growth and unlock a virtuous cycle of investment, growth, jobs and taxation revenue.

“That approach has helped Scotland weather a recession that was shorter and less sharp than elsewhere in the UK. The advice and experience of the CEA helps enormously to progress these priorities for Scotland.

“Our discussions today will focus on helping grow our economy, encourage job creation and seizing the opportunities available to Scotland internationally. These will continue to be our focus as we move forward.”

Advice from the Council of Economic Advisers has already resulted in a positive impact for Scotland’s recovery – for example, contributing to the Scottish Government’s Economic Recovery Plan and endorsing the government’s approach to capital expenditure as a stimulus for economic growth, which helped Scotland to a recession that was shorter and shallower than in the rest of the UK.

Mr Beveridge said: “The Council of Economic Advisers brings together academics, economists and entrepreneurs to advise the Scottish Government on how to place Scotland among the world’s most competitive economies.

“Today we have discussed the country’s top three priorities as identified by the First Minister – jobs and recovery, internationalisation and economic levers.

“In the coming days the Scottish Government will publish its consultation on holding an independence referendum in autumn 2014, but we are in complete agreement with the First Minister that work goes on day and night until then on these economic priorities.

“My colleagues and I on the CEA look forward to working with the Scottish Government in the coming weeks and months to help grow the economy and give Scotland the best possible competitive edge internationally.”

Music and racing at Ayr Racecourse in aid of STV Appeal

2012-01-19T15:38:00.004Z

A spectacular Charity Racenight combining horse racing and music will be staged at Ayr Racecourse later this year.

The STV Appeal Racenight on Friday 22 June will be the biggest and most glamorous event of its type in Scotland in 2012.

[Pictured: Alan Macdonald, Chairman of Ayr Racecourse.]

Six races will be followed by a live performance from a still to be named headline musical act who will play on an outside stage.

It is hoped a huge amount of money will be raised for the STV Appeal, working to help children affected by poverty in Scotland. Launched in 2011 in association with The Hunter Foundation last year, the STV Appeal raised a fabulous £1.2 million.

Working closely with six major Scottish charities – Aberlour, Action for Children, Barnardo’s Scotland, Children 1st, Save The Children Scotland and One Parent Families Scotland – The STV Appeal now has the platform of Scotland’s premier racecourse.

Welcoming the announcement of the STV Appeal Racenight, Alan Macdonald, Chairman of Ayr Racecourse said: “We are delighted to be working with such a worthwhile cause as the STV Appeal, and I’m sure the racing and non racing public will join forces to make this a night to remember.

“In the past we have attracted major acts like Alexandra Burke, Deacon Blue and Status Quo to the Racecourse, and it’s anticipated the act who will be here in June will be an even bigger name. We are in for a very exciting and successful Charity Racenight.”

Rob Woodward, Chief Executive of STV and Trustee of the STV Appeal (pictured above) said: “We’re thrilled that Ayr Racecourse is planning what promises to be a brilliant night on behalf of the STV Appeal. Events such as this truly help make a difference, and every pound raised at this exciting event will be used to help vulnerable children and young people in Scotland.”

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

LINKS:

www.stv.tv

www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk

www.eliteayrshire.com

South Ayrshire Council welcomes Prestwick International Enterprise Area announcement

2012-01-17T17:38:00.010Z

The Leader of South Ayrshire Council today (Tuesday) welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of Enterprise Area status for Prestwick International, which will boost the area’s potential to create new employment opportunities, stimulate investment and boost economic growth within the aerospace industry.

Prestwick International – together with Creative Clyde in Glasgow – will form one of the first Enterprise Areas in Scotland from April 2012, covering manufacturing and growth sector opportunities.

This means Prestwick International will benefit from specific incentives such as a possible reduction in business rates – the details of which have yet to be finalised – to encourage private investment at the site, which currently accommodates 12 companies in the Scottish aerospace industry.

Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council (pictured above) said: “This is a fantastic boost for Ayrshire, and fully recognises the infrastructure, people and potential we have in our area to continue to grow the aerospace industry as it benefits from this new status.

“Improving access to employment and investment opportunities for people and businesses alike and stimulating economic growth are key commitments for our Council as we continue to work to become the best place for business, tourism and leisure. Enterprise Area status for Prestwick International will be an important factor in helping us achieve that.

“Prestwick International is already home to a number of world-class companies, and Enterprise Area status will make it even more attractive for other businesses to invest in this area. This in turn will help deliver very real benefits that will have a positive impact on our communities, and further contribute to sustained economic growth, not just for South Ayrshire but for the whole of Ayrshire.

“Enterprise Area status will confirm Prestwick International’s place as the home of the Scottish aerospace industry, and we look forward to getting to work with the other key partners involved to make this happen.”

Glasgow Prestwick Airport’s chief executive Iain Cochrane (pictured above) said: “We’re delighted to be part of this important Scotland-wide initiative, as aerospace is one of the UK's highest value-adding manufacturing sectors, and is particularly important to Ayrshire. We look forward to playing our part in boosting the economic growth, both of Ayrshire and Scotland.”

South Ayrshire Council is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

CKD Galbraith offer superb extended farmhouse with outbuildings, commercial premises and landscaped gardens

2012-01-16T17:04:00.005Z

Burntshield Farm is a fabulous equestrian country property sitting in a tranquil rural location about 3 miles from the picturesque village of Sorn, East Ayrshire.

Originally a working farm dating back to mid 1800s, Burntshield has been extended and refurbished to create a most attractive farmhouse with 12.56 acres. There is an adjoining one-bedroom cottage providing a high standard of accommodation, which could be used as a self-catering holiday let or granny annexe.

There are first-class equestrian facilities including stable yard and all-weather riding arena and turnout paddock, and a useful commercial yard area with workshop (3600 sqft). There is a further stone workshop adjoining the farmhouse.

The farmhouse comprises 4 spacious family reception rooms and 4 bedrooms (2 en-suite) and a large farmhouse breakfasting kitchen. For entertaining, the balcony and patio below provide ideal outdoor space.

Finished to the highest standards, there are many fine features including wood panelling, exposed stone walls in the living room and lounge and luxury bathroom fittings. Adjoining the house from the sun room is a former byre with huge potential for extending the house or other uses. This includes a store and office. There are beautiful sheltered landscaped garden grounds with colourful herbaceous borders.

Burntshield Farm is an outstanding property for purchasers with equestrian interests, and will also be of interest to buyers who require workshop or storage space for home working or other commercial purposes in a private situation.

Offers over £725,000 are being sought.

PDF available on www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 200 people in offices in Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.

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’s Ayr Office is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

CKD Galbraith offer former Victorian coach house requiring complete refurbishment

2012-01-15T17:22:00.005Z

Leading independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is marketing a fine substantial Victorian coach house now requiring complete refurbishment, close to the pretty village of Fairfield by Mauchline in Ayrshire.

An imposing property, Nether Failford is an impressive 4 bedroom family house standing in about 2.7 acres. The house surrounds a central courtyard with stabling and garaging with potential for a variety of uses – stabling, studio, a restorer’s workshop or valuable storage.

The house has suffered water damage due to burst pipes and there is also extensive rot problems, as a result the interior of the building requires comprehensive restoration. The accommodation is extensive with about 2066 sq ft on two floors including sitting room, living room, 4 bedrooms (1 en suite), kitchen and utility. There is garaging and stables which can easily be converted to create a substantial country house. Planning permission has been obtained for the conversion of the house and outbuildings to 4 houses for redevelopment.

From the grounds there are fabulous views over rolling countryside. The sides and rear of the house are enclosed by mature gardens, including rhododendrons and a range of mature trees including beech and conifer providing shelter and privacy. There is also a small paddock.

In the late 1800s, the coach house had 2 upper floor flats which were used as living quarters for staff and farm workers working on the estate. Towards the rear of the house, a ewe shrubbery avenue previously lead to the walled garden of the original Failford House.

The impressive Mauchline gorge viaduct over the River Ayr is nearby, and the award-winning public house “The Failford Inn” is just on the doorstep.

The house will attract considerable interest and Nether Failford is an outstanding opportunity to re-create what will be a superb country house.

Offers over £180,000 are being sought.

For further information: Contact Bob Cherry 01292 268181.

PDF available on www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 200 people in offices in Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.

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’s Ayr Office is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Derek Mair tells Elite Ayrshire Business Circle how to prosper in downturn

2012-01-12T19:34:00.006Z

Please join us for the first meeting in 2012 of The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle hosted by Derek Mair of ActionCOACH Business Coaching.

The meeting will be held on Friday 27 January in the Kitchen Showroom Premises of J.S. Geddes, 10-12 West Netherton Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 4BU from 12noon till 2pm and will include:

· An introduction to Business and Leadership Coaching from Derek Mair, where he will share:

· How to succeed in a slow economy and turn the downturn into an opportunity.

· How to massively grow profits, plus improve productivity and commitment of employees.

· How to get more done in less time; strategies to work ON rather than IN your business.

· What is modern leadership and the 6 keys to a winning team

· Questions and Answers

· A brief kitchen showroom tour and talk from Jim Geddes

· A cooking demonstration by a Top Miele Chef with lunch time portion food tasting and refreshments.

· Business Networking

Please respond to: murdochmacdonald@hotmail.com confirming your attendance.

Parking is available in J.S. Geddes customer car park to the right of the Showroom or in Tesco car park behind the showroom.

A new member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, Derek Mair (pictured above) has lived and started multi-million pound business operations across three continents. He has over twenty years corporate experience in various senior global positions including operations, corporate trouble shooting and business development roles. Now a business owner, investor and multiple award winning business and leadership coach, Derek helps empower business leaders to maximise potentials, accelerate results, achieve business excellence and create sustainable wealth.

Tel: 01292 319799
Mob: 07760 754601
E-mail: derekmair@actioncoach.com
Web: www.actioncoach.com/derekmair

Ayr Racecourse book Human League for Scottish Grand National Festival

2012-01-09T21:51:00.006Z

By: Iain Ferguson

ICONIC 80s band The Human League are to play at Ayr Racecourse after racing on Friday 20 April, the opening afternoon of the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival.

The band comprise Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley and they will play a full concert in the Ayrshire Suite at the track.

Human League are best known for the 2 million selling single ‘Don’t You Want Me’ which reached Number 1 at Christmas 1981 and contains the classic line ‘You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar.’ In total the band have worldwide record sales in excess of 20 million.

Their most recent album Credo was released to critical acclaim last March and in addition to appearing at Retro Fests and 80s concerts the Human League continue to tour and the Ayr gig is sure to attract a large crowd.

Ayr Racecourse Sales and Marketing Manager Lindsey Smith commented: “We are looking forward to welcoming The Human League to the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival.

“Their hits are instantly recognisable and they are still touring all over the world which and are a very popular live act – I’m sure this will be a night to remember.”

For further information please contact Iain Ferguson on 01292-294972 or 07795-565691.

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Mafiz Ali announces Burns Supper at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant

2012-01-08T16:33:00.006Z

Celebrity TV chef Mafiz Ali is delighted to announce that he will be holding his very first Burns Supper at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant in Minishant, Ayrshire, Scotland on Tuesday 24 January 2012.

Master of Ceremonies and reciter of Tam O’ Shanter will be Donald Kay, the leading interpreter of Rabbie Burns and his songs and poems.

Piper: Bryce McCulloch

Address to the Haggis: Captain Graham Reith

Immortal Memory: Charlie Weir, past-president Alloway Burns Club

Toast to the Lassies: Archie Thom, past president Mauchline Burns Club

Reply: Catriona Thom

Musical entertainment: Susan Docherty

All the traditions of Burns Suppers will be observed, including the entertainment and the menu of haggis, neeps and tatties, but Mafiz Ali may be adding a few twists and surprises of his own!

The whole evening is very reasonably priced at £24.95 per person, and you can book now by telephoning 01292 441413. .

Mafiz Ali
Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
Ayrshire
KA19 8EX

Tel: 01292 441413
Web: www.ayrspice.info

Ayr Spice Indian Cuisine can be found in the fine old red sandstone Memorial church at the entrance to the picturesque village of Minishant, 5 miles south of Ayr on the A77. The church was erected by the thread magnate Sir Peter Coats of nearby Auchendrane, in loving memory of his wife Glorianna, who died in 1877.

Mafiz Ali enjoyed a busy and successful 2011.

He made two guest appearances on STV’s popular early evening television programme “The Hour” with regular hosts Stephen Jardine and Michelle McManus.

The previous month, Mafiz Ali hosted a very successful luncheon meeting of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, which further enhanced his already growing reputation amongst discerning diners in the local business community.

He put on successful special menus to celebrate Mother’s Day, the Bangladeshi New Year and the Royal Wedding.

In the Spring of the year Mafiz extended the opening hours of Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant, which is now open from 12 noon 10.30pm every day.

For the Summer he introduced a Tandoori Barbecue, at which customers can dine al fresco (weather permitting!) in a family-friendly atmosphere with a tree-house for the kids and ample parking.

In the Autumn the newly refurbished upstairs function room seating 100 people was officially opened by South Ayrshire Deputy Provost Mary Kilpatrick, and Mafiz hosted a Halloween Party for the pupils, parents and teachers of Minishant Primary School

There will be further exciting developments to be announced during the course of 2012 which will cement Ayr Spice’s place as one of the top fine dining experiences in South West Scotland.

ABOUT MAFIZ ALI

Mafiz climbed the ladder to fame when he won a chef of the year award in 1998 and, almost immediately, added one for exceptional hygiene and cleanliness. Newly crowned at Westminster, he was commissioned by the then prime minister, John Major to supply a banquet for his 50th birthday at Number 10 Downing Street.

A replica banquet was then ordered by one of the distinguished guests and sent to New York city. Since then he has sent food elsewhere in the USA and to Japan and Australia in what must be an almost uniquely international takeaway service! He has also catered for numerous celebrities from the world of entertainment and some have vowed to come to his restaurant while they are in Scotland on tour.

It is not widely known that 92% of all “Indian” restaurants in the UK are in fact Bangladeshi, and it was to promote such eating houses and reward young chefs by recognising their talents, that Mafiz founded the “British Bangladeshi National Curry awards” at the Houses of Parliament at Westminster, also in 1998.

Mafiz Ali has been closely associated with charities, notably when he entered the Guinness Book of Records with 4.5 tons of chicken korma, which was then eaten at a charity event. Because of the enormous quantities involved he had to seek the advice of a professional engineer for the technical realisation of the project.

No stranger to TV, Mafiz has been invited to return to STV for further programmes in the future. Channel 4, Big Breakfast TV and several others including Bangladeshi TV on which he has his own programme, number among the other stations for whom he has appeared, and he has made double that number of radio broadcasts, as well as contributing to many publications including the Times and Daily Mirror.

Enquiries:

Mafiz Ali
Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
Ayrshire
KA19 8EX

Tel: 01292 441413
Web: www.ayrspice.info

Issued by the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

ARPL Architects win third award for Colmonell Primary School design

2012-01-05T19:30:00.009Z

Colmonell Primary School has won another prestigious award, the Glasgow Institute of Architecture Gold Award, which acknowledges the innovative and unique design of the school.

The school previously scooped two silver awards in the annual Roses Design Awards for its iconic and outstanding design.

The £1.5 million eco-friendly primary school in Colmonell features a grass roof and environmentally friendly credentials. Built using sustainable building materials, high levels of insulation and low cost heating powered by air source heat pumps. – the new is proving to be a hit with pupils, staff and the local community.

The award went to ARPL Architects, who designed the school to accommodate 50 pupils in two composite classes and a nursery class for 10 children. The school has spacious teaching area, a dining and sports hall, a central open area with a library and a variety of spaces for the staff.

South Ayrshire Council Portfolio Holder for Lifelong Learning Hywel Davies said: “I am delighted that Colmonell Primary School has won such a prestigious award.

“We asked for a sustainable school that would serve the village into the future, and that is exactly what we got.

“The school has an innovative design which enables the children to learn in an environmentally friendly building which minimises energy use. The interior space utilises natural daylight and ventilation, providing a healthy environment for the children.

“This school is an outstanding success, the pupils and staff enjoy learning and teaching there, parents and local residents are happy with it, it is everything that we planned for and more.

“The school is a credit to the architects, designers, builders and agencies involved in its creation, and thoroughly deserving of the plaudits received.

“Everyone who worked on creating this school created a rural school which meets all the educational needs of the children in an innovative way.

“For the school to receive a Glasgow Institute of Architecture Gold Award is truly outstanding, the pupils currently being educated there and generations to come will enjoy learning in this iconic building.”

Yvonne Templeton, Head Teacher of Colmonell Primary School said: “I am delighted that our school has won a Glasgow Institute of Architecture Gold Award.

“The pupils and staff really enjoy learning and interacting in such an innovative and unique school, it has made such a difference to us and the local community.”

Gordon Fleming, the director of ARPL Architects who designed the school, said: “We are delighted with winning a third award for Colmonell School. The recognition for the innovative design is a great compliment for our school work, and adds to the appreciation we have received from the village community and South Ayrshire Council.”

ARPL Architects Ltd

The directors of ARPL Architects Ltd are Patrick Lorimer, Robert Gilliland, Gordon Fleming, and Rebecca Cadie with John Ramsay, Stewart Glendinning and Kenneth Handley as associates.

The ARPL philosophy is to produce buildings to the highest design standards in close consultation with its clients. Designs are innovative and sympathetic to both the immediate and the broader environment in which they are constructed, with an emphasis on sustainability. Each project embraces the unique nature of the client’s needs and the site.

Over the 36 years since Patrick Lorimer established the original practice, ARPL’s status in the profession has grown steadily in line with its position as a medium-sized practice with a reputation for well executed projects. From its base in Ayr the practice carries out projects over a wide geographical area from the Orkneys and the Western Isles to Ireland.

The firm’s project experience covers the fields of housing, churches, schools, commercial projects, private houses, community and arts buildings. Particular expertise has been developed in contemporary sustainable design, specialist conservation works and design for historically sensitive environments.

ARPL’s work has received wide recognition through numerous design and environmental awards presented over the years for its new build and conservation works. Regular success in design competitions adds to the practice portfolio.

ARPL are currently working on new and refurbishment housing for Lochside, Ayr, several church and castle conservation and restoration projects and new community facilities in the South West of Scotland. Appointments for church commissions involve a range of denominations and projects from conservation and repair to extensions and new build. The firm is also involved in country houses and estates and the design of new houses for private owners.

The practice typically handles projects with construction values ranging from £100k through to £15m.

