June 2011 (PDF, 706KB) - Falkirk Council

Issue 1 • June 2011
New Grangemouth
Bandstand has local flavour
The provision of a new bandstand in Grangemouth
town centre provided the opportunity for Grangemouth
High pupils to add a local flavour. Pupils were invited to create
designs, with the winning design being used for a feature slab which
would be inlaid in the flooring in the centre of the performance space.
The brief for the competition was to depict the history and character
of the town, thinking about key landmarks like the oil refinery, Zetland
Park, the War Memorial, the Docks and Town Hall, but to convey this in a
design simple enough to be created in a 600mm x 600mm stone carving.
A judging panel consisting of a local business representative, design
architects Ironside Farrar, Town Centre Management and Falkirk Council
selected 2nd year pupil, Jessica Wood’s design which has now been
incorporated into the Grangemouth Events Space for all residents and
visitors to enjoy. Jessica was presented with a replica plaque of her
design by Provost Pat Reid as a memento of her involvement.
The bandstand provides a contemporary performance space, compete
with power point, which can be used flexibly to accommodate different
types of performances and events in the town centre.
Bo’ness Academy pupils get business
experience with launch of community
food project
Pupils from Bo’ness Academy
are being given the opportunity
to develop their employability
skills and gain hands-on work
experience with the launch of the
‘Bon Appétit’ food cooperative.
The project, which has been designed to
offer training and business experience to
pupils in areas such as money-handling,
food preparation and marketing, also
provides staff and pupils with low cost,
healthy food options.
The key aims of the initiative are to provide
opportunities for those S4/5 leavers who are
at risk of not going into further training or
employment when they leave school, with
practical skills to assist them and give them
an insight into employability.
The project is run in partnership with
local employer Caledonian Produce. It
supplies the Bon Appétit co-operative with
food products such as pasta, fruit and
vegetables that may be surplus packs
from a production run, or poorly presented.
All products supplied are perfectly fit for
consumption and have a minimum of two
days use-by date. There is an extensive
procedure manual in place to ensure all
health and safety recommendations are
followed.
Initially the food cooperative has been
set up at Bo’ness Academy, utilising a
dedicated kitchen area within the school
where food is stored, repackaged and
made ready for collection or distribution.
Food is currently being sold to staff and
pupils, but the long-term plan is that the
project will eventually reach out to the wider
community.
Members of the project have paid a fee of
£2 to join with £1 allocated to the purchase
of a reusable bag and £1 to join the project.
Fifteen per cent of the income generated
from sales goes towards extracurricular
activities for the students involved the
project, and they have already enjoyed a
go-karting trip with their earnings.
Kevin Rae, Learning Choices Coordinator
at Bo’ness Academy, commented: “We
are thrilled with the positive feedback we
have received so far from the Bon Appétit
project. Both pupils and staff have really got
involved and it has been a great success.
We’re now looking at options to expand the
project within the wider community around
Bo’ness and hope very much to build upon
its initial success”.
Glenn Hodgson, veterinary surgeon and co-manager of Apex Vets in
Denny, opened the purpose-built Veterinary Centre, with fellow vet and
business partner Douglas Paterson in September 2010.
They invested their own capital into the project, and were also awarded money from the
BP Loan Fund, which was set up in 2000 by BP in partnership with Falkirk Council, Scottish
Enterprise and Falkirk Enterprise Action Trust (now Falkirk For Business).
Having studied, and practiced as vets across the UK, Glenn and Douglas decided to set up
their own practice together and wanted to identify an area that had a real need for a first class
veterinary centre that could also be a strong part of the community.
Glenn talks about his experience of starting up his own business and the careful planning that
went into Apex Vets before it was launched in September 2010.
Best piece of business advice you ever
received?
This is an easy one. Treat others as you
would like to be treated yourself.
What makes your blood boil?
Injustice followed closely by poor service.
What makes you happy and contented?
When everything is going well at home
(family and friends) and at work (business
and colleagues).
In one sentence, what piece of advice
could you offer to a new business?
When working with some service companies
plan everything well in advance and keep
your finger on the pulse.
Careful plans or big risks?
Carefully planned risks!
Going into business is always risk to some
degree. Careful planning helps reduce risk
and the associated stress. Prior to starting
Apex Vets, my business partner and I found
ourselves with a 120 page business plan!
Best under pressure or well chilled?
A bit of both please.
Pressure is provided by the surgical and
medical emergencies that arrive here
daily. It is important to be able to thrive
in this environment. When an emergency
arrives the whole team gets into action. It
is good to see everyone getting involved
in an emergency case, from the vital client
communication at the front desk through
to animal monitoring and treatments in the
kennels or operating theatre.
A “well chilled” period following
emergencies is always appreciated. It gives
us time to tidy up and get ready for the next
arrival; and to enjoy the more relaxing work
like checking and vaccinating client’s new
puppy/kitten!
What makes you happy and contented?
When everything is going well at home
(family and friends) and at work (business
and colleagues).
talkback
Glenn Hodgson,
Apex Vets
What has been the most difficult hurdle to
overcome in business and how did you
do it?
Without doubt it was obtaining funding
during a recession.
This was overcome with a lot of keen
planning, saving, help from the BP Business
Loan Fund, utilisation of the Enterprise
Finance Guarantee Scheme and a great
deal of kind assistance from both my own
and Douglas’s family members.
Which famous person do you most
admire and why?
Chris Paterson, rugby player. Need I say
why?
Best deal?
The best deals are the ones that work for
both parties.
In my previous employment the high case
load allowed me to gain a lot of experience.
My employers also felt that they were getting
a good deal as I did plenty of work!
Best recipe for winding down?
Going for a walk in the country with my
Fiancée and two Labradors.
In a perfect world…
Everyone is healthy and happy.
Favourite place?
Scotland. I have visited other countries
briefly but they are just not the same.
Dream car?
Pagani Zonda R. I wouldn’t want one
for keeps though; I think they are a little
overpriced.
Favourite city?
Edinburgh. I really enjoyed being a student
there and have lots of fond memories.
Favourite book?
Lord of the Rings.
Hobbies?
The dogs, a spot of fishing and a good
competitive game of badminton.
Favourite eaterie/restaurant?
The Anchor in Dunipace. I am very biased
as it is only a stone’s throw from my house.
They ran a comedy night last month and the
half time snacks went down a treat!
Issue 1 • June 2011