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Introducing Kalka Designs

kalka mash

KALKA was created by Gillian McCormick and is based in Paisley, Scotland.

It is a brand that was born during a time of great uncertainty when a global pandemic forced the world to slow down. Initially, it seemed our freedom had been taken from us, but it soon became apparent that we were now freer than ever! We had been given the chance to change our world and the way we live in it which encouraged a clearer view of what matters. As a new brand, we welcomed the opportunity for growth and new beginnings which is always a source of inspiration for new designs.

kalka mash

 

Based in Paisley, we take great pride in finding inspiration from our surroundings although our designs are not exclusive to the people of our town. We focus on natural influences and make our products from organic fabrics in order to support a sustainable future for our planet.

It is important to us that our customers receive the highest quality of products and excellent service. We encourage people to get in touch and work with us to create original pieces which you truly love to wear.Kalka Designs

You can find us on our website please feel free to browse our products.

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Spring 2021 is officially here! And Rukeri is ready for the season

rukeri

The team at Rukeri have been busy behind the scenes getting ready for the new season. From turf production and maintenance to bagging their customers favourite aggregates, a lot has been happening to ensure a smooth start to the 2021 season.

Rukeri Bags

Rukeri has been growing and supplying turf for 8 years from North Arkleston Farm in Paisley. The company has expanded year on year and now offers a wide range of landscaping supplies that includes organic soils, decorative aggregates (good old garden chuckies!), barks, sands and fencing and decking materials. Rukeri Turf is highly regarded within the landscaping industry, with many customers claiming it to be the best in Scotland!

Like most companies, Rukeri faced a lot of challenges when they reopened after the first lock down. Some products were harder than others to source as manufacturing had reduced dramatically or stopped altogether, and the social distancing measures meant that all business operations had to be looked at and developed to ensure the safety of staff and customers. The upshot this year is that all processes have been practiced and the team are confident of delivering all orders in a COVID secure manner.

Lisa Taylor, Marketing Manager at Rukeri says, ‘Despite the challenges faced last year we are acutely aware of how fortunate we were to be busy and able to still trade. The ‘Stay at Home’ message was heeded by our customers and we are glad that we were able to help transform outdoor spaces during a troubling time. 

rukeri

We are looking forward to what is already proving to be a busy season. Our lead time is currently around 5 – 6 days so we urge customers to order early to avoid any disappointment, and we hope that more residents of Renfrewshire will be enjoying their new gardens from Rukeri in time for summer!’

All products available can be viewed from their yard in Paisley. They are on display in a colourful area that gives customers the chance to get a ‘real feel’ for them. Visitors are asked to follow the one-way system on site, follow current social distancing guidelines and wear a mask when in the office. Alternatively, orders can be placed online at www.rukeri.com

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Get a Spring in your step with Paisley’s Easter Animal Trail!

easter trail

Spring is here and there’s plenty to look forward to in Paisley town centre with our Easter Animal Trail!

There are 12 animal friends hiding in local business windows around the town centre …. but one of them doesn’t have a name.

easter trail

So it’s your job to find our friends and name the final animal to be in with a chance of winning one of two Easter-tastic prizes!

It’s the perfect activity to get everyone out in the fresh air and have some free, family fun at the same time!

Pick up a trail leaflet from either the Piazza Shopping Centre or The Paisley Shopping Centre, or if you prefer you can download your own trail leaflet which is available HERE.

Remember many of our local businesses are still open or operating, see the full list HERE – perfect if you want to stop to refuel or pick up some essentials along the way.

Plus parking is free in all council car parks seven days a week with on-street parking charges applied Monday to Friday only before 6pm.

Once you have completed our trail, just post your entry form in one of the special Easter post-boxes located in either of the shopping centres to be entered into our prize draw.

And don’t forget to pick up your free Spring Activity Sheet when collecting your trail leaflet, or download HERE

Let’s have some Spring Fun in Paisley this Easter!

easter

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Paisley Museum transformation set to move forward as £23million main works contractor approved

paisley museum

The journey to transform Paisley Museum into a top cultural destination took a major step forward today (Wed 31 March) as Renfrewshire councillors approved the appointment of the contractor to deliver the £23million main works programme.