ARPL directors have managed to keep their business stable during the current difficult times, and have a busy current workload.

ARPL Architects Ltd
Architects and Quantity Surveyors
11 Wellington Square
Ayr KA7 1EN

Contact: Patrick Lorimer
Tel: 01292 289777
Fax: 01292 288896
E-mail: plorimer@arpl.co.uk
Web: www.arpl.co.uk

ARPL Architects is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Owen Kerr Signs points entrance to Gaiety Theatre café bar

2012-01-04T16:29:00.007Z

Ayr-based visual communications experts Owen Kerr Signs ended the year 2011 on a high note, firstly by erecting the signage for The Stage Door, the new café bar at the Gaiety Theatre, and then once again sponsoring and running the Owen Kerr Signs Christmas Banner Competition for schoolchildren in Ayrshire.

The improvement works underway at the Gaiety will create a new fully functioning café/bar and box office as the first stage towards the reopening of the theatre complex.

This will establish a flexible facility that can be used for stand-alone events in a fabulous, modern and purpose-built space.

Ian Welsh, Chair of the Ayr Gaiety Partnership, said: “We are keen to re-establish the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr as a must-visit venue for local people and visitors to the area, and the opening of a fully licensed café/bar will give them their first chance to come through our doors since the theatre closed in 2009.

“The Gaiety lies at the heart of the town, and the new café/bar will be a welcome place to meet – whether for morning coffee, a light snack, lunch, or dinner or just a couple of drinks.

“This is yet another step forward in our exciting project to reopen the Gaiety and I hope that, once the café/bar opens, as many people as possible will pop in and enjoy this fantastic new facility for the town.”

Councillor Margaret Toner, South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure added: “The opening of the new style café/bar at the Gaiety will bring a very welcome boost to our local economy. It will create jobs and provide a new place for people to meet and enjoy themselves in colourful comfortable surroundings.

“The café/bar is conveniently situated close to parking and the bus station, so residents and visitors coming into Ayr town centre, day or night, will be able to easily get access and I'm sure it will prove to be a popular place to go.”

Commenting on completing the signage for the Stage Door café restaurant at the Gaiety Theatre, Owen Kerr said: “When I left school in 1980 I served my time as a scenic artist with Ben Popplewell & Sons Scenic Studios based in River Street, Ayr.

“I worked on scenery for theatres all over Scotland, but spent much of my time painting backdrops on the paint rail high above the stage at Ayr Gaiety. I left Popplewell’s to start my own sign making business in 1983, and now almost 30 years later own and run Ayrshire’s biggest and longest established sign and display company.

“The experience I gained whilst working for Popplewell’s has proved invaluable throughout this time, and is the foundation of my sign-making skills.

“I have never forgotten the great times I had and the interesting people I met whilst painting and building scenery. Ayr Gaiety has always been close to my heart and it’s great to be involved in the renaissance of this famous Scottish Theatre.”

Owen Kerr Signs Christmas Banner Competition

Every year Owen Kerr Signs runs a competition for school children to design a banner to go up in Ayr as part of the Christmas festivities.

Talented young artist Jack McWhirter a P5 pupil from Straiton Primary School won the Owen Kerr Signs Christmas Banner Competition 2011 with an outstanding design.

[Pictured: Jack McWhirter, who won the Owen Kerr Signs Christmas Banner Competition with an outstanding design, pictured with Scott Sinclair from Owen Kerr Signs.]

Jack’s artwork was placed on banners which were displayed in Station Road in Ayr.

Jack visited Scott Sinclair at Owen Kerr signs in Ayr to see where his banner was made and to accept one of the banners from Scott. Jack said: “It was really exciting seeing my design made up into a huge banner. I hope people enjoy looking at it, I had great fun designing it.”

Owen Kerr Signs

Owen Kerr Signs was established in 1982 and over the years has built a reputation as one of Scotland’s premier visual communication experts. The firm’s experience and knowledge allow it to offer effective signage solutions saving customers time, money and hassle.

Operating from a 5000 square foot factory in Ayr Owen Kerr Signs has continued to invest in the very latest sign making and digital printing technology. Services include the design, manufacture and installation of signage, digital print, exhibition & display, canopies & awnings and 3M accredited vehicle livery.

The firm delivers top quality products and service and offers a 3-year guarantee and a comprehensive after sales service.

Contact:

Owen Kerr Signs
48 Green Street Lane,
Ayr KA8 8BH
Scotland.

Telephone: 0044 (0)1292 281000
Facsimile: 0044 (0)1292 285000
Website: www.owenkerr.com

Owen Kerr Signs is a member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Double header heralds in the New Year at Ayr Racecourse

2011-12-26T15:23:00.006Z

By: Iain Ferguson

Ayr Racecourse brings in the New Year with a double header race meeting - the New Year Festival race meeting on Monday 2 January and Tuesday 3 January.

The opening day’s feature race is The Bet Mobile At Victorchandler.com Handicap Chase over 2 miles 4 furlongs due off at 1.55pm with a prize fund of £8700 and is sure to attract a healthy field.

This is followed half an hour later with the Bet Live At Victorchandler.com Handicap Hurdle also over 2 miles 4 furlongs and the final race of the afternoon is the 3 mile Best Odds Guaranteed At Victor Chandler Novices Handicap Hurdle at 3.35pm.

First race on Monday is at 12.20pm with the gates open at 11.00am.

Tuesday’s action is due off at 12.35pm with the Victorchandler.com Juvenile Hurdle over 2 miles. The main event on the day is the Bet Mobile At Victorchandler.com Handicap Chase over 3 miles 1 furlong and gates open at 11.00am.

Find out more about the New Year fixtures at Ayr Racecourse here http://www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk/the-races/fixtures

For further information please contact Iain Ferguson on 01292-294972 or 07795-565691.

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Ayr Racecourse makes it eight awards in a row

2011-12-24T00:18:00.007Z

By: Iain Ferguson

Corks were popping at Ayr Racecourse when it was announced that the track had been voted Racecourse of the Year 2011 for Scotland and the North East by The Racegoers Club.

It is the eighth consecutive year the accolade has been bestowed on Ayr, and underlines the course’s status as the premier racecourse in Scotland and the country’s only Grade 1 track.

The fantastic run of awards dates back to 2004, the first full year current owners Alan Macdonald and Richard Johnstone were at the helm.

Ayr has thrived, and as well as staging Scotland’s two most prestigious Festivals - the Coral Scottish Grand National Festival in April and the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Festival in September - many major music acts have appeared at the course, including Alexandra Burke, Deacon Blue, Status Quo, The Saw Doctors, Stacey Solomon and The Overtones.

In addition, facilities at the track have greatly improved in both Club and Grandstand areas. All racecourse catering has been in house for the last 6 years, and is currently headed by renowned executive chef Donald McInnes.

The Racegoers Club has more than 6,500 members who are all active racegoers. Ayr has now won the award 18 times since 1990.

Ayr Racecourse sales and marketing manager Lindsey Smith said: “It is a great honour to have won this award again, which means we are retaining our popularity with our core audience. I’d like to thank everyone at the Racegoer;s Club who voted for us.”

To find out more about racing at Ayr you can visit www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk or call 01292-264179.

For further information please contact Iain Ferguson on 01292-294972 or 07795-565691.

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Christmas Message from John Scott, MSP for Ayr

2011-12-22T18:00:00.004Z

I am grateful for this opportunity to wish all local people a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Most of us will enjoy the festive period with our family and friends, but many others will not be able to share Christmas with their loved ones. This may be because they are working in our emergency services, such as the NHS, police or fire service, or because their family are members of our armed forces and stationed abroad. At this time of year it is important that we remember them and thank them for their work on our behalf.

Christmas is also a time to take particular care of those who are elderly, ill or alone. The best present can often be as simple as a kind act, a helping hand or just some company.

It is the love, compassion and companionship of our friends and neighbours that enrich us in the most meaningful way, and that is a lesson we should embrace not only at Christmas but all year around.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas and a very happy and, most importantly, peaceful New Year.

John Scott, MSP for Ayr

Christmas Message from South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan

2011-12-21T20:39:00.002Z

The days are growing shorter; the dark winter nights are growing longer and Christmas is now drawing upon us. Christmas remains a magical time and each and everyone is entitled to feel the warm glow of humanity touching us all, as well as, raising our hearts and spirits.

The past year has resulted in challenges unseen in decades. But the human spirit of resourcefulness and resilience has helped overcome many of the difficult days we've all encountered. The continuing global financial crisis has caused deep concern for individuals and businesses alike and we all hope 2012 will result in greater financial stability and security for our families.

Christmas remains a time for families to re-engage and share those cherished moments. It's a special time for young children to enjoy the wonder of Christmas activities and share the general excitement and the bestowing of family gifts. A childhood Christmas is an enduring part of our lives; something we all cherish and appreciate with the passing years.

However, there will be many families this year who will be unable to reunite with their loved ones. In particular, we think of our service men and women on active duty in Afghanistan. Sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, grandparents, husbands, wives and sweethearts will be separated over the forthcoming festive season.

We acknowledge the pain of their separation, especially those on active duty with small children, and look forward to their safe return to family, friends and loved ones in the near future. Our support to these brave men and women will help maintain their families over the forthcoming weeks and months.

We also acknowledge the work of those closer to home. Our emergency services are on duty for 365 days of the year and the work of the police, ambulance and fire service continues to safeguard our homes and families over the Christmas period. We should also acknowledge the work of social services, care-workers, hospital-staff, doctors and nurses, who help care for the sick, young, elderly, frail and vulnerable members of our community. Christmas is about caring – and sharing. Please spare a thought for the vulnerable or an elderly person who may not have relatives close to home. Just check up on a neighbour and ensure all's well. Caring; is a gift in itself.

The true message of Christmas has a special meaning. It touches all our hearts and makes us all appreciate the values of Christianity. The wonder of a small child opening presents on Christmas morning; the warmth and appreciation of parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts; and the thoughtful gifts of appreciation to family and loved ones. It's a time of joyous fun, kindness, and consideration as well as a coming together of family and friends.

Let's ensure Christmas 2011 brings warmth and appreciation to everyone within our community. And remember; let's think of others as well as ourselves. Finally, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in South Ayrshire, a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

Provost Winifred D. Sloan

Christmas Message from Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council

2011-12-21T20:06:00.005Z

As Leader of South Ayrshire Council I have been looking back on 2011 and through hard work, determination and commitment a lot has been achieved.

2011 started with very cold weather, when our roads maintenance teams did an outstanding job, out in horrendous weather gritting roads to keep people moving in and around South Ayrshire. Their dedication is the same type that employees across the Council show while carrying out their duties, determined to do the best possible job they can.

Like every household across the country, we have to ensure we use every penny of the funding available to us as wisely as possible, and are committed to doing this.

We have made it quite clear that our aim is to be the most improved Council in Scotland and we have achieved this by being ambitious, forward thinking and responsive.

Being responsive is vital, which is why we carry out consultations or invite people across South Ayrshire to give us their opinions on a range of topics including customer services, land use, parking, access for dogs, housing and much more.

I would like to thank everyone who has taken part in any of our consultations during 2011, your input has helped to shape the future of our services.

We have achieved so much this year across all our services: we built the first new Council houses in the area for more than 30 years; a new £1.5 million eco-friendly primary school – the first of its kind in the South Ayrshire Council area – opened in Colmonell; our Customer Contact Centre, which has dealt with over 100,000 calls from the people of South Ayrshire and beyond celebrated its first birthday; we introduced paying for parking by phone at some of our car parks and exceptional academic achievements at primary and secondary schools.

These are just a few of the outstanding things that, working together with communities across South Ayrshire we have achieved. I could go on, this is just a flavour of our accomplishments.

In 2012 we will face many challenges and we have to work together to deal with them. If we work together in partnership we will be much stronger and achieve so much more.

In May there will be local elections, when people across South Ayrshire will have the chance to select the people who they would like to represent them as Councillors. None of us know what the results of the elections will be, or what the make-up of the Council will be.

However, I am certain of one thing, that the Council is on the path to success and that it will go from strength to strength in the future.

On behalf of the Council, I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Councillor Bill McIntosh

CKD Galbraith reports that Scotland’s property letting market is booming

2011-12-18T15:59:00.006Z

The lettings market for residential property in Scotland, including Ayrshire is thriving according to Scotland’s leading independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith, as many would-be property owners are continuing to rent during uncertain economic times.

The firm, with six regional lettings divisions throughout Scotland, has reported a higher than average rental value than the Scottish national average, with demand remaining strong in the lettings sector where lending is still somewhat stringent in some segments of the market.

CKD Galbraith’s latest lettings report for Quarter3 (July-Sep) highlighted average rental values of £701 per calendar month (pcm) with it taking on average 36 days to let out properties. During the same period, Citylets reported that the Scottish national average rental price was £670pcm with the average property being let out within 38 days of coming to market.

2011’s Scottish national average is an all time high and is up 3.2% on Quarter3 2010, research by Citylets shows.

CKD Galbraith’s regional offices reported the following average rental values for Quarter3, which takes into account the full range of properties let out by the firm in the area:

* Ayr – average rent of £636pcm

Average time to let out a property – 35 days

* Galashiels (covering the Scottish Borders) – average rent of £558pcm

Average time to let out a property – 49 days

* Inverness (covering Inverness-shire and the Highlands)– average rent of £572pcm

Average time to let out a property – 28 days

* Cupar (covering Kingdom of Fife) – average rent of £903pcm

Average time to let out a property - 49 days

* Perth – average rent of £715pcm

Average time to let out a property – 42 days

* Stirling (covering Glasgow and Stirling areas) – average rent of £823pcm

Average time to let out a property – 15 days

Shirley Kenyon, head of CKD Galbraith’s lettings department, said: “Demand for private rental properties is showing no sign of decline and the choice of accommodation for tenants is increasing as more rental properties come on to the market. These rental levels are area specific due to regional market conditions but demonstrate an excellent return on capital investment for landlords.

“There is no doubt that the swell in popularity of rented accommodation is caused by the continuing difficulties that would be homeowners are facing in financing their first purchase. However, more recently there has been an emergence of a new sector in the lettings market - an increasing number of middle aged owners taking the decision to sell their family home and rent, particularly in the middle to top end of the property market, whilst they monitor market conditions or alternatively decide to have less responsibilities, more disposable income, and take the positive decision to rent for the remainder of their life.”

As we enter the New Year, CKD Galbraith envisages the lettings market to remain robust and already have a number of properties covering all categories across the country lined up to come onto the market for 2012.

Currently for let through CKD Galbraith:

* 82 Doonfoot Road, Ayr (pictured above): Spacious family home with 4/5 bedrooms located in excellent area of Doonfootwith easy access to Ayr & A77 - £1,100 pcm

* Pumpherston Farmhouse, West Lothian (pictured above): A substantial five bedroom farmhouse recently refurbished and situated in mature garden grounds - £1250 pcm

* 5 Collairnie Cottage, Collairnie, Cupar: A charming two bedroom detached country cottage enjoying country views over farmland - £650 pcm

* Charleston, Stanley, Perthshire: Traditional four bedroom farmhouse set in 1.5 acres offering spacious and flexible accommodation - £1295 pcm

* 1 Bluecairn Cottages, Bowhill, Scottish Borders: Traditional semi-detached country cottage on Bowhill Estate recently redecorated offering three bedrooms - £425 pcm

* The Old Post Office, Glen Mazeran, Tomatin Inverness-shire: Beautiful converted old post office offering comfortable accommodation in a peaceful rural location - £675 pcm

CKD Galbraith’s lettings division recently became a SAFEagent thus being able to guarantee that tenants’ and landlords’ money is protected by a client money protection scheme.

The firm has also introduced QR (quick response) codes which enables smart phone users to gain instant access to particular properties available on the firm’s lettings website, relevant to the area in which they are seeking residential property to rent. A marketing tool which CKD Galbraith believes has led to a reduction in the average time taken to let out properties.

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 200 people in offices in Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.

CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Celebrity chef Mafiz Ali announces Burns Supper at Ayr Spice

2011-12-08T20:35:00.005Z

TV celebrity chef Mafiz Ali (pictured below) is delighted to announce that he will be holding his very first Burns Supper at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant in Minishant, Ayrshire on Tuesday 24 January.

Master of Ceremonies will be Donald Kay, (pictured below) the leading interpreter of Rabbie Burns and his songs and poems.

All the traditions of Burns Suppers will be observed, including the entertainment and the menu of haggis, neeps and tatties, but Mafiz Ali may be adding a few twists and surprises of his own!

The whole evening is very reasonably priced at £24.95 per person, and you can book now by telephoning 01292 441413. .

Mafiz Ali
Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
Ayrshire
KA19 8EX

Tel: 01292 441413
Web: www.ayrspice.info

Ayr Spice Indian Cuisine can be found in the fine old red sandstone Memorial church at the entrance to the picturesque village of Minishant, 5 miles south of Ayr on the A77. The church was erected by the thread magnate Sir Peter Coats of nearby Auchendrane, in loving memory of his wife Glorianna, who died in 1877.

Mafiz Ali has enjoyed a busy and successful 2011.

He has made two guest appearances on STV’s popular early evening television programme “The Hour” with regular hosts Stephen Jardine and Michelle McManus.

The previous month, Mafiz Ali hosted a very successful luncheon meeting of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, which further enhanced his already growing reputation amongst discerning diners in the local business community.

He has also already this year put on successful special menus to celebrate Mother’s Day, the Bangladeshi New Year and the Royal Wedding.

In the Spring of this year Mafiz extended the opening hours of Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant, which is now open from 12 noon 10.30pm every day.

For the Summer he introduced a Tandoori Barbecue, at which customers can dine al fresco (weather permitting!) in a family-friendly atmosphere with a tree-house for the kids and ample parking.

In the Autumn the newly refurbished upstairs function room seating 100 people was officially opened by South Ayrshire Deputy Provost Mary Kilpatrick, and Mafiz hosted a Halloween Party for the pupils, parents and teachers of Minishant Primary School

There will be further exciting developments to be announced during the course of the next few months which will cement Ayr Spice’s place as one of the top fine dining experiences in South West Scotland.

A set of photographs recalling some of the highlights of 2011 for Mafiz Ali at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant in Minishant in Ayrshire, Scotland can be found on Flickr. CLICK HERE.

ABOUT MAFIZ ALI

Mafiz climbed the ladder to fame when he won a chef of the year award in 1998 and, almost immediately, added one for exceptional hygiene and cleanliness. Newly crowned at Westminster, he was commissioned by the then prime minister, John Major to supply a banquet for his 50th birthday at Number 10 Downing Street.

