17 Degrees Mag

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Falkirk Business Hub, Falkirk, FK1 1LL

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The Corner Cafe, Falkirk – A year of success

Turning the corner to a year of success at The Corner Cafe Falkirk.

Andrew, the owner of The Corner Cafe which ‘welcomes everyone in’ in Falkirk has a background in retail management. He was a store manager with Marks and Spencer for many years but always wanted to have his own business. He says, “I always had a passion for creating really exciting dishes and good food. It’s easier to get through the busy times if you’re passionate about what you’re doing.” He is originally from Glasgow but when looking to start his own business he came to Falkirk and felt a vibrancy. Andrew felt that he could bring something a little different. He says, “We are delighted to be in Falkirk, and we have been well received here in our first year of business. We can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

The Corner Cafe is open 7 days a week from 9am to 4 pm, they are a relaxed, dog friendly cafe with seven team members. Andrew says, “We’ve focused on quality food, coffee and cake and offer breakfast, brunches and lunches to the people of Falkirk.” He is also proud of his weekly specials which you can see on his vibrant Facebook and Instagram accounts. They also strive to promote local whenever they can. They use a local coffee supplier, Henry’s, and promote local artwork on the walls of the cafe. 

“Now we’ve reached a year, we’re settled. Customers have been asking for evening events and we are looking at hosting these in the near future,” Andrews says, “We are delighted that our hard work has brought us to our 1st year anniversary and are looking forward to many more years to come.”

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Fletcher’s

Fletcher’s Stirling opened their doors on June 20th, 2019.  The restaurant was opened by the Binnie brothers, Adam and Connor. 

 Adam describes himself as the hands-on Director. He balances the daily operations, planning and marketing of the restaurant as well as working full time on the restaurant floor interacting with customers and ensuring high standards are met. He gained his experience growing up in family restaurants operated by both his parents and from working at almost any job in hospitality over the years. Connor’s role is Director/Head Chef. As well as his responsibilities as Head Chef, Connor deals with the daily running of the restaurant with particular focus on the food and kitchen operations. As well as growing up in the family restaurants, Connor has gained experience working in many local hotels including Colessio, Airth Castle and The Royal in Bridge of Allan. Furthermore, Connor added to his experience working in Michelin Star restaurant The Black Swan under Tommy Banks which was voted ‘the best restaurant in the world’ by TripAdvisor. Both Adam and Connor are lucky to work closely with their partners. Gemma, Adam’s wife, has worked in restaurants alongside Adam for over 10 years.  Similarly, Harli, Connor’s girlfriend, has worked in the restaurants for many years. They are both Restaurant Managers and focus on staff training and customer service.

The Name Behind It All

Adam says, “As Connor and I were delighted to be opening up our first restaurant as brothers, we made the decision it was only right to name the restaurant after the newest member of our family and youngest brother, baby Fletcher (9months old at the time of writing). We thought by naming it after him it would capture the essence of our family business.” 

Fletcher’s Offering

Fletcher’s are open daily from 9am serving breakfast until 12pm! They then serve lunch and dinner right through until 9pm on weekdays and 9:30pm on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, they serve Sunday roast and brunch all day between 12-8pm! Their food is freshly prepared using local suppliers wherever possible including local farm eggs from Egglicious, bread and pastry from local baker Wild Hearth Bakery and selected meat from Skinners of Kippen. Adam says, “We truly believe that using locally sourced food and preparing our food daily creates the exciting meals which the people of Stirling have embraced over our first 2 months.”

Cocktails

Adam says, “We started off with a small list of 4/5 cocktails and as they have proven very popular, we have expanded our list to15 along with weekly specials and cocktail trees. Our cocktail trees are the perfect centrepiece for any table and allow your group to try a selection on cocktails whilst getting the perfect Instagram opportunity.”

The Future at Fletcher’s Stirling

The brothers plan to continue to refresh their menu to keep things exciting for their customers. There is a planned mini refurbishment for the bar area and bedrooms followed by their beer garden in time for next summer.  

Christmas at Fletcher’s

Their Christmas menus have been released and they already have a large number of bookings and enquires which is really exciting! Get in touch today to celebrate the festive season at Fletcher’s! 

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Behind the Wall – Stay local, eat and drink global

Behind the Wall has been a social experience at the heart of Falkirk that has developed and thrived through the years. You may remember when BTW first opened it was just the front bar and how over the years it has expanded. Brian Flynn, co-owner of BTW said: “At the start we didn’t see how big it would get.” But it has always been a comfortable transition when it comes to evolving with the times. They never forget their origins; for example the wood in the bar when they originally opened has been recycled into the building and used for tables and other bits of decor. Jane Lafferty, co-owner says: “We wouldn’t want to lose what Behind the Wall was.”

