Gordon Leslie is riding high with new deal

A Hillington Park freight, distribution and warehousing company has recently secured customs approval for its warehouse which will save new and existing clients hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Gordon Leslie Group’s warehouse was named an A-list bonded site which means it can attract even more international customers, as clients will only pay duty and VAT on goods they store with Gordon Leslie after the products are removed from the bonded warehouse.

This means the company’s warehouse is effectively a duty-free zone and is now qualified to hold items for up to four years.

After securing this approval, Gordon Leslie Group, which has two sites on the Park, won a contract to store 5000 bikes for manufacturer 2x2.

This contract, in partnership with another business on the Park, is a major coup for the company and could have a significant impact on the business’ future growth.

The warehouse approval comes after last year’s successful submission for the external storage of wind turbines making the Gordon Leslie sit at Hillington Park one of the few outside bonded facilities in the country.

Craig Leslie, Managing Director, Gordon Leslie Group said: “Our bonded warehousing facility is important for us and our future. Our location, so close to the airport and motorways, as well as our fleet of trucks, has helped us to cement our position as a leading company in our industry, and this new development will strengthen this.

“We have also installed new racking which has enabled us to make more use of our space and fully utilise our 200,000 square feet of internal and external state of the art storage which is spread across our two sites, and recently we have also began onsite export crating. We believe that our ability to combine storage, crating and export services places us in a unique position above our competitors, as we offer clients the simplicity of one supplier for all requirements.”

Founded in 1970 and now in second-generation family management, the Gordon Leslie Group is a major provider of logistics solutions throughout the UK and the world. For over 40 years, the last seven based at Hillington Park, Gordon Leslie has developed into a leading provider of worldwide freight, UK distribution and warehousing.

Innovation Centre based company wins major water IT contract

A Hillington Park IT company has won a significant six-figure multi-year contract with the organisation that administers the market for water and wastewater retail services in Scotland.

Bridgeall, based in the Innovation Centre, began work with Central Market Agency Ltd (CMA) earlier this year and now operates and provides testing services for the IT systems that help CMA calculate bills.

The CMA is owned by its members which includes Scottish Water, Business Stream, Thames Water Commercial Services and Anglian Water Business.

Bridgeall, which specialises in technology consulting and software development, developed and built the organisation’s central systems calculation service for the newly competitive Scottish water market five years ago.

The company, which employs 20 people, also works with Heineken, Scottish Power and North Lanarkshire council, which has seen it propel to a leading position in the IT industry in Scotland.

Stephen Beer, Managing Director of Bridgeall said: “We are delighted to have secured this contract. We have developed an excellent working relationship with the CMA over the last five years and our experience of developing, building and testing this IT system means we have a thorough understanding of the complex processes required to work out hundreds of thousands of bills.

“At Bridgeall we pride ourselves on building relationships with clients and with our success in the Scottish deregulated water market, we welcome the opportunity to provide similar skills and expertise to emerging markets in the UK and beyond.”

Based in the Innovation Centre since 2003, Bridgeall has discovered that it is the perfect base for clients and staff alike and has assisted the company in its substantial growth over the last ten years.

Dave Kerr, Director, Bridgeall added: “The Innovation Centre has given us the platform to create and grow two businesses since we arrived. We sold one arm of the business, which was specifically created for the public library sector, back in 2011 to Baker & Taylor, and we are now focussing on rapidly growing the original business with a focus on mobile, collaboration and cloud solutions. The flexibility of the lease agreements, access to experts in business development and close proximity to likeminded people all played a part in our decision to locate here.”

“Bridgeall is a great example of a business on the Park that is growing and leading the way in its industry,” says Jamie Cumming, Commercial Director, Hillington Park. “Since Bridgeall has been based at the Innovation Centre it is has continued to grow and win large, coveted contracts, and we congratulate the team on this achievement.”

Offices To Let Glasgow

As Scotland’s largest business estate, Hillington Park is home to over 300 companies employing around 6,700 people.

From the days when MEPC began managing the Park it was known as Scotland’s first and largest industrial estate and since then MEPC has continued to develop the Park creating a diverse and growing business community. Prompted by a sense that there was light at the end of the tunnel after several years of challenging economic trading conditions, in 2012 MEPC, headed by its Chief Executive Rick de Blaby, embarked on a process of re-planning the short and medium term future of Hillington Park in ways that could harness the aspirations of existing Hillington businesses, the ambitions of Renfrewshire Council and other public sector stakeholders and the wishes of the wider local community.

Developing a vision for Hillington required MEPC to undertake some in-depth research that included infrastructure, communications and the wider customer experience. It also included conversations with a wide sample of the organisations based on the Park to hear first-hand about their experience of Hillington Park and what they would like to see and enjoy in the future.

