The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Games boost for Dovetail
DUNDEE’S DOVETAIL Enterprises is one of four supported businesses to benefit from £1 million of spending on the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, it has been revealed.
The Dunsinane Industrial Estate firm, which works with visually impaired and disabled staff, will supply desks and around 7,500 mattress protectors to the games’ athletes’ village after picking up two important contracts.
Sales and marketing manager Ann Jamieson said the deals had strengthened the business’s offer at a time when it had found the going tough.
“The market at the moment is challenging and winning business for Glasgow 2014 has given us all a lift,” she said.
“The eyes of the world will be focused on the games and having an involvement in it is a source of pride for our staff.
“Even more importantly it gives us a new dimension to our portfolio and experience in procuring for new business.”
She said the Dovetail team would be buoyed by knowing some of the world’s best athletes were using products manufactured in their workshop.
“It helps when the team understand how their products are being used,” Ms Jamieson added.
“Our part may be small but the games will have left an important legacy in our factory which will endure beyond this summer.”
Dovetail, which opened new showroom premises earlier this year following a £50,000 investment, is determined to grow its customer base with new products and a revised sales strategy.
Other benef iciaries of the deals announced yesterday include Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries (RSBi), which will produce curtains and provide an athletes’village logistics workforce, and Inverness-based Haven Products, which will produce 17,000 laundry bags for use by athletes.
North Lanarkshire Industries will distribute baton-bearer uniforms for the home leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay, and have also been contracted to provide 7,500 pillows to the event.
Games bosses said the deals were “further evidence” of a business legacy for Scotland.
Glasgow companies have won more than £180m in games-related contracts so far, but full statistics have not been revealed.
The country’s supported business sector employs around 1,000 people and has a combined turnover of more than £32m a year, supporting people with disabilities and providing a potential pathway into the open labour market.
Games chief financial officer Ian Reid said organisers were “delighted” at the award of the contracts.
“We are committed to there being a positive business legacy from the hosting of the games so that Scottish firms can share in and benefit from the biggest sporting and cultural event in the country’s history,” he said.