New pictorial window graphics on the refurbished Johnnie Walker Bond have been unveiled which pay tribute to the building’s unique historical position within the town.

In a past life the building was Johnnie Walker’s bonded warehouse, home to a range of whisky- related production activities including a coopers’ shop, bottle-washing house, a . . . → Read More: Window to the past]]>

New pictorial window graphics on the refurbished Johnnie Walker Bond have been unveiled which pay tribute to the building’s unique historical position within the town.

In a past life the building was Johnnie Walker’s bonded warehouse, home to a range of whisky- related production activities including a coopers’ shop, bottle-washing house, a joiners’ shop and warehouse. Located in the heart of Kilmarnock’s outstanding conservation area, the Bond now provides modern, accessible and energy-efficient accommodation for employees from East Ayrshire Council’s Roads and Transportation, Planning and Economic Development and Social Work services.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council said: “The Johnnie Walker Bond is a historic flagship building in the heart of Kilmarnock which has been refurbished to a very high standard. While it now brings hundreds of our own employees into the town centre, it used to house workers producing Johnnie Walker’s Whisky, and we wanted to acknowledge the building’s proud heritage and how it linked Kilmarnock to the rest of the world.

“Our Graphic designers worked closely with Diageo’s archivist to source images of the Johnnie Walker workers and converted the images into these stunning window graphics. The windows illustrate aspects of life back in 1893 and provide information on the wide variety of tasks that were undertaken in the actual building itself. This really is a window to the past!”

Details of the window graphics:

Engine Room
This building contains a Steam Engine, working up to 48 h.p. and the Hydraulic Ram for working the hoists.
The Engine works dynamos of sufficient power to supply the Electric Light to every part of the premises. It also supplies power for driving the machinery of the various departments.
Extract from: ‘John Walker & Sons’ (Alfred Barnard c1893)

An Interior of the Coopers’ Shop
This Shop, upwards of 50 feet square, is where customers’ casks are repaired and hooped before being sent into the Vatting House to be filled.
Extract from: ‘John Walker & Sons’ (Alfred Barnard c1893)

A Racking Store in Bonded Warehouse
This lofty and well lighted place, which measures 70 feet in length, contains five capacious Blending Vats constructed from solid oak, the largest among them
containing 8,000 gallons. It is here that the firm’s blends are racked off into casks, weighed and duly taken cognizance of by the Inland Revenue Officials.
Extract from: ‘John Walker & Sons’ (Alfred Barnard c1893)

Bottle-Washing House
This House is fitted with appliances and machinery for thoroughly cleansing the bottles. When the new bottles arrive from the Factory each one is subject to a thorough cleansing process, the firm being scrupulously particular in this matter. Every bottle is passed through the hands of an examiner before being sent to the Bottling stores.
Extract from: ‘John Walker & Sons’ (Alfred Barnard c1893)

A Joiners’ Shop, ‘Case Making’
All the Cases for the Home and Export Trade sent out by the Firm are manufactured by themselves.
Extract from: ‘John Walker & Sons’ (Alfred Barnard c1893)

Export Bottling Warehouse (North Side)
This building contains four vats holding upwards of 6,000 gallons, from which the blended Whisky is drawn off into the bottling machines. In this department the Whisky for export is bottled, corked, capsuled, labelled, and finally packed into cases, each gang of workers turning out 400 dozen per day.
Extract from: ‘John Walker & Sons’ (Alfred Barnard c1893)

Duty-Paid Bottling Department for Home Consumption
This Warehouse, situated on the west side of the premises, is for bottling duty-paid Whiskies for consumption in the United Kingdom.
Extract from: ‘John Walker & Sons’ (Alfred Barnard c1893)

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The computer scam involves the caller claiming they are from Microsoft and informs the householder that their computer has a virus. They then claim they can fix . . . → Read More: Phone scams still duping the public]]> East Ayrshire’s Trading Standards Service is still receiving reports of cold callers claiming to be able to repair your infected computer or demanding payment of phone bills.

The computer scam involves the caller claiming they are from Microsoft and informs the householder that their computer has a virus. They then claim they can fix it and ask for information to allow them to access the computer. At this point they are able to load malicious software on to the computer, show that it is infected and use scare tactics to persuade the owner to pay for a repair using their credit card details. Once the scammer has been given access to the computer, they can potentially glean important information such as passwords.

The BT scam is where a cold caller contacts the householder and threatens them with disconnection if they do not pay a supposed unpaid phone bill. The caller may even use a technique to make the householder believe their line has been disconnected as a demonstration of their ability to do this and as proof that they are genuine. This involves the caller simply staying on the line and pressing a mute or secrecy button. The caller does not have the ability to disconnect the line.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “The cold callers in both these scenarios may seem plausible, but these calls are in no way related to legitimate business. The caller is trying to obtain valuable financial information from unsuspecting householders.

“The advice to residents is simple – never allow a cold caller access to your computer and never give out personal information such as bank details over the phone to a cold caller.”

For further help and advice, contact the Trading Standards Service at Civic Centre South, John Dickie Street, Kilmarnock, online at www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards or by telephone on 01563 576602.

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Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is of the highest importance for safe motoring throughout the winter months, providing balanced braking and maximum grip in the inclement . . . → Read More: Have you checked your tyre pressure for winter]]> East Ayrshire Council’s Trading Standards Service is currently testing the accuracy of tyre pressure gauges at all retail filling stations and commercial tyre distributors throughout East Ayrshire.

Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is of the highest importance for safe motoring throughout the winter months, providing balanced braking and maximum grip in the inclement weather conditions.

But how accurate is your personal tyre pressure gauge? The Trading Standards Service is now giving you the opportunity to have your personal tyre pressure gauge tested, free of charge. Simply take your pressure gauge, whether it is a pencil gauge, dial gauge or foot pump gauge, along to your nearest local office between Monday 14 November and Friday 18 November 2011 or to the Trading Standards Service office at Civic Centre South, John Dickie Street, Kilmarnock.

Your personal gauge will be tested by Trading Standards and can be uplifted during the following week from your local office. Inaccurate personal gauges will be returned to owners but with a strong recommendation that they should not be relied upon.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “This worthwhile initiative demonstrates East Ayrshire’s continued commitment to consumer safety. With winter conditions approaching it is imperative that motorists ensure that their tyres are correctly inflated. This is an ideal opportunity to ensure that personal tyre gauges are accurately measuring tyre pressures, and the great thing is it’s a free service.”

For information and advice contact Trading Standards on 01563 576602.

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Local tobacco retailers are reminded that if they have not yet registered, they must do so immediately or risk being handed a spot fine by Trading Standards Officers.

Donald MacRae OBE is the Chief Economist at Lloyds Banking Group Scotland, and will be speaking at the latest meeting of the Building Banter group, a networking . . . → Read More: Building Banter, Building Economic Opportunities]]> One of Scotland’s top economists will be in Kilmarnock next week to address local businesses about the economic challenges and opportunities facing the construction sector in Ayrshire.

Donald MacRae OBE is the Chief Economist at Lloyds Banking Group Scotland, and will be speaking at the latest meeting of the Building Banter group, a networking forum for businesses in the construction sector.

Richard Neilson, the founder of Building Banter, and Director of Quantum Solutions Limited said: “We are delighted to welcome a speaker of the quality of Donald MacRae to Kilmarnock. Since its launch in August, the Building Banter meetings have proved a popular forum for construction businesses to network and hear from key developers and influencers. I am sure that Mr MacRae’s in-depth knowledge of the Scottish economy will be of particular interest.”

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council and Chair of Make it Kilmarnock said: “Building Banter is a unique business initiative which is cleverly designed to support the local construction sector. It is all about building relationships, creating new ones and learning from specialist key speakers. I am absolutely delighted that someone of Donald MacRae’s calibre is taking the time to speak to the group, this is a great opportunity for us all to learn from one of Scotland’s leading minds.”

The event will be held at Merchants Restaurant in Kilmarnock on Friday 30 September 2011, starting at 8.00am. More information on Building Banter and how to register for the event can be found on the Building Banter website: www.buildingbanter.co.uk

Further information

Building Banter is a networking forum for the construction sector, is all about building relationships, creating new ones, being kept aware of developments in the pipeline and learning from specialist key speakers on the day. The initiative is supported by Quantum Solutions, The Klin Group, Think Different Events and Make it Kilmarnock.