Based on that feedback, and MEPC’s experience of managing business parks and developing business communities in six other locations in the UK, a detailed plan has begun to take shape. The final plan will set out a vision for Hillington Park over the next five, ten, fifteen and twenty years, and will include areas for development, opportunities to build the business community, better local amenities and changes to improve the arrival experience and movement around the Park.

"What is striking about Hillington Park is the level of diversity of businesses located here. The companies all benefit from the location – two minutes from the M8, two miles from the airport and with two on-site train stations. But also, one cannot fail to be energised by the sheer enterprise and commitment of the vast array of businesses in Hillington and their ambition to achieve success in their business ventures.

That puts the onus on us to ensure we continue to provide the best environment, the full choice of buildings and sizes, the appropriate supporting amenities, the level of safety and security and the wider sense of community in an ever improving way, so that people can grow, succeed and belong within the Hillington domain.

From innovative new start-ups to large scale warehouse operations, charities, professional services companies, small industrial operations and large office users, Hillington Park offers something for everyone. The organisations based here contribute a significant proportion of the GDP for the Renfrew and Glasgow region which is a similar to that of a small town. All together these businesses are Hillington Park.

Project Hillington is a very exciting proposition for us. As a dynamic business community our challenge is to help people benefit in new ways from this location - it is already a very popular location, we want it to be any company’s first choice."
Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive MEPC

Project Hillington, as it is termed by MEPC, includes a new masterplan, signage strategy and commitment from MEPC to put a case forward for significant investment in infrastructure, new commercial buildings and further supporting retail and other service amenities. There is also a new Commercial Director joining the MEPC team in March, Jamie Cumming, who will be tasked with taking this vision forward, working closely with the local council, Glasgow Airport, Braehead Shopping Centre, and other key partners.

MEPC’s Alison Clark and Roz Bird have been working on the new marketing strategy for Hillington Park including a review of all promotional materials, the website, use of social media and how best to support our customers.

“We have been exploring the diversity of business activity at Hillington Park and have been taking the camera inside the buildings to find out more about the people working behind the office, lab or warehouse door, and will be featuring some of these businesses in our new marketing materials,” explains Roz Bird, Head of Business Development for MEPC.

“The marketing strategy is clear: there is a diverse collection of organisations at Hillington Park but what unites them is a keen interest in the growth of their businesses, to maximise success and an appreciation of initiatives on the Park that can add value to them. The MEPC team are well set up to ensure that those value adding initiatives take off at Hillington Park. Look out for a Green Travel Plan, Social Committee and social events, biodiversity projects and business networking!

“A very big thank you is due to all our customers who have already contributed to the initial research project and the photography work in their businesses.”

Roddy Proudfoot, Leasing Manager at MEPC Hillington Park said: “Hillington Park’s central location, its connections to transport infrastructure and its diverse range of property options has always been appealing to companies at every stage of the business cycle.

“For example, start-ups and office based SMEs are attracted to the high quality serviced office space in the Hillington Park Innovation Centre and the newly refurbished Merlin Business Centre and at the other end of the scale we are able to provide large scale, flexible premises for businesses employing high numbers of staff and trading to an international customer base.

“In recent times we have seen new lets on the Park as our clients in the manufacturing, engineering and service industries continue to increase. Each of them, be they new customers to the Park or others who were already based here, expanding into new, fit for purpose accommodation.

“The quality commercial property sector market is highly competitive and why MEPC is working hard to ensure that everything within the Park is geared up to making the experience of being based here the best it can be. That includes the infrastructure, the customer and facilities management services and the environment we all work in. Everyone based at Hillington Park is part of a large community and we want it to continue to be one of the most appealing places to do business.”

Get On Your Bike with Hillington Park's Active Travel Week

People working at Hillington Park can keep active and learn how to cycle safely with the Park’s first ever Active Travel week.

Running from Monday, 29th April to Friday, 3rd May, The Better Way to Work team from the Glasgow Bike Station will be based at the Park giving staff an opportunity to learn more about cycling, and the health benefits of using your bike.

The week will consist of a range of services including: Dr Bike, a professional mechanic who will carry out free maintenance checks to keep your bicycle in tip-top condition for a safer, smoother ride; lunchtime group cycling training sessions which will provide a basic introduction to on road cycle commuting, and travel planning surgeries, allowing people to drop in for advice on alternative travel routes to and from work, which may save money and reduce travelling times.

Victoria Leiper of Glasgow Bike Station said: “We are delighted to be involved in the first ever Active Travel week at Hillington Park. Our Better Way to Work project will offer everyone based at the Park the opportunity to learn how cycling can contribute to a healthier and happier workplace. Cycling to work can save money, have a positive effect on lifestyle and improve physical and mental health.”

Alison Clark, Marketing and Customer Manager, MEPC added: “Active Travel week is another example of the community spirit evident at Hillington Park. We hope people will take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about cycling, pick up tips on how to ride your bike safely, and meet with others who work on the Park. We appreciate the good work that Glasgow Bike Station does in providing this service and we are looking forward to their visit.”

