Cowdenbeath engineering firm grows to 14 staff in two years
In just two years, a Cowdenbeath company has grown from a one-man operation into a thriving business with 14 staff.
In 2023, Mike Heron decided it was time to follow a long-held dream and launch his own company MKY Fabrication and Engineering Services.
With 18 years of experience in the metal industry under his belt, Mike had developed a wealth of knowledge and hands-on expertise while working for his former employer.
Since then the firm has multiplied its staff members and grown its factory by expanding into the next door premises.
MKY Fabrication and Engineering Services specialises in a broad range of metalworking services, from light and heavy fabrications to coded welding, machining, and mechanical fitter services.
The early days were far from easy, with Mike handling every aspect of the business himself.
He said: 'I felt like it was the right time to start a business. If I hadn't done it then, I would have missed my chance.
'It was tough at the beginning, often working until 10 or 11 at night.
'A few months in, two employees joined, and it's just grown from there.'
Initially Mike was helped by friend Bob Waterson, the owner of Greenfold Systems, who allowed him to set up in his factory Lochgelly.
As demand increased, the company moved into its own premises in the Woodend industrial estate in Cowdenbeath.
Today, MKY Fabrication boasts a team of 14, including two young women currently undertaking apprenticeships.
Although the firm is still in the process of building its website, Mike said word-of-mouth referrals and targeted Facebook advertising have drawn contractors and clients.
He said: 'We provide a 24-hour breakdown maintenance service.
'This ensures clients experience minimal downtime and can keep their operations running smoothly.
'I'm proud of what we've achieved as a team. If it wasn't for the people around me, none of this would have been possible.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Home Bargains is selling ‘beautiful' Dubai air freshener that ‘smells just like holidays' for just £2.29
Bargain hunters are raving about these incredible sprays FRESH AIR Home Bargains is selling 'beautiful' Dubai air freshener that 'smells just like holidays' for just £2.29 HOME BARGAINS is selling a "beautiful" Dubai air freshener that "smells just like holidays". Shoppers are racing to get their hands on the air freshener after spotting the product at the bargain retailer. 1 Home Bargains is selling these "beautiful" Dubai air fresheners Credit: facebook/@couponmumuk Bargain hunters are raving about 'Dubai' sprays that smell out of this world - and they can be yours for a steal from Home Bargains. Not only are the scents incredible, but the viral buys are super affordable too. One savvy shopper spotted these Laylah Air Fresheners in store for just £2.29. They posted a picture of the items on the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK. The popular sprays, known as Nusuk Layali, are imported from the United Arab Emirates. They come in stunning 300ml bottles with an assortment of fragrances on offer. Smelling just like holiday these captivating sprays will rejuvenate any room and transport you back to those dreamy Arabian nights. The air fresheners are available in four scents - Arwa (blue), Oud Wood (black), Oud Romancia (red) and Haya (white). Home Bargains fans eagerly rushed to the comments, keen to share their rave reviews of the bargain buys. One impressed customer shared: "The only air freshener I have used where the smell actually stays - love them!" "The white one we got smells amazing and lasts forever," another added. Others shared which one was their favourite with another user saying: "The red one smells lovely and looks pretty on the shelf!" One even said: "I think it smells like some of the place I visited whilst in Dubai!" Shoppers have even claimed that one of the scents smells like Marc Jacobs Daisy, but without the jaw-dropping £79.20 price tag. I've made my home smell amazing with a £2 Home Bargains buy - I bought 4 & it's like a £79 Marc Jacobs Daisy explosion One TikTok user, a make up artist from the UK, previously gave her followers a close-up look of the sprays, racking up 341,000 views. But you'll need to get your shoes at the ready if you want to stock up, as Home Bargains have warned people that 'you need to be quick if you want these.' But if you're not looking for home fragrances, the store has a number of other bargains on offer. With temperatures soaring, the retailer has a cheap dog accessory for sale that is perfect for keeping your dog cool this summer. Selling at just 79p, this pet item is both useful for helping them in 30C heat, as well as being a stylish accessory that is cheap. And if you want to elevate your home in seconds, you may want to invest in their faux olive tree. Moving outdoors, Home Bargains is also selling an affordable garden ornament for just £9.99. And if you're jetting over to Dubai yourself this summer, parents are racing to their nearest store eager to nab these travel sets that kids will love.