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The work has commenced and will greatly improve the general environment for bus users. By adding screens to the roof at both ends of the concourse, the station will . . . → Read More: Smoking ban will help clean up]]> Smoking on the concourse at Kilmarnock Bus Station will be stamped out for good shortly when works to enclose the bus station are completed.

The work has commenced and will greatly improve the general environment for bus users. By adding screens to the roof at both ends of the concourse, the station will be more than 50% enclosed and this means it will be illegal to smoke within the bus station.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “The Corporate Enforcement Unit has driven forward this initiative. By stamping out smoking we will tackle both littering and the unpleasant, smoky environment which can often be experienced by bus users. When the work is complete the Council will be carrying out joint patrols with our Community Planning Partners within Strathclyde Police, Burns Mall security and Stagecoach to monitor the area and issue fines of £50 to anyone caught smoking. Kilmarnock is a great town to visit, we are very proud of our home-grown, unique shops and by improving the bus station we hope that even more people will take the time to enjoy shopping in our town centre.”

Fiona Nicolson, Town Centre Manager said: “The regeneration of Kilmarnock Town Centre is a key priority for the Council and improvements are visible throughout the town – the beautiful lighting of our key historic buildings; the regeneration of the former Johnnie Walker Bond building and the new pavements and railings in the ‘Connecting Places’ project have all made Kilmarnock much more attractive to visitors and members of the local community. An important gateway into the town centre is Kilmarnock Bus Station and by stamping out smoking we are going to make visiting the town a better experience. There will be new art projects done in conjunction with local school children which will also help improve the overall experience of using the bus station.

“Action is also being taken within the Burns Mall to stop antisocial behaviour occurring after the shops have closed. The section of Burns Mall from Foregate Square to Argos and Boots will be closed on a permanent basis between the hours of 8pm and 6am. The section from the underpass to the Cross will remain open at all times. We want as many people as possible to enjoy our town centre and will do everything in our power to make Kilmarnock the best town it can be.”

Work within Kilmarnock Bus Station will be carried out at night to minimise disruption to bus users.

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 “It’s great to see Kilmarnock bustling”

“It’s fantastic that such a big event has come to Kilmarnock”

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Kilmarnock and I’ll be back”

“I’ve shopped today in Kilmarnock and I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t for the Market”

 Just some of the comments from happy customers . . . → Read More: Global Market breaks records and boosts trade for Kilmarnock]]>  

 “It’s great to see Kilmarnock bustling”

“It’s fantastic that such a big event has come to Kilmarnock”

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Kilmarnock and I’ll be back”

“I’ve shopped today in Kilmarnock and I wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t for the Market”

 Just some of the comments from happy customers at Kilmarnock’s second ever Global Market.

 Held last week, the market featuring traders from all over the world was a fantastic success.  In a record breaking four days, 45,000 people attended, exceeding the numbers who came on its first visit in June. 

Jacqueline O’Donnell, TV chef and owner of The Sisters restaurants in Glasgow, led an entourage of chefs including some from Braehead Cook School, The Jefferson and other local restaurants. They met with Council Leader Douglas Reid and enjoyed a sample of the cuisine and exotic ingredients on offer.

Town Centre Manager, Fiona Nicolson was delighted with the visitor numbers, conducting some research of her own into the visitors. She says “I conducted market research over the four days of the market. Visitors came from all over Ayrshire, Glasgow and even from Germany and Spain!  On the Thursday and Friday 25% said they never or rarely shopped in the town centre and this rose to over 50% on Saturday. This is proof that the market is extremely effective in attracting new customers to our town centre and will encourage new people to visit again.   Indeed when asked if they would like the market to visit again 96% said “Yes”. “

Fiona’s remit, as part of the wider regeneration plan for Kilmarnock is to boost footfall and encourage people to “shop local”.  The markets are part of a strategy of events designed to draw visitors to the town centre as a venue to shop, eat, drink and enjoy.

She says:”This is all about bringing increased footfall to our town centre. The market is undoubtedly a massive attraction. It was great to see some of our town centre businesses being really proactive in taking advantage of the huge upturn in numbers.  Even although not every business benefitted directly at the time, my research shows that many of the people who hadn’t previously visited the town intend to return to shop again.”

Costa Coffee reported an increase in sales well beyond the excellent figures they reported in June, and many other traders reported similar experiences. The market traders themselves were very happy with the reception they received in the town, including the food and accommodation on offer from local businesses.

Local newsagent Marco Sinforiani added: “Even though all independent traders have to make a living, it’s not about if my sales are up or down because I think an event of this profile is fantastic for Kilmarnock. Getting this volume of people into our town centre is just brilliant, we have not seen that sort of crowd since I was at primary school!!

This time around I made up promotional flyers and handed them out to the crowds and this has really helped with my sales being considerably up over the 4 day period.”

John Gall of Browning’s the Bakers said: “After the last market I saw the increase in footfall as a great opportunity. I put on a range of special offers and also had staff in Browning’s T-shirts out offering free samples of our famous Killie Pies and distributing promotional flyers. We also opened our King Street shop on Sunday. I’m delighted with effects of global market and we’ve had an increase in sales of between 10 & 15%”

All in all the market has been a positive for the town. Councillor Jim Buchanan, spokesperson for Community Regeneration said: “It’s very exciting to see the town so busy, with all the spin off benefits which the market activity brings. All the work we’re doing in the town from improving landscaping, lighting and walkways, to  refurbishing our grand old buildings and holding events like the Global Market are geared towards improving Kilmarnock as a place to work, trade, shop and live. This Global Market this week has been another exciting step in our overall progress as a town to be proud of.”

A recent survey carried out by East AyrshireTrading StandardsService has revealed large disparities in cash sums offered from dealers in exchange for gold.Trading StandardsOfficers visited seven gold dealers in East . . . → Read More: SHOP AROUND FOR BEST PRICES ON GOLD]]> People who are looking to take advantage of current high gold prices are being warned to shop around before selling their jewellery for cash.

A recent survey carried out by East AyrshireTrading StandardsService has revealed large disparities in cash sums offered from dealers in exchange for gold.Trading StandardsOfficers visited seven gold dealers in East Ayrshire to find out what each would pay for three items of gold jewellery weighing a total of 17 grams. The highest price offered was £200 and the lowest was £145. Incredibly, one trader initially offered just £80 for the three pieces before finally offering £200 when they learned that quotes from other traders were being sought.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “In the current economic climate when people may be short of money, it has become more popular to sell items of jewellery for cash with many traders offering the service locally. It might be tempting to take the first offer of cash for your gold, but this might not be the best offer.

“It is not against the law for one dealer to offer less than another as long as any prices shown or claims made are accurate, so the advice to local people is to visit as many dealers as you can to ensure you are getting the highest price possible.”

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And now, having heard about the . . . → Read More: Top Chefs to tour Kilmarnock as Global Market returns]]> Over 40,000 people thronged Kilmarnock Town Centre in early June  as  the first ever Global Market came to Ayrshire  – an event so successful that Top Chefs are lining up to come and visit when it returns,  by popular demand, to the town from 1^st to 4^th September.

And now, having heard about the wealth of exotic foods and ingredients offered by the traders – who come from all over the world – a team of chefs, led by Jacqueline O’Donnell, TV chef and owner of the Sisters Restaurants in Glasgow, is coming to see just what makes this market unique.

Town Centre ManagerFiona Nicolsonexplains: “We’re delighted that the tremendously successful Global Market has chosen to return so soon toKilmarnock. Unlike other continental markets, which concentrate on European produce, the range of products on offer, from crafts and gifts to foodstuffs and ingredients is truly from all over the world. In June we had school parties coming to test their language skills with the stallholders and see all the goods on offer. Now we’ve had interest from chefs, eager to avail themselves of the wealth of exotic foods.

Fiona has already written to traders in Kilmarnock urging them to gear up for the influx, “Many of the local businesses reported that they experienced an upturn in trade during the market in June – especially those who took a proactive approach, preparing leaflets and vouchers and handing them out around the stalls. Local hoteliers, restauranteurs, B & B owners and coffee shop traders also had a bumper spell. They’re all now busy gearing up again to capitalise on the extra footfall generated by an event such as this.

