McGill owner acquires heating company

THE owner of Dundee building services company McGill has acquired one of Scotland’s largest central heating and electrical service firms.

McGill owner United Capital has acquired 100% ownership of Glasgowbased Saltire Facilities Management, a company with 320 employees and annual turnover of about £30 million.

It i s the third major acquisition by United Capital, controlled by Graeme Carling, in just over a year.

After acquiring t he assets of McGill f rom administration in March last year, the company acquired Forfar-based Alliance Electrical at the end of last year.

Earlier this year Mr Carling said he planned to acquire several other UK building services and facilities management companies over the next three years with the aim of reaching a collective turnover of £300m.

He said: “Our team is delighted to get this deal over the line.

“Saltire is an exciting addition to the United Capital family.

“Saltire is exactly the type of business that we are looking to acquire.

“It is a profitable business, delivers facilities management services on large public sector contracts and most importantly has a solid and vastly experienced management team leading the company.

“The existing staff, operatives and management will remain in place.

“Saltire’s customers will continue to receive exceptional service from the same fully qualified and experienced team.

“The United Capital board of directors will be on hand to support and grow the company moving forwards.”

Saltire Facilities Management was founded in 2000 as a public/private partnership with North Lanarkshire Council to operate as an in-house facilities division, which was later sold by to the major shareholder.

It is one of the UK’s largest central heating and electrical service providers with offices across Scotland and the southwest of England.

AN animal lover is taking people on a virtual tour of her 47 years with the Scottish SPCA.

Sharon Comrie (pictured) is the animal welfare charity’s longest-serving member of staff, and will next week give people in lockdown a chance to see behind the scenes at the Scottish SPCA.

Over the years Sharon has held a number of different roles – she started off as a volunteer and has worked as the animal rescue and rehoming centre superintendent, and is now the charity’s head of partnership relations.

She said: “I’m over the moon to be able to host

A M U M- OF-T WO drunkenly drove into the path of pol ice officers after escaping a blazing row with her ex-partner.

Niki Taylor was almost five times the legal limit when she was stopped on South Ward Road after a night out in Dundee city centre.

The 37-year-old had been out with friends, but the night turned sour when her ex-partner appeared at the bar where they had been drinking.

Taylor then got into her car and drove a short distance to the city’s nightclub hotspots – where she was quickly stopped by police.

Prosecutor Jill Drummond told Dundee Sheriff Court: “At 1.10am officers saw the vehicle driven at the locus.

“The reason for stopping was due to apparent damage to the front nearside wheel.

“The accused was asked to give a specimen of breath and thereafter arrested.”

Taylor, of Mossgiel Crescent, pleaded guilty to driving with 97 microgrammes of alcohol in 100