AVC PR Partnership

Aberdeen based AVC Media Enterprises has successfully supplied over £2,300 Audiovisual equipment free of charge to students of The Robert Gordon University (RGU), in support of an innovative campaign to raise funds for local cancer support charity CLAN.

AVC’s Audiovisual team worked closely with students of RGU’s Business School for three months on an ongoing basis in preparation of the carnival themed fashion show, with skilled technicians helping to plan, create, install and manage the project to a professional standard. Culminating in excess of £6,450 being raised, the fashion show was an astounding success, and underlined the materials, equipment and technical expertise available at AVC.

Daniel Baker, AVC Audiovisual Technician comments: “We were approached by the university to supply and install equipment for the event and decided instantly it was something we wanted to get involved in. CLAN is an independent charity which offers invaluable support to those affected by cancer in the North of Scotland, and we were thrilled to be offered the chance to help raise funds and awareness for such an important cause. Continuing Daniel explained:

“Initially I met with the students to discuss their thoughts and ideas, and was able to quickly establish the type of equipment and technology that would be required, and would work best. At AVC we don’t believe in off-the-shelf solutions. We know that each job requires a tailored solution, and time was taken to establish which services would deliver the best result for the students. A high impact, carnival style display was the brief, and to achieve this, we provided a variety of cutting edge sound and vision equipment, as well as technical support and mentoring in the lead up and during the event. Our event manager also got involved, overseeing the technical aspect for the event whilst ensuring all health and safely procedures were followed.”

Jo Royle, Subject Leader for the Department of Communication & Media at RGU comments:

“The ongoing mentoring and support kindly offered by the professionals at AVC was invaluable and gave the students a real insight into the technical elements of an event. A number of students were given the added responsibility of assisting with the operation of Plasma Screens, cameras and sound equipment on the night, giving them unique hands on experience which will be hugely beneficial as they progress in the future.”

AVC recently received the accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practice amongst UK contractors. With over 20 years experience in all aspects of audiovisual provision, AVC has built a credible reputation, providing the best audiovisual equipment to clients throughout the UK onshore and offshore.

AVC Media Enterprises is set to build on its recent growth in 2008 with a £3 million extension underway at its Altens-based facility, due for completion in summer.

Aberdeen-based Specialist Cars Volkswagen has been short-listed by the Motor Trader Industry Awards for most improved business 2008.

The Motor Trader Awards recognise and reward excellence and innovation in and around the industry, fast becoming one of the ‘must have’ awards since they began 18 years ago. The most improved business award will be presented to the retailer or repairer that can prove clear management driven change over the past two years. Specialist Cars Volkswagen is enthusiastic towards its short-listed status for the award.

Martin Shaw, Managing Director of John Clark Motor Group’s Specialist Cars division comments:

“Specialist Cars Volkswagen has achieved considerable success over the past two years, increasing volumes and profits across our sales, after-sales and parts departments. This has lead to the dealership becoming the leading Volkswagen outlet in the Northeast of Scotland – a significant achievement in itself. We have also seen significant improvement within our Volkswagen Van Centre, achieving considerable sales figures for vans and light commercial vehicles in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

“We are delighted to have been short-listed for such an important award which is recognised across the UK’s motor industry. Our short-listing for this award signifies that the dealership is being recognised for its hard work and initiative by some of the leading figures in the industry. To achieve an award for the dealerships’ efforts would be a great reward to all those who have worked to improve Aberdeen’s only Volkswagen outlet – we look forward to the night.”

The award, sponsored by Autoprotect will be presented to the winning outlet at a gala dinner on Wednesday, July 16 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. With over 1,300 professionals from the motor industry the awards are one of the largest awards events in the automotive retailing calendar.

The John Clark Motor Group operates the BMW and Mini dealerships in Aberdeen and Dundee. It also has all five mainstream Volkswagen Group brands – Audi, SEAT, Skoda Volkswagen and Volkswagen Vans with dealerships in Aberdeen, Dundee and Kirkcaldy. In Edinburgh the group has Pentland Land Rover and the Edinburgh Van Centre dealership for Volkswagen light commercial vehicles.

