Set to run from August 19 to September 23, the six-week online-only business development initiative is open to any company based in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway looking to grow in a sustainable manner by building the skills and internal capacity to take on increasing volumes of business and, as a result, look to winning new work from participating contractors including Morrison, Graham, Morgan Sindall, BAM and Robertson.

Building for Growth, from which over 100 local businesses have already graduated, involves twelve participating companies drawn from locations across south west Scotland including, this time, Cumbernauld, Ayr, Blantyre, Lockerbie, Airdrie and Newmilns.

They are listed here by company name, location and sector:

• Denham Benn – Ayr - Architecture
• Spaceright Europe - Cumbernauld - Education / Office products
• Precise Installs - Blantyre - Plumbing & Heating
• Page & Park - Glasgow - Architecture
• Robinsons Scotland - Lockerbie - Construction
• Rainbow International - Airdrie - Cleaning
• Survey Design Consult - Glasgow - M&E Consultants
• Saxen Furnishings - Newmilns - Furniture, Fittings & Equipment
• GTS Solutions CIC - Glasgow - Cyber Security & Training
• Armila Sustainability - Hamilton - Sustainability Consultant
• RH Irving Construction - Longtown - Construction
• Mitre Joinery - Glasgow - Joinery

Gordon Hunter, hub South West’s supply chain manager who manages the Building for Growth programme, said: “The aim of the programme is to ensure that local companies are ready, willing and capable of securing work from the Tier One contractors, and, I am delighted to say that we have achieved our aim over recent years, with around 60 per cent of sub-contracting work on major projects now going to local businesses.

“Our latest programme which we have adapted to the continuing circumstances of the COVID-19 epidemic is being conducted via Zoom over a shortened timescale of six half-day (9.15– 12.45) over six weeks but, as ever, is packed with practical guidance on such topics as business strategy, people management and leadership, marketing planning, tendering, corporate social responsibility and cyber security.

“An added attraction of this programme will be the presence of decision makers from our nine active Tier One contractor partners, culminating in a presentation then a speed networking session where all participants will have the opportunity of interacting with each of them.”

Michael McBrearty, chief executive of hub South West, said: “Our Building for Growth programme has already delivered success to the leaders of its participating companies by both broadening and deepening their grasp of the factors needed to win more new, bigger contracts from Tier One contractors and we hope and trust that all of the participants in our eleventh Building for Growth programme will follow in their footsteps.”