Members of the council’s Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board authorised the appointment of Kier Construction Limited as the main works contractor that will transform the A-listed building. Final negotiations will now take place with a view to formally appointing Kier next month. This will result in work beginning on site in early summer with construction likely being completed by late 2022, reopening to the public in 2023.

paisley museum

This marks a significant milestone in the £42million redevelopment of the museum – the signature project in Paisley’s radical regeneration which also includes refurbishments of the town’s A-listed town hall and a new learning and cultural hub housing library services on the town’s high street.

The museum transformation project is an important part of Paisley’s economic recovery from lockdown both in terms of the on-site activity that will take place during the construction phase and in the increased footfall that will follow when the museum reopens to the public. When Paisley Museum opens its doors it is expected to attract 128,000 visitors each year from Scotland, the UK and overseas and provide a £79million economic boost to the area over the next 30 years.

Paisley Museum Reimagined Project Director, Kirsty Devine, said: “The approval to appoint the main works contractor is an exciting step forward in realising our ambitions of radically transforming this prominent symbol of Paisley’s past for future generations.

paisley museum

“A great deal of work has taken place behind the scenes over the last year to help realise our vision for the museum and once the contractor is formally appointed and work begins on site in early summer the public will start to see that vision take shape.

“Paisley Museum was founded as a place of learning at the heart of the town and this redevelopment project will preserve that for years to come, while showcasing the town’s globally-significant story like never before.”

The project will not only deliver a cultural facility of significance for Scotland, it will also help transform Paisley’s perception of itself, develop a visitor economy, lead the regeneration of the town centre and once again give Paisley a confident, outward-facing profile to the world.

Senior Curator at the National Galleries of Scotland and Paisley Museum Reimagined Patron, Professor Frances Fowle, said: “It is wonderful that the museum will not only be restored to its former glory, but will be transformed into a world-class venue.  I am excited that Paisley is undergoing this period of cultural Renaissance and am proud to be a Patron of the Paisley Museum Reimagined project.”

paisley museum

Kier have worked on a number of high-profile heritage construction projects throughout the UK and are currently helping to deliver the refurbishment of The Burrell Collection in Glasgow.

Regional Director of Kier Regional Building North & Scotland, Phil McDowell, said: “The transformation of Paisley Museum is of significant local and national importance and we are looking forward to working with Renfrewshire Council on this project.

“We have extensive experience restoring and reimagining historic cultural buildings and we will work with our local supply chain partners and utilise the very latest digital technologies to transform the museum. We will also engage with the local Paisley community, providing job, training and apprenticeship opportunities as well as working with local organisations as we look to leave a lasting legacy in areas in which we build.”

A programme of community benefits were requested as part of the procurement process. Kier have agreed to offer a number of local employment opportunities, work experience placements, business advice and support to local SMEs, social enterprises and voluntary organisations. They have also made a commitment to ensure that supply chain opportunities are prioritised for Renfrewshire based businesses and pledged to support a local community project.

The redesign of the museum campus, being led by an international team including architects AL_A and exhibition designers Opera Amsterdam, will allow the number of objects on display to be increased by 150%. The designs produced by AL_A radically reimagine the museum and its campus, reshaping it into a cultural hub of discovery, skills development, creativity and innovation. Improvement work will include a new entrance courtyard and entranceway, along with a new west wing, outdoor garden space and an interactive weaving studio.

The museum’s final phase of fundraising is now under way, with the museum website reimagined.paisleymuseum.org showcasing the project’s ambitious vision.

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Updates from Dee dental paisley this week

dee dental paisley

 

  • We hope all our patients are doing well as we near the one year anniversary of the pandemic
  • We are working flat out to see all our emergencies, waiting lists, broken teeth as well as we have started seeing our kid patients’ for check-ups! Please bear with us there is only one of me

dee dental paisley

  • March offers at Dee Dental Paisley always giving you a little more back!
  • Enlighten whitening- £23/month on finance up to 24 months and a free Dee dental water bottle!
  • Get 10% off every Zo skin kit!
  • Free retainers and free scans with every new Invisalign case

Dee Dental Paisley

 

  • Stunning Invisalign results with a touch of bonding after only 14 weeks of treatment with us check out of our facebook and instagram for our before and afters!
  • Your new smile could be moments away- free non-obligation consultations face to face or virtually – book through our website today or DM us

 

  • The best results with @enlightensmiles available at Dee dental Paisley you won’t find premium guaranteed whitening and no diet change with any other type of whitening so why not contact us today for your makeover?
  • Interest free finance for this at £23/month – apply in seconds! real results

 

  • Did you know we also do fixed braces? Maybe you feel Invisalign isn’t the right option for you we also carry out ceramic brackets and with results like ours on insta and fb you too can achieve amazing results!

