Author: Michelle Allan

Abbey Mill Childcare is a family run nursery based in Seedhill Road in Paisley, in the iconic and historic Mile End Mill, part of Abbey Mill Business Centre.

The nursery, led by Meg and her dedicated team, recognises the significance of providing caregivers with a top-notch childcare facility.

Utilising their expertise, talents, and years of experience, the team delivers a service focused on children and families. Embracing play-based learning as their core philosophy and offering four distinct play areas, they ensure that every child is accommodated and upholds every child’s right to play.

For the last two decades Abbey Mill Childcare has flourished; offering care, comfort, and joy to numerous children.

For further information on the nursery please visit their website at www.abbeymillchildcare.co.uk or, visit their Facebook page Abbey Mill Childcare Paisley

Think we could help your medium sized business move forward in 2024? Get in touch today to arrange an appointment.

E: info@caas.org.uk T: 0141 889 1161 W: caas.org.uk

Our first showcase of 2024 kicks off with longstanding client and photographer extraordinaire, Euan Robertson.

We were introduced to Euan via his wife Cat, who some of you will remember had her own successful make artistry business. Sadly for faces in the West Coast and beyond, Cat decided to down her make up brushes and pursue a new career, teaching the youth of today music.

Back to Euan! Starting out as a sole trader, our role was to process Euan’s tax return for him and look at ways to maximise his profit for the year ahead. It became clear that his business was evolving in to something bigger and as such, we assisted him in setting up as a limited company. This is our jam – being part of the journey and helping clients with advise and to create something that works better for them (and their profits!). We love having the familiarity and scope to discuss new ideas and paths for progression, it also helps massively when the client is up for it too!

To tell you that Euan’s photography is a joy to behold really doesn’t cut it or capture his enthusiasm for his job, so we’ll quote the man directly,
“In my work I’m often drawn to create something enigmatic, exploring layers of story, revealing (or not) the motivations of my subjects. I quickly evolved from those hometown landscapes to photographing people and their stories. It’s in faces and characters that I find my motivation to keep on shooting. The most rewarding experience is finding a photo in a set that truly captures the essence of the subject”.

From heavyweight Scottish music festivals, through portraiture and commercial work to intimate elopements in the Highlands, there really isn’t anything Euan can’t capture perfectly. Don’t just take our humble opinion of his work, with a win from the Trad Music Scotland Awards and being exhibited by the Scottish Portrait Awards, there’s more still to come; we’re sure!

We really are privileged in having such diverse and creative clients. If you think we could help you to move your business forward in 2024, please get in touch via info@caas.org.uk or alternatively call 0141 889 1161 (the telephone isn’t always manned as our team work remotely at times). You could also use the contact form on this website caas.org.uk

To have a gander at Euan’s work for yourself, or to contact him regarding work please visit his website at euanrphoto.com or mail him on euan@euanrphoto.com

New Year, new you? Or do your books already look scary?

Why not make this year, the year you invest in a reliable accountant? One that will ease the burden of looking the financial side of things, whilst you get on with running the day to day business? After all, that’s what you’re good at.

For a quick chat to see how we can keep you right, email info@caas.org.uk and we’ll set you up an appointment.

Let’s keep those number monsters under control, together.
E: info@caas.org.uk T: 0141 889 1161 W: caas.org.uk

Possibly our last Client Showcase of 2023, and what a lovely way to end.

Loads of you will already be familiar with our longstanding client Animal Station. Owned and operated by William and Suzanne; they and their team go the extra mile to ensure your furry friends are well looked after.

Animal Station sell a plethora of pet care goods, but their bread and butter comes in the form of raw food and treats for animals. We’d never heard of a raw food diet all those years ago, when we first met William; but he’s so knowledgeable on it, we were sold – and we don’t even own a pet!

You can visit them at 34 Napier St, Linwood, PA3 3AJ – their opening hours and contact details can be found on their Facebook page, search ‘Animal Station’.

Make sure to carve out enough time to peruse all that Animal Station have to offer – it’s a huge place. Take along your 4 legged pals too, they’re always welcome.

We’ve been having an absolute nightmare recently with HMRC. Extensive call waiting times, phones then being hung up after waiting for over an hour to speak to an agent, rude and unhelpful staff…the list goes on.

Then like a little burst of sunshine on a very cloudy day, comes a review from a client that just blows you away.

I’ll post the email we received from Angela, in it’s entirety (I have her permission to do so) because it really has been a tough few months, dealing with HMRC and I’m exceptionally proud of our little team and their dedication to providing the best in customer service!

“Hi Chris,
Your phone call on Saturday and it’s news was just the best…. I went off the phone totally elated, it was so unexpected to hear that the HMRC issue is sorted.
From our previous call I had accepted that the situation would be unresolved for some time yet. So to say I am thrilled delighted etc etc is an understatement.

As I said on Saturday I was totally unaware that you were checking my account daily….to me that demonstrates such commitment on your part to resolve HMRC’s incompetencies.

It also tells me that you go above and beyond for your customers. Relieved that this tax situation has concluded successfully and happy that C Allan & Son can cease working so diligently on this. I really can’t thank you enough for all the work you and Fiona have had to do to resolve this. I am very grateful. ( I got a lovely email from Fiona this morning…I can see she is chuffed that it’s concluded also )

I want to let you know I still wish to offer my support in relation to you quoting my story to Mhairi Black MP or to HMRC’s complaints process as I am acutely aware the impact HMRC’s inefficiencies and incompetence is having on you, your staff and clearly lots of people who require to pay tax through self assessment processes.

So please don’t hesitate to say if you need to use my situations information or wish me to send anything in writing that supports in resolving the problems being faced. I am more than happy to do this.

Best Wishes
Angela”.

Thank you to Angela for taking the time to write a review. We always feed back any comments to the team and your words really do make a difference.

We are in the process of asking Mhairi Black MP for assistance with the issues with HMRC at the moment. We’ll report back when we have any update on this.

Continuing on the theme of ‘absolute beezer examples of who we work for’, or ABEOWWWF, to simplify things (maybe not). This week’s Client Showcase business is the award-winning, Shipyard Gin.

Their story is this, “Born on the banks of the River Clyde, where Clyde Shipbuilding was once world renowned for its craftsmanship and skill which truly were the envy the world over. In the early 1900s ships that were built on the Clyde amassed to one fifth of all ships at sea.

Shipyard Gin is distilled in Scotland – made with botanicals, hand foraged from the banks of where these proud shipyards once stood. It is created by taking the values and craftmanship that underpinned the shipbuilding on the Clyde to create a premium well balanced craft gin; expertly infusing juniper, gorse and elderflower to name just a few, to create a citrus style gin with hints of coconut and vanilla from the gorse flower”.

Shipyard Gin’s story begins long before owner Andy Samuel distils his product – his grandfather John Samuel, who was a plater in the shipbuilding world, used to take a young Andy out foraging for berries and flowers to make wine for his friends and family. It’s easy to uncover where Andy’s passion for creating his gin comes from!

If you’d like to taste test and see why Shipyard Gin was awarded Gold by London Spirits Competition, you’re in luck, as they deliver via www.shipyard-gin.com
To simply show support to a local business, please visit Shipyard Gin on Facebook and give their page a like!

If you own a similar business to our feature this week and would like to know how C Allan & Son could support you on your business journey, please email info@caas.org.uk to arrange an appointment.