Business Now June 2015

1Issue 4 June 2015 business-now.co.uk

BUSIN

ESS NOW

Putting the Now in Business

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w.business-now.co.uk

Putting the Now in Business

June Issue 2015

June Issue 2015

Aberdeen Businesses Urged to Plug Profit LeaksThe Game Changer I A Law to Herself I Style Meets Power

2 Issue 4 June 2015 business-now.co.uk

The Home Entertainment Specialists.5 BURN LANE, INVERURIE T. 01467 620570

www.boothforbetterservice.co.uk

FLAT SCREEN WALL MOUNT • MULTI-ROOM AUDIO/VISUAL • HOME CINEMA & MEDIA ROOMS • LIGHTING DESIGN & CONTROL

FREEHOMESURVEY

Transform your home or business with light & space.

Save energy with unparalleled total home control.

Having decades of experience and knowledge in both lighting solutions and modern technology we know that to deliver our customers the best solutions possible we have to use the best products available, and that’s why Lutron Control Systems are the only lighting/shading control system we recommend.

Lutron are globally renowned as the number one lighting and shades control company. Having invented the world’s first solid-state dimmer in 1961, they now offer an unrivalled range of control and energy-saving products.

LIGHT YEARS AHEAD!Lighting and shading control throughout your home.

The benefits of installing aLutron system from Booths:

• We are the largest Lutron supplier and installer

in Scotland.

• Fully controllable from your own tablet or smartphone.

• Can be integrated with intruder and fire alarm systems.

• Integrates with AV control systems.

• Pre-programmed settings allow moods at the touch of a button.

• Holiday setting to discourage intruders.

• Electronic gates, garage doors and external lights.

• We work in conjunction with Trilight - a leading company in the design and supply of light products.

• We work closely with a number of local architects.

We can offer single, or multi-room solutions to suit all budgets when renovating or decorating an existing property, or building a new home.

From simple, stylish dimmers to modern shades and blinds, fully automated, fully integrated systems for the whole house or office building. With endless possibilities from accenting décor and creating a specific mood to enhancing safety and security we can deliver a truly individual solution for your home.

We know our customers like to create different moods by filling their homes with music, however with properly designed and installed lighting solutions you can fully deliver the mood, whether it be bright and upbeat for a house party or calm and sophisticated for dinner guests.

Not only are we judged on the quality of our products but the quality of our service, and this is where our electrical specialist Colin McRobbie comes in. Having worked in domestic and commercial electrical installations for over 25 years and fully trained and experienced in modern electrical systems he provides a real quality to our customers that is unrivalled.

Couple this with the full Survey and Project Management team of Trevor Booth, Vanessa Ward-Powrie, Louise Nicol and Toni Forbes ensures our customers receive a totally

bespoke solution that is delivered efficiently and with complete professionalism.

For a FREE home survey please call 01467 620570.

Booth for Better Service5 Burn LaneInverurie


The Booth Lighting & Shading Project team.

Lutron iPad app.

When it comes to lighting and shading control we consider ourselves to be the specialists for Scotland.


The Home Entertainment Specialists.5 BURN LANE, INVERURIE T. 01467 620570


FLAT SCREEN WALL MOUNT • MULTI-ROOM AUDIO/VISUAL • HOME CINEMA & MEDIA ROOMS • LIGHTING DESIGN & CONTROL

FREEHOMESURVEY

Transform your home or business with light & space.

Save energy with unparalleled total home control.

Having decades of experience and knowledge in both lighting solutions and modern technology we know that to deliver our customers the best solutions possible we have to use the best products available, and that’s why Lutron Control Systems are the only lighting/shading control system we recommend.

Lutron are globally renowned as the number one lighting and shades control company. Having invented the world’s first solid-state dimmer in 1961, they now offer an unrivalled range of control and energy-saving products.

LIGHT YEARS AHEAD!Lighting and shading control throughout your home.

The benefits of installing aLutron system from Booths:

• We are the largest Lutron supplier and installer

in Scotland.

• Fully controllable from your own tablet or smartphone.

• Can be integrated with intruder and fire alarm systems.

• Integrates with AV control systems.

• Pre-programmed settings allow moods at the touch of a button.

• Holiday setting to discourage intruders.

• Electronic gates, garage doors and external lights.

• We work in conjunction with Trilight - a leading company in the design and supply of light products.

• We work closely with a number of local architects.

We can offer single, or multi-room solutions to suit all budgets when renovating or decorating an existing property, or building a new home.

From simple, stylish dimmers to modern shades and blinds, fully automated, fully integrated systems for the whole house or office building. With endless possibilities from accenting décor and creating a specific mood to enhancing safety and security we can deliver a truly individual solution for your home.

We know our customers like to create different moods by filling their homes with music, however with properly designed and installed lighting solutions you can fully deliver the mood, whether it be bright and upbeat for a house party or calm and sophisticated for dinner guests.

Not only are we judged on the quality of our products but the quality of our service, and this is where our electrical specialist Colin McRobbie comes in. Having worked in domestic and commercial electrical installations for over 25 years and fully trained and experienced in modern electrical systems he provides a real quality to our customers that is unrivalled.

Couple this with the full Survey and Project Management team of Trevor Booth, Vanessa Ward-Powrie, Louise Nicol and Toni Forbes ensures our customers receive a totally

bespoke solution that is delivered efficiently and with complete professionalism.

For a FREE home survey please call 01467 620570.

Booth for Better Service5 Burn LaneInverurie


The Booth Lighting & Shading Project team.

Lutron iPad app.

When it comes to lighting and shading control we consider ourselves to be the specialists for Scotland.


INTRODUCTION

Welcome to theJune issue of

BUSINESS NOW

Eric W Farquharson

A LAW TO HERSELF 36Margaret Waldron, owner and principal solicitor at The Law Practice, discusses her varied career, from languages student to entrepreneur, the importance of client care and recent changes at the company.

THE GAME CHANGER 11Peter Shields of BusinessPort discusses his passion for processes that can yield game-changing results for all organisations and the job satisfaction it brings for him.

Business Now are grateful to all who have submitted articles and photographs for inclusion in this issue. Materials submitted are accepted in good faith. Adverts prepared on behalf of clients remain the copyright of HOMMAC Media Ltd, the publishers. Great care is taken to ensure accuracy of details but liability cannot be accepted for errors or omissions. Any views or opinions expressed by columnists or interviewees are their own and do not represent those of HOMMAC Media Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication maybe reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by HOMMAC Media Ltd479 North Deeside Road,Cults, Aberdeen, AB15 9TJ(01224) 865466www.business-now.co.uk Printed by Buxton Press UK

EditorEric [email protected]

Assistant EditorJudy [email protected]

DesignHommac Media Ltd

Front CoverJotolio Photography - www.jotolio.com

Advertising EnquiriesTelephone: (01224) 865466Steve [email protected] M [email protected]

One thing we should have learned from previous elections is never trust opinion polls; yet I think most of the country gawped in disbelief when the results of the exit poll on polling night were revealed. How could all the opinion polls in the run-up to the election get it so wrong? The only near certainty in the election preview was that the SNP were to make major gains in Scotland at the cost of both Labour and the Liberal Democrats. However, on the night, I think most of us were astonished at the exit poll indications, which turned out to reflect our true voting opinion.

It will take several months for the country to settle once again, during which time Nicola Sturgeon will be pressing David Cameron that he must go further on devolution to allow the Scottish Government to grow the economy. But there are hordes of hacks and scribes more qualified than I to reflect on the political scenarios!

However, what I do know is that, whether in political or business disruption, Aberdonians show great resilience and, since beginning my spell editing for this magazine, I have met many interesting people from CEOs to sole traders who exude great confidence in our city. This is why you’ll find more profiles in this edition as we feature individuals in the business, financial, energy, hospitality and property sectors who are the backbone of our community.

On a lighter note there are more stories of endurance as you raise money for great causes, a new review of the latest business books hot off the press, meet power with style in the new Audi RS Q3 and keep up to date with the movers and shakers in our appointments pages.

An exciting autumn awaits with the return of the SPE Offshore Europe Exhibition at the AECC, so don’t miss our next edition for the latest news and information on this great event.


CONTENTS

Business News 8-10

Energy News 19-26

Finance News 27-28

I.T. 32-33

Commercial Property 34-35

Business Auto 46-47

Diary Pages 52-53

Book Review 58

ZEAL FOR THE DEAL 29Award winner Simon Cowie of Infinity Partnership offers his views on his company’s recent merger and the current situation in the business arena in the North East.

FEATURE: MAXOIL 30-31Global consultancy Maxoil Solutions focuses on the current situation in the oil and gas industry, and the opportunity it provides to find lasting solutions for efficiency, optimisation and integration.

FEATURE: R. DONALDSON 14-15Roddy Donaldson, managing director of Maxwell Bruce, talks about the skills shortage facing the construction industry, the causes and the potential solutions and initiatives aiming to address this.

COVER STORY 09Bestselling author Bryony Thomas introduced her Watertight Marketing methodology to Aberdeen for the first time at a seminar organised by Début Marketing’s Julie Mitchell-Meh-ta. (Accompanying book also reviewed on page 58)

Photos by Jotolio Photography - www.jotolio.com’

INTERVIEW 44Business Now interview Gordon Sinclair of the Atholl Hotel and get his take on the hospitality industry at present and the steps he takes to ensure his business continues to thrive.


ELECTION NEWS

Landslide, wipeout, stunning and catastrophic are just some of the words frequently used over the past weeks in the aftermath of the election. SNP supporters are jubilant at taking 56 of the 59 Scottish seats, yet disappointed that the Conservatives had a clear majority. But one thing is for certain: Scotland has become a different country. Nicola Sturgeon’s party has surged to victory and is rightly demanding new powers for the Scottish Parliament.

John Cridland, CBI director general, has commented on the Scottish National Party’s performance in the election: “The general election result in Scotland has been decisive. Firms will be looking forward to working with the SNP to drive the jobs and growth we all want to see across the nation.

“Nicola Sturgeon has made clear that this election was not about independence or another referendum, which business will be heartened to hear.

“Firms will now be looking for the devolution proposals, which were agreed by all parties, in the draft Scotland Bill.”

Hugh Aitken, CBI Scotland director, said: “Businesses will want to see the SNP keep its focus on policies that help make Scotland more competitive, like building more new homes, keeping the UK in a reformed EU and extending the Annual Investment Allowance.

“Getting the deficit down must be a priority, to maintain the UK’s credibility in international markets, which will keep the cost of borrowing down for growing Scottish businesses.”

Following a meeting between the Prime

Minister and the Scottish First Minister,

John Cridland also commented: “Businesses

supported the Smith Commission process

and wanted to see the devolution proposals,

which were agreed by all parties, in the

Queen’s Speech.

“Any further proposals for devolution that

go beyond what’s been agreed must be

properly debated, and there needs to be

firm economic evidence that devolving a

particular power will boost growth. Above

all, businesses want to see the UK’s single,

internal market preserved, enabling firms

across the country to operate under a

common set of business taxes, employment

law and financial regulation.”

RenewableUK has also commented on

the news that Amber Rudd MP has been

appointed Secretary of State for Energy and

Climate Change.

Their chief executive, Maria McCaffery,

said: “We wish Amber Rudd well as Energy

Secretary. We are pleased to see continuity at

the department following her role as Energy

Minister in the previous government.

“We welcome the positive commitments

which she has made on reducing carbon

emissions, tackling climate change and

protecting the environment. We are looking

forward to working with her and showing how

all the technologies we represent – onshore

wind, offshore wind and wave and tidal energy

– can help achieve these aims, as well as

providing energy security and financial growth

for the UK.”

Anything But Business as Usual

Landslide, wipeout, stunning and catastrophic are just some of the words frequently used over the past weeks in the aftermath of the election.


ELECTION NEWS

The Post-Election Future for Oil & GasInnovation, ingenuity and perseverance must take centre stage in the current oil and gas

environment, attendees at a breakfast in Aberdeen heard recently.

Jointly hosted by RBS and Scottish

accountancy and business advisory firm,

Johnston Carmichael, 80 people listened

to RBS chief economist, Stephen Boyle

(pictured right), discuss how the oil and gas

industry has been affected post-Budget and

post-election.

Mr Boyle began by explaining: “This is not the

first time the UK North Sea has experienced

a major downturn, and certainly will not be

the last. With this in mind, it is important

to remember that we can manage and live

through these episodes by retaining focus on

innovation, ingenuity and perseverance.”

He reported that oil and gas industry

expenditure for 2014 was £26.5 billion,

with the Office for Budget Responsibility

highlighting in its March 2015 Economic and

Fiscal Outlook that post-2015 Budget, the

average annual spend between 2015 and

2019 will be £18.2 billion, marking a 31%

drop in expenditure.

Continuing, Mr Boyle said: “Oil and gas is

going through a significant structural change,

and addressing this requires a strategic

structural response. Service companies have

already been receiving requests to cut costs

for many months now, so that operators can

in turn reduce their bottom line.

“This is a short-term measure, however and,

in order to implement a sustainable, long-term

response, the industry must look at smarter

ways to meet clients’ needs. Doubling down

on innovation and productivity are becoming

of greater importance than ever before.

“In Aberdeen and the North Sea, it is difficult

to see any positive from the oil price slump.

For the rest of the UK, however, it has meant

reduced fuel prices and good news for

consumers, and added around 0.5% to UK

economic growth. How that growth continues

will depend on how quickly the oil price

recovers, and a rapid turnaround could mean

that GDP growth is not as strong.”

During his closing remarks, Niall Farquharson

(pictured left), joint managing partner at

Johnston Carmichael’s Aberdeen office,

reiterated that innovation, and research and

development into new technologies are key

factors in the long-term sustainability of the

oil and gas industry.

Mr Farquharson said: “Aberdeen is well

established as a centre of excellence for

innovation, and the city, in recent years, has

been second only to Cambridge in terms of

the number of patent applications submitted.

“In addition to the recently announced

changes to the oil and gas regime, a number

of announcements were also made as part

of the 2015 Budget to improve access to

R&D tax credits for small- and medium-

sized businesses. This will work alongside

previously announced increases to R&D tax

relief. These are very welcome measures,

which come at an extremely appropriate time,

as the oil and gas industry goes through a

radical shift.”


BUSINESS NEWS

In 2013 Scottish franchising accounted for

£700 million in revenues, 28,000 jobs and

2,000 individual businesses representing

nearly 500 different franchise brands. In

contrast to the 80% failure rate of new business

start-ups, 92% of franchises are profitable.

The success stories span the length and

breadth of the country, covering a huge

range of diverse business sectors, from dog

grooming to dog food, recruitment to home

cleaning – all proving that, if done correctly,

franchising works.

In particular this year, there were many

success stories coming from the north-east

of Scotland. An example of someone who

is reaping the benefits from franchising is

Grant Wilson, who has just achieved his best

year ever and hit revenues of £3.1 million.

Grant has been running his Aberdeen Driver

Hire franchise – a recruitment consultancy –

since 1994 and has seen steady growth year

on year.

He explains: “We started with just £100,000

turnover in our first year, but the business

has just grown and grown. Driver Hire has

an excellent reputation in the business

community and the brand is very strong. It

is great being your own boss, but with the

backing of a large organisation. I would

never have been able to start up this scale of

business on my own.”

Another success story from Aberdeen is

former Scottish Franchisee of the Year, Frank

Sutherland, who has taken his Autosmart

franchise to a turnover of £500,000 – yet

he remains the only person working in the

business! So how has he been able to take his

turnover to such incredible heights for a one-

man band? He says it is a meticulous focus

on the finer details that matter the most. He

holds a steadfast belief that just one more

new customer, one more product sale, one

more prospect visit are all vital.

Britain’s lesser known ‘export epicentres’

have been revealed in exclusive research

of 2,500 UK SMEs, highlighting UK trade in

global markets. And FedEx Express reports

that Aberdeen is one of the top UK regional

cities, defying perceptions internationally.

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of SMEs in

Aberdeen currently export according to

research released by FedEx Express, a

subsidiary of FedEx Corp and the world’s

largest express transportation company.

Outranking every other British city in reaching

markets outside Europe, 41% of Aberdeen

SMEs export beyond European shores.

Scotland’s third biggest city comfortably

outperforms its larger neighbours, Edinburgh

and Glasgow, when it comes to weight in

global trade.

Aberdeen is also home to more new exporters

than anywhere else, with one in five SMEs

exporting for the first time in the last year.

However, there is room for improvement as

over half (55%) feel more advice is needed

at a local level – the highest figure nationally.

Celebrating the Success of Scottish Franchising

Aberdeen Defying Perceptions Internationally

Franchising is booming in Scotland: This was the message being relayed by the British Franchise Association (the bfa) at Scottish Franchise Week 2015,

which took place this spring

Scotland’s third biggest city comfortably outperforms its larger neighbours, Edinburgh and Glasgow, when it comes to weight in global trade


BUSINESS NEWS

Bestselling author Bryony Thomas (pictured

left) visited Aberdeen recently for her first

event in the North East. In her powerful

session she urged business owners to start

plugging the leaks in their marketing process

in order to maximise their profits. She focused

on the thirteen touchpoint leaks outlined in

her award-winning book, Watertight Marketing

(see review, page 58), providing practical tips

for attracting and retaining customers through

the entire buying process.

The fast-paced seminar was organised

by Julie Mitchell-Mehta (pictured right),

owner of Début Marketing, who is the only

Watertight Marketing Accredited Consultant

in Scotland. She is keen to introduce the

Watertight Marketing methodology to

Aberdeen businesses and explained why:

“Bryony introduces a no-nonsense approach

to marketing which adds structure to many of

the activities that small businesses are doing

already. It highlights very clearly the areas that

need attention and provides a straightforward

way of prioritising them.”

After the event, Bryony commented: “It’s

amazing how much difference businesses can

make by simply turning their marketing upside

down. What was clear with the businesses I

met, and what I have seen time and time

again, is that many small organisations are

fruitlessly running expensive marketing taps

into leaking sales buckets. It was exciting to

see businesses owners at the seminar realise

that making a few simple tweaks to their

marketing from the bottom up could radically

improve their profits.”

Newly appointed CBI Scotland director,

Hugh Aitken, used his first speech in his

new role to set out the challenges facing

Scottish companies in raising finance to

accelerate growth.

Mr Aitken, who took up his position in

January, was in Edinburgh at Financing the

Future: How can we grow Scottish brands and

businesses?, organised by LendingCrowd and

Daily Business. He talked about measures to

help ambitious businesses access the funds

they need to compete in an increasingly

globalised marketplace, and in turn build a

stronger Scottish economy over the next five

to ten years.

Hugh Aitken said: “Scotland has long had an

enviable record in building companies and

brands which have been able to compete on

the world stage. However, many small- and

medium-sized businesses struggle to get

the finance they need to invest in machinery,

training or IT systems, which can help them

to grow. “Alternative funding platforms, like

LendingCrowd, are a vital part of a diverse

financial ecosystem. But most firms don’t

know they exist, so we need to raise the profile

of different financing options available and

improve access to them.”