-Only ceramic brackets used so no metal train tracks so they aren’t as obvious! Contact us today to see what works for your smile makeover

  • Have you started the best medical skincare out there? A customised ZO skin routine is as easy as cleanse, exfoliate and tone and will transform your skin!
  • Book yourself in today for a virtual consult or face to face – costs start from as little as £110 for a whole kit and last months! Vouchers available and gift sets too
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Tear Drop Gin launching pre-order our Tear Drop Gin Liqueur

Tear drop gin
Following on from our success with Tear Drop gin we decided in early January to develop a new product with our distillery.  After sampling 12 different liqueurs all made with our own Tear Drop Gin, we decided on our Raspberry Edition.
Tear drop gin
This is made with fresh Scottish raspberries and is an all natural product.
The product can be described as follows

Tear Drop Raspberry Edition – Limited Edition Batch

An abundance of fresh raspberries with the welcome edition of rose petals, gives this liqueur a burst of flavour in every drop.

Tear drop gin

The natural ingredients combine with our Tear Drop Gin to give this raspberry edition a wonderful colour and a sweet floral taste.

Perfect with prosecco, refreshing with soda or sip over ice.  Enjoy !

It comes in a 50cl bottle and is bottled at 25% alcohol.  It is a limited edition batch.
It is now available to pre order with deliveries from Wednesday 31 March 2021.
We are continuing the local Renfrewshire, Barrhead and Hillington deliveries.
Tear Drop Gin is a Paisley based family run business.  The business was launched in December 2020 by Donald and Louise Boyd and features an innovative direct to glass print of the famous Paisley Pattern.
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Glasgow Airport’s electric buses leading the charge once again in partnership with McGill’s

Airport EV

Bus operator borrows airport’s electric vehicles ahead of own green fleet roll out – 

What began as a spark of an idea during a chat between Glasgow Airport and McGill’s became a lightbulb moment. 

Airport EV

Glasgow Airport’s fleet of three BYD ADL Enviro200EV electric buses, normally operated by NCP to transport passengers between the terminal and the long-stay car park, were parked up as passenger demand dropped due to the pandemic.

When strict travel restrictions were put in place, the zero-emission fleet unexpectedly found itself off the road, sparking discussions with local operator McGill’s Buses. 

Seeing a great opportunity to take three diesel buses off the road, while allowing customers to test out the electric vehicles before the arrival of their own, McGill’s introduced the vehicles onto their 757 service, operating between Paisley and Clydebank, via Glasgow Airport.

Ronald Leitch, operations director at Glasgow Airport, said: “The airport’s long-stay car park was offered to the government early in 2020 as a possible COVID-19 testing site to help support the national effort to defeat the pandemic and is still use today. 

“This meant that our fleet would sit unused for a long period of time and it seemed like a waste of such a fantastic resource. The BYD ADL electric buses have been a fantastic addition to our network and when in operation they helped cut the carbon emissions associated with passenger travel to and from the long-stay car park from 143 tonnes per year to zero.”

 

“We were aware that McGill’s planned to introduce this type of bus to their own transport network and were happy to help McGill’s test the buses on their daily operation ahead of this.” 

McGill’s are awaiting the arrival of 55 Yutong E12s, as well as their own BYD ADL Enviro200EV. Having also ordered 12 BYD ALD E400EVs for the newly purchased Xplore Dundee, by the end of the year, McGill’s will have the largest percent of their fleet zero emissions in Scotland.

McGill’s operation director, Colin Napier said, “Introducing these electric vehicles to our 757 Glasgow Airport service has allowed us to give customers a taste of what is to come.

The feedback from customers and drivers alike has been overwhelmingly positive and leaves us excited for the arrival of our first electric vehicles later this year.” 

The state-of-the-art fleet was the launched in 2019 when Glasgow became the first airport in the UK to introduce electric buses to its operations.