Behind the Wall has now been serving the people of Central Scotland for 30 years and is over two levels, with three bars, a conservatory and a fabulous heated beer garden with outstanding food, drink and live entertainment to enjoy! There’s also a soft play area for the kids and a newly opened Pizza Pad upstairs! There is something for everyone, so what’s not to love! 

Early Years

They were one of the first pubs to serve coffee, which might seem normal now but in the 80’s it was very much revolutionary. They were actually worried whether the people of Falkirk would like it or not, and oh they did! BTW soon became a popular spot for everyone, a place where anyone could walk in themselves, be greeted by a friendly face and enjoy a beverage. At this time, it was uncommon for women to feel comfortable sitting in a pub themselves, BTW changed this perception. It has always been a social experience, for everyone.

The Food Concept

They served basic food right from the very start, explained Brian. This initially was just a servery with salads and sandwiches, but plans were almost immediately made to extend. First came the conservatory and then they built the kitchen and bistro. The food concept came from the owners’ travels. Brian describes the moment they realised what Falkirk needed: “We went to a restaurant in New York which served Tex-Mex dishes and this inspired our menu.” This was in the days before you could get food inspiration online, you had to go to other places to see what else was out there. Their Tex-Mex dishes are now well-known in the area, signature dishes such as their fajitas and nachos and Between the Sheets. Brian says, “We’ve always had a transatlantic thought.” They are open for lunch and dinner seven days a week for a casual dining experience which still brings together flavours from all over the world at family friendly prices. They will be launching a new menu in October, but don’t worry they’ve made sure to keep the fan favourites. 

You will have no problem finding your chosen tipple at BTW! 

BTW is very well known for its delicious cocktail menu, especially for the infamous Drumstick cocktail! Brian says: “Cocktails have grown massively in the past ten years, vodka revolutionised things right around when we started and it’s grown from there.” Continental lagers and ales also came along around the time BTW opened and Scotland came into the modern day with regards to its pub scene. Nowadays they stock everything from world leading brands to local products and are always listening to requests for updates to their drinks list.

Within the Community

Behind the Wall’s location puts it right in the heart of the town centre, being close to travel hubs such as Falkirk Grahamston, a bus hub and a taxi rank. It’s been a part of the community since it opened its doors in 1985. As you can see from the cover which features three members of the team and Brian, they are a team-focused company which acts as a family. Brian said: “We have had loads of local kids and kids from all around the world come to work here. Couples have met here and started families, children of original staff. It is a family.” They’ve seen staff leave and come back again after university or travelling, it’s always somewhere they can call home. BTW currently employee 60 local people and its owners are also active in the community. Brian has been Chairman of Falkirk Delivers, the business improvement district, for the past four years and Brian and Jane jointly won Business Personality of the Year at the Falkirk Herald Business Awards in November 2018. Behind the Wall has also won many awards. To name a few: Best Bar None, gold and national and platinum awards, Sunday Mail Pub of the Year in Scotland and Daily Record Pub of Year. They have a strong link with the local football club and run a shuttle bus to the Falkirk games on a Saturday. They also show live football in the bar area.

“BTW is a unique destination which aims to provide a safe and comfortable venue for all ages and social groups. We are always here to serve you and adapt to trends and customer expectations. From frothy cappuccinos in the morning to late night music and dancing BTW has something for everyone, whoever you are.”

The Pizza Pad at BTW

In the 90’s they opened upstairs, as Eglesbrech Ale and Whisky Bar. Eglesbrech is the Gaelic name for Falkirk. It was a traditional Scottish ale house.The concept has been slightly changed recently as they have rebranded upstairs as The Pizza Pad at BTW; they saw an opportunity to grow the space. As Brian says when asked what they can attribute years of success to: “We’ve never stood still.”

The mascot of the Pizza Pad is a French Bulldog named Eddy. Jane explained: “We were looking for an identity, and Eddy was our team member’s dog and was very lovable.” The slogan goes, ‘Ready for an Eddy’ which translates to ‘going off to behind the wall for a pizza.’ The Pizza Pad opened in July but the old identity is still there as customers are more than welcome to still just go up for a drink. It still has all the essential elements, fabulous beers, quality spirits and entertainment. Upstairs was always a venue and still will be! You can dine on delicious home cooked pizzas and street fries! Everything’s homemade and they make their own dough, fillings and toppings!

There is never a dull moment at BTW!

