Springfield Properties Newsletter.......Springfield Properties Newsletter.......Springfield Properties Newsletter

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Contact us:

Springfield Properties PLC Alexander Fleming House 8 Southfield Drive Elgin Moray IV30 6GRT 01343 552550 F 01343 551776 www.springfield.co.uk E info@springfield.co.uk

Springfield Properties PLC Springfield House 3 Central Park Avenue Larbert FK5 4RXT 01324 555536 F 01324 574890 www.springfield.co.uk E larbert@springfield.co.uk

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Issue 42October 2012

THEY say the originals are always the best and Tommy Hay fits the bill perfectly.

As one of the first to join the fledgling staffwhen the company was formed Tommy has been a "weel-kent" face around our sites since the early days – popular, hard-working and knowledgeable.

He stepped into retirement this month aged 65and is looking forward to spending some more time on his dual passions of gardening and DIY.

Once a noted darts player Tommy wasdelighted to receive retirement gifts that will help him pursue his interests, a nail gun and cash from for fellow workmates and a voucher for a local DIY store from Springfield Properties.

Originally from Lhanbryde but now living withhis wife in Bishopmill, he started his working life as a machine operator but will be best known around our sites as a foreman grounds worker.

His last job was looking after the ground worksat Linkwood MC80 site in Elgin.

Construction manager Brian Hadden said:"Tommy is a popular figure around the sites and he’ll be sadly missed at Springfield where everyone wishes him a long and happy retirement.".

Tommy is congratulated on his retirement by Springfield’s construction manager Brian Hadden (above) while work colleagues and site managers turn out in force (below) with Brian, contracts manager Eck Patterson and board director James Adam to wish him well after long service with the company.

Dining OutOn ChoicesSuccess

Dining OutOn ChoicesSuccess

Dining OutOn ChoicesSuccessCHOICES has been one of our biggest success stories in selling homes in the North and South.

Both of our regional sales managersand their teams realise the power of this customer-friendly marketing tool and have lots of evidence to prove our clients love the flexibility and quality if delivers when it comes to personalis-ing their new home.

But before it could become thesuccess it undoubtedly is a dedicated Larbert-based team had to work had on introducing Choices to ensure it produced what it promised.

Now, with the fruits of Choices clearfor all to see, that team are feasting on their success.

That’s why sales director TriciaMalek, sales administrator Ruth Whyte; Choices co-ordinators Lynn Houston and Charlotte Murru; Central sales manager Laura Mitchell; graphics designer Martin Crossley and sales administrator Lyndsay Pettigrew are going for a three-course meal at the lovely Airth Castle Hotel.

It’s a treat in recognition of theirHerculean efforts in introducing Choices across our Central Scotland sites – a feature that has been tremendously successful and substantially boosted sales inCentral Scotland.

Look out next month for a photo ofthis trust team enjoying their evening treat!

SALES teams are continuing to do well in the South where business has doubled since this time last year.

Our Larbert-based southern area salesmanager Laura Mitchell says: "We feel really upbeat. Sales in the South are double what they were and interest in sites like Riverside point at Braehead and Silver Birth Park in Motherwell are really good."

The successful Choices programme continuesto deliver positive customer feedback and potential clients using the new MI New Home scheme are being processed as this new mortgage route gets established.

MI New Home scheme is suitable for first-timebuyers or existing home owners based in Scotland.

People who can afford a mortgage, but can'tpay a large upfront deposit for a low-deposit mortgage with an attractive interest rate, can get substantial help through this initiative.

Our new Powderhall Gate development in theheart of Edinburgh has been released and interest is high in its five town houses and 80 apartments.

Kinloch Gardens at Blairgowrie andKilwinning’s Whitehirst Grange forging ahead with excellent reservation numbers while our new sales executives in the south – LewisMurphy, Sharon Conway and ChristineMalcolmson – are settling in well.

IN the North sales are still moving ahead, though not at the pace of the South.

But sales manager Joyce Napier says: “Footfall at all of our sites is good and we’re working hard to turn enquiries into reservations and sales.

