Roving Reporter was delighted to hear this month from an Award winning business and a number of other ambitious business owners

1. Blue Star St Andrews is a small family-run home-care and cleaning service provider based at Slotline House, Largo Road, St Andrews. The company was established in 2014 by husband-and-wife team, David & Lou Rundle, who celebrated 6 years of business in March 2020.

On 23 February 2020 Blue Star St Andrews was fortunate enough to walk away with not one, but two awards at the Scotland Business Awards, held at Rothes Halls, Glenrothes. The first win of the night was Best Service Business in