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The Herald Scotland
13-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Family sells 'respected' Scottish bus firm after 70 years
McGill's Group said the acquisition of Prentice Westwood, which also operates bus routes, is part of its continued expansion in the coach travel sector. Businessmen James and Sandy Easdale. (Image: McGill's) The firm said that the "seven-figure deal will see the respected West Lothian-based business join the portfolio of McGill's Group" companies owned by former Rangers directors, Sandy and James Easdale. Tony Williamson, chief executive of McGill's Group, said: "We believe Prentice Westwood will play a significant role in supporting our continued growth across coach travel in central Scotland and beyond, and we look forward to welcoming our new colleagues into the business." Read the full story here Methil yard chief reveals renewables jobs hope There is hope for a positive future. (Image: Navantia) The head of Navantia's fabrication yard at Methil in Fife has revealed hopes of at least doubling the workforce from less than 180 to between 350 and 400 within the next two or three years. Matt Smith also highlighted a possibility that the headcount could rise as high as 600, depending on the work that comes into the yard. Mr Smith, who has been at the Methil yard for 12-and-a-half years under various owners, highlighted 'ups and downs' over this period and described the current trajectory as 'probably the most significant up we have been on with the acquisition by Navantia this year'. He flagged the boost to the local economy when the Methil yard was busy, as well as underlining the scale of the opportunities in the renewables sector and the site's capacity to undertake defence work. Read Ian McConnell' exclusive interview here Fanny By Gaslight sets re-opening date The well-known pub is to open again. (Image: Google) One of the oldest pubs in Kilmarnock is set to re-open a year after mysteriously closing down. Fanny By Gaslight on West George Street in the East Ayrshire town has been a public house since 1846, previously going by names including Railway Tavern, The Saddle Bar and Fifty Waistcoats. The Victorian pub was known for its traditional feel and Friday night rock gigs, but closed suddenly in June of 2024. It was put on the market by Iona Pub Partnership and new tenants have been found, with Fanny By Gaslight to re-open later this month. Read Gabriel McKay's exclusive story here AROUND THE GREENS ⛳ 'That's plenty': The revival of golf at Eastwood Twelve The course opened for play last month. (Image: Eastwood Twelve) This article appears as part of Kristy Dorsey's Around the Greens series Play has resumed at Eastwood on the south side of Glasgow with a new 12-hole format that owners of the course say is proving popular among golfers who are short on time.
The Herald Scotland
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
New Scottish shopping centre owner puts 50 stores on market
It comes after the Yorkshire-based developer acquired the Regent Shopping Centre in South Lanarkshire. The agent said: 'Occupying a dominant position in Hamilton town centre, the centre's positioning and scale means that it makes up a significant proportion of the town centre core. 'The six-acre gateway site has been identified as key to South Lanarkshire Council's masterplan vision for the regeneration of Hamilton town centre to create a vibrant, accessible, and resilient town centre with a focus on living, leisure, healthcare and workspace as well as incorporating a significantly reduced retail element.' Tahir Ali, of Evergold, said: 'Our plans for the Centre are aligned closely with the council's aim to have a diverse and sustainable mixed use town centre that not only serves its immediate catchment but also becomes a vibrant hub for the wider region.' READ MORE: Scottish shopping centre sold ahead of major redevelopment In addition to acting as sole letting agent, Shepherd Chartered Surveyors will assume an asset management role together with a property management role. Calvin Molinari, of Shepherd Chartered Surveyors, said: 'This instruction follows our recent merger with Whyte & Barrie Chartered Surveyors to form a practice unrivalled in its delivery network of surveying services throughout Lanarkshire. 'Our extensive expertise and experience within the Lanarkshire market make us best placed to deliver effective asset management and property management roles alongside actively marketing the available retail units at this gateway site to a range of prospective tenants.' The 50 retail units, varying in size from 300 square feet to 50,000 square feet, are available on flexible lease terms. Scottish salmon exporters prepare major drive for Indian market Salmon farmers are preparing to tap into the Indian market in a move expected to deliver a massive boost for the Scottish economy. Producers are exploring new opportunities following agreement on a free trade deal that will slash tariffs on exports to the sub-continent. Scottish salmon currently faces a 33 per cent tariff which severely limits trade, but this is set to be removed next year when the deal struck by the UK Government takes effect. This paves the way for exports worth tens of millions of pounds every year, creating inward investment and well-paid jobs in Scotland. As talks get underway, Indian High Commissioner Vikram K. Doraiswami this week travelled to Scotland to learn more about the scale and quality of Scottish farm-raised salmon during a visit to Rosyth, Fife, which is home to the UK's largest processing plant. Around the Greens ⛳ Gourock golf pro reaps business benefits of championship win This article appears as part of Kristy Dorsey's Around the Greens series Derek Watters has been the head professional at Gourock Golf Club since 2007, having previously been at Largs for nine years.