The entire UK crowdfunding sector is predicted

to be worth £4.4 billion by the end of 2015.

Aberdeen Businesses Urged to Plug their Profit Leaks

New CBI Scotland Director Backs Models to Promote Growth

Bestselling author offers advice on marketing methodology

Scotland has long had an enviable record in building companies and brands which have been able to compete on the world stage


BUSINESS NEWS

imorph, the Aberdeen-based specialist training and change management provider, has launched Gloe, an innovative training programme aimed at tackling the issues behind the growing problem of obesity facing the nation – and the offshore industry.

It is a sensitive issue, which regularly hits the headlines. The Step Change HSSG (Helicopter Safety Steering Group) recognises that whilst this issue is not exclusive to the offshore industry, the sector does have a duty to

ensure it sets workers up to succeed in the offshore environment, with health and well-being as crucial factors.

It is clear that, whilst operators are aware of this issue and do work to ensure that nutrition programmes based on low-calorie and low-fat eating are available offshore, statistics and recent news suggest that – as with most weight reducing measures – these just aren’t working. Addressing the full spectrum of challenges associated with changes to diet and lifestyle, Gloe aims to improve both the health and consequent work output of offshore personnel – whatever their size – by creating a sustainable health programme, developed by imorph’s behavioural change experts in conjunction with nutrition consultant, Dr Chris Fenn.

Caroline Hughes (pictured), director at imorph, is enthusiastic about the fundamental changes the course can bring to the industry and beyond: “Gloe is a really exciting development for the oil and gas industry, as it’s the first course truly aimed at creating

a more energised, more productive and generally healthier workforce, which brings almost immediate health and cost benefits to the companies who undertake the training.

“It’s not just about weight loss, and it’s definitely not a lecture. It’s about practical adjustments to existing routines, and in an industry so driven by routine, those changes are almost impossible to sustain without the knowledge and behavioural change support Gloe offers.”

With 25 years’ experience, Chris Fenn understands the benefits nutrition and habit can have upon a work force: “Obesity is linked with well-known health risks, and can significantly reduce quality of life and work. It can result in the psychological challenges of depression, stress and self-consciousness – all of which can affect interpersonal relationships, performance and attendance at work.

“At this crucial time for the oil and gas industry, a healthy work force performing at its optimum level is one of its greatest assets.”

The prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion has been awarded to Nelson Gray, a renowned angel investor and board member of LINC Scotland, the national association for business angels in Scotland.

Since selling his own successful business in 1995, Nelson has been a key player in the development of a vibrant business angel community in Scotland, and in helping the LINC model achieve widespread international recognition and adoption.

As an active business angel, Nelson has directly provided numerous start-up and early stage entrepreneurs with funding, support and mentoring. While there is a certain aura of mystery surrounding business angels, who are largely invisible, Nelson says he is thrilled to receive such an important and prestigious award.

“People like myself become business angels because we want to invest our capital and knowledge into local businesses with the potential to make a significant economic

difference. Seventeen years ago my wife and I invested in a Borders company that has grown into one of the largest employers in the area. I feel that we’ve put something back into Scotland, particularly for young people. It’s not just a financial payback, but also a social one. I am a ‘hands-on’ investor and like to help businesses as well as providing money and, if we can have fun along the way, even better.”

Training Specialist Launches Pioneering Offshore Health Programme

Queen’s Award for Scottish Business Angel

At this crucial time for the oil and gas industry, a healthy workforce performing at its optimum level is one of its greatest assets

“I am a ‘hands-on’ investor and like to help businesses”


PROFILE

For Peter Shields, job satisfaction often comes

from the ‘Eureka’ moment: that instant when

clients suddenly realise how his business can

help give them a competitive edge.

It reflects the firm belief of Peter and his team

at BusinessPort that the careful application of

the right processes can yield game-changing

results in all organisations that require

transformation.

The chief executive of the process

management software and consultancy

business reckons many oil and gas companies

in particular could be using such tools to meet

the prime industry imperative today: reducing

costs while increasing workforce efficiency.

“Facing the choice of radical cost-cutting or

implementing a continuous improvement

programme in the pursuit of incremental

gains, organisations have tended to adopt

the former. It only delivers a short-term gain,

whereas the time has arrived for some smart

thinking which provides a future-proofed

sustainable business model,” said Peter.

“While we all support environmental

recycling, the Wood Review’s suggestion

that the industry needs greater collaboration

and knowledge sharing between interested

parties makes clear sense. Why not re-

use the mountain of proven work practices

and processes that have been expensively

created, time and again, across the industry?”

Since 1996, Peter has helped businesses run

better by identifying ‘who does what, when

and where’ through its in-house software

applications, such as AgilityBMS. It is a model

that has been adopted by global companies

such as Babcock International and Siemens.

BusinessPort has its main office in Aberdeen,

with technical and software support from

its Dundee operation. The company, with

28 employees, recently opened a London

office to target the defence, transport and

pharmaceutical industries.

It represents the latest stage on a career

journey that began with a supply chain

procurement role in London and went on

to encompass jobs as a radiographer and

ultrasonic technician, then senior welding

inspector. Peter’s hopes of eventually working

abroad materialised in 1979 when he moved

to Dubai to work on jacket construction for

offshore oilfields.

With the new discipline of quality assurance

taking shape in 1982, Peter emerged at the

forefront of management system development

in the days of BS 5750 (later to become ISO

9001). He worked as a quality engineer on

subsea installations for various companies,

as far afield as Borneo, Australia, the Middle

East and Europe.

His passion for business processes then

took hold and he formed BusinessPort to

accelerate moves to place the concept of

positioning business processes at the heart

of operations. The traditional approach of

text-based procedures was, he felt, becoming

cumbersome, expensive and obsolete. Peter

said: “The North Sea has adopted the latest

technology ‘best practice’ and the phrase

‘our people are our greatest asset’ is often

spouted, but many organisations have failed

to invest in the latest management system

content that helps simplify the complexity of

information, removes waste and duplication,

and increases efficiencies.

“However, there is always a ‘Eureka’ moment

when we deliver a system that people

comment on as being simple to use and easy

to understand; it is satisfying to add value to

someone’s day.”

BusinessPort’s solution is used by clients –

including oil majors, contractors and large

engineering companies – in Europe, the

Middle East, Asia and North America.

Peter, who has an MBA from The Robert

Gordon University, is married to Val, a

midwifery team leader. They live in Tullynessle

and have three daughters.

The Game ChangerPeter’s passion for processes, procedures and Eureka moments


ELEVATOR NEWS

Time has now run out for new or prospective north-east business

owners to submit their ‘perfect pitch’ video entries to a new competition

to be in with a chance of winning £1,000.

Elevator, a local business support organisation, has called on as

many local entrepreneurs as possible to submit a video explaining

what makes their business, products, service or prospective business

special – in just 60 seconds.

The competition was launched by Elevator at the beginning of May, as

part of North-east Business Week, and is designed to give the lucky

winner an extra boost to their new firm or get a prospective business

owner off to a flying start.

Andrew Burnett, director of operations at Elevator said: “£1,000 can

make a great deal of difference to a new business at a time when it is

particularly keen to clearly communicate what it has to offer, where it’s

located and what its unique selling point is that differentiates it from

the competition.

“We have been asking new and prospective businesses through our

Elevator pitching competition to explain just that. In no more than 60

seconds, can you explain what is particularly special about your business?

“We’re looking for applicants to really grab our attention and to excite

us about their products, services or future plans.”

Elevator judges are now shortlisting the applications before letting their

social media audience vote for the eventual winner of the £1,000.

As part of Business Gateway, Elevator currently engages with 2,500

businesses and assists around 1,000 north-east organisations annually

with start-up and growth support. With the launch of the Centre for

Entrepreneurship, Elevator aims to support an additional 200 start-ups

through stimulating interests in launching and growing businesses, as

well as welcoming global talent onto the Elevator Programme.

Elevator ‘Perfect Pitch’ Video

Competition Closes“£1,000 can make a great deal of

difference to a new business at a time when it is particularly keen to clearly

communicate what it has to offer”


ELEVATOR NEWS

Eleven high potential start-up businesses have embarked on the North East’s first ever business accelerator programme in the city’s £1-million Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Elevator, which is situated in Aberdeen’s Energy Park at the Bridge of Don, has enrolled 28 entrepreneurs on its innovative Elevator Programme at the prestigious centre.

Primarily focussed on oil and gas, the first group of programme founders also include entrepreneurs from energy, technology, online retail and health care. Together they will undertake an intense 20-week entrepreneurial experience, to propel their businesses onto a high growth curve to become investor ready.

Mentors will work closely with the participants to support them throughout the process, and the entrepreneurs will spend time working on their business models, participating in workshops led by industry experts, and attending keynote presentations from recognised entrepreneurs to broaden their skills and knowledge base.

Elevator created the Centre for Entrepreneurship, which is the first of its kind in Scotland, as part of its vision to build a robust entrepreneurial culture in the city, maximising individual and collective economic and social success on a local, national, and global scale.

The centre boasts advanced technology, connecting it to 55 global accelerator programmes, allowing entrepreneurs to participate in events and access help and advice on a worldwide scale.

Chief executive of Elevator, Professor Gary McEwan (pictured, front centre), was inspired to create the Aberdeen facility and the accelerator programme to replicate the support offered to entrepreneurs through world-class facilities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston’s Babson College of Entrepreneurship and Activa in Barcelona.

New Breed of Entrepreneurs Set for Global Success

Elevator, which is situated in Aberdeen’s Energy Park at the Bridge of Don, has enrolled 28 entrepreneurs on its innovative Elevator Programme at the prestigious centre

Gary said: “The Centre for Entrepreneurship is at the heart of developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem that will thrive in the future. Elevator has a clear objective of assisting entrepreneurs in reaching their goals, and we are delighted to welcome the first cohort of founders on the Elevator Programme.

“Each entrepreneur has a wealth of business ideas and skills in their chosen fields, and we will work closely with the group to develop their entrepreneurial enthusiasm, creating businesses that are investor ready and more prepared to propel their business on a global level in the future.”

The centre is also home for employability programmes, community-driven projects, and a space were school, college and university students can learn about enterprise and entrepreneurship.

The first intake of participants on the Elevator

Programme (some of whom are pictured with

Gary McEwan and project manager, Andy

Campbell, front left) is as follows:

Shane Jakeman (front right) and Andrew

Rodda (back, 4th right) of CADE Marine;

Alan White (back left) and John Duncan

of Skills@Work; Colin Rawlinson (back,

3rd right) from Scottish Health Services;

Lewis Vorenkamp from Caiman Software

Development; Kenny and Lynsey Steele

(back, 2nd and 3rd left) from Pinnacle

Visualisation; Thibaut Rey from Synchronise.

IO; Jim Cargill (back right) from PlanSea;

Kevin Davidson from SYOP; and Joel Watt

(back, 2nd right) and John Turnbull from

Vistem Ltd.


FEATURE

Roddy Donaldson is managing director of

Maxwell Bruce – which this year celebrates

its 25th year in business – and is the driving

force behind the agency’s success. Here

he talks about Scotland’s skills shortage

across the construction industry from the

recruitment agency’s point of view.

Scottish construction has witnessed a

recent renaissance. News of increasing

employment figures via the Office of National

Statistics’ January 2015 labour market stats

was followed by the revelation of a three-

point growth in confidence in the Scottish

construction industry since 2014 according to

the Scottish Construction Monitor.

However, the traditional trade skills shortage

still remains a key topic for discussion.

As a recruitment agency specialising in the

supply of skilled workers to the industry,

we’re witnessing the phenomenon first-hand

through our clients.

An internal Maxwell Bruce client survey showed that more than 60% are concerned about shortages within an ageing workforce in an industry which suffered a lack of training and availability of apprenticeships due to the economic downturn. Despite some clients employing in excess of 2,000 agency workers a year for skilled roles, around 50% see a marked difference in the skills required versus those possessed by graduates.

Our team prides itself on the ability to provide the right staff, so having a pool of the best candidates is absolutely vital. As such, while the shortage is certainly worth discussing, it’s far more worthy of action.

On that front, many parties – from the government and trade bodies, to construction businesses and agencies – have a role to play.

I was delighted to hear recently that Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is leading the way by publishing the industry’s first ever skills investment plan, focused on existing workers

as well the importance of injecting fresh

skill. In the short term, there’s no question

that encouraging skilled, experienced

workers to move into fresh markets with

new opportunities is key. Thankfully, we’re

seeing more openness on the part of our

clients towards hiring employees with cross-

sector experience and transferable skills – as

opposed to the more traditional attitude of

hiring employees who had gained experience

in a similar type of company.

Focusing on pushing correct salaries, rates

and bonuses could not only attract back those

skilled individuals who moved onto perceived

‘safer’ employment options during the

recession; but would also boost the industry’s

reputation in the eyes of the young people

who really are its future in Scotland.

I realise that I’m not the first person to state

the importance of apprenticeships; however,

it seems appropriate to recognise them given

that May sees Scottish Apprenticeship Week

The Key to Scotland’s Skills Shortage

Recruitment agency specialising in supply of skilled workers to construction industry witnessing phenomenon first-hand through its clients


FEATURE

take place. This is just one initiative – again heralded by SDS – designed to reiterate the importance of affording young people a practical, work-based education which is vital for traditional trades.

In recent years, there has been a drive towards encouraging young people into university, particularly given the fact that the recession hit the construction trades exceptionally hard, making prospects look bleaker. This is evidenced in the sharp decrease in the availability apprenticeships, which started with the 2008 recession and ended with an industry low 2012, as recorded by the Scottish Building Apprenticeship & Training Council (SBATC).

However, initiatives by the likes of SDS alongside the general sense of optimism around traditional trades will hopefully give young Scots food for thought. As I write, the major political parties have released their pre-election manifestos and the good news is that they all agree on one thing – apprenticeships availability should be encouraged. In Scotland alone, the Scottish Government has pledged to make available 30,000 new Modern Apprenticeship opportunities each year by 2020.

This provides the raw materials from which

to mould apprentices into time-served,

skilled and fully qualified tradespeople.

Indeed, figures released by SDS last year are

encouraging – showing that, of all industries,

construction welcomed the highest proportion

of modern apprentice starters.

And, as apprentices continue through

their careers, consistent opportunities for

development are also key to nurturing industry

loyalty. On this front, agencies like Maxwell

Bruce very much have a part to play. We’re

introducing training via accredited providers

for existing candidates, whilst also developing

the Maxwell Bruce ‘training passport’ concept.

This will give candidates their own passport

clearly demonstrating training, upskilling and

general quality of work.

If all parties – employers, employees,

education and training establishments and

recruitment agencies – work together over

the coming three to five years, a strengthened

pool of appropriately skilled candidates could

become a reality. There’s definitely light at the

end of the tunnel if everyone focuses on the

right solutions.


BUSINESS BITES

An innovative north-east organisation,

which provides a platform for environmental

representatives in the oil and gas industry,

has been nominated for a national award.

Based in Aberdeen, the E-Reps Network is

a finalist for the Environmental Leadership

honour as part of the Scottish Business in the

Community (SBC) Awards. The event takes

place on Tuesday, 23 June at Prestonfield,

Edinburgh. Jill Rennie of E-Reps said:

“We’re delighted to have been nominated

for this leading honour in recognition of

our organisation’s commitment to the

environment. It promises to be a memorable

occasion and, even though the business is

up against some tough competition, we’re

hopeful of doing well on the night.”

A £2.3-million commercial development at the

heart of a thriving north-east business park

will be handed over to its tenants this month

(May, 2015) as the latest piece of the master

plan for the 45-acre site falls into place.

Ross Survival, a leading personal

safety equipment supplier and service

company, will become the latest name at

Aberdeen Gateway when it collects the keys to

a 14,000-sq ft facility.

The unit, built for landlord Ruthven

Properties, will provide warehouse and office

accommodation for Ross Survival, which joins

a list of high profile occupants at the park on

the south side of the city.

Many UK businesses are unaware of a new

European Union directive, which comes into

force at the end of the year, that will oblige

them to carry out an ‘energy audit’ to reduce

their carbon footprint and significantly

increase production and cost-efficiency

across their operations.

Companies with 250 or more employees or an

annual turnover in excess of €50 million must

become ESOS compliant by the 5 December,

2015 deadline. To gain ESOS accreditation

companies need to measure their total

energy consumption, conduct regular audits

to identify cost-effective energy efficiency

recommendations and report compliance

to the scheme’s administrator, the

Environment Agency.

A north-east firm has been ranked among the

top managed service providers for IT in the

world, according to a global guide published in

April. For the fourth year in a row, Clark Integrated

Technologies (IT) features in the annual

MSPmentor 501 Global Edition award listings.

And as well as its place in the MSPmentor 501

list, Clark IT appears on the Top 50 for Europe,

the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for a second

time. Only one other Scottish firm has made it

onto the EMEA Top 50.

A student at a local Scottish university

excelled at the TARGETjobs Undergraduate

of the Year Awards held in London recently.

At a gala ceremony in Canary Wharf, hosted

by Fiona Bruce, Chelsea Sievewright, studying

ethical hacking at Abertay University, won the

Computer Science Undergraduate of the Year

Award, sponsored by CGI.

The managing director of a leading Scottish

organics recycling firm has been named as a

contender in the regional finals of prestigious

business awards.

Grant Keenan, managing director of

Keenan Recycling, based at New Deer in

Aberdeenshire, has been selected as a

Scottish finalist in the Ernst and Young (EY)

Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2015.

The awards, organised by the global

accountancy firm, aim to seek out the very

best entrepreneurs from across a range of

sectors throughout the UK.

The Workshop, which provides an extensive

range of in-house employee catering

throughout the UK, has been awarded four

six-figure contracts with large global firms

since the start of the year.

The Aberdeen-based firm will provide full

canteen and related services, including

catering personnel, for the contracts that

cover a total of seven sites and a combined

2500 customers across Scotland.

E-Reps in Running for National Award

New £2.3m Development Underlines Aberdeen Gateway Appeal

Companies in Dark over New EU Energy Efficiency Regulations

World Ranking Performance from Clark Integrated Technologies

Undergraduate Victorious

Recycling MD in Running for Prestigious Award

Catering Firm Marks 20th Anniversary

“We’re delighted to have been nominated for this leading honour”


BUSINESS BITES

A leading provider of innovative asset

cleaning and decontamination solutions

has announced the successful completion

of its first ever project in Malaysia. Inverurie-

based Denholm MacNamee Limited recently

worked with a major supplier in the global

cleaning of heat exchangers, taking the

company’s products and services to brand

new geographical territory. And the success

of the contract looks set to lead to further

expansion as the company prepares to take

on follow-on work for the same client in

Angola. Commenting on the news, Denholm

MacNamee Limited managing director,

Brian Ritchie, said: “In spite of the current

challenges facing our industry, we are

delighted to report further positive steps in

our chosen markets both within the UK and

around the world.”