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Gail Wilson & Miss Scotland

Gail Wilson from Redding couldn’t believe it when she made the finals for Miss Scotland. Gail is 24 years old and after having tried and tested many different career options since leaving school eventually decided to join her mum running Envy Gowns, the family business.

She had always had an interest in hair & beauty which led her to complete a few courses in Nails, Make Up, Eyebrows & Lashes. It has been 10 years since they opened their first shop in Grangemouth. They have now moved into Falkirk town centre located within Callendar Square Shopping Centre. Gail says, “Watching Envy grow and expand into the business it is today is something I will always be proud of. I am very lucky to have amazing role models in my life who help me through everything I do; that being my mum and my family.”

Fundraising

Gail also has a passion for charity fundraising. This year she has raised £3,413 for two different charities. One is local charity FDAMH for whom she held a Charity Ball through her business Envy and raised £2,183. Gail says, “I personally have struggled with some mental health issues and FDAMH are a great support system for anyone to speak to if they are having problems. Through my work I see a lot of young women who struggle with self-confidence, eating disorders, anxiety, stress and depression. I wanted to partner up with this charity to raise awareness to our local people.”

The other charity is Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland where she held a family fun day in Callendar Square Shopping Centre and undertook a virtual cycle from Edinburgh to John O’Groats. These events raised £1,230 for CHSS. Gail chose Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland as her charity to fundraise for throughout her Miss Scotland 2019 journey as it was a charity close to her heart. Her mum had a stroke earlier this year which was a complete shock at the time. Gail says, “Thankfully she wasn’t left with any lasting effects, but she definitely had to overcome a few mental challenges and Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland did that with her.

This charity has been close to our family for a long time as my granddad also suffered from a stroke about 15 years ago and lost mobility on one side and his speech. Sadly, my granddad passed away in April this year, so I felt it was important to raise money to support other families who suffer with chest and heart conditions or strokes.”

 

Image on Left (Gail on right)

Miss Scotland 2019

Gail says, “My Miss Scotland journey has been an experience of a lifetime! It was something I never thought I would ever do but I am so glad I pushed myself into it. The people you meet and the experiences/challenges you are involved in are something money can’t buy.”

She explains that getting past the first round for an interview with the Miss Scotland team was a big shock for her as she had always thought they looked for models; however that’s not the case. Gail says, “They’re looking for a genuine girl with personality, determination and someone who wants to give something back to their community. This year’s Miss Scotland, Keryn Matthews, is all that and more and I can’t wait to follow her journey to Miss World later this year.” Gail was placed in the top ten this year representing the town she is passionate about and with a fantastic amount raised for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland.

Well done Gail!

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Balbirnie House

An award-winning luxury country house hotel, superbly located between Edinburgh and St Andrews.

Balbirnie House is an award-winning luxury country house hotel nestled within 400 acres of beautiful parkland in the heart of Fife. Their Grade A listed Georgian mansion, voted Hotel of the Year at the Scottish Hotel Awards, and Haute Grandeur Global Best Destination Wedding Retreat, was built in 1777 and is near the village of Markinch, between Edinburgh and St Andrews. They combine fine food, beautiful surroundings and friendly Scottish hospitality to create a wonderful experience for their guests, whatever the occasion. From weddings to conferences, mini-breaks to exclusive hire, they have the perfect setting for you.

We were delighted to visit Balbirnie to write a feature on them as a luxury Scottish Wedding venue. Their award-winning, four-star hotel is recognised as one of the finest wedding venues in Britain. Upon our arrival we drove through their magnificent green gardens towards the breath-taking house. Walking up the stairs we felt very much like celebrities and were immediately greeted by a friendly member of staff. We were given the Bridal Suite which was “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” themed with the traditional blue. The Suite was spacious, modern but with the traditional touches still there including an incredible four poster bed. The room had everything we needed, even Tunnocks tea cakes with our morning cuppa!

We headed down to the main bar for a few drinks before dinner and were impressed with the selection of Scottish gins available. There was a small wedding taking place, so we got a sneak peek. A member of staff also took us on a tour of the different rooms where guests can have their ceremonies: the Ballroom, The Orangery and a peeat the outside area! We were extremely impressed at the beauty of all three spaces. We dined in the Orangery that evening; the Scottish Fayre was nothing short of delicious. The staff were also very knowledgeable about the wines and never missed a beat! After our three courses and full to the brim we sat back in the bar area for a nightcap. The hotel had a really comfortable atmosphere and we both felt at home. 

