Featuring: SME News - Scottish Enterprise Awards 2024
About the SME Scottish Enterprise Awards 2024 Phone: +44 (0) 203 970 0010 Website: www.sme-news.co.uk Sofi Parry Senior Editor No information contained on or in this website constitutes investment advice or an offer to invest or to provide management services and is subject to correction, completion and amendment without notice. Neither AI nor any of its associated entities are authorised to give financial advice of any nature nor are they regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Prior to making any investment, AI recommends that any prospective investor should consult with its own investment, accounting, legal and tax advisers to evaluate independently the risks, consequences and suitability of that investment. AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. Announcing the highly anticipated return of the Scottish Enterprise Awards in 2024! Each year we at SME News set out to celebrate and praise the best and brightest in Scotland’s smallto-medium enterprise community. The resilience and optimism displayed by Scottish entrepreneurs is undeniably extraordinary. Despite fears of a decline in business investment and the rising costs of conducting business, Scottish SMEs are overall optimistic that they will see a performance increase over the next financial year. According to the Scottish Government’s “Small Business Survey Scotland: 2022-2023”, 80% of Scottish businesses expect their turnover to either increase or stay the same in the coming 12 months. Scottish enterprises are also a source of ingenuity whose effect could globally improve quality of life. Innovations such as the steam engine, penicillin, the MRI scanner, cloning and tidal turbines, are all products of Scottish ingenuity. More recently, Scottish enterprises have been making advances in the material sciences which could have an extremely positive global effect in the areas of medical diagnostics, environmental testing, sustainability and much more. Through the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2024, SME news wishes to reward this innovation, resilience and optimism with accolades of excellence! Recognition for Scottish businesses is well-deserved, which is why these annual awards continue to appear in our digital publication each year.
Contents 4 The Watch Room: Best Luxury Watch Retail Enterprise 2024 & SME News Luxury Watch Excellence Award 2024 6 I-Chai: Best Chinese Dining Experience 2024 – Glasgow & SME News Dining Hospitality Guest Service Excellence Award 2024 8 Orchard Cottage Care Ltd: Best Children’s Residential Care Home 2024 – Ayrshire 10 Supertonic For Design: Most Innovative Experiential Interior Design Studio 2024 & SME News Brand Development & Enhancement Excellence Award 2024 11 Hey Girls CIC: Most Dedicated Period Poverty Eradication Enterprise 2024 & Period Health Education Advocates of the Year 2024 12 Glasgow Garden Maintenance: Best Tree Surgeon & Arboricultural Business 2024 – Central Belt & SME News Customer Service Excellence Award 2024 13 Horizons Residential Care Limited: Best Bespoke Residential Child/Youth Care Home 2024 14 Thistle Care Solutions Ltd: Best Home Care Business 2024 – Central Scotland & SME News Independent Living Enrichment Excellence Award 15 GA R&D Ltd: Most Innovative Energy Transition Solutions Provider 2024 & Best Wireline Roller Tech Product 2024 – GARD U-line 16 Sports Turf Care Specialists of the Year 2024 17 The Boudingait: Best Upscale Bar & Restaurant 2024 – Fife & SME News Culinary Arts Excellence Award 2024 18 Intelligent Payment Solutions: Most Innovative Card Payment Solutions Company 2024 & Mobile Terminals Innovation Award 2024 19 Bonnie Banks Ltd: Best Highland-Themed Holiday Home 2024 & SME News Excellence Award in Guest Experience 2024 20 Highland Carbon Ltd: Best Nationwide Carbon Units Supplier 2024 & Best Natural Landscape Restoration Experts 2024 21 Jim’s Garage Ford & Mazda: Best Vehicle Rental Business 2024 - Shetland Islands 22 The Coffee Bothy: Best Independent Coffee Shop 2024 – Western Isles 23 The Dark Island Soap Co.: Best Sustainable Natural Soap Brand 2024 24 Chilled Dawgz Dog Day Care & Pet Services: Perfect Clean Edinburgh Ltd.: Best Small-Medium Dog Day Care Centre 2024 – Central Scotland 25 Perfect Clean Edinburgh Ltd.: Best Commercial Cleaning Company 2024 & SME News Employee & Community Care Excellence Award 2024
SME News Scottish Enterprise 2024/ 4 In the world of luxury watches, true authenticity is paramount and choosing the right watch dealer is more important than just looking for the watch itself. The Watch Room, Scotland’s leading independent luxury watch dealer, does things differently. Buying, selling, and sourcing extravagant new and pre-owned watches from such brands as Rolex – its speciality and by far its best-selling brand – as well as Audemars Piguet, Omega and Cartier, to name just a few, The Watch Room has gone from strength to strength since it was founded back in 2018. As a result, it has positioned itself as a beacon of expertise, trust, and value in this market. When Geoff Swindells made the decision to establish The Watch Room more than six years ago, he did so on the back of a lifelong passion for watches, timepieces, and horology. With an ever-growing personal watch collection to boot – as well an affinity for motorsport, two areas which often goes hand in hand – Geoff had already been buying and selling luxury watches for decades before setting out on this journey, usually to either carry on building his own collection or to track down the perfect gift for a friend or family member. The leap to turn this passion into an enterprise based on his expertise therefore made sense. Geoff was, however, in the midst of a more than 30-year stint in banking and finance at the time. Given the calibre of senior roles he was holding at such pioneering businesses as Accenture, Experian, and Visa in this field, it is no surprise that Geoff had the privilege of being able to travel the world on business. With each new destination, Geoff would explore the local luxury watch market, resulting in him quickly forming a network of international contacts, which came in useful when he was building this empire. As a result, The Watch Room is today able to offer the best luxury watches from some of the world’s most renowned brands, delivering stellar pieces at highly competitive prices in this crowded marketplace. Selling, buying, and sourcing new/unworn and pre-owned luxury watches, every timepiece stocked by this retailer is then meticulously checked by its master watchmaker, an individual who personally vouches for both the authenticity and functionality of every watch, and underpinned up by a minimum 12-month warranty. Whereas many watch dealers carry almost no stock and