A well-known face in the north-east hospitality

industry has added another prestigious award

to his growing clutch of accolades.

Tor-na-Coille Hotel and Restaurant general

manager, Phillip Fleming, was named North

East Hotel Manager of the Year at the 2015

Scottish Hotel Awards, which took place in

Glasgow. The news completed a hat-trick for

the Deeside venue, which previously scooped

the local honours in the sections for ‘Romantic

Hotel’ and ‘Country House Hotel’.

An Aberdeen-based media and

communications company has announced

the acquisition of Red Mist Media.

The acquisition is part of the business’s

ambitious growth strategy and the partnership

will allow AVC Media to expand their service

offering.

Red Mist Media provides a range of premium

and result-driven online media services for

the energy industry.

Red Mist Media’s products encompass 41

news and media channels through Your

Industry News and The Cable Directory, along

with business-to-business directories, online

corporate profiles and information platforms.

Big names from the Aberdeen business

community have thrown their weight behind

the dedicated state-of-the-art pure fibre

network that will provide access to some of

the fastest Internet connectivity in the world.

Construction of the Aberdeen CORE network

is well underway, with the first customers

due to be connected in May through service

provider, Internet For Business (IFB). Over

250 businesses from the financial, education,

retail, oil and gas sectors have registered

their interest in accessing ultra-fast Internet

connectivity over the CORE.

Shopworkers’ trade union leader, John

Hannett, has released survey results

which show that last year 2,500 Scottish

shopworkers were assaulted, with nearly

30% threatened by customers and over half

verbally abused.

John, Usdaw general secretary, said:

“Our survey shows that life on the frontline

of retail can be pretty tough for many

shopworkers, and there is still a lot to do to

help protect them.”

Scotland gains over £7 billion of economic benefit from its local onshore wind industry, according to new figures released by RenewableUK. Of that, benefits to the value of £249 million go directly into the local community as a result of installed onshore wind capacity in the area.

Scotland is the leading country for onshore wind within the UK, with just over 4,918 megawatts of onshore wind installed. This capacity can power over 2.6 million homes. It will also lead to over £7 billion worth of economic benefit to the country over the lifetime of its wind energy projects. This represents environmental benefits of 4.7 million tonnes of CO2 reduced per year due to onshore wind installed in Scotland alone.

The organisation that markets Aberdeen

as a leisure and business destination –

VisitAberdeen – has scooped two major

awards for its performance. VisitAberdeen

won a marketing award from the China

Outbound Tourism Research Institute (COTRI)

for its Chinese language website, social

media presence and attendance at trade fairs

both in person and via its partner CBN. The

destination-marketing organisation also won

the accolade of ‘The Most Effective Stand For

Doing Business’ at VisitScotland’s recent Expo.

Denholm MacNamee Announce Success in Malaysia

Deeside Hotel Manager Scoops Prestigious Accolade

AVC Media Acquires Red Mist MediaBig Names Behind New

Pure Fibre Network

Over 2,500 Scottish Shopworkers Assaulted Last Year

Onshore Wind Industry Contributes over £7bn

VisitAberdeen Wins Awards in Scotland and …China

Taking the company’s products and services to brand new geographical territory


BUSINESS NEWSAWARDS

Finalists Announced for Northern Star Awards

The winner of the final award – for lifetime achievement – is announced on the night.

This year sees a new award category, ‘Made In Aberdeen’, which celebrates collaborations between arts and business.

A new principal sponsor for the awards is also unveiled as Aberdeen FC Community Trust. The trust is one of the five charities that have been chosen to benefit from the

event. The other charities are Drugs Action, Satrosphere, The ARCHIE Foundation and the bread maker. Over £7,000 was raised for local charities through the generosity of the guests who attended last year’s event.

AGCC membership director, Liam Smyth, said: “The Northern Star Business Awards is the biggest celebration of success and gives recognition to business organisations across all sectors in the North East.

“This year’s finalists can be proud of their

achievement and look forward to a night

of celebration on 24 September at the

Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre in

the Bridge of Don.

“The night itself is a tremendous occasion

and the 12th Northern Star Business Awards

will showcase outstanding achievement in

business from across a range of categories.”

Achievement inInternational Business• Equalizer International

• Flowline Specialists• Rigzone

Commitment to Innovative Use of Research & Development

• Embrion• Meta Downhole

• N-Sea

Commitment to People Development

• Banks O’ Dee Sports Club• Indigo Technologies

• Stork

Excellence in Customer Service• Beetroot Restaurants Ltd

• Grampian Fasteners• Macrae & Dick Honda

Excellence in Health & Safety• Aberdeen Exhibition and

Conference Centre• Aberdeen International Airport

• Aker Solutions

Made in Aberdeen• Aberdeen Festivals/Statoil

• North Hop Aberdeen/Frasermedia

Outstanding Contributionto Society

• Aberdeen FC Community Trust• Community Food Initiatives North

East• DA (Drugs Action)• the bread maker

Outstanding Contributionto the Energy Sector

• Blaze Manufacturing Solutions• Expro

• Step Change in Safety

Overall Business of the Year• CHC Helicopters

• EFC Group (Electro-Flow Controls Ltd)

• The Bryant Group (Scotland) Limited

Rising Star• Aberdeen FC Community Trust -

Dean McBain

• Entiér Limited - Danielle Ritchie

• Lubbers UK Ltd - Nick Latham

• Wood Group Kenny -

Samantha Murray

Student Placement• Aker Solutions

• Stena Drilling Ltd

• Total E&P UK

The Business Diversity• Tesco

• Wm Morrisons Plc

The Green Award• Deeside Activity Park

• Rubberatkins

• Sureclean

A new principal sponsor for the awards is also unveiled - Aberdeen FC Community Trust

The finalists have been announced for the Northern Star Business Awards, Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce’s (AGCC) annual accolades for successful businesses across the region.

The awards recognise companies in the North East for their exceptional accomplishments across a range of fields from energy to innovation, people development to customer service.

There are 14 awards being presented in September at a dinner attended by around 800 members of the north-east business community. The finalists in the categories are:


Saltire Energy CEO Shortlisted for Award

Omega Subsea Establishes Subsidiary in Aberdeen

Chief executive of Aberdeen-based Saltire Energy, Mike Loggie, has been shortlisted as a regional finalist in the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2015.

The annual EY awards recognise business leaders from across the world that have shown the passion, vision and drive to succeed. Winners will be announced at the regional awards dinner for Scotland on 25 June. The judging criteria will include entrepreneurial

spirit, innovation, personal integrity and strategic direction.

Mike Loggie established Saltire Energy, a leading supplier of drilling tools to the offshore oil and gas industry, in 1986 and has since grown it into a group of three highly successful subsidiaries. Over the past three years, the company’s turnover figures have increased by 68% and it has grown its on-the-ground presence in Australia, Africa, Europe,

the Middle East and the Far East as a result

of client demand.

Mike Loggie said: “It is a huge honour to

be shortlisted for this prestigious business

accolade. I am very proud of what I have

achieved to date, which I can credit to

my passion for the energy industry and

devotion to delivering an excellent level of

customer service.”

Further to the investment by Norwegian market leader, Omega AS, in Accpron Subsea Management (ASM), the goal and objective is to establish a strategic business unit to facilitate organic growth for Omega Subsea UK and capitalise on the added value market within the UK, European and African markets that is currently offered. The areas of key focus in order to implement the strategic expansion are the delivery of highly experienced, competent and professional personnel to the subsea engineering and operations sectors of the oil and gas, renewables and energy industries.

Omega Subsea UK’s ultimate goal is to create a ‘total project management’ service, whereby entire project teams are provided to clients in order to execute projects. This service is offered on a ‘cradle to grave’ basis, i.e. from tendering activity through contract award execution and final project closeout.

Omega Subsea UK director, Alistair McKee (pictured right, with Andreas Hveding Aubert, CFO Omega Subsea, left and Trond Berge, GM Omega Subsea), commented: “Omega Subsea

UK has been created as the outlook for the energy sector is encouraging, but a shortage of skilled employees is the main barrier to growth for many tier one, tier two and tertiary contractors. The sector is increasingly moving into challenging conditions, which requires experienced personnel to provide solutions, yet many companies are faced with ongoing skills shortage. Our structure is contained to a group of competent senior executives from the international subsea industry with an average of 15 years’ experience within E&P and subsea contracting companies, which is our key target market for service delivery.

“In addition, however, the service and engineering sector exposes a wealth of opportunity for multiple personnel, asset and competence delivery and, as a flexible and adaptive company, we are looking to develop both onshore and offshore areas of service provision, in particular: project and vessel management, tendering, commercial and legal, and operational and technical support. Our offshore remit covers construction teams, ROV, inspection and survey crew, and deck and tower teams (OM, SSV, FE), plus,

of course, bespoke and classical project engineering services provision. “Building on the success of Omega Subsea AS, the investment in Omega Subsea UK will allow us to gain a better foothold in the international subsea market. We also expect that the cooperation between our subsea companies will foster mutually beneficial relations of great worth to our clients and consultants in both Norway and the UK.”

Petter Aalvik, CEO of Omega AS, said: “We are committed to maintaining focus and continued investment in Omega Subsea.”

Over the past three years, the company’s turnover figures have increased by 68%

Omega Subsea UK has now opened its doors, focussing on providing a skill-based, assured, competent workforce to national and international clients

ENERGY NEWS


ENERGY NEWS

Leading standby vessel operator, Atlantic Offshore Rescue, has unveiled the third new vessel in the past 12 months as part of its fleet modernisation programme, representing an investment totalling £300 million.

Ocean Falcon, a brand new Class A Multi Role and Emergency Response and Rescue (MRV/ERRV) vessel will commence a contract with a major UK operator. Atlantic Offshore Rescue will provide emergency recovery, rescue cover, tanker assistance and general field support for offshore operations at the Curlew Field, in the North Sea.

The ship can accommodate 21 employees, and has the amenities to rescue up to 300 people. As well as incorporating the very latest technology systems including a towing capacity of up to 65 tons, it measures 66.80 metres in length and 16 metres beam and

features two MAN main engines with a power of 1935 kW each.

Ocean Falcon is a new H820 design from Havyard Ship Design. It was built and developed in Pasaia, Spain by Zamakona shipbuilders, in close collaboration with Atlantic Offshore Rescue over an 18-month period. Its sister ships, Ocean Tay and Ocean Osprey, were launched in February and May 2014, respectively. Matthew Gordon, managing director of Atlantic Offshore Rescue, said: “We are immensely proud to unveil Ocean Falcon, the third vessel to be launched as part of our extensive modernisation strategy. The vessel incorporates cutting-edge technology, and it is due to this and the expertise and professionalism of our team that we have secured a lucrative contract with an oil and gas operator.

“We are trailblazing the way for emergency

support vessels in the North Sea and this

programme is part of our vision for strategic

growth and commitment to offer the very

best FSV and ERRVs to existing and potential

clients, a vital assurance for offshore

operations within the energy sector.”

Inclusive of Atlantic Offshore Rescue’s 11

vessels, Atlantic Offshore Group currently

operates a fleet of 22 ERRVs and Platform

Supply Vessels (PSVs) and manages further

PSVs on behalf of third parties.

The Group’s aim is to continue to expand its

capabilities within both the Norwegian and

British sector of the North Sea and to be able

to provide cross-border solutions reflecting

the needs of its clients.

Firm Launches Latest Vessel as Part of £300-million Fleet Modernisation Programme

Atlantic Offshore Launches Latest Vessel


ENERGY NEWS

Subsea cable and connector specialist Hydro Group, alongside its French regional partner, Wenex Equipements, last year formed a Franco-Scottish consortium which has led to the group successfully securing a £2.5-million/€3.5-million contract.

The project involves manufacturing and installation of the array cabling infrastructure on the SEM-REV marine renewable energy project, 16 nautical miles offshore the city of Le Croisic on the French Atlantic coast.

Awarded by École Centrale de Nantes (ECN), the six-month contract, that commenced earlier this year, brings together a group of highly skilled companies led by ETPO (contract’s owner), comprising of Hydro Group, ETPO, Assystem, PSM, Tetis (ETPO subaquatic subsidiary) and Flowline Specialists. Hydro Group will install its marine renewable connectors, Hydro Bond Renewable

Connector (HRC) and Power Distribution Hub (PDH), at the site later this year. Hydro Group exhibited its marine renewable energy products and expertise with support from the French regional consortium partners at the THETIS MRE (Marine Renewable Energy) Conference, Nantes, France, in May.

Graham Wilkie (pictured), sales director at Hydro Group, said: “The project is a key offshore wave energy test site, and the consortium brings together first-class equipment, technology and expertise, all recognised by ECN as offering significant benefit and flexibility to its facility.”

The highly experienced consortium will supply and install the array cable, multi-connection hub and interconnection necessary for the deployment of a network of floating and wave energy generating devices, with Hydro Group specifically supplying and supporting the

installation of the array cable and connector

subsystem for the wave energy test facility.

The consortium will also be working together

with an additional Scottish supplier,

Flowline Specialists, which will support the

marine operations with cable handling and

deployment equipment.

Project involves manufacture and installation of array cabling infrastructure

Franco-Scottish Consortium Awarded £2.5m Contract

The North Sea operation of a global independent energy company has just completed a contract and was the first to use what is believed to be the world’s largest oilfield drilling bit.

Varel Oil & Gas Drill Bits was commissioned by Hess Corporation to design and build a 45-inch (1,143-mm) L111 diameter drill bit and the 5,100-pound heavyweight was manufactured in Mexico before being shipped to Aberdeen for use in the Danish North Sea.

The milled-tooth roller cone bit was built to drill top-hole sections big enough to run two

subsequent 16-inch sections in a splitter well configuration by installing 40-inch conductor through 46-inch guides. The hybrid bit – which incorporates an interchangeable polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bit in the centre – avoids the need for the pilot hole/rat hole traditionally associated with a hole opener assembly, as well as offering easier handling and reduced risk of failure. It is being used over a series of splitter top holes in two drilling platforms located in the North Sea.

The new piece of equipment was based on Varel’s 44-inch L111 bit, which has been

successfully tried and tested in Saudi Arabia, the Far East and Africa.

Commenting on the record-breaking bit, Varel district manager, North Sea, Jason Marchant (pictured left, with QA QC warehouse drill-bit technician, Ryan Stewart), said: “We are keen to push the limits on what bit sizes are available to give operators the best possible solution to new ways of drilling in this challenging market.

“We hope that the successful completion of this ground-breaking project, where good verticality was achieved, will lead to further work in the future.”

5,100-lb heavyweight manufactured in Mexico

Varel Rolls Out Record-Breaking Drill Bit


ENERGY NEWS

Jee Ltd, a leading independent multi-discipline subsea engineering and training firm, has been awarded a contract from Amec Foster Wheeler for the front-end engineering design (FEED) of a jacket rigid polymer injection riser package (including J-tubes) as part of an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) field development.

The pilot project will demonstrate the use of polymer chemical injection technology, a pioneering new technique to maximise the economic recovery of UK hydrocarbon reserves.

On the project, Amec Foster Wheeler will engineer a new bridge-linked platform, which will be tied into existing facilities and utilised to store, mix and pump the polymer. In 2015, Jee’s engineers will support the first phase of the project by conducting the FEED for the polymer riser injection package as part of the entire EOR field development programme. Jonathan McGregor (pictured), head of engineering at Jee, said: “Being awarded a contract of such high-profile and

The pilot project will demonstrate the use of polymer chemical injection technology

Jee Ltd Secures Contract on EOR Project

Bibby Offshore continues its success in south-

east Asia with the announcement that its Asian

division, Bibby Offshore Singapore (BOS), has

secured a contract with the Moattama Gas

Transportation Company (MGTC).

MGTC, a joint venture between Total

(operator), Unocal, PTTEP and Myanmar Oil

and Gas Enterprise, has appointed BOS to

provide ROV pipeline inspection, remedial

work and associated project management on

its south-east Asia asset offshore Myanmar.

Bibby Offshore will supply its DP2 ROV support vessel, Bibby Spring. The vessel is equipped with dual ROVs, including the latest 150-HP, 3000m-rated SMD Quasar, and complemented by a Lynx lightweight ROV suitable for dive support, inspection and repair.

Earlier this year, BOS secured a contract with Singapore-based subsea service provider, Seascape, to provide ROV services for its DP2 dive support vessel the Windermere, further highlighting the company’s continued success in Asia.

Bibby Offshore will supply its DP2 ROV support vessel, Bibby Spring

Bibby Offshore Continues Success in SE Asia

economic importance is testament to Jee’s reputation as a leading engineering firm with extensive capabilities in the field of subsea analysis and design.

“The ever-changing downhole environment represents a challenge when injecting chemical agents into existing reservoir fluids. The work carried out by Jee’s highly experienced engineers on this innovative

project will allow for informed decisions to be made, with the aim of successful long-term oil recovery.”

A new platform development for EOR is a world first. The project will utilise groundbreaking technologies, including 4D seismic imaging, horizontal drilling and pump technology. Development drilling is expected to take place from 2015 until 2020.


ENERGY NEWS

An Aberdeen-based engineering and design

business is seeing rapid growth as it changes

the way oil and gas engineering projects are

delivered, whilst providing the industry with

significant cost savings at a time when cost-

efficiency is taking centre stage.

Established six months ago by Colin Bruce (pictured centre, with colleagues John Wilson, left, and Satnam Shoker), an experienced chartered engineer in the oil and gas industry, Step Change Engineering is taking an innovative approach to delivering design and engineering projects for clients. It has identified a gap in the market for an engineering and design firm to deliver smaller projects and repair orders for oil and gas assets with significant cost and schedule savings.

Step Change Engineering is changing how engineering projects are delivered by efficient use of engineering applications, new technology, and challenging non-essential work that does not affect the asset’s overall integrity or safety. It is also working closely with fabricators to reduce project life cycle costs and schedules. This method has in the past

six months seen the firm achieve a minimum of 30% cost savings on projects for clients. With the oil and gas industry currently facing a balancing act of investment to extend the operational lifespan of North Sea platforms to maximise exploration – while meeting stringent health and safety legislation – and cost-cutting to improve efficiencies, innovation is needed. By collaborating with clients and fabricators, utilising new technologies such as hand-held scanning technology and more effective use of engineering software, Step Change Engineering is delivering this.

Integrity and taking ownership of projects are at the core of the business, and as such all key personnel within the business have a shareholding in the company. The firm has established a hand-picked team of experienced oil and gas professionals to manage its projects.

Engineering Business Delivering North Sea Cost Reduction

Working closely with fabricators to reduce project life cycle costs and schedules

Leading Aberdeen Company Wins Prestigious Business Award

A leading provider of inventory to the global

oil, gas and petrochemical industry has been

awarded a prestigious Queen’s Award for

Enterprise – the UK’s highest accolade for

business success.