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I posed as illegal Channel migrant to rent a Just Eat account – minutes later I was delivering leaving customers SHOCKED
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SUN reporter posing as an illegal Channel migrant rented a Just Eat courier account and made a delivery within minutes despite promises of a crackdown. Pretending to be an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, he purchased the login to the delivery app's service from a seller called Danyel. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Sun reporter Thomas Godfrey, posing as an illegal Channel migrant, rented a Just Eat courier account and made a delivery within minutes Credit: Steve Bell 5 Our reporter took a KFC Bargain Bucket to cement contractor Joe Stanton, 27, for his family Credit: Steve Bell We showed how easy it was to scam the system after a Sun investigation last week showed migrants across the country could work illegally from asylum hotels as fast-food delivery drivers within hours of arriving in Britain. Today, bosses of Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat will be hauled in by the Home Office. As part of his cover story, our reporter told the account 'dealer' — who operated on open Facebook forums under his real name — that he had no right to work in the UK as he had only just been processed by the Home Office. But the dealer, based in Guildford, Surrey, told us: 'It is no problem if you do your job, mate.' The account had been verified by Just Eat after background, criminal and passport checks on Danyel's Romanian documents. Our reporter was handed control of the account for £40 a week. Its earnings history revealed riders renting it earlier this year had made more than £250 in a week. He was given a shift dropping off orders on Wednesday night in nearby Addlestone, and delivered a Wimpy burger, chips and strawberry milkshake to Just Eat customer Rebekah. When we told her what was going on, Rebekah, who was looking after her mum, said: 'That makes me a bit nervous.' Two days later, he switched to Gravesend, Kent, and was immediately flooded with offers without being asked to verify his identity. Thousands of boat migrants working as delivery riders within hours of arriving while housed and fed by taxpayer, Sun probe reveals The dealer assured our man that, had he been asked, he would have logged in and verified himself before handing back control. Our reporter took a KFC Bargain Bucket to cement contractor Joe Stanton, 27, for his family. He told us: 'This shows how easy it is, and the fact that anyone could do it.' An Indian takeaway was dropped to Parminder Singh, 51, who works as a registered delivery driver. He told us: 'When you order through an app, you put your trust into that company. 'This does make me wary about who can turn up.' Furious Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: 'Firms like this are not just profiting from the small boat crisis, they're fuelling it.' Just Eat said: 'We'd like to thank The Sun for drawing this case to our attention. 'The account has been suspended while we conduct a thorough investigation.' Bordering on lunacy DESPERATE migrants clutch children's rubber rings as they start a Channel crossing — despite such inflatables being useless in emergencies. At least 40 men were seen crammed into a dinghy when it launched from Gravelines, near Calais yesterday. 5 Small boat migrants clutch children's rubber rings as they start a Channel crossing Credit: LNP Fine weather this week could bring this year's small boat arrivals to 20,000. The tally is currently at 18,500 — up by almost 6,000 on this time last year. Meanwhile, a new migrants return deal with France is expected to be announced. 5 Migrants waiting to board a boat on the French coast Credit: LNP
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Hertz faces boycott over AI scanners that can slap $400 fines in minutes
By Published: | Hertz is facing a wave of online backlash. Critics are taking aim at the rental company after multiple customers say they were billed hundreds of dollars for minor damage flagged by new AI inspection scanning systems. On Reddit and Facebook, car renters are now calling for a boycott, accusing the rental giant of using AI to detect trivial damage and charge steep fees — all while making it difficult to speak with a live agent. 'I'm just not comfortable with the new technology that can flag dirt or something that can be rubbed off as damage,' A customer posted on Reddit. Another Reddit user wrote: 'The flagging is half of the problem. The other problem is Hertz using AI to file the claim. What about traditional smaller-than-the-size-of-a-golf-ball dents or bill-size scratches? I can't even speak to a live agent.' This week, the company confirmed to it had charged a driver $440 for a one-inch scratch on a wheel. The scuff, commonly caused when a driver brushes a curb while parallel parking, was flagged by the scanner. The bill included $250 for the damage, $125 for processing, and a $65 administrative fee. Another driver claimed they got a $195 fee for a tiny dent when returning a Toyota Corolla. Each driver's experience is part of a larger tech rollout at Hertz, which recently partnered with UVeye , a startup that builds high-speed automated vehicle inspection systems. Renters drive their cars through the scanners twice: once when they pick up the vehicle, and again when it's returned. Drivers will receive a copy of previously-scanned damage, the company confirmed to Hertz wants to use the scanners at 100 rental locations by the end of the year. In April, the rental firm told that it was rolling out the tech to enhance vehicle safety, not charge customers for minor cosmetic damage . The company said its policy hasn't changed, despite the $440 and $195 charges. It says most drivers who have used the UVeye scanners haven't received a charge. 'Over 97 percent of cars scanned with this technology have not detected any billable damage, proving a vast majority of rentals are incident-free,' a spokesperson for the company said. 'Vehicle damage has long been a common pain point across the car rental industry for customers and companies alike. 'At Hertz, we're using this technology to address this friction head-on and our goal is to always improve the customer experience while ensuring customers are not charged for damages they did not cause and by bringing greater transparency, precision, and speed to the process when they do.' In April, the company also told that the systems will ensure their customers always receive safe cars. UVeye's scanners can more accurately assess underbody damage and tire tread degradation than human inspectors. But independent analysts worry the tech solution isn't inspiring a ton of human trust. 'A line is crossed when AI applications become overly aggressive and prioritize efficiency over customer fairness and satisfaction,' David Linthicum, an AI analyst, previously told 'Customers value fairness and human interaction.' Hertz declined to comment on this article. Instead, the company pointed to its loss damage waiver, which typically costs between $20 and $30 per rental day, as a way to avoid surprising fees.