A replica banquet was then ordered by one of the distinguished guests and sent to New York city. Since then he has sent food elsewhere in the USA and to Japan and Australia in what must be an almost uniquely international takeaway service! He has also catered for numerous celebrities from the world of entertainment and some have vowed to come to his restaurant while they are in Scotland on tour.

It is not widely known that 92% of all “Indian” restaurants in the UK are in fact Bangladeshi, and it was to promote such eating houses and reward young chefs by recognising their talents, that Mafiz founded the “British Bangladeshi National Curry awards” at the Houses of Parliament at Westminster, also in 1998.

Mafiz Ali has been closely associated with charities, notably when he entered the Guinness Book of Records with 4.5 tons of chicken korma, which was then eaten at a charity event. Because of the enormous quantities involved he had to seek the advice of a professional engineer for the technical realisation of the project.

No stranger to TV, Mafiz has been invited to return to STV for further programmes in the future. Channel 4, Big Breakfast TV and several others including Bangladeshi TV on which he has his own programme, number among the other stations for whom he has appeared, and he has made double that number of radio broadcasts, as well as contributing to many publications including the Times and Daily Mirror.

Enquiries:

Mafiz Ali
Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
Ayrshire
KA19 8EX

Tel: 01292 441413
Web: www.ayrspice.info

South Ayrshire Council recognise employees who went the extra mile

2011-12-06T20:06:00.009Z

What do a cleansing operative, a libraries team, a cemetery worker, Girvan Resource Centre team and an apprentice plasterer all have in common?

They were named this week as South Ayrshire Council Outstanding People Award winners at a ceremony in Ayr Town Hall.

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The Outstanding People Awards is the Council’s reward and recognition scheme and celebrates those employees who go the extra mile to deliver the highest quality of service to residents and colleagues across South Ayrshire.

A total of fifteen individual and team nominations were shortlisted as finalists in five categories – Service Excellence, Innovation, Equalities in Action, Sustainability and Inspirational Young Employee.

The finalists were selected throughout the year from more than 130 nominations from Council employees and members of the public.

Selecting the Outstanding People Awards winners was a difficult task for the judging panel – made up of representatives from across the Council – as each person was a worthy finalist.

David Anderson, Chief Executive said: “The Outstanding People Awards not only recognised the best of our employees within the Council but the outstanding people who work in every corner of our organisation. The finalists and the winners are all terrific ambassadors for the Council and they should all be proud of what they have achieved.”

Councillor McIntosh, Leader of the Council said: “I believe it is important to recognise the positive contribution our employees make to the Council and to the lives of people across South Ayrshire. The energy, enthusiasm, dedication, drive, positivity and desire to be the best they can be made these employees stand out from the crowd.”

South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan said: “I travel the length and breadth of South Ayrshire, meeting employees, volunteer groups and people within our communities, something I really enjoy. I get a lot of pleasure when people I meet tell me how great they think our employees are, and how much they appreciate the services we deliver.

An organisation is only as good as its employees and the employees of South Ayrshire Council set very high standards.”

The Outstanding People Awards 2011 finalists and winners (with details of the reasons for their nomination) are:

Service Excellence
• Clive Price
• Munch Crunch
• Gavin Welsh

Winner: Clive Price

Clive is a Cleansing Operative stationed in Ayr and he has been nominated for his dedication, commitment and quality of workmanship.

Clive’s nominees have described him as a gentleman who goes about his business without any drama or fuss and who is extremely well thought of by his work colleagues.

Residents regularly comment on how much they value Clive and his dedication to doing a job well. Recently the service received a letter from an appreciative resident, and Clive was also recognised in the Kincaidston Newsletter for his positive contribution to building a strong community. Clive’s valued work within the local area is appreciated by residents and visitors to the Kincaidston district who regularly remark on the excellent standards to which he works.

Innovation
• Clare Kennedy
• Libraries Team
• Get on Your Bike Team

Winner: Libraries Team

The Libraries Team is based in locations across South Ayrshire and are nominated for the outstanding contribution they have made to the E-Book Revolution.

The team’s work has resulted in South Ayrshire being the first Council in Scotland to provide a free e-book and e-audio book download service to library users, and in September this year the Team led South Ayrshire to be the first Council in the World to publish an e-book in a range of formats that could be borrowed via the e-book lending service and downloaded from Amazon. The new service means that library users no longer need to visit the library – they can download books anywhere, at any time.

This nomination acknowledges the bold step taken by South Ayrshire Council to embrace the e-book revolution and the concept of moving into the e-age has been driven forward enthusiastically and positively by the Libraries Team.

Equalities in Action
• Linda Hall
• Margaret Catterall and Susan Hughes
• Girvan Resource Centre Team

Winner: Girvan Resource Centre

The Girvan Resource Centre Team have been nominated for the work they have been doing to ensure the Girvan Opportunities project is a success.

Following the withdrawal of Ayr College Further Education services in Girvan for people with learning difficulties, the Girvan Resource Team developed a tertiary curriculum to be delivered locally by staff and volunteers. As you can see, the team get involved with all activities much to the appreciation and benefit of their clients.

Girvan Opportunities offers courses that develop social, employment and independent living skills and it is the hard work and determination of everyone in the Team that is to be celebrated with this nomination.

Sustainability
• Anne Smillie
• Street Lighting Project Team
• John Fergusson

Winner: John Fergusson

John is a Cemetery Worker who has been nominated for his inspiring ideas that are helping to promote wildlife diversity in cemeteries and crematoriums across South Ayrshire.

John has been working hard with Scottish Natural Heritage and has a pilot project operating which has included planting a variety of bulbs, as well as fitting a number of nesting boxes to attract a wide variety of wildlife within the Cemetery. John is preparing to roll this great project out across other cemeteries and crematoriums in South Ayrshire with plans to link in to local primary schools to promote a wider understanding of the environment.

Described as respectful, hardworking, kind and always ready to lend a hand or a word of advice, John’s idea has been a huge success which has been demonstrated by sightings of red squirrel, and the even more elusive Holly Blue butterfly. John has started a project that will have a positive impact, which will echo through the community for generations to come.

Inspirational Young Employee of the Year
• Kirsty Gerrish
• Kristofor Breingan
• Sarah Crawford

Winner: Kristofor Breingan

Kristofor is a craft apprentice training to be a qualified plasterer. Having established himself as an apprentice who was keen to learn all aspect of the trade, Kristofor has been nominated for his positive attitude towards his work and training.

Kristofor’s pleasant good humour and willingness to learn has made him very popular with his colleagues and both his apprentice reviews and college reports are always excellent.

Having won the Reid Kerr College apprentice of the year earlier this year, Kristofor has made a positive impact in the workplace which is to be celebrated as he has made himself an asset to the service.

South Ayrshire Council is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Christmas in style in a Scottish castle or country cottage!

2011-12-05T18:17:00.009Z

A Christmas break in a cosy cottage with a log fire in the beautiful Scottish countryside is hard to beat, whilst spending New Year in an idyllic country mansion or stunning castle with a group of friends is the perfect way to see in the New Year in style.

Celebrating a festive getaway in Scotland need not break the bank as many stunning castles, large country retreats or cosy cottages can be all yours at a reasonable price, with some good discounts available through Cottages & Castles Ltd.

Cottages and Castles, Scotland’s specialist holiday lettings agency, has experienced an increasing trend this year from large groups of family and friends booking Scottish castles and country mansions over the Christmas and New Year period, as they are one of the most affordable options, according to manager Sue Bourne.

To stay in some of the most spectacular large rural properties available in Scotland, it can cost as little as £20 per person per night.

Sue said: “In a difficult economic period, booking a self-catering holiday in Scotland allows people to control their own costs for food and drink without having to pay high prices at bars and hotels. Our customers, both from home and abroad, love the individual touch and the unusual settings that our properties can offer, especially over the festive period – and what could be better than your very own Hogmanay Ceilidh in a stunning Scottish castle!

“This year has seen a number of bookings where people are coming in from all over the world to meet in a Scottish house to celebrate Hogmanay, with the added appeal of the chance of some winter snow.”

Holidaymaker Charles Morrison has been booking New Year breaks through Cottages & Castles for three years now as part of a large group of friends. Charles said: “We have booked a variety of properties in the past and this year we’re staying in Loch Avich House, a large Victorian Lodge in Taynuilt, Argyll. The advantage of booking self-catering is the space a large exclusive house offers and the ability to be with close friends in a relaxed private environment where we can also do our own cooking, which we find very sociable.

“Living near London it’s nice to escape the city life at this time of year. As our group of friends live all over the country, New Year is the ideal time to get together and there’s no better place to celebrate Hogmanay than in the beautiful Scottish countryside.”

An enviable range of properties to suit all tastes and budgets is still available over the festive period through Cottages & Castles. Some of the best deals for large groups include:

* The Shieling - Troon, Ayrshire – sleeps 10 - Christmas week £2500 and New Year week £2750.

The Shieling is set in an exclusive and beautiful area of Troon and is a formerly Gardener’s House to a large Victorian House, which benefits from mature vistas, privacy and a real sense of calm. A mere walk from the famous championship golf course, seaside or woodland walks, this house really is a perfect base to enjoy the countryside, especially over the festive period. The house itself has been renovated and extended to an exceptionally high standard and it is designed to ensure you have a wonderfully sociable stay with the many attractive public rooms leading on to each other and to the gardens – you’ll certainly feel that you are living in five star comfort. As well as the numerous golf courses, you can visit spectacular Culzean Castle, explore Burns Country, take advantage of the excellent local restaurants and see the beautiful Troon marina. CLICK HERE

* River Lodge, Inverness – sleeps 12 - £5000 for Christmas or New Year week with short breaks over festive period available from £3750.

River Lodge is a five star luxury property which offers exceptional holiday accommodation in a tranquil wooded location between Loch Ness and the city of Inverness. The lodge enjoys picturesque views over the River Ness providing an ideal retreat, perfect for large groups. The lounge with its truly magnificent fireplace and double height cathedral ceiling forms the centre point of the property with the grand picture window allowing guests to marvel at the breathtaking views over this famous river. CLICK HERE

* Glenfeochan House, near Oban – sleeps 14 - New Year week reduced from £3900 to £3600.

Glenfeochan House is in a wonderfully secluded positioned on a private estate overlooking its own lake with glorious views to Loch Feochan yet only five miles from the harbour town of Oban. This impressive baronial-style house has tremendous character and history and is furnished to the highest standard. The drawing room offers sumptuous leather seating and open log fire and stunning views across the loch is sure to create the backdrop to memorable evenings. The private tennis court, well equipped gym, snooker table, table tennis and table football will offer hours of entertainment whilst the rowing boats on the private seven-acre lake or walks round the walled garden and Victorian Arboretum offer some tranquil afternoons. CLICK HERE

* Burgie House - Burgie, near Forres – sleeps 25 - Christmas week was £3000 now only £2250

A large beautiful country house set amidst 1500 acres, Burgie House is a welcoming and family friendly holiday house that is perfect for a large group offering an abundance of charm and character. This much loved family house includs a wonderful basement billiard room and a fantastic Ceilidh room – a great ‘play area’ for young and old. Outside, there are beautiful grounds complete with Arboretum and lochans, paddocks (you can bring your own horse if you wish), natural woodlands and walking/cycling tracks as well as large lawns and BBQ areas. Burgie can offer you field sports on the estate, catering for all or some of your meals if you prefer not to self-cater and some housekeeping should you wish. CLICK HERE

* Easterheughs Castle – Aberdour – sleeps 10 – Christmas week £3900and New Year week £4600

Grade A listed Easterheughs Castle is situated high above the Firth of Forth and enjoys a dramatic and breathtaking location with views of Edinburgh Castle. The tower holds many architectural surprises and is immersed in history and to add to the prestige, the castle was once the home of the famous Scottish painter Jack Vettriano. The interior of the castle is immaculate and full of character and the accommodation is beautiful and boasts traditional atmospheric steep twisty stair cases. The master bedroom has sole access onto an outside turreted terrace complete with cannons for protection! The grand drawing room has a cleverly hidden false door which leads to a small movie cinema whilst the timber lined dining room is charming and lends itself nicely to formal dinner parties or even a Scottish ceilidh. CLICK HERE

For more information on all properties available over the festive period through Cottages & Castles CLICK HERE or call 01738 451610.

About Cottages & Castles Ltd

Cottages and Castles Ltd is Scotland’s specialist holiday lettings company with over 600 properties in its portfolio. The firm’s dedication and attention to detail has made them one of the largest self catering companies in Scotland offering an enviable range of holiday cottages, exclusive large houses, holiday castles, Scottish mansions and country lodges.

The firm is operated by CKD Galbraith, one of Scotland’s leading independent property consultancies with 12 regional offices throughout Scotland.

CKD Galbraith's Ayr Office is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Training provider JB Management targets new business opportunities in China

2011-12-01T19:06:00.008Z

Ayr-based training provider JB Management has returned from its initial trip to China, in the course of which operations manager Kellie Zdanowicz and business development consultant Meiqin McColm met with new and existing partners in a quest to develop business in China.

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This initial visit also encompassed visits to Shanghai and Dongying where various partnership and commercial opportunities were explored. Kellie and Meiqin are pictured above with representatives of the Self Examination Board in China. Kellie and Meiqin explained this meeting was very beneficial to JB Management as it provided an insight to vocational learning, accreditation and certification in China.

Another fascinating meeting attended by JB Management was to a vocational college in Dongying (pictured above). Dongying is a relatively new city in China which is heavily invested in oil and gas. Kellie and Meiqin both explained that this was another useful exercise in understanding how to promote work-based qualifications in China.

JB Management has now rebranded its international division as QQI (Quality Qualifications International). Please visit the new website www.qqi.cn.com for further information.

JB Management has been supported by Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Scottish Development International (SDI) in developing the international arm of the business. Mark Newlands from SDI is pictured below with JB Management business development manager Chris Merry.

Mark explained SDI is pleased to support QQI’s business interests in China and will continue to support QQI in all industrial areas of interest. Mark further explained SDI firmly support the transfer of Scottish innovation, knowledge and skills into Chinese industry and will continue this key theme throughout the upcoming visit of QQI to China.

JB Management managing director Bill Ure explained that the initial trip uncovered various opportunities that the company are keen to investigate further. This is clear from the latest news that JB Management will be returning to Beijing on 4 December 2011 to attend an event being held in honour of and attended by Scotland’s First Minister. JB Management’s Business Development Manager Chris Merry will be attending with Meiqin to further introduce courses to the further and higher education markets in China. The team is also pleased to announce that they have recently signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” agreement with Chief Secretary Mr Xie Chuan Li from the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC).

Chris will also be including visits to Oman and Dubai on his return from China to further develop new and existing partnerships in the Middle East. Bill and the rest of the team would like to wish Chris and Meiqin the very best of luck for their forthcoming travels.

Further information on JB Management’s international business development will follow shortly.

JB Management's services in Scotland

JB Management is also working with Skills Development Scotland to assist Scotland’s youth through the Modern Apprenticeship programme. JB Management currently has fully funded spaces for Business Administration, Logistics, Warehousing and Storage and Occupational Health and Safety SVQs for employees under the age of 20. Vocational Qualifications are work-based qualifications, thus little ‘down time’ is required. Regular visits from an occupationally competent assessor will guide the learner through the qualification.

JB Management offer a free recruitment service when considering a Modern Apprentice.

Managing director Bill Ure explained he offers this service at no cost because “It is fair to say that JB Management is experiencing growth in international markets, but I still believe in the Modern Apprenticeship programme in Scotland. The programme reminds us we all have an economic and social responsibility to assist the youth of today in securing employment and developing their potential. They are Scotland’s future after all.”

For further information on the Modern Apprenticeship programme please call operations manager Kellie Zdanowicz on 01292886664 or visit the company website www.jb-management.com

Training provider JB Management is a member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce appoints Val Russell as new chief executive

2011-12-01T13:01:00.002Z

After 12 years of working at Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, Val Russell takes over the helm as chief executive this month.

Val (pictured above with Ayrshire Chamber president Willie Mackie) started working at Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce in 1999, when Pamela Anderson was the chief executive and there was a staff of 3. She has been instrumental in the Chamber achieving British Chambers of Commerce accreditation and has grown the staff to 14, who look after members, services, export documentation, events, education links, and business mentoring.

Val said: “It has been a long apprenticeship, but I feel that my years of working with a number of different chief executives and presidents will stand me in good stead in building on what we have achieved to date. I see the Chamber as a positive focus for Ayrshire business and want to develop a pro-active attitude to growing the local economy.”

Martin Cheyne, who retires from the chief executive’s post after 3 years commented: “As Val takes over as chief executive members can be confident that the Chamber is in excellent hands. I have valued Val’s opinion and views and I know there is no better person to lead the Chamber.”

President of Ayrshire Chamber, Willie Mackie concluded: “I would like to pay tribute to outgoing chief executive Martin Cheyne who has contributed strongly to the work of the Chamber, and on behalf of the Board I would like to thank him for his commitment and support. The Ayrshire Chamber has a strong reputation for excellence and I look forward to working with Val Russell our new chief executive and my colleagues on the Board to enhance this reputation and to support our members to the maximum of our capabilities.”

Top race to launch jumps season at Ayr Racecourse

2011-11-26T15:02:00.002Z

Ayr Racecourse launches its 2011-2012 Jumps Season on Tuesday 29 November with the St. Andrews Raceday featuring a seven race card.

The highlight of the afternoon is the Best Odds Guaranteed At Victor Chandler.com Handicap Chase with a prize fund of £15,500.

This race, due off at 1.35pm, will attract some top handicap chasers in pursuit of an outstanding prize for a midweek raceday. Trainers likely to have runners here include Lucinda Russell, Nicky Richards, Jim Goldie and Donald McCain.

Other highlights include the Bet Live At Victorchandler.Com Novices Chase at 1.35pm and the final race of the afternoon, The European Breeders’ Fund “Junior Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at 3.40pm.

Gates open at 11.00am and the first race is due off at 12.30pm.

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk

Provost Winifred Sloan and Jai McDowall switch on Ayr festive lights

2011-11-21T16:37:00.002Z

Thousands of people filled Ayr High Street on Sunday 20 November to see South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan switch on the festive lights in Ayr town centre.

[South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan and Jai McDowall are pictured switching on the festive lights in Ayr High Street as the crowds look on.]