have to source a watch after an order is placed, this enterprise is proud to have more than £1 million worth of stock to hand, ready to be shipped immediately. It’s shipping times are incredibly fast and its packages secure and tamper-proof, resulting in a seamless experience for customers. Bolstering this further is the fact that Geoff and his team are able to leverage the capabilities of the aforementioned worldwide supplier network to swiftly source any watches not currently in stock. Geoff himself explains: “We place customer service at the heart of everything we do. We are watch lovers and long-time personal collectors first and foremost – thus, every watch we sell is a watch we would be delighted to own ourselves.” This unwavering commitment to sourcing only the highest-quality watches sheds some light on the reason why the company has never received a rating of less than five stars across all review platforms, something Geoff is incredibly proud of. After all, he asks, how many businesses can say that? Most luxury watch sellers operating in the resale market care only about the transaction itself, securing as high a price as they can before swiftly moving on to the next opportunity. The Watch Room is different, with the customer experience being at the very heart of its service. Yes it sells exquisite watches, but it is the relationships forged as a result, built on trust, which mean the most to both the company and its customers. Be it for a first luxury watch or a collection’s centrepiece, The Watch Room recognises this sense of trust is vital. This is why the company promises never to polish any pre-owned luxury watches, with polishing being a divisive subject when it comes to the luxury watch community. Most people are entirely against the practice – particularly those who consider themselves to be discerning collectors or aficionados – with patina (the name for how a luxury watch ages over time) being something that is not only normal but expected. Polishing also removes metal from the watch and can potentially impact value drastically. As this example shows, The Watch Room is about something much greater than just surface-level beauty. Its business model may be simple and timeless – buy high-quality stock and sell it at fair market prices – but the level of trust, professionalism, and expertise injected into it at every level make this luxury watch retail enterprise different. This has led to continuous growth for the brand, which is passionate about continuing to enhance the experience for its customers, whether they are buying, selling, or simply browsing as they save. To this end, Geoff shares with us that the company is currently in the process of relaunching its website. Currently in the build phase, The Watch Room recognised it was time for a refresh, as it had essentially been using the same website build since launch. Given how much the business has evolved over the past six-and-a-half years, the new website will reflect this growth, as well as the frontrunner position that this leading luxury watch retailer has carved out for itself – across Scotland, the rest of the UK, and beyond. Being based in Scotland comes with its fair share of benefits for the company, such as having to tackle less competition than it would if it were operating in other regions of the UK. Best Luxury Watch Retail Enterprise 2024 & SME News Luxury Watch Excellence Award 2024 Oct24229
“Owning a luxury watch is more than a transaction – it’s a journey of self-discovery, connection, and timeless elegance. It’s a testament to our appreciation for the finer things in life and a celebration of the moments that define us. So, embrace the allure, cherish the memories, and let your next luxury watch from The Watch Room be the timeless companion on the journey of a lifetime.” Regardless of location however, there are few operating in this market capable of matching The Watch Room in terms of product or service quality. Many of the retailer’s customers are also based in Scotland, but it does business right across the UK and also has many loyal customers in Europe. This cross-border business may have declined after Brexit, but there is still a great deal to be excited about for customers. This is because, despite the cost of almost everything else going up, the luxury goods sector has experienced a welcome price correction over the past few years, meaning that there has never been a better time to secure a good deal on the perfect luxury watch. Doing so may just change a customer’s life, exactly as it has done in the case of Geoff Swindells. Geoff is proof that a passion can be transformed into a viable business opportunity, with this operation having been on the receiving end of a wealth of industry awards since opening its doors. We are delighted to add to this acclaim by recognising The Watch Room as the Best Luxury Watch Retail Enterprise 2024, as well as celebrating it with our unique SME News Luxury Watch Excellence Award 2024. Most impressively, this acclaim comes on the back of what is just the beginning of what is sure to be a long and prosperous journey for this retailer, which has set new standards when it comes to the luxury watch market and beyond, raising the bar when it comes to trust and reliability. Contact: Geoff Swindells Company: The Watch Room Web Address: https://www.thewatchroom.com/
SME News Scottish Enterprise 2024/ 6 From humble beginnings, I-Chai was first formed in Anniesland, Glasgow in 2005 as a solo establishment promising delicious flavours and top-tier customer service. For almost two decades, the restaurant has grown and evolved with the addition of three takeaway locations, effectively cementing itself as a staple-piece of the Glaswegian cuisine scene. With locations in Anniesland, Bishopbriggs, and Erskine, I-Chai is dedicated to introducing the diverse and vibrant flavours of Asia to the local community in Glasgow. This dedication, when paired with the restaurant’s unwavering commitment to clientcentric services, have certainly enabled I-Chai to stand out in a competitive market. “Our main goal is to provide amazing food and great service,” says Chow Yong. “Around Glasgow, we’re noticing a strong appreciation for unique, high-quality dining experiences. Whether it’s a focus on traditional Scottish cuisine with a modern twist or international flavours, people are seeking our places that offer something distinctive.” Blending authentic flavours with traditional dishes, I-Chai succeeds in its mission by offering expansive menus that encapsulate the diverse flavours of Asian gastronomy. Not only does I-Chai serve delicious Chinese dishes, but also a variety of other authentic cuisine that includes Thai, Japanese, and other regional favourites. Each dish served by I-Chai has been meticulously crafted to