In the morning, we headed back down to the Orangery for a full Scottish breakfast. The Orangery has a beautiful big window and tall ceilings, perfect for a smaller, intimate ceremony. We sat chatting and couldn’t think of one single thing we didn’t like about the place and we would recommend it to anyone looking for a wedding venue in Scotland. Their flexible venue can accommodate up to 216 guests for a wedding banquet and 250 for an evening reception. Whether you’re looking for a bespoke service or an inclusive package with guaranteed affordability, you can be sure of the best service from your first contact with them through to your happy day. Each and every wedding is quite individual and as such, the Wedding team discuss every wedding on a onetoone basis with prospective Balbirnie brides, grooms and parents. They have a range of delightful rooms that may or may not be utilised for the various elements involved in making up your successful special day and at the time of initial discussion they will outline the various areas within the hotel which are available, and the best ones appropriate to the size of your special event.

Whatever the scope and size of your wedding, the team will be absolutely delighted to meet you and show you around beautiful Balbirnie. 

Get in touch to book your visit. If you would simply like more information, or a personalised specific quote then please email gaynor@balbirnie.co.uk, or call the team on 01592 610066. If you’re looking to tie the knot soon, they still have availability for a handful of dates this year.

Balbirnie Park, Markinch Village, by Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland KY7 6NE

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Sophie Wallace & Miss Scotland

Sophie Wallace has lived in Falkirk her whole life. Recently she was in the finals of Miss Scotland, representing Falkirk, for the second year in a row. She competed alongside her good friend, Gail Wilson, who is also from Falkirk.

Sophie has always been active in the community as she is a former international display gymnast and has travelled around Europe performing at gymnastics festivals with Falkirk Infinity Gymnastics Club, her previous squad. Sophie has written a weekly lifestyle column in the Falkirk Herald since she was 14 and she decided media was the route she wanted to go down when choosing a career. She went on to obtain a BA (Hons) degree in Multimedia Journalism at Glasgow Caledonian University. She is currently a Broadcast Journalist at Kingdom FM in Fife, previously at 103.1 Central FM.

Prior to entering Miss Scotland, Sophie had been modelling for some time and signed as a professional model with Superior Model Management in Glasgow when she was 17.

Miss Scotland Experience

Sophie first took part in the Miss Scotland competition in 2017 and placed second, and then competed again in 2019.

She says, “It was an amazing experience.” While competing she did things such as judging the best dressed competition at the Ayr races, being put through a professional fake-tanning course, training with some of the country’s most renowned personal trainers, being a Disney princess for a day and modelling for exciting, upcoming clothing brands.

Sophie says, “The opportunities as a result of taking part in the Miss Scotland competition two years in a row have been phenomenal. They have catapulted my career in broadcast journalism and modelling with a number of photographers and filmmakers looking to collaborate as a result.”

She elaborated that the experience has been a huge confidence boosting opportunity. Sophie had low self-esteem as a teenager and was subject to bullying throughout primary school because she is tall. The competition has also helped develop her social skills and improve her public speaking abilities which are great to have for all aspects of her career!

Charity Fundraising

Each Miss Scotland competitor chooses a charity to fundraise for and Sophie fundraised for Carers Trust Scotland two years in a row. She has raised over £2,000 for the charity and has also raised its awareness across Scotland. She says, “I get massive gratification from working so closely with my chosen charity and partner charities.” Carers Trust Scotland provide support services for approximately 780,000 of Scotland’s unpaid carers. Sophie was appointed as their first charity ambassador, representing Scotland’s Young Unpaid Carers. She got involved with the charity after seeing first-hand the hard work and dedication unpaid carers put into looking after someone close to them who is unable to live independently. To fundraise she has hosted countless events, including charity evenings and pub quizzes, all in order to raise awareness of the role of unpaid carers and the need for support for them. Sophie also launched the #AyeCare campaign alongside the charity, which aims to raise online awareness about the sheer scale of the issue in Scotland. The campaign encourages all social media users who either are unpaid carers, or know someone who is, to post a status/picture using the hashtag. The campaign also looks to raise awareness around what an unpaid carer actually does – often people don’t realise they’re entitled to support because they don’t identify as being an unpaid carer and are therefore struggling in silence.

Sophie says that she is lucky in her job, as she gets to use the broadcasting platform to raise greater awareness about the work of Scotland’s unpaid carers.

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UMI: Japanese Cuisine

I was delighted to review Umi in Stockbridge for this issue. Sushi is something I enjoyed all the time while living in California, but I have struggled over the past three years to find sushi of the same quality and taste in Scotland. Well, I am delighted to say that I have found what I’ve been waiting for in Umi Japanese Cuisine. This restaurant is phenomenal.