Provost Sloan was joined by South Ayrshire’s very own Jai McDowall, a local singer who won Britain’s Got Talent. Also entertaining the crowds were Jill Jackson, a singer songwriter from Paisley, described in the Nashville press as the Scottish Songbird, who brought her own unique style to the contemporary country scene, Non Jove – a Bon Jovi tribute band, the Gospel Truth Choir and DJ Colin McCardle from WestFM.

Provost Sloan said: “This was an outstanding event, the atmosphere was electric and everyone had lots of fun.

“Jai McDowall was outstanding and the crowds really enjoyed his performance. I know that it was a very emotional experience for Jai, as this is the first time he has been home and performed to his home crowd.

“Thanks to the outstanding talents of all the entertainers everyone had a great time and many people took the opportunity to do some Christmas shopping and see the town centre lit up.”

Scottish Government fosters economic links with North America

2011-11-17T15:48:00.002Z

Scotland’s Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop is to travel to Canada and the USA to strengthen business, economic and cultural links, and further promote a dynamic and creative Scotland as a great place to visit and invest.

As well as showcasing all that is great about Scotland during St Andrew’s Day celebrations in Toronto, Ottawa and Washington DC, the Culture and External Affairs Secretary will hold talks with Government Ministers and politicians in Canada and the US. Ms Hyslop will also undertake a series of business, travel trade and cultural engagements.

Ms Hyslop said: “Scotland’s bonds of kinship and friendship with Canada and the USA are deep and strong, and both countries are vitally important to our economy. The USA is our single largest overseas market and Canada is a major tourism market for Scotland.

“There is huge enthusiasm for Scotland all over North America. In a challenging economic environment, we must capitalise on that interest and continue to nurture longer-term relationships and foster real prosperity for our country. St Andrew’s Day is the ideal platform to raise Scotland’s profile internationally as a dynamic and creative nation, not just in cultural but also economic terms.

“Working with Scottish Development International and VisitScotland, I will undertake a series of business, travel trade and cultural engagements aimed at strengthening Scotland’s economic growth and building future prosperity.

“In September, the First Minister and I welcomed the new Canadian High Commissioner Gordon Campbell to Scotland. We committed to working together to promote our common strengths - world-class education systems, internationally-recognised research communities, highly skilled workforces, and thriving creative industries - and I look forward to discussing that further during my visit to the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa and meetings with Federal and Provincial Ministers.”

Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs Fiona Hyslop will visit Toronto, Ottawa and Washington DC from 28 November to 3 December 2011.

The Scottish Government’s Canada and USA Plans make it clear that these are priority countries for engagement. The Plans build on the strength of the existing relationship between Scotland and both countries, aim to further strengthen the important historical, cultural and economic links between our countries, to ensure that Scotland maximises the economic opportunities that both markets have to offer for the future.

The promotion of Scotland in the USA and Canada is supported by a multi-agency approach - ‘Team Scotland’ that includes representatives from the Scottish Government, Scottish Development International and VisitScotland.

Scotland’s Winter Festivals begin with St Andrew’s Day on 30 November and includes Scotland’s Christmas and Hogmanay celebrations, culminating with Burns night on 25 January. Events and celebrations will begin on the weekend leading to St Andrew’s Day (26 and 27 November) and run through Christmas and Hogmanay until Burns Night, and will bring together lovers of all things Scottish from across the globe.

South Ayrshire Council launches one-stop service for the bereaved

2011-11-17T14:27:00.004Z

South Ayrshire Council has officially launched a brand new service to help ease the burden of having to deal with official paperwork and telephone calls after the loss of a loved one.

[Pictured: Pictured at Ayr Registration Office are (left to right standing) Councillor Philip Saxton, Councillor Ian Douglas, Councillor Douglas Campbell, Portfolio Holder for Customer Services, Councillor Bill Grant, Councillor Hugh Hunter, (left to right seated) South Ayrshire Provost Winifred Sloan, Councillor Nan McFarlane and Valerie Andrews, Head of Legal and Administration for South Ayrshire Council.]

The service, Tell Us Once, is now offered to anyone registering a death at Ayr Registration Office and means the Council can notify participating organisations of the death on a customer’s behalf.

Through Tell Us Once, information is passed securely and in confidence to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the first instance, which can then be passed on to other government departments and Council services.

The information is then used to update records, amend service provision accordingly and calculate any changes to finances such as benefits and tax. Services and organisations involved include:

* Council – Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Council Tax, Council Payments, Libraries, Electoral Service, Blue Badges, Adult Services, Children’s Services, Housing

* DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)

* DWP – Pension, Disability & Carers Service, Jobcentre Plus, Overseas Health Team

* HM Revenue and Customs – Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit & Working Tax Credit, Personal Taxation

* Ministry of Defence – War Pensions Scheme

* Identity and Passport Service.

Councillor Douglas Campbell, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Customer Services, said: “This is all about providing the best possible service for our customers at a very difficult time, and I’m sure that will be appreciated.

“The average bereaved family has to contact multiple government services when someone dies and, while it’s essential the information is provided, Tell Us Once makes this a far easier process.

“I am pleased we now offer this service at Ayr Registration Office, and I hope it makes a difficult time just that little bit easier.”

Tell Us Once is available at Ayr Registration Office, High Street, Ayr and is expected to be rolled out to Girvan Registration Office in the new year.

Those using the service will need information about the person who has died including date of birth and National Insurance number, details of benefits/services received, death certificate, driving licence (or number) and passport (or passport number and details of place of birth).

For further information, visit www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/tellusonce or call 01292 617617.

South Ayrshire Council is a Founder Member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

South Ayrshire Council completes new eco-friendly public housing development

2011-11-16T17:52:00.004Z

Forty-two delighted tenants have moved in to new homes at Thornyflat – completing the development ahead of schedule and on cost and the first built by South Ayrshire Council in a generation.

The new £4.5million development, funded by the Council in partnership with the Scottish Government, consists of 42 new homes, a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom properties.

[Celebrations all round as Lynne Docherty is presented with the keys to her new home. Pictured are (left to right back row) Councillor Douglas Campbell, Portfolio Holder for House, Councillor Nan McFarlane, Portfolio Holder for Social Services, Lynne Docherty, Laura McQuiston, Housing Officer and local Councillor John Hampton along with two of Lynne’s children Logan and Tyler.]

Councillor Douglas Campbell, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Customer First said: “This development was built after listening to local people to find out the kind of homes they wanted to live in. We considered all comments, and I believe that we have met those aspirations, and we already know that people are pleased with the layouts which meet a whole range of needs.”

“Built using modern building techniques, the homes are environmentally friendly and have achieved an excellent eco rating, which means lower fuel bills. South Ayrshire is the only Council so far to meet this standard and we can proudly say they are the best Council houses in Scotland.”

To mark the occasion Lynne Docherty, one of the first tenants to move in was presented with a bouquet of flowers. Lynne said: “We absolutely love our new home. The space, in particular storage space, is excellent throughout the house. Having an ‘office space’ upstairs gives us somewhere to store the kids toys without them falling over them when they climb out of bed in the morning. Our neighbours are also really friendly, and I can't believe how lucky we have been to receive one of these homes.”

After meeting Lynne and others at the Thornyflat development Councillor Nan McFarlane, Portfolio Holder for Social Services said: “This development provides high quality affordable homes for people.

“The homes have been designed to meet the needs of a wide range of people including those who need low level access to enter their home, or wider doors to accommodate a wheelchair or walking frame.

“I am really pleased that we were able to build new houses in South Ayrshire which meet the modern needs of our tenants. I am confident that people will enjoy living here, because they are not just houses, they truly are homes.”

The construction of the new development provided valuable training and employment for Nathan Brown an apprentice bricklayer and Steven McCallum an apprentice joiner.

[Apprentices Nathan Brown and Steven McCallum are pictured at the new Thornyflat development.]

Through Access Construction the apprentices are gaining employment with linked training in the building industry. The programme encourages unemployed people to seek employment with a contractor as an apprentice, trainee labourer or trainee administrator. It targets those who would not otherwise consider applying for a construction job with a training commitment.

Originally focused on its own building contracts, Ayrshire Housing has extended the model across Ayrshire through a consortium of four housing associations. The development and day to day management of the project is handled by the Ayr-based Aspire2gether. This independent social enterprise is also a leading provider of housing support and related services across Ayrshire.

On completion of the work at Thornyflat both apprentices will move on to other construction contracts with their employer CCG.

Access Construction has helped more than 30 individuals to gain employment with linked training in the building industry. An independent evaluation has demonstrated its value both to the individual trainees and to the building contractors themselves. Through the programme, unemployed people are encouraged to seek employment with a contractor as an apprentice, trainee labourer or trainee administrator. Originally focused on its own building contracts, Ayrshire Housing has extended the model across Ayrshire by through a consortium of four housing associations. The development and day to day management of the project is handled by the Ayr-based Aspire2gether. This independent social enterprise is also a leading provider of housing support and related services across Ayrshire.

www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Strengthening business and education links between Scotland and India

2011-11-15T15:59:00.004Z

Education Secretary Michael Russell has said that Scotland and India will continue to develop their education and business links and make both countries stronger.

Speaking at the influential Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) higher education summit in Delhi, Mr Russell highlighted the benefits and opportunities presented when Scotland and India work together.

Education Secretary Michael Russell said: “Scotland and India have historical and enduring bonds, reaching back many years. We also share links that have been forged more recently and our relationship continues to go from strength to strength.

“At the moment there are no fewer than 20 Scottish universities working with partners in India and this week I have opened a new Scottish university campus and witnessed the signing of three new co-operation agreements.

“Of course, the Indian economy is one of the fastest growing in the world and they are experiencing heavy demand in sectors where Scotland has key expertise such as energy, education and banking.

“That's why I have been encouraging Indian business leaders and academics to continue to look towards Scotland. With the Scottish Government investing in research to the tune of £250 million and continuing the SMART:Scotland fund to promote business innovation and knowledge exchange activities, we are in strong place to support international partnerships.

“Scotland is open and willing to build on our existing partnerships with Indian universities and companies and I hope we can progress what has been started, maximise the potential and realise a host of infinite possibilities ahead.”

Mr Russell was speaking at the Higher Education summit of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. This is SDI’s third annual mission to the Summit, which is India’s premier Education sector event. The primary objective of the Mission is to position Scottish higher education institutions as partners of choice for Indian academia and businesses. It is also the largest and most senior delegation from the university sector to visit India.

Mr Russell was in India as part of a wide-ranging seven day programme in India which included engagements in universities and schools, speaking at a conference for influential business leaders and meetings with key Indian companies and academics.

www.scotland.gov.uk

Ayr Renaissance trainees make a difference to Ayr Town Centre

2011-11-15T14:49:00.006Z

Fresh from the sparkling difference ‘Let Ayr Shine’ made to Ayr town centre during August, the town is all set to benefit again, thanks to four trainees appointed by Ayr Renaissance.

Tasked with regenerating and rejuvenating Ayr Town Centre, the regeneration company, with support from South Ayrshire Council, was successful in sourcing funding for four trainee Environmental Regeneration Operatives for a six month period.

[Pictured: The trainees are already hard at work repainting shabby entrances, removing graffiti and fly posters, litter picking and working to prevent the nuisance of dog fouling.]

James Thomson, Craig Stewart, Stephen McLaughlin and Robert Swann began work a few weeks ago after completing a rigorous induction programme and they’re already making a difference.

Robert has been working with the Council’s litter and dog warden patrol and said: “It’s great to have the chance of work for six months and I’m really pleased to be making a difference to two things that matter most for local people – litter and dog fouling. I intend to make the most of the opportunity and look forward to completing my training and placement.”

James, Craig and Stephen will be based in and around the town centre and their duties will include street cleaning, litter picking, gardening, decorating, the removal of fly posting and graffiti.

The trainees will also received take courses in basic construction skills, such as lime sand pointing and footpath repairs.

Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council and Ayr Renaissance Board member said: “The Let Ayr Shine pilot civic pride campaign, which ran from 8-22 August, put some extra sparkle back in to Ayr town centre thanks to the hard work of South Ayrshire Council and Ayr Renaissance, with excellent support from local residents and businesses.

“I’m delighted to welcome the trainees to the town centre and know they will do a fantastic job building on the good work undertaken during Let Ayr Shine.

The Ayr Renaissance Strategy – delivered through the Ayr Renaissance Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) – is designed to rejuvenate Ayr town centre over the next 20 years, with a focus on improving the arrival ‘hubs’ of the town, improving connections within the town and developing quality residential, retail and commercial accommodation.

To help achieve this, the LLP received £2.258 million for the regeneration of Ayr town centre in the first tranche of Town Centre Regeneration Funding – the largest amount awarded to a single town centre project – and this included £500,000 towards the refurbishment of the Gaiety Theatre.

In the first phase of the Ayr Renaissance project, has seen a facelift for properties in Ayr’s Sandgate, High Street and Newmarket Street, delivering visible improvements to this part of town. This transformation is making a real difference and will continue as the project moves forward.

www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Scottish companies encouraged to target Brazil

2011-11-14T17:06:00.004Z

Scottish Enterprise (SE) is urging companies to explore potential partnerships and business opportunities with Brazil - one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

During a fact-finding mission this week, Lena Wilson (pictured above), chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, will meet with Brazilian government officials, trade and industry leaders and representatives from the Brazilian Development Bank to discuss how to further strengthen trade relationships between the two countries.

The visit will enable SE to help equip Scottish companies with the right tools and expertise to trade more effectively with Brazil. As well as exploring key possibilities within the biofuels industry, the visit aims to gain a better understanding of the political, cultural and economic issues in the country and explore how SE can support Brazilian companies in Scotland.

Lena Wilson said: “As the fifth-largest country in the world with a population of around 185 million people, Brazil is one of the world’s most rapidly developing economies and with a GDP per head greater than either India or China, it offers huge opportunities for Scottish businesses.

“This fact-finding visit will allow us to experience first-hand the size and scale of the potential market prospects for Scotland in Brazil – both in relation to export opportunities for Scottish companies and investment possibilities for Brazilian companies looking to do business in Scotland.

“We know that trading overseas is a key way for companies to realise their ambitious growth plans and in doing so, generate long term sustainable economic growth and recovery for Scotland. This visit is all about establishing strong relationships with Brazil and creating the right paths for Scottish companies to successfully trade here.

“By tapping into lucrative new markets we can ensure our message is clear – Scotland is very much open for business and is ready to compete on an international level.”

Along with the United States, Brazil is the world’s leading ethanol producer and largest exporter of ethanol fuel. Brazil is also making significant progress in next generation biofuel technology such as the hydro processing of natural oils in refineries and the conversion of waste substances into ethanol.

SE and its international arm Scottish Development International, sponsored and worked with the British Embassy to organise a mission to Brazil for Edinburgh Napier University in 2009 to study the country’s success in biofuels and hosted a Brazilian delegation to Scotland a month later to further build relationships.

Other areas that offer the most possibilities for Scottish companies in Brazil include the oil and gas sector, automotive components, electronics, machinery, food and drink and chemicals. In 2009, 41 million bottles of whisky were shipped to Brazil.

www.scottish-enterprise.com/

Ayr Racecourse presents jockey, owner and trainer of the year awards

2011-11-14T11:32:00.004Z

By: Iain Ferguson

JOCKEY Paul Hanagan was crowned The Isle of Skye Blended Scotch Whisky Ayr Flat Jockey Champion of 2011 at Ayr Racecourse recently.

The champion jockey celebrated by riding a double – bringing his total for the season at Scotland’s premier track to 14 from 61 mounts.

Pictured above: Ayr Clerk of the Course Emma Marley presented Paul with a limited edition Isle of Skye 21 year old bottle of whisky in a royal blue and gold Wade porcelain decanter and Paul commented: “I always enjoy coming to Ayr as its one of my favourite tracks, and I’m delighted to win this title again and this lovely prize.”

The Isle of Skye Owners title for the 2011 flat season at Ayr was won by Ken McGarrity, an owner with Linda Perratt, who also received a bottle of Isle of Skye 21 Year Old from Emma Marley (pictured above).

Ken said: “I have had runners at Ayr for many years, and I am over the moon to be top owner for 2011.”

Richard Fahey won the Trainers title but was unable to attend the meeting.

Enquiries: Telephone: Iain Ferguson on 07795-565691.

www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

South Ayrshire Council library service achieves worldwide first

2011-11-11T23:55:00.003Z

South Ayrshire Council today (Friday 11 November) achieved a world’s first for a public library service with the launch of its very own e-book.

The e-book, ‘The Record of the Ayrshire Militia 1802-1883’, is now available for sale on Amazon, making South Ayrshire’s local history information accessible to a global audience for generations to come.

[Left to right: Councillor Bill Grant, Professor Dauvit Brown, Councillor Margaret Toner South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Jean Innes, South Ayrshire Libraries and local historian Jim Brown of Jim and Zette e-book publishers, pictured at the e-book launch.]

Launched by esteemed Scots historian and Director of the Paradox of Medieval Scotland (POMS) project – Professor Dauvit Broun from Glasgow University – the e-book was originally privately printed in 1884 and is based on hand-written records in a notebook kept in Ayr barracks.

Its 114 pages consist of a year-by-year account of the activities of the Ayrshire militia from its formation in 1802, including details of the regiment’s Napoleonic war service in Scotland, England and Ireland.

And the important world-first has already been endorsed by the Earl of Stair who said: “Congratulations on this wonderful initiative and well done for seeing it through.”

South Ayrshire Council currently owns one fragile print reference copy of the book, which was written by Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple, and is much in demand due to a growing interest in genealogy and family history research thanks to programmes such as the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?

The launch of South Ayrshire Council’s ebook means the content is available for purchase and download by anyone, anywhere and anytime and it can be read on laptops, smartphones and all e-readers such as the Kindle.

It will also be available on loan – free of charge – to South Ayrshire libraries’ members thanks to the Council’s popular ebooks library service, which launched last year.

Professor Broun said: 'Jean Inness and South Ayrshire Council have for many years been at the forefront of making links between scholars of Scottish history and local historians in the annual Local History Fair.

“In this latest exciting innovation she has taken this to the next level by making a priceless source for local history, of interest to anyone with a serious interest in nineteenth-century British history, available across the world to everyone with access to the internet.

“In the same way as university researchers are making Scottish history accessible through the web, for example, there are currently on average 25 people every day who use the Paradox of Medieval Scotland website.

“It is wonderful now to see local libraries, led by South Ayrshire, find a way to make their own treasures available everywhere.”

Councillor Margaret Toner, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure said: “This book is another impressive innovation from our libraries service, and one which – as far as we can establish having checked with colleagues around the globe – is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. Not only that, it’s a fascinating read too!