Aberdeen-based Global Pipe Components has

been awarded the honour in recognition of its

achievements in overseas trade – in excess of

80% of the company’s business lies in export

markets, with the CIS regions, the Americas

and Africa key arenas for the ongoing growth

and success of the organisation. Global

Pipe Components was established in 2000

to stock and supply a range of pipeline

products including valves, pipe, fittings,

flanges, hubs, clamps, studbolts and gaskets.

Headquartered on the city’s Mugiemoss Road

and employing 12 members of staff, the

company remains entirely locally owned and

prides itself on providing a fast, flexible and

quality service to a growing global client base,

thanks to strong supply chain relationships.

Commenting on the news, Global Pipe

Components founder and managing director,

Richard Meldrum (pictured left, with general

manager, Angela Cummings), said: “This is

a wonderful acknowledgement of everything

we have achieved in the last 15 years and is

testament to the hard work and dedication of

everyone on the team.”

Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Global Pipe Components


ENERGY NEWS

Survival Craft Inspectorate (SCI), a leading global provider of emergency marine evacuation systems, has selected a Swedish company to drive further growth in Scandinavia.

Scanunit, a rapidly expanding business, has agreed a partnership with SCI for sales and installation rights of Safelaunch lifeboat release and retrieval systems (LRRS), which

comply with the latest Solas MSC.1/Circ. 1392 guidelines. Scanunit’s success in Denmark and Sweden will complement SCI’s existing office in Norway. SCI, which has 14 operations of its own worldwide, has also expanded the business through distributor agreements in Belgium, Germany, Greece, Holland and Hong Kong.

Survival Craft Inspectorate’s headquarters and manufacturing base is at Findon, just outside Aberdeen. Scanunit, which has a team of more than 150, has its main office in Helsingborg, with additional operations in Denmark and Norway.

Jos Lems (pictured), SCI’s Rotterdam-based head of global sales, said: “This latest agreement will strengthen the position of our industry-respected Safelaunch system, a solution which doesn’t compromise on safety and meets all regulatory requirements.”

Per Ekelund, CEO at Scanunit, said: “The addition of Safelaunch to our service offering

will provide us with a competitive edge in the market due to the international track record for reliability and quality of the product.”

SCI also has additional UK operations in Great Yarmouth and Stonehaven, where its Marine Training Academy is based.

Survival Craft Inspectorate, which has a Queen’s Award for Enterprise, is an acknowledged expert in the manufacture, inspection, testing and servicing of lifeboats, fast rescue craft, release mechanisms, winches and davits to international standards for the global merchant shipping, cruise and oil and gas sectors.

Safelaunch, combined with SCI’s patent-protected RocLoc hook system, strengthened the company’s place in the market after new safety regulations came into force on 1 July last year (2014).

For further information, visit www.survivalcraft.com and www.scanunit.se

Survival Craft Inspectorate Targets Scandinavian Growth

SCI selects Swedish firm to drive growth in Nordic region

Subsea cable and connector specialist, Hydro

Group, has teamed up with mechanical

engineering group, EnerMech, to launch an

innovative new product offering to the market.

In response to significant customer demand,

Hydro Group and EnerMech have combined

expertise to deliver a new hydraulics hose

product, offering lay-up and over-sheathing of

hydraulic hoses for use in umbilical, topside

and well intervention projects in the oil and

gas industry. The partnership could generate

in the region of £500,000 in the next

12 months.

Graham Wilkie, sales director at Hydro Group,

said: “Building on three decades of proven

capability and industry experience at Hydro

Group, we know collaboration, diversification

and innovation are key to surviving in

challenging markets. Knowledge sharing

with EnerMech has resulted in an important

market offering that brings together expertise

from both companies.

“The new hose bundles offer significant

benefits to installers and users for flying lead,

workover umbilicals, well intervention, topside

and BOP control and injection systems. The

bundles also allow greater versatility when

faced with awkward routing or high dynamic

usage, and may incorporate strength

members such as aramid braiding, steel wire

central ropes and aramid central ropes to the

customer’s specification.”

EnerMech supplies a broad range of

mechanical services to the international

energy industry and has a 40-year heritage in

hydraulic services, including engineering and

design, hydraulic component supply and hose

integrity management.

Hydro Group and EnerMech Join ForcesIn response to significant customer demand, Hydro Group and EnerMech have

combined expertise to deliver a new hydraulics hose product


ENERGY NEWS

A fund to support research into exploring

Scotland’s geothermal capacity to meet the

energy needs of local communities has been

launched by Energy Minister Fergus Ewing.

The Challenge Fund is open to organisations

working together to benefit local communities,

achieving carbon reductions which are

sustainable and commercially viable on a

long-term basis and the development of

future viable delivery models.

Mr Ewing said: “Heat is estimated to account

for over half of Scotland’s total energy use

with an estimated £2.6 billion a year spent

on heating by householders and the non-

domestic sector.

“Over the last few years we have developed

a better understanding and appreciation

of the geothermal resource under our feet.

Scotland already has two successful small-

scale housing projects in Glenalmond Street,

Shettleston, and Lumphinnans, Fife, which

use water from disused mines to provide the

heat for members of the local community.”

Geothermal Energy Challenge Fund LaunchedHeat is estimated to account for over half of Scotland’s total energy use

An Aberdeen-based IT software and services

specialist has positioned itself for a period

of strategic growth after securing two new

contracts worth a total of £600,000.

The recently acquired work will see Adept

Solutions implement tailored hydrocarbon

accounting software for two new projects on

behalf of EOG Resources and DONG Oil Pipe

A/S, a division of DONG Energy.

The company will support EOG in its new

Conwy development, which will see oil from the

field in the Irish Sea transferred to the ENI UK-

operated Douglas platform in Liverpool bay.

Adept’s role will involve the implementation

of software that will be able to both read the

platform’s metering and allocate hydrocarbon

output between ENI and EOG in accordance

with pre-agreed arrangements. Adept’s

project with DONG Oil Pipe A/S, which is set

to be delivered in partnership with Accord

Energy Solutions, is the company’s first foray

into the Danish market.

The company will be involved with the

implementation of software that will account

for the exportation of hydrocarbons from

DONG Oil Pipe’s existing and new customers,

located in the Danish and Norwegian sector

of the North Sea.

Adept Solutions Secures Clutch of New Contracts

“This calibre of contract win is fantastic for Adept Solutions”

Richard Alderson (pictured), managing

director of Adept Solutions, said: “This calibre

of contract win is fantastic for Adept Solutions

and really does emphasise the quality of our

products and service that we can offer.

“The EOG contract is pleasing as it

highlights that there are still new fields and

developments coming to fruition in British

waters that Scottish companies can get

involved with. Similarly, the work for DONG

is the first substantial contract for us within

the Danish markets and it’s an area we’ll

be looking to embrace throughout the

months ahead.”


ENERGY NEWS

Simpson Booth, a business dedicated to the energy sector and with a significant presence in Aberdeen and London, has been awarded ISO 14001:2004 accreditation.

The standard assesses an organisation’s environmental management system and applies key criteria in areas relating to environmental impact and operating efficiency.

Simpson Booth, founded in 2012, obtained the quality mark after demonstrating its

Simpson Booth Recognised for Professional Standards

Firm completes hat-trick of awards

Frontier International, specialist in international oil and gas resourcing, has opened its first office in India.

An integral part of its global growth strategy, Frontier’s new premises signifies further international expansion for the company and will support its increased activity in Asia and the Middle East. The Gurgaon-based operation will be led by local manager, Arjun Bhakhri (pictured), who brings with him over 10 years’ oil and gas recruitment experience within India and the Middle East, with a history of working with both operators and tier-one contractors.

Commenting on the new office, Mr Bhakhri said: “I am delighted to be a part of Frontier’s increased international expansion. The company continues to grow in strength across India and the Middle East, working with some of these areas’ most significant oil and gas

companies, and I look forward to being a part

of this continued success.”

Paul Radcliffe, Frontier International’s

managing director, explains the importance of

the company’s permanent Indian presence:

“As a company, Frontier has a long pedigree

of working with clients in Asia and the Middle East. Our investment in this office is a succinct illustration of our commitment to ensuring we continue to provide the very best service in oil and gas recruitment to our clients in these areas.

“The combination of Frontier’s global footprint and local knowledge fuses our expertise and understanding of regional requirements with unrivalled access to international talent and skill.”

Frontier holds a substantial number of global contracts with the major oil and gas operators and service companies. International client demand in recent years has led the company to successfully expand in several key regions, with wholly owned subsidiaries covering East Africa and the Caribbean, as well as the Gurgaon-based subsidiary which serves both India and the Middle East.

Frontier International Launches New Premises

As a company, Frontier has a long pedigree of working with clients in Asia and the Middle East

successful policy and implementation. It completes a hat-trick for the firm, which earned ISO 9001:2008 accreditation for its executive search and outsourcing services in 2014 and the Investors in People award in 2013. The firm, established by experienced oil and gas industry executives Russell Stewart and Nina El-Imad, specialises in tailored outsourced recruitment solutions but also undertakes traditional executive search, contingent recruitment and provides contractors across all disciplines in the sector.

Managing director, Russell Stewart (pictured), said: “We are delighted to have confirmation of the award and view it as another important step in the evolution of Simpson Booth.”


FINANCE

Mint Accounting, one of Scotland’s fastest-

growing cloud accounting practices,

announced it has achieved platinum partner

status with the cloud accounting software

provider, Xero.

The Aberdeen-headquartered firm is the first

in Scotland, and is one of only 10 practices

in the UK, to reach the highest partner status

achievable. To become a platinum partner,

organisations must have 500+ clients on the

Xero system.

Mint Accounting, who picked up the Xero

Partner of the Year for Scotland accolade at

the UK 2015 Xero Awards in February this year,

started using Xero software four years ago,

having assessed a number of cloud accounting

packages and seeing the potential of Xero.

The platinum partner status comes as the

company announces its plans to expand into

Dundee after significant regeneration in the city

highlighted the opportunity for further growth.

Allison Walker (picture, second right),

managing director for Mint Accounting, says:

“We aim to remain at the forefront of the

changing face of accountancy services in the

UK and are extremely proud to become the

first platinum partner with Xero in the north-

east of Scotland.

“Xero technology offers our clients easy

access to their financial information anytime

and anywhere on a host of different devices

and, in turn, it gives us greater collaboration

with our clients in real time. This software

has offered our clients so many benefits and,

once they make the move from paper records

to the cloud they often question why they

didn’t make the move sooner.”

For more information on Mint Accounting and

its services visit, www.mintaccounting.co.uk

Students at the University of Aberdeen

are taking a virtual step into the world of

accountancy and finance thanks to the

university’s investment in an innovative audit

simulation software programme.

With the support of Thorpe Molloy

Recruitment, the university has purchased

a virtual simulation programme, which is

helping students grasp various aspects of

financial auditing.

The simulation, which is supported through

the Second Life virtual platform, was

developed by the University of the West of

England. A number of universities in England

are already using the software, but Aberdeen

is the first Scottish university to do so.

The simulator allows students to play the

part of auditors for a virtual financial services

firm carrying out a company audit. Mirroring

the work of real-life auditors, students are

required to look into the procedures and

financial documents of a home entertainment

business, assisted by a virtual team manager

who provides tasks, documents and other

resources during the simulation.

Award-Winning NE Accounting Firm Leads Way in Cloud

Thorpe Molloy Recruitment Sponsors Cutting-Edge Teaching

The company announces its plans to expand into Dundee after significant regeneration

Helping students grasp aspects of financial auditing

Students are even able to visit the company’s

premises courtesy of its presence in the

Second Life virtual world, where they can

interact with virtual employees. A range of

supporting material, including a company

website and accounting documents, adds an

extra layer of realism.

Lindsay Tibbetts, teaching fellow at the

University of Aberdeen’s Graduate Business

School, said: “Many people learning how to

be an auditor struggle with some of the real

world aspects of the process. The simulation

tool brings auditing to life, helping students

to grasp key concepts and ideas, as well as

acquiring and trying out new skills.

“We’re the only Scottish university to use

this innovative approach, and one of only a

handful in the whole of the UK.

“By harnessing the interactive experience of

simulation, students are gaining a valuable

insight into the auditing process, which is

enhancing their learning experience and

helping improve their employability.”


FINANCE

1 May 2016 will see the introduction of the new Union Customs Code (UCC). This is essentially a rewrite of the existing code, which will have a major impact on the way businesses involved in import/export of goods deal with their compliance obligations.

One of the principle aims of the new regime is to modernise customs procedures, which should speed up clearance of consignments. Online filing will therefore be a key feature. The UCC will also provide HMRC with greater powers to force businesses to comply with the rules.

In particular, HMRC will be able to require financial guarantees before they grant authorisations for duty relief, e.g. shipwork end-use and IPR. They will then call on the

guarantee to settle outstanding duty if a business fails to operate the relief correctly.

Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) accreditation will enable a business to apply for a waiver of the financial guarantees. It will also permit businesses to apply for simplifications, such as the facility to move goods to and from the UKCS without formal customs declarations. With the inception of the UCC, this facility may not be available to non-AEO businesses, thereby increasing complexity and cost.

To become AEO accredited, businesses will need to demonstrate that they have robust systems in place for handling import/export movements. 2016 may seem far away, but be warned that AEO applications can take a number of months to complete.

The valuation provisions will also change under the UCC, such that duty will be calculated on the value of the sale immediately before goods are cleared into free circulation. This will limit the benefit of customs warehousing by removing the ability of businesses to base duty on the first sale in the chain.

Businesses should now be taking further advice to ensure they are fully prepared for the new rules when they come into force next year.

Mike is an associate of the Institute of Indirect Taxation and plays an active role in the VAT Practitioners Group. He originally trained as an officer with HM Customs & Excise before leaving to pursue a consultancy career in the private sector, and then joining A2+B in 2010.

Mike Whittall, senior VAT manager with Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (A2+B)

Get Ready for the New Customs Regime


FINANCE PROFILE

Economic downturns, fiscal uncertainties, cost-cutting, strategic re-assessments, investment reviews. No matter how depressingly familiar those terms have become recently, the wheels of business keep on turning.

One person who is closely acquainted with that reality is Simon Cowie, founder and managing director of Infinity Partnership, a leading accountancy, tax planning, corporate finance and business advisor.

Simon has completed more than 50 deals worth in excess of £200 million since setting up Aberdeen-based Infinity in 2011.

In fact, he recently completed a deal of his own when Infinity Partnership and Accord Tax and Accountancy merged. The Aberdeen firms will continue to operate under their own names, with both companies being based at Infinity’s Albert Street offices.

Simon said: “Accord has a reputation for its tax advisory and compliance specialisms, while we bring strong business advisory skills to the table, in particular in the mergers and acquisitions arena. The merger is the ideal coming together not only for us, but also for our clients.”

Taking a broader view of the business arena in the North East, Simon is confident there will be opportunities for people with cash or those prepared to wait for the right deal at the right time.

“Some supply chain companies are feeling the pressure as large players review costs in these changing times, but opportunities will emerge for others,” he says. “In a fluid

business landscape, many companies will

now see the chance to pursue deals and

contracts they once thought were out of reach.

“Likewise, opportunity will continue to knock

in the mergers and acquisitions market. The

question is, when is it right to answer that

knock? And when should you keep the door

firmly closed on a prospective deal?”

Simon’s professional credentials are self-

evident. He was named Scotland’s Dealmaker

of the Year at the Deals & Dealmakers Awards

in 2014 – an award he also won in 2009.

He advises clients on acquisitions,

management buyouts and enhancing

company portfolios through acquisition.

He firmly believes a strategic approach is

required from deal initiation. It is crucial,

he says, in being able to understand all the

options throughout the process – including

knowing when to say ‘no’ or walk away from

a deal. Simon began his career in the mid-

1990s as a trainee accountant at Rutherford

Manson Dowds (RMD). The former Robert

Gordon’s pupil became part of the corporate

finance division at Deloitte after its acquisition

of RMD. After a spell with Anderson Anderson

& Brown, where he was instrumental in the

formation of its corporate finance division,

he set up on his own business, Infinity

Partnership. He became a partner at another

Aberdeen firm after he merged his company

with theirs, only to set up on his own again –

with Infinity – in 2011.

It has been a success story ever since: The

company has won four awards this year and

been nominated in the prestigious 2015

Scottish Accountancy Awards. Simon is

married to Tracy, who is office manager at

Infinity Partnership. They live in Aberdeen and

have two children.

Award winner Simon makes mark in mergers and acquisitions market

Zeal for the Deal

• Business Start-ups • Mergers and Acquisitions • Retirement Strategies• Accounting • Taxation • Bookkeeping • VAT

I N F I N I T Y PA RT N E R S H I P | 3 7 A L B E RT S T R E E T | A B E R D E E N A B 2 5 1 X U | 0 1 2 2 4 6 1 8 4 6 0


FEATURE

Efficiency, optimisation and integration. All

three have become key focus areas within the

oil and gas industry during one of the most

testing periods in the sector’s long history.

For one global consultancy with its roots in

Aberdeen, those three bywords also represent

the focus of a strategy designed to tackle

production issues worldwide.

Maxoil Solutions was founded in 2004 by Dr

Wally Georgie (pictured right) and Mel Dow

(left) to bring together experienced consultants

with a focus on operational expertise.

Both remain at the heart of the business,

which has expanded from its Aberdeen

roots to incorporate a base in Houston and a

strong presence in Perth, Australia, and

Stavanger in Norway, as well as other key

energy regions globally.

With expertise in a range of specialised

process, engineering and production

chemistry consultancy services, the Maxoil

team’s ability to achieve process performance

optimisation, by applying effective knowledge

to new projects and operating assets, has

presented new opportunities in the first

quarter of 2015.

Maxoil Solutions managing director, Mel Dow,

is well versed in the cycles of the energy

industry, but believes the current situation

presents a unique chance to embrace

solutions which will have a lasting impact.

He said: “The impact of the reduction in the

oil price has been significant and there is no

escape from that. It is imperative in the long

term that we see that trend reversed, but in

the short term there are challenges, which

must be faced.

“The overarching theme is in improving

efficiency, increasing uptime and minimising

OPEX in every aspect of operations and that

should be viewed as a positive exercise.

Maxoil has been built on the foundations of

Maxoil Solutions Tackles Energy Industry Issues

Efficiency, optimisation and integration. All three have become key focus areas within the oil and gas industry during one of the most testing periods in the sector’s long history.


FEATURE

using its expertise to optimise production

performance, so we have entered this period

ahead of the pack in many respects.”

Maxoil has specialist areas of expertise in

operations assurance, flow assurance, fluids

separation, produced water management,

sand and solids management, gas treatment

and transport, chemical treatments and

contaminants, process troubleshooting,

advanced diagnostics, de-bottlenecking and

technical awareness training.

Mel Dow added: “A holistic approach is

at the heart of what we do, blending our

core disciplines of process engineering

and production chemistry with hands-on

operations experience. The end result is

a single consultancy designed to tackle

the issues that hurt our clients – whether

they be downtime, performance,

environmental or financial.