A city centre bar and restaurant which was once one of Aberdeen’s most popular venues is set to return to its heyday after being purchased by new owners.

The new premises, to be named Society Bar & Restaurant, are located on Union Street at its junction with Diamond Street. The bar and night spot which formerly traded as Café Ici, was owned and operated by local businessmen and was one of the city’s busiest venues in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Over the last decade Café Ici was operated on behalf of a national brewery chain, but the building has been purchased in its entirety from S&N Enterprises and following a comprehensive refurbishment, it will once again be run on a local basis.

The new owners are investing a substantial amount in the building to create a high quality bar and restaurant which will open its doors with a completely new look and style this summer. A high quality nightclub is planned for later this year.

This is a first venture into the leisure market for Kirk Harrison, Andy Bird and Steve Donnelly, who are successful business people in their own right, in the residential mortgage, computer software and property development markets.

“This was once a destination venue which set the standard in the pub & leisure scene in Aberdeen,” commented Kirk Harrison. “It was extremely popular and much admired in its early days for its flair and style. We intend to bring it back to those glory days, and have gone to great lengths to ensure that it will be high quality, yet contemporary, with a high standard of venue and gourmet bistro menu.”

Refurbishment work is already under way, as is recruitment of good quality staff. Society bar & restaurant is expected to open in June this year.

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For further information:

Neil Robertson
PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
neil@prpartnership.co.uk

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF SOCIETY BY
THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD

Note to Editors

Café Ici was opened in 1986 by George Tester and George Stewart, who established a number of leisure venues in Aberdeen, all of a quality nature.

Proserv’s Scottish-based Abandonment and Decommissioning strategic business unit (SBU), has been awarded a US$7 million contract for platform decommissioning projects in the Gulf of Mexico. The contract involves the abandonment of two platforms along with associated wells, plus the removal of pipelines and subsea tie-ins for a major independent oil and gas company based in the Gulf of Mexico.

Following Proserv’s recent acquisition of leading well abandonment and decommissioning specialist, Twachtman Snyder and Byrd (TSB), it is significant for Proserv that this contract includes project management, in addition to contracting capacity. TSB has specialist knowledge in these areas, accumulated over 20 years, and its services will complement the decommissioning capabilities already on offer by Proserv’s newly formed Abandonment and Decommissioning division.

Commenting on the contract, Huey Kliebert, Vice President of Abandonment Services at Proserv said: “This contract underlines the added strength that Proserv Abandonment and Decommissioning SBU can bring to such projects, following the acquisition of TSB.

“The added dimension of TSB means we can now offer market-leading project management services to Proserv’s already established contracting capacity. Working as one team, this combination of expertise and resource is focussed on managing any abandonment and decommissioning project safely, on time and within budget.

“This unique ability, combined with strategically placed geographical bases, positions Proserv Abandonment and Decommissioning as not only as a leader in the Gulf of Mexico, but around the world.”

The Gulf of Mexico contracts are due to take place concurrently in both the Ship Shoal and High Island blocks, where water depths are 37 feet (11 metres) and 194 feet (59 metres) respectively.

Proserv Abandonment and Decommissioning will provide full marine management of the project. This includes simultaneously mobilising the appropriate lift boats, the well abandonment personnel and the required equipment to carry out decommissioning and structural removal at both locations.

Once these stages are complete, Proserv will co-ordinate the use of a 1,300-ton derrick barge, diving crew and dive support vessel for the removal of the platform and for the abandonment of the pipeline and associated subsea tie-in.
Once all the removal and abandonment works are complete, the project will be concluded with a comprehensive site clearance programme.

Proserv Far East Pte. has signed a strategic agreement with Tanjung Offshore Services Sdn Bhd, strengthening the position of Proserv’s Scottish headquartered Abandonment and Decommissioning Strategic Business Unit (SBU) in the highly active Malaysian oil and gas market.

Tanjung Offshore, which specialises in providing customised engineered equipment, project management, maintenance and parts, plus additional support services to oil and gas markets will be Proserv’s agent in the region.