“Our approach opens up a whole new world, not just to those interested in local or family history but also to libraries across the globe. If other libraries followed suit, we would have the potential for no book to ever have to go out of print. Effectively it helps these books live forever. This is a real step forward for the libraries of the future and I’m delighted South Ayrshire has the honour of being the first to take this forward.”

South Ayrshire Council’s achievement has been welcomed around the world:

Sally Pewhairangi, a library project management consultant from New Zealand, said: “Congratulations to South Ayrshire for taking the next step by commercially publishing local history material. Ebooks and social media enables libraries to place their collections into the hands of enthusiastic historians and genealogists regardless of where they live and those of Scots descent in particular will find this book, and subsequent titles, very useful.”

Rhona Arthur, Assistant Director of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland/Scottish Libraries Information Council, concluded: “We welcome the way in which South Ayrshire’s libraries service has embraced the advent of e-books, both as a lender and now as a publisher.

“E-books are a flexible format which means they are very accessible for people and available from the library catalogue 24/7. Publishing local material until now has meant low print runs and high unit costs. This is a great way of publishing books – which may have a global audience as well as a local one – without the costly overheads.”

Martyn Wade, National Librarian and Chief Executive of the National Library of Scotland, said: “South Ayrshire are to be congratulated on this terrific, innovative step. Libraries across the country have many treasures and important volumes such as the Record of the Ayrshire Militia in their collections and it is very good to see them embrace new ways of ensuring as many people as possible can access these.”

Records of the Ayrshire Militia from 1802 to 1883 is available from www.amazon.co.uk, priced £6.99. South Ayrshire Council has also teamed up with a company called Lightning Source who can print copies of the book on demand. Print copies can be ordered from the Carnegie Library in Ayr.

Dauvit Broun

Dauvit Broun (David Brown) (born 1961) is a Scottish historian and Professor of Scottish History at the University of Glasgow.

A specialist in medieval Scottish and Celtic Studies, he concentrates primarily on early medieval Scotland and has written abundantly on the topic of early Scottish king-lists as well as on literacy, charter-writing, national identity and on the text known as de Situ Albanie.

He is editor of the New Edinburgh History of Scotland series, the pre-1603 editor of the Scottish Historical Review and convener of the Scottish History Society. He is also the Principal Investigator of the Arts and Humanities Research Council funded project ‘The Paradox of Medieval Scotland, 1093-1286.’

www.poms.ac.uk

www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk

Tourism businesses urged to capitalise on growth in Scotland’s sailing market

2011-11-08T21:36:00.002Z

Scottish tourism businesses are being challenged to look at ways of tapping into a predicted 45 per cent growth in sailing tourism in Scotland over the next ten years.

Companies are being urged to take advantage of this predicted growth in a new sailing guide published by Tourism Intelligence Scotland (TIS), as part of its Opportunities for Growth series.

Currently generating just over £100million a year for the Scottish economy – with market share predicted to increase to £145million in the next ten years – sailing is set to become one of the fastest growing activity markets for Scottish tourism.

Audrey MacLennan, Senior Development Manager - Tourism at Highlands & Islands Enterprise said: “Over the last two decades the sailing tourism sector in Scotland has been growing at unprecedented levels. We’ve seen new marinas emerging together with the development of existing facilities, and these have quickly been absorbed by the rising market. Despite the economic downturn, this growth has continued largely unabated.

“Regular sailing visitors from the UK and abroad have been captivated by our untouched sparking waters, first-rate facilities, beautiful scenery and abundance of wildlife. In fact, the Scottish sailing product has become so popular that in many areas the demand for berths and moorings is exceeding the capacity, and the number of potential visitors just keeps growing.”

The new guide provides key intelligence on the sector, as well as offering advice on how businesses can ensure that sailing visitors – ranging from experienced yachters to those attending a sailing event or festival – have the best experience possible.

For example accommodation providers could provide a free shuttle service from the marina, somewhere to store clothing and equipment, and offer little luxuries - such as a cup of hot chocolate or a warming dram - when sailors come on shore. Other tips include having the latest weather and tide forecasts available, and packaging up food hampers to sell to sailing visitors.

Scotland is often described by enthusiasts as one of the top sailing destinations in the world. Recent figures show that more than 167,000 visiting boat nights are made here each year, with over 40% of these made by boats from outside Scotland, contributing particularly to our remote, rural economies.

However the British Marine Federation estimates that over 1 million boats are owned by UK households, and almost 3 million UK adults participate in a boating activity of some kind. A further 4 million Europeans own a boat, over 600,000 of which are capable of sailing to Scotland. The potential market for Scotland is therefore significant.

Katrina Morrison, tourism strategic priorities manager at Scottish Enterprise added: “Yachting can be an expensive pursuit and traditionally attracts people with a high disposable income. Given this association with the luxury end of the market, it’s no surprise that sailing is a good business sector, which attracts large numbers of high-spending visitors. But this visitor market is actually widening as sailing becomes more accessible in terms of opportunities and costs.

“Sailing visitors can spend a lot of their docked time ashore, and once on dry land are likely to spend money on food, drink, entertainment and occasionally accommodation. There is therefore an opportunity for all types of tourism business to benefit.

“With such significant growth predicted over the next few years, sailing businesses and tourism businesses have a great opportunity to work together within an area to give our sailing visitors an unforgettable trip. This is not necessarily about investing more money – it is about working together to combine existing offerings and create sailor-friendly services and packages. The result will be more visitors, more repeat visits, and more business for everybody!”

Mike Balmforth of Scottish Boating Alliance and British Marine Federation Scotland said: "The Scottish sailing tourism industry has been growing steadily for many decades, with tourism businesses of all types now recognising the business potential of this high-spending sector.

“The strength of the market is evidenced by the ongoing investment in new and improved sailing tourism facilities, amounting to some £12million at 24 locations around Scotland over the last and current financial years. These projects range from improvements in established harbours and marinas to the creation of facilities in remote coastal communities, bringing a much-needed boost to rural economies.

“This excellent new guide from Tourism Intelligence Scotland clearly and concisely sets out the business case for tourism operators getting involved in the market and outlines the practical steps that operators need to take to grow their sailing-related business.”

The Sailing Tourism in Scotland guide has been published by Tourism Intelligence Scotland, as part of its Opportunities for Growth series, aimed at helping businesses make the most of new and emerging opportunities in the sector. The guide is available to businesses who register at www.tourism-intelligence.co.uk.

To coincide with the launch of the guide, Scottish Enterprise is running a series of free ‘Sailing Tourism Innovation Workshops’ for businesses interested in exploiting the sailing market. The next workshop will take place in Appin, West Highlands (15 November – run in partnership with Highlands & Islands Enterprise). A further three workshops are also planned for 2012 in Largs, Greenock and Helensburgh. Businesses wishing to book a place should go to www.scottish-enterprise.com/events.aspx

· Tourism Intelligence Scotland is a joint venture developed by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and VisitScotland, in partnership with the tourism industry, to stimulate growth and innovation in tourism.

· Other guides in the Opportunities for Growth series include: Knowing Our Markets…Scotland’s Visitors; Scottish Tourism in the Future; Walking Tourism; Listening to our Visitors; Golf Tourism; Adventure Travel; Food Experience in Scotland; and Mountain Biking Tourism.

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s main economic development agency and aims to deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy. Its role is to help identify and exploit the best opportunities for economic growth. It supports ambitious Scottish companies to compete within the global marketplace and helps build Scotland’s globally competitive sectors. It also works with a range of partners in the public and private sectors to attract new investment to Scotland and to help create a world-class business environment.

www.scottish-enterprise.com

First Minister Alex Salmond secures renewables deal in Abu Dhabi

2011-11-08T20:40:00.005Z

Scotland’s position as a leading player in renewables has been reinforced this week with a unique collaboration being agreed between First Minister Alex Salmond and one of the world’s leading renewables innovators.

As a result of his five-day tour of Qatar and the UAE this week, the First Minister (FM) has agreed plans with the alternative energy company Masdar to draw up plans for a partnership with Scotland that will boost university research into renewable energy sources and promote other initiatives.

The discussions between the FM and Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Masdar’s chief executive, took place during a visit by Mr Salmond to Masdar City, a ground-breaking initiative in the desert which showcases advances in the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable technology.

The First Minister said: “I firmly believe this agreement will yield great results for Abu Dhabi, great results for Scotland, and I do believe it will lead to significant advances that will benefit this entire planet. That’s the importance of what’s been talked about.

“Dr Al Jaber insisted that he doesn’t want just a memorandum of agreement, he wants a framework for action. He’s looked at two areas in particular: cooperation over research into renewables technology between universities, and direct investment and partnerships for specific projects.

“This is the first time Masdar will have had an agreement with a government agency - a country. Masdar’s previous agreements have been with individual companies, so this is quite a breakthrough for us both.”

Dr Al Jaber said: “Masdar is pleased to partner with Scotland on a number of upcoming renewable energy initiatives. We discussed a number of areas of collaboration and I look forward to working closely with him over the coming months to move these ideas forward.

“Scotland is a leading player in the renewable energy field and we are delighted to combine our knowledge and experience through this mutual and beneficial partnership.”

Details of the deal will be drawn up by Masdar and Scottish Enterprise, with a view to an agreement being signed in January.

During the course of five days, The FM met Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, emir of Qatar, and Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al Thani, prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar; and Sheikh Hamdam bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the deputy ruler of Dubai.

He also opened the new Doha headquarters of Scottish international law firm McGrigors, took part in a low carbon technology transition discussion and toured the present premises for Weir Oil and Gas in Dubai while viewing their new plans for expansion in the area.

[Pictured: First Minister Alex Salmond chats with technicians during a tour of the Weir Oil and Gas facility in Dubai. While visiting, the FM also saw plans for the company’s new HQ which will be at the heart of expansion plans in the region.]

The opening by the First Minister of Heriot-Watt University’s new showpiece £35m campus in Dubai was a major highlight of the visit, and further testament to Scotland's dynamic role in producing students equipped with the skills to become future leaders, managers and innovators in the business world.

[Pictured: First Minister Alex Salmond takes a tour of the new campus of Heriot-Watt University in Dubai.]

Mr Salmond said: “Throughout this visit and in discussion with key dignitaries in Qatar and UAE, both countries have expressed their confidence in Scotland’s economic strategy. The meetings I have had have given me the opportunity to talk in more detail about some of the unique opportunities Scotland can offer. From oil and gas to renewable energy, infrastructure investment and education, our country is rich in resource and opportunity.

“Worldwide market forces also make this an attractive time to invest in long term viable capital projects. I am confident that the Scottish Government’s commitment to capital investment for long-term growth will make Scotland an attractive partner for our friends in the Gulf.”

Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: “Opening up new opportunities with other nations is vital to secure Scotland’s long-term economic growth.

“The UAE offers real possibilities for Scotland and its companies in a variety of key industries including education, low carbon and renewables. Our five-day visit was all about strengthening trade relations to proactively make it easier for Scottish companies to trade there. Many Scottish businesses are already successfully active in the region and by further nurturing our relations with the UAE we can not only enhance our own ways of working but can ultimately generate increased growth for the Scottish economy.

“Our message is clear - Scotland is very much open for business and is ready to compete on a global stage. We look forward to working in the region on future projects.”

The First Minister also contrasted the positive outlook shared by Scotland, Qatar and the UAE with the failed economic strategy of the UK Government. He said: “The economies of Qatar and the UAE continue to perform well as they seek to diversify. They share Scotland’s commitment to sustainable capital investment which will secure the long term future of our respective economies.

“In the current economic circumstances, capital investment must be a priority in both the public and private sector. Scotland offers many attractive business opportunities, particularly in renewables and infrastructure, which offer the prospects of good returns for substantial investors and this has been borne out by my discussions in the Middle East.

“I am now looking forward to our nations building on these dynamic new relationships for the greater benefit of us all.”

www.scotland.gov.uk

RICS reports Scottish housing market in early hibernation

2011-11-08T18:13:00.003Z

The Scottish housing market went into early hibernation as fewer properties came on the market and the number of sales dipped in October says the latest RICS UK Housing Market Survey.

[Pictured: RICS Scotland director Graeme Hartley.]

Sellers shied away from putting their homes on the market and the number of buyers enquiring about property remained unchanged. Chartered surveyors suggested uncertainty in Europe spilling over to UK economy and restricted mortgage availability are still impacting on the market and making sellers nervous.

Just over half (53%) of surveyors said house prices had fallen in October while 47% said they had stayed the same. None said they had risen. This is the first time since March 2009 that no surveyors reported a monthly rise in house prices.

October is a very different picture to September which saw a flurry of activity from sellers putting their homes on the market and a small increase in buyers.

As winter sets in, chartered surveyors expect the Scottish housing market to remain subdued with fewer sellers, less potential buyers and therefore a drop in sales.

RICS Scotland director Graeme Hartley said: “The Scottish housing market went into early hibernation in October with prices falling and sales dipping. With the chaotic events in the euro area threatening to spillover to the UK and banks still imposing tough conditions on loans to first time buyers, any recovery in sales is still likely to be relatively modest. This will inevitably leave many people who would like to own a home unable to access the market.”

RICS housing market survey is the longest running monthly survey of house prices in the UK, collecting data since January 1978.? The survey is cited by the Bank of England's monetary policy committee at its monthly interest rate setting meetings.

About RICS

RICS is the world’s leading qualification when it comes to professional standards in land, property and construction.

In a world where more and more people, governments, banks and commercial organisations demand greater certainty of professional standards and ethics, attaining RICS status is the recognised mark of property professionalism.

Over 100 000 property professionals working in the major established and emerging economies of the world have already recognised the importance of securing RICS status by becoming members.

RICS is an independent professional body originally established in the UK by Royal Charter. Since 1868, RICS has been committed to setting and upholding the highest standards of excellence and integrity – providing impartial, authoritative advice on key issues affecting businesses and society. RICS is a regulator of both its individual members and firms enabling it to maintain the highest standards and providing the basis for unparalleled client confidence in the sector.

www.rics.org

ARPL Architects win Roses Design Awards for Colmonell Primary School

2011-11-07T16:08:00.006Z

Colmonell Primary School has scooped two prestigious silver awards in the annual Roses Design Awards for its iconic and outstanding design.

The school was nominated in both the Sustainability and Education categories, celebrating the very best in innovation, sustainability and architecture across the UK.

The awards were presented to Ayr-based ARPL Architects Ltd, who designed the school, at a ceremony in Manchester.

South Ayrshire Councillor Hywel Davies, Portfolio Holder for Lifelong Learning said: “I am absolutely delighted that Colmonell Primary has won these plaudits, especially in two very keenly contested categories of the Roses Design Awards.

“Architects for the project were Gordon Fleming and Stewart Glendinning of ARPL Architects Ltd, and their vision for a rural school fully at home with the environment has been realised in the cutting edge design and build of this fantastic school.”

Credit was also given to others involved in the project including structural engineers, Hodgin Smith Partnership, environmental engineers, FLN Consulting and quantity surveyors, Armour Construction.

Gordon Fleming from ARPL Architects Ltd said: “We are delighted that our design work for Colmonell Primary school has been recognised in the UK-wide Roses Design Awards for 2011.

“The brief set by South Ayrshire Council had very high aspirations for a new sustainable village school. Our design solution sought to fulfil these aims with a forward looking design which anticipates the educational and environmental needs of the coming decades.

“The use of innovative design ideas in layout, materials and construction helps provide a rich and engaging experience for the children in a healthy natural environment.

“For the school to succeed in both the education and sustainable design categories of this awards scheme is especially welcoming given the very strong competition from around the country. This recognition combined with the enthusiastic reception for the new school from the pupils, parents and local residents demonstrates the level of success which can be achieved by a dedicated client and a committed local design team.”

Councillor Davies continued: “The building works were completed by Ashleigh Construction in December 2010 and the children have been very enthusiastic about their new school, describing it, quite appropriately, as the school that nature built.”

The school now has the chance to win another national honour, as it has been nominated for a Glasgow Institute of Architecture award, in the Education category, with results due on Friday 11th November 2011.

Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, commented: “Providing a high quality and eco-friendly learning environment was at the heart of our strategic planning for Colmonell Primary School.

“The brief was challenging – to design and build a school taking best advantage of daylight, natural ventilation, environmentally responsible building materials and avoiding harmful chemicals, while at the same time delivering a state of the art school and a fantastic learning environment for our young pupils.

“The results speak for themselves.

“The bright, airy and well designed teaching spaces are outstanding, supported by a main dining and sports hall, a central open area with library and a wide range of educational resources, internally and outside in the landscaped exterior.

“I’m delighted the school has been honoured in the Roses Design Awards and look forward to the GIA announcement later this month.”

Councillor Davies concluded: “The school is a credit to the architects, designers, builders and agencies involved in its creation and thoroughly deserving of the plaudits received.

“However, the young pupils at Colmonell are doing outstandingly well and, in my opinion, they are the real winners in this iconic and brilliant building.”

ARPL Architects Ltd

The directors of ARPL Architects Ltd are Patrick Lorimer, Robert Gilliland, Gordon Fleming, and Rebecca Cadie with John Ramsay, Stewart Glendinning and Kenneth Handley as associates.

The ARPL philosophy is to produce buildings to the highest design standards in close consultation with its clients. Designs are innovative and sympathetic to both the immediate and the broader environment in which they are constructed, with an emphasis on sustainability. Each project embraces the unique nature of the client’s needs and the site.

Over the 36 years since Patrick Lorimer established the original practice, ARPL’s status in the profession has grown steadily in line with its position as a medium-sized practice with a reputation for well executed projects. From its base in Ayr the practice carries out projects over a wide geographical area from the Orkneys and the Western Isles to Ireland.

The firm’s project experience covers the fields of housing, churches, schools, commercial projects, private houses, community and arts buildings. Particular expertise has been developed in contemporary sustainable design, specialist conservation works and design for historically sensitive environments.

ARPL’s work has received wide recognition through numerous design and environmental awards presented over the years for its new build and conservation works. Regular success in design competitions adds to the practice portfolio.

ARPL are currently working on new and refurbishment housing for Lochside, Ayr, several church and castle conservation and restoration projects and new community facilities in the South West of Scotland. Appointments for church commissions involve a range of denominations and projects from conservation and repair to extensions and new build. The firm is also involved in country houses and estates and the design of new houses for private owners.

The practice typically handles projects with construction values ranging from £100k through to £15m.

ARPL directors have managed to keep their business stable during the current difficult times, and have a busy current workload.