“The approach has helped build the business

over the past 10 years and will be key as

we look to the future. We have a strong

and comprehensive team in place, ready

to respond to the twists and turns in the

road ahead. Optimising asset performance

through expertise and innovation continues to

be the goal.”

Demand for lifecycle solutions is not

confined to the North Sea, with Maxoil’s

knowledge and experience being tested in

all key production regions. The team’s input

spans well sampling, fluid characterisation

and concept development for discoveries

through to subsea commissioning, operations

troubleshooting and late-life performance

improvement strategies. A growing range

of services has supported the company’s

development and there is a clear strategy for

its continued evolution.

Mel Dow said: “We view integration as a

tremendously powerful tool for our clients,

particularly in driving production efficiency.

Chemistry issues are something every

production facility will experience, whether

in reservoirs, flowlines or topside equipment.

In our experience the common denominator

is often too little production chemistry input

at the Front End Engineering Design (FEED)

stage and we are working closely with clients

to ensure early integration. “By promoting

awareness and changing priorities, as well as

placing an emphasis on ensuring adequate

and representative fluid samples are being

taken, there can be a tremendous impact on

life-of-field production performance.”

Issues including souring, scaling, emulsions,

foaming, solids deposits and waxing are

among those being tackled by Maxoil on a

daily basis.

The Maxoil managing director added: “Fully

integrating production chemistry into the

basis of design for each project is vital and

can ensure ‘surprises’ are avoided. On many

projects a silo mentality can develop between

disciplines where the importance of one

input to the project is not realised by the

rest of the team. “Whilst this applies at the

FEED stage, integration is also important for

projects relating to operating assets. Only a

joined-up approach can provide the problem

solving which will be the bedrock for a positive

production future.”

Maxoil Solutions has a presence in Aberdeen,

London, Houston, Stavanger, Kuala Lumpur

and Perth, Australia.

For further information, visit

www.maxoilsolutions.com


I.T.

A crucial step in Aberdeen’s transformation into Scotland’s first Gigabit City was taken in March at an event marking the start of construction of the Aberdeen CORE network.

Aberdeen City Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Marie Boulton (pictured, centre) joined representatives from fibre infrastructure builder, CityFibre (James McClafferty, right), and its Gigabit City project partner, Internet For Business (IFB) (Graeme Gordon, CEO, left), at the dig site on Justice Mill Lane to mark the first build phase of the city-wide, state-of-the-art pure fibre network set to accelerate Aberdeen’s business community.

The Aberdeen CORE is being built to CityFibre’s ‘Well Planned City’ design, ensuring it is engineered to accommodate current and

future demands from the private and public sectors, mobile networks and data centre operators in the city. With IFB now offering services over the network, transformational Internet connectivity will soon be within reach of over 6,000 local businesses.

The precise routing of the network will be determined by demand from the business community. Businesses are asked to register their interest online and to encourage neighbouring businesses to do the same to ensure the best chance of attracting the network to their street or business park. Since announcing plans to bring gigabit speeds to Aberdeen in September, over 250 local businesses have already registered their details.

Among the first sites to see pure fibre network laid will be Union Street, Schoolhill and Queens Road. Connections and services in these areas will go live in May with other sites in Altens, Bridge of Don and Dyce to be connected later this year. Thanks to the modern trenching techniques used by the construction teams, work will be carried out quickly and with minimal disruption to residents.

Commenting on the start of construction, James McClafferty, city development manager at CityFibre, said: “We are delighted to begin building this network for Aberdeen. This is a huge first step towards transforming Aberdeen into Scotland’s first Gigabit City. Soon businesses and the city as a whole will begin to feel the benefits of this world-leading infrastructure project.”

Aberdeen-based ICT provider Converged Communication Solutions has expanded its operations into new office premises to accommodate continued growth.

Converged, which was established in 2005, has moved from shared office space into its own larger headquarters at the historic Merchants House in the city’s Waterloo Quay. The move has been prompted by significant growth in the past year and recent contract awards.

The firm, which provides Internet connections, telephone systems and IT support services,

has recently secured a number of contracts with a combined value of over £450,000. Converged, which works with a range of firms of all sizes throughout the UK, anticipates further growth in the coming year, particularly as businesses in Aberdeen invest in their Internet connections with help from the UK government’s Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme.

Converged’s technical director and co-founder, Neil Christie, said: “The move to larger premises in Merchants House comes as Converged enters the next phase of its development. To support our future

expansion we have continued to invest in the development of our extremely strong technical team, which accounts for three quarters of our staff. I’m excited and proud to call these historic surroundings home to our expanded workforce.”

Converged Communication Solutions is an independent IT support, telephony and Internet service provider. Established in 2005, the company has grown from a two-man operation to a fully integrated communications company with 20 staff based at Merchants House, 87 Waterloo Quay, Aberdeen.

Aberdeen’s Gigabit City Network Build Begins

Growth Continues at Converged

Aberdeen CORE network construction heralds gigabit connectivity for Aberdeen’s business community

Significant growth in past year has prompted move to new premises


I.T.

Evoke IT, the Aberdeen-based Microsoft

consultancy primarily focused on delivering

business systems consultancy and software

development to customers in the oil

and gas industry, and traditionally focused

on Microsoft SharePoint, have extended

their services to include infrastructure,

licensing, and virtualisation, which

completes their cloud expertise.

They have welcomed Amit Wanchoo to the

team as IT manager. Amit (pictured far right

with the management team, from left to

right: Teresa Collie, Remco Blok, Lee Harrison

and Laura Campbell) will be responsible for

managing overall infrastructure consultancy

with clients to design, enhance and implement

solutions that support business applications.

He will take responsibility for developing

Evoke IT has Head in the Cloud

Evoke IT welcome Amit Wanchoo to the team

and maintaining relationships with strategic

partners and supporting Evoke IT’s internal

fast-growth infrastructure requirements.

Amit, who has worked in the IT industry for over

15 years, has specialised in infrastructure and

developing solutions leading to improvements

in the efficiency of IT and business operations.

He previously worked as an infrastructure

consultant and architect for IT giants such as

Lockheed Martin and ProSource IT, and has the

extensive knowledge and experience to lead

this new part of the business to great success.

With the pressure of growing demands placed

on infrastructure and tight budgets, IT leaders

are looking for strategies and solutions that

are driven by flexible, cost-effective and low-

support overheads.

The Azure cloud in particular has been a big

leap forward and allows the integration of on-

premises infrastructure and cloud solutions

together resulting in smarter management,

more efficient operations and the flexibility

to scale. The future for many businesses will

be a mixture of both on-premise and cloud

solutions, such as Exchange or SharePoint

online. Evoke IT will focus on these integration

projects and continue to use its expertise to

deliver applications leveraging clients existing

infrastructure with new cloud technologies.

Many cloud services are solely based on pay-

per-use, thus making it difficult to become any

more efficient. For advice and information,

contact one of the team.


COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Referendum Foresight Earns National Award For Knight

Frank Recruit“I’m grateful to the University of Aberdeen for

nominating me. It was a great surprise to be invited to the ceremony and to collect the award.”

A graduate surveyor has been recognised

for his expert analysis of the impact of the

Scottish independence referendum on the

commercial property market – and has been

praised for adopting the perfect phrase to

describe the outcome.

Matthew Aitchison (pictured), a graduate of

the University of Aberdeen who is now part

of the Knight Frank team in Aberdeen, has

been presented with the Royal Institution

of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Scotland Valuation Professional Group Board student award for the best dissertation in Scotland.

His 2014 study, in advance of the historic vote, examined the potential consequences of the referendum on the office property market in Scotland. The former Edinburgh Academy pupil won praise for his conclusions, which proved to accurately predict the sector’s experiences during the referendum period. His assessment was broken into four sections, which looked at the pre-vote period, the impact of a ‘no’ vote and a ‘yes’ vote, as well as the potential for a close-run contest.

Matthew explained: “I used the term ‘neverendum’ to describe a narrow majority for either side, and in the end that is what the vote brought. I had read that applied in other

circumstances and it jumped out as a perfect

fit for the vote. The RICS judging panel made

mention of me using that term in the context

of the Scottish market, and I’m told it is one

that has been applied elsewhere since then.

“I was proud to collect the award and to be

recognised for my dissertation. I’m grateful

to the University of Aberdeen for nominating

me. It was a great surprise to be invited to the

ceremony and to collect the award.”

The 22-year-old joined Knight Frank after

graduating in 2014 and is enjoying the variety of

his first role in the commercial property sector.

Knight Frank partner, Richard Evans, said:

“We are delighted that Matthew has won this

award, which is a tremendous honour for him

and very well deserved.”

American Investor Completes £4.6m Deal“We are delighted to have completed this deal, which demonstrates the confidence there is in Aberdeen and Scotland as an investment market.”

The sale of a multi-million-pound Aberdeen commercial property development has demonstrated Scotland’s appeal to the international investment community.

West Coast Estates, based in Aberdeen and active nationwide, has concluded a £4.6-million transaction in which a 2.5-acre multi-unit complex has been bought by New York headquartered fund manager W. P. Carey. The global player has in excess of $9 billion of assets under management worldwide.

The development, at Broadfold Road in the Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, was acquired by

West Coast Estates in 2006 and was the

subject of a programme of refurbishment. It

comprises four units, totalling 55,000 sq ft,

and has been sold with three tenants from the

oil and gas sector.

West Coast Estates director, Iftikar Mian, said:

“We are delighted to have completed this deal,

which demonstrates the confidence there is

in Aberdeen and Scotland as an investment

market. From a West Coast Estates’

perspective, it is a very positive outcome, with

a significant return on our initial outlay and

following several years of rental income, and

for W. P. Carey it is viewed as a good fit with

their portfolio in the UK.

“The low oil price has understandably created

a sense of uncertainty across a wide range

of sectors – but this deal shows inward

investment to Aberdeen is continuing. Private

and institutional investors recognise the

medium- to long-term potential and, as such,

remain very active as part of a balanced

approach. There was also some hesitancy in

the Scottish market around the time of the

referendum, but we have seen considerable

traction since then.”


COMMERCIAL PROPERTY

Knight Frank Report Puts Office Market in Spotlight

Investment deals were at record levels and reached £641m, which accounted for half of Scotland’s total for the year.

Commercial property specialist Knight Frank

believes learning from the experience of

previous downward trends in the sector will

be key to Aberdeen’s success in meeting the

challenges of changing market conditions.

The firm has published its annual Aberdeen

Office Market Activity Report and highlighted

the market’s direct correlation with the oil and

gas industry in the North East.

The study reveals the city recorded its highest-

ever annual take-up of office space, with

transactions in 2014 totalling more than 1

million sq ft and a new prime headline rent

of £32 per sq ft also achieved. Investment

deals were also at record levels and reached

£641million, which accounted for half of

Scotland’s total for the year.

Significant milestones in the year included

Scotland’s largest-ever single-office letting

transaction, with Aker Solutions securing

tenancy of its new headquarters building at

Aberdeen International Business Park. The

335,000-sq ft property is at the heart of

Abstract’s development of the Dyce park.

The decline in the oil price and tightening of belts

within the energy sector is already impacting on

requirements, and Knight Frank is predicting

significant change in market conditions.

Katherine Monro, a partner in the firm’s

Aberdeen office, said: “After years of restricted

supply, Aberdeen now has a substantial

development pipeline. Many of these projects

are being built speculatively, potentially

bringing record levels of available space.

“This is unusual for Aberdeen, which has

always suffered from a lack of supply and

therefore, coupled with subdued demand

due to the low oil price, we would anticipate

incentives and more attractive terms being

available to prospective tenants. “As a team,

we have experienced the cyclical nature of the

oil and gas industry before and that teaches

us that previous recovery periods have taken

between 18 and 24 months. We have to be

prepared for that and to weather what we

expect to be a perfect storm of low demand

and high supply in the current cycle.”

The Knight Frank report estimates the total

available office space at present in Aberdeen

is 1.3 million sq ft, comprising new stock and

existing secondary office accommodation.

Eric Shearer, the partner specialising in

investment within the Aberdeen office

of Knight Frank, said: “From the earliest

indicators of falling oil prices, we were

prepared for decision making to be influenced,

particularly in the investment market, and we

are seeing that now.

“For many investors there is a ‘wait and see’

approach, although others will consider this

an opportune time to invest when there is

less competition. “I believe there is still huge

value available for pension funds investing in

Aberdeen. The city has for the last 20 years,

through three oil price crashes, provided solid

growth and exceptional returns. In very simple

terms, you can now get a 20% higher return in

Aberdeen than you can in other regional cities

such as Manchester – plus great tenants and

20-year leases.”

Katherine Monro added: “Despite the

concerns around supply and demand in

Aberdeen in the current climate, there will still

be movement. Our advice to occupier clients

is that this is probably the optimum time to

be considering moving offices, as the deals

available will be the best in a decade.

“The usual lease events and ongoing

commercial requirements will continue

to be a factor and that will ensure a flow

of transactions. At Knight Frank we have

strengthened our own team to meet the

challenges head on.”


PROFILE

Whilst growing up – “As a child I actually wanted to be a cowgirl!” – Margaret Waldron, owner and principal solicitor at The Law Practice, never imagined she’d challenge herself with a law degree in her thirties, flourish in her field and go on to establish a successful, reputable law, estate agency and leasing business.

“Owning my own company was never my end goal,” explains Margaret. “Neither was working in property or law. I had a varied start to my career, ranging from studying languages at university, to banking and secretarial studies, to qualifying as a playgroup supervisor. As my children grew up, I decided it was time for another adventure and started studying law. Now, here I am, with a wonderful, like-minded team around me, fresh high-street premises and fantastic client feedback that makes everything worthwhile.”

Becoming an entrepreneur was an unexpected, yet welcome, stage for Margaret. She regards her early networking as significant in boosting both her confidence and The Law Practice: “I didn’t have much knowledge about the business world when I started so I pushed myself to network. As daunting as it was, it was the best thing I could have done. I made great contacts and was very fortunate that they tried us out, liked the service and recommended it. We’ve been trading primarily on word of mouth for years and I like to think clients understand our fresh approach.

“I see The Law Practice as different from the solicitor stereotype. We live by the traditional

values, but have added a modern, energetic attitude. The team has real excitement for our clients’ successes and whilst we’re professional at all times, we don’t take ourselves too seriously. It’s the perfect balance and I think we’re unique in Aberdeen.”

The “small but perfectly formed team” specialises in residential property sales and purchases, estate agency, residential leasing, re-mortgages, transfer of titles, executory

transactions, wills and power of attorney, matrimonial conveyancing and is a notary public. Each transaction is underpinned by a passion for excellent service: “Client care is the one thing that means more than anything else at The Law Practice. Lots of people say they’re focused on providing the best service, but our responses from our clients show we really do it.”

The recent office move to Holburn Street sparked Margaret’s interest in fine-tuning the

brand, encouraging her to step back from her legal work at times and focus on being the business owner. As a result, The Law Practice has launched a leasing company, increased staff and introduced an independent mortgage advisor on site.

Now, as it celebrates its tenth year, goals for 2015 are relationship- focused. Margaret knows the importance of client, staff and ambassador care, so service offerings will be increasingly bespoke, ensuring all stakeholders have their importance recognised. Corporate social responsibility is also high on the agenda, with the team pledging support to ten individual local charities – one for each year of business – throughout 2015.

Looking to the future, Margaret is keen to develop The Law Practice into a powerful brand that deserves its spot in the competitive legal marketplace: “Business is evolving and so is the world of solicitors. Previously, families stayed with the same firm for life. Now, it’s time to think about different avenues from which to draw in work. But, no matter what, I do maintain that there’s always a place for good service, personal contact and people knowing you care. That’ll never go out of fashion.

“Looking further ahead, I won’t be working forever and, eventually, will gradually have to bow out. My dream is to have like-minded people step in and continue the brand I’m building.”

“We’ve been trading primarily on word of mouth for years and I like to think clients understand our fresh approach”

A Law to Herself


PROPERTY

Scottish Property Firm Agrees Multi-Million Refinancing Deal

Andrew’s Homes, which is headquartered in Aberdeen, has negotiated an agreement with Handelsbanken to cover the company’s prestigious assets in the city’s west end.

The five-year facility will anchor the company’s

strategy of leasing prime Aberdeen-

based properties and offer additional security

to seek out new investment and development

opportunities in Aberdeen and other

Scottish cities.

The family-run property company, owned and

managed by Jonathan Harper, has been a

key player in the city’s property market since

it was launched in 1969 by Mr Harper’s late

father, Barrie. Andrew’s Homes operates in

both the residential and commercial property

markets, with a portfolio that currently boasts

high-end properties in Aberdeen, Dundee and

Inverness. A high percentage of the company’s

properties are based in Aberdeen’s prominent

west end, with 75% of the company’s assets

in the commercial market.

Mr Harper, managing director of Andrew’s

Homes, said: “Securing this substantial

refinancing deal with Handelsbanken is a

significant achievement which creates a solid

foundation for us to make key decisions and

consider future potential opportunities.

“This is a new relationship with Handelsbanken

and business is all about partnerships and

that is what my father believed in too.”

The partnership is one of Handelsbanken’s

largest deals in Aberdeen to date.

Neil Clark, Aberdeen branch manager,

Handelsbanken, said: “Andrew’s Homes is

a well-respected, family-run business which

has been around for a long time and has a

very strong property portfolio in the city and

further afield.

“The company’s track record in the property

market and core values as a business is

an excellent fit for Handelsbanken and this

will be a long term relationship working in

partnership to support Andrew’s Homes with

their company vision.”


BUSINESS TRAVELPROPERTY

Scottish Government to launch new national fuel poverty scheme in September

A national fuel poverty scheme funded by

the Scottish Government will be launched in

September to bolster efforts to tackle fuel

poverty in Scotland, transforming the way

customers receive energy efficiency services.

The new scheme is a step-by-step

experience for customers in Scotland to help

householders from start to finish, making

their homes warmer and more comfortable.

It will bring improved comfort and financial

benefits to tens of thousands of Scottish

people by reducing CO2 levels and improving

Scotland’s housing stock.

Three organisations will form the joint venture

Warmworks Scotland and ensure support is

available at a national level for households

as part of a contract worth up to £224 million

over a seven-year term. The new scheme will

launch in September 2015.

Changeworks, the Energy Saving Trust and

Everwarm, part of the Lakehouse plc, will join

forces to provide full support, from insulation

and heating to microgeneration measures to

households suffering from fuel poverty across

Scotland, targeting lower-income families.

Mike Thornton, Energy Saving Trust director

of government services, said: “This will give

people living in fuel poverty really practical

support. The initiative provides a more

integrated step-by-step service to customers,

from the initial referral through to the

installation and beyond.

“Each customer will receive their own

personal adviser and be supported through

any complex issue or challenge they may face.

This project will continue to help improve the

lives of people in Scotland by making their

homes warmer and more comfortable.”

