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Dates for your diary
Dont forget to reserve your place for our upcoming events
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Renfrewshire Chamber News |
ROCCO Awards 2010
Only one week to go until the 2010 ROCCO Awards! With eleven categories, over 470 guests, and entertainment from Fred McAulay and Loud'n'Proud, the event will surely be one to remember. Good luck to all companies nominated for any of the awards!
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Glasgow Scoops Best Airport Award
Glasgow Airport was last night crowned Best Airport in front of its peers at a prestigious awards ceremony in London.
The annual Airport Operators Association (AOA) Awards recognise excellence in a number of areas, and attract hundreds of senior delegates from UK airports and associated businesses.
Glasgow Airport was named Best Airport With Over 6 Million Passengers, for which Manchester and Birmingham airports were also nominated. Read More
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Free E-Business Workshops for Renfrewshire Businesses
An award winning Hillington training company is offering free help to local businesses with its series of three E-business workshops.
Training, developed by entrepreneur Gary Ennis and his team at NSDesign, takes place for one three-hour session per week over the course of three weeks in both Paisley and Clydebank Business Gateway Centres.
The short course includes applicable up-to-date content on how to get real results from your website, how to improve your search engine ranking and information about trading online – an introduction to ecommerce. Read More
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Supporting Reid Kerr Photography Students
 At all our larger events we now have photography students from Reid Kerr College gaining valuable work experience. A selection of photos from all events will be put on our website and facebook page
Click here to see pictures from October 2010 event onwards including Scottish Parliament, Belgian Embassy Visit, St Mirren Networking Lunch and Speednetworking |
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UWS Alumni Feature Chamber Chief Exec
When Bob Davidson says he started out life as a BABE, he doesn’t mean quite what you might think. Back in 1990, when he went to Paisley College of Technology, as it was known then (now UWS), it stood for a BA in Business Economics. Click this link and go to page 3 for more |
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Renfrewshire Council Chief wins top honour at Scottish Procurement Awards
Renfrewshire Council chief executive David Martin has been honoured for outstanding achievement at the Government Opportunities (GO) magazine Excellence in Public Procurement Awards Scotland.
 Speaking at Glasgow’s Crowne Plaza Hotel, Mr Martin said: “I am absolutely overwhelmed to receive this award. Those of you who know me know that I’m never short of a word or two and, again, I am overwhelmed and delighted. I’ve never received an award for anything like this in my life and hopefully this is the last time. Read More
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Paisley Fireworks Display 2010
Paisley Fireworks Display will be even bigger and better this year!
The display takes place on Friday 5 November, with entertainment starting at 6pm and the fireworks launched from 7.30pm.
This year, the main stage has been moved to Gauze Street, at Silk Street, for the fireworks display. A 40ft platform is being installed in the car park of Renfrewshire House in Cotton Street, from which the fireworks will be launched.
Residents from across Renfrewshire are being encouraged to come into Paisley for the spectacular free event and to make things easier specific free parking areas and viewing areas have been designated. Read More |
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Award Winning Westfield
 Westfield Health has strengthened its position as one of the UK’s leading health cash plan providers after securing a coveted national award.
The Sheffield-based organisation fought off tough challenges from leading competitors to win the Best Healthcare Cash Plan Provider title at the Health Insurance Awards 2010. Read More
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Leading Environment Business Announce Appointment of New Managing Director for Dry Waste & Recycling Operations
Michael Tracey (MBE), Managing Director of William Tracey Limited and DDC Environmental Britain Limited has today announced the appointment of Hugh Stewart to the position of Managing Director of William Tracey Limited’s Recycling & Dry Waste Recovery activities in Scotland reporting to Michael Tracey. Read More |
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Paisley Company to Battle it out for
Top Business Award
The UK’s battered economy hasn’t held back an award-winning Paisley firm that is now in the running to win a top business accolade.
Accountancy specialist Campbell Dallas, based in Glasgow Road, has just picked up the Award for Excellence in People Development, sponsored by CIPD.
The business will now go through to battle it out for the UK-wide national trophy in the British Chambers of Commerce’s Chamber Awards 2010 later this year.
Neville Reyner, President of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “We’ve been delighted with the consistently high standard of confident companies out there that have been flying the flag for British business, despite the uncertain times we find ourselves in.
“These strong businesses have demonstrated that they are thriving - and they’re doing this through innovation, hard work and determination to succeed at the highest level. These awards have revealed some good news for the British economy – which is good news for us all.”
Campbell Dallas specialises in providing services to the SME sector, with industry expertises that include tax consultancy, agriculture, healthcare and renewable energy. The company has recently increased growth potential by focusing on engaging its 164 employees through a new practice management system and a talent management programme for staff development.
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Paisley Christmas Lights On 2010
 Date: Saturday 13 November 2010
Time: Starts 12noon; fireworks finale at 5.30pm
Venue: Paisley Town Centre
Olly Murs, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and the Singing Kettle head a star-studded line up for the big switch on!
Chart-topping Olly, runner-up in last year's X Factor, will join Provost Lawson to switch the Christmas lights on at 5.30pm, and they'll be followed by a spectacular fireworks finale.