capture the captivating essence of its cuisine, elevated by I-Chai’s masterful combination of aromatic spices and fresh, seasonal ingredients. I-Chai offers an assortment of delectable dim sum dishes, including Har Gow and Shanghai Xiao Long Bao, as well as a mixture of traditional and unique dishes demonstrating the restaurant’s broad range of capabilities. Such meals include Japanese Katsu Curry, Strawberry Duck, Soft Shell Crab, and Malaysianstyle Roti Canai. The meals vary in spice levels and can be accompanied by a multitude of side dishes, such as Steamed Jasmine Rice, Stir-fried Pak Choy, Singapore Chow Mein, and Japanese Udon Noodles. In addition to its diverse main menu, I-Chai also offers guests a ‘Simple Set’ dinner menu, lunch menu, weekend brunch, unlimited tapas, and even a festive menu through the winter months. These menus offer an array of Asian dishes designed to highlight and celebrate the vibrance of the continent’s diverse flavourings and are available at a range of different price points, allowing everybody to get a taste of the bold and memorable flavours for which I-Chai has become renowned. “We are dedicated to our customers,” Chow Yong tells us. “We listen to our customer feedback often and try to evolve with times, modernising our branches and making it easier for customers to dine with us. Our internal culture is centred around teamwork, passion, and a commitment to delivering amazing customer service.” Renowned for its delectable dishes, I-Chai is a leading restaurant offering authentic Chinese cuisine within local areas around Glasgow. With one eat-in restaurant and three takeaways across the region, I-Chai has successfully established itself amongst the local community as a trusted provider of cuisine steeped in culture. As I-Chai is named in the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2024, we speak with its Director, Chow Yong Wong, below. Best Chinese Dining Experience 2024 – Glasgow & SME News Dining Hospitality Guest Service Excellence Award 2024 Oct24167
The restaurant’s commitment to customer service is evident in the many positive reviews left for I-Chai across Google and TripAdvisor. In addition to the fantastic flavours and diverse dishes, guests also praise I-Chai for its friendly team, efficient service, and warm environment, with many stating that the restaurant has become a regular fixture in their weekly diet. “Three of us were celebrating my husband’s birthday and all of us have agreed that our different items were each outstanding!” writes C. “Absolutely delicious. In addition, I had asked for my meal to be as lowfat as possible, and it was perfect! We actually had our meal delivered this time, but usually visit in person; we have been customers for years, ever since I-Chai opened, and will go on being customers, for sure. Thank you for making this a memorable celebration.” “I-Chai is the best Chinese restaurant I have ever been to,” says D. “The food is delicious; the vegetable spring rolls are amazing. The serving staff are very helpful and pleasant, and the kitchen staff work very hard to serve their delicious food. I would never go anywhere else.” “I have been to I-Chai more than a few times in the past month for lunch and takeaway,” reports B. “Not often would I keep going to the same place, but the food speaks for itself. Well presented, decently sized portions, and good quality. I-Chai is the best Chinese restaurant in Glasgow by far! They have great deals online, with telephone bookings and walk-ins also available. The staff are the right level of attentive and very polite; you always feel welcome here. I honestly can’t recommend I-Chai enough!” “I visited I-Chai with my partner, who had never been,” says H. “This restaurant was outstanding. The staff are so friendly, very accommodating, and could not have done more for us. The food was five-star, and you would have imagined smaller portions for the price but that is not the case; the portion size was massive. I would 100% recommend I-Chai for anyone.” “We have been going to I-Chai for many years, and there’s a reason for that – the food is amazing,” raves M. “The service is top class; staff are so friendly and helpful, and the manager goes out of his way to keep customers happy. Great restaurant, great food, great staff, well worth a visit. I-Chai is by far the best Chinese restaurant for miles.” With such glowing testimonials, it is clear to see why I-Chai has been awarded the SME News Dining Hospitality Guest Service Excellence Award 2024. Since its inception, the restaurant has prioritised combining diverse, cultural flavours with the freshest seasonal vegetables and an unfaltering commitment to clientcentricity to deliver a top-tier dining experience unparalleled by its peers. As for the future, Chow Yong reflects upon I-Chai’s advantageous location and how this serves to further boost the restaurant’s strong presence in the local market. “We believe that there are significant benefits to being based in Scotland, particularly in the vibrant food scene of Glasgow,” he tells us. “The city’s diverse customer base and appreciation for quality food provide a strong foundation for our business. Currently, we are focusing on expanding within the surrounding areas of Glasgow to serve more local communities. However, we’re always open to future opportunities and growth beyond this region, as our plans may evolve.” With plans to expand its services in and around Glasgow, we learn that I-Chai’s current sights are set on establishing a new eat-in restaurant branch in Bishopbriggs. This addition will allow the restaurant to broaden its reach across the Glasgow area, further strengthening its community ties and solidifying its position as a key market player. For its dedication to delivering an authentic dining experience, sharing the bold, rich, and unique flavours of Chinese cuisine with its Glaswegian community, I-Chai has been recognised as the Best Chinese Dining Experience 2024 – Glasgow by SME News. Contact: Chow Wong Company: I-Chai Web Address: https://ichaiglasgow.com/