I took along my boyfriend, Ben, who had never tried sushi and had no idea what to expect. He came out a master of chopsticks and a new-found sushi lover.

Umi is located in Stockbridge, which is a vibrant area of Edinburgh with a village vibe. It’s a little less hustle and bustle than the city centre but when you walk down the stairs to the bottom level of the Georgian terraced building where Umi is located, you open the door to a full restaurant. Everyone looked relaxed, laughing and enjoying the experience. The staff couldn’t have been more welcoming and took us to our table.

The place had a great feel, with red lanterns in the ceiling, comfortable tables and ambient lighting. There was also a private section that had traditional pillows for seats.

We decided to start with a traditional Japanese draught lager, which we found light and refreshing. I am a woman who loves a good lager. I tried to take a bit of control of what we were ordering but Ben had some of his owns ideas and ended up ordering a dish I’d never have thought of ordering, and it was delicious! We shared everything which I always think is great in a small plates restaurant and gives you more of a feel for the place! Everything was brought out in good time, not too fast, as I always find that disconcerting, but at a nice pace.

Small Dishes

Truffle Edamame (V)

Steamed green soybeans topped with sea salt and truffle oil

Miso Soup (V)

Traditional Japanese bean paste soup with wakame, tofu and spring onion

Takoyaki (Ben’s choice)

Fried dough balls with octopus served with mayo and house sauce

Roll Sushi (8 pieces)

Crunchy Soy Roll

Prawn tempura and avocado roll in soy paper topped with eel sauce, dill sauce and crispy fried onions

Toyko Roll

Karaage Fried Chicken, avocado and lettuce roll topped with flying fish roes and mayo

Yes, you read Truffle, and yes, truffle oil makes even vegetables taste unbelievably good. But I cannot guarantee that they have the same nutritional value or that they are low calorie. Our favourite roll was the Crunchy Soy Roll, it just melted in your mouth. Don’t let “eel” sauce put you off as it tastes nothing like you think it will and, I would say, is one of the best sauces ever!

Ben was in heaven with his Takoyaki; the word Octopus put me off for a second but not enough not to try it and I’m so glad I did! Absolutely delicious!

Our choices strayed away from the traditional raw sushi as I’m a huge fan of sushi rolls like they serve in California. It shows that you don’t have to eat raw fish if this isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of options at Umi. But, if tradition is your thing they have an incredible nigiri sushi Menu!

I was also impressed with their wine selection and they had one of my favourites, a Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand. The refreshing wine went well with the sushi!

THE BIG QUESTION WILL WE BE BACK?

Yes! We are already planning our next trip through! Follow them on Instagram @umiedinburgh to see for yourself all the delicious dishes! A hidden gem!

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Scott Henderson – A bite for success

Local business owner Scott Henderson first discovered his entrepreneurial drive at the age of eleven and has grown a wide business portfolio over the years. Launching his digital brand, Crunchy Carrots five years ago, he has already helped over 350 clients to grow their online presence.

Scott remembers his first job bagging potatoes in his local grocers around the corner from his childhood home. He would also go door-to-door around the Larbert neighbourhood, taking orders for bacon and eggs which was the beginning of his first business. He loved selling things and bringing people what they needed and realised it was much more interesting to him than just being at school.

Scott says that he has always loved to work and alongside, quite literally, bringing home the bacon, he also had a paper round and worked in the petrol station in Larbert for extra pocket money.

Leaving High School at 15 years old, Scott began a full-time career as an apprentice joiner with local company Murdoch Smith; this was, he says, a very important part in his working life.“I loved working extra hours, earning extra money and while in my apprenticeship, I would do many ‘home jobs’ for family and friends”.

The Journey

He recalls that entrepreneurial flair again driving him forward, buying all his own supplies and keeping his own books to work out costs and profit on each job.

At 22 years old, he left joinery and began working at Devro in their manufacturing department for several years, gaining deeper knowledge of process development before advancing to their research and development team.

He enjoyed the job, but still had the entrepreneurial drive burning inside him.

Scott tells us that his own approach to work, both for his business and that of his customers comes from both his parents. “My dad juggled many jobs when I was young and worked extremely hard progressing through the company he worked at for 40 years. My mum, who also worked full-time while simultaneously looking after a busy household, was equally impressive and influential. Thankfully they are now both blissfully enjoying retirement.”

 

The dream really began to come true for Scott in 2004 when, along with his brother, they launched the now ubiquitous Falkirk attraction, Xtreme Karting. They first developed a site in Falkirk becoming 5-star rated by Visit Scotland and later added a second site in Edinburgh in 2009 (also 5-star rated).

