From flip flops to hats, we’re open for business
Creative ladies are the latest InCube recruits
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Lynsey Gair Lynsey Gair
A fifth round of entrepreneurs has taken the first steps to develop their businesses with the help of Renfrewshire Council.
InCube is an innovative business support programme, developed by Invest in Renfrewshire, where local creative start- ups can benefit from support to improve their growth.
Based in Paisley High Street, InCube provides talented creatives with the means and confidence to showcase their products, as well as providing them with the support and guidance to take their business further.
The entrepreneurs benefit from a package of support for up to nine months including free office and meeting space in Paisley town centre and one- to- one mentoring and coaching.
They also gain access to funding opportunities, a range of workshops and high profile networking events.
Also present at InCube are Business Gateway and Prince’s Trust Scotland - meaning creatives can access business start- up support in a supportive environment.
Designer Sarah Johnstone, of FlipFlop Design Shop, felt the InCube programme was a great opportunity to take on board valuable knowledge from experts and apply it to her own business, creating personalised flip flops.
Sarah said: “It’s perfect for networking and learning alongside other creative, inspirational and like-minded people who have the same goal.”
As part of the programme, the businesses have the opportunity to have their products available for sale within the dedicated InCube shop at 9B Gilmour Street.
During this time they are responsible for ensuring they can fulfil customer orders made within the shop to a high standard.
Designer Caitlin Mooney runs Woolybox - a crochet subscription box service.
She applied to InCube as she was struggling to understand the legal matters of running your own business and, after losing her job, was keen to start focusing on something creative.
“I’m excited to see what my business holds for me in the future and hope that one day I can be my own full time boss,” she said.
Other businesses supported in this round are children’s clothing brand Atelier Eva Art, textiles and homewares brands Obsidian Ore and Church &
A crooked electrician who tricked pensioners out of thousands of pounds has been jailed for two years.
Robert Vize, 31, conned a frail 87-year-old pensioner into handing over £25,000 for work that was never completed.
Paisley couple William and Mary Robertson were among his victims.
Vize was hired to carry out electrical and renovation work for 87- year- old James Fisher at his Rutherglen home.
But instead of finishing the work he Jones, milliner Roberta Simpson, art inspired fashion designer Soheila Kenyani and Handmade Moments who specialise in teddy bears, jewellery and cards.
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “InCube has been a tremendous success with local creatives being supported and nurtured to showcase their products and advance their business to the next level.
“It is important that we continue to support this innovative community who
repeatedly took the OAP to the bank to withdraw money and gave him hand written receipts - for work that was never carried out between September 2016 and April 2017.
Callous Vize also pocketed cash from others including: £600 from 81-year-old James Higgins; £950 from Susan Goldie,from Cambuslang; £1,800 from the Robertsons and £900 from Richard and Angela Murphy, from Bishopbriggs.
After a trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court, Vize, from Port Glasgow, was convicted of five are producing exceptional products and who will help establish Paisley as a place where creativity thrives.”
As part of the programme, the businesses are asked to act as an advocate for InCube and often take an active role in promoting and selling their own products through taking stalls at Renfrewshire Council events and holding workshops.
For further information on Incube and to find out how to get involved, visit www.incube.ren
fraud charges for taking cash for electrical work that he “did not undertake or complete”.
Yesterday Sheriff Alan MacKenzie told Vize: “I consider that the gravity of this offence is such that no disposal is appropriate other than a custodial one.”
He added that some of Vize’s victims were “particularly vulnerable because of their age”.
The court heard Vize was described as “having a history of being hard working” and continues to deny his guilt .