Latest news with #WesternFerries
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Public sector workers who refuse to come into office should be sacked
For some reason this service, covering something as basic as food, is no problem at all for the private sector to deliver. Yet if there is any suggestion of the private sector being involved in providing things like universal healthcare or education there is mass hysteria and the First Minister has to make a reassuring statement in Parliament that those nasty private sector people will be kept out. Read more Guy Stenhouse This even extends, rather daftly, to the provision of ferry services. Just how much evidence do we need that the private sector can deliver ferry services better than the public sector. CalMac has the wrong sort of ferries, travelling in some cases on the wrong routes, too slowly, too unreliably, too infrequently at far too much cost. Yes, you meet some wonderful staff on a CalMac vessel but that isn't good enough. The service is poor and costs too much. Unusually, ferries provide a laboratory quality example of a private sector operator providing a superior and more cost-effective service compared with the state-owned operator. CalMac used to have a monopoly on the Gourock to Dunoon route. Then along came the privately owned Western Ferries; no catering, smaller vessels, fewer crew, more frequent sailings for longer hours each day. The public voted with their feet. Western Ferries, despite attempts at unfair competition by CalMac, flourished. So much so that CalMac gave up the route. Western Ferries continues to provide an excellent service today. Given the chance they and others like them could do the same on other routes but the Scottish Government won't entertain it. This is madness, the poor service from CalMac is not what people on our islands need and its crazy cost is not fair to taxpayers. Education. In England they allow academy schools run on private sector lines with their own board of Governors but within an effective regulatory framework to provide education. It works. England used to be behind Scotland on things like reading attainment and maths but now it is the other way around, Scotland trails. Have we looked south to see what we could learn? We have not. Would private firms be better than CalMac at delivering ferry services? (Image: free) The NHS is doomed to failure. Each dollop of extra money at best moves the situation temporarily from one of imminent failure to merely crisis. The demand for healthcare, and add to that adult social care, is almost limitless. The population who need help grows, the population who can give that help and pay for it diminishes, the overall cake is not growing so if we spend more on health and social care we have less to spend on other things. The economy already groans under the weight of taxation and debt. We need bravery, leadership and a willingness to take radical action if we are going to be able to rescue our health and social care services. In England there is some evidence the Government understands just shovelling in more and more money to the NHS is simply not sustainable. Reform is absolutely necessary. In Scotland we celebrate that we pay our healthcare workers more than in England but there is no debate about radical reform, we still believe more money and state control of everything is the solution when it clearly is not. Democratic control of the regulatory framework, the setting of standards and priorities is absolutely vital but why is it that we just cannot stomach the private sector delivering healthcare? The private sector will expect to make a profit but what if in return they bring additional financial resources which revolutionise the technical capability of our hospitals; if they can treat, to a high standard, 5 people instead of 3 people for the same money as now, what exactly is the problem with that? Read more The state is not good at actually delivering things well and efficiently. We all make increasing demands of public services. Our public debt is too high and still rising. If we don't do something new the wheels will soon come off. Yes, the Government should work hard boosting growth but that is the relatively easy bit. The harder, but even more vital, part of their work should be on increasing efficiency so that public money goes further. Public servants who go on strike because they are asked to come into the office for at least two days a week should be replaced as not fit for the job. Unions who won't talk about ending unsustainable, gold-plated public-sector pension scheme should be faced down. The relentless rise in the number of civil servants must not just be stopped but reversed. The list is endless, hard, grinding, relentless focus on delivering more with less. This is what the private sector does every day. Sticking our heads in the sand and confusing the state doing more with actual progress is the road to ruin. In Scotland we are well down that road. Guy Stenhouse is a notable figure in the Scottish financial sector. He has held various positions, including being the Managing Director of Noble Grossart, an independent merchant bank based in Edinburgh, until 2017
The Herald Scotland
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
It's a family affair as Crieff Hydro unveils new look
Last month I interviewed the Hydro's long-standing chief executive, Stephen Leckie, who took me through the rationale behind a £5.2 million investment to rejuvenate the food and drink operation at the resort. Mr Leckie joked that his forebears would be 'turning in their graves' at the changes, which include a new 'secret' speakeasy that can be accessed – via a bookcase wall, naturally – from the new Ballroom Bar. More seriously, the veteran hotelier pressed home why continual reinvestment is needed in destinations such as Crieff to ensure guests keep coming back, and to persuade lapsed consumers to return. The widespread changes include renovations of the hotel's Meikle restaurant, where the Hydro's famous buffet breakfast is served, Winter Garden and Loggia, as well as the introduction of an Asian, small plates menu that is now available throughout. Mr Leckie, whose wife Fiona is the Crieff hotel group's head of interiors, also explained the project was something of a milestone for the Leckie family, who have run the hotel for six generations. Sons Richard and Charlie played a driving role in creating the concepts for the new food and drink offer, while daughters Sarah and Louisa work in events and marketing at the group. 'The fact is I have just turned 60,' Mr Leckie told The Herald. 'This is the start of a transition as I consider the latter working years of my life. 'I plan on working until I am 70 or more, assuming I am able, but I have to allow the new generation the chance to make their mark on the business and continue the success of the business. 'And it is not just about Crieff – it's about Peebles Hydro, the Isle of Glencoe and Ballachulish on the west coast and Scottish Highland Safaris which all four children are getting involved with, even down to the uniforms, the type of pens that we want to have customers use in our conference rooms and in reception when they check in. The family needs to have a role in these little things.' Elsewhere in April I had an exclusive story on the decision by Western Ferries (Scotland) to name a Merseyside shipyard as preferred bidder for two new vessels – a move seen by some as a blow to Ferguson Marine, the last remaining commercial shipyard on the lower Clyde. Western, which operates a frequent shuttle service between Gourock and Dunoon, said APCL Cammell Laird had been chosen after making the 'most commercially compelling case for the new vessels'. Read more: The English yard had previously built, designed and delivered the Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay ferries for Western in 2013. The privately owned company, which runs around 32,000 sailings of the 20-minute crossing per year, expects the new vessels to be delivered in the autumn of 2026. Managing director Gordon Ross said: 'Western Ferries is pleased to announce the preferred bidder statement of a new vessel construction contract to leading UK shipbuilder APCL Cammell Laird, reinforcing a strong and trusted partnership rooted in British maritime excellence. 'APCL Cammell Laird was selected as the preferred bidder due to the strength of their proposal, demonstrating exceptional value in cost, expertise, and the quality of its shipbuilding facilities. Their bid was immensely strong on all fronts, and with their heritage of maritime excellence, we are confident that they will deliver vessels of the highest quality, on time and on budget.' Meanwhile, the AGM season for stock market-listed companies was in full swing last month and I reported on the latest shareholder gathering of NatWest Group in Edinburgh. Investors in the owner of Royal Bank of Scotland voted overwhelmingly in favour of a new remuneration policy that could see chief executive Paul Thwaite earn nearly £8m per year. Chairman Rick Haythornthwaite told reporters after the AGM that the bank had been 'very measured' in its approach to the new executive pay policy. He said: 'We just feel, as step one, let's do that and make sure we are competitive, so we do attract the best talent and keep the best talent. 'But let's not open up the floodgates of risk exposure and forget the lessons of pre-2008 when it all got a bit out of sync. 'We don't think we are close to testing the limits of that. It was a good opportunity to make the shift and remain in sensible territory, with the recognition that others are pushing the boundaries.'
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
We must start charging for our museums and galleries
The loss of potential income from this misguided policy is staggering. In 2024, over two million people visited the National Museum of Scotland; 1.2 million went to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum while 816,000 visited the City of Edinburgh Galleries and Museums. With a charge of just £10 per adult visitor, the National Museum, even with concessions, would be looking at an annual income in excess of £15m. I am informed that the decision whether or not to charge an entrance fee at such sites at both local and national levels rests with Holyrood. Surely a precedent has already been set at national level when there are entrance charges applied at Historic Environment Scotland properties? Adult visitors to Edinburgh Castle have to pay a whopping £29.50 while for Holyrood Palace the standard entrance fee charged by the Royal Collection Trust is £25. So can I appeal to our politicians at both national and local levels to get their act together and rapidly move Scotland into the real tourist world? Eric Melvin, Edinburgh. Read more letters Let's buy these old ferries I note with interest Scott Wright's article on the preferred bidder being named by Western Ferries ("Western Ferries names shipbuilder", The Herald, April 25). Whilst the two new vessels are to be built by APCL Cammell Laird on Merseyside, rather than in Scotland, it is good to know that the order is going to a UK yard. The article prompted me to consider the potential opportunity for the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, CalMac and CMAL. I am presuming that Western Ferries is replacing the two oldest vessels in its current fleet of four vessels. The two oldest vessels were built by Ferguson at Port Glasgow in 2001 (MV Sound of Scarba) and 2003 (MV Sound of Shuna). These are well-founded vessels ideal for short sea crossings, double-ended loading/unloading facilities, economic to operate with a crew of four. Acquisition of one or both of these vessels would provide additional resilience for CalMac on short sea crossings, Largs to Millport being one example. They are mono hull vessels so the "we don't do catamarans" argument from CMAL and Transport Scotland does not apply. Western Ferries has a very good record in terms of fleet maintenance and operation, so there is a potential to strengthen the CMAL / CalMac fleet. These two vessels could also be of use to the Scottish local authorities who operate ferry services, often with quite old vessels. Perhaps Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop might seriously explore the acquisition of these two vessels? Kevin A McCallum, Glasgow. Raw deal on prostate cancer Mary McCabe makes a really good point in her letter (April 28) headed "Don't they care about older people?" regarding national bowel (and breast cancer) screening, both of which are regularly in the media. Less so (except recently with the tragic case of Chris Hoy) is prostate cancer. Unlike breast cancer (11,500 deaths per year) and bowel cancer (16,800 deaths per year) there is no national screening programme. Rather there is an ad hoc referrals system based on quite possibly the worst analytical screening test out there: the PSA blood test. Although work in a number of areas (including MRI as highlighted in The Herald recently) is ongoing, the pace is glacial. All the while at least one other blood test which suggests much greater consistency and accuracy (PSE) is available but only to those who know of its existence and have the near £1,000 to access it privately. Meantime PCa is the most common cancer in men (one in eight men will suffer PCa) and 12,000 men will die this year from PCa. Colin Clark, Inverness. Burning question It's surely irresponsible that, while an "extreme" warning of wildfires is in place, our local Tesco (and doubtless other retailers) is promoting the sale of disposable barbecues. Is no-one capable of linking possible cause to dire effect? Brian Chrystal, Edinburgh. The MV Sound of Shuna (Image: Contributed) The Six O' Clock English News The Six O' Clock News on BBC1 tonight (April 28): Item on school uniforms, in England, prescription charges, in England, and local council elections, oh in England. It is the BBC, not the EBC. Steve Barnet, Gargunnock. That ruddy vocabulary Ruddy, bloomin', haverings, chuckle. Reading your esteemed golf correspondent Nick Rodger's Tuesday pieces, I now find myself looking for what appear to be his favourite words, instead of concentrating on the subject under discussion. Today, I had to read almost seven paragraphs of haverings about the complexities of Mr Rodger's golf swing before finding a "ruddy" ("The Open Championship packs them in but sometimes less is more", Herald Sport, April 29). I might chuckle if Mr Rodger would come to the bloomin' point less slowly. A wee change of vocabulary would be appreciated. David Miller, Milngavie.
STV News
25-04-2025
- Business
- STV News
Ferguson Marine loses out on another ferries contract
Scotland's nationalised shipyard Ferguson Marine has lost out on yet another contract to build new vessels – this time for Western Ferries. On Friday, the multi-million pound contract to build two new small vessels for the Western Ferries fleet was awarded to the APCL Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, England. David Dishon, chief financial officer at Ferguson Marine, said the news was 'disappointing'. He added: 'Ferguson Marine remains focused on securing new work from a range of sources to build its pipeline.' The two new River Clyde ferries are intended to operate on the Gourock to Dunoon route and reduce the average age of the Western Ferries fleet. Construction will begin shortly with both vessels due to be delivered to the Firth of Clyde in autumn 2026. Western Ferries managing director Gordon Ross said the decision to appoint Cammell Laird over Ferguson's followed a highly competitive process. 'APCL Cammell Laird was selected as the preferred bidder due to the strength of its proposal, demonstrating exceptional value in cost, expertise, and the quality of its shipbuilding facilities,' Mr Ross said. 'Their bid was immensely strong on all fronts, and with their heritage of maritime excellence, we are confident that they will deliver vessels of the highest quality, on time and on budget.' David McGinley, group CEO of APCL Group welcomed the announcement of this latest contract with Western Ferries. 'This contract marks the next major milestone in APCL Group being recognised as the UK's leading commercial shipbuilder,' he said. 'Continued orders from British companies to British shipyards ensure that the UK remains as a leader of commercial shipbuilding on the world stage.' The announcement on Friday marks the second time in two months that Ferguson Marine has been passed over for a new ferries contract. In March, the company lost out on a contract for seven new CalMac ferries to a shipbuilding firm in Poland. Mr Dishon from Ferguson Marine added: 'We are a nation with a proud shipbuilding heritage, it's great to see private investment into the build of new ferries, something vitally important to our economy and sector. 'We want to thank Western Ferries for the opportunity to bid and congratulate Cammell Laird on being selected as the preferred bidder. We wish both companies every success and hope to continue our long-standing working relationship with Western Ferries in the future.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ferguson shipyard misses out on Clyde small ferries contract
A contract to build two new small ferries for the River Clyde has gone to a shipyard in MerseysidePrivately-owned Western Ferries announced that Cammell Laird, based at Birkenhead, was preferred bidder to build the vessels for its Gourock to Dunoon announcement is a disappointment for the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard which had hoped to win the Port Glasgow based firm has no new orders beyond the CalMac ferry Glen Rosa, but is pursuing contracting work on the Type 26 frigates currently being built by BAE Systems in Glasgow. Western Ferries currently operates four small ferries, two of them built by Ferguson's in 2001 and 2003 when the yard was privately owned by the Dunnet other two ferries, Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay, were previously built by Cammell Laird in Ferries last year carried 1.2 million passengers and 600,000 cars on the Gourock to Dunoon route and employs about 60 people. Ferguson's employs about 300 workers and apprentices in an area of high deprivation and has built six out of the 10 largest ships currently in CalMac's the firm has struggled with construction of MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa, the first dual-fuel ferries built in the UK capable of running on liquefied natural challenges, disputes over rising costs and an acrimonious stand-off with the customer CMAL saw the firm return to administration in 2019 when it was nationalised, with problems continuing under public Glen Sannox - which started carrying passengers in January - has been praised by ferry users on the Arran the ship was unexpectedly taken out of service in March after a hairline crack in a weld on its hull led to a small fault was quickly repaired and the ship resumed sailings two days second ship MV Glen Rosa is in the final stages of construction and is due for delivery in the autumn.