£224m Energy Efficiency Drive for

Scottish Homes


BUSINESS TRAVEL

Airport Unveils Brand New Website

The new site builds on the improvements made in 2014, which are already enjoyed by over 100,000 visitors each month, with over 1.2 million people

visiting the site in 2014 alone

Aberdeen International Airport has launched a brand new website, offering a bold new look and an enhanced digital experience for its visitors.

Along with essential information on travelling through the airport and the facility to book everything from flights to parking, the site offers expert destination guides with travel tips and the latest weather reports to allow passengers to make a more informed choice on their business and holiday destinations.

The new ‘My Flights’ functionality allows users to ‘pin’ one or more live flights to their browser to provide up to the minute status updates on their screen. For those accessing the site via their smartphone, users can enjoy a streamlined, easy-to-use experience optimised for their device that allows users to keep up to date with their flight information on the move. The new site builds on the

improvements made in 2014, which are

already enjoyed by over 100,000 visitors each

month, with over 1.2 million people visiting

the site in 2014 alone.

Jason Stewart, the airport’s e-commerce

manager, said: “After 13 months of research

into the needs of our online stakeholders,

we are delighted with the outcome. The new

aberdeenairport.com is unique in terms of

airport websites – we have implemented

technology to understand our users based on

their locations and flight selections and serve

them the content they are most likely to want

to see using this information. This approach

is designed to enable our users to enjoy a

seamless online experience as part of their

overall travel journey.”

The new website can now be accessed at

www.aberdeenairport.com

Wizz Air Offers New Service to GdanskAberdeen and Billund are two new destinations in Wizz Air’s network of 108

airports and Denmark is the 38th country the airline serves. Wizz Air now offers a total of 30 routes from Gdansk

A reminder that, from 19 June Wizz Air, the

largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern

Europe will operate new services from Gdansk

to Aberdeen, Brussels Charleroi and Billund

in Denmark. The new Aberdeen route will fly

on Mondays and Fridays. The new aircraft

will allow Wizz Air to increase the number

of weekly flights on the existing routes from

Gdansk to Oslo, Torp, Stockholm, Skavsta,

Bergen, Stavanger, Milan and Liverpool. All

new flights are now on sale on wizzair.com

Aberdeen and Billund are two new

destinations in Wizz Air’s network of 108

airports and Denmark is the 38th country the

airline serves. Wizz Air now offers a total of 30

routes from Gdansk.

József Váradi, chief executive officer of Wizz

Air, said: “We are deeply rooted in Gdansk.

Wizz Air – as the largest airline here – has

been instrumental in developing the aviation

market and infrastructure in Northern Poland

over the past decade. Deploying a sixth

based aircraft and creating more local jobs

are further milestones of our continuous

commitment to the region.”


LEISURE AND TOURISM

Hotel Group Thistle Strengthens Aberdeen Sales Team

Aberdeen Inspired Map the Way Forward

Move could be considered quite bold for Thistle

Initial wayshowing pilot project proves a success

Hotel group Thistle has strengthened its sales team in Aberdeen with three new appointments and the launch of a dedicated hub for bedroom and meeting and events reservations.

The move comes as hotels across the city prepare for the knock-on impact of falling oil prices, which is expected to result in reduced bookings within an exceptionally buoyant sector where demand regularly outstrips supply.

The new reservations hub for Aberdeen Airport, Aberdeen Altens and Caledonian by Thistle hotels is headed up by Julia Leitch, who takes on the newly created role of sales office manager.

She is joined by a team of six sales staff,

who will work alongside Helen McLoughlin,

director of sales for Aberdeen, whose team

also has two further new appointments. Neale

Farman takes on the newly created post of

digital marketing officer, while Lisa McLeod is

cluster sales manager.

Julia says: “This could be considered quite

a bold move for Thistle when businesses

across the city are facing up to the reality of a

downturn in the energy sector and what that

could mean for their own operations.

“When the outlook for the oil and gas sector

starts to improve – and there is no question

that the oil price will start to rise again – we

will be in the best possible place to react and

respond to increased demand.”

The reservations hub will be based at Thistle

Aberdeen Altens and will result in improved

service levels for customers by providing

a local overview of the three hotels. Staff

manning the hub will be able to provide the

most up-to-date information about availability

in all three venues for bedrooms, as well as

for meetings, conferences and other events.

The new reservations hub follows on from

the completion of a £6.9-million investment

programme by Thistle in its three Aberdeen

hotels. All three venues have been extensively

refurbished, with Altens now offering new

apartment-style rooms to cater specifically to

long-stay guests working in the city’s oil industry.

Aberdeen Inspired is one step closer to rolling out an innovative wayshowing project throughout the Granite City thanks to the success of the initial pilot project.

The business organisation has received a positive reaction to the first stage of the initiative that aims to improve orientation, navigation and journey planning for people visiting the city centre.

Visitors have praised the addition of four informative map totems, which have been installed at key locations - on Broad Street, St Nicholas Street, and Schoolhill, and outside the tourism office on Union Street.

The project, which has been led by Aberdeen Inspired and jointly delivered with Aberdeen City Council, went before the council’s Communities, Housing & Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday March 18, 2015. Councillors agreed to recommend a 50% funding contribution to the scheme, which was to be put before the Finance, Policy and Resources Committee for final approval in April.

The next phase of the scheme will involve the installation of 54 further map totems throughout the city centre.

Craig Stevenson, Aberdeen Inspired director

responsible for the organisation’s Out and

About theme (pictured with Aberdeen City

Council leader, Jenny Laing), said: “We are

delighted with the response we have received

from the public and Aberdeen City Council after

carrying out the first stage of the scheme, and

looking ahead, funding permitting, to carrying

out the next phase throughout the city.

“As well as connecting various parts of the

city, the project also encourages walking

within the centre, giving people a positive

and safe experience. Aberdeen has a lot to

offer and we are keen to raise awareness and

encourage visitors to explore areas such as

the Castlegate, the West End, Crown Street

and Langstane Place. The next phase of the

scheme will play a major part in realising this

and we are excited to take it forward.”


LEISURE AND TOURISM

Exclusive Elsick House

Elsick will be hosting an open day

Nestling in the verdant north-east countryside, just a short eight-mile drive south of Aberdeen, sits Elsick House, entirely hidden from view, yet offering an abundance of opportunities for corporate events. The long sweeping drives bordered by beech hedges awards guests with a sense of arrival and privacy. It may be a hushed retreat but companies will find all the technology and connectivity required by today’s top executives.

Elsick combines the charm of an historic building with newly refurbished interiors, and all three public rooms lead off one another offering a blank canvas to companies for any type of activity. The drawing room and dining room have double doors leading into one another. They are furnished as a conventional house, but can be altered to suit any situation, such as a boardroom with dining area alongside. At the other side sits a study, which can double up as a bar or whisky room, or possibly a breakout area.

Any type of corporate event can be arranged from senior management meetings to product launches, from company lunches to team building. Blue sky thinking is invariably easier when the only distractions are the surrounding flora and fauna to stimulate and motivate your managers.

On the estate we can arrange team-building exercises such as 4x4 challenges, archery and clay shooting. Our team can also arrange golfing (Royal Aberdeen, Carnoustie and St Andrews are all within easy driving distance), fishing or equestrian activities nearby – or any type of crazy pastime that you care to choose!

For a less arduous event, within the beautifully laid out grounds there is a marquee location within a walled garden that makes a sensational party area for up to 180 guests.

You have a great opportunity to view the house and the marquee in the grounds on Sunday 14 June from 11.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. when the team at Elsick will be hosting an open day.

This unique estate is only a 30-minute drive from Aberdeen International Airport and Stonehaven train station is only 10 minutes away. This perfect retreat, with its combination of easy elegance, comfort and total seclusion, is sure to impress colleagues and clients whilst achieving your business goals.


LEISURE AND TOURISM

Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association

(ACSHA) is remaining upbeat about the

performance of the sector, despite a decline

in occupancy rates last month. Figures

released by hospitality research company STR

Global show that occupancy fell by 8% to 70%

between January and February, and by 2.6%

overall in the 12 months from February 2014.

In comparison, however, the average daily

room rate dropped by 2.9% to £94.85, while

the number of bedrooms available over

12 months increased by 4.6% due to new

building projects. Over 1,000 additional hotel

rooms have been created in Aberdeen since

2013, with two further major hotel openings

planned for sites at Aberdeen International

Airport later this year.

ACSHA chairman Chris McGuinness believes

that, in addition to the increased number

of bedrooms, falling oil prices will also have

influenced the February figures. He says that

members of the trade organisation are taking

a measured approach to the slump in the

energy sector.

He adds: “There are a lot of very experienced

operators in the city who have witnessed

the cyclical nature of the energy sector over

many years. We know only too well that the

oil industry has peaks and troughs: the sector

has enjoyed a phenomenal performance

over the past couple of years, so the current

downturn has not been unexpected.

“We expect to see a reduction in the amount

of discretionary business travel as a result of

the downturn, with less people travelling into

the city for meetings and training courses.

However, we are not panicking by entering

into a rates war as previous experience tells

us that this will not be a long-term issue.

“The current decline will not last forever and,

as global demand for oil starts to increase, so

too will the price of Brent crude oil. When that

happens, Aberdeen’s hotel industry will be

in a stronger position than before with more

bedroom availability for those visiting the city

on business.

“For many years we have found ourselves in

a situation where we did not have enough

supply to meet demand. That should now start

to balance out, and the gap in performance

between Aberdeen and the rest of the UK –

which has previously been far too big – will

get closer.”

ACSHA has worked closely with destination

management group VisitAberdeen to market

the city for weekend breaks, and will continue

efforts to help position Aberdeen as a leisure

destination.

Mr McGuinness adds: “The high demand for

bedrooms midweek means that Aberdeen

has some of the best value weekend

rates anywhere in the world. Supporting

VisitAberdeen continues to be a priority

for ACSHA.

“We must not forget that there is more to

the hospitality industry than bedrooms and,

anecdotally, members are telling us that

revenue from food and beverage sales is

rising year on year, and meetings and events,

which includes weddings, are also performing

at the level they have in previous years.”

Aberdeen City and Shire Hotels’ Association

represents 43 independently operated

hotels and conference venues. These hotels

provide around 4,100 bedrooms in Aberdeen

and Aberdeenshire. ACSHA is committed

to improving the quality and standard of

hotel services and to furthering the overall

standards of excellence and hospitality within

the region.

Hotels Optimistic about Hotel Occupancy Rates

ACSHA members taking a measured approach to current situation


LEISURE AND TOURISM

New Restaurant Complex for Fire-Ravaged Building

“We’ve been searching for the perfect site in the city for years and when the lease came up on the site,

we were really delighted.”

An award-winning restaurant is planning to

open new 20,000-sq ft premises on the site

of a fire-ravaged building in Aberdeen.

The owners of Hornblower’s Restaurant

and Takeaway in Gourdon, Alex and Ruth

Grahame, are planning to take over the

lease of the former Jimmy Chung’s/TC Fish

Restaurant site, which was gutted by a huge

fire a year ago (Feb 2014).

Aberdeen-based TCD Architects, on behalf of

site owners Rossnow Leisure, have applied for

full planning permission to revitalise the area

by building five new commercial units totalling

26,000 sq ft, including Hornblower’s. An

application for building warrants will follow in

due course. It is thought dozens of jobs will be

created, but an exact figure is not yet known.

Alex and Ruth Grahame have been working

with Rossnow Leisure and TCD Architects to

ensure their new facilities, which include a

restaurant, takeaway and ice cream parlour

on the Beach Esplanade, will provide a

modern, desirable and landmark building

designed to sit proudly at the heart of the

city’s beachfront.

Ruth said: “We’ve been searching for

the perfect site in the city for years and

when the lease came up on the site, we were

really delighted.”

The planning application from TCD Architects

includes a two-storey 16,000-sq ft restaurant

facing the seafront with terraces on the first

floor and a heated outdoor sitting area on

the ground floor, a 650-sq ft takeaway, and a

2,500-sq ft ice cream parlour; these would be

the Hornblower’s premises. The complex also

includes two other restaurants, one at 4,500

sq ft and another at 2,000 sq ft, which would

host The Pier Bistro.

The couple have owned and run Hornblower’s

restaurant and takeaway in Gourdon – one

of the last small working fishing villages in

Scotland – for several years, and it has been

voted by the public for having the best chips

in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in The Choice

Chip Awards. It also won the Best Informal

Eating Experience in the North East and

Tayside Regional Final of the VisitScotland

Thistle Awards in November.


To get his take on the current challenges facing the hotel industry, Business Now took the opportunity to catch up with Gordon Sinclair (pictured with his team) of the Atholl Hotel on King’s Gate. Gordon has drawn on his many years of experience to ensure his business can manage the ebb and flow of market forces. Having recently completed a £200,000 refurbishment of the hotel, Business Now were keen to find out more about Gordon’s belief that continuous investment in his business, his staff and his guests is key to ensuring repeat business.

Q: Despite the decline in room occupancy, due mainly to the fall in oil prices, there

seems to be a high level of optimism within the industry. Why is this and do you share this optimism?

A: I’m not sure that I agree that the optimism is there, but maybe I’m just being Aberdonian! We’ve been through three spells of this before with the offshore industry and it has come back. It just tends to haul the industry up.

Hotels suffer from a shortage of skilled labour, which is an ongoing problem. When we can’t get staff, it’s generally because the oil and gas industry can pay them more – especially in management, and offer more tempting working conditions and hours. It is a concern at present, but I’m confident it will come back. It’s just a question of when.

Q: With the massive increase over the last few years in hotel accommodation in Aberdeen, are the independent hotels in the area finding it tougher to compete?

A: One factor here is that Aberdeen is ‘back to front’ when it comes to room rates. Unlike other areas, we are more expensive midweek than we are at weekends, giving Aberdeen a reputation as expensive for leisure visits. Midweek is obviously higher due to the oil industry and other related business.

When it comes to the rates, there is a rack rate – which was the highest rate in the old days, which you would never go over, not even during oil week. Some hotels don’t follow that rule and will throw up their prices midweek, you know – making hay etc.

Being privately owned, I am looking for consistency and repeat business, so regulars will get familiar rates. You have to offer perceived value for money or they won’t come back. However, we have seen a change as some companies cut back – they are no longer paying for travel time and only one night’s stay,

so time and costs get squeezed. This has a knock-on effect for the associated industries.

As I said earlier, the oil industry has been through this before, so I ensure I don’t put all my eggs in one basket. Oil and gas has been good to us, but we also cater to the universities and colleges, the hospitals and the NHS generally, as well as golf and other areas of the leisure market. If you keep an eye on e ncouraging other business such as tourism, then you can ride the peaks and troughs.

Q: Has this encouraged a price war amongst local hoteliers?

A: In short, yes! A reduction in prices has already started. However, you need to be careful with your rates, as customers will get chatting about what they’ve paid, so you can’t have massive variations or they will feel cheated.

Q: From a leisure perspective, is weekend occupancy remaining buoyant?

A: The beginning of the year was quieter, but it’s levelling out now. Pricing can be more pronounced in this area.

As I mentioned earlier, potential customers from the south can get the idea that Aberdeen is expensive for weekend travel due to the higher rates midweek. However, things have changed over the years, with more communication in Aberdeen and the Shire, including people going to conferences across the globe to promote the region; Aberdeen has a lot to offer the visitor within a short distance.

The Trump Organisation commits and follows through. This is bringing golfers into the area from the North American market. They have perhaps completed other famous courses and are looking for a new challenge. You might get a group of ten coming over and they will not only play Trump’s course, but also look for

Managing the Ebb and Flow of Hospitality

LEISURE AND TOURISM

“We’ve been through three spells of this before and it has come back.”


others locally to try out – for example, Royal Aberdeen. This has a knock-on effect for other businesses in the city, such as taxi firms, shops and restaurants, so we all benefit. Plus we have the prospect of a new course at Ury designed by Jack Nicklaus, which opens up new avenues.

Another string to our bow for weekend occupancy is the value of the pound at the moment, which is leading to more ‘staycations’, and then there is our repeat business. We have many customers who are regulars and they come back because they like the staff and we provide good service. 50% of our turnover is food. Our aim is to provide a home-from-home and, as some 15 members of our staff have been here ten or

more years, there is a family feel to the Atholl. Plus we don’t try to be anything we are not. We are a good four-star hotel.

Q: The Atholl has recently completed a

refurbishment, including the dining area.

Have food and beverages also been affected

by the downturn?

A: Beverages have been more affected by the new drink-driving laws. It has had a massive effect on sales, as people are unsure about what the limits are. There are so many different factors involved. We have increased the range of non-alcoholic wines we have available and introduced a more varied range of soft drinks, and we have also expanded our range of non-alcoholic beers.

Q: To those responsible for booking guests into a local hotel, how would you describe The Atholl?

A: I would say we are a traditional, privately owned hotel that is committed to re-investment. We are a four-star VisitScotland establishment who take pride in what we do. We try our best to care for our customers and build a relationship with them.

We serve traditional, good fresh food that is well cooked and locally sourced as far as possible, and served with care. We are not fine dining and not trying to be. We aim to provide value for money. You’d be surprised how many people come in and say, “Oh, mince and tatties!”, because they don’t cook at home any more.

Aberdeen Asset Management (Aberdeen) has stepped back on board as sponsor of the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, which takes place in Portsoy annually and is worth in excess of £1 million to the local economy.

Last year’s festival attracted more than 18,000 people, with a significant growth in the number of visitors attending from outwith the region and just under 12% of visitors attending from overseas.

Festival chairman Roger Goodyear has welcomed Aberdeen Asset Management’s intervention, saying it protects the continuation of the popular event in the short term, while buying more time for organisers to secure an alternative main sponsor for future years.

Roger says: “We are delighted that Aberdeen Asset Management has generously agreed to back us with this extra support. It comes at a time when we are involved in a number of additional projects that are taking up a

considerable amount of time and attention,

but will bring significant community benefit,

including the creation of a boatshed, the

building of a traditional salmon coble and, in

association with the North East Preservation

Trust, the restoration of a listed building to

create a bunkhouse.”

Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen

Asset Management and a keen sailor, says

of the sponsorship award: “The Scottish

Traditional Boat Festival is a key highlight of

the tourism calendar and, as well as being

the largest gathering of traditional boats in

Scotland, it has an excellent range of onshore

activities for all ages.”

The 22nd annual Scottish Traditional Boat

Festival takes place on 4 and 5 July 2015 and

promotes maritime links and heritage, as well

as maritime crafts, food, music, traditions and

local sports.

A new study commissioned by Lurpak into the lunchtime eating habits of 2,000 office workers found three in ten tuck into exactly the same thing for lunch each workday without fail, with the classic cheese sandwich the most popular choice in the UK. However, the top lunch choice in Scotland is still the humble ham sandwich. The results showed 84% of workers in Aberdeen eat an identical lunch each day, with 30% doing so for over 15 years. This is equivalent to eating over 3,000 identical ham sandwiches without mixing up the menu!