Following this, came Xtreme Combat as an add-on product to their already successful business. Scott loved building relations and was also heavily involved in the marketing side of the business.

“I loved working with the team, building their confidence and skills to achieve more and ensuring we always gave our customers the best possible experience and value for money”.

This is where Scott discovered his passion for excellence in customer service as well as the part that his sales and marketing team had to play in delivering that coveted 5-star excellence.

Realising that these skills were likely to be highly sought after by many business associates elsewhere across the region, five years ago Scott took the bold decision to sell his share of Xtreme Karting and started up his own dream digital marketing agency, Crunchy Carrots.

“We began with only a handful of clients with whom I’d built close working relationships”.

Initially, he focused on social media marketing but quickly realised that increasing their entire online presence was vital to his clients’ ongoing business success.

Scott therefore saw the opportunity to add website development to the brand swiftly followed by great photography and promotional video shoots. “Having expanded our range of services on offer, our client-base grew from a handful of small local businesses, to a portfolio ranging from large to small that we’re immensely proud to have worked with”.

The dream really began to come true for Scott in 2004 when, along with his brother, they launched the now ubiquitous Falkirk attraction, Xtreme Karting. They first developed a site in Falkirk becoming 5-star rated by Visit Scotland and later added a second site in Edinburgh in 2009 (also 5-star rated).

Following this, came Xtreme Combat as an add-on product to their already successful business. Scott loved building relations and was also heavily involved in the marketing side of the business.

“I loved working with the team, building their confidence and skills to achieve more and ensuring we always gave our customers the best possible experience and value for money”.

This is where Scott discovered his passion for excellence in customer service as well as the part that his sales and marketing team had to play in delivering that coveted 5-star excellence.

 

Realising that these skills were likely to be highly sought after by many business associates elsewhere across the region, five years ago Scott took the bold decision to sell his share of Xtreme Karting and started up his own dream digital marketing agency, Crunchy Carrots.

“We began with only a handful of clients with whom I’d built close working relationships”.

 

Initially, he focused on social media marketing but quickly realised that increasing their entire online presence was vital to his clients’ ongoing business success.

Scott therefore saw the opportunity to add website development to the brand swiftly followed by great photography and promotional video shoots. “Having expanded our range of services on offer, our client-base grew from a handful of small local businesses, to a portfolio ranging from large to small that we’re immensely proud to have worked with”.

“Crunchy Carrots’ clients are from various industry sectors who also actively promote Scott’s company across the business community.”
The Team

Initially, he focused on social media marketing but quickly realised that increasing their entire online presence was vital to his clients’ ongoing business success.

Scott therefore saw the opportunity to add website development to the brand swiftly followed by great photography and promotional video shoots. “Having expanded our range of services on offer, our client-base grew from a handful of small local businesses, to a portfolio ranging from large to small that we’re immensely proud to have worked with”.

Crunchy Carrots’ clients are from many different industries who also actively promote Scott’s company across the business community. “As we helped our customers to grow, they in turn helped us to grow and so the Crunchy Carrots team continues to expand. It’s really a local digital community that we feel very proud to be part of.”

Growing this team progressively, developing their individual skills along with evolving the business itself, team members who started out part-time are now full-time as their customer needs intensified.

Scott feels that the team is the perfect fit for what they want to accomplish, and as their skills set continues to develop they will continually be able to grow within.

“I motivate the team the same way I have always done, by building their confidence and skills to achieve more and ensuring we always give our customers the best possible experience and value for money,” says Scott.

Another integral member of the team is Alfie, the beloved office dog, and the Crunchy Carrot mascot. He absolutely loves meeting all the new clients and they love him right back!

“Scott says he was keen to grow his team progressively; to develop their individual skills along with developing the business itself.”

In the early years of Crunchy Carrots, Scott was also involved in community renewable energy wind turbine projects, as being part of a community effort is important to him. His passions outside work and community include playing golf (“moderately well, most of the time” we were informed), watching football, weekend road trips and spending time with family and friends. He has been a Falkirk Football Club fan since he was a bairn himself, and it was an honour that the club asked Crunchy Carrots to develop their current website.

Working within the local community is what makes Scott’s business worthwhile to him. He says he still gets a kick out of work, and loves the drive for business, selling a service that really will benefit his clients and their business. “I love offering quality products that we truly believe in, and which work on the principle that ‘you are our priority, you are our business, you are our digital community.”

Crunchy Carrots’ clients believe and trust in Scott because he believes and trusts in his team and his service. He loves developing products and seeing the reaction from the client’s face when all is unveiled.