SME News Scottish Enterprise 2024/ 8 Best Children’s Residential Care Home 2024 – Ayrshire All children deserve a nurturing environment, with individualised care that enables them to thrive and flourish as they grow up to lead fulfilling lives. Based in Dundonald, South Ayrshire, Orchard Cottage Care is a children and young people’s residential service providing therapeutic care via a holistic approach to support its children and young people in building a brighter future for themselves. As Orchard Cottage Care is named in the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2024, we speak with its Administrator, Adele McDade, to learn more. Orchard Cottage, located in a semi-rural area of the village of Dundonald, is a stunning and spacious family home offering space for five children and young people from the ages of 0-18, with an option to continue care up to 21 years of age. Boasting five bedrooms, each with a private bathroom, a large kitchen, separate dining area, and two lounges, with one doubling as a sensory room, Orchard Cottage offers a safe space for children and young people to recover from trauma and start to thrive. The cottage’s fantastic features extend beyond its interior; the building is surrounded by an expansive, wrap-around garden featuring swings, trampolines, climbing frames, and various other outdoor play equipment. Being positioned in Dundonald, Orchard Cottage provides its children and young people with a sense of rural life without the inconveniences of being cut-off from resources, instead encouraging the use of its vegetable patch and chicken coop to develop an understanding and appreciation of the great outdoors in a controlled environment. Since its inception, Orchard Cottage Care has operated in alignment with the core values identified by the Health and Social Care Standards to contribute to quality care practice across all residential settings, which are privacy, dignity, safety, choice, realising potential, and equality and diversity. The home demonstrates impeccably good practice in upholding these values at all times, whilst making efforts to ensure that a homely environment is maintained so that Orchard Cottage never develops an overtly institutional feel. With this in mind, Orchard Cottage Care allows each young person to maintain a sense of privacy throughout their time at the home and promotes sensitivity when handling personal and private matters. Staff are given an active awareness of each young person and child’s racial, cultural, religious, and dietary needs to ensure the celebration of difference for all. The home strives to provide a living environment and operational culture that places the needs of its young people as paramount, ensuring that the highest level of dignity is maintained for them at all times. To further this mission, each young person residing at Orchard Cottage Care has access to an independent advocacy service, as well as access to read and record in their own personal file. Residents’ meetings are held to encourage the young people to share and influence the day-today routines and practices within the house, within reason. Furthermore, young people are encouraged to exercise their own religious and cultural preferences, partake in a variety of leisure activities, and decorate their bedroom to their liking, further facilitating Orchard Cottage Care’s dedication to promoting choice. “Our core model of childcare offers a unique opportunity in our ability to completely personalise a package of care to meet the unique needs of each child being looked after at Orchard Cottage Care,” Adele tells us. “Where possible, we endeavour to prepare the young person for integration back to their family environment and the community. We aim to provide an optimal care setting for children in a group living environment and recognise that a key element of working with a diverse age range is to ensure robust safeguarding and meeting different developmental needs.” This service is ensured by delivering a thorough assessment of each child’s needs, ensuring that all care plans and placements are appropriate for the needs and environment through careful placement matching upon admission. To further facilitate this mission, Orchard Cottage Care ensures that all practitioners are aware of and able to respond appropriately to the diverse needs of the varying age groups and developmental stages of young people entering the home, with training being tailored specifically to the age and need ranges of those residing in the house at any time. Additionally, Orchard Cottage Care has developed an effective staffing structure with three to four staff on shift at any time, on a rotational basis, with two waking night staff to provide additional support throughout the night. The team is increased and trained wherever required to ensure that the home is continuously meeting the needs and demands of its group. Every aspect of home’s operations, from its décor to its employees, have been meticulously chosen to ensure a nurturing and supportive environment. “We try to make Orchard Cottage as homely as possible,” says Adele, “and we do this by ensuring that our home is clean, tidy, and well maintained. We have a cleaner in daily, with whom the children have built up great relationships, and our residential staff do all the cooking so that they can sit around the dinner table with the kids. Our walls are covered in school pictures and photographs of the children on holiday or out on fun activities with our team, reflecting how much care and love they receive just like a family home.” Orchard Cottage Care offers a diverse mixture of services and programmes designed to support its young people and ease their integration back into their home environment. The home believes that every child and young person needs attention, affection, and affirmation in order to grow into their best selves, alongside feeling valued, appreciated, and connected. Each individual offering combines into a holistic service that effectively addresses and meets these needs, providing support for its young people as they are prepared to champion a brighter future. To help the children feel more positive and build belief in themselves, Orchard Cottage Care trains its team members in Relax Kids. Relax Kids uses a unique seven-step system - consisting of Move, Play, Stretch, Feel, Breathe, Believe, and Relax – that leads children into a relaxed Oct24105
state where they are ready to learn and allows the staff members to become key figures in helping the children to emotionally regulate, build resilience, and learn self-care tools to navigate life. Another beneficial programme held by Orchard Cottage Care is its animal therapy sessions, which has been proven to have significant psychological, social, emotional, and physical benefits to children and young people. Showing love towards animals helps to achieve a more healthy and balanced life, and can decrease feelings of isolation, alienation, and loneliness whilst encouraging socialisation and communication. Orchard Cottage Care understands that trying new things can enhance both physical and mental health, whilst boosting creativity and selfesteem. The home promotes the continuation of past hobbies amongst its young people, as well as encouraging new activities and interactions they may enjoy, such as swimming, bowling, cinema trips, overnight stays, sporting activities, and many more. In addition to promoting new activities, Orchard Cottage Care also recognises the importance of ensuring that all