Mon, Jul 24 2006
An innovative joint venture between West Lothian Council (WLC) and a private contracting firm looks set to attract inward investment into the area. When the WLC was looking to develop a small businesses site at Oakbank, Livingston, they selected local company Ashwood Scotland Ltd to aid in the project.
Work has already begun on the development consisting of eight small business "starter" units, covering 22,000 square feet, aiming at completion by December 2006. As a company, Ashwood have an impressive track record for quality, integrity and innovation ? as demonstrated when they won Best Business in the West Lothian Business Excellence awards When Ashwood Scotland was formed in September 1999, they recognised that their extensive experience with major construction contracts throughout Central Scotland could be extended towards medium-sized projects. The potential for business was enormous; such projects are often too large for a small company, or too small for a large company. It was a strategy that paid off handsomely. The award winning company has always delivered a professional, quality?driven service, which has resulted in an £10 million turnover, and just under £4 million of property assets. They aimed at having an impact on the local community in that their criteria is to source, wherever possible, labour resources, materials, supplies, and sub-contractors from West Lothian. Archie Meikle MD of Ashwood Scotland Ltd who has never been known to stand still see this joint venture with WLC as further diversification. And it looks promising even already. "There's been a great deal of interest in the units, with potential companies expressing an interest in moving to West Lothian or expanding existing business," Said Archie Meikle, MD of Ashwood. "In fact, we already have another couple of sites earmarked in Livingston for further high-quality office accommodation." The no nonsense straight talking Meikle goes on to say: "This partnership between us and WLC seems like the perfect way to attract inward investment to West Lothian? We see it very much as collaboration between WLC & Ashwood Scotland. Of course, it involved a great deal of pre-contract negotiation and planning, with development funding generated by Ashwood Scotland." Councillor Willie Dunn, convener of the council's enterprise and development committee, commented: "This new partnership project has the potential to attract inward investment and support the growth of indigenous businesses in West Lothian, which we welcome." All of which has produced a project in which everybody wins, but with the inward investment and new businesses being offered office space in Livingston, West Lothian comes out the biggest winner.
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