ARPL Architects Ltd is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Contact:

ARPL Architects Ltd
Architects and Quantity Surveyors
11 Wellington Square
Ayr KA7 1EN
Ayrshire, Scotland

Contact: Patrick Lorimer
Tel: 01292 289777
Fax: 01292 288896
E-mail: plorimer@arpl.co.uk
Web: www.arpl.co.uk

CKD Galbraith offer idyllic country cottage in peaceful rural situation

2011-11-06T16:12:00.005Z

Leading independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith is marketing Glenside Cottage, a delightful country cottage nestling in South Ayrshire countryside, in the unspoilt valley of the River Stinchar.

Situated in a popular destination for holiday makers, Glenside Cottage is a wonderful opportunity for anyone wanting a base from which to take advantage of the great outdoors. To the south is the Galloway Forest Park, whilst to the north and west are the beautiful beaches of the Ayrshire coastline. About 1 mile away is Colmonell, a pretty village offering local facilities including a primary school, whilst further facilities, including a regular train service are at the former coastal fishing town of Girvan.

Glenside Cottage dates from around the 1930s and has been extended to form a practical and spacious home, with two main reception rooms, two bedrooms and bathroom on the ground floor, and two attic bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor. There is a nicely proportioned garden and useful garage.

Glenside Cottage sits within the curtilage of the Bardrochat Estate, off a quiet country lane. It has all the charm of a lovely family cottage situated within the umbrella of a rural community, and is being marketed at offers over £145,000.

PDFs available on www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

For further information, contact Bob Cherry on 01292 268181 or email: bob.cherry@ckdgalbraith.co.uk

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 200 people in offices in Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.

The company’s rural arm specialises in farm sales and purchases, the management and sale of large estates and woodland, valuations and building surveying work. CKD Galbraith’s in-house AMC (Agricultural Mortgage Corporation) agents assist in securing loans for a range of farming purposes with the specialist team offering a competitive service to assist clients with applications for IACS, SRDP, Rural Stewardship Schemes, SNH Natural Care Scheme and SSSI Agreements.

CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office:

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

Independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Chef Mafiz Ali holds children’s Halloween party at Ayr Spice

2011-11-05T12:10:00.005Z

This week at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant in Minishant, South Ayrshire, Scotland, celebrity TV chef Mafiz Ali and his staff held a Halloween party for pupils, parents and teachers from nearby Minishant Primary School.

This took place between 6-8pm on Tuesday 1 November.

Children and adults all enjoyed a delicious meal in the restaurant, and there followed a party for the children in the function room upstairs.

Mafiz Ali commented: “All my staff and I were all looking forward to what turned out to be a really fun event. We feel that it is important that a good restaurant should actively participate in the social life of the community, and not just be only a place to eat.”

A FULL SET OF DOWNLOADABLE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN AT THE HALLOWEEN PARTY IS AVAILABLE ON FLICKR - CLICK HERE

Enquiries:

Mafiz Ali
Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
Ayrshire
KA19 8EX

Tel: 01292 441413
Web: http://www.ayrspice.info

First Minister promotes Scottish low carbon technology in Abu Dhabi

2011-11-05T11:37:00.002Z

A futuristic city in the middle of the desert could be a hub for further developing Scottish low carbon technology, First Minister Alex Salmond said this week.

[Pictured: First Minister Alex Salmond tours the Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi with Lena Wilson of Scottish Enterprise. The First Minister visited the futuristic city as he discussed renewable energy on his trip to the Middle East.]

Speaking during a visit to the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi’s initiative to advance the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable and alternative energy technologies and solutions, the First Minister said: “Scotland is a world renewable energy champion, and is continuing to play a major role in driving the global adoption of renewable sources of power, innovations in grid technology and R&D in wind turbine development.

“The innovative work being undertaken here at the Masdar Institute is further indication that other nations are recognising the need to move to preserve the quality of the natural environment, which is one of the major global concerns facing us today, and one of the most critical challenges of the 21st century.

“As the world moves towards a low-carbon economy, there is mutual benefit to be had from working in collaboration to create these technologies. The emergence of the renewable energy sector in the UAE will bring with it a new spectrum of employment opportunity and technology sharing, and I look forward to Scotland playing an active part in this knowledge transfer.”

During his visit, the First Minister met with senior Masdar officials including: Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO, Masdar; Frank Wouters, Director, Masdar Power; Alex O'Cinneide, Director Masdar Capital; Trevor Nash, Director Venture Capital, Technology, Strategic Partnerships and Sustainability, Masdar; Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute and Professor Joseph Cecchi, Provost and Professor of Engineering, Masdar Institute.

The First Minister took a tour around the City to view the Masdar Institute, one of the world’s most sustainable campuses for graduate level students and the first research-driven institution in the region dedicated to finding solutions to the challenges of future energy and sustainability. He also visited the Masdar 10MW photovoltaic power plant which provides the power for the low waste, low carbon City.

The Masdar Institute building has been designed to minimize water consumption by using high efficiency appliances, low-flow showers, highly efficient laundry systems, a water tariff that promotes water efficiency, smart water meters that inform consumers of their consumption and low-water use landscaping.

Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO, Masdar, said: “We are pleased to welcome First Minister Salmond to Masdar, to showcase the work we are doing to a broader audience and explore areas for possible collaboration. As a leading player in both the UAE and the wider clean tech market, we are eager to work with other like-minded countries such as Scotland to raise awareness and develop solutions to mitigate climate change.”

The Masdar Institute also seeks to be a leading renewable energy and clean technology player, by providing a test bed for the world to develop commercially viable, sustainable energy solutions, providing applied research for the four corporate arms of its allied Masdar group and the UAE as a whole.

Masdar is Abu Dhabi's multi-faceted initiative advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy technologies and solutions. The company serves as a link between today’s fossil fuel economy and the energy economy of the future - developing the ‘green print’ for how we will live and work tomorrow. Backed by the stability and reputation of the Mubadala Development Company, the strategic investment company of the government of Abu Dhabi, Masdar is dedicated to the emirate’s long-term vision for the future of energy.

The First Minister was recently awarded the third South Australia International Climate Change Award by the South Australian Government to recognise and encourage leadership by regional governments in response to the challenges of climate change.

Previous winners have been former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2009 and Quebec Premier Jean Charest in 2010.

Ayrshire training provider JB Management targets business with China

2011-11-03T18:55:00.004Z

Representatives of Ayrshire training provider JB Management will be flying to Beijing on Sunday 6 November 2011 for a week to introduce its services to China.

JB Management has delivered various training courses to international markets for a number of years now. However contacts made through the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle have enabled JB Management to identify China as a viable target market.

Bill Ure (Managing Director) is pictured (centre) with Kellie Zdanowicz (Operations Manager, right) and Meiqin McColm (Business Development Consultant, left) wishing them both ‘Bon Voyage’. Kellie and Meiqin will be embarking on this exploratory journey on behalf of JB Management.

JB Management has now set up an international arm to the business and introduced a brand name of QQI which stands for Quality Qualifications International. JB Management is an accredited City & Guilds, SQA, ILM and IOSH, Construction Skills and Construction Awards Alliance (CAA) training provider with over 15 years experience and deliver qualifications in a diverse range of subjects. Please see the Digital Brochure for information CLICK HERE

The company has a vastly experienced team with the relevant occupational knowledge and expertise to ensure that all candidates and companies see the benefit of the qualifications delivered, be it short courses or Vocational Qualifications up to Masters Degree level.

JB Management is very proud of its Scottish heritage and the fact that Scotland has given rise to many famous people, notable in the arts, literature, sciences and as inventors, philosophers, architects which can only be testament to its high standard and diverse range of education establishments.

In addition to JB Management’s efforts in China, the team will also be working hard to develop existing & new opportunities in other parts of the world including The Middle East & India. For this reason JB Management has recently recruited a Business Development Manager and are delighted to welcome Chris Merry to the team. Chris is an experienced Business Development professional who will add value to the team.

Should you require any further information on JB Management or QQI please do not hesitate to visit their websites www.jb-management.com and www.qqi.cn.com

Enquiries:

Kellie Zdanowicz
Operations Manager
01292 886664

12 Wellington Square
Ayr
KA7 1EN

www.jb-management.com

JB Management is a founder member of The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Turnberry Resort introduces family-friendly Sunday Brunch in 1906 Restaurant

2011-11-03T15:00:00.006Z

A great day out for the whole family lies in store as Turnberry Resort introduces monthly Sunday Brunches in its 1906 Restaurant this weekend.

Starting this Sunday 6 November and following on for the first Sunday of each subsequent month, the Ayrshire-based resort will serve up a sumptuous Sunday brunch, featuring a buffet starter, traditional main and mouth-watering dessert from their award-winning culinary team.

To further enhance the wonderful atmosphere and breathtaking views in 1906, live entertainment during brunch will add to the offering within the signature restaurant.

Priced at a very reasonable £22 per adult and £11 per child, the Sunday Brunch offering is especially ideal for families with two hours of complimentary childcare included for young ones at Turnberry’s new Wee Explorers playroom and crèche and with The Little Turnberry Farm walk families can conclude a perfect family day out.

In addition to the monthly event, the resort will also serve brunch on special occasion Sundays including Mother’s Day and Easter.

Turnberry General Manager Jordi Tarrida (pictured above) said: “As a family-friendly resort, Turnberry is an ideal place for a Sunday Brunch. We have strong culinary ties in the area, through our local sourced ingredients, which we aim to build on with the monthly Sunday buffet. To ensure a great experience for all ages we’ve included some complimentary time for children aged 3-12 years within The Wee Explorers, giving parents an opportunity to enjoy a bit of relaxation at the end of their week.”

For more details and booking information, please visit: www.turnberryresort.co.uk

Turnberry Resort is a Founder Member of The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Chef Mafiz Ali plans children’s Halloween party at Ayr Spice

2011-10-27T21:05:00.005+01:00

This week at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant in Minishant, South Ayrshire, celebrity TV chef Mafiz Ali and his staff have been busy planning a Halloween party for pupils, parents and teachers from nearby Minishant Primary School.

This will take place between 6-8pm next Tuesday 1 November.

Children and adults will all have a delicious meal in the restaurant, and there will be a party for the children in the function room upstairs.

Mafiz Ali commented: “We’re all looking forward to what should be a really fun event, as we feel that it is important that a good restaurant should actively participate in the social life of the community, and not just be only a place to eat.

“We’re also busy taking bookings for Christmas and New Year.”

Mafiz Ali has prepared a sumptuous festive menu, which can be viewed CLICK HERE

Bookings are available throughout December and the first few days of January, both for office and business celebrations (the upstairs function room at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant can accommodate up to 100 people) or for family dining.

Chef Mafiz Ali concluded: “And between now and then I will, as always, be looking forward to welcoming customers old and new to Ayr Spice (open everyday 12 noon -10.30pm) to sample the excellent Indian cuisine lovingly prepared by myself and my loyal team.”

Ayr Spice Indian Cuisine can be found in the fine old red sandstone Memorial church at the entrance to the picturesque village of Minishant, 5 miles south of Ayr on the A77. The church was erected by the thread magnate Sir Peter Coats of nearby Auchendrane, in loving memory of his wife Glorianna, who died in 1877.

Mafiz Ali has enjoyed a busy and successful 2011.

He has made two guest appearances on STV’s popular early evening television programme “The Hour” with regular hosts Stephen Jardine and Michelle McManus.

The previous month, Mafiz Ali hosted a very successful luncheon meeting of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, which further enhanced his already growing reputation amongst discerning diners in the local business community.

He has also already this year put on successful special menus to celebrate Mother’s Day, the Bangladeshi New Year and the Royal Wedding.

And finally, Mafiz has extended the opening hours of Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant, which is now open from 12 noon 10.30pm every day.

And now he is introducing a Tandoori Barbecue, at which customers can dine al fresco (weather permitting!) in a family-friendly atmosphere with a tree-house for the kids and ample parking.

There will be further exciting developments to be announced during the course of the rest of the year which will cement Ayr Spice’s place as one of the top fine dining experiences in South West Scotland.

ABOUT MAFIZ ALI

Mafiz climbed the ladder to fame when he won a chef of the year award in 1998 and, almost immediately, added one for exceptional hygiene and cleanliness. Newly crowned at Westminster, he was commissioned by the then prime minister, John Major to supply a banquet for his 50th birthday at Number 10 Downing Street.

A replica banquet was then ordered by one of the distinguished guests and sent to New York city. Since then he has sent food elsewhere in the USA and to Japan and Australia in what must be an almost uniquely international takeaway service! He has also catered for numerous celebrities from the world of entertainment and some have vowed to come to his restaurant while they are in Scotland on tour.

It is not widely known that 92% of all “Indian” restaurants in the UK are in fact Bangladeshi, and it was to promote such eating houses and reward young chefs by recognising their talents, that Mafiz founded the “British Bangladeshi National Curry awards” at the Houses of Parliament at Westminster, also in 1998.

Mafiz Ali has been closely associated with charities, notably when he entered the Guinness Book of Records with 4.5 tons of chicken korma, which was then eaten at a charity event. Because of the enormous quantities involved he had to seek the advice of a professional engineer for the technical realisation of the project.

No stranger to TV, Mafiz has been invited to return to STV for further programmes in the future. Channel 4, Big Breakfast TV and several others including Bangladeshi TV on which he has his own programme, number among the other stations for whom he has appeared, and he has made double that number of radio broadcasts, as well as contributing to many publications including the Times and Daily Mirror.

Enquiries:

Mafiz Ali
Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
Ayrshire
KA19 8EX

Tel: 01292 441413
Web: www.ayrspice.info

CKD Galbraith offer country cottage in attractive rural Ayrshire location

2011-10-27T14:59:00.007+01:00

CKD Galbraith are marketing Brig O Doon Cottage, a substantial attached cottage forming part of a sympathetic conversion of an original farm steading, set in a pocket of untouched countryside on the outskirts of Ayr.

The original farm at Cloncaird dates from around the early 19th century, and has been recently converted to form a settlement of five individual properties. Set well back from the road and approached via its own private driveway, Brig O Doon Cottage sits at the western end of the communal courtyard, overlooking its private garden and a ½ acre paddock.

The house has the flexibility of layout to be able to use many of the rooms for a variety of purposes.

There is a light and airy kitchen/dining room with stable style door to the rear. Adjoining this is the formal lounge, which has an attractive open plan staircase to the first floor, and French windows leading to the garden.

There are four double sized bedrooms and an additional study/bedroom five, including a lovely first floor master bedroom suite with a window looking southwest over the surrounding countryside. Two of the bedrooms are usefully located on the ground floor. There is a family bathroom on each floor, and an en-suite shower room within the master bedroom.

Brig O Doon Cottage is well appointed, with care and attention to detail taken in the specification and finishes. The kitchen has a porcelain tiled floor, range cooker and integrated appliances. The bathrooms have ceramic tiling and heated towel rails. All the bedrooms have TV points and there are telephone points and 5 amp plugs in the ground floor rooms. There are smoke detectors and a burglar alarm, and the house also has double glazing throughout.

This is a delightful and well designed family home, benefiting from a lovely country setting, just a short distance from Ayr.

Offers over £189,000 are being sought for Brig O Doon Cottage.

PDFs available on www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

Contact Bob Cherry on 01292 268181, or email: bob.cherry@ckdgalbraith.co.uk

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 200 people in offices in Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.

The company’s rural arm specialises in farm sales and purchases, the management and sale of large estates and woodland, valuations and building surveying work.

CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office:

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

Independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Final Flat Racing Action of 2011 at Ayr Racecourse

2011-10-27T11:37:00.003+01:00

By: Iain Ferguson

Ayr Racecourse stages its final flat meeting of the 2011 season this Saturday 29 October with a seven race card scheduled.

One of the highlights of the afternoon will be the awards for the top jockey, trainer and owner for the flat campaign at Ayr with Paul Hanagan, Richard Fahey and Ken McGarrity leading their respective championships.

Hanagan, on course for his second successive British Champion Jockeys title, is likely to be in action along with other leading riders including Tom Eaves, Phillip Makin and PJ McDonald.

The racing is due to come under starter's orders at 2.10pm with the Miss Ellie British Stallion Studs Supporting British Racing E.B.F. Maiden Stakes and the feature race of the afternoon is the John Smith’s No Nonsense Handicap due off at 4.25pm.

There is a good mix of races including two sprints, several middle distant contests and a one mile seven furlong marathon.

Gates open at 12.10pm, first race is 2.10pm and the last race, the Best Odds Guaranteed At Victorchandler.com Handicap is off at 5.30pm.

Change of track at Ayr Racecourse

Ayr Racecourse’s final flat meeting of the season - John Smith’s Raceday on Saturday 29 October - will now be run on the hurdles track, and as a result there will be no races below the distance of nine furlongs.

The British Horseracing Authority took the decision to transfer the fixture to the hurdle course following heavy rainfall over the last three weeks.

Ayr Clerk of the Course Emma Marley commented: “The heavy rainfall onto a frequently raced-on surface has meant the flat course has become unraceable with waterlogging creating false patches of ground.

“Due to an inclement weather forecast, the Managing Executive and BHA Inspectorate consider it necessary to switch flat racing to the hurdle course in order to provide fresh ground and a raceable surface for Saturday 29 October.

“Races on the day have therefore been altered to accommodate racing on this course, and will be run over one mile, one furlong to one mile, seven furlongs. There will be a maximum of 12 runners per race.

“During the past three weeks we have recorded our highest amount of monthly rainfall for the year, with 187mm or 7.4 inches of rain falling on the track, which is well above our October monthly average of 112.5 mm.”

One of the highlights of the afternoon will be the awards for the top jockey, trainer and owner for the flat campaign at Ayr with Paul Hanagan, Richard Fahey and Ken McGarrity leading their respective championships.

Hanagan, on course for his second successive British Champion Jockeys title, is likely to be in action along with other leading riders including Tom Eaves, Phillip Makin and PJ McDonald.

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

CKD Galbraith offer exceptional barn conversion in beautiful Ayrshire situation

2011-10-26T17:14:00.008+01:00

Leading independent Scottish property consultancy CKD Galbraith is marketing Kilmore Heights, an exceptional barn conversion completed to a high standard in September 2010. South facing with fine views over unspoilt rolling countryside, Kilmore Heights is quietly situated between Hollybush and Dalrymple in South Ayrshire, overlooking the River Doon.

Designed and finished under architect supervision, the house has spacious and extensive accommodation with light rooms, under floor heating and all the insulation benefits of a new house built to modern building standards. Much use has been made of oak to floors, doors, skirtings and other fittings, including an attractive bespoke oak and glass staircase in the main hall.