children, young people, and adults associated with the home are protected and kept safe from harm. The home adopts the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention model developed by Cornell University, which provides a framework for implementing a crisis prevention and management system that reduces the need to rely on high risk interventions. The TCI model provides care staff with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to effectively support, de-escalate, and teach young people in a cris situation. What’s more, the home also offers its young people the services of an experienced therapist qualified in a range of holistic therapeutic techniques, in addition to unlimited access to a clinical psychotherapist for further sessions. The team successfully fulfil their duty of care to ensure that medications are managed, stored, and administered appropriately, and undergo continual training to further develop their therapeutic expertise and strengthen their support. Despite its remarkable capabilities, Orchard Cottage Care does not operate in isolation; the home has a wide network of support, with strong links to parents, family members, schools, social workers, local authorities, healthcare professionals, Police Scotland and the justice system, universities, and other various invaluable organisations such as Who Cares? Scotland, CELCIS, and Skills Development Scotland. The home remains dedicated to developing strong, collaborative, and effective relationships with all individuals involved in the lives of its young people. Ultimately, Orchard Cottage Care is dedicated to supporting and empowering its children and young people in overcoming trauma and building a brighter future for themselves. The house has successfully established an encompassing service model that, with the aid of an expansive network of professionals and loved ones, provides unparalleled support to the children and young people in its care. We at SME News eagerly anticipate the next year of success for Orchard Cottage Care, who has been rightfully awarded the title of Best Children’s Residential Care Home 2024 – Ayrshire. “Over the last two to three years since Orchard Cottage Care opened, we have noticed a growing tide of new residents, particularly expansions of growth with other companies opening homes within the Ayrshire area,” Adele concludes. “Currently, Orchard Cottage Care consists of one house, that is Orchard Cottage. Our children and young people get the best care possible and for now, there are no plans to expand the service until possibly 2025 or 2026, with a second home that has the same homely feel as Orchard Cottage.” Contact: Adele McDade Company: Orchard Cottage Care Ltd Web Address: https://www.orchardcottagecare.com/
SME News Scottish Enterprise 2024/ 10 Most Innovative Experiential Interior Design Studio 2024 & SME News Brand Development & Enhancement Excellence Award 2024 Based in Fife, Supertonic For Design is a distinguished design consultancy with a legacy of crafting costeffective, sustainable, and impactful spaces over the last two decades. Recognised for its expertise in brand building, interior and experiential design, and community development, the firm is dedicated to aligning businesses, brands, and behaviour for company founders and SMEs. Following Supertonic For Design’s recent award in the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2024, we take a closer look at the company below with expert insight from its Founder and Creative Director, Paula Murray. In 2009, Paula Murray founded Supertonic For Design, drawing on her extensive background in interior design, including senior roles at CDI International and Graven. Armed with a First Class Honours degree from the Glasgow School of Art, Paula established her own commercial design firm with the aim of bringing innovative design solutions to the forefront of the industry. Today, Supertonic For Design believes in the transformative power of businesses, emphasising that a brand is much more than a name or a logo. The firm aims to empower clients to see their environment as a valuable tool in deepening engagement with customers and employees alike, enabling its client’s brands to come to life in 3D spaces. Over the years, Supertonic For Design has collaborated with renowned brands and emerging entrepreneurs, offering its clients more than physical space design. The firm’s award-winning design and delivery service creates engaging, social, and immersive experiences that elevate connection and brand awareness among its clients’ customers and employees. Using a blend of interior architecture, lighting design, graphic design, brand building, and storytelling, Supertonic For Design leverages three decades of expertise to craft spaces that authentically represent their client’s brands and aspirations. The process begins by developing a deep understanding of the client’s needs, values, and expectations, along with their business strategies, goals, and targets. Supertonic For Design cheerfully and respectfully challenges traditional thinking to overcome its hurdles and deliver costeffective, commercially viable, and innovative solutions. Paula emphasises the active role of Supertonic For Design’s brand in driving, aligning, and guiding every aspect of its organisation. “Our brand is not simply a mark to promote; it’s an instrument we put to work every day,” she shares. Supertonic For Design extends this approach to client collaborations, forming a virtuous cycle of value creation and reaping rewards from operationalising brand strategies. Distinguished by its stringent commitment to its core values of creativity, education, quality, and value, Supertonic For Design operates with a consistent dedication that sets the company apart. In her leadership role, Paula prioritises investing in and developing young talent. This commitment extends to educational initiatives, with Paula serving as a lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University and often taking on placement students or graduates. Supertonic For Design’s in-house training programme, Babytonic, fosters a culture of curiosity and enquiry, alongside the embodiment of company values and integration of a collaborative approach that extends from the Supertonic For Design approach to filing, all the way through to client communication and partnership. In recognition of its talent and delivery of exceptional designs, Supertonic For Design has been awarded the title of the Most Innovative Experiential Interior Design Studio 2024 in the Scottish Enterprise Awards 2024, as well as receiving the SME News Brand Development and Enhancement Excellence Award 2024. Looking forward, the firm aims to further strengthen its commitments to net zero planning and design, in addition to broadening its portfolio of clients and further diversifying the team. We at SME News would like to congratulate Supertonic For Design on its monumental achievements and recommend keeping a close eye on the firm as it prepares for another year of extraordinary success. Contact: Paula Murray Company: Supertonic For Design Web Address: https://supertonic.me/ Supertonic For Design