Over the five years Crunchy Carrots has been in business, they have worked with over 350 clients which is a phenomenal number for a local business.

Scott and his highly experienced digital marketing team offer support to you and your business, delivering a personalised service that will be responsive to your individual needs.

The Crunchy Carrots team will work with your business on a made-to-measure basis, developing strong working relationships as part of a business family.

That is the Crunchy Carrots difference that Scott prides himself on.

Scott has a lot planned for the years to come, he has learnt a lot over the past fourteen years and continues to grow himself and Crunchy Carrots.

 

Whether you are looking for social media management, web design and development, marketing strategy or promotional photography and video, Scott and his Crunchy Carrots team have a bite for it all!

CRUNCHY CARROTS
25 Glebe Street,
Falkirk, FK1 1HX

01324 613288
hello@crunchycarrots.co.uk

crunchycarrots.co.uk

 

 

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Life Fit Wellness

Helping people not just bodies.

Life Fit Wellness provides the highest standard of healthcare and exercise services which are delivered within a custom designed clinic in Falkirk Business Hub.  Their integrated approach to healthcare and exercise allows them to better meet the needs of the individual in a tailored and personalised way.

They provide a wide range of treatment and exercise options in a supportive environment whilst working to empower individuals to manage their own health and wellbeing.

From their inception at their previous, smaller location in Grangemouth, they have evolved to fill their current facility in the centre of Falkirk, and they continue to develop their approach and services. They pride themselves on providing exceptional customer service in a friendly atmosphere; aiming to help people, not just bodies.

Their approach and experience

Life Fit Wellness provide an honest and person-centred approach to physiotherapy which is based on current best evidence and many years of experience throughout the team. David Bowmaker says, “We pride ourselves on delivering the highest standards of care to each individual client.

Our Chartered Physiotherapists follow a ‘bio-psycho-social’ approach which essentially looks at the person as a whole, meaning you come first. This approach not only addresses the physical components of injury, but consideration is given to your environment and psychological factors that contribute to your health. There is good evidence to suggest that addressing all three factors improves how likely a person is to recover.”

The Physiotherapy Team have expertise in the musculoskeletal system enabling them to assess, diagnose and treat an extensive range of issues by utilising a wide array of clinical skills. David Bowmaker says, “Our skilled team are able to provide exercise prescription and rehabilitation, manual therapy to assist with pain relief, acupuncture or dry needling and work and lifestyle management advice.”.

17 Degrees Magazine’s Sophie Robertson has been getting to know the team at Life Fit Wellness over the last few months. After a conversation with the welcoming reception team about her ongoing sciatica, she scheduled a physiotherapy session with Stewart Kerr, one of the Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Team. Following a thorough assessment, a treatment plan was agreed which involved a tailored exercise program, advice on daily management and some ‘hands-on’ treatment which provided some welcome pain-relief.

Following this session, she received her personalised exercise program by email which included photos, videos and written description of the exercises. Part of the management program discussed was to facilitate a smooth transition to Pilates. A 1-1 Intro to Pilates was arranged with Chartered Physiotherapist and Pilates Instructor, Carolyn Kent. This set Sophie up nicely with confidence to transition into a Pilates Class. This week she will be attending a Pilates Circuit Class at Life Fit Wellness, which utilises specialised large equipment such as the ‘Reformer’. Having both services in the same place was ideal and made the transition from physiotherapy to exercise achievable.

Furthermore, the benefit of having a dual trained Physiotherapist and Pilates Instructor meant that her sciatica was accommodated, and therefore the exercise was not only achievable, but enjoyable and beneficial. She has since followed up for a review physiotherapy session with Stewart and the improvements were clear to see.

The physiotherapy team work alongside their other Healthcare and Exercise services which can optimise the care they provide by ensuring a seamless package of care and referral as required. These services include an Ultrasound Scan and Injection Clinic.

This innovative clinic is designed to simplify the patient journey. It is for people affected by conditions of the upper and lower limbs. This includes joint, tendon, ligament and conditions of the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle and foot. This clinic is run by Stewart Kerr who, in addition to being a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist is also a Musculoskeletal Sonographer enabling him to provide ultrasound-guided injections to ensure maximal accuracy of these treatments.  They also offer a Pelvic Health Care service which is run by clinical specialist Kate Leishman.

This is a highly specialised physiotherapy service for issues related to pelvic dysfunction. Therapists working in this field are highly trained to access and manage problems relating to pelvic floor muscles such as prolapse, urinary or faecal incontinence.