"Mortgages are a continuing problem for a lotof potential buyers – it’s not that they don’t want to buy.

"Compared to this time last year our sales areup and I’m pleased about that. Duncanshill in Elgin is sold out and other sites likeKnockomie Meadows in Forres are attractinga lot of interest."

All Masters - Of Course!

There’s Good ‘Mews’ for CorstorphineThere’s Good ‘Mews’ for CorstorphineThere’s Good ‘Mews’ for Corstorphine

Upbeat SalesDown SouthUpbeat SalesDown SouthUpbeat SalesDown South

Street Pastors’ Boost

Thanks to the £500 we raised through our luxury Loch Ness Lodge draw last month volunteers from the multi-denominational Falkirk-based Street Pastors have seen their funds grow by £250. Here our chairman Sandy Adam (right) hands over a cheque for that amount to Street Pastor John Stark watched by our Larbert-based receptionist Marion Paterson who works with the charity in the local area. Street Pastors are an international organisation who patrol town centres helping people with problems and offer assistance and support to the police and other emergency services. Our £250 cheque will help train one Street Pastor.

SteadyUp NorthSteadyUp NorthSteadyUp North

THIS year’s Springfield Masters took place at Elgin Golf Club and a break in the weather delivered fine golfing conditions for the 16staff competing for the coveted hi-vis jacket!

In a close run affair our civil foreman BillJohnston triumphed in the individual event witha total of 36 Stableford points. But the mendidn’t have it all their own way - our friendly receptionist Anne Sullivan did her talking on the course to take the first female prize.

SPRINGFIELD is just about to release our fabulous development of 11 unashamedly modern town houses in an ever-popular Edinburgh location.

Corstorphine is a bustling neighbourhood to the west of EdinburghCity Centre which is a must-have address for commuters to Glasgow.

Our development at Corstorphine Mews has been designed bywell-known Edinburgh-based architect Susan Steven and with final planning permission now granted and more than 20 notes of interest from prospective buyers it’s clear this contemporary development of very desirable town houses featuring stylish zinc-cladding will be a great sales success story.

Civils director Bob McLeod delighted thespectators with a grandstand finish, almost holing his second shot on the 18th that earned his group the team prize.

It was fantastic to see a number of staffwho have just taken up the sport play this year, all scoring well and contributing to their respective teams. It bodes well for a great competition next year.

This CGI of Corstorphine Mews shows off its cutting edge architecture.

So long, it’s beengood to know you!So long, it’s beengood to know you!So long, it’s beengood to know you!

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Kit Pride And aSaltire Fellow HelpSpringfield MarchInto The Future

Kit Pride And aSaltire Fellow HelpSpringfield MarchInto The Future

Kit Pride And aSaltire Fellow HelpSpringfield MarchInto The FutureTHE 42nd issue of On-Site recognises valuable past service, current staff skills and looks ahead to find out how best to stay the best in providing Scotland with high-efficiency new homes.

As one of our longest-serving workers steps into awell-deserved retirement we take a look into the future of house-building in Scotland and strike out with a Saltire Fellow to find how we should be bringing Springfield’s latest generation of highly-efficient new homes to our clients.

With demanding new building regulations heading thehouse-building industry’s way between 2013 and 2016 we need to be in a position to be offering the very best in top efficiency, sustainable housing that meets the needs of Scotland’s people.

Springfield has already been awarded a Scottish Government Gold Active Building Standards Sustainability Certificate for an environmentally friendly new home – and from January Saltire Fellow Mike Brookes will join us for three months to help us forge even further ahead in the area of bringing sustainable homes to market.

With the Scottish construction industry continuing to be sluggish it is still no time to be complacent as we push ahead with selling homes ahead of our competition.

Helping keep that positive feeling going is the success of our ‘Choices’ programme – a remarkable marketing model that has proved to be a real winner with our clients and shows how Springfield both innovates and delivers.

The past year and more has been difficult for the entire UK house building industry, but our combination of choice and value is having a positive impact among buyers who clearly like the product we deliver.