Since it is the only social enterprise donating 100% of its profits to the mission of ending period poverty in the UK, it would be fair to say that Hey Girls CIC is revolutionising periods. Starting out as many great social enterprises do – from the home of somebody incredibly passionate about a cause – Hey Girls has grown considerably in less than six years, and today provides vital period products for the likes of schools and councils, as well as construction and healthcare organisations, all to name just a few. Most Dedicated Period Poverty Eradication Enterprise 2024 & Period Health Education Advocates of the Year 2024 A female-led social enterprise leveraging a unique ‘buy one, donate one’ business model, Hey Girls ensures that its period products are distributed across the UK. It achieves this through its more than 400-strong network of national community partners, individuals who serve on the frontline and help with access to both period products and education. Thanks to these team members, Hey Girls is constantly working towards its three-fold mission of ending period poverty, improving access to quality products, education, and eradicating period stigma. In addition to these aims, Hey Girls is an operation with community interest at its core, and this is why it always puts people and purpose first. From working with mainly female suppliers who employ local staff and utilise local materials, to ensuring that every supplier in its network adheres to the highest standards of sustainable and ethical practice – its products are all PFOS/PFOA/ PFCS free, OEKO TEX, and Global Organic Textile Standard – the team here are ushering in positive, industry-wide changes and nurturing a lasting impact. the likes of its Period Products Act 2021, the first of its kind in the world. A proud Scottish enterprise through and through, Hey Girls makes effective use of the services of Social Enterprise Scotland, as well as maximising the resources available to it, including the Scottish Government’s Social Enterprise Action Plan. Thus, with the whole country behind it, Hey Girls’ reach is continuing to rapidly expand. Not only is this social enterprise focusing on scaling up its operation, but it is also working tirelessly on bringing new, sustainable period products and dispensing solutions to workplaces. Its latest release in this field is the new Free Vend Unit, a wall-mounted dispenser offering free access to products at any time, with no barriers. Containing enough space for Hey Girls’ award-winning tampons and period pads, this sleek dispenser is available in five colours and has been designed to be both user-friendly and easy to maintain. Be it the sloped top for convenient cleaning, the hinged opening making refilling easy, the restock indicator ensuring supplies never run out, or the paper bag tray encouraging those who access these supplies to dispose of used period products responsibly, Hey Girls’ Free Vend Unit is as innovative as it is refreshingly simple. The best thing about this product is that every purchase of it generates donations, so discerning businesses are both championing period dignity in their workplaces whilst simultaneously giving back. As touched on above, Hey Girls is just as passionate about period education as it is the products themselves, and this is why its team actively promotes and facilitates period education in the workplace. Partner businesses of this enterprise can enjoy training delivered directly to their staff, promoting discourses around what is still a taboo subject and contributing to more inclusive, understanding working environments for all. Educating as many as possible is therefore one of the operation’s priorities as we move into 2025 and beyond. “Our goal is to foster period dignity and equity via our partners, ensuring that individuals in education, workplaces, and from all communities have unhindered access to period products – free from barriers or judgment.” Partnering with over 700 businesses, Hey Girls CIC is both championing sustainable period products and helping businesses reach their corporate social responsibility goals. Regardless of industry or setting, this is an enterprise determined to grant barrierfree access to period care whenever it is needed, be it for staff, customers, pupils, patients, or other groups. Having donated more than 40 million period products to date and helped countless others through the likes of the Free Vend Unit, this is an operation worthy of these awards. Nov24283 Hey Girls CIC Contact: [email protected] Company: Hey Girls CIC Web Address: www.heygirls.co.uk Bolstering it in these aims is that Scotland is a country likewise committed to putting an end to period poverty, as seen through
SME News Scottish Enterprise 2024/ 12 Glasgow Garden Maintenance Glasgow Garden Maintenance is the go-to provider for those in search of the best landscaping, tree surgery, and estate management services across the Central Belt and even further afield. Delivering its services to commercial and domestic clients alike, the story of this award-winning business starts with Jordan Grant, who spent his formative years cutting grass for local people at £5 a time. Thanks to his clear landscaping skills and personable nature, it wasn’t long before Jordan had regular customers, setting the wheels in motion for his successful arboriculture business. Having mowed his fair share of lawns and worked incredibly hard to understand and master the other integral elements of landscaping and tree surgery, Jordan Grant founded Glasgow Garden Maintenance, also known as GGM Landscaping, in 2018. In a little over six years, the company has grown considerably, which is a testament to the power of hard work and dedication. Starting out with just one £250 van, Jordan today runs a £1 million firm, complete with a fleet of vehicles worth six figures alone. With this fleet and a fully qualified and certified team at its disposal, GGM Landscaping today provides its standout services to a diverse client portfolio, ranging from discerning homeowners with a keen vision for their gardens through to commercial property owners searching for impeccable grounds maintenance and management services. Regardless of the task at hand, this team exude professionalism and reliability, delivering results far beyond the expectations of even the most particular client. Given this remarkable consistency, it is no surprise that GGM Landscaping’s