Dr Terrina Dickson

Private GP | Dermatology Specialist | Mole Screening | Minor Surgery Specialist

The Medical Services at Life Fit Wellness are provided by Dr Terrina Dickson and offer clients the opportunity to have flexible appointment lengths to suit their specific needs.  The services range from private GP consultations to specialist skin assessments and treatment.  Also on offer are a wide range of health assessment packages which offer clients the opportunity to look proactively at their health and well-being.

The specialist skin and mole screening services allow clients quick access to an expert opinion for their peace of mind.  The clinic offers specialist assessment equipment allowing Dr Dickson to accurately evaluate your presentation.

The clinic has quick access to laboratories for rapid analysis of blood and other specialist testing.

They also offer corporate medical packages to suit the particular requirements of employers from small to large companies. Competitive rates and bespoke, flexible packages can be provided. Their website is a great resource for all the healthcare and exercise services on offer, plus the patient resources section has lots of useful health and injury advice freely available. The friendly team at Life Fit Wellness are always happy to discuss their services and the most appropriate options to suite your needs.

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Colessio – a magnificently transformed victorian manor

Stirling’s Hotel Colessio is in the perfect location to explore Stirling’s historic old town and the wider central Scotland area. Our Editor-in-Chef, Sophie, had the pleasure of dining at Colessio with an overnight stay at the hotel in March, along with her partner. Here’s what she thought of her stay:

Arriving at Colessio, you can’t help but notice the beauty of the building, with its huge pillared entrance. We parked around the back of the hotel in the car park and were greeted by the staff and offered a refreshment as we entered the building. We enjoyed the drink in their chic, contemporary cocktail bar which had plush seats and a great atmosphere, with an extensive cocktail menu which also includes some light bites. Although it was a Thursday evening, the hotel was fully booked so there was a buzz about the place.

We finished our drinks and headed up to our room on the second floor. it was a suite, which was spacious and modern with a large bathroom with both a bath and shower – you couldn’t ask for much more! There was also a plasma television, in-room tea and coffee facilities, iron/ironing board, a lounge area and hotel robes.

Our evening meal was booked for half past six in the grill restaurant, which has great big, comfortable chairs and booths and a relaxing ambience. We were seated at our table and presented with à la carte menus and a drink offering and decided to start off with one of the many gins. The server told us about their state-of-the- art kitchen which is equipped with a Josper grill, one of the newest and most sought- after kitchen innovations which has taken the culinary world by storm. Hotel Colessio is proud to be one of the few venues in the UK with this type of grill.

The menu has a huge variety of traditional Scottish dishes with a modern twist, prepared by Head Chef Stephen Donnelly.

For starters, you can choose from a selection of salads, Isle of Skye king scallops with black pudding, and Perthshire wood pigeon. Mains include Ayrshire Pork Belly, short rib of Angus beef, potato gnocchi, North Sea cod or a selection of steak cuts from the grill. The steak cuts include Sirloin, Ribeye and Fillet which are served cooked to your liking with full steak garnish.

The food was nothing short of excellent. From presentation to taste it was world- class, and another great example of being able to get the best of the best, locally in Forth Valley.

After clearing our plates for starters and mains, we really struggled to finish our desserts; even though there were delicious! Once the table was cleared the chef came out and asked if everything had been okay as we hadn’t cleared the dessert plates like the last two courses.

We assured him everything was perfect – we had just over indulged! It was nice to see the chef taking so much pride in his food, and the rest of the staff also took great pride in their customer service.

After dinner, we enjoyed a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from the bar.

“From presentation to taste it was world- class, and another great example of being able to get the best of the best, locally in Forth Valley”.

OUR MENU CHOICES:

STARTERS: Isle of Skye king scallops with black pudding, celeriac, apple, frisée and unoaked Chardonnay Terra.

SOUP OF THE DAY: Served with freshly baked bread and sea salted butter.

MAINS: Ayrshire pork belly with Savoy cabbage, carrot, cumin and orange.

Potato Gnocchi (vegetarian) with wild mushrooms, butternut squash, sage and lemon.

DESSERTS: Sticky Toffee Pudding served with vanilla ice cream. Apple Tart Tatin.

In the morning we headed down to breakfast, which is served until 10 am in the grill room and is a buffet-style breakfast with a hot and cold section.

The hot section has a full Scottish breakfast on offer and a member of staff makes up your plate for you – an added touch I’ve never experienced before!

The cold buffet has a selection of pastries, yoghurts and fruit, and the servers bring toast and tea or coffee to your table.

The breakfast was delicious, and a great way to finish off an excellent overnight stay; even better that we were only a 15-minute drive from home!

We will definitely be back.

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