A large house with over 3000 square feet of accommodation, Kilmore Heights is ideal for family use. There is a stunning open plan living room, leading to an impressive kitchen/dining room with separate utility room. A formal lounge and study or bedroom 4 completes the ground floor reception space. The master bedroom with en-suite shower room is conveniently located on the ground floor.

On the first floor there are two lovely bedroom suites each with large bedroom, en-suite bathrooms and individual sitting rooms with south facing views.

In addition to the two acres of landscaped lawns and grounds, there is an excellent general purpose building with potential for a variety of uses. Up to 10 acres of further land adjacent to the house is also available for sale or rent by separate negotiation if required.

Kilmore Heights is an exceptional new family house in a lovely situation. The house is within the South Ayrshire school catchment areas.

Offers over £475,000 are being sought for Kilmore Heights.

PDFs available on www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

Contact Bob Cherry on 01292 268181, or email: bob.cherry@ckdgalbraith.co.uk

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 200 people in offices in Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.

The company’s rural arm specialises in farm sales and purchases, the management and sale of large estates and woodland, valuations and building surveying work.

CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office:

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

Independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Delighted Debbie picks up prize new car at Ayr Racecourse

2011-10-26T12:12:00.003+01:00

By: Iain Ferguson

DELIGHTED Debbie Grogan officially took ownership of a fabulous Vauxhall Corsa LimIted Edition – the star prize in this year’s William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Ladies Day at Ayr Racecourse.

Debbie, from Sheffield, won the car when Coolminx crossed the line in front in the William Hill Ayr Bronze Cup last month, and travelled to Ayr on Friday to pick up her prize and drive it home.

She received the fantastic prize from William Smith of Kerr & Smith who sponsor the Ladies Day first prize and was still coming to terms with her big win.

She said: “I had a fabulous day last month when I won the car – I still can’t believe it and on the day I thought my horse had only finished second. The photo finish photograph now has pride of my place in my house – it proves I won William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Ladies Day Final at Ayr!

“Now I can’t wait to show the car off to all my friends and family back home in Sheffield – its a real stunner and I'm so proud.”

The William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Ladies Day is unique among ladies competitions at racecourses with ladies winning bronze coins at various race meetings over the season which then entitles them to a place in the final where they draw the name of a horse running in the Bronze Cup. The lady who has the winning horse drives off in the car.

This was the fourth year the prize was sponsored by Kerr & Smith who have garages in Cumnock, Ayr and Glasgow.

For further information please contact Iain Ferguson on 07795-565691.

CKD Galbraith offer classical mansion, farmland and woodland in Ayrshire

2011-10-24T22:03:00.006+01:00

Oswald Hall in Ayrshire, an outstanding classical mansion with superb Robert Adam interiors, is on the market for offers over £1 million through leading Scottish property consultants CKD Galbraith, together with Knight Frank.

The mansion is the main house of the Auchincruive Estate which is situated in wooded countryside on the River Ayr, on the outskirts of the county town of Ayr. It has been owned by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) since 1927. SAC have relocated elements of its teaching to the new Riverside Campus in Ayr, and are in the process of consolidating other activities at the Auchincruive Estate over the next few years and Oswald Hall is surplus to their requirements, as is Mount Loudoun Farmland and Woodland, also offered for sale and detailed below.

An important Grade A listed building which has been well maintained by SAC, it has been used in recent years as a conference centre and wedding venue. It has some spectacular principal rooms designed by Robert Adam and a floor area of about 36,000 square feet. The largest room can easily accommodate 90 delegates.

Being highly accessible from the M77 and A77, Glasgow and Prestwick Airports, it has huge potential for a wide variety of uses – as a private residence with offices, a hotel, headquarters building, research or conversion to residential apartments.

Oswald Hall was built in 1767 by Richard Oswald. Wings were added and other additions made in the 19th century. An impressive and important building, it has superb plasterwork in the main rooms and there are dramatic hanging gardens on the slopes between the mansion and the River Ayr.

Standing in its own grounds of about 38 acres, there is also the prospect of acquiring further land and property within the Auchincruive Estate.

SAC and AWG Property Limited have conceived a Masterplan for the future development of the surplus elements of the Estate with a new village of up to 495 homes, 60,000 square feet of business and research floor space, a golf course and equestrian centre.

Oswald Hall is a wonderful opportunity; an historic house in a magnificent position which over time will become the centrepiece of a new village in an accessible situation on the Ayrshire Coast.

Offers over £1,000,000 are being sought for Oswald Hall.

For further information on the sale of Oswald Hall please visit www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk or contact Bob Cherry on 01292 268181or email: bob.cherry@ckdgalbraith.co.uk

Mount Loudoun Farmland and Woodland

A highly productive block of farmland and woodland at Auchincruive on the outskirts of Ayr is being marketed for sale through leading Scottish property consultants CKD Galbraith.

Mount Loudoun farmland and woodland, extending to some 144 acres, is presently owned by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and has been managed as part of the Ayr College farm since 1927. SAC have relocated elements of its teaching to the new Riverside Campus in Ayr, and are in the process of consolidating other activities at the Auchincruive Estate over the next few years, and this land is surplus to their requirements.

SAC and AWG Property Ltd have conceived a Masterplan for the future development of the surplus elements of Auchincruive which includes a new village of up to 495 houses, 60,000 square feet of business and research space, a wedding and conference centre, a golf course and equestrian centre.

The Mount Loudoun farmland is on the opposite side of the River Ayr from the site of this major initiative.

Being marketed through CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office, offers over £300,000 are being sought for Mount Loudoun farmland and woodland.

For further information on the sale of Mount Loudoun Farmland and Woodland please visit www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk or contact Bob Cherry on 01292 268181 or email: bob.cherry@ckdgalbraith.co.uk

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 200 people in offices in Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson.

The company’s rural arm specialises in farm sales and purchases, the management and sale of large estates and woodland, valuations and building surveying work. CKD Galbraith’s in-house AMC (Agricultural Mortgage Corporation) agents assist in securing loans for a range of farming purposes with the specialist team offering a competitive service to assist clients with applications for IACS, SRDP, Rural Stewardship Schemes, SNH Natural Care Scheme and SSSI Agreements.

Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors complete fourth recent holiday park transaction

2011-10-21T17:06:00.004+01:00

On behalf of private clients, Ayr-based Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors have completed the sale of Viewfield Manor Leisure Park to Verdant Leisure, owner and operator of two other holiday parks in South East Scotland - Pease Bay and Thurston Manor.

Set in the heart of the beautiful Ayrshire countryside, Viewfield Manor Leisure Park provides holidaymakers with both the perfect location for their holiday home-from-home, and an ideal base from which to explore the wealth of historic attractions, thriving market and seaside towns or world famous sporting locations that Ayrshire has to offer.

This is the fourth holiday park transaction (three purchases and one sale) completed this year by the Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors team led by chairman Norman Geddes (pictured above) and Peter McNamara, and a further sale is anticipated shortly.

Norman Geddes explained: “There is strong activity in the leisure sector at present. We are able to assist because of our wide experience in the commercial property market. We provide a very prompt and cost-effective professional service.”

This Ayrshire based firm of solicitors has established a significant presence in Scotland’s property conveyancing market, advising clients on all aspects of buying, selling and leasing properties both domestic and commercial, and handling property conveyancing for diverse clients across Scotland. They are also very active in the market for farms and country properties.

Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors operate from prominent modern offices in the centre of Ayr with adjacent parking for clients and wheelchair-friendly access. They offer a large range of legal services with a free initial consultation always available to new clients.

Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Enquiries:

Norman Geddes
Chairman
Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors
Dalblair House
46 Dalblair Road
AYR KA7 1UQ

Tel: 01292 280499
E-mail: norman.geddes@frazercoogans.co.uk Web: www.frazercoogans.co.uk

CKD Galbraith offer luxury riverside apartment in unique Alloway development

2011-10-18T16:37:00.005+01:00

A rare opportunity has arisen to purchase one of the few exclusive river front apartments at Dutch Mill, in the heart of historic Alloway.

Leading Scottish independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith are delighted to be marketing No 3C, a stunning first floor flat of over 110 sq m living space. One of only a few apartments within the south west wing of the development, it offers stunning views of the river from the whole of the south facing side of the building. The floor space includes a lovely open plan living/dining room, three bedrooms, kitchen and two bathrooms. It is also one of the apartments that benefits from a private, south facing balcony, which looks over the River Doon as far as the “Brig O Doon”, made famous in Robert Burns’ Tam O Shanter’s Tale.

Dutch Mill takes its name from a company from Holland who are alleged to have built the mill during the 16th Century. Also known as Doonside Mill, the present building dates from 1837. It has connections with Robert Burns’ father William Burnes, who was said to have lodged there whilst working on the nearby Doonside Estate.

This is an attractive and well designed development, which sits well within its historic surroundings. The flat is reached via a communal stairwell which has been recently refurbished, and there is also a lift for convenience. Outside are landscaped gardens with river frontage. The flat has a private lockup garage and there is ample parking.

3c Dutch Mill is an exceptional flat within a lovely setting, offering the convenience of accommodation on one level within this sought after location. It has the added benefit of being an ideal home for those looking for a secure base.

Offers over £285,000 are being sought for 3c Dutch Mill.

PDF available on www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

For details of these and other properties in Ayrshire, contact Bob Cherry on 01292 268181 at CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office.

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 160 people in offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company’s rural arm specialises in farm sales and purchases, the management and sale of large estates and woodland, valuations and building surveying work.

The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson, as well as providing a range of services to the farming community through an association with United Auctions, Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers and procurement specialists.

CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office:

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

Independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Council responds to South Ayrshire flooding

2011-10-17T17:31:00.003+01:00

South Ayrshire Council is currently working to support residents and businesses in the area whose homes and business premises are at risk of flooding following today’s heavy rainfall.

The significant heavy rainfall which has persisted throughout the day has caused a number of problems in relation to flooding, particularly in Ayr, Coylton, Culroy, Dundonald, Dunure, Kirkmichael, Mossblown, Prestwick, Tarbolton and Troon.

More than 60 requests were received by 4pm today to attend to road flooding-related issues and resources have been deployed to assist in all of these areas.

Troon has experienced particular problems in the Portland Street/Jubilee Road area of town, which is the result of Scottish Water sewer infrastructure capacity issues in Troon town centre.

Scottish Water’s system cannot cope in heavy rainfall situations and the company is fully aware that this longstanding problem is a matter for them to resolve. However, Council staff have been in attendance this afternoon to assist local residents and businesses in an effort to prevent water ingress to all premises.

Staff are currently distributing sandbags to properties in the Portland Street/Jubilee Road area that are at risk of flooding or to those who have unfortunately been affected by water ingress. More than 160 sand bags have been distributed in the Troon area alone to respond to the ongoing difficulties and Strathclyde Fire and Rescue Service have also been called out to attend to flooding problems in the area.

Council employees will continue to respond to road surface water emergency situations as they arise throughout the night, with crews on standby and ready to be called out as needed.

Mike Newall, South Ayrshire Council’s Head of Planning and Enterprise, said: “We are doing all we can to help our local communities who are affected by this flooding and our staff are out there in horrendous conditions in an effort to make a positive difference. We’ll continue to do what we can as this evening progresses and requests for assistance should be directed to 01292 612302.”

A further period of heavy rain is forecast to fall between the hours of 3am and 6am on Tuesday 18 October 2011, with sleet also forecast across the very highest roads this evening before the persistent rain clears.

9PM UPDATE:

The A713 at Ailsa Hospital has reopened to traffic.

Jubilee Road in Troon remains closed at the junction with Portland Street, with access to Jubilee Road from Port Ranald Drive only.

Wilson Street in Ayr is closed between Walker Road and Lochside Road - Council employees currently in attendance clearing floodwater from the road.

9.45PM UPDATE: The A713 is currently closed at Ailsa Hospital to allow flooding to be cleared from the road. A diversion route has been put in place for traffic travelling towards Ayr Hospital/Ailsa Hospital. From Ayr and from south of Ayr, it will be from the A77 via the C39 Corton Road to A713 at Mosshill then towards the hospitals and vice versa. Traffic travelling on the A713 to and from the hospitals from the Hollybush, Patna or Dalmellington direction will be unaffected by the road closure. The road is expected to be closed around two hours.

CKD Galbraith offer attractive converted mill in excellent rural location

2011-10-14T23:32:00.005+01:00

Leading Scottish independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith is marketing No 1 Dykemill, by Symington in Ayrshire, a former mill which has been converted into a delightful family home. It is situated in a sought after location close to the conservation village of Symington, and within a short drive of the A/M77 links to Glasgow.

Formerly the mill for Coodham Estate, Dykemill is believed to date from the mid-eighteenth century, and is built mainly of stone on two storeys under a pitched slate roof. It was fully renovated and converted around 20 years ago. One of two attached houses converted from the original mill, it has been carefully designed to preserve its outlook and privacy.

The main reception rooms on the ground floor and four bedrooms on the first floor face the front of the house, taking advantage of the south-easterly outlook over the private and enclosed garden.

There is a large kitchen/dining room, cloakroom, lounge and study/bedroom 5 on the ground floor and on the first floor, four bedrooms (one with en suite shower room) and a family bathroom. The formal lounge has a deep set fireplace with multi-fuel stove, whilst the kitchen/dining room has been attractively fitted with farmhouse units, Belfast sink and range cooker. Both rooms benefit from glazed double doors opening onto a paved area in front of the house.

To the front is a tarmacked parking area, and a double garage. The landscaped gardens are to the front of the house, bordered to the south and west by woodland, through which a path leads to the Todrig Burn.

The workings of the former mill can still be seen at the top of the burn, including the former mill lade and sluice gate which, when operating, form a lovely woodland waterfall.

1 Dykemill is a delightful and well appointed home. It will appeal to anyone looking for a rural lifestyle in an extremely accessible location.

Offers over £320,000 are being sought for No 1 Dykemill.

PDF available on www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

For details of these and other properties in Ayrshire, contact Bob Cherry on 01292 268181 at CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office.

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 160 people in offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company’s rural arm specialises in farm sales and purchases, the management and sale of large estates and woodland, valuations and building surveying work.

The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson, as well as providing a range of services to the farming community through an association with United Auctions, Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers and procurement specialists.

CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office:

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

Independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

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 wealth and rich diversity of entrepreneurial talent and business excellence that abounds here within the county boundaries of Ayrshire.

Members include the Clydesdale Bank, Ayr Racecourse, Western House Hotel, Turnberry Golf Resort and South Ayrshire Council. 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.

Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors senior partner Norman Geddes is executive chairman of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, and managing director is public relations consultancy Fame Publicity Services proprietor Murdoch MacDonald.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran appoints new chief executive John Burns

2011-10-14T21:04:00.002+01:00

From 1 April 2012, NHS Ayrshire & Arran will have a new chief executive. Following the retiral of Dr Wai-yin Hatton at the end of March 2012, John Burns will take up the post of chief executive of NHS Ayrshire & Arran.

Mr Burns (pictured above) is the current chief executive of NHS Dumfries & Galloway, and has also held the position of Director of Health Services. He started his NHS career at Tayside Health Board in 1983 and has held several positions throughout Scotland before taking up the post as chief executive of Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust in 2001.

Professor William Stevely CBE, chairman of Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board explains: “John Burns brings a wealth of experience of the NHS, and has been responsible for leading and integrating services across the region.”

Mr Burns has chaired a range of national work programmes including Financial Shared Services, review of Cervical Cytology Laboratory Services and the Implementation Board for the Managed Services Network for Children and Young People’s Cancer.

Mr Burns is originally from St Andrews in Fife, and is married with two children.

Professor Stevely adds: “John was appointed out of a very strong field of candidates after a rigorous interview process. We are confident that John will be a worthy successor to Dr Hatton, with a strong commitment to safe, quality, patient-centred services.

“On behalf of Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board, I would like to convey our personal and professional thanks to Dr Hatton for her significant contribution to health care throughout her long career in the NHS.”

CKD Galbraith offer for sale unique country homes in Ayrshire

2011-10-12T14:25:00.006+01:00

CKD Galbraith are marketing three unique properties, each offering the opportunity to create a lovely rural family home, deep in the heart of the picturesque Girvan and Stinchar Valleys.

The beautiful South Ayrshire countryside is a popular destination for those seeking outdoor pursuits. To the west are the stunning beaches and landmarks of the Ayrshire coastline, including the renowned Culzean Castle and Country Park. To the north is the market town of Ayr, and historic “Burns Country”. The beautiful Loch Doon and Galloway Forest Park are to the south. There are golf courses such as Turnberry, which also boasts a world renowned hotel and spa, yachting facilities at Troon and Maidens, and opportunities for game sports as well as trout and salmon fishing in the area’s rivers and lochs.

South Ayrshire is well connected for commuter travel, with the A/M77 giving a direct link from Ayr to Glasgow, and the railway station in Girvan providing regular services to Ayr, Glasgow and Stranraer.

Drummuck Farm (above), about 4 miles from Turnberry, is a charming traditional farmhouse with adjoining 2 bed cottage, mature garden, woodlands and a grazing paddock. It is a great opportunity for someone looking for additional family accommodation, or a letting business, and is on the market at offers over £295,000.

To the south, Stable Cottage (above) is a recently refurbished and extended country cottage, in a particularly picturesque setting along the banks of the Water of Gregg, close to the conservation village of Barr. The house is set in a sheltered garden with a bothy and range of outbuildings, and about 6.2 acres of land. It lies at the edge of the Galloway Forest Park, a mecca for cycling and hiking enthusiasts, and is being marketed at Offers over £265,000.

Threave Farm (above) near Crosshill is a wonderful opportunity for anyone looking for a substantial, traditional farmhouse which could also be extended to form a substantial family home. Centred around an enclosed courtyard, it includes the traditional steading range of buildings. There is also a grazing paddock of around 11 acres. It is on the market at offers over £295,000.

For details of these and other properties in Ayrshire, contact Bob Cherry on 01292 268181 at CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office.

PDFs available on www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 160 people in offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company’s rural arm specialises in farm sales and purchases, the management and sale of large estates and woodland, valuations and building surveying work.

The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson, as well as providing a range of services to the farming community through an association with United Auctions, Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers and procurement specialists.

CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office:

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

Independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Mafiz Ali opens refurbished Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant function room

2011-10-09T13:34:00.004+01:00

TV celebrity chef Mafiz Ali has opened his newly refurbished upstairs function room at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant in Minishant, South Ayrshire, Scotland.

