Hello and welcome to the August East Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce column.

As you may remember from the last issue, we were about to host our annual Business Awards and we’re delighted to be able to announce the winners here.

  • Best Performing Business Award (0-10 Employees) - Kelly Property Scotland.
  • Best Performing Business Award (11-25 Employees) - Propharm Services Ltd.
  • Journey to Net Zero Award – JM Murdoch & Son Ltd.
  • Community Impact Award – Studio Two Six One.
  • Customer Service Award – Pure Lubrication.
  • Family Business Award – Elite Contract Furniture and Best New Product/Service Award – Propharm Services Ltd.

We’d like to give a massive shout-out to our sponsors, in particular our principal sponsor, East Renfrewshire Council. Without you, this event wouldn't have been possible.

We’re proud to have supported the Provost Community Defibrillator Fund at the event. The final total raised on the evening was £1,510. The money will go towards installing more defibrillators throughout East Renfrewshire.

It’s been a bit quiet for us, event-wise, since the night of the awards because, as usual, we didn’t schedule a Business Breakfast for July, due to it being the peak holiday season.

However, the Business Breakfasts are returning from Thursday, August 29.

We don’t yet have the venue confirmed but we’ll announce it here in due course. Watch this space.

To make things simpler moving forward we will always have our breakfasts on the last Thursday of the month.

If you’re keen to keep up your networking in between times, Business Gateway are hosting their own business breakfast on Wednesday, July 24.

You can book your spot at: bgateway.com/events/summer-business-gateway-networking-event-28465

Many thanks to our member businesses who have shown interest in our Member Spotlight feature. This month, we’re focusing on Tailor Made Home Care.

Founded in 2010, by sisters Jennifer Woods and Shirley Dickson, Tailor Maid Home Care is a family-run business.

They specialise in working with individuals who require care at home and offer a unique tailor-made package of care which is bespoke to you. Read more on our website.

Another of our member businesses celebrated the success of their inaugural New Entrepreneur Challenge.

An initiative they spearheaded in collaboration with East Renfrewshire Council and West College Scotland, Young Enterprise Scotland held a nine-week programme designed to support aspiring entrepreneurs in the East Renfrewshire area.

After a final-week pitching event, Liubomyr and Natalyia, of Leroma Trade, a fertiliser business, secured the first-place prize of £700.

Lisa Crow, of Wee Crafty Crow, claimed the second-place prize of £400.

Lisa teaches Zentangle, a mindful drawing art form.

As unbelievable as it may seem, we’re already planning our annual Christmas lunch. We’d love your recommendations re venues. They do have to be in East Ren but apart from that caveat, we’re just looking for feedback on venues you particularly like that might be appropriate for the Chamber.

Email us at info@eastrenchamber.org.uk to let us know your thoughts.

Don’t forget that, as a member, you are entitled to a business spotlight on the Chamber social media platforms. It’s a wonderful opportunity to increase visibility for your company, at no extra cost.

If you’d like your business to be highlighted, please contact the team.

For information on Chamber events and for more details on Chamber membership, which starts from only £11/month including VAT, go to our website eastrenchamber.org.uk.