all-inone garden service is made use of across approximately 600 properties a month, with its numbers having grown so much over the past few years that recurring visits to these properties are able to be carried out every three weeks or so. This excellent customer service has secured the team work with such major commercial clients as BT, Scottish Water, North Lanarkshire Council, and Scottish Rail, to name just a few. As a spokesperson tells us: “Our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction ensures your outdoor space is in expert hands.” This is something that the company doubles on down through its mission, which demonstrates an ultimate aim to become a household name in landscaping, tree surgery, and estate management across Scotland. More than simply delivering a quality service for its clients, this is achieved through the company giving back to the industry, as seen through its apprenticeship programme. Gaining all of the qualifications it takes to become fully certified in this industry could cost as much as £10,000 – making it almost impossible for many budding tree surgeons across the country to secure this training, especially if they have to fund it themselves. By delivering a one-of-a-kind apprenticeship scheme that sees apprentices taken on every year and trained in every element of this multifaceted industry, Jordan and co. are giving back to local people and breaking down financial barriers. “We’re not just a tree surgery company – we’re constantly at the forefront of Scotland’s tree surgery industry, driving innovation, sustainability, and best practices. This forward-thinking mindset has allowed us to expand our services and grow our reputation across the region and beyond.” From its strategic location in the heart of Glasgow, GGM Landscaping is in a prime position for growth, with the company currently in the process of scaling its operations even further across both the country and the industry. This is something that Jordan and the team are hoping to achieve by acquiring key market players, which will allow the company to strengthen its rock-solid foundation whilst also setting new standards across the industry when it comes to service quality and innovation. “Stay tuned to our social media channels,” advises a company representative, “here we’ll keep you updated on our progress and share our journey as we continue to grow and become a vital player in the tree care and estate management sector. The future is bright, and we’re thrilled about what’s to come in 2025 and beyond.” We are far from the first to bestow an award on GGM Landscaping, which was recognised earlier this year with a Scottish Home Improvement Award in the category of Best Landscapers of the Year, as well as featuring in our Scottish Enterprise Awards last year. Awards such as these have helped Glasgow Garden Maintenance to carve out a reputation for itself as the best tree surgeon in the Central Belt, a claim we wholeheartedly agree with. Contact: Kayleigh Greenhill Company: Glasgow Garden Maintenance Web Address: https://www.ggmlandscaping.co.uk/ Nov24253 Best Tree Surgeon & Arboricultural Business 2024 – Central Belt & SME News Customer Service Excellence Award 2024
Raising youngsters in an environment that encourages positive growth is essential when it comes to helping them to flourish and achieve their full potential. They need to feel secure and supported in order to experience joy and express themselves without judgement. Horizons Residential Care is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all its children and young people. In so doing, it has won the hearts and minds of so many residents, as well as garnering much in the way of external recognition and accolades. The story of Horizons Residential Care began in 2013 with the establishment of Westhaven House in Edinburgh, the company’s first care home location. It was impressively successful, prompting the company to expand its services further still, which it did in 2015 by opening a second venue in Edinburgh, Hillview House. Shortly after, Braeside House in Fauldhouse, West Lothian, and Glendale House in Gorebridge, Mid Lothian appeared on the scene, in 2016 and 2017 respectively. During 2022, in view of increased demand for its services, Horizons opened three new services: Two new Houses in Edinburgh – Newhaven and Westhaven Lodge and a new House in Fauldhouse – Bonnieview. This makes up the seven houses of the company’s comprehensive support system. Each house provides excellent care standards. Horizons have extended their facilities by providing a self-contained cottage in Fauldhouse– Braeside Cottage for single placement. A similar facility will be provided at Gorebridge – Glendale House which will open in 2025. Our sister Company Horizons Residential Childcare UK Limited plans to open a house in Berwick-upon-Tweed in 2025 to provide therapeutic care to children and young persons predominantly from England. Horizons Residential Care’s first to be launched service, Westhaven House in Edinburgh, is very popular amongst service users. The lovely villa accommodation is situated within the historic suburb of Corstorphine, and provides 3 recently upgraded ensuite bedrooms, offering comfortable living spaces for residents. It’s also ideally located near to all the major facilities offered by the city of Edinburgh. The residential home provides bespoke therapeutic support that is particularly aimed at users who have been subjected to challenging life experiences such as trauma. It aims to cultivate relationships, and nurture an environment that feels homely and supportive. Hillview offers a 3-bed bungalow sited in Drumbrae, Edinburgh. It also boasts a separate and newly renovated self-contained cottage, designed to accommodate semi-independent residents, whilst still ensuring continuing care is close at hand. The basis of much of the work Horizons focusses on involves providing a nurturing approach to young people, and is designed to create positive, long-lasting relationships. It aims to build resiliency in users, helping them to develop independence and become an integral part of their community. Braeside in West Lothian is another 3-bed house, which like the other Horizons locations provides therapeutic support packages for children and young people. It promotes attachment-forming, with a traumainformed approach that has proven effective in helping staff and young people to develop strong and trusting relationships. Glendale House in the village of Gorebridge, Midlothian, differs slightly from the other Horizons residences in that the beautiful and substantial stone villa also features extensive walled gardens. The house also contains a large lounge, dining room, games room, and garden play area, in addition to its three generous bedrooms with