Aberdeen Asset Management Sponsor

Boat Festival

LEISURE AND TOURISM

Last year’s festival attracted more than 18,000 people

Time to Mix It Up!

Cheese most popular choice


BUSINESS AUTO

You can drive any car in your business. But

if you want one that genuinely stands out,

choose Land Rover. If innovative, dynamic

and robust are watchwords for your company,

you’ll no doubt want a fleet that’s just as

accomplished. Land Rovers are certainly

capable, offering unparalleled performance

across any terrain. Just as at home in the

city as roaming the moors, the Land Rover

more than meets the needs of any business

fleet. Like Savile Row, they certainly don’t

believe that one size fits all, which is why

they offer three distinct services tailored to

you. They have the expertise and experience

to understand your needs perfectly, whether

you’re selecting a few cars for a growing

business, running a large fleet or managing a

number of specialist emergency vehicles.

The backup you’ll receive is second to none.

All your drivers can rely on 24-hour European-

wide roadside assistance, even in remote

areas. So wherever your business takes them,

everyone has peace of mind. The warranty

covers drivers for unlimited mileage over three

years. There’s also a six-year anti-perforation

guarantee against rust damage (crucial when

you’re putting a Land Rover through its paces

off-road).

And while the cars’ performance goes from

strength to strength, emissions are falling –

by 23% over the last five years. And that helps

to drive down your overall costs by lowering

your company car tax rates. Which makes

owning a Land Rover as economical as it

is thrilling.

The dedicated Land Rover Fleet and Business

Centre provides highly experienced personnel

to service all their fleet and business

customers. Here, the advisors will support

you on anything from choosing the best Land

Rover for your drivers, through company car

tax considerations and emissions targets to

different finance options.

Once sure they fully understand your

requirements, they’ll put you in touch with the

best contact for your business in one of their

specialist service areas – fleet and business

sales managers (for medium and large fleets)

or fleet and business dealers (for smaller

fleets of up to 24 vehicles).

They will deal with every detail of your order

meticulously and are used to working with the

demands of all kinds of business types, from

utilities to the emergency services. From the

moment you join them, you’ll have the same

named person to help, advise and guide you

on all your fleet needs.

Land Rovers are some of the most inspiring

vehicles on the road – and the most capable

off it. With a priceless experience gained from

a long, pioneering heritage, whichever one

you choose will do your company proud.

Contact your local dealer, Peter Vardy Land Rover, on 01224 452976.

First Port of Callfor Your Fleet

Capable, offering unparalleled performance across any terrain


BUSINESS AUTO

Welcome to the new Audi RS Q3, with an

impressive 2.5-litre TFSI engine that delivers

an astonishing 340 PS and 450 Nm of torque,

while its 7-speed S-tronic gearbox has been

refined for faster gear changes. The result:

Acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.8

seconds and, with RS design details both

inside and out, a car that’s as attractive as it

is exhilarating.

Engineered for responsiveness

The 7-speed S-tronic gearbox transfers the

engine’s power to the quattro drivetrain via a

newly designed, hydraulic multi-plate clutch.

Lower gears are spaced closely together

for a sporty response, while the seventh is

designed for fuel economy at cruising speeds.

The result is faster, more responsive gear

changes, with acceleration from 0 to 62 mph

in a breathtaking 4.8 seconds.

Inside the RS Q3

With any RS model, power is just part of the

story. Step inside the RS Q3 and you’ll find a

cabin richly appointed with RS design cues

that accentuate its performance. Sports

seats, upholstered in fine nappa leather

with contrast stitching, set the tone. On the

instrument cluster, red needles sweep across

grey, RS-badged dials. And a bespoke driver

information system offers a special RS menu,

with lap timer, oil temperature and boost

pressure displays. The feeling is one of sporty

refinement – and that’s before you’ve even

turned on the ignition.

MMI Navigation Plus

With HDD-based MMI navigation, you’ll have

access to 3D map view and 3D point-of-

interest display. It means you’ll be guided

to your destination with greater ease, and

because destinations can be entered with

both speech and writing, your attention

remains firmly on the road.

Audi Side Assist

Audi Side Assist, the assistance system for

multi-lane roads, helps alert you to other

vehicles in your blind spot when changing

lanes. Using radar sensors discreetly hidden

in the rear bumper, other vehicles are

detected and the driver alerted with a visual

warning signal in the door mirror.

Audi Active Lane Assist

Audi Active Lane Assist is an advanced Audi

safety system, which helps to keep you in

lane by means of gentle steering intervention

when lane boundary markings are detected.

Particularly useful on motorway journeys is

the new active lane-centring feature, which

gives steering assistance to keep your vehicle

in the centre of the lane and enhance your

driving comfort.

Audi parking system advanced

with rear reversing camera

This aids parking by acoustically and visually

indicating distances to obstacles with guiding

lines, measured by sensors and a rear

reversing camera.

Style Meets PowerVorsprung durch Technik.

Three words that express the very essence of Audi


SPORT

Stars Celebrate Scottish Cup Silver Anniversary for Sensory Charity

Fund-raising lunch to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Dons’ triumph, which will be attended by several members of the 1990 squad

A total of 36 companies have signed up to the long-running competition, where money raised will go to charity, with matches taking place between April and August.

DF Communications is sponsoring and organising the league for a fourth consecutive year. This year’s competition will benefit the Motor Neurone Disease Association, a national charity that supports people with the condition. The cause was selected by the 2014 champions, Greg Davidson and Mike Halliday of Fugro.

Craig Forsyth (pictured, far left), sales director at Aberdeen-based DF Communications, said: “Despite some adverse weather conditions, there has been a bright start to the competition with some closely contested matches in the early stages.

“This is now our fourth year organising the

league and over that period it has grown in

popularity with players, as well as providing

a valuable opportunity to network with

colleagues and other business people away

from the office.”

The Business Golf League is played in a

fourball format with five or six teams in each

division. The winners and runners-up of each

division then qualify for the finals to be held at

a top Scottish course in September.

DF Communications delivers mobile and landline

communications to the business community. It

also supplies handheld tablets, mobile tracking

systems and hands-free car kits.

For further information on the league,

which has been running for more than

15 years, please visit the dedicated website

www.golf.dfcommunications.com

Matches Underway in Golf LeagueGolf-loving colleagues have begun teeing off at courses across the North East

with the start of this year’s DF Communications Business Golf League.

Former Aberdeen Football Club (AFC) players

are coming to Aberdeen to celebrate the club’s

winning of the Scottish Cup in 1990 and to

support a local sensory impairment charity.

North East Sensory Services (NESS), which

is based in Aberdeen, with offices in Dundee

and Elgin, will host a fund-raising lunch to

celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Dons’

triumph, which will be attended by several

members of the 1990 squad.

Theo Snelders, Neil Simpson, Paul Mason,

Willem Van Der Ark, Robert Connor and

other players will take part in a question-and-

answer session at the event, taking place at

Norwood Hall Hotel on 19 June 2015. BBC

sports presenter Richard Gordon, who was

born and bred in Aberdeen and is a keen AFC

fan, will compere the afternoon.

On 12 May 1990, AFC took part in the 105th

final of the Scottish Cup, Scotland’s most

prestigious football cup competition, at

Hampden Park. The team played defending

holders Celtic and, after 90 minutes with no

goals and a further 30 minutes of extra time,

the result was decided on penalties. Aberdeen

won the shoot out 9-8 in front of a crowd of

60,000 people, with goalkeeper Snelders one

of the heroes of the day, saving Anton Rogan’s

spot kick.


SPORT

After completing the Aberdeen Baker Hughes 10k or one of the Run Balmorals events, many of you may be glad to hang up your trainers – but many will be inspired to continue on a quest for further glory.

If you have a sense of adventure, then welcome to the No Fuss Events’ ultimate mountain running event: The Marathon de Ben Nevis. This race will take participants on a magnificent journey circumnavigating Ben Nevis, starting from Fort William the outdoor capital of the UK. This event is about a tough 64-km journey of discovery, about enjoying and experiencing our wonderful environment and about finding out about yourself. It is an opportunity to travel through some of the most rugged and isolated areas that the Scottish Highlands have to offer.

The course is undulating and varied with river and stream crossings, sustained climbs, long descents and soul-searching splendid isolation. The organisers stress this is more of an event than a race (there is a cut-off time of 12 hours), but for those that are super fit and want to race hard, there will be no disappointment as the route is sure to test you. Those who see this as a major personal challenge will be able to pace themselves and enjoy the adventure and wilderness of this route.

A big part of the event ethos is the lack of signage, support people and bubble wrapping, so you will take on this event knowing that you will need motivation and tenacity to get to the finish line. Good luck!!

Beyond the Ultimate

Once you’ve completed the Marathon de Ben Nevis, there are many ultimate foot races around the world to entice the crazy few.

With the tag line ‘Nothing Tougher’, you can’t say that you haven’t been warned. These foot races are tough and absolutely full of adventure. If you haven’t got the stomach

or the heart for one of these extreme, life-changing challenges, you need to look elsewhere for your next race – maybe try your local marathon, an obstacle race or a less extreme ultra; the Ultimate Ultras make no apology for being this tough. They are the ultimate; they are Beyond the Ultimate.

Still here? Great. Read on.

The four races that make up the series are the Jungle Ultra in Peru, the Mountain Ultra in Nepal, the Desert Ultra in Namibia and the Ice Ultra in Arctic Sweden. Whether you are in it to win or finish, these foot races will test you in ways you never thought possible. Expect the unexpected.

The Jungle, one of the harshest environments on earth at nearly 40°C and with humidity levels near 100%, will push your spirit to the limit and beyond. The Desert, with baking sun that seems to hang in the afternoon

sky for eternity, will almost mock your short

staggered steps as you try and complete your

250-km race. In the Mountains, your lungs will

feel like they’re going to explode every step of

the way; every step of the 38,000 ft of vert will

try and tease you into submission. The Arctic,

last but by no means least, is a place where

very few of us go, with a cold so raw and real

that it will burn your skin and freeze your eyes.

Finishing this one is a matter of survival and

a test of will.

The Grand Slam – for the crazy few: The small

matter of finishing all four races in the series

within a 12-month period is the order of the

day. Or maybe the Ultimate Club is for you?

Finish all four races and you’re in! The Ultimate

Ultras aren’t just a series of races; they are a

set of four amazing, life-changing adventures

that will absolutely rock your world!

Ultimate AdventuresIf a 10K run, the occasional marathon or Run Balmoral is not enough of a challenge for

you, something more adventurous might inspire you to greater glory


BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Corporate social responsibility is becoming more prominent within the oil and gas industry than ever before. Not only does it encourage staff morale, but it also often involves giving something back to the community which supports your company’s growth and operations.

Last year alone, flexible pipe specialist FlexTech donated over £12,000 to support the local community in which it operates. With bases in both Aberdeenshire and Lincolnshire, the company invested considerably in local projects across both regions, helping to support sporting initiatives that benefited young people and encouraged personal development.

FlexTech founder and engineering director, Craig Keyworth, said: “Contributing to worthwhile causes and helping to develop talent in and outside of work is incredibly important to me.”

In 2014, FlexTech donated £10,000 to Ellon Rugby Football Club (ERFC) to help improve facilities and hone local talent. The 12-month contribution enabled professional coaches to join the club to train the young players aged three to 18, boosting ERFC’s position in leagues and tournaments. The funds also provided new kits for the players and tour buses for away games, encouraging morale and fostering an enhanced team spirit.

Craig continued: “As a keen supporter of rugby and developing new talent, this was the perfect opportunity to back a very worthwhile local cause. The funds benefited the young players by enabling them to learn with the help of professional coaches, and it was brilliant to be able to help develop talent from such a young age.”

Last year also saw the company invest in the Garioch Squash Club with a generous donation of £300, supplying all 18 young players with new kit, harbouring a sense of belonging.

In addition to the Aberdeenshire charitable donations, FlexTech makes an annual contribution of £1,500 to sponsor a Lincolnshire road cycle team – Ettridge Cycles Race Team, providing team kit, race support and expenses. Craig has always had a passion for sports, particularly cycling, and this enthusiasm led him to invest both time and money into keen, young cyclists, and for the past three years the company has supported the cycle team, with plans for this to continue year-on-year.

Craig continued: “I find it incredibly important to give something back to the community, and have focused FlexTech’s CSR efforts in ensuring that young people get the chance to enjoy and engage in team activities from a young age.

“I feel that being involved in group sports can be incredibly beneficial later in life, encouraging team building skills, motivation and enhancing confidence to try something new and support others.

“2015 will see FlexTech continue to support Ettridge Cycles Race Team, extending this in the future, and we have plans to further invest in a number of local worthwhile causes that encourage youngsters to develop their skillsets.”

Mental Health Aberdeen (MHA) has been gifted paint from Spencer Coatings Limited, which is being used to revamp its central office and create an uplifting environment for workers and visitors.

The painting and coatings manufacturer first assisted the charity 14 years ago by donating materials to MHA’s Aberdeen Supported Housing Project – and has now repeated the kind gesture.

MHA offers a range of resources, including: emotional and practical support; information and advice; support with helping overcome social isolation; links and access to other community resources; and activities promoting mental wellbeing.

Fiona Mooney, fundraising and marketing manager at MHA, said: “We approached Spencer Coatings as they have helped us in the past and we are absolutely delighted that they have assisted us again. Their kind donation of a large amount of paint means we can begin to brighten up our office space. We have had corporate volunteers (pictured) from ADIL, CNR International, A2+B and KCA Deutag to do the painting work and they have started transforming our four offices and hallway within our central office building.

“It is looking brighter already and we are so grateful to both Spencer Coatings and our volunteers for giving up their time to help us. It makes such a difference for our visitors to be able to come to a warm, bright, welcoming place and we want to thank everyone involved who is helping us transform the space.”

The Importance of Supporting Local Talent

North-East Charity Paints

the Way Forward Contributing to worthwhile causes and helping to develop

talent in and outside of work is incredibly important

“It is looking brighter already”


BUSINESS COMMUNITY

Two leading oil and gas companies have made

donations totalling £80,000 in a significant

funding boost, which will support vital youth

counselling provided by Mental Health

Aberdeen.

The charity’s ACIS Youth service has received

£50,000 from Apache North Sea and £30,000

from Nexen Petroleum UK Ltd to enable it

to continue its work with children and young

people throughout the North East.

For Nexen it represents the second tranche

of money, having gifted £45,000 in 2014,

whilst Apache has pledged to follow this year’s

pledge with a further two years of funding.

Both companies are based at the Prime Four

business park in Kingswells and have made

the donations as part of their commitment to

the region’s charitable sector. Astrid Whyte,

chief executive of Mental Health Aberdeen,

said: “These incredibly generous gestures by

Nexen and Apache will have a huge impact.

The funding will be used specifically to aid

our ACIS Youth network, which does valuable

work with youngsters who have turned to MHA

for help.

Two inspirational workers from an Aberdeen-based charity, which provides sensory services for blind and deaf people in the north-east of Scotland, were in the running for a prestigious national adventurer award.

Neil Skene and Leona Glennie, who both work at North East Sensory Services in Aberdeen, had been shortlisted for the National Adventure Awards, which took place in Glasgow.

NESS, which has premises in Aberdeen, Elgin and Dundee, provides information, equipment, social care and employment support for over 4500 in the North East. The charity, which started in 1879, is the only organisation in Scotland to provide fully integrated support for both blind and deaf people under one roof.

Fundraising co-ordinator at NESS, Neil, who has been blind since he was a teenager, and administrative assistant, Leona, who is deaf and blind, were nominated for the prestigious award following their inspirational trek up Mount Kilimanjaro last summer.

The duo decided to take on the adventure as a personal challenge and climbed Africa’s highest peak in six days with the help of colleagues Diana Daneels and Andrew Douglas, as well as interpreters and friends, raising almost £18,000 for the charity.

Despite not being able to see, Neil made his way up the 19,341-foot mountain, with the aid of four friends from Inverurie who were supporting him.

The trek was especially challenging for Leona who has a small amount of sight, which

enables her to communicate through limited sign language. The final leg of the climb was completed at night so that the group could be at the top for sunrise; however, this meant that Leona was unable to communicate at all. Leona put together a video blog of her journey, which can be viewed at www.youtube.com watch?v=xt9pNcR8k1A&feature=youtu.be

Graham Findlay, chief executive of NESS, said: “Neil and Leona are a tremendous asset to NESS through their work to help blind and deaf people of the North East. However, climbing the highest free-standing mountain in the world is beyond the call of duty. They are both adventurers at heart and to take on this incredible challenge demonstrates the dedication of the staff and volunteers of NESS.”

Nexen & Apache Pledge £80,000 to NE Charity

NE Sensory Services Duo Nominated for Accolade

For Nexen it represents the second tranche of money, having gifted £45,000 to Mental Health Aberdeen in 2014

Duo decided to take on adventure as personal challenge

“The £80,000 provided by Apache and Nexen will enable us to maintain and expand the service – making a real difference to the lives of children, young people and families within our communities.”

Astrid added: “I am always at pains to stress that if a young person has come to us, they have already crossed a significant barrier. If they have reached out in that way, we must ensure we’re in a position to provide the support they need.”

Steve Regulski, chairman of the Nexen UK donations committee, said: “Nexen is delighted to be continuing to support the vital counselling and advice services, which MHA provides to people affected by mental health and wellbeing challenges in the local area.”

Rebecca Brown, finance manager of Apache North Sea, said: “I am delighted that Apache is able to support ACIS and, in particular, the initiative to place counsellors in schools.”

Further information is available online at www.mha.uk.net


ACG Launch New Webinar

Aberdeen Communications Group (ACG), a volunteer-led membership organisation for communications and marketing professionals and students, hosted an exclusive event on Thursday 21 May, launching a new initiative for its members.

The group, which was established in 1993, hosted its Spring Social event in conjunction with the launch of its new online webinar programme.

The launch and networking event took place at local cocktail bar Orchid, which has recently undergone a state-of-the-art refurbishment, and welcomed a number of local professionals and ACG members.

Looking to broaden its event offering to members, which currently includes monthly face-to-face events, ACG is certain that the new webinar series will provide members with a flexible learning opportunity and access to speakers from across the globe.

The brand new webinar series will offer ACG members an exclusive opportunity to learn from and be inspired by high-profile international speakers, as well as experience intimate question-and-answer sessions. The webinars will be a free ACG member benefit; however, a select number will also be made available to non-members.

High-profile speakers already participating in the initiative include Joe Pulizzi, founder and chief executive officer of the Content Marketing Institute; Yumi Wilson, corporate communications manager at LinkedIn; Graeme Atha, director of the Marketing Society; and Ed Davis, global PR leader at Fifth Ring.

The webinars are anticipated to last around 40-60 minutes, including question-and-answer interaction, and will cover

a wide range of topics within the PR, communications and marketing industries.