To find out more or to sign up to Active Week contact Alison Clark on aclark@mepc.com or 0141 883 5760.

As Scotland’s largest and most established business park, Hillington Park is a safe, well maintained environment with two train stations, two minutes from the motorway and two miles from Glasgow’s International Airport. The on-site Park service team has the flexibility to meet all workspace requirements and is committed to creating long-term relationships where a business can grow, succeed and belong.

In 2011 the Park won a ‘Biodiversity Benchmark’ from the Wildlife Trusts, becoming the first business park in Britain to be recognised for the quality of its environmental management.

MEPC manages some of the UK’s best known commercial property. With a £1bn portfolio, it is a leader in its field with eight Business Estates in prime locations throughout the UK. Together it provides over 10m sq ft of high quality space for more than 1,000 organisations, employing 20,000 people.

Picture (l-r): Richard Andrews of Glasgow Bike Station, Alison Clark Marketing and Customer Manager, Hillington Park, Jamie Cumming Commercial Director Hillington Park and Gerry Mitchell of Glasgow Bike Station.

New Electric Truck for Scotland's Largest Business Park

Business Park Glasgow

A new electric truck is being used for facilities maintenance and security services at Hillington Park.

The new battery-powered utility truck will provide improved facilities maintenance and security services around the Park.

Hillington Park, which won a ‘Biodiversity Benchmark’ from the Wildlife Trusts, becoming the first business park in Britain to be recognised for the quality of its environmental management, is home to over 300 companies employing around 6,700 people from sectors including retail, manufacturing, engineering, life sciences, technology and the public sector.

The vehicle, which will further lower Hillington Park’s carbon footprint and save on fuel, is used daily for litter picking and is fitted with a cage body, allowing for easy storage of refuse sacks. Previously, a diesel van had been used for this task.

The cage can be removed, allowing the versatile vehicle to also be used as a conventional flatbed truck.

Jamie Cumming, Commercial Director, Hillington Park said: “At Hillington Park we have initiated a number of projects to improve our sustainability. We are very proud of our green credentials and our facilities truck is another great addition around the Park.”

The two-seater vehicle has a range of up to 60 miles on a single battery charge and is fully road legal. The versatile truck can tow up to 3,000kg and carry payloads of up to 600kg. The batteries can be fully recharged in just 8 hours and running costs are less than 2p per mile.

Scott’s Hillington gym

Hillington Park’s new community gymnasium, which opened for business at the end of September, is run by a martial arts champion who hopes to inspire thousands of estate workers to keep fit.

Scott McLaughlin has been based at the Park since 2007, when he opened his own martial arts school, Kuk Sool Won Glasgow. In those five years, he has had to increase the number of classes he offers and take on additional instructors to meet demand.

So when MEPC, the majority site owner and developer of Hillington Park, conducted a customer survey earlier this year and identified a desire for a gym as part of the Park’s developing amenity, they approached Scott with the idea of launching a new fitness centre for people who work here.

Now the father-of-two from Paisley has moved into bigger premises within the estate, in Earl Haig Road, where he has set up an operation offering a range of exercise classes and traditional personal training facilities, as well as the Korean martial art Kuk Sool Won.

Car Lovers Unite to Raise Money for Children's Cancer Charity

A Hillington Park based company is hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for a children’s charity.

Ecotune specialises in performance and economy upgrades for cars and commercial vehicles and are hosting a Rolling Road day on Saturday, 16th February.

The event, which normally attracts around one hundred visitors, will allow car enthusiasts to run their car on the company’s dyno and receive a print out of the performance.

Ecotune normally charges £60 for this service but are offering car lovers the chance to rate their vehicle’s performance for a donation of just £30.

All money raised on the day will go to children’s cancer CLIC Sargent, the country’s leading cancer charity for children, young people and their families.

Laura Ward, Sales Manager, Ecotune said: “We hope to raise a lot of money for CLIC Sargent and hope people will come out in force to support this wonderful charity. Our rolling road days have proved to be successful in the past and each time we have more and more people come along. We are looking forward to welcoming car enthusiasts along on Saturday and hope that everyone has a good time.”

The rolling road day will run from 9am to 5pm on Saturday at Ecotune, 28 Dalziel Road. The business is putting on snacks and drinks for visitors and spectators will have the chance to experience Ecotune’s excellent facilities including an indoor seating area with LCD screens for results and windows into the dyno area.

Alison Clark, Marketing and Customer Manager said: “We hope many people come out on Saturday to support Ecotune’s rolling road day and raise money for such a worthwhile cause. This generous activity highlights the community spirit within Hillington Park.”

For more information on Ecotune visit www.ecotune-scotland.co.uk