Tourism Merger in Ayrshire
At the AGM of Ayrshire and Arran Tourism Forum held at the Western House Hotel in Ayr on Thursday 16th June it was agreed to merge the Forum with Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry to form Ayrshire Chamber Tourism Form.

Improved information for Chamber Members
User names and passwords to be issued to Chamber Members

Red Tape Progress - your views
Regulation fulfils various purposes, not least helping policy makers reflect public concern over the actual or perceived risk of a given activity

New Fund for SMEs
SMEs with big ideas for climate change in line for £40,000

R&D rates discount
Support for R & D rates discount but not at any price

Pride & Passion For Scotland - Passing It On..
New website – the virtual HQ of the Pride & Passion movement.

Manufacturing support
Executive’s new Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service welcomed by Chambers

New disability definition protects thousands
New disability definition protects thousands from discrimination

Notice of EGM
EGM called on 8th day Feb 2006 to approve the adoption of a new Articles of Association.

abc-authorities buying consortium
The current abc Approved List of Tenderers (ALT) expires on 31 March 2006 and applications are now being invited for inclusion on a new list to operate from 1 April 2006 for a period of three years.

Holyrood Skills and Training debate
The Scottish Parliament held a debate on skills and training which concluded that ' the Parliament agrees that developing the current and future workforce of Scotland is key to ending poverty and sustaining economic growth

Moving Scotland Forward
‘ONCE IN A LIFETIME’ OPPORTUNITY FOR SCOTLAND’S RAIL NETWORK

CrossBo Reverse Auction for SMEs
CrossBo Reverse Auction for SMEs - “Where the buyer sets the rules”

Skills for a Modern Scotland Discussion Paper
A Discussion Paper Issued by Alex Neil MSP in Association with Roger Mullin and Ian McLaughlan

Chamber Response to Budget - Cool!
Chambers strongly support the Chancellor's decision to examine the case for reforming National Insurance

Scottish export decline continues
The value of goods made in Scotland and sold overseas has continued to decline.

Scottish Business Crime Centre warning!
A genuine ongoing scam

DAWN starts work on schools project
DAWN Construction has started work on the £80 million North Ayrshire Schools Public Finance Initiative (PFI) Project, which will see four new schools completed by August 2007.

Image takes backseat in company cars
Image takes backseat in company cars Small business owners are more considerate of their environmental impact when purchasing a car, a new survey has revealed.

Chambers of Commerce EU employment survey 2006
BCC is undertaking an important project in partnership with Eurochambres, the association representing national Chambers of Commerce across Europe

Major construction works on the A77 Whitletts
The £3.5M improvement scheme, funded by Transport Scotland, an agency of the Scottish Executive, started on the 8 May 2006, on the A77 Whitletts Roundabout and should be completed by late August 2006.

Planning etc. (Scotland) Bill - message from CEO
Planning etc (Scotland) Bill - has your business been affected by planning issues?

Developing bus routes in local areas in Ayrshire
People living in Ayrshire will have access to improved local bus services, thanks to funding from the Executive.

Cleaner designs pushed up business agenda
Consumer demand pushes cleaner design up the buisness agenda

Pricing in Proportion - are you ready?
Pricing in Proportion - are you ready?

The A77 Safety Group website
The group has recently re-launched their website as a dedicated community resource with an innovative ‘Drive the A77’ feature that allows users to navigate stretches of the road via a variety of video clips.

E-Cert EXPRESS
Chamber urges export businesses to use E-CERT EXPRESS. Ayrshire businesses are yet not taking full advantage of the quick and easy on-line export documentation service.

Millions of pounds winging its way to Ayrshire
£26m is generated for the Ayrshire economy from passengers travelling on Ryanair flights via Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Crime Prevention
A small, but definite, increase in housebreakings to commercial premises usually small to medium units within larger industrial estates has recently been observed, particularly in the North of Ayr.

Top competitors hail sailing facilities at Largs
Delegates, including International Olympic Committee member, Sir Craig Reedie, have been visiting the facilities and praised the Scottish Sailing Institute’s efforts in attracting major competitions to Largs.

Composite Legal Expenses saves member firm
Composite Legal Expenses saves member firm from bankruptcy!

