Digital Tourism Scotland (DTS) is a new partnership programme to help tourism businesses across Scotland improve their digital skills and capitalise on opportunities that new technology offers.

The programme will offer advice, workshops, and insight into how others are adopting and improving digital practices. There are 2 free ‘Digital Technologies Update for Tourism’ workshops available:

Tuesday, 24th November 2015, 1.30 to 4.30pm, Holiday Inn Aberdeen West

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-technologies-update-for-tourism-aberdeen-aberdeenshire-tickets-18607194620

Wednesday, 25th November 2015, 10.30am to 1.30pm, Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf

Course: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-technologies-update-for-tourism-aberdeen-aberdeenshire-tickets-18608069236

Your business can get a connection voucher of up to £3,000 for faster, better broadband through the Government’s Broadband Connection Vouchers scheme. Check your postcode here to see if your business is eligible. In the P&J advert today, the Aberdeen area is highlighted but I have checked Westhill postcodes and ones further out e.g. Midmar and they seem to be eligible as well, so check your business postcode out!

Oil & Gas UK held their first annual conference last week. The Oil and Gas Industry Conference was a two-day event held at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre from 11 to 12 June 2014.

Following the publication of the Wood Review earlier this year the conference fell under the umbrella of MER UK (Maximising Economic Recovery UK) with the conference streams taking a thematic approach, striving to answer the question: how can we develop a sustainable future for the UK oil and gas industry.

To coincide with the conference, an Oil & Gas Technology Roadshow came to Westhill on Friday 13th June. Using an amazing exhibition vehicle, companies were invited to join the roadshow and exhibit their technologies and services directly inside the customers premises. They parked up in Arnhall Business Centre where I visited them yesterday morning along with Sir Robert Smith, MP. I was really impressed by the range of products and services on display and was able to chat with the exhibitors.  This was a unique opportunity for suppliers to meet directly with engineers – the people who do not manage to attend the more traditional trade shows.

Thanks to Oil & Gas UK for extending the invitation.

Congratulations to Echt Tandoori who were amongst the winners at last night’s 2014 Scottish Curry Awards in Glasgow. Echt Tandoori beat competition from Aberdeen’s Light of Bengal and Cinnamon to claim the “Restaurant of the Year” accolade for the North-East of Scotland region.
The Echt restaurant was also nominated in the “Best Restaurant Design” category but lost out to Edinburgh’s Indian Cavalry Club.

Full Council meets on Thursday 13th February 2014 to consider our revenue and capital budgets as well as set next year’s council house rents and charges.

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees/detail.asp?ref_no=802572870061668E80257BB70041081A

Sir Robert Smith MP has visited Royal Mail’s Westhill delivery office to pass on Christmas wishes and encouragement to the postmen and women at their busiest time of year.

Sir Robert was shown round the office by local Delivery Office Manager, Mike McKillop  and was introduced to the postmen and women who are working hard sorting and delivering all cards and parcels in the Westhill area in the run-up to Christmas.

Sir Robert said: “It was great to meet the dedicated, hard-working Royal Mail posties at Westhill delivery office and to see first-hand the effort they put into delivering for people at this time of year.

“Postmen and women do such an important job, especially at Christmas, given the growth in the number of packets for delivery. I would like to thank them for their efforts and wish them all the best over this busy festive period.”

Mike McKillop, Royal Mail Delivery Office Manager at Westhill, said: “Christmas is the busiest time of year for Royal Mail. Our people pull out all the stops throughout the year to ensure mail is delivered quickly, but even more so over the busy festive period. We are grateful that Sir Robert came along to see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.”

“Our people do a fantastic job at this time of year to ensure that friends and families stay in touch through their Christmas greetings and gifts.  We’d like to remind our customers to post early so that friends and family have longer to enjoy their Christmas greetings!”

The recommended last posting dates for mail are:

• Friday 20 December for 1^st Class items
• Wednesday 18 December for 2^nd Class items
• Monday 23 December for Special Delivery items

The recommended International posting dates for 2013 are:

• Wednesday 4 December for airmail to Asia, Far East ( including Japan ),and New Zealand
• Thursday 5 December for airmail to Australia
• Friday 6 December for airmail to South & Central America, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East
• Monday 9 December for airmail to Cyprus and Eastern Europe
• Tuesday 10 December for airmail to Canada, France, Greece, Poland
• Friday 13 December for airmail to USA

• Saturday 14 December for airmail items to Western Europe (excluding France, Greece, Poland)

Customers can also help Royal Mail ensure that all their letters, cards and parcels are delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible by taking a few easy steps:

Use a 1^st Class stamp! – Post 1^st Class for just 60p and have your Christmas card delivered the next day – anywhere in the UK.