“The public response to the Global Market was amazing. It became a hot topic on facebook and twitter and was talked about for weeks after the event. People commented on how much the town was buzzing, the fabulous atmosphere and that Kilmarnock had done itself proud hosting such a huge event. In a poll on a local website 98% of respondents voted to get the market back!”

The Global Market is just one aspect of an overall regeneration strategy planned by East Ayrshire Council aimed at bringing more business and vitality to Kilmarnock Town Centre. Regular Farmers Markets, arts events and music performances are all succeeding in encouraging people to “Shop Local” and making the whole retail experience more entertaining and enjoyable.

Councillor Jim Buchanan, spokesperson for delivering community regeneration said: “We were delighted by the response to our initial Global Market in June and we’re really looking forward to welcoming the traders back in September. The Market is quite spectacular and had the whole town buzzing. We’re busy with regeneration projects to restore old buildings and improve the look and feel of Kilmarnock Town Centre and events like this are vital in encouraging people to visit and support our local businesses.”

The report shows that almost half of home maintenance complaints made by consumers . . . → Read More: Don’t get caught out this summer]]> Home maintenance complaints are at their highest during the summer months an Office of Fair Trading report has revealed. East Ayrshire Trading Standards Service is therefore asking local people to be careful when having repairs carried out on their home.

The report shows that almost half of home maintenance complaints made by consumers last year were in relation to roofing, tarmacing or paving work. Trading Standards advises that if consumers are considering having home improvements work carried out they should remember that:

• if a trader knocks at your door do not agree to on the spot house repairs, or sign anything on the spot
• be wary of special offers or warnings that your house is unsafe
• don’t let trader push you into a snap decision – take time to talk to someone you trust before you make up your mind
• don’t let a trader into your home if you are at all suspicious

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “Residents should also be aware that if they employ traders to carry out work in their home they must receive certain information. This includes the business details of the trader and if the cost of the work is over £35, a written notice of the right to cancel the contract. If traders fail to give to give this information they will be unable to demand payment for any work which has been carried out.

“Failure to provide written notice of cancellation rights is a criminal offence. Consumers who have not been given proper notification of their cancellation rights should contact Trading Standards immediately on 01563 521502.”

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Following the continued growth of the contracts handled by the Kilmarnock centre, HEROtsc is looking to recruit another 100 employees which will take overall staff numbers close to the site’s maximum level of 500 staff.

To fill this . . . → Read More: Friday job-fest as HEROtsc brings 100 new jobs to Kilmarnock]]> HEROtsc is set to increase staff numbers at its Rowallan Park centre by almost 25 percent.

Following the continued growth of the contracts handled by the Kilmarnock centre, HEROtsc is looking to recruit another 100 employees which will take overall staff numbers close to the site’s maximum level of 500 staff.

To fill this welcome influx of new jobs to the community as quickly as possible, the company – in association with East Ayrshire Council’s Skills Development Service – is holding a fast-track recruitment day on Friday (July 22) and are urging as many local people as possible to come along and take advantage of this opportunity.

The fast-track assessment centre will be set up at Grange Academy, Kilmarnock on Friday 22 July between 10am – 3pm and will offer a unique opportunity to find out more about the company, the jobs on offer and the employment packages available.

Advisers will be on hand to answer any questions and to conduct mini assessments to fast track suitable applicants through the recruitment process. East Ayrshire Council’s Skills Development Service will also be present to give out additional careers and employment advice.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council and Chair of Make it Kilmarnock community regeneration initiative welcomed news of this event.

He said: “This is a rare opportunity for the town and people of East Ayrshire generally. HEROtsc have asked us to help them fill over 100 vacancies locally and we have pulled out all the stops to make this happen.

“I urge all local people currently in the jobs market to attend this event on Friday. With 100 jobs on offer there is every possibility that the majority of those attending will successfully secure employment at the end of the process. This is a welcome jobs boost for the area.”

Derek Anderson, Director of the Vodafone Customer Experience at HEROtsc, echoed those comments. “We are immensely proud of the jobs we have brought to Kilmarnock and the vital role we play in the local community.

“Since we opened in Rowallan Park, the high level of skills and professionalism demonstrated by our staff has enabled us to grow our business and, at the same time, bring new jobs to the site. This latest upsurge in staff is immensely satisfying and I look forward to Friday’s event.”

HEROtsc operate from new modern facilities in Rowallan Business Park. Fitted out to the highest standard, the site has excellent transportation links, being situated on approximately three miles south of the main Kilmarnock junction on the M77 motorway. A bus stop is located near the call centre – making it easy for local residents who wish to work in the local area rather than travel further to work.

For directions to Grange Academy please see the link below:

https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ea/GrangeAcademy/about-us/how-to-find-us/

In April 2011, East Ayrshire Council set up a Business Enterprise Fund of £1million to help ensure that young . . . → Read More: The Future is Bright for Young Entrepreneurs]]> The entrepreneurial visions and ambitions of East Ayrshire’s nine secondary schools moved a step closer to becoming a reality this week as head teachers pitched their ideas to some of Scotland’s most influential business leaders.

In April 2011, East Ayrshire Council set up a Business Enterprise Fund of £1million to help ensure that young people are equipped with the essential ‘business ready’ skills and knowledge that will allow them to realise their full potential in the world of work including discovering their potential to become the entrepreneurs of the future.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: “Although these are challenging financial times, this is when we need to invest in our young people to secure prosperity for our communities. Our aim is to bring together educational expertise and business acumen to provide a wider horizon of career opportunities for the workforce of the future and to open their eyes to entrepreneurship.”

A number of local, national and international business leaders pledged their support for the Business Enterprise Fund and on Tuesday afternoon head teachers had the business opportunity of a lifetime to network with some of the giants of the entrepreneurial world including Sir Tom Hunter, Dr Peter Hughes OBE and Norman Drummond of Drummond International, as well as some of East Ayrshire’s most successful local entrepreneurs: Craig Stevenson from Braehead Foods; Marie Macklin from the KLIN Group; Keith Murray, Lochaven International; Ian and Anne Hope, Hope Homes Scotland; Heather Dunk, Principal and Chief Executive of Kilmarnock College and Willie Mackie, Clydesdale Bank and Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce.

As part of the process, all secondary schools in East Ayrshire were invited to submit proposals for a Business Enterprise and Skills Centre within their own establishment, focussing on developing skills that address skills gaps identified in the Skills in Scotland 2010, Scottish Government Social Research Report – planning and organising, problem solving, customer handling and team working.

Specifically, these centres will help young people to develop the skills required locally and in the Scottish industry growth sectors of Tourism, Food and Drink Production, Life Sciences, Finance and Business, Creative Industries, Energy and Renewables.

Councillor Reid continued: “We are honoured to have such a prestigious line up of pledged support from local entrepreneurs. To be the best you must learn from the best and it is fantastic that some of Scotland’s most successful business people have agreed to help pioneer this work and champion our approach. They will inspire our young people and help raise their aspirations and ambitions.”

Sir Tom Hunter announced at the event that the Hunter Foundation will be awarding an annual prize of £5,000 to the most innovative business idea – £4,000 will be given to the school and £1,000 will be given to a project suggested by the winning pupil. He said: “Entrepreneurship is fundamentally important to all our future well-being as such this initiative should be embraced by everyone.”

Marie Macklin, Kiln Group said: “I am proud to be part of this entrepreneurship initiative; This proactive approach will offer our young people the hope and the belief that they can – and will – make change to East Ayrshire through many sectors, including energy and renewables, which will help to re-industrialise Scotland.”

Dr Peter Hughes said: “Business enterprise and skills are at the heart of our developing Scottish and UK economies and it is important that our schools encourage their pupils to participate in these enterprise activities and enjoy the learning experience associated with it. This initiative will deliver that enjoyable learning experience.”

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Greek delicacies coming to Kilmarnock

Traders from around the world will be plying their wares in the town from Thursday 2nd until . . . → Read More: Kilmarnock Markets go Global]]>

Greek delicacies coming to Kilmarnock

Traders from around the world will be plying their wares in the town from Thursday 2nd until Sunday 5th June with a huge range of crafts, gifts, fresh foods and food products from around the world. And for those who are unsure just what to do with some of the more exotic ingredients, recipe tips and cookery demonstrations will all be part of the experience.

Town Centre Manager Fiona Nicolson says: “This Global Village event has grown from a Continental Market, attracting traders from countries outside Europe including Thailand, China, India, Russia, South Africa and Peru, bringing a host of products right into the heart of Kilmarnock.”