Call for rejection of Planning Gain Supplement
The Chamber Calls for the rejection of Planning Gain Supplement

New Training Programme is back on Course
A new marketing initiative which is set to improve local business growth, profitability and job prospects, is being made more affordable to Ayrshire small businesses.

Britain’s flag carrier to use GPA
Infratil Airports Europe is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with British Airways World Cargo (BAWC) to operate scheduled freighter services through Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Colleges vital to growing the economy
A recent report published 3/10/06 says that for every £1 invested in Scotland's colleges, Scotland's economy benefits by at least £3.20.

Ayrshire’s potential to be realised
Tourism and Aerospace are the cornerstones of an ambitious agenda of economic development outlined by Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire at their Annual Public Meeting.

Airport in driving seat with new car hire firm
Airport in driving seat with new car hire firm

Age Discrimination Legislation
Chambers help businesses understand and comply with new legislation

Web link opportunity
The Ayrshire and Arran Visitor Attractions Association (AAVAA) are keen to develop reciprocal links to and from their website www.greatdaysoutayrshire.co.uk

Ayrshire Textiles at L.A. Fashion week
Two leading Ayrshire textiles companies have been exhibiting at LA Fashion Week as part of a strategy to build a strong international brand for Scottish textiles.

Arran Information website launches
VisitArran Ltd, the new Destination Management Company for the Isle of Arran has launched a new information website – www.visitarran.org.

Scotland’s billion pound potential
Anticipated growth in outsourced aircraft maintenance operations is set to widen the market significantly for companies in Scotland, particularly Ayrshire, and could make the market worth £1 billion to Scotland by 2010.

Harvesting Ice-cream - whatever next?
The campaign to encourage small businesses in the agricultural sector to consider the benefits of workplace learning.

Stewart Travel Centre scoop top prize
Stewart Travel Centre – Travel Weekly - SPAA 2006 Travel Agency of the Year

New Airport Security Measures
“Arrive early, arrive prepared” is the message from airport operators around the country as they get ready to implement new Government security restrictions.

Exciting Picture Library for Education
A fascinating historical record of social and economic issues worldwide has now been launched on the Internet.

£59 million investment at paper mill
Irvine-based UPM-Kymmene has signalled their long-term commitment to the Ayrshire site and its staff ...

Skinners get the wind in their sails
Building contractors William Skinner & Son have installed a 6kW wind turbine at their St Quivox headquarters

Major Regeneration Project for North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire Council has given the green-light to outline development principles for a major regeneration project at Lochshore, Glengarnock.

Largs Company Receives Top Award at UK Ceremony
ibp academy was awarded a UK National Training Award for the work it has undertaken with Scottish Enterprise to train its network of business advisers.

A clear road ahead for Ayrshire economy
There is a clear road ahead to economic improvement for Ayrshire in 2007, according to the Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire.

Post Office Network Consultation
The DTI is currently consulting on the future of the post office network.

New measures to support small businesses
Following a wide-ranging review of business support, a simplified national grant structure has been introduced for 2007.

New rights for working mothers
Paid maternity leave for working mothers will increase from six months to nine months

Hefty fines
Small businesses are risking hefty fines by failing to include mandatory information on their websites and email signatures

Ayrshire’s £2m boost from silver screen projects
One of the biggest Ayrshire film projects of the last year was The Queen, a movie which earned Helen Mirren a Golden Globe at last week’s awards ceremony in the US.

£5.8 million lottery funding for Burns heritage
Ayrshire is to benefit form a £5.8million Heritage Lottery grant to reinvigorate Burns Tourism Opportunities.

Ensure Ayrshire retains title of UK Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire is urging local businesses and organisations to ensure Ayrshire retains the title of UK enterprise champion by taking part in the DTI''s Enterprising Britain Awards 2007.

Secure future for aerospace workers in Prestwick
The aerospace giant GE Caledonian announced the multi-million pound investment, making Prestwick a world-class centre for the future.

Mobile phones
Motorists caught driving while using a hand-held mobile phone now face a £60 fine and three points on their licence.

Regulation to Business rises to more than £55bil
Burdens Barometer shows that the cumulative cost of regulation since 1998 has risen to £55.6 billion.

Change to the Scottish electoral system
On May 3rd we will be asked to elect representatives to the Scottish Parliament and our local councils using no less than three different electoral systems.