When introduced, it was the first time the BYD ADL Enviro200EV model has been operated anywhere in Scotland and its introduction at Glasgow Airport was made possible thanks to a £450,000 Green Bus Fund support grant from Transport Scotland.

A joint project between ADL and BYD Europe, the new zero-emission fleet combine BYD’s leading electric driveline and battery technology with Alexander Dennis bodies. At 10.8m long, each bus has both front and rear access points, 23 seats, three-tier luggage compartments and includes wheelchair provision. 

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Councillors asked to approve main works contractor for Paisley Museum project

paisley museum

Next week Renfrewshire councillors will be asked to approve the appointment of the main works contractor for Paisley Museum, marking the next step in transforming the venue into a major cultural destination.

The paper that will be presented to the council’s Finance, Resources and Customer Services Policy Board on 31 March will seek to authorise appointing the £23million main works contract to Kier Construction Limited.

paisley museum

If the paper is approved negotiations will move to the final stage with a view to formally appointing the contractor in the coming weeks. This would result in work beginning on site in early summer with construction likely to be completed by late 2022, reopening to the public in 2023.

A programme of community benefits were requested as part of the procurement process. If approved as the main contractor, Kier Construction Limited have agreed to offer a number of local employment opportunities, work experience placements, business advice and support to local SMEs, social enterprises and voluntary organisations and a commitment to ensure that supply chain opportunities are prioritised for Renfrewshire based businesses.

paisley museum

The £42million redevelopment of the museum is the signature project in Paisley’s radical regeneration which also includes refurbishments of the town’s A-listed town hall and a new learning and cultural hub housing library services on the town’s high street.

Paisley Museum Reimagined Project Director, Kirsty Devine, said: “If the proposed contractor is approved by councillors next week it will enable us to move ahead with plans to realise our ambitious vision for Paisley Museum.

“The redevelopment of the museum provides the perfect opportunity to showcase our internationally significant collections and we’re doing this in collaboration with Renfrewshire communities as well as with partners across the world. The redeveloped museum will be an amazing resource in the heart of Paisley and people should feel rightly proud of that heritage.”

paisley museum

The revamped museum is expected to attract around 128,000 visitors a year when it reopens – creating new footfall and trade for Paisley town centre and supporting new and existing businesses in the surrounding area.

Chair of Paisley First, Colette Cardosi, said: “We welcome what would be a major step forward in the museum redevelopment, a project we know will enhance the reputation of Paisley town centre as a must-visit destination.

“Like everyone who is passionate about the town, it will be great to see real progress at the site and we are looking forward to watching the transformation as the project develops.”

The redesign of the museum campus, being led by an international team including architects AL_A and exhibition designers Opera Amsterdam, will allow the number of objects on display to be increased by 150%.

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Council COVID business grants providing timely boost

A popular Bishopton restaurant and a Paisley-based international corporate training company are among 123 businesses to have benefited so far from a tailored Renfrewshire Council Coronavirus support fund.

More than £480,000 has been awarded through Renfrewshire Council’s Renfrewshire Coronavirus Business Support Fund helping businesses address the immediate impact of the pandemic.

It adds to around 6,000 grants – totalling £44million of Scottish Government funding – distributed by the Council to help people self-employed and businesses across a wide range of sectors since the outset of the pandemic.

The Council’s own support fund was created after consultation with 500 local companies, offering loans and match-funded grants to help with short-term cashflow, meet changed objectives and adapt commercial premises.

For Brian Cunningham, co-owner of Angelini’s Italian restaurant in Bishopton, an adaptation grant proved vital in enabling them to keep trading.

He said: “We needed to adapt the layout as it was too small to accommodate enough customers sitting in and manage takeaway collections, while meeting the Covid guidelines.  The Council grant allowed us to remove a wall and put down flooring which opened up our restaurant, and this worked well together with all the appropriate safety measures which our customers love.

“We would not have been able to trade efficiently if this grant wasn’t received so it was most welcome at that time as financially every penny counted in our quest to help Angelini’s survive the pandemic whilst keeping up to 15 staff in work.

“We appreciate all the support the government and local authority have provided us to date and fingers crossed we will come out the back of this situation stronger than when it hit us.”

Another business supported through the Council fund is RSVP Design, who benefited from a resilience grant to develop a range of online executive training activities.