When you see our developments, their quality andsustainability, it’s clear why sales are so good and demand in a tough market is being maintained.

Given the right circumstances and careful decisions we will continue to make the company grow – especially with our expanded reach across Scotland.

Sites in Central continue to produce sales and Moray is now welcoming 700 Army personnel who are moving into Kinloss Barracks as part of 39 Engineer Regiment move North from Cambridgeshire.

It’s all good news.

All our teams are rising to fresh challenges and we aremaximising opportunities for the years ahead which includes continuing to buy land for future develop-ments while values are low.

Remember ‘On-Site’ keeps you up to date with lots ofSpringfield news. It is your newsletter and if you hear of something you think could be of interest contact us by calling Jane Innes at the Head Office or drop her a line at Alexander Fleming House.

Springfield Properties manager Dave Main (left) with the chairman of the Moray Economic Partnership, Jim Royan (second left) and stafffrom Springfield’s house kit manufacturing facility in Elgin. The lorry in the background carries a banner proudly proclaiming the load as‘Another High Quality Moray Export’ - a message that will be carried on every delivery vehicle.

Made in Moray,and Proud Of It!Made in Moray,and Proud Of It!

SPRINGFIELD Properties’ workshop is turning out up to 400 house kits every year that proudly carry the "Made in Moray" message as they are delivered around the country.

What started as a modest operation withjust three joiners now has a staff of eight at Glassgreen producing the high-quality timber kits that form the core structure of Springfield homes on sites around Scotland.

Our manager responsible, Dave Main,says the production system gives Springfield complete control over a high quality product and delivery times. It is highly efficient so that a home ordered on a Monday at Elgin can be on site and awaiting erection anywhere in Scotland within five days.

In recent months the kit manufacturingworkshop has begun to absorb all the work generated by Springfield house sales across Scotland and become so busy that it has outgrown its current

busy that it has outgrown its currentpremises and will move to a new location at Birnie by the end of the year.

"From now on every kit that heads out ofour workshop will carry a large banner identifying it as a product of Moray," said Dave.

"We’re proud of the quality and quantityof kits Springfield Properties is manufacturing at Elgin and feel it’s onlyright that we carry a message about the kit’s Moray origin on the delivery vehicles that road them to our sites all over Scotland."

Chairman of the Moray Economic Partnership, Jim Royan, attended our launch of the ‘Made in Moray’ banners and said: "Like many Moray businesses Springfield Properties continue to demonstrate ambition and vision despite the current economic pressures.

"This branding initiative reminds the restof Scotland, and further afield, that a brand value of Moray is 'quality' based on skills and materials.

"This important message on the move isanother useful tool which will help deliver Moray's new Economic Strategy."

Made in Moray,and Proud Of It!

Right RoyalPortrait OfBalmoralCastle

Right RoyalPortrait OfBalmoralCastle

Right RoyalPortrait OfBalmoralCastle

Talent Worthy of David Bailey!Talent Worthy of David Bailey!LEFT: Gary’s shot ofLossiemouth’s East Beachcaptures the bleached timbersof the old Lossie Riverwalkway on the left to theboulder-strewn foregroundand the chill sky and wavesof the Moray Firth.

RIGHT:Our forklift driver shows

off his talent for colour anddetail in this moody view of a

wind-swept Loch Affric – rightdown to a carefully-arranged

tower of stones in the rightforeground.

RIGHT: Gary’s fine contrasty study of Balmoral Castle brings out the starkness of itspowerful architecture and granite construction with a subtle dash of colourintroduced by highlighting its creeping ivy and the copper-sheathed roof of aturret on the right.

IonaAbbeyIn TheFrame

IonaAbbeyIn TheFrame

Talent Worthy of David Bailey!

Banner Man MotorsSouth With Our TimberKit Home Message

Banner Man MotorsSouth With Our TimberKit Home Message

Banner Man MotorsSouth With Our TimberKit Home Message

This beautiful picture of one of Scotland’s most iconic religious buildings is another stunning example of Gary Paul’s photography skills.