Councillor Jim Buchanan, Spokesperson for Community Regeneration said: “We’re delighted to be bringing this market to Kilmarnock Town Centre as one of a number of initiatives to encourage people to support and enjoy their local shopping area. This four day event will give the town a lively buzz for the start of the summer and generate more business for local traders too.”

The Global Market, run in conjunction with Market Place Europe, will run from Thursday 2 June until Sunday 5 June.

The £2.044m ERDF investment, which was secured by the Make it Kilmarnock initiative, has been matched by £3.4m from the Council for the construction of 2,100sqm . . . → Read More: MOORFIELD FUNDING AGREED!]]> Moorfield Industrial Estate will be attracting new businesses to the area thanks to funding from the European Regional Development Fund and match funding from East Ayrshire Council.

The £2.044m ERDF investment, which was secured by the Make it Kilmarnock initiative, has been matched by £3.4m from the Council for the construction of 2,100sqm of small industrial units. Already home to market leader – Braehead Foods and The Cook School Scotland – this huge investment will attract many more businesses and help to create new jobs in the area.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council said: “It goes without saying that this is a major investment by the Council and a clear signal that the Council is focused upon the economic recovery of the area. Currently Moorfield Industrial Estate does not have the right mix of industrial units to attract inward investment however by developing mixed sized units we can encourage business and enterprise locally.

“The initial funding secured from the ERDF is a huge success for the Make it Kilmarnock team – this funding is about bringing new jobs to our area and encouraging economic growth something that is at the very heart of Make it Kilmarnock.”

Councillor Jim Buchanan, Spokesperson for Delivering Community Regeneration said: “This funding is a welcome boost for the area. We are in direct competition with neighbouring authorities and have to make sure that we have the relevant infrastructure in place to attract investment and of course jobs. Moorfield is a fantastic site with easy access to the main roads infrastructure to the north and the south. By developing the units and completing essential land works and site servicing I am sure that we can compete with the best.”

Craig Stevenson, MD of Braehead Foods said: “This investment is great news for Moorfield and for the area as a whole. Our business moved to this site in 2009 and it has enabled us to develop our brand in a fantastic setting. The road links are excellent and once the new units are in place there will be great opportunities for businesses to invest in our area.”

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Trading Standards Officers enlisted the help of 16 year old volunteers . . . → Read More: TRADING STANDARDS CLAMP DOWN ON UNDERAGE SALES OF DVD’S]]> 18 rated films and video games are rated for a reason – to protect young people and children from adult material. East Ayrshire Council’s Trading Standards Service however has been alarmed by how easily young people can obtain such films and videos games.

Trading Standards Officers enlisted the help of 16 year old volunteers to carry out an undercover test purchasing programme in the area, with startling results. Out of eleven shops visited, seven were happy to sell an 18 DVD or game to the young person without even asking for proof of age. Some of the DVD’s purchased included strong bloody violence, sex and nudity and all were clearly marked that they were unsuitable for anyone under the age of 18.

The programme has resulted in six warning letters to retailers and one report being sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “Selling DVDs and video games to young people is a serious offence. Retailers could be fined up to £5,000 for supplying these products to underage people. Our Trading Standards Service has provided education and guidance to retailers on the prevention of underage sales and we urge retailers to ensure all staff are trained to ask for ID and empowered to refuse to sell to anyone they suspect is underage.

“East Ayrshire Council is committed to protecting the health and safety of our young people and we hope that next time this operation is repeated no 18 DVD’s or games will be sold to our underage volunteers. I would ask in the meantime that members of the community report traders you suspect of selling any age-restricted products to underage purchasers.”

Trading Standards can be contacted at 14 London Road, Kilmarnock, online at http://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/tradingstandardsor by telephone on 01563 521502.

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Trading Standards has entered into an agreement with CCL North Ltd, a local company who provide a secure destruction solution for seized . . . → Read More: TRADING STANDARDS DISPOSE OF SEIZED GOODS]]> East Ayrshire does not tolerate the sale of counterfeit goods – that was the message coming loud and clear from the Trading Standards Service when they viewed the destruction of seized goods.

Trading Standards has entered into an agreement with CCL North Ltd, a local company who provide a secure destruction solution for seized goods. Officers have seized around 8,000 DVD’s, CD’s and MP3 discs during previous investigations; these will be finely shredded by the company and 98% of the material will be recycled.

Councillor Todd said: “I am very pleased that the counterfeit goods seized by our officers from Trading Standards are being disposed of in a safe yet environmentally friendly way. We take a zero tolerance approach to the sale of such goods and this is evident from the thousands of DVDs and CDs that are being recycled by CCL.”

CCL North Ltd has been working with East Ayrshire Council for the past six years providing collections of redundant WEEE (Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment) from recycling centres and IT equipment from offices and schools. This new venture enables Trading Standards to utilise an experienced local company to dispose of counterfeit goods.

Further details on the company can be found at www.cclnorth.com

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The unit was receiving daily complaints regarding dog fouling at Rooney Court and Main Street. They undertook their normal pro-active patrols but also responded to information . . . → Read More: CORPORATE ENFORCEMENT SUCCESS]]> During a recent initiative the Corporate Enforcement Unit were out on the streets of Patna at 6.30am responding to a large number of complaints regarding dog fouling.

The unit was receiving daily complaints regarding dog fouling at Rooney Court and Main Street. They undertook their normal pro-active patrols but also responded to information gathered by the local community which allowed them to be at the right place at the right time to target the worst culprits.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “Thanks to a successful partnership between the community and our CEU officers we were able to target dog fouling within the Patna area. Our team have shown incredible commitment, going out on patrol very early in the morning; talking to large number of dog owners and issuing fines. I am very pleased to report that for the past three weeks there have been no incidences of dog fouling and one of the worst culprits has been seen clearing up after their dog. I am very proud of our team. It is a small team but they work incredibly hard and are getting real results throughout the area.”

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70 unemployed young people in East Ayrshire are now starting their careers thanks to the success of the Future Jobs Fund recruitment fair held at the . . . → Read More: Future Jobs Fund Fair Success]]>

Robert Hughes is interviewed for a job at Dean Castle Country Park as Laura Neill and Yvonne Bryce from EAC Employability Service and Councillor McDill look on

70 unemployed young people in East Ayrshire are now starting their careers thanks to the success of the Future Jobs Fund recruitment fair held at the Grand Hall.

15 local employers spent the day interviewing and selecting candidates for the jobs which were made possible through the Future Jobs Fund. Organised by the East Ayrshire Council Skills Development and Employability Service the fair was just one of a number of initiatives which have seen nearly 600 new jobs being created throughout the area since the Future Jobs Fund was introduced in November 2009. Future Jobs Fund was an initiative offering jobs to young people aged 18-24 years old who have been unemployed for between 6 and 9 months.

Councillor Bobby McDill, Spokesperson for Employability said: “The fair was a great success. Seeing young people walk out of here with job offers and a big smile was a great testament to the hard work of our employability service. The employers I’ve spoken to are delighted with the candidates and the help they will have through the Future Jobs Fund to provide these jobs so this is a win win situation.”

The Future Jobs Fund brought over £3.8million to the East Ayrshire economy, bringing around 40 new jobs a month to organisations throughout the area. Although it has now finished it was just one of many initiatives and funding streams available through the Skills Development and Employability Service which continues to offer a wide range of support for jobseekers.

Councillor McDill explains: “The big strength of our employability service lies in its flexibility. Our jobs brokerage service enables us to assist employers to assess what they need from an employee. We then select and train suitable candidates and can offer ongoing support with all sorts of training at every level from basic qualifications to university level. Our aim is to help employers upskill their workforce and we can tailor our service to fit their needs.

“For the candidates themselves we can help them achieve their ambitions. For many long term unemployed people regaining confidence and acquiring new skills can be daunting. We can guide them through the process gradually at their own pace and help them make significant changes in their lives. Many of those who have passed through their service have been able to alter course and find the jobs of their dreams with our help. In these days of doom and gloom it is great to have some positive news.”

Tourism representatives from across Ayrshire met today, Monday 14 February – St Valentine’s Day, to show their passion and commitment to working together to help develop tourism across the region.

