Rob McLaren

Dundee

Business Editor at The Courier and Evening Telegraph (Dundee)

Business Editor at @thecourieruk Contact me at [email protected]

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Articles

EXCLUSIVE: Famous Simpsons Golf Shop of Carnoustie under new ownership

1 week ago | thecourier.co.uk | Rob McLaren

Iconic Simpsons Golf Shop has been acquired by Carnoustie Golf Links. Simpsons is the second oldest golf shop in the world, having been located in Links Parade since 1905. With an iconic multi-coloured dome, reminiscent of a 1920s cotton golf umbrella, it attracts visitors worldwide. Inside, its roof beams display thousands of bag tags from golf clubs around the globe.
EXCLUSIVE: East Pier Smokehouse says Fife Council quadrupling rent threatens future

1 week ago | thecourier.co.uk | Rob McLaren

The owner of East Pier Smokehouse says Fife Council’s decision to more than quadruple its rent is threatening the future of the business. James Robb operates the popular fish restaurant in St Monans. He owns the building but, as the business operates at the harbour, it pays a ground rent to the local authority. Since 2012, this has been set at £1,800 a year. Fife Council has now demanded the business increases this rent to £8,000 a year.
Job losses as Perth aviation training firm collapses into administration

2 weeks ago | thecourier.co.uk | Rob McLaren

A Perth firm which has trained thousands of pilots and aircraft engineers since 1931 has entered administration. Air Service Training (Engineering) Limited (AST) is a wholly owned subsidiary of UHI Perth. It was established almost 100 years ago to provide approved courses in aircraft engineering. Since its formation, it has trained more than 190,000 engineers and pilots from approximately 150 countries. The business currently has 28 members of staff.
Blairgowrie beauty salon doubles in size with premises move

2 weeks ago | thecourier.co.uk | Rob McLaren

A Prince’s Trust loan helped Blairgowrie woman Dawn Page start her own business when she was just 21. After going through the rigorous process, she was eligible for a £5,000 loan – a small fortune to her then. But after acquiring premises and buying equipment she was left with just £50. The business had to work. 15 years later and Flawless Skin, Hair and Beauty Clinic is a fixture in the Perthshire town, with a wide range of services and four members of staff.
BK Plus deal to acquire two Perth and Dundee accountancy firms

2 weeks ago | thecourier.co.uk | Rob McLaren

Two Tayside accountancy firms have been acquired by private equity-backed firm BK Plus. Since launching in 2021, BK Plus has completed 35 acquisitions of regional accountancy firms. Its latest round of acquisitions include Walton Kilgour, which has offices in Perth and Pitlochry, and Dundee-based Bird Simpson & Co.It has also acquired Ian MacFarlane & Co in Falkirk and JC Wallace & Co of Glasgow. These take the firm’s headcount to 600 staff in the UK, including 150 in Scotland.
Perthshire's Binn Group adds 17 staff with skip hire firm acquisition

2 weeks ago | thecourier.co.uk | Rob McLaren

Perthshire waste giant Binn Group has acquired an Inverness skip hire and metal recycling business. The Glenfarg company has struck a deal to purchase R Finnie Skip Hire, which has 17 staff. It sees the acquisition as a way to strengthen its presence in the north of Scotland. Binn Group’s Fiona Labrum will relocate from Perthshire to Inverness to become site manager. R Finnie Inverness historyR Finnie was founded in 1976 as a motorcycle sales company.
Crawford Architecture now owned by employees as founder retires

2 weeks ago | thecourier.co.uk | Rob McLaren

Montrose firm Crawford Architecture is now owned by its 10 workers after moving to employee ownership. The architectural firm was established in 1987 by John Crawford, who is also chairman of Montrose Football Club. It has been involved in several local projects including the regeneration of the town’s old swimming pool into Montrose Playhouse cinema. It is also behind plans for Montrose Community Trust’s new facility at Links Park.
Broughty Ferry roofing boss Steve James on business, banter and giving back

2 weeks ago | thecourier.co.uk | Rob McLaren

There’s few better known in Broughty Ferry than Steve James, who operates John James Roofing. Steve has completed thousands of projects as a tradesman since leaving school at 16. He has also just completed a 12-year stint as president of Broughty Ferry Traders Association, responsible for Gala Week and the Christmas lights switch-on. If he’s not been spotted at these events, it’s probably because he’s dressed up as a Minion or Oor Wullie.
Jobs lost as liquidator appointed to charity Home-Start Dundee

3 weeks ago | thecourier.co.uk | Rob McLaren

Charity Home-Start Dundee, which helped families in need in the city for more than 40 years, has appointed a liquidator. The Courier previously revealed the charity, which supports parents with children aged under five, would close at the end of March. Shona Campbell of Henderson Loggie has now been appointed as liquidator. The decision comes after extensive efforts to secure sustainable financial support and attract new volunteers.
The Buffalo Farm: More debts emerge during Fife firm's administration

3 weeks ago | thecourier.co.uk | Rob McLaren

Administrators establishing the debts of The Buffalo Farm in Fife have received more claims from unsecured creditors. It is a year since The Buffalo Farm Limited entered administration. Founder Steve Mitchell acquired most of the company’s assets from administrators. Meanwhile businesses owed debts and investors into a 2022 fundraising scheme which raised almost £1 million have been left high and dry.