The opening ceremony was performed by South Ayrshire Council Deputy Provost Mary Kilpatrick, who afterwards joined around 70 specially invited guests including South Ayrshire Council Deputy Leader Margaret Toner at a celebratory dinner.

The venue can now accommodate events and functions for up to around 100 people, and is available for hire with or without catering by Mafiz Ali and his Ayr Spice kitchen and front of house team.

A COMPLETE SET OF PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN AT THE EVENT IS AVAILABLE ON FLICKR. CLICK HERE.

Ayr Spice Indian Cuisine can be found in the fine old red sandstone Memorial church at the entrance to the picturesque village of Minishant, 5 miles south of Ayr on the A77. The church was erected by the thread magnate Sir Peter Coats of nearby Auchendrane, in loving memory of his wife Glorianna, who died in 1877.

Mafiz Ali has enjoyed a busy and successful 2011.

He has made two guest appearances on STV’s popular early evening television programme “The Hour” with regular hosts Stephen Jardine and Michelle McManus.

The previous month, Mafiz Ali hosted a very successful luncheon meeting of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle, which further enhanced his already growing reputation amongst discerning diners in the local business community.

He has also already this year put on successful special menus to celebrate Mother’s Day, the Bangladeshi New Year and the Royal Wedding.

And finally, Mafiz has extended the opening hours of Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant, which is now open from 12 noon 10.30pm every day.

And now he is introducing a Tandoori Barbecue, at which customers can dine al fresco (weather permitting!) in a family-friendly atmosphere with a tree-house for the kids and ample parking.

There will be further exciting developments to be announced during the course of the rest of the year which will cement Ayr Spice’s place as one of the top fine dining experiences in South West Scotland.

ABOUT MAFIZ ALI

Mafiz climbed the ladder to fame when he won a chef of the year award in 1998 and, almost immediately, added one for exceptional hygiene and cleanliness. Newly crowned at Westminster, he was commissioned by the then prime minister, John Major to supply a banquet for his 50th birthday at Number 10 Downing Street.

A replica banquet was then ordered by one of the distinguished guests and sent to New York city. Since then he has sent food elsewhere in the USA and to Japan and Australia in what must be an almost uniquely international takeaway service! He has also catered for numerous celebrities from the world of entertainment and some have vowed to come to his restaurant while they are in Scotland on tour.

It is not widely known that 92% of all “Indian” restaurants in the UK are in fact Bangladeshi, and it was to promote such eating houses and reward young chefs by recognising their talents, that Mafiz founded the “British Bangladeshi National Curry awards” at the Houses of Parliament at Westminster, also in 1998.

Mafiz Ali has been closely associated with charities, notably when he entered the Guinness Book of Records with 4.5 tons of chicken korma, which was then eaten at a charity event. Because of the enormous quantities involved he had to seek the advice of a professional engineer for the technical realisation of the project.

No stranger to TV, Mafiz has been invited to return to STV for further programmes in the future. Channel 4, Big Breakfast TV and several others including Bangladeshi TV on which he has his own programme, number among the other stations for whom he has appeared, and he has made double that number of radio broadcasts, as well as contributing to many publications including the Times and Daily Mirror.

Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant
The Old Minishant Memorial Church
22 Ayr Road
Minishant
Ayrshire
KA19 8EX

Tel: 01292 441413
Web: www.ayrspice.info

Elite Ayrshire Business Circle welcomes Chinese Consul-General Li Ruiyou

2011-10-07T16:10:00.005+01:00

The Elite Ayrshire Business Circle in conjunction with South Ayrshire Council has held a special meeting entitled “Encouraging Trade and Business between Ayrshire and China”.

The meeting was attended by Chinese Consul-General in Edinburgh Li Ruiyou, Consul Mr Wan Degang, and Deputy Consul Miss Zhu Hongying.

[Pictured: Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors senior partner and Elite Ayrshire Business Circle executive chairman Norman Geddes (left) welcomes Chinese Consul-General in Edinburgh Li Ruiyou to the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle meeting at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Alloway, South Ayrshire.]

Main speakers included Wendy Liu, manager of the China-Britain Business Council’s Glasgow office, Bill Ure and Kellie Zdanowicz of JB Management, and Kirsteen Higgins, Smart Exporter Operations Manager, Scottish Enterprise.

The meeting in the Robertson Room in the main building at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum was attended by MSPs John Scott, Adam Ingram and Chic Brodie, and South Ayrshire Council Deputy Provost Mary Kilpatrick, Deputy Leader Margaret Toner, and Executive Director of Development & Environment Lesley Bloomer.

Frazer Coogans Commercial Solicitors senior partner and Elite Ayrshire Business Circle executive chairman Norman Geddes chaired the meeting and commented: “We were delighted to welcome Chinese Consul-General in Edinburgh Li Ruiyou, Consul Mr Wan Degang, and Deputy Consul Miss Zhu Hongying, and are grateful to them for having taken the time out of their busy schedules to come to Ayrshire.

“As the economic skies continue to darken, it becomes ever more vital that, for the Ayrshire economy to continue to thrive and prosper, more local companies must find ways to do business in parts of the world like China that are still managing to achieve economic growth.

“Many Ayrshire companies have already established business relationships in China, and are to be congratulated for having done so. But more must follow their shining example, and we hope that this latest meeting of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle will inspire them and assist them to do so.”

A COMPLETE SET OF PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN AT THE EVENT IS AVAILABLE ON FLICKR. CLICK HERE.

CKD Galbraith offer exclusive country properties in stunning rural location

2011-10-05T15:50:00.008+01:00

Leading Scottish independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith is offering for sale West Brockloch, a group of exclusive country properties by H McMurray and Son, situated in a stunning rural location in popular South Ayrshire.

The original farm steading has been converted to create just four homes on a beautiful site, each individually designed to take advantage of the wonderful situation and panoramic views.

There are only two of these exceptional properties left. Carrick View, the larger of the two remaining, is now being offered at a discounted price of Fixed Price £315,000.

This is a unique and special location. Only a mile from the local facilities of Maybole, and around a 15 minute drive from popular Alloway, the houses enjoy a peaceful and tranquil setting with unrivalled and uninterrupted views of the surrounding countryside, north to the Carrick Hills and south across the Girvan Valley to The Merrick. Nearby, the Ayrshire Coast offers wonderful beaches and walks and the renowned Culzean Castle and Country Park is only a short drive away.

H McMurray & Son have drawn on their many years of experience to create these family homes, with attention to detail and careful consideration of modern lifestyle needs.

Each of these four bedroom houses is generously proportioned with floor areas ranging from 221-241 sq m. There is a great balance of formal and informal living space, kitchen/living rooms and separate utility areas, essential designs for rural family life. The clever incorporation of the original steading buildings, along with the use of full height windows and double doors through many of the reception rooms opens them up to take advantage of the available light and space.

Externally the houses are traditionally finished with a blend of render and natural timber features. Large private gardens wrap around the properties, benefiting from the wonderful countryside views.

Internally the specification and quality of finishes are second to none. There is a choice of kitchens by Crown and Kingswood with a full range of Whirlpool integrated appliances, and bathroom suites by Ideal Standard or similar. Heating is by high performance gas fired condensing boiler, and there is high performance insulation throughout.

Eric McMurray’s close and personal supervision of his projects are a key element to ensuring the highest quality product. Certainly the National House Building Council (NHBC) – under whose 10 year warranty scheme the houses at West Brockloch are certified – have previously commended the work of the H McMurray & Son in their strict standards of construction.

For further information: Contact Bob Cherry 01292 268181.

PDF available on www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

Independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

CKD Galbraith offer outstanding architect-designed energy-efficient country house

2011-10-04T17:28:00.011+01:00

A unique opportunity has arisen to purchase “Muncaidh House”, a stunning new country home of over 400 sq m, architect designed using state of the art building techniques and offering an impressive degree of energy efficiency.

Muncaidh House (meaning “monkey house”) is located in a peaceful rural location at the edge of the village of Gateside, about 30 minutes drive from Glasgow. It is set within its own newly landscaped grounds, and has equestrian facilities and grazing.

The house has been built using structural insulated panels, a modern method of construction, creating an extremely well insulated home which not only benefits the environment but means energy costs are greatly reduced.

Central heating and hot water is provided by a borehole ground source heat pump, an efficient and environmentally friendly solution, widely used in Scandinavia. There is under floor heating on the ground floor, and a heat recovery unit also improves the efficiency and ventilation of the house.

Integral to the design of Muncaidh House is the emphasis on light and internal space. The careful use of man-made materials, softened by the use of natural products such as timber and slate, provide a backdrop to the stunning interior. The design incorporates floor to ceiling windows in the main reception rooms, and careful thought to the layout has resulted in a wonderful semi-open plan family living space.

The central feature of the house is the grand entrance hall (above), with its spectacular timber and glass staircase, and a wall of folding doors opening into the 24ft living room. This stunning space has a full double height wall of windows, and a multi-fuel burning stove giving a central focal point.

From here a wide arch leads to the kitchen/dining room (above and below), where the design of the house comes into its own. It has a vaulted ceiling, with velux roof lights and full height patio windows taking up most of two sides of the room. To one end is a modern fitted kitchen with fully integrated appliances, whilst the remainder of the room forms a welcoming sitting/dining area.

The reception rooms also include a private study, large studio and a private family room.

Upstairs the landing is lit by windows in the roof and along one side of the house. The master bedroom is a sunny south facing room, with vaulted ceiling and twin windows with Paris balconies. It has an en-suite bathroom and walk in dressing room. There are three further bedrooms, one of which has an en-suite shower room, and a generous family bathroom.

Outside are landscaped gardens and a substantial garage block. For equestrian enthusiasts, there is an enclosed stable yard, outdoor arena and around 5 acres of grazing. An additional 16 acres may be available separately.

Muncaidh House is a wonderful opportunity for anyone looking for a unique and substantial country home, with all the benefits of a state of the art, eco-friendly design.

Offers over £695,000 are being sought for Muncaidh House.

PDF available on www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk

About CKD Galbraith

CKD Galbraith is an independent property consultancy specialising in serving the needs of private clients. It employs over 160 people in offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth, Cupar, Inverness, Aberfeldy, Castle Douglas, Ayr, Elgin, Galashiels, Kelso and Peebles.

The partnership provides the full range of property consulting services across the commercial, residential and rural sectors throughout Scotland. The company’s rural arm specialises in farm sales and purchases, the management and sale of large estates and woodland, valuations and building surveying work.

The company enjoys a successful relationship with its associate firm in London, CKD Kennedy Macpherson, as well as providing a range of services to the farming community through an association with United Auctions, Scotland’s leading livestock auctioneers and procurement specialists.

CKD Galbraith’s Ayr office:

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

Independent property consultancy CKD Galbraith’s Ayr Office is a founder member of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Ayrshire Chamber president Willie Mackie aims to promote local business

2011-10-03T17:21:00.002+01:00

Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce held its AGM on Thursday 22 September at which it reported a highly successful year in which the Chamber continues to support its members and the broader interests of the economy of Ayrshire & Arran.

[Pictured: Ayrshire Chamber’s new president Willie Mackie (left) and retiring president Steve Brannagan.]

The Chamber has been nominated as a finalist in the WestSound awards for the Best Place to Work category and has also been nominated as a finalist in the British Chambers “Chamber of the Year” Award 2011.

Chief executive Martin Cheyne presented the Report of the Directors before introducing guest speaker Nora Senior - MD Scotland, Weber Shandwick and Vice President of Scottish Chamber of Commerce and British Chamber of Commerce.

Commenting in her address, Ms Senior said: “It is well recognised that Ayrshire Chamber punches above its weight, and is one of the more innovative chambers in the network.”

Martin Cheyne added: “I am proud of what the team in the Chamber has achieved and thank them all for their support during the year.”

During the proceedings, the Chamber appointed Mr Willie Mackie as President, succeeding Mr Steve Brannagan. Mr Mackie has been Vice President for two years and is looking forward to his term of office. Mrs Wai-yin Hatton has been appointed Vice President. Mrs Hatton has been a Director for a number of years and is looking forward to supporting the President.

The Chamber has a very strong Board which actively participates in the development of Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Willie Mackie, Managing Partner of Clydesdale Bank’s Ayr Financial Solutions Centre (FSC), said: “I have been involved with the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce for many years now, and I am very proud to be taking over the important role of President of the Board of Directors. Through my role with Clydesdale Bank I have had the opportunity to work with many of the region’s best business people, so I know the region has plenty to offer as a business destination.

“Ayrshire’s offering in terms of food and drink for example makes the region a centre of excellence, so I am looking forward to strengthening our credentials in this sector. There is much we can be proud of in Ayrshire, and it is a privilege to be in a position to promote our achievements.”

Formalities over, the delegates enjoyed the opportunity to network and enjoy a buffet and refreshments sponsored by Gailes Hotel.

Ayrshire Chamber is a completely independent and not for profit organisation with one straightforward objective. It exists solely to promote and facilitate business between its members and others, therefore representing the best interests of the community by encouraging commercial growth and local prosperity.

Franny Norton on Our Jonathan wins Gold Cup at Ayr Racecourse

2011-10-01T13:14:00.003+01:00

By: Iain Ferguson

CLASS told in the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup at Ayr Racecourse recently, when the well gambled Our Jonathan won by a very cosy two lengths from favourite Eton Rifles.

Ridden by Franny Norton, trained by Kevin Ryan and owned by Dr Marwan Koukash, who also owns Redford who won the race last year, the 11/1 shot was one of the easiest winners of the race with plenty in hand of the others.

Named after the owner’s brother-in-law’s son who died playing football at the age of 15, Our Jonathan was a really successful two year old a couple of years back, and returned to top form to stay on strongly and turn over the 6/1 favourite.

Dr Koukash was unstinting in his praise for Our Jonathan and said it didn’t matter where you were drawn in the race. He said: “We were drawn in the middle and could have gone either way and we could have won it, he won it so easily.

“I am so glad I came up this year, I missed last year’s race, so it is great to be up here. Great course, great people, great result. We left at six this morning to be here, and I don’t think we’ll go back till six o’clock tomorrow morning now.”

Trainer Kevin Ryan added: “In the last ten days he has really sparkled – it is difficult to be confident for the Ayr Gold Cup, but I felt he was just right today.”

And a jubilant Franny Norton commented: “I was destined to win this race – I was due to ride Redford last year and Bahamian Pirate a few years ago who both won, but today was the day for me.”

More than 10,000 people enjoyed the racing on Saturday, and despite a poor forecast the weather held up remarkably well.

The William Ayr Silver Cup also produced a remarkable result when the winner of last year’s Bronze Cup, Cheveton won at 12/1 under Dale Swift for trainer Richard Price. The seven year old won by half a length from Marvellous Value (20/1). Could it be a Gold Cup win beckoning for Cheveton next year?

Friday's William Hill Ayr Bronze Cup produced a 1-2 for trainer Richard Fahey when Coolminx (Barry McHugh) beat Jeannie Galloway (Paul Hanagan).

Other highlights during the week included a superb performance from Poet, trained by Clive Cox and ridden by Adam Kirby to win the williamhill.com Doonside Cup at odds of 5/4 fav. On Saturday and earlier the same afternoon Roger Sez (14/1) annihilated the field in the Laundry Cottage Stud Firth of Clyde Stakes.

And although he didn’t win the Gold Cup this time round, David Nicholls did land a trophy with the williamhill.com Ayrshire Handicap going the way of Don’t Call Me ridden by his son Adrian and returned at 12/1.

Thursday’s feature race, the williamhill.com Handicap for ther Kilkerran Cup was won by Alistair Whillans Scrapper Smith in the hands of Julie Burke, while the BAM Properties Harry Rosebery Stakes for the South Ayrshire Cup on Friday went the way of Caledonia Lady (5/4 fav) ridden by Paul Hanagan for trainer Jo Hughes.

For further information please contact Iain Ferguson on 07795-565691.

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.

Ayr Racecourse holds successful Gold Cup meeting despite the rain

2011-10-01T00:12:00.004+01:00

By: Iain Ferguson

THOUSANDS of people headed to Ayr Racecourse recently for the annual three-day extravaganza that is the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup Festival.

And despite some heavy showers on the middle day – William Hill Ladies Day – the weather in the main held up despite a dreadful forecast, and the Festival was voted a great success by the public and racing industry.

The event attracts many visitors to the area, and one such woman was luckier than most. Marketing consultant Debbie Grogan from Sheffield is a keen racegoer, and attended Champagne GH Mumm Ladies Night in August when she was awarded a Bronze Coin and a place in the final of Ladies Day.

On Friday she duly lined up with the other 24 finalists in the Ayrshire Suite, and from the tombola drum drew Coolminx – the subsequent winner of the William Hill Ayr Bronze Cup.

Debbie had to endure a photo-finish as Coolminx crossed the line along with stablemate Jeannie Galloway, but in the end she was overjoyed to win.

A delighted Debbie was presented with the keys to the car by Jim Smith of Kerr & Smith, principal sponsors of the Ladies Day competition, and she said: “I am absolutely gobsmacked – never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d win.

“I go racing with my husband all over Britain, and Ayr has always been special to me – now I’ll never ever forget the track and this meeting. I’d like to thank Jim Smith and his company for sponsoring the event. We’ve had a fabulous time, and even if I hadn’t won the car I was still enjoying myself despite the weather.”

Runner-up prize of a fabulous trip to Dubai from Stewart Travel was won by Gillian Wilson from Ayr, who will soon be jetting off to enjoy an unexpected sunshine holiday. Third prize of a piece of jewellery from Alex Cairncross went to Stewarton lady Alana Rafferty.

There was also an added bonus for Jason Hart of Ballater and Michael Goldie of Ayr, who each picked up £300 of Slaters vouchers from Jack Blades, Manager of Slaters in Ayr after being voted the Best Dressed Men on the day.

First Minister Alex Salmond attended on Saturday, and mingled with the crowd throughout the day and took time out to chat to many of the racegoers. The three-day meeting attracted slightly fewer to the course than in previous years – around 19,000 took in the action - but the feedback was very positive.

Lindsey Smith, Sales and Marketing Manager of Ayr Racecourse said: “I have never heard so many positive comments at any meeting. We had a fantastic three days, and, although the weather wasn’t kind to us on Friday, nobody let it dampen their spirits.

“We entertained 200 William Hill employees from all over the UK for their long service awards, and they were all very impressed with everything.”

For further information please contact Iain Ferguson on 07795-565691.

Ayr Racecourse and the associated Western House Hotel are Founder Members of the Elite Ayrshire Business Circle.