Proserv will benefit from having a central Kuala Lumpur base, helping the SBU to expand considerably in the Malaysian market. The agreement is the latest step for Proserv to create the world’s most comprehensive abandonment and decommissioning company.
To facilitate the introduction of the SBU in this region, Proserv has appointed Mike Urbigkit as General Manager for the Kuala Lumpur operations. Speaking from his new base in Tanjung’s headquarters, he said:

“The partnership with Tanjung Offshore Services is strategically important for Proserv because it’s a company that’s already well established in the area, and will provide us with a new network of locations. We already have facilities in Australia and Singapore, but the base in Kuala Lumpur will give us a better reach into the large Malaysian market, placing us in a stronger position to serve existing clients and follow up new leads.”

Commenting on the new agreement, Omar bin Khalid, Tanjung’s Managing Director said:
“I am extremely positive about the prospects the partnership will bring. We have targeted a number of projects for Proserv’s Abandonment and Decommissioning SBU, and there is considerable interest in its products and services.

“Already Proserv has secured one tender and two other projects of interest. With an active business development team in place, I am confident that together, a substantial hub will be established within the next 24 months.

The site of the former Donside Paper Mill in the Tillydrone area of Aberdeen is to be transformed into a new urban village, following the granting of planning consent by Aberdeen City Council’s planning committee today (April 24, 2008).

The approval of the planning application means that the 25-acre brownfield site of the former mill – which closed in 2001 – will be turned into 278 new homes, making it the largest affordable home development ever seen in North East Scotland.

The Donside Urban Village will be developed on behalf of four social housing providers – Tenants First Housing Co-operative, Aberdeenshire Housing Partnership, Grampian Housing Association and Langstane Housing Association – under the partnership umbrella of Devanha Ltd. The land for the development was purchased by Devanha with support from the Scottish Government’s Housing and Regeneration directorate.

Sandy Murray, Chief Executive of Tenants First, who is leading the Donside development on behalf of the Devanha partners, explains the significance of the Council’s approval of the village.

“The Donside Urban Village is the key to Devanha’s ambitions to develop new affordable homes in Aberdeen and it is an excellent example of local social housing providers working together with government at both national and local levels.

“The village is a flagship development for the Tillydrone area of the city and we believe it will be a catalyst for further regeneration within the local community. It will make a significant contribution to providing much needed high-quality, affordable homes in the city and it will create employment through the offices, shops and business units which will be built alongside the new houses.”

The Donside Urban Village will be a mixed tenure development providing affordable homes along with a number of properties for private purchase.

Combining flats with two, three and four-bedroom family homes and gardens, the Donside Urban Village has been designed by architects firm Halliday Fraser Munro, to reflect a traditional North-east townscape, with a grid of streets connecting the main village square, the various neighbourhoods and a number of courtyards and open spaces. To ensure that the village develops a real community identity, the plans also include some office space and business start up units, along with provision for neighbourhood shops.

The construction materials chosen for the development have been selected for their low energy usage and the homes will feature solar water heating along with particularly high levels of insulation. The developers are also considering a small scale hydro-electric plant on the old mill lade, which would produce around twice the electricity needed for the village.

Most of the existing mature trees on the site will be retained. A new riverside walkway, with an adjoining bistro, will connect with the existing paths around Seaton Park and link with the national cycle network. Devanha has also submitted a separate planning application for a hotel to the west of the village, which would follow the curve of the riverbank.

The streets within Donside Urban Village will be designated as ‘homezones’. Pioneered in the Netherlands, ‘homezones’ are designed to encourage residents to take time to stop and speak with their neighbours. Cars are allowed, but the design makes drivers feel they are guests in an environment designed for people.

To encourage families to settle and make the Donside Urban Village their long-term home, the houses have been designed to be adaptable to meet the changing needs of families and individuals. Rooms will be capable of use as bedrooms, living rooms, or home offices and the homes can be modified or extended at a later date.