But there's plenty going on before that... Read More
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Congratulations to Bridgeall
Congratulations to Renfrewshire Chamber member and ROCCO finalist Bridgeall, for winning the Export Award sponsored by Scottish Development International at the Digital Business Awards 2010 held at Oran Mor on the 21st October.
 Bridgeall are a local IT company that develops software solutions for clients globally across many sectors with exceptional success in utilities and library – contact Stephen Beer, MD, www.bridgeall.com.
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M&Co Wins Scottish Retail Excellence Awards
Fashion retailer M&Co was crowned Retailer of the Year and Large Online Retailer of the Year at the prestigious Scottish Retail Excellence Awards, held at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Glasgow last week.
Scottish-owned Mackays Stores Limited, which trades as M&Co and has almost 300 UK stores, beat competition from Tesco, Boots, Asda and Scotmid to secure the biggest award of the night and was delighted to receive both awards in recognition of the significant success the Company has enjoyed over the past 12 months. Read More
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New Ballroom Development Signals
Good Times Ahead
The Watermill Hotel in Paisley is set to reveal its new function suite this November.
Branded as The Ballroom, the contemporary structure will extend the existing premises to feature a spacious 1,500 square foot banqueting suite with bar that will hold up to 150 guests for an array of occasions, specifically weddings and corporate events. The interior design will mirror the outward balance of modern elegance with Scottish tradition by combining features such as ornate chandeliers with white walls, dark wood floors and natural lighting. Read More |
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SCC QBS - 3rd Quarter Full Report
Confidence weakened amongst Scottish Chamber of Commerce members for the third quarter of 2010, the positive signs of recovery evident earlier in the year faded, and respondents in all sectors revised downwards their expectations for the fourth quarter and for the year ahead.
Whilst it is still unclear whether or not the recovery stalled or ended in the third quarter, it is clear that firms are factoring in the forthcoming significant reductions in public sector expenditure and consequent reduced consumer demand are increasingly concerned these will adversely influence turnover, profitability and demand over the next year.
The optimism and sense of improving trading conditions evident in the first half of 2010 have been replaced with more concerns as to weakening trends in turnover and profitability over the next year." Read More |
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SCC Calls for Reversal of Ill-Considered Maternity Proposals
Commenting on the news that the European Parliament has voted to extend maternity rights to 20 weeks leave on full pay, Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
 “This is an example of an area which politicians in Europe should be steering well clear of in the current economic climate. Scottish business cannot afford to be saddled with more and more employment burdens at a time when many firms are struggling with tight margins and cash flow, and there is no doubt that this proposed law would damage their fortunes and those of their staff.
“Maternity rights vary widely between EU member states and it should be up to each country to decide what is appropriate for their own economies. We can only hope that the European Council see sense and reverse these ill-considered proposals before it is too late, and we will be lobbying hard to that effect.” |
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Taking Scotland Forward - SCC's Response to the Comprehensive Spending Review
 Responding to the announcement of the Comprehensive Spending Review by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
“There is no doubt that the scale of the budget deficit meant that business was expecting a tough settlement from the UK Government in this year’s Comprehensive Spending Review. We now know the extent of the cuts and where the axe is falling across a number of Government departments. The result must be a thorough change in the way public services are managed and delivered, increasing productivity and efficiency, putting the customer first and achieving more with less. Read More |
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Higher Than Expected Growth is Welcome Shot in the Arm for Scottish Economy
 Commenting on the news that Scottish GDP grew at the rate of 1.3% in the second quarter of 2010, Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
“The news that Scotland’s economy grew at a faster than expected rate of 1.3% in the second quarter of this year is very welcome indeed. This is the highest quarterly rate of growth for many years and even outstrips UK growth over the same period.
“Whilst we must still remain cautious as to the outlook for the second half of this year, the fact that the economy grew so sharply ought to provide some protection against any slowdown in the economy in the third quarter. There remains widespread apprehension over the effects of the public spending cuts in the coming months and years, but these results prove that the Scottish economy has an underlying strength and resilience that ought to stand us in good stead for the challenges ahead.” |
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SCC Comments on Strategic Defence & Security Review
Commenting on today’s publication of the Strategic Defence and Security Review by the UK Government, Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said:
 “The publication of the Strategic Defence and Security Review has very mixed implications for Scotland. On one hand we are pleased that the Government has listened to our strong lobbying in favour of retaining both Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers, securing jobs and skills on the Clyde and in Fife. This is testament to the wealth of talent and expertise that Scotland’s shipbuilding industry has developed over many years. However, cuts to the Royal Air Force and the army will have serious consequences across Scotland, not least in Moray, where the RAF bases at Kinloss and Lossiemouth contribute around £100 million to the economy. The reduction in RAF personnel from this part of the country will have damaging economic and social consequences for that community.
“The Chamber of Commerce network across the country will be looking to take a full role in planning for the future in terms of the role that Ministry of Defence spending will play in Scotland in years to come. The nature of defence spending in Scotland is changing, and the Scottish economy must adapt quickly. Our priority must be to secure future investment in Scotland and maximise the economic benefits from this spending.” |
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