First established in 2003, the company exports games and puzzles to business schools, HR departments and training consultant customers worldwide from its Abbey Mill Business Centre offices, with 70% of products delivered overseas to the USA, Europe and Asia.

Managing Director Graham Cook, from Brookfield, said: “We had our best year in 2019, but then the impact of Coronavirus has been dramatic. Our products are designed for people getting together for face-to-face training and by March 2020 we went to 10% of our sales volume.

“Everyone apart from myself was on furlough and sadly we had to let two of our team go, drawing down from a Bounce Back loan to keep the business going.

“We were contacted by customers about online versions of our products, so we looked into this and managed to get our first commercial product launched as early as April. We then found not having our own software platform was creating access issues with some of our larger customers, so we started investing in a new platform, with the grant funding from Renfrewshire Council helping towards this.

“It was very easy to apply for and was quickly turned around, with payment made within a couple of days of our first claim and we would not be operating without this support. We are now starting post COVID planning, we know the next period will be very hard, but we will continue to invest and create more online products, giving us a potential new income stream.”

The fund is open now for online applications on the Council website where details of all available support is set out.

Next week, the second phase of the Discretionary Business Grant will be open for applications, supporting small and microbusinesses who are experiencing the most disruption but have been ineligible for other grant support.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “I am acutely aware of the immense pressure and challenge the many brilliant businesses in Renfrewshire continue to face as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“These businesses are run by local people, our neighbours, friends and family, providing important services, hospitality and local jobs and I want them to know that the Council continues to do everything it can to support them at this tough time.

“Financial support has been critical in helping businesses survive and our teams are working tirelessly to ensure the Council and government funds reach businesses as quickly as possible, while our business advisers are on hand to provide specialist support and direct business owners to available support.

“We established our own fund listening to what our business community told us could make the greatest impact and I’m pleased to hear that it is being well received. The creation of the discretionary grant is also making a difference locally, targeting assistance to people self-employed and local traders who may have been ineligible for other grant assistance.

“We continue to work with the Scottish Government and local partners to support Renfrewshire businesses, enabling them to innovate, adapt and become more resilient, working to provide the right business and funding support to ensure not only their survival, but their future development and growth.”

Full details on available support for local businesses is detailed on the Council website at: www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-businesses

The Council’s inhouse Business Gateway team is available to provide support and assistance by calling 0141 530 2406 or emailing renfrewshire@bgateway.com.

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Six-figure sum set to be invested in Renfrewshire’s green spaces

Community groups in Renfrewshire are set for a £107,000 windfall as councillors prepare to consider the latest applications to the Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Investment Fund.

Four projects are set to go in front of councillors which aim to improve play and exercise opportunities for young people, families, and adults alike.

An investment of £50,000 in Glencoats Park would facilitate phase 2 of its transformation which is being led by the award-winning Pals of the Privies volunteer group.

A 2.8 metre tower with multiple play options, a cantilever swing and outdoor gym equipment would be installed to attract teenagers and adults, with phase 1 of the project having already provided a variety of play equipment for young children and families.

Barwood Park in Erskine could benefit from £40,000 which would be used to provide new equipment for young people to assist their play and learning, while a zip slide would be installed too if Erskine Outdoor Play and Leisure’s application is approved.

Multi-use play equipment would be introduced to Dunvegan Park in Elderslie as the Community Council aims to provide equipment for young people aged 6 to 12, while Spateston TARA have applied for £7,000 to replace the well-used goalposts in the local park as the first step of a wider project to transform the park in the near future.

Councillor Marie McGurk, Convener of Renfrewshire’s Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board, said: “This fund has already delivered some outstanding projects across Renfrewshire which have greatly enhanced the play opportunities for young people and families, as well as making improvements to our parks and open spaces which during these current times have become so important to us all.

“I look forward to considering the latest set of applications to this innovative fund at the next board meeting on 16 March.”

The £1.87milllion fund aims to let communities change the areas where they live for the better by supporting them with advice and investment to improve underused or neglected green spaces and take forward projects which will strengthen the character, identity and heritage of their local community.

To ensure that funding can be allocated appropriately, all interested groups and individuals are asked to submit their applications by 31 March 2021, after which viable projects will be prioritised.

For more information, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/greenspacesfund.

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