April, 24, 2008

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For further information:

Mark Guest
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
Mobile 07770 852105
mark@prpartnership.co.uk

Sandy Murray, Chief Executive
Tenants First
Tel 01224 628400
Mobile 07875 374116
smurray@tenantsfirst.com

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF DEVANHA LTD BY
THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD

The Academy shopping Centre in Aberdeen is re-launching its popular model competition in the hunt for fresh faces from across the city.

The competition, which launches today this week, is seeking models for The Academy’s next advertising campaign.

Now in its second year, the competition is designed to show the real people who shop in The Academy and so is split into several categories, including; young family (mum, dad and child/children), Business men/women and female and male shoppers of any age.

John Macfarlane, Manager of The Academy Shopping Centre comments: “The model competition is one of the main events in The Academy’s calendar. It allows us to give something back to all our regular customers with the opportunity to take part in a real photo shoot and TV ad campaign.

“The exposure our models receive throughout The Academy is great for those looking to make modelling a career. We were delighted to hear that last year’s winners, Rachel Shepherd and Ross Whyte will soon be shooting a fashion feature for Trend Magazine.”

The winners from each category in this year’s competition will receive shopping vouchers for The Academy and will feature on The Academy’s branding and ad campaigns both in the Centre and across a number of platforms including; press, magazine and on the city’s buses.

For the chance to be The Academy’s next top model, entrants are asked to post a photograph of themselves in the drop box located in The Academy, with their name and contact details. The competition is open to entrants over the age of 18 excluding the family category.

Having recently signed up surf wear store, Bite, The Academy now has 9 stores and 5 bar restaurants in its expanding portfolio.

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Notes to Editors

Pictures: Rachel Shepherd, winner of the 2007 Academy model competition. Download Hi-Res
The Academy Shopping Centre opened in 1998. It is owned by Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited and managed by Aberdeen – based Apardion. It contains 9 shopping units and 5 bar/restaurants.

Issued on behalf of The Academy by PR Partnership/AVC Media Enterprises. For more information please contact Lynsey Shepherd on 01224 248007, or email lshepherd@avcmedia.com.

AVC Media Enterprises has won a significant contract worth a potential £60,000 with global drilling contractors, Stena Drilling.

This significant win for the Aberdeen-based company which will see the Media Productions department produce a short film for the drilling giants, focusing on inductions to the company’s first fleet of drill ships; Stena DrillMax, Carron and Forth.

AVC’s production team has recently returned from initial filming at the Samsung shipyard in Korea and travel to Brazil later this year, with 3D animation work being completed in Norway.

Spencer Buchan, AVC Director comments: “This is a significant contract to AVC Media Productions, allowing us to showcase our skills and services. Our vast experience of filming in contrasting environments has allowed us to create a comprehensive and professional induction tool that can be used globally, providing information on the Stena Drillmax fleet.”

Stena Drilling has also commissioned this production to be translated into Spanish, Portuguese and French, due to the DrillMax fleet’s global remit.

Stena Drillmax is set to initially work in Brazil, with the other ships working in the Shetland Isles and Gulf of Mexico regions.

With the project due for completion by the end of March, this significant contract will assist in contributing to AVC’s turnover, set to exceed £12 million by the close of the financial year.

March 26, 2008

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For further information:

Lynsey Shepherd
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 217345
lynsey@prpartnership.co.uk

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF AVC MEDIA ENTERPRISES BY
THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD

The Proserv Group has strengthened its position in the instrumentation and calibration sector of the oil and gas industry with the acquisition of GM Engineering Ltd, a leading international provider of chemical injection pumping equipment.

Based in Aberdeen, the company is the largest of its kind in the UK, providing design, manufacturing, hire and service and repair of chemical pumping equipment to international markets in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Far East and Australia.

As a result of the acquisition, GM Engineering will become part of Proserv’s Instrumentation and Calibration strategic business unit (SBU).

“The purchase of GM Engineering is strategically important for Proserv Instrumentation and Calibration SBU as it provides us with a UK base for our mobile chemical injection pump division,” says Proserv’s Instrumentation and Calibration Senior Vice president, David Gray.

