Choosing Kilmarnock - why businesses are preferring the town as a place to set up and thrive

Scotland’s Towns Partnership’s “Shop Local” Council Leader, Councillor Douglas Reid, was joined by  Councillor Maureen McKay, Leader of the Labour Group,  Councillor Graham Barton, Member for Planning, Property and Environment and MSP Brian Whittle.

On a whistle stop tour of Kilmarnock’s Business Quarter,  the party met with three local business people and members of the Kilmarnock Business Association, to explore the realities, opportunities and advantages of doing business in the area.

First stop was Craig Robertson’s Lomond Property which opened its doors on John Finnie Street just over a year ago.  Craig is now an active member of the Kilmarnock Business Association and loves  the town so much that he and many of his extended family have chosen to move and live there.

Craig explained.  “I’ve worked in other places and we also have premises in Prestwick and Irvine. When it came to expanding Kilmarnock was a big draw because of the support available from the Council, the transport links and, for us, this John Finnie Street location. Being so close to banks, lawyers offices, financial services and other related businesses was a big advantage. 

The support we’ve  had from East Ayrshire’s Community Led Regeneration and Business Support Teams has also been instrumental in our decision to come here. Thanks to funding from the Shop Front grant scheme we’ve been able to focus our own spend on perfecting our interior to create a welcoming space for our clients.

“We know that for most people or selling a property can be a daunting proposition – so we’ve gone for a café style interior, with comfortable seating, coffee machine and a friendly vibe to help people relax as we take care of them and their business.

To this end, and as a mark of his enthusiasm for the town, Craig has also commissioned a stunning internal mural, by local artist Steven McClure, of the Kilmarnock townscape. It features prominent locations such as the Dick Institute, Railway Station and has a nod to well known aspects of town life, such as Kilmarnock Football Club’s mascot, Captain Conker.

The mural, which can easily be seen through the window by passers by, typifies the Lomond Property attitude to the town. Craig says: “One of the best things about Kilmarnock is the way we work together, the Business Association has brought together lots of like minded people doing their best for the town and supporting each other.

We’ve all faced challenges in the past few years with Brexit,  covid and the economic crisis, but we’re now starting to see some businesses growing in confidence, investing in the beautiful old buildings, providing great personal service to our customers and looking at all the positives which this town and its people have to offer.

Over in Bank Street,  Iain Greer  of Monarch Financial Services, is also a newcomer to the area.  Being made redundant, expecting a new baby and entering lockdown all at the same time might have floored a lesser person, but Iain, who’d been based in Glasgow set to, organising premises, assembling a small team and refurbishing his beautiful Victorian sandstone building in no time at all.

Offering wraparound  financial advice for mortgages and protection, Iain hand picked a team, many of whom hadn’t previously worked directly in financial services, but all of whom brought talent and useful skills to the business.  He’s gone from a team of three when he opened, training up recruits as he’s gone, to a team of over 20 dedicated staff today.  They’ve all gained vital qualifications and won numerous awards for their work in financial services along the way.

Like Craig, Iain sees his role as providing a vital personal service for his clients. He says “With banks going increasingly online, people need what we can offer, a one stop shop where we can help them work out how to optimise their finances. As independent advisors we can guide our clients through the minefields of mortgages, insurance, secured loans and investment, making the whole process easier and less stressful.”

At the same time Iain recognises that the business is part of a much bigger picture, which is why he too has joined the KBA and is now busy helping plan this year’s Killieween and Christmas Lights events. 

“Having moved to the town, I want it to be a great place for my family to grow up – I want them to have fun at Christmas and Halloween and now I’m help making it happen.”

Monarch has also benefited from help and advice  from the Council’s teams.  He says: “Setting up in Kilmarnock at the time when we did wasn’t easy, and we’ve certainly faced some challenges. But we couldn’t get over how much the Council teams we worked with, from the business teams to Building Control have bent over backwards to accommodate and work with us to help make it a success.

“It’s great now to be part of a wider business community which is working with the authorities to help give something back and make life easier and more fun for all those who live, work and visit here.”

Corespace, in Portland Street, the brainchild of Hugh Mulgrew is another newcomer to the scene.  Enter through an unpreposessing doorway and a literal hive of industry awaits.

With over 20 small and medium sized businesses based in the tardis like building, the overwhelming feeling is of space, light and a relaxed but busy atmosphere.

One of many premises owned by the “can do” entrepreneur, Corespace Kilmarnock takes serviced office accommodation to a new level, with the emphasis very much on helping newcomers with premises tailored not just to their needs but their budgets too.

Highly popular with his loyal tenants  - all of whom are still in business years after his first premises were established,  remarkable in a field where new business failures are common – Hugh is famous for mucking in and getting things done.

When Citizens Advice Bureau were moving into the building he realised they needed help to move their furniture. He immediate went off and came back a truck, rolled up his sleeves and physically loaded and helped them shift their belongings from their old place.

He says “I’d rather charge a rent that someone can afford in the knowledge that if I do what I can to help they will do well and be with us for longer.  I could charge more for what I do but we need to be realistic. If I can provide superfast broadband,  clean and comfortable premises, bookable meeting rooms and other services, I’m giving startups a great chance to succeed without the headaches of property maintenance and high start up costs.

The visitors also met with Peter Telfer, Managing Director of Urquhart’s Opticians, former Chair of KBA and a member of the new Kilmarnock Town Board. He said: “It’s always good to showcase all the great businesses in the area. Many people will walk past these buildings and be unaware of the success stories going on inside. For us as a Business Association and also now with the Town Board, it’s great to see businesses choosing to set up here and contribute more widely to the business community and local economy.”

Summing up the tour,  Councillor Reid said: “I was really heartened to visit all these very different businesses. I came away boosted by the knowledge that all we’d helped all three with different aspects of setting up, seeing the benefits of the advice and grant funding available. 

“The help the Council has provided has a tangible effect, with these three buildings now in tip top shape. But most importantly, the vision, commitment and enthusiasm of the teams who occupy them says a lot for the town which has attracted and welcomed them. They’ve all embraced that and are clearly contributing greatly to the current and future prosperity and wellbeing of the town and the wider area.

“As a council which has long been focused on partnership working, regeneration of our historic buildings and supporting business as a means of Community Wealth Building, it’s great to see how behind the scenes in our busy main streets there are lots of good people taking positive action to make it all a reality.”