Issue 14 (15 December 2010)

Fife Business Week Attracted Huge Support from Businesses

As Fife Business Week closed, organisers, the Fife Economy Partnership, announced that more than 350 people had attended the week's events.

Fifab event sets purposeful agenda

Fife Fabrications in Glenrothes played host to over 60 attendees at the opening session of Fife Business Week in an event that epitomised the focus and ambition of Fife's business community.

SMAS support for manufacturers

"Please use us" was the offer made to Fife's manufacturers by representatives of SMAS, the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory service speaking at the Fife Business Week event hosted by Fifab.

Green light for new Fife museum and gallery

DUNFERMLINE'S under-developed economic tourism potential has received a major boost with the news that Heritage Lottery Fund has given the provisional green light for a multi-million-pound museum and art gallery next to the world's first Carnegie library.

Giving Fifers a sporting chance

ANDREW Carnegie's 175th anniversary year will coincide with the completion next year of the upgraded pool and leisure complex which was founded by the Scots American steel king in 1905 and which will add a new dynamic to the sporting life of Fife.

Investing in future success

Securing the Purvis Group family dynasty into the third generation are Bob's two eldest grandsons, Scott Crookston and Arron Purvis, who are following in their grandfather's foosteps by pursuing their automotive training at one of Carnegie College's newest facilities – officially opened in november as robert Purvis House.

Pioneering Fife business celebrates 30 years

The Purvis Group, one of Fife's most successful businesses celebrated its 30th anniversary in the summer.

World first for Carnegie

Carnegie College has scored a coup by being the first in the world to secure the prototype of a highly coveted wind turbine trainer.

Future Skills Centre impresses Chancellor

Adam Smith College's Chancellor, Mr Gordon Brown MP had his first glimpse of the College's new £17.5m Future Skills Centre in September As part of the tour, Mr Brown visited specialist workshops for engineering and construction, state-of-the-art science laboratories and bespoke training areas for renewable energy, oil and gas.

Turbine revenues could fund UK-first apprentice scheme

Adam Smith College is a partner in a ground-breaking scheme could see funds from a proposed wind farm pay for 150 apprenticeships.

University is big business

The University of St Andrews contributes over £300 million per year to the Scottish economy and supports over 9000 full-time jobs, according to an independent economic impact assessment.

It's three great escapes for Fife

FBM's Bill Livingstone assesses the impact of october's spending review on Fife's business community.

Challenge for business

With 490,000 public-sector jobs to go by 2014-15 – and a similar collateral fall-out in the private-sector – can business respond to the coalition's challenge to take up the slack?

Bruce boost for traders

Dunfermline's 2010 Bruce Festival brought in over £320,000 to the city over two August weekends with visitors spending an average of £22.90 each.

Bold plans for landmark site

Newcastle-based firm, Shepherd offshore, has purchased the former Hyundai and Freescale/Motorola site in Dunfermline The new owner, former high-profile chairman of Newcastle United Freddy Shepherd, believes that his renewable energy plans at Halbeath can create 2000 permanent jobs.

All smiles in Kirkcaldy

A week of big name comedy in Kirkcaldy attracted hundreds of visitors to the town to see the likes of Fred MacAulay, rhona Cameron and John Shuttleworth in action.

Sound base helps company win major contracts

A Dunfermline company has shown that having a broad based approach can pay dividends in dealing with current business challenges.

Fife Business in a league of its own

When Kirkcaldy based entrepreneur, Alistair Cameron, relaunched his sports business after a devastating fire in 2004 little did he know that in a few years the company would have risen from the ashes to become the UK's number one retailer in American Sports.

Making an Impact

With a track record of helping more than 6,000 businesses get started, creating and safeguarding nearly 11,000 jobs and supporting more than £460 million of sales, Fife's business support organisation, known locally as Business Gateway Fife, has certainly proved its mettle.

Hardies acquire interest in Dundee firm

Property & Construction Consultants, Hardies has acquired a controlling interest in Dundee based Chartered Quantity Surveying firm W J R Christie & Partners LLP.

Fife expansion for HW Berry

The Dunfermline-based firms of Frick & Company and Frick & Robertson have announced their merger with the Kirkcaldy-based firm of HW Berry.

Hotel marks 1000th wedding

West Fife's four star, Best Western Keavil House Hotel, is celebrating its 1,000th wedding since the current owners, The Queenferry Hotel Group, took over the operation in the mid 1980's.

New associates for Carters

A Fife-based firm of Chartered Accountants has promoted two of its members of staff to the position of associates.

Going green for charity

The team at Dunfermline accountancy firm Thomson Cooper recently raised £600 for Macmillan Cancer Support during their 'Green Day' event at Castle Court, Carnegie Campus.

Case Study: recycle Fife – From local campaign to sustainable business

When Ballingry residents, Jackie Dunsmuir and Frankie Hodge, campaigned against landfill proposals back in 2003, it would lead to them becoming directors of a brand new enterprise which addressed their concerns.

Meet the buyer

Fife Council in Partnership with Fife Chamber of Commerce propose to host a 'Meet the Buyer' event in line with Supplier Development Programme objectives.

Going public

In the current economic climate, clients who are financially sound and pay their invoices promptly are like gold dust.

Increase in number of contracts won by Fife Companies

A report on the success of Fife's Supplier Development Programme has revealed that local businesses have seen an increased share of contracts awarded by Fife Council to Fife businesses.

Fife companies Look Green as Fife Business Week Comes to a Close

Fife companies look green as Fife Business Week came to a close with a visit to the Bowhill Recycling and Restoration Facility in Lochgelly.

255 young people gain employment

255 young people in Fife have benefited from the creation of new jobs, through the "Future Jobs Fund", since its launch in 2009.

Young joiner in the making

A Fife Council employability initiative has helped a young person to realise his ambitions in life, improve his qualifications, raise his expectations and gain a joinery apprenticeship with Taylor Wimpey.

Top accolade for Fife business

A Kingdom business which has had a 2010 to remember is The Peat Inn, near Cupar.

Home grown success

While The open Championship has captured all the headlines this year one of Fife's less lauded golf successes is the success story of Inverkeithing's Great Turf Company.

New Forum for food and drink industry

Food and drink is big business for Fife to help the industry achieve ambitious objectives set out in the Scottish Government's economic strategy a new group is being established by Scottish Enterprise.