“The acquisition will further strengthen our position in this key market and will complement the services already on offer by Chemical Injection Equipment AS, the Norwegian company Proserv acquired last year.

“Our vision is to have each division within the Instrumentation and Calibration SBU fully operational throughout key geographical locations. We now offer a full suite of services from four locations within the UK, as well as being fully operational in Norway.

“We continue to grow, with two bases in Africa and plans to open a further three bases in the Middle East by the end of this year. Here in the UK, there will be a need to take on a number of workshop and engineering staff, and increase our recruitment targets for 2008.”

GM Engineering’s existing management team, including its co-founders, will continue to support and lead its operations, working together with the management group from Proserv’s Instrumentation and Calibration SBU.

Donald Morrison, Operations Director for GM Engineering comments:

“Our strengthened engineering capabilities enable us to increase the number of chemical injection systems manufactured in-house. This will reduce costs and streamline the core businesses. The acquisition will facilitate faster international expansion and provide a more comprehensive service for local and international customers.”

GM Engineering was founded in 1986 and has an in-house testing facility which specialises in the recalibration of gauges, hydrostatic testing and the recertification of pressure relief valves.

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For further information:

Ken McEwen
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 216067
Mobile 07768 105449
ken@prpartnership.co.uk

Emma Hogarty
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 216074
emma@prpartnership.co.uk

Gael Threipland
Proserv
Group Marketing
Tel 01224 280067
gael@proserv-group.com

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE PROSERV GROUP BY
THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD

NOTES FOR EDITORS

GM Engineering will be incorporated into Proserv’s Instrumentation and Calibration SBU, which offers accredited and onsite calibration services, mechanical and electrical testing, service and maintenance, and the hire and sale of a range of mechanical, chemical and electrical instrumentation systems.

Established for more than 30 years, The Proserv group of companies offers wide-ranging yet niche technical expertise to international oil and gas markets.

Focusing our services and products on the evolving challenges of the industry we offer international leadership across five Strategic Business Units:

• Test and Control Systems
• Instrumentation and Calibration
• Oil and Gas Sampling
• Abandonment and Decommissioning
• Speciality Machining

In April 2006 the Proserv Group was bought by the private equity player, Northern Industries, with support from leading Norwegian investors. Last year the company’s turnover was £87.7 million (NOK 950 million), with an expanding workforce of over 560.

Scotoil Services’ Cairo-based joint venture, Oilfield Environmental Services (OES) has been awarded a $1.3 million contract by Petrobel, one of the major oil and gas exploration and development companies in Egypt.

The contract, the first of its type for OES, will be managed by Petrosafe. It involves the removal and disposal of scale from oilfield equipment at the OES facility in 6 October City, an industrial city developed in the south west outskirts of Cairo.

OES was established in 2002 as a joint venture between Scotoil Services and local partner Mina Oil. The service OES provides is needed as a result of growing awareness of NORM (naturally occurring radioactive material), low levels of which may be found in oilfield scale. The material therefore has to be removed and disposed of in a monitored and controlled environment.

Commenting on the new contract, Gordon McLellan, Managing Director of Scotoil Services, said:

“At Scotoil Services we have more than 25 years’ experience in the monitoring, removal and disposal of NORM. Demand for that expertise is in increasing internationally.

“In addition to our joint venture company in Egypt, we have an active training division that runs courses, on an international basis, for operating personnel in the oil and gas industry. The NORM awareness courses ensure that people are aware of NORM and the procedures to implement the proper controls.

“Oilfield scale removal is an essential service for the oil and gas industry globally. Without it, scale would build up to the point where the equipment was no longer usable.”

Scotoil Services is based at Aberdeen Harbour and is only licensed and authorised operator for the removal and disposal of NORM scale in Scotland.

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For further information:

Ken McEwen
The PR Partnership
Tel 01224 248007
DD 01224 216067
Mobile 07768 105449
ken@prpartnership.co.uk

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF SCOTOIL SERVICES BY
THE PR PARTNERSHIP (SCOTLAND) LTD