ensuite facilities. It offers the same therapeutic support packages as the other Horizons accommodations do, focused on helping children and young people who have encountered trauma and other challenging experiences in their lives. The team at Glendale House, and indeed all the staff at Horizons, are honoured to stand alongside the young people in their care. Each Horizons residential Care house has worked hard to establish community link-ups with local facilities such as libraries, leisure centres, youth groups, sports clubs, and other groups that might be of interest to young people. It is keen for its service users to be able to participate in a wide range of leisure activities, catering to each and every individual’s personal interests and preferences, allowing them to thrive and flourish. Contact Name: Dr Narud Fowdar Company: Horizons Residential Care Limited Web Address: www.horizonsresidentialcare.co.uk Horizons Residential Care Limited is a specialised provider of residential care for children and young people between the ages of 8-21 years old. It promotes a heartfelt aim to provide a stable home environment that’s fully supportive of its all-inclusive ethos. This encompasses respect, diversity, and care, and is designed to enable residents to achieve the fulfilling lives they truly deserve. Best Bespoke Residential Child/ Youth Care Home 2024 Nov24193
SME News Scottish Enterprise 2024/ 14 Best Home Care Business 2024 – Central Scotland & SME News Independent Living Enrichment Excellence Award Founded in 2019, Thistle Care Solutions is on a mission to provide compassionate and personalised care for individuals wishing to maintain their independence at home. Renowned for its remarkable services, the company has established itself as a trusted provider of home care services in Fife and Central Scotland. Below, we speak with Business Manager, Taff Magoche, to find out more. Build upon a foundation of professionalism and integrity, Thistle Care Solutions strives to improve the quality of life for the individuals it serves. Understanding the importance of maintaining independence and dignity at every stage of life, Thistle Care Solutions offers personalised care and support that empowers clients to live life on their own terms. The company specialises in delivering a comprehensive range of personalised care and support services that are specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, varying client by client. From aiding with daily activities to offering specialised care designed for complex conditions such as dementia and physical disabilities, Thistle Care Solutions provides compassionate support that enables clients to thrive in the comfort of their own home. Thistle Care Solutions promotes compassion, integrity, empowerment, excellence, and people-centricity, allowing these values to shape every aspect of the organisation. The company believes in delivering care with kindness and empathy, ensuring that clients feel valued and respected. This goes hand in hand with the company’s commitment to integrity, guided by honesty, transparency, and accountability in how it operates and communicates. Thistle Care Solutions understands that every client is unique, and strives to fit their individual needs, empowering them to reach their full potential. A dedication to high standards in training, service, and innovation underpins everything that Thistle Care Solutions does, ensuring that its team meets the most stringent standards of care for which it has become renowned. The company prides itself on the skilled and capable team that drives it, each individually motivated to provide the very best care services. “At Thistle Care Solutions, our internal culture is rooted in compassion, teamwork, and a shared commitment to excellence in care delivery,” Taff tells us. “We strive to create an environment where every team member feels valued, supported, and motivated to contribute to our mission of empowering individuals to live independently at home.” To achieve this mission, Thistle Care Solution prioritises professional growth through regular training and development opportunities and encourages the team to take initiative in both their work and development. In addition to this, the company ensures to acknowledge and reward achievements, both collective and individual, to reinforce its appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the team. Servicing the areas of Fife and Central Scotland, Thistle Care Solutions sees several unique benefits from its position. Scotland has a deeply ingrained sense of community and social care, which aligns perfectly with the company’s mission to provide compassionate and personalised care to its clients. The country’s ageing population has sparked an increasing demand for home care services, offering top-tier companies such as Thistle Care Solutions opportunities for organic growth. The Care Inspectorate and the Health and Social Care Standards provides clear guidelines that help Thistle Care Solutions to deliver high quality services, driven by the robust standards to ensure that it is always improving and meeting the expectations of the individuals it supports. Additionally, Thistle Care Solutions benefit from forming strong partnerships with supportive authorities and councils across Scotland, such as its recent six-year contract with Renfrewshire Council. What’s more, the company’s location provides ample access to funding and innovation, with initiatives such as the Scottish Enterprise and government programmes that support innovation and growth across the company, helping Thistle Care Solutions to remain competitive and adopt new technologies that emerge within the care sector. At present, Thistle Care Solutions’s primary focus is providing home care and housing support services in Fife and Central Scotland, although Taff tells us that the company does have future plans for expansion. The company’s recent contract with Renfrewshire Council represents its first steps into a new area and, moving forward, we learn that Thistle Care Solutions aims to establish services in other areas of Scotland, and even further across the UK. “As we continue to grow, our focus remains firmly on Scotland,” Taff concludes. “We aim to expand our reach to move regions across the country, particularly areas where there is an increasing demand for compassionate and personalised home care services. Our goal is to ensure that individuals across Scotland can access high quality care that supports their independence and wellbeing whilst staying true to the values that define Thistle Care Solutions.” Contact: Taff Magoche Company: Thistle Care Solutions Ltd Web Address: https://thistle-caresolutions.co.uk/ Nov24054 Thistle Care Solutions Ltd
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