Aberdeen Communications Group vice chair, Steph Asher, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this brand new webinar series to our members, and already have the support and participation of a wide range of leading international speakers within the industry. The full webinar calendar is now available to view on our website, and we are continually securing more webinars, which will be announced through social media.

“To be able to offer intimate webinars that will both educate and inspire our members is extremely exciting.”

The first live webinar was due to take place on Monday 8 June, and Ms Asher commented on how much ACG was looking forward to this.

Guests at the launch event were treated to an exclusive ACG cocktail, canapés provided by Parx Café, as well as complimentary goodie bags.

ACG is a volunteer-led organisation primarily open to marketing and communications professionals from all industries, and also welcomes students from Aberdeen City and Shire colleges and universities.

The membership group hosts a variety of events throughout the region, including ‘meet the media’ opportunities, intimate business breakfasts, lunch-and-learns, social networking opportunities and many more.

For more information about the Aberdeen Communications Group or membership enquiries, visit www.aberdeencommunications.org or email [email protected]

ACG Launch New Webinar Series in StyleLeading international speakers in line-up for exclusive

Aberdeen Communications Group webinar launch

2

3

1


ACG Launch New Webinar

1. Gillian Wright (l), Amy Saunders (m) and Holly McLennan (r)

2. Julie Brander and Dannielle McAllister

3. Louise Shankley (l), Gina Urquhart and Andrew Spence

4. Sarah Grieve (l) and Jacqueline Christie (r)

5. Marie-Claire Jones and Jennifer Harley (r)

6. Nicola Munro (l), Chris Horrocks (m) and Stephanie Asher (r)

7. Euan Gillies and Fiona Lindsay

8. Lauren Strachan (l) and Julie Brander (r)

JUNE17 ABN B4N (Before Noon) Networking17 AGCC AGM 201517-18 Oil & Gas UK Annual Conference; AECC18 BNS – Edinburgh, Scotch Whisky Experience19 AGCC Oil and Gas Opportunities in Brazil

in the Current Economic Scenario19 How to Manage Workplace Stress, Urban Village19 Your Story – Rob Hamilton, CEO, Dynamic

Edge Solutions; Elevator, Energy Park23 Champions Challenged: Inform, Promote,

Sustain; AECC25 Elevator Awards, Ardoe House Hotel26 SCDI & UKTI – Web Optimisation for

International Trade30 AGCC Workforce of the Future

JULY 1 AGCC Women Mean Business1-2 Offshore Preparedness & Response 2015;

AECC2 AGCC Vanguard Dinner3 AGCC Business Breakfast8 BNS – Glasgow, Hotel Du Vin14 Advanced ABNCommunity for Business

Development15 BNS – Aberdeen, Cafe Coast at Inspire21 ABN M4 Networking22 BNS – Edinburgh23 AGCC IMI CCI Annual Golf Shield 201528 AGCC International Trade Lunch ‘n’ Learn

AUGUST 4 ABN Face-to-Face (F2F) Networking11 ABN Advanced Networking Skills19 ABN B4N (Before Noon) Networking20 BNS – Glasgow25 BNS – Aberdeen, The Copthorne Hotel26 AGCC Maximise Your Membership27 BNS – Edinburgh, Apex International

SEPTEMBER 4 AGCC City Connections8 ABNCommunity for Business Development8 AGCC Offshore Europe Business Breakfast8-11 Offshore Europe 201510 AGCC Offshore Europe Evening Reception10 BNS – Glasgow15 ABN M4 Networking17 AGCC Northern Star Finalists Reception17 BNS – Aberdeen, Copthorne Hotel24 AGCC Northern Star Business Awards 201525-27 Scottish Home Show; AECC28 AGCC On Leadership Series

EventsCalendar

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Leading Electrical Company Announces Key Appointment

Lee Hart has joined the growing team at AEL, in the newly created role of business development manager, and will be tasked with assisting in the ongoing growth of the company’s customer base in the onshore, offshore, renewable, petrochemical, marine and industrial sectors. He brings to the role over 15 years of in-depth knowledge gained in the electrical industry and has extensive experience in the delivery of integrated services to global operators in the oil and gas industry.

Independent Financial Advisers Boost TeamAn Aberdeen-based independent financial services firm has made a key appointment to strengthen its services. Phil Anderson Financial Services Ltd has appointed Derek Robertson as a financial consultant. Mr Robertson, 26, joins the award-winning team with over five years experience in the finance industry.

Fisher Offshore Adds New Technical DirectorFisher Offshore has welcomed Lee Hanson to the role of technical director. He brings with him over 20 years of experience in mechanical engineering design, project management and engineering management within the oil and gas industry. Tasked with consolidating Fisher’s technical engineering solutions alongside pursuing new design and development opportunities, Lee previously held management roles within some of the subsea sector’s leading service companies, including Oceaneering, Hallin Marine and Perry Slingsby Systems.

FG Burnett Strengthens Aberdeen Team

FG Burnett has announced the appointment of property manager, Bryan Robson, to its Aberdeen office. Mr Robson is well placed to join the property management team, bringing an extensive knowledge of the construction and building maintenance sector to the company. Mr Robson has held key positions in the property management sector. These include clerk of works for Police Scotland, which saw him look after a wide variety of operational property, and property manager at VSA Scotland, where he closely managed staff and budgets.

Promotion at The Law PracticeThe Law Practice Leasing, based on Holburn Street, grew from strength to strength in its first year of business and has recently promoted Emma Higgins to leasing manager.Consultant Kim Beattie, who helped establish the company, will remain on hand for leasing advice whilst trainee leasing coordinator, Ashleigh Carnie, has also been appointed.Emma said: “We have a growing portfolio of properties and I’m looking forward to building our residential leasing brand, echoing the client-focused ethos of our sister company, The Law Practice.”

APPOINTMENTS

Recent Appointments...



New IT Manager for Evoke

Aberdeen’s cloud specialists, Evoke IT, have welcomed Amit Wanchoo to the team as IT manager. Amit will be responsible for managing their new service, which includes infrastructure, licensing and virtualisation, which completes their cloud offering. Commenting on the appointment Lee Harrison, managing director, said: “Amit will be a brilliant addition to the team with his 15 years’ experience in the IT industry.”

SPE Aberdeen Section AppointsNew Chairman

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Aberdeen Section has appointed Shankar Bhukya as its new chairman, taking over from Ross Lowdon, who has stepped down due to relocation to Houston. Mr Bhukya has more than eight years’ oil and gas industry experience and is currently technical marketing engineer at National Oilwell Varco (NOV) for the Europe and Sub-Sahara African region. He is a mechanical engineer by qualification. Mr Bhukya said: “SPE Aberdeen is a fantastic, thriving section which I am proud to be part of.”

BlueSky Business Space Appoints Commercial Director

Carl Hodson joins BlueSky Business Space following four years as the general manager and board director of Aberdeen-based Glencraft, where he was responsible for the commercial strategy of the social enterprise.Mr Hodson’s vast experience includes 20 years working in the financial industry, during which he progressed to become a business development partner with the Clydesdale Bank from 2005-2008. He has also been employed as a commercial manager for Regus UK and latterly Kinnarps UK, where he was the head of business for the North of Scotland for three years.

Elmar Strengthens Customer SupportElmar, leader in the design and manufacturing of wireline products for slickline and electric line applications, has appointed Keith Thomson as global after sales manager. Mr Thomson, who brings over 26 years of wireline operations experience to this role, joins Elmar from Baker Hughes. He will be based in Elmar’s Aberdeen office, responsible for maintaining the high standard of customer support and co-ordinating the expansion of after sales activities across Elmar’s 13 international bases.

North Group Strengthens its Salesand Marketing Team

Aberdeen-based North Group has appointed Gregg McMillan (right) as sales manager and promoted Ryan Neave (left) into marketing and communications as it looks to deliver its growth strategy. Gregg’s responsibilities at North will be to build on the company’s foundation of ‘success through reputation’ by developing existing relationships and exploring new business opportunities within the Aberdeen market. Ryan will be tasked with coordinating the group’s marketing, advertising and market research initiatives, ensuring that they dovetail with the company’s overall strategic plan.

ITB Competence Assurance Adds to TeamITB Competence Assurance has welcomed Neil Campbell and David Sadler (top) from ASCO and Tullos Training respectively. Neil will become the global competency advisor for ITB, while David will take on the role of lead internal verifier. Neil brings a great deal of experience to ITB, having been involved in lead competency and training roles with ASCO, Weatherford and Baker Hughes. A qualified trainer, assessor and lead auditor, Neil has also lectured in mechanical engineering at North East Scotland College.David was previously an assessor and verifier at Tullos Training for over 100 apprentices spanning 40 companies, carrying out assessment and verification of technical discipline portfolios to National Occupational Standards.

APPOINTMENTS



Amanda McCulloch is managing director of Thorpe Molloy Recruitment Ltd, a specialist recruitment consultancy based in Aberdeen. With over 15 years’ experience in executive, accountancy and finance resourcing.

I began my career in accountancy and finance recruitment 15 years ago, and throughout this time the pattern of recruitment for the professionals I work with has remained largely unchanged – until now.

The shift in employment circumstances has forced candidates to temper their salary expectations, making the market more competitive. This has diminished opportunities for excellent candidates, who are qualified by experience, and our advice to the graduates we meet is unequivocal – qualification is essential.

But the downturn has stimulated interest

in career opportunities outwith the oil and

gas industry. This is long overdue and now

organisations in agriculture, construction,

financial services and the third sector are

successfully recruiting individuals of a very

high calibre who would not have previously

been ‘on the market’. It’s been a pleasure to

work with these new clients.

Local accountancy firms are also benefiting

by hiring new employees from the oil and

gas talent pool. This is a complete reversal of

fortunes having lost talent for decades to an

industry notorious for its inflated salaries. Now

candidates are more attracted by stability and

security.

But don’t be misled; there’s still demand

for qualified accountants and finance

professionals in the oil and gas sector. We

are working on assignments that will add

to headcount, as well as new key roles and

backfill opportunities, which have been

identified following re-organisation and re-

assignment activities.

There’s also a shift away from temporary

hiring, with the contractor market most

significantly affected. I feel this is a missed

opportunity as, at the senior end of the

market, there’s exceptional talent willing

to work on a part-time basis rather than

accept a full-time role for which they

are overqualified.

On the flip side, permanent positions are

being carefully considered, often requiring

board approval, and this offers candidates

assurance that the position is business

critical with job security.

Our advice to accountancy and finance

candidates at this time is to accept that

adaptability is key; take good advice from

people you trust; and that adjusting salary

expectations is not synonymous with lowering

personal aspirations.

In a survey of 1,000 UK families by leading call answering service alldayPA, over a third (36%) of UK families admitted quality family time is likely to be invaded by work, with 12% of working parents expecting to do at least four hours of unpaid work when on holiday. 32% admitted they would take work calls, 36% to check and respond to emails, and 23% that their children and/or partner regularly complained about them carrying out work while supposedly ‘off-duty’. Smartphones are the major cause of disruption, with 86% of holiday working being done on the devices.

Sue Ratcliffe, alldayPA, said: “Smartphones are an incredibly useful tool, but they blur the boundaries of work and home. Recent studies indicate that, as a nation, we’re becoming more and more addicted to our smartphones and perhaps need to make a conscious effort to put them to one side, especially during holidays with our families.”

Recent research by the University of Derby found that smartphones were psychologically addictive, with the average user spending 3.6 hours per day on their device. Participants admitted excessive use of mobile devices caused distraction from jobs and hobbies, with 35% admitting to using their devices where they were banned. Smartphone addicts are actively looking at ways to reduce their ‘habit’, by spending time away from their phone or seeking professional help from services such as Digital Detox.

Sue Ratcliffe says that alldayPA is seeing increasing enquiries about the service, which help smartphone users take a Digital Detox: “A Digital Detox does exactly what the name implies. It will break the cycle of dependency, allowing even the busiest person to leave the mobile behind and focus on their holiday, enjoying a restful, communication-free break without worrying about missing calls or messages.”

Career Candidates Attracted by

Stability & SecurityParents Admit to Working on

Family Holidays

Amanda McCulloch shares how the deflated local oil

and gas sector is impacting the job market for

accountancy and finance professionals working

in Aberdeen.

Smartphones responsible for work encroaching on

valuable family time

PERSONNEL


Determining what a life is worth may seem an impossible question, but it is one that the Sentencing Council is currently trying to answer. They have been consulting on the introduction of tougher penalties to be available for judges dealing with corporate manslaughter, together with breaches of health and safety and food safety requirements. If someone is killed, injured or could have been as a result of the gross negligence of their employers, what do you think the penalty should be?

For many years, major projects in the transport arena have adopted a figure for ‘Value of

Preventing a Fatality’ (VPF), which is intended to help bosses decide if particular projects should go ahead depending on potential cost implications if a worker were killed during the process. The penalties incurred in the courts have often been very much lower than the accepted VPF figures, which could give the impression that courts placed a lower value on life.

Calculating a cost attached to a life seems cold-blooded and harsh, but businesses may reasonably assess how much they should do, and spend, to ensure safety when the

standard required in law is ‘so far as is reasonably practicable’.

In order for sentences to be more than a slap on the wrist, the proposed increases are aimed at ensuring directors and shareholders accept that knowingly breaching health and safety rules is not an acceptable or commercially sensible way to deliver business.

The consultation is expected to result in a clear set of guidelines for courts in England and Wales, providing a framework where similar breaches result in similar fines.

There will be a series of factors judges need to take into account when

deciding on the penalty to be imposed following a guilty verdict. They will

be expected to consider the means of the business, the extent of the

breach, and the severity or consequences of the outcome. A company

that knowingly acts dangerously can expect a higher penalty than one

where standards are generally high but perhaps have slipped on one

occasion. An unforeseen chain of events leading to an unusual accident

will be considered less blameworthy than an accident that follows other

similar accidents where nothing has been done to prevent recurrence.

Businesses need to ensure their system for responding to incidents is

robust, and that actions identified as necessary from any investigations

are completed within a reasonable timescale or they can expect harsher

penalties should a recurring incident land them in court.

Last year, some very large fines were upheld on appeal in the High Court,

including against Sellafield and Network Rail who had to pay £700,000

and £500,000 respectively. If the Sentencing Council is successful in

their proposed changes, it is likely that these larger fines will be handed

out much more often.

Health and Safety Breaches May Bring Tougher Sentences

A consultation on whether corporate manslaughter should have tougher sentencing has closed. Law At Work’s health and safety manager, Steve Ashton, looks at proposed sentencing changes

and what they could mean to senior management teams.

In Scotland, courts are not bound by the same guidelines, but they do tend to follow comparable

principles and resulting sentencing.

PERSONNEL


BOOK REVIEWS

Business Blockbusters

Dinosaur Derivatives and Other TradesBy Jeremy JosseDinosaur Derivatives and Other Trades is an entertaining and compelling tour de force, highlighting the paradoxes inherent to the modern financial system.

Presented as a series of striking case studies, this book explores certain enigmatic or philosophical puzzles in the finance industry. Some of these puzzles may seem slightly absurd at first glance, but all are very relevant to the way finance is conducted in the real world. Each story highlights specific hypocrisies or moral dilemmas that lie at the heart of the system, guiding readers through the challenges of finance by way of innovative and memorable paradigms.

Written in clear, accessible language, this book doesn′t claim to offer original financial theory or philosophy as such, but instead deepens the reader′s understanding of the system and stimulates independent consideration of the current state of affairs.

Dinosaur Derivatives and Other Trades by Jeremy Josse is published by Wiley, priced £17.99.

Watertight MarketingBy Bryony ThomasWatertight Marketing by Bryony Thomas is a crowd-funded business book that has been

in the top 20 best-sellers in its category on Amazon for nearly two years, hitting the number one spot in February 2014.

Watertight Marketing is no ordinary marketing book. There’s no jargon. And it’s not about the latest overhyped tactic. This is a book that tackles business fundamentals. It’s the book on marketing that makes all the others make sense. Following the process laid out in this book puts you in control of your business growth.

Winner of the National Indie Excellence Award 2013, Chartered Institute of Marketing ‘Book of the Month’ November 2013, and runner-up at the Small Business Book Awards 2014. Published by Panoma Press, RRP £14.99.

Becoming the Best: Build a World-Class Organization Through Values-Based LeadershipBy Harry M. KraemerThis new book offers a guide for putting the principles of values-based leadership into action. Written by Harry M. Kraemer, a professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and an executive partner with Madison Dearborn Partners, it offers a rallying cry for employees to stay grounded in who they are and what they stand for.

Drawing on his experience as the former

CEO and chairman of Baxter International, the author identifies the essential traits of a great leader and outlines how people can put these into practice to achieve ‘five bests’ for the benefit of themselves, their organization and society.

Becoming the Best: Build a World-Class Organization Through Values-Based Leadership by Harry M. Kraemer is published by Wiley, priced £18.99.

Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career HappinessBy Kerry HannonFind fulfilment at work at any age or career stage.

There are few things as important as having a career that makes you happy when it comes to excelling in life and succeeding in your chosen field. So, for anyone who’s lost their enthusiasm for their current role, Love Your Job is a guide to making work more engaging, more productive and ultimately more enjoyable.

For many people, the initial excitement felt when starting a new job can get lost in the daily grind. But according to author Kerry Hannon: “You can fall back in love with your job again, even if you’ve been doing it for decades. This book is about finding ways to discover real joy in your job right now.

“The path to promotion is not always there, or at least not clear. Or you feel like you’re trapped in a dead end job. Quitting is generally not a good option, unless you already have a new position lined up elsewhere, or you already have the means to retire—in which case, lucky you.”

Love Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness by Kerry Hannon is published by Wiley, priced £13.99, paperback and e-book.

Business travel can be tedious and tiresome, but it’s also a great time to catch up on your reading.

There are lots of blockbuster business books already launched this year and we have selected our

favourites. We recommend you grab these educational and entertaining titles hot off the press.

What isnetworking?...Networking is about building real business relationships, actively maintaining them

and above all giving as much as you take.

BNS has 14 years of experience of encouraging B2B benefits, helping YOU to build your business in a cost effective, time efficient and enjoyable way.

Visit www.businessnetworkscotland.co.uk or give us a call on 01224 865466

Interested?

Aberdeen • Edinburgh • Glasgow


BOOK REVIEWS

What isnetworking?...Networking is about building real business relationships, actively maintaining them

and above all giving as much as you take.

BNS has 14 years of experience of encouraging B2B benefits, helping YOU to build your business in a cost effective, time efficient and enjoyable way.

Visit www.businessnetworkscotland.co.uk or give us a call on 01224 865466

Interested?

Aberdeen • Edinburgh • Glasgow


Established 1963

tcdarchitectsarchitecture • project managementspace planning • master planning

We welcome the opportunity to meet newclients and, if you have any queries, our friendly

team can be contacted at our office:

4A Alford Place, Aberdeen, AB10 1YDt: 01224 644 461 • f: 01224 646 435

w: www.tcd-architects.co.uk

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