Winning a blinder of a contract

Glasgow based City Building has won a £2million contract to supply kitchen units and worktops for homes in East Ayrshire. The range of units and worktops will be manufactured by Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi) which is a supported facility operated by City Building. The three year contract will provide 3000 kitchens for East Ayrshire Council’s Housing Asset Services which will install the fixtures.

John Foley, managing director of City Building, said: ‘We’re delighted with this contract win. The RSBi produces furniture and construction products to high standards, while giving genuine and lasting employment opportunities to local people, including those with disabilities. We look forward to working in partnership with East Ayrshire Council on this important project.’

Recently the RSBi gained Gold Certificate standard from the Furniture Industry Research Association (FIRA), an independent industry authority which recognises high quality products and professional craftsmanship. This is understood to have been a factor in City Building’s successful bid. Said Chris McAleavey, head of housing services at East Ayrshire Council: ‘We are confident that the finished product will match our high expectations. RSBi is well known for its high quality products and unique social ethos.’

City Building has been successful in gaining a separate contract with East Ayrshire Council, to fit kitchens, bathrooms and to carry out rewiring.

One of Europe’s largest supported employment facilities, RSBi has 240 workers of whom more than half have a disability. The company works closely with a range of organisations including Glasgow’s Helping Heroes and various disabled ex-servicemen and women’s groups.

City Building has delivered more than £28 million in cash surplus over the last five years, which is passed to Glasgow City Council for investment in frontline services.

City Building’s award-winning training academies in Queenslie and Laurieston are the most successful apprentice-training centres in Scotland.

 

 

 

 

Top of the champions’ league

In a heart-warming evening in Glasgow City Chambers, the Evening Times community champions were again recognised and the Champion of Champions announced.

The grand finale to the monthly celebrations of people doing good work in different area of the city, attracted a large audience which practically filled the Banquetting Chamber.

This photograph gives an idea of the number of people who have been acknowledged for adding something extra special to their neighbourhood.

Alongside the Community Champions, the Lord Provost, Bob Winter, announced the winner of his own special Service to the Community award – the Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries in Springburn.

Champions light up Springburn

Springburn Fire Station was ablaze with excitement when it hosted the latest round of Community Champions on Thursday 22 July.
More than 200 people gathered from the city’s North East communities to honour those people and groups who have made life better for everyone.
Part of the Evening Times’s award scheme, the Community Champions were presented with their accolades by Assistant Chief Constable Ruaraidh Nicolson, Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, Bailie Jim Todd representing Glasgow Community Plannning Partnerships and Tony Carlin, Evening Times Editor.
First up was the individual award which went to Margaret Thomson of Sighthill Community One Stop Shop for her volunteer work which had made ‘a massive impact’ on the area. Gary McBain was praised for his Peer Education activities and William McCool’s youth football teams had kept many kids out of trouble.
The public service team award went to the Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries whose work force of 260 highly skilled people produce a wide range of furniture or kitchens or classrooms, offices or homes and operate like one big family to help each other despite disabilities. Said George Gaffney, head of manufacturing: ‘It is a great honour to get this award. The hard work and quality of the work produced by everyone is what merits this recognition.’
Audrey McJimpsey, manager of the company’s learning centre added: ‘We are very proud of this award.’ And Allan McGuinness, Chairman of the National Union for the Blind and Disabled commented: ‘This is a great success. This business promotes and supports people in the community.’
Other contenders in this category were the Molendinar Burn Park Steering Group which is creating play space from derelict land and the Brunswick Centre which started as a boys club in the 1950s and is still encouraging good sportsmanship and play across a variety of sports.
The Public Service individual award went to Deborah Gibson who, as a Glasgow Housing Association officer in Sighthill, inspired local residents to ‘Touch the Sky’ with a wide variety of activities and projects which enhanced the quality of life in the area.
The three other contenders were June Aird and Linda Fraser who work for different aspects of Red Road Family Centre and PC Ian Brogan who has been a police officer in Blackhill for 29 years and is the ‘epitome of what a community policeman should be.’
In the Seniors category the Champion award went to Hannah Simpson of Royston who has been dedicated to improving the area since she started on a steering committee in the 1980s which produced the Garngad Housing Association. Also honoured were Robert Lowe who has been a powerful advocate in the fight against lung cancer since he was diagnosed with a rare form of it and given only a few months to live – in 1993! Margaret Grimes who despite mobility problems and being deaf since suffering meningitis at the age of two, has contributed enormously to community events in Springburn and for the North Glasgow Housing Association. Said Margaret after the event: ‘I couldn’t believe it! I’m over the moon and very happy about this award.’
Young People were recognised with Roisin Craig and Erin Friel being given a joint Champion Award – a first joint award in the Champion series. Roisin spoke up for young people through All Saints Secondary school’s campaign on the sale of cheap drink which took her and her peers to the Scottish Parliament to state their case. Erin was described as the ‘best thing since sliced bread in Cowlairs’ for being an inspiration to others at Depot Arts despite personal problems.
Lord Provost Bob Winter summed up the evening when he said: ‘It strikes me that the depth and breadth of every champion is that they are good neighbours and good citizens.’

Springburn Alive & Kicking won the team award by showing how the seniors citizens can keep spirits up and the rest of the community on its toes. Barmulloch Community Development Company was praised for promoting dozens of programme which reach out to a wide variety of people. Robroyston Community Council received recognition and tribute for their initiatives to enlighten people in their community on important local issues.

The evening was the second last in this series of Community Champions with the Champion of Champions night scheduled for October 6 in Glasgow City Chambers.