Ayrshire pupils rise to Chamber Challenge
Ayrshire Chamber Tourism Forum in conjunction with the Determined to Succeed teams across the 3 Ayrshire’s held their first ever Tourism Challenge.

Ayrshire Companies set the trend in New York
Two Ayrshire textiles companies are returning to the States next month in a bid to increase their commercial presence in the US.

Positive Start to Ayrshire Redundancy Response
The Ayrshire Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) team is in place to ensure that there is a co-ordinated and effective response to the job losses.

Opportunity Knocks!
Use Ayrshire Chamber to promote your business

New Economy Car Park open at Prestwick Airport
New economy car park offers the cheapest parking at Glasgow Prestwick - guaranteed!

Passenger numbers up at Ayrshire’s airport
Glasgow Prestwick Airport’s performance during March signalled a strong end to the 2006/07 financial year.

Manage Conflict at Work
ACAS, Britain''s leading employment relations service, has published a new booklet - Managing conflict at work.

Executive Stretch
The exercise will develop participants’ self-confidence, communication skills, and their understanding of the importance of leadership and teamwork.

Planning Gain or Planning Pain?
In 2006, Chambers of Commerce spent much time and effort in lobbying politicians on the reform of Scotland’s planning system.

Launch of the Managing EU Projects programme
Europe needs more skilled EU project managers

Paligap wins four new big-hitting projects
Leading Ayrshire creative agency Paligap has won four major new projects.

New Exam Centre is Flying High
Ayr College’s new accreditation as a Centre for the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) exams saw staff and students flying high after eight students sat the first round of exams.

Free Mentoring for your Business
The British Chambers of Commerce is offering your business the opportunity to receive 10 days of mentoring with specialist professional expertise at no cost to your business!

First ever Scottish Recruitment Awards
Andrew Thomson who has a temporary contract with Tomkinson Shaw of Kilmarnock was announced as the all round winner of the "One in a million temporary employee of the year"

Chamber Awards 2007
With £25000 up for grabs the Chamber Awards offers the perfect reason to download your entry form today!

SEA Commits to Growing the Economy
Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire Outlines its Commitment to Growing the Economy

Fresh Hope for former Simclar workers
Twenty workers who lost their jobs through the closure of local Simclar factories earlier this year have now been given the chance to boost their future job prospects.

The Buzz of Entrepreneurship
Starting a business may be just the ticket for achieving that adrenaline high, according to new research suggesting most entrepreneurs get a ‘buzz’ out of running their company.

BCC Climate Change Charter Launched
Pledge a CO2 reduction and save money on your energy bill.

Wanted – SME’s with big ideas on Climate Change
Shell Springboard is now open for a third round of applications, for small businesses who have a product of services that reduces greenhouse gases.

Prestwick a great example for Italians
Glasgow Prestwick Airport has been selected as a great example of a successful regional airport by a group of Italians looking to develop one of their own.

A Double Celebration for Louise
Louise Black of Irvine recently held a double celebration to toast the innovative and successful Dynamic Marketing training programme.

Prioritising Transport
Scottish Executive has had to wrestle with in the first few months of its tenure has been the crucially important area of transport.

UNESCO Biosphere Opportunity for SW Scotland
Did you know that one of the world’s most important conservation areas was right on your doorstep?

Business Survey results
The Ayrshire Chamber released its Business Survey results for the second quarter of 2007.

Kerr & Smith Race to Victory
Kerr & Smith have achieved the Ayrshire Business in the Community Silver Award for Community Excellence

Tourism Management Development Programme
A fantastic programme with a huge variety of conferences and seminars.

REACH - how it will affect your business
REACH will have an impact on anybody who uses chemicals.

3 new Routes from Glasgow Prestwick
Glasgow Prestwick Airport welcomes Ryanair’s announcement today that they will operate low cost flights from just £10

ACCI reaction to sharp fall in inflation
The downward trend in CPI inflation over the past three months must surely lift the threat of a further interest rate rise for at least the remainder of this year.

ACCI comment on Scottish Executive document
ACCI comment on Scottish Executive''s National Conversation Document

Loans for Small Businesses
If you are a small business located in west central Scotland you can apply for a loan from £5000 to £30000

Ayrshire Business Diversity Awards 2007
Don''t delay, nominate today

Advice on Exporting and succeeding new Markets
Advice on Exporting and succeeding in new markets available from the Britsh Chambers of Commerce.