The Herald Scotland
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Tearoom at same Scottish roadside site for 87 years sold
Barry McNeil, director at Cornerstone Business Agents, handled the sale of the Tinto Hill Tearoom in Thankerton. He said: "The tearoom is a popular and much-loved roadside stop-off, situated on the A73 halfway between Biggar and Lanark. "Loved by several generations of locals and passers-by, a tearoom has traded from the site in some format since 1938. "We were able to attract significant levels of interest in the site before completing the deal." He said the team is "delighted to confirm the successful sale". Donald Trump calls for more North Sea drilling with Aberdeen 'the hub' Donald Trump has called on the UK to continue drilling for oil in the North Sea and keep Aberdeen as "the hub". The US president says drilling needs to incentivised by the UK government and posted on his Truth Social platform that things need to change to help bring down energy costs. Mr Trump has been vocal about the North Sea oil industry in the past and now wants to see Scotland and the rest of the UK stop building 'unsightly' windfarms and focus on oil instead. He insists there is still at least 100 years of drilling left for companies and it will help Aberdeen and the rest of the country. AROUND THE GREENS ⛳ Golfing as they did in Edwardian times This article appears as part of Kristy Dorsey's Around the Greens series Believed to be the only pure hickory golf course in Europe, the greens and collars at Kingarrock in Fife are hand-cut, with fairways and tees mowed using 1920s-style trailed gangs. No fertilisers or artificial irrigation are used anywhere on the course, which provides a more natural, less manicured, and therefore more authentic feel.
The Herald Scotland
27-04-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Plans for 'comprehensive transformation' of Scottish airport
AviAlliance, which acquired Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports owner AGS for an enterprise value of £1.53 billion, said its plans constituted the "single largest capital investment programme in AGS since it was formed in 2014". Another potential design for the airport. (Image: AGS Airports) It said the transformation of the main terminal building at Glasgow Airport would deliver 'best-in-class operational and retail facilities for passengers'. Avi Alliance, the wholly owned airports platform of one of Canada's largest pension investors, said the plans for Glasgow Airport also included direct investment into airfield infrastructure and energy-efficiency initiatives. Read Ian McConnell's story here and exclusive interview here Speakeasy opens at once dry hotel as part of overhaul Three generations of the Leckie family in the hotel's new Ballroom Bar (left to right): Fiona, Sarah, Louisa, Charlie, Janet, Richard and Stephen Leckie. (Image: Crieff Hydro) A speakeasy bar has been introduced to a once famously dry Scottish hotel as part of a radical overhaul of a Victorian-era resort. The owners of Crieff Hydro have invested £5.2 million to transform key aspects of the food and beverage operation at the popular Perthshire destination. It is one of the biggest single capital expenditure projects to be made by the Leckie family in the hotel, which has seen the creation of six new bars and restaurants within its public areas. And it marks a significant moment of succession planning for the business, with Richard and Charlie Leckie - sons of chief executive Stephen Leckie and wife Fiona, the group's long-standing head of interiors - credited with creating the 'vision' for the project. Read Scott Wright's story here 'Exciting new chapter' as two historic Scottish legal firms merge Some of the staff (Image: Thorntons) Two historic Scottish legal firms have merged to launch one of the largest law operations in the country. The merged firms now have a headcount of more than 640, including 77 partners, with offices across Scotland. Thorntons said it has significantly strengthened its market presence and share following the completion of its strategic merger with Macnabs. The newly enlarged firm - the fourth largest independent operator in Scotland - is now fully operational as Thorntons and said it has been bolstered by the addition of a new office in Bridge of Allan. Read Brian Donnelly's story here AROUND THE GREENS ⛳ Bakery teams up with Scottish Golf for expansion drive Richard Crabtree (left) and Jim Mosley say they have more high nutrition products in development. (Image: St Andrews Bakery) This article appears as part of Kristy Dorsey's Around the Greens series St Andrews Bakery was set up in 2019 by founder and managing director Richard Crabtree, an industry veteran who has held executive and non-executive positions at Mars, McVitie's and Burtons. He was joined a few years later by co-owner Jim Mosley, a friend of Mr Crabtree's since their university days at Liverpool. Together they devised a strategic plan to develop a set of products focused on the golf and hospitality sectors. Last month St Andrews Bakery was named as the official snack partner of Scottish Golf, the governing body for the game in this country. Under the three-year agreement, the bakery's Golf Balls protein snack range will feature at all of this year's Scottish Golf events, and will also be available to the country's performance squads. Mr Mosley says the deal is "hugely important" for St Andrews Bakery.