Around 40 . . . → Read More: LOVE IS IN THE AYR-SHIRE!]]>

Martin Cheyne, Councillor David O'Neill, Councillor Bill McIntosh, Councillor Douglas Reid, and Jill Farrell sign the new Ayrshire Tourism Charter

Tourism representatives from across Ayrshire met today, Monday 14 February – St Valentine’s Day, to show their passion and commitment to working together to help develop tourism across the region.

Around 40 representatives from the local tourism network attended the “Love Ayrshire” Business Breakfast at Lochgreen Hotel, Troon, organised by the Ayrshire Economic Partnership.

Among the guests were representatives from all three local councils in the area, Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise and a selection of local tourism businesses – all of whom are passionate about developing a positive future for tourism across Ayrshire.

Opening the event, Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council said:

 “Tourism has a major role to play in driving and boosting our local economy with jobs, revenue and benefits for all and the Statement of Commitment we sign today is testament to that.

“Through partnership working, we will not only make the most of what we have – scenery, leisure, attractions and history – we will also drive forward an ambitious programme that will build even further on our success so far. We all know what’s great about this area and we need to get that message out to the wider world to ensure that Ayrshire is a real destination of choice for visitors from every corner of the globe.

“That’s something we have to do in partnership and we are all very much committed to taking this forward as we love Ayrshire.”

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, said: “Today we are making a very strong and public statement of our “absolute commitment to work together, to strengthen and develop the tourism sector in Ayrshire and Arran”.

“We’ve set ourselves some very challenging targets, but to achieve them, we need to work together. Businesses in the private sector and operators of publicly funded attractions must work with each other to provide packages of complementary products; public sector support agencies need to work with each other to ensure appropriate mechanisms are in place support businesses and above all, public sector and businesses must work together to ensure that Ayrshire & Arran maximises the impact it achieves from the tourism industry.”

Councillor David O’Neill, Leader of North Ayrshire Council said: “There are hundreds of reason why we Love Ayrshire – the area has a rich blend of history and culture, boasts world-class sporting facilities, and is famed for its breathtaking scenery and stunning coastline.  We are committed to working hand-in-hand with our public and private sector partners to showcase all that is great about Ayrshire and Arran and ensure the area realises its full tourism potential.”

Bill Costley, Chairman of the Costley and Costley Hotel Group said : “ I was very pleased to host this LOVE Ayrshire event here at Lochgreen House Hotel.  Ayrshire and Arran is a wonderful area, with much to offer visitors and local people to enjoy and remember – and indeed, to encourage them to come back here again and again. 

 I am sure that the launch of the Statement of Commitment to the Development of Tourism in Ayrshire and Arran will encourage strong partnership amongst all businesses and organisations involved in tourism, to the ultimate benefit of the area.”

Representatives from the Ayrshire Economic Partnership signed a Statement of Commitment as a symbol of their commitment to work together to help grow the tourism industry across the whole of Ayrshire, and, in keeping with the theme of love and romance on St Valentine’s day, 40 red heart shaped balloons were released into the sky.

Nearly half of the UK adult population has been targeted by a scam. Every year, 3.2 million adults . . . → Read More: PEOPLE POWER CRACKS DOWN ON SCAMS]]> A nationwide Scamnesty campaign by Trading Standards and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), which aims to help end the scourge of mass marketed scam mailings in the UK, is coming to East Ayrshire this February.

Nearly half of the UK adult population has been targeted by a scam. Every year, 3.2 million adults – one in 15 people – across the country fall victim to a scam involving deceptive unsolicited mailings, phone calls, or emails, which are designed to con victims out of their cash. UK consumers lose around a staggering £3.5 billion to scams every year.

Scamnesty 2011 calls on the people of East Ayrshire to fight back against the fraudsters by collecting any scam mailings they receive and dropping them into the designated Scamnesty bin located at the Trading Standards Service, 14 London Road, Kilmarnock or hand them in at their local office.

The top five complaints to Consumer Direct, the OFT-managed consumer advice service were:
• advance fee and money transfer
• prize draws and sweepstakes
• ticketing
• foreign lotteries
• career opportunities

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “Scamnesty will raise awareness of mass marketed scam mailings in the UK. Every day, people are at risk from unscrupulous fraudsters who want to con them out of their cash and it is important that consumers recognise the increasingly sophisticated methods of scammers.”

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct for clear, practical advice on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scams.

Consumers can report all types of scams at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam.

For further information contact Trading Standards Service, 14 London Road, Kilmarnock KA3 7AF, Telephone 01563 521502

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A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) advising that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you have to call 0906 6611911 to arrange delivery.

Do . . . → Read More: SCAM ALERT!]]> Be careful not to be caught out this winter by the latest scam currently doing the rounds.

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) advising that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you have to call 0906 6611911 to arrange delivery.

Do not phone this number! This is a premium rate number and you will be billed £315 for the phone call.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “Just when I thought I had seen it all – this scam came along. At this time of year lots of people are getting parcels delivered and to think of our residents being scammed out of large amounts of money is just terrible.

“Please be vigilant and if you do receive a card with these details contact Royal Mail Fraud on 020 72396655.”

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The Trading Standards Service has seen an upturn in complaints relating to consumers buying what they thought . . . → Read More: BE WARY OF CHRISTMAS FAKES]]> The Christmas shopping season is now in full swing. Many of us are using the internet to buy our Christmas presents but make sure you aren’t duped into buying one of the many counterfeit goods available online.

The Trading Standards Service has seen an upturn in complaints relating to consumers buying what they thought were genuine goods but have turned out to be sub standard fakes.
Consumers have been snapping up ‘bargains’ such as designer jewellery, UGG Boots and Disney DVD’s only to later find that they have been buying from web sites based in the Far East and that their bargain buy has turned into an expensive mistake.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “When shopping, particularly online, this Christmas, if the cost of item seems too good to be true, then it might well be. Consumers should make sure they know who they are dealing with before making a purchase. There is certain information that traders who sell online are obliged by law to supply. Reputable traders’ web sites will contain their full postal address and details of a customer’s cancellation rights under the Distance Selling Regulations 2000.

“If this information is not shown on a website, the advice is, buy elsewhere.”

For more information please contact the Trading Standards Service:
01563 521502
trading.standards@east-ayrshire.gov.uk
www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards

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Councillor Jim Buchanan, Spokesperson for Delivering Community Regeneration said: “This is great news for the regeneration of Kilmarnock town centre. Our town centre has a . . . → Read More: OFFICERS CLUB OPENS IN KILMARNOCK]]> Our stylish young men have a new shopping venue in Kilmarnock town centre. Officers Club, aimed at fashion conscious young men, has now opened within the Burns Mall, Kilmarnock.

Councillor Jim Buchanan, Spokesperson for Delivering Community Regeneration said: “This is great news for the regeneration of Kilmarnock town centre. Our town centre has a real soul, unlike some of the bigger shopping centres, and boasts an impressive mix of High Street names and independent boutiques. Take the time to visit Kilmarnock – you will be pleasantly surprised by the high level of choice on offer!”

A spokesperson for Officers Club said: “We are delighted to bring Officers Club to Kilmarnock offering our customers fantastic menswear fashion at unbeatable prices. This is our 24th store in Scotland and with two more due to open before Christmas we are set to confirm our position as Scotland’s number 1 menswear brand.”

Scott Darroch – Manager of the Burns Mall – said: “We are constantly working behind the scenes to attract new tenants to the Burns Mall, and are extremely pleased to welcome our latest addition. The Officers Club along with Home Bargains, New Look, Wallis and Evans are all examples of the expanding retail range available in Kilmarnock town centre”

Fiona Nicolson – Kilmarnock Town centre Manager added: “In addition to the above, we have also seen big High St names – Wilkinson and Costa open in Kilmarnock plus some fantastic new independents; Blowmore Music, Shabby Chic and Many Thanks –all helping to encourage more people to shop locally and support the local economy.”

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www.shopkilmarnock.co.uk has been part funded by the retailers themselves and by East Ayrshire Council, and highlights the wide range of both independent and national retailers in the town, plus local businesses, pubs, . . . → Read More: RETAILERS LAUNCH NEW KILMARNOCK WEBSITE]]> A new website and brand promoting Kilmarnock’s diverse shopping attractions and the town centre has been unveiled by Kilmarnock Retail Trades Association.

www.shopkilmarnock.co.uk has been part funded by the retailers themselves and by East Ayrshire Council, and highlights the wide range of both independent and national retailers in the town, plus local businesses, pubs, restaurants and other services. As well as attracting more visitors and retailers to the town, the website also hopes to remind locals of the many assets Kilmarnock currently enjoys.

Reg Donald, Chair of the Kilmarnock Retail Trades Association said: “Kilmarnock town centre has a unique character and whilst many other towns are completely dominated by the big national chains, we are fortunate to have a healthy mix of independent shops alongside many of the top high street names. The new website is fresh, bright and informative and was created by local retailers and business people who all know, live and work in Kilmarnock. The input from our members in developing the website has been fantastic, and we are equally grateful to East Ayrshire Council whose additional funding and input has made it all possible. Now with the website completed, we are looking at rolling out the new Shop Kilmarnock brand, and doing all we can to promote the town both locally and further afield.”

Together with members of Kilmarnock Retail Trades Association, Reg Donald joined Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, Councillor Tom Cook, and Town Centre Manager Fiona Nicolson to launch the new website. Councillor Reid said: “The Shop Kilmarnock website is a great example of the kind of partnership working which is driving forward the regeneration of Kilmarnock Town Centre. With its bright, modern feel, the website is a great way to promote the town. The project group formed by the traders appointed a local company Engine Creative to do the work, with Fiona Nicolson, Town Centre Manager as one of the members.

“As a Council we’ve been able to add links to our local attractions such as the Dean Castle, Dick Institute, Galleon Centre and Palace Theatre. It’s also packed with useful links to parking and shopmobility websites and other Council information. It gives retailers a flexible opportunity to showcase their businesses, special features news and offers.”

The website was unveiled at a recent Town Centre Liaison Group meeting. Councillor Cook said: “The Kilmarnock retailers work really hard to promote their own businesses. Bringing them together with this website should bring all sorts of benefits. Using a local company to design and build the website has been a bonus, and with the Council input the end result is a very user friendly, informative site which we hope will be useful to townspeople and visitors alike.”

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It has come to the attention of the Council’s Trading Standards Service that there are already scams circulating in emails and by . . . → Read More: HMRC TAX ADVICE]]> Over the coming months HM Revenue and Customs will be contacting a large number of taxpayers to advise that they have either overpaid or underpaid their tax during the last financial year.

It has come to the attention of the Council’s Trading Standards Service that there are already scams circulating in emails and by phone claiming to be the Inland Revenue. However genuine contact will only be made by letter – don’t be fooled into giving your personal details or bank details to anyone either by phone or email who purport to be from Inland Revenue.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “Responsible bodies such HMRC will not ask for this type of information by e-mail. If you are in any doubt about any such requests you should ignore the e-mail. Any genuine enquiry will reach you by post in due course”.

If you receive any such scams, please send to Trading Standards Service, 14 London Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 7AF – 01563 521502.

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The former Opera House buildings at 6-14 John Finnie Street and 24-26 Strand Street were destroyed by fire in 1989 and since then only . . . → Read More: PROPOSED OPERA HOUSE REDEVELOPMENT IS MUSIC TO OUR EARS!]]> On Wednesday East Ayrshire Council’s Cabinet is considering a report which has the potential to end 20 years of speculation surrounding the future of Kilmarnock’s most prominent gap site.

The former Opera House buildings at 6-14 John Finnie Street and 24-26 Strand Street were destroyed by fire in 1989 and since then only the “B” listed sandstone facade has remained in what has become the most prominent derelict site within Kilmarnock Town Centre.

The report proposes that the Council enter into a Development Agreement with a local developer for the development and purchase of an office complex on the site of the former Opera House, which will retain the existing facade, with approximately 25,240 sq ft of office space, to house 220 employees. The initial Kilmarnock Town Centre Strategy anticipated hotel and retail use for this site, but market conditions have changed considerably since the strategy was adopted, and the report asserts that the alternative development of this key site for office accommodation remains in line with the overall objective of the Regeneration Strategy, whilst also being significantly more deliverable in the present economic climate.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council explained: “We are acutely aware of the necessity to be pragmatic as we adjust to new economic circumstances. The Opera House has remained vacant for over 20 years and it has become an eyesore, due to its highly visible location. Over this period there has been very little market interest in the site, and given the current economic climate, this is unlikely to change in the coming years. Without public sector involvement, I’m convinced that this site will remain undeveloped and will continue to blight our town. The removal of this blight from this important town centre heritage area will act as a catalyst to encourage future investment within Kilmarnock.”

He added: “These revisions fit well with the Council’s Town Centre Regeneration Strategy for Kilmarnock and the Corporate Office Accommodation Strategy. We recognise the importance of bringing more jobs into the town centre to help to boost the fortunes of existing town centre businesses and to attract new enterprises. This is an important decision and the Cabinet will give full consideration to the issues surrounding this development proposal at its meeting on Wednesday.”

Overall 400 employees are being relocated to town centre offices; 130 of whom will be accommodated in this new development, if the Cabinet gives the go ahead this week. This will equate to over £260k annually in lunchtime spend.

Councillor Jim Buchanan, Spokesperson for Economic Regeneration said: “The public sector has a key role to play in town centre regeneration. It has been widely recognised across Scotland that local authorities need to lead by example by consolidating and increasing their own presence in town centres; we’ve seen recent evidence of this in East Renfrewshire and Edinburgh. The town is facing a number of considerable challenges, both in economic and regeneration terms and we cannot fail to act on this opportunity.

“There are no other sites of similar size and with such prominence which have the same potential for growth, development, regeneration and appeal. It is hoped that the redevelopment of the Opera House site will attract substantial funding from the CARS and THI projects which are enabling the Council to take a comprehensive approach to the regeneration of the Conservation Area, utilising the town’s historic assets to bring investment into the local economy, whilst improving the environment and restoring pride and confidence in the town.”

Councillor Buchanan added: “The proposed redevelopment and acquisition of the completed office development has the potential to improve the vitality and viability of the town centre and will, if approved by the Cabinet, reassure the people of Kilmarnock and beyond of our commitment to regeneration.”

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Chaired by Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, the Advisory Board replaces the original Local Task Force, which was established last year, and will become the driving force behind Make it Kilmarnock.

Councillor Reid said: “The first . . . → Read More: FIRST MEETING OF MAKE IT KILMARNOCK ADVISORY BOARD]]> The new strategic advisory board for Make it Kilmarnock met for the first time this week.

Chaired by Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, the Advisory Board replaces the original Local Task Force, which was established last year, and will become the driving force behind Make it Kilmarnock.

Councillor Reid said: “The first meeting of the Advisory Board has great significance as we welcomed new members into the Make it Kilmarnock initiative.  We have gathered a wide field of specialists from the public and private sector, who bring important skills and experience to the table.

“We can learn a lot from other areas which have faced similar challenges and I was delighted that David Hastings, Director of Strathleven Regeneration Company, was able to join our meeting. With Diageo’s support, they were able to bring about the economic regeneration of the site of the former J&B whisky bottling plant at Dumbarton. It is essential that we do our very best for the area and as we move forward we can draw on the knowledge and expertise of people like David.

“I believe that Make it Kilmarnock will make a real difference to how we shape the future of the town, and I am extremely grateful to our new members who have agreed to be part of the Advisory Board, and for giving up their time to contribute to today’s discussions.”

The Advisory Board will review the work carried out to date by the Task Force including the planned relocation of Kilmarnock College to the Johnnie Walker site on Hill Street in 2012.

The Advisory Board will consist of:

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council

Councillor Jim Buchanan

Councillor Bobby McDill

Councillor Tom Cook

Councillor Maureen McKay

Willie Coffey, MSP

Cathy Jamieson, MP

Fiona Lees, Chief Executive, East Ayrshire Council

Heather Dunk, Principal of Kilmarnock College

Ken Robertson, Director of Corporate Relations, Diageo

Colin Liddell, Director, Liddell Thomson

John Howie, Chief Executive – Rail, Babock International Group PLC

Alan Woodison, Group Editor, Scottish & Universal Newspapers

Professor Janice Kirkpatrick, Creative Director, Graven Images

Marie Macklin, Managing Director, Klin Group.

Cheryl Ann was the recent winner of the Cook School Scotland’s Chef’s Apprentice competition – a cooking competition open to all local secondary schools . . . → Read More: CHEF’S APPRENTICE]]> Young masterchef Cheryl Ann Ewing demonstrated last week that she certainly can stand the heat in the kitchen when she took up her week’s placement at popular local restaurant, Merchants.

Cheryl Ann was the recent winner of the Cook School Scotland’s Chef’s Apprentice competition – a cooking competition open to all local secondary schools which was inspired and sponsored by Craig Stevenson of Braehead Foods.

She fought off competition from eight other local youngsters to secure the star prize of a week’s work experience at Merchants, under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Alisdair Hood. At the end of her week’s placement Cheryl Ann had an opportunity to further demonstrate some of her newly acquired culinary skills by preparing her prizing winning signature dish for the Leader of the Council, Councillor Douglas Reid; Depute Provost John Campbell and Chief Executive Fiona Lees who had visited Merchants to congratulate Cheryl Ann and celebrate her achievements.

Councillor Reid said: “It was an honour to be able to sample Cheryl Ann’s outstanding cooking at Merchants. Our Chief Executive was involved in the Chef’s Apprentice competition as a guest judge along with the Cook School Scotland’s 3 star Michelin Chef Steven Doherty; Ralph Porciani, Executive Chef at Turnberry; Joe Queen, Executive Chef of Thistle Hotels and of course, Alisdair. Fiona had been extremely impressed by the standard of cooking on offer and our meal at Merchants was outstanding!

“It is extremely heartening that local businesses are willing to help our young people in such a positive way and I wish Cheryl Ann the very best in her future ventures.”

Alisdair Hood said: “It was really inspiring to see such enthusiasm and skill level from someone who is the future of our industry. Cheryl-Ann really enjoyed her time with us and I am sure she has learnt a lot from working in a professional kitchen. All my staff were really impressed with her dish and it sold exceptionally well over the week.”

Notes to Editor

Cheryl Ann prepared a breast of chicken stuffed with mushrooms, garlic and soft herbs wrapped in proscuitto ham with mozzarella baked potato

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The company phone potential customers and arrange for a representative to call, often within the hour. Once inside the customer’s home . . . → Read More: WARNING OVER FIRE ALARMS AND DOORSTEP SELLING]]> East Ayrshire Council Trading Standards Service is warning householders to be vigilant over buying fire alarms from cold callers. An English-based company is currently operating in the area and preying on vulnerable individuals.

The company phone potential customers and arrange for a representative to call, often within the hour. Once inside the customer’s home the company fits the alarms very quickly. The customer is then persuaded to sign a maintenance contract credit agreement lasting up to eight years and costing around £5000 – £6000.

Regulations were introduced in October 2008 regarding doorstep selling which protects consumers from high pressure selling like this. The regulations provide a seven day cooling off period for both unsolicited and solicited calls at home during which a contract can be cancelled.

Your right to come out of the agreement could be lost, however, if you agree with the trader that you want the work to commence before the end of the cooling off period.

Always remember that if you sign a credit agreement, at home then that is a separate contract regarding which you have further cancellation rights. Consumers who sign a credit agreement at home have five days to cancel after receiving the 2nd copy (the executed agreement) which must be posted to your home by the finance company to give you time to consider options.

For more information on this press release, please contact the Trading Standards Service at 14 London Road, Kilmarnock, KA3 7AF – Telephone 01563 521502.

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Our current apprentices attended the evening and were joined by their managers and supervisors from within Housing Asset Services and key partners from local colleges who support them throughout their apprenticeships. . . . → Read More: APPRENTICE OPEN EVENING]]> East Ayrshire Council hosted an Apprentice open night for the first time recently and welcomed young people interested in embarking on an apprenticeship.

Our current apprentices attended the evening and were joined by their managers and supervisors from within Housing Asset Services and key partners from local colleges who support them throughout their apprenticeships. This gave the young people who attended an invaluable insight into life as an apprentice.

The Council also took the opportunity to recognise our apprentices for their hard work and dedication, presenting certificates to four apprentices and an Apprentice of the Year award.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council, attended the opening evening to congratulate our apprentices and meet young people interested in learning a trade. He said: “I was delighted to attend the open evening. This was an invaluable evening for those interested in an apprenticeship and was a great opportunity to congratulate our best apprentices.

“All of our apprentices have shown great skill and commitment but five in particular have surpassed all expectation and have been outstanding. Four Highly Commended certificates were presented to Jamie Cumming, Scott Dinwoodie, David Lees and Rheece Weir and the 2010 Apprentice of the Year Award went to Scott Wright.”

Vokera Boilers generously provided sponsorship for the event and also sponsored the Apprentice of the Year Award. ARCO will be sponsoring this year’s new starts and will provide their PPE kit for a year. Thanks also went to JTC Kitchens who provided the evening’s refreshments.

Note to Editor

The winners were:

Highly Commended

Jamie Cumming – Joiner 2nd year
Scott Dinwoodie – Plumber 4th year
David Lees – Bricklayer 4th year
Rheece Weir – Blacksmith 4th year

Winner

Scott Wright – Plasterer 4th year (Scott was unable to attend the presentation)

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On Friday 2 July 2010, Robert Chisholm was fined a total of £3500 after admitting offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994. Chisholm, a tattoo artist, was . . . → Read More: KILMARNOCK TRADER FINED FOR SELLING FAKES]]> A Kilmarnock trader has been fined at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to selling counterfeit clothing after an investigation by East Ayrshire Council’s Trading Standards Service.

On Friday 2 July 2010, Robert Chisholm was fined a total of £3500 after admitting offences under the Trade Marks Act 1994. Chisholm, a tattoo artist, was selling clothes from the ground floor of his tattoo studio, ‘Living Art’ in the town’s Foregate before Trading Standards Officers swooped to seize more than 400 counterfeit items.

Chisholm had bought counterfeit goods falsely labelled with brand names such as G Star Raw, Diesel and Ed Hardy from the Far East and was duping customers by selling them in his shop at the full retail price of the genuine goods. Unsuspecting customers could pay up to £75 for a pair of jeans and £30 for a t-shirt believing them to be the genuine article not a second rate copy.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “The trade in counterfeit goods is seriously damaging to legitimate business in the local area and ultimately leaves consumers disappointed and out of pocket. In these difficult economic times, some traders might be tempted to try alternative ways of boosting their revenue. This prosecution sends out a clear message that if these alternatives include criminal behaviour, as in this case, there will be serious repercussions.”

Trading Standards can be contacted on 01563 521502.

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There are many genuine bargains to be found at this time of year as stores offer massive sales with wall to wall advertising, but shoppers should be aware that they might not always be getting the . . . → Read More: WHEN IS A BARGAIN NOT A BARGAIN?]]> East Ayrshire Trading Standards Service is urging consumers to be wary when shopping for bargains this summer.

There are many genuine bargains to be found at this time of year as stores offer massive sales with wall to wall advertising, but shoppers should be aware that they might not always be getting the great deal they think they are.

Councillor Jim Todd, Spokesperson for Improving Community Safety said: “Pricing guidance for retailers suggests that sale items need only have been on sale at the higher price for 28 consecutive days in the past six months. This means that in some shops employing this practice, an item with what appears to be a massive discount applied to it, is effectively being offered at its normal selling price.

“Although advertising sales in this manner is lawful, it can often lead consumers to think they have made a substantial saving against the normal selling price. The advice is – shop around and read any small print which may appear on sale advertising to ensure you get the best deal possible.”

Trading Standards can be contacted on 01563 521502.

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This is where East Ayrshire Council’s Job Brokerage Service (JBS) can help. The JBS is there to bridge the gap and help match local employers with the right local people for job vacancies. It’s a tailor-made approach, customised to suit the needs of . . . → Read More: FINDING THE PERFECT MATCH… FOR WORK]]> There are people who need jobs… and employers who need people.

This is where East Ayrshire Council’s Job Brokerage Service (JBS) can help. The JBS is there to bridge the gap and help match local employers with the right local people for job vacancies. It’s a tailor-made approach, customised to suit the needs of individual employers looking for specific workers.

Not only that – the JBS will offer a wage subsidy of up to 50% of the national minimum wage to employers who take on new employees. So it’s a win-win situation.

The JBS can offer incentives, fund training and streamline the whole process by offering employers a free recruitment service. They’ll do all the administration and even set up interviews in their town centre office. They will screen job candidates and assess them for suitability for the vacancies available, saving employers valuable time and money. In return, employers get skilled, qualified candidates – and unemployed East Ayrshire jobseekers get employment.

The JBS will work with any type or size of business in the private sector. Only rule is that the jobs must be new and sustainable.

Yvonne Bryce, Jobs Brokerage Officer, says: “We recognise the importance of equipping unemployed people with the skills required to enable them to secure sustainable employment. By working with local employers, we can help to grow and develop the people and businesses in East Ayrshire.”

The JBS is part of the Council’s Skills Development & Employability Service. Improving Opportunities Manager Laura Neill says: “We can also assist with the cost of training unemployed individuals for future employment within a company. We try to remove barriers to employment and provide opportunities for unemployed people to gain the skills and experience to meet the demands of the labour market.”

Councillor Jim Buchanan, Spokesperson for Community Regeneration, said: “This is all about local jobs for local people. Any local private employer can link into the Jobs Brokerage Service for advice and guidance. This is testament to our real commitment to local communities and will provide hope for the future regeneration of East Ayrshire.”

KYLE AND DEK…

TPS Fronius Ltd – Kilmarnock
One of the employers the Jobs Brokerage Service has assisted over a period of time is TPS Fronius Ltd – Kilmarnock, a successful local firm selling, hiring and servicing welding equipment. Working with the employers, the JBS provided wage subsidies to secure three employment opportunities for local jobseekers Kyle, Deklan and Chris.

Kyle Hood, 17, from Fenwick, had previously started an engineering apprenticeship, but only managed to complete the first year before being made redundant. When an admin position was advertised with TPS Fronius, Kyle applied. He attended an interview and impressed the panel so much that he secured the job and has grown in confidence since that day. Said Kyle: “It’s totally different from the work I did before and so far, I’m really enjoying it”.

Deklan Younger, 20, from Newmilns, had been made redundant and felt he did not have the skills employers were looking for, which knocked his confidence. Through the JBS, he got a job as a Hire/Stores Assistant at TPS Fronius. Deklan was delighted – and feedback from his employer is that he’s progressing very well.

Deklan said: “I’ve been here three months now and have settled in quickly. It’s nothing like what I was doing before – but I’m getting good training here”.

Chris Clark, 22, from Galston was another young man who had been made redundant and was struggling to secure employment, before starting with TPS Fronius. Chris demonstrated his ability and with the work reference and experience, he eventually moved on to other employment in a promoted position.

East Ayrshire Council’s Skills Development & Employability Service provides expertise, resources and support to grow people and business in East Ayrshire. To find out more, please call 01563 553656 or email yvonne.bryce@east-ayrshire.gov.uk.

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For further information, contact Elaine Scott on 01563 576013 or email elaine.scott@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Independent research shows that from the baseline of £55.75 million in 2007, tourism revenue in the area has grown to around £60.57m in 2008, . . . → Read More: STRATEGIC APPROACH PAYING OFF FOR TOURISM BUSINESSES]]> In the midst of the worst recession in memory, tourism in East Ayrshire has continued to grow for the second successive year, following the development of the area’s Tourism Strategy.

Independent research shows that from the baseline of £55.75 million in 2007, tourism revenue in the area has grown to around £60.57m in 2008, and initial reports suggest that this is likely to be followed by a further 1% growth once full year figures for 2009 are published in a few weeks time.

The East Ayrshire Tourism Strategy and Action Plan was developed throughout 2008 and officially launched in 2009, setting out a vision for the way ahead for developing the contribution of the tourism sector to the local economy by supporting the development of tourism businesses and developing linkages between tourism businesses in the private sector and attractions and facilities operated by the public sector.

Councillor Jim Buchanan, East Ayrshire Council Spokesperson for Environment and Regeneration, paid tribute to the success of the strategy: “Tourism is a vital component of our economy and it is encouraging to see the results of our increased strategic focus in this area. Looking at the figures I have no doubt that our strategic direction is correct and beginning to make a real difference. With public and private partners working together to improve the tourism offer and promote the area I am sure that local businesses and communities will continue to reap the benefits in the long term.”

Natalie Howson, Sales Manager at Kilmarnock’s Park Hotel, said: “There are so many destinations competing for visitors in the current market that we can only succeed in growing tourism if we work together. The strategic approach adopted by the Council over the past couple of years has helped to draw businesses together, promote the area and further develop our visitor offer. We need to continue to work hard in order to achieve growth, but while other sectors have been collapsing tourism has held its own during the toughest period I’ve ever experienced.”

Councillor Bobby McDill, East Ayrshire Council Spokesperson for Environment and Regeneration, greeted the news with optimism, saying: “Although the figures represent quite modest growth on our baseline, it is important to view this in context. Tourism revenue fell in this area over a five year period prior to 2007. We have worked hard along with our partners to redress this by developing an approach which capitalises on our strengths. This news shows that we are now on the trajectory we need in order to achieve our strategic target of 10% real terms growth by 2015, so the future looks very bright indeed.”

Following the outstanding success of East Ayrshire’s strategic approach to tourism, plans are already underway to capitalise on this by increasing the marketing of the area and hosting a variety of events for tourism businesses to encourage collaboration and cross-selling over the next few months.

For further information please contact:

Daniel Steel
Tourism Promotion Adviser
East Ayrshire Council
Tel: 01563 503233
Email: daniel.steel@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

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Nearly half of the UK adult population has been targeted by a scam. Every year, 3.2 . . . → Read More: PEOPLE POWER HELPS EAST AYRSHIRE CRACK DOWN ON SCAMS]]> Next month a nationwide ‘scamnesty’ campaign is coming to East Ayrshire. Run by Trading Standards and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) the campaign aims to help end the scourge of mass marketed scam mailings in the UK.

Nearly half of the UK adult population has been targeted by a scam. Every year, 3.2 million adults – one in 15 people – across the country fall victim to a scam involving deceptive unsolicited mailings, phone calls, or emails, which are designed to con victims of their cash. UK consumers lose around a staggering £3.5 billion to scams every year.

‘Scamnesty 2010’ calls on the people of East Ayrshire to fight back against the fraudsters by collecting any scam mailings they receive and dropping them into designated ‘scamnesty bins’ located at the Trading Standards Service, 14 London Road, Kilmarnock. Consumers can also hand in scam mailings at their local offices throughout East Ayrshire.

Heather Clayton, OFT Senior Director, said: “Scamnesty 2010 promises to reveal a marked increase in scale and range of mass marketed scam mailings in the UK. Every day, people are at risk from unscrupulous fraudsters who want to con them out of their cash. By dropping your scam mailing into your local Scamnesty bin, you will help provide crucial intelligence to support us in stopping scams bringing misery to millions of people every year.”

Councillor John MacKay, Spokesperson for Community Wellbeing added: “I was quite shocked to learn just how much money is scammed each year by unscrupulous individuals. ‘Scamnesty 2010’ is a great way of tackling this crime head-on. Together we can help to stamp out these very common scams and end the distress and hardship that they can cause.”

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, or you suspect a scam, call Consumer Direct for clear, practical advice on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/scamnesty.

Consumers can report all types of scams at
https://secure.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam.aspx on the Consumer Direct website.

During the Scamnesty month (February 2010), they can also report online scams to the virtual bins on the Consumer Direct website.

For further information contact Trading Standards Service, 14 London Road, Kilmarnock KA3 7AF, Telephone 01563 521502

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East Ayrshire’s Countryside Services Team are launching their brand new Junior Ranger Club aimed at . . . → Read More: JUNIOR RANGER CLUB SEEKS NEW MEMBERS]]> Do you like being outdoors, learning about wildlife, taking part in practical tasks or participating in fun challenges and events? If the answer is yes then East Ayrshire’s new Junior Ranger Club could be just what you’re looking for.

East Ayrshire’s Countryside Services Team are launching their brand new Junior Ranger Club aimed at 12 – 18 year olds and are looking for budding Countryside Rangers to join.

Working alongside the Countryside Ranger Team, Junior Rangers will meet fortnightly and be given the chance to learn a whole range of valuable outdoor skills including: woodland management, survival skills, wildlife surveying and habitat management as well as taking part in challenges and excursions.

An open day will take place at Dean Castle Country Park on Saturday 13 February at Dean Castle Country Park from 2pm – 4pm. Drop in and chat to the Ranger Service to find out more about the club or contact Paddy MacDonald on 01563 554743 or email James.MacDonald@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

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