Perthshire for news, events, listings, tourism and other issues that
may or may not be going on in Perthshire.
Perth & Kinross Council Tender Contracts for the Perthshire Publications and the 2005 G8 Summit at Gleneagles Perthshire.
Perthshire Business launch website
As dissatisfaction with Perth and Kinross Council and the Chamber of Commerce grows, an alternative forum for the Perthshire business community has been established. Those behind the new venture believe it will provide a viable alternative to the sleeping Chamber of Commerce, helping local businesses to boost both their profile and profits.
Last week, The Courier revealed that Perth and Kinross Council which has a stated aim to promote the area, has not given out any tenders for material to promote the Perthshire area to local firms for 2 years. This has included the glossy Perthshire Publications set to be distributed ahead of this summers G8 Summit at Gleneagles.
Also last week, a former Perth and Kinross councillor and business owner, Colin Rhind, called for an investigation into the way tenders are put out by Perth and Kinross Council, claiming businesses in the area are effectively being ignored.
Despite being aware of the new online business community, a Perth and Kinross Council spokesman yesterday refused to make any comment. The new website has already caused a real stir according to one business man who contacted The Courier yesterday.
The Chamber of Commerce was described as failing the businesses it was established to help and the new online community hailed as potentially providing a successful alternative. The idea of Perthshire Business was developed as a self help business community with an open exchange of local information, the website proclaims. Offering free access, the website will allow local companies to advertise tenders, vacancies, news and promotions. The site is intended as an alternative to the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce, the site states.
When it grows we can all decide if there is to be a monthly lunch, award ceremony and golf outing or we can find alternative more exciting ways to network. The establishment of a fully fledged offline business club is described as a real possibility.
For along time now, local businesses have suffered at the hands of the very organisations that claim to be providing help and support, it states on the front page of the website.
Nobody at the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce wished to comment on the new venture. Meanwhile, a plea not to support the Perthshire G8 Summit Publication the tender for which was given to a company based in Oban, has been e mailed to over 300 local businesses.
During the last seven days, reports of Perth and Kinross Councils tendering policy have emerged in The Courier, the e mail states. It started with questions being asked about the Perthshire G8 publication.
Recently local companies have received a mailing from Soapbox marketing in Oban. The mailing is for advertising space in the Perthshire G8 publication. Local businesses have been asking why are we being asked to pay a company in Oban and not a local company? the e mail continues.
If you decide that local companies are not being given a fair crack of the whip, just say no to Soapbox marketing. If you have already booked space, ask for your money back and tell them why.
The Courier Tuesday March 8 2005-03-08
Dave Lord
We now have a copy of the Perth and Kinross Council Lifestyle magazine and CD Rom that was meant to impress the delegates of the G8 summit at Gleneagles, Perthshire 2005. Read more.............
Business Perthshire Website 2005