• Post early! – Avoid disappointment by posting your cards and parcels early. The last posting dates this Christmas are: December 18 for 2^nd Class mail; December 20 for 1^st Class mail; December 23 for Special Delivery.
• Use a postcode! – A clearly addressed card or parcel, with a postcode, and return address on the back of the envelope, will ensure quick and efficient delivery.
• Use Special Delivery!– For valuable packages and parcels guarantee delivery with Royal Mail’s Special Delivery, which means your gift is tracked, traced and insured against loss.
• For more information about Christmas with Royal Mail visit: www.royalmail.com or call 08457 740 740.

Robert Smith MP met with Proserv staff who had recently finished their apprentices during his visit to the Offshore Europe 2013 exhibition.

Sir Robert commented “Apprenticeships are a great way for school leavers to develop their skills whilst experiencing the working environment. It is great to see companies like Proserv supporting apprentices and ensuring continued employment following their training.”

Photo shows  from the right – Bradley Savoldelli (Aberdeen), Sir Robert Smith MP, Jamie Lawrenson (Newtonhill)

Full Council meets this Thursday 27th June. This will be the last full council meeting before the group breaks for the summer recess. The agenda can be accessed here:

http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees/detail.asp?ref_no=802572870061668E80257A8B00353140

A newly formed Westhill business that aims to solve water production issues in the oil and gas industry has added its first employee thanks to a scheme from Business Gateway funded by Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City Councils.

A grant of £1,000 alongside advice and support is available for businesses to take on their first employee through the Aberdeen City and Shire First Employee Grant Scheme and director of Greenthread Ltd, Ross Clarke, was glad of the assistance.

The 44 year old stays in Ellon and started his business after being immersed in the innovative environment of the oil service industry for over 20 years.

The extraction of oil and gas produces water as a by-product which has to be treated before disposal or re-use and Ross was driven to develop a new company with the ambition to solve this industry challenge through sustainable technology solutions.

He said: “I believe ‘produced water’ will be one of the major issues to overcome within the industry both at present and more so in the future. An opportunity arose to acquire a technology that addresses some specific water production issues, whilst at the same time is extremely environmentally friendly compared to comparative technologies and so a company was born.”

The company was formed in 2011 and was signposted to the first employee grant which Ross said was helpful as he found starting a technology company to be a cost heavy process.

He added: “New businesses shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help and advice as there are a great many support functions available through Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise.”

New employee Andrew Henderson, 26, is a graduate from RGU and started at Greenthread in May. He said: “At the start of 2012 I was looking for a change in direction with my career as since graduating I had solely worked on designing and testing well completion products for the oil and gas industry.

“I wanted to work with new technologies and also get more involved with the project management side of engineering. However I didn’t want to stray too far from my old design engineering role as I enjoyed that part of my job the most.

“Working with a small technology driven start-up company provides the answer. I have new, exciting technology to learn about and work with and project management is now a major part of my role.

“The small work force means I still get to do plenty design work. I am really enjoying working at Greenthread.”

With its first employee now on board Greenthread Ltd has ambitious plans for the future.

The company aims to develop a pilot plant to target specific North Sea issues and create a suite of technology solutions to address all areas of produced water treatments to target global markets.

Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee Councillor Peter Argyle said: “The growth of small companies must be nourished and I am delighted to hear of an innovative oil and gas company in Aberdeenshire being supported to expand with assistance from the Business Gateway as well as Scottish Enterprise.

“I encourage more people to consider applying for this worthwhile scheme as it is more than just a cash injection; it provides solid advice and support too.”

Businesses applying for assistance thought the Aberdeen City and Shire First Employee Grant Scheme will be asked to complete an application form and payment of the grant is in two stages with 50% up front when the employee is in place and the balance paid six months later.

Businesses must ensure that this is the first employee of the business and systems must be in place to deduct National Insurance and PAYE.

The employee must not be a partner or investor in the business and must work a minimum of 30 hours per week.

For a copy of the application form and more information please contact
Business Gateway Manager Sally Collinson on 01224 664771 or at
sally.collinson@aberdeenshire.gov.uk