The burial place of kings and many involved in bringing Christianity to the North has been photographed many millions of times by visitors, but this crisp shot looking east with its vibrant green foreground and a breathtaking sky proves that a master lensman has been at work.

IonaAbbeyIn TheFrame

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Chairman of the Moray Economic Partnership, Jim Royan, attended our launch of the ‘Made in Moray’ banners and said: "Like many Moray businesses Springfield Properties continue to demonstrate ambition and vision despite the current economic pressures.

"This branding initiative reminds the restof Scotland, and further afield, that a brand value of Moray is 'quality' based on skills and materials.

"This important message on the move isanother useful tool which will help deliver Moray's new Economic Strategy."

Saltire Fellow Will Help Guide UsTowards The FutureSaltire Fellow Will Help Guide UsTowards The FutureSaltire Fellow Will Help Guide UsTowards The Future

From January Saltire Fellow Mike Brooke will be helpingSpringfield deliver to the market vital high-efficiency homesthat will meet stringent new building regulations.

After being selected as a Fellow for the Saltire Foundation’s 2012-13 programme for entrepreneurial leadership and being awarded a scholarship by the Scottish Government to complete the eight-month programme with a focus on the sustainable housing sector he said: "My goal is to work with Springfield and other entrepreneurs who share my passion to deliver sustainable business growth through innovative services or products, ideally in a sector that delivers something worthwhile to the local and global community.

Under the Fellowship programme worth £70,000 Mike iscurrently studying in the USA at Babson Business College one of the world’s top ranking business colleges. Study is intensive and living up to expectations of broadening his business knowledge in every aspect, "Everything is going great, I can't believe I am more than a month into the already. It’s flying by as we're learning, meeting and working on so many new and exciting things every day - all day!"

It’s all go at Springfield too as a team works on the basicsthe project so that Mike hits the ground running when he arrives early next year.

Housing Minister Keith Brown said: "The SaltireFellowships are a world class initiative combining the best of business teaching with very practical experience.

"This is an excellent opportunity to work with them towardsthe common purpose of helping Scottish companies to create a vibrant, low carbon house-building sector which will create jobs and stimulate wider economic growth."

Sandy Kennedy, chief executive of the Saltire Foundation,said: "The involvement of Saltire Fellows in such an important sector is an excellent example of the Scottish Government becoming entrepreneurial in its own right.

"It demonstrates that government does not necessarily to do everything itself, but can be more effective by enabling professionals within different sectors to help achieve mutually desirable aims."

As well as helping Springfield towards Government targetsfor eliminating fuel poverty by 2016, it is hoped that the initiative will encourage Scottish companies who have developed innovative green technologies to expand into a wider market in the rest of the UK and internationally.

Achieving this aim is the goal of the second ScottishGovernment Fellow who will bring fresh insights into the global potential for domestically-based eco and energy efficient systems during his placement with CCG, the kit manufacturer who supplied the kits for our housing showcase homes at Dunfermline .

ONE of two Saltire Fellows sponsored by the ScottishGovernment will be helping Springfield Properties rise to the challenge of building highly energy efficient low and zero carbon homes on a commercial scale.

The Fellows spend a year under the tutelage of The SaltireFoundation, an organisation which seeks out Scotland's next generation of business leaders and nurtures them through an intensive year of study and industrial placement. In a move to promote the building of super energy efficient homes in Scotland the two Scottish Government sponsored fellows will work on energy efficient housing projects.

According to Tom Leggeat our Partnerships Director atSpringfield,“Building homes which are far more affordable to run in terms of energy consumption addresses environmental concerns and creates even more value for our customers. It is easy to build a zero carbon home, the challenge is building these homes commercially on a wide scale. We have already dipped our toe in the water by building the first 2016 compliant home at the Fife Housing Fair, now we need to take that work a few steps further.”

Mike Brooke will join Springfield in January for threemonths to work on a project which addresses this challenge. Mike, who lives in Glasgow and has held a number of senior design and marketing communications positions and is an accomplished project manager with particular experience in managing teams and complex communication projects.

BELOW: Gary climbed aboard a friend’s microlite to get these shots of work in progress at Springfield’s Waulkmill site in Elgin.

We all know that the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award challenges young people and in Moray the organisation is about to challenge even more young people in partnership with Springfield. Recognising the value of the work of Duke of Edinburgh’s, which relies heavily on volunteers, Sandy Adam our chairman has offered funding which will substantially increase the number of young participants in Moray.

Over the next few months in On Site we’re going to be

finding out a lot more about the awards and the

organisation behind them. Aimed at helping young people

develop the skills and attitudes they need to succeed in life

the programme supports young people through big

challenges in the areas of volunteering, physical activity,

skills expedition and residential shared activity. We’ll be

looking at ways that you can help too as a volunteer or a

fundraiser and if you’re under 23 we’ll encourage you to

become a participant.

How did you do that?Gary Paul puts himself in the

picture standing on HopemanBeach with a striking Moray

sky forming a dramaticbackground.

TRUNDLING round our site at Duncanshill in Elgin is a man with a hidden talent.

Gary Paul is one of Springfield’s skilled plant drivers and hasmoved hundreds of tonnes of equipment and building materials in the 14 years the Elgin man has been with us.

You may not know it but when Gary climbs down from theforklift and heads home at the end of the working day he turns his attention to a passion that is moving people rather than building materials – photography.

Five years ago he took up digital photography as a hobby andtoday is turning out spectacular work in the air and on the ground, in the mountains and on the sea shore.

Equipped with his trusty Canon EOS 50D he travels far andwide looking for attractive subjects in the environment to capture on his memory card – and some of his results are stunning.

Here is a small selection of this talented amateur lensman’swork – from aerial shots of Springfield developments under construction in Moray to a world-famous Royal property presented in a superbly textured contrast style that shows off its fine architecture.

Forklift Driver Gary Exposes AForklift Driver Gary Exposes AForklift Driver Gary Exposes A

Mike To Join Team WorkingOn Our Environmental HomesMike To Join Team WorkingOn Our Environmental HomesMike To Join Team WorkingOn Our Environmental Homes

Springfield Sponsoring Duke ofEdinburgh Awards Scheme in MoraySpringfield Sponsoring Duke ofEdinburgh Awards Scheme in MoraySpringfield Sponsoring Duke ofEdinburgh Awards Scheme in Moray

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Proudly FlyingThe Flag For TheEnvironment AtWhitehirst

Proudly FlyingThe Flag For TheEnvironment AtWhitehirst

Proudly FlyingThe Flag For TheEnvironment AtWhitehirst

Long After Hand Overs OurAuld Reekie DevelopmentStays In The Awards Spotlight

No Stopping Brunstane’sWinning Ways

Fencing Foreman AustinShrugs Off ‘Good Samaritan’Act At Alness

Fencing Foreman AustinShrugs Off ‘Good Samaritan’Act At Alness

Fencing Foreman AustinShrugs Off ‘Good Samaritan’Act At Alness

Does AnyoneKnow aYoungSportingScot?

Does AnyoneKnow aYoungSportingScot?

Does AnyoneKnow aYoungSportingScot? IT was a proud day at Kilwinning’s Whitehirst

Park Primary School on September 3 when they hoisted their flag to mark their environmental awareness.

Springfield Properties helped out theenvironmentally conscious primary pupils with some sponsorship and as a thankyou we were invited to attend the ceremonial hoisting of the green colours.

Along with school pupils, staff and parentsSpringfield staff from our nearby Whitehirst Grange development joined the celebrations as the Green Flag was unfurled at the top of the school flagpole.

The accolade was awarded in recognition ofpromoting environmental awareness.

Continuing our own support for the environment and the local community we were delighted to get involved and offered to recycle a flagpole to allow the school to fly their eco-flag with pride.

Long After Hand Overs OurAuld Reekie DevelopmentStays In The Awards SpotlightIT’S something when a development that’s fully occupied with all units handed over is still picking up awards.

But that is what is happening at our popularEdinburgh apartments long after Springfield completed the project.

Popular from day one and already a site that washeaped with praise at the highest level, the 18 apartments in a sought-after location in the Capital has landed another award.

This time the judging panel on the prestigious

DuncanshillDuo’s Strokeof Sales Genius

Springfield staff join youngsters from Whitehirst Park Primary School at theceremonial hoisting of their environmental flag.

TIMES may be tough for the house-building sector but two well-known staffers have proved that if you have the right product in the right place and sell it with the right approach, you can get stunning results.

That’s what our North sales manager Joyce Napier and our sales Cisca Camerondelivered after we put our beautiful Duncanshill development homes on the market.

In record time they managed to sell the entire development at New Elgin – 30excellent homes with the majority being detached bungalows standing in their own substantial garden.

It was a remarkable result – even for these two superb sales professionals.

To mark their achievement they have been rewarded with golf lessons for a fabuloussuccess in selling out Duncanshill in record time. Sales manager Joyce Napier and sales executive Cisca Cameron have been recognised for their

outstanding selling success on an Elgin site.

No Stopping Brunstane’sWinning Ways

Springfield’s finance director Innes Smith (right) is presented with the ScottishHomes Awards Apartment of the Year accolade for our Brunstane development.

Scottish Home Awards were so impressed by our open-plan layouts which maximised the living area that they awarded Brunstane their Apartment of the Year Award.

The judges said the level of choice meant ourcustomers could "really personalise their new home."

The award was picked up at the Scottish HomeAwards annual presentation ceremony by finance director Innes Smith.

OUR quick-thinking fencing foreman Austin Robertson is a hero in the eyes of an Alness family.

Working with his five-man squad at ourPaddock development in the Ross-shire town recently Austin was just heading off site for a sandwich when he spotted a young girl at the window of a house.

"She was obviously in distress and shoutingat the top of her voice," said Austin. "Clearly

something was wrong."

Austin, from Dufftown, walked to the frontof the house where the girl was screaming hysterically: "Please come and help my mum!"

The house was locked but through thewindow he could see the 10-year-old girl’s mother lying on the floor.

"The house was locked so I had to ask theyoung girl to unlock the door to let me in," said Austin.

Inside he checked the lady and found she was breathing but not fully conscious.

"I immediately called the ambulance andcalmed her daughter and made the lady as comfortable as possible with a pillow and a blanket," said Austin. "I stayed with her as she regained some consciousness and I told her who I was, reassured her that medical help was on the way and that she’d be OK."

The modest hero said what he did was"nothing special".

He told On-site: "All I did was the kind ofthing I’d expect any human being to do."

The grateful mother, Kizzy McCrossan,was taken to Raigmore Hospital at Inverness and made a full recovery.

Kizzy wrote to us to praise Austin’s actionsand thank him for helping her daughter and taking care of her until an ambulance arrived.

She said: "I can't begin to tell you howgrateful I am for Austin’s help. What he did

was excellent and would like to thank him personally. In these times we are often too quick to complain about things but never compliment good doings.

"I just wanted to let you know how fantasticyour employee is and say that I will not forget him for his kindness."

His Good Samaritan actions brought Austina well-deserved thank you card and gift from Kizzy and, from Springfield, a pass for his favourite Scottish ski-ing centre where he plans to indulge his passion for snowboarding.

Modest Hero To The Rescue!

WE’VE all been inspired by the Olympics – and now we’re looking forward to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

To keep the enthusiasm going andencourage young sportsmen and women to achieve the best they can, Springfield would like to help an aspiring member of Team Scotland – and you can help.

If you know of any young Scot who isworking hard to have a good chance of being selected to represent Scotland at the Games then On-Site wants to hear from you.

If we get a good response it may well help ayoung Scot move closer to a dream and allow us to give him or her a helping hand.

If you know of anyone in the sporting fieldwho fits the bill contact Jane Innes jane@springfield.co.uk or 01343552550 and we’ll get the ball rolling.

Well done Austin!

Long After Hand Overs OurAuld Reekie DevelopmentStays In The Awards Spotlight

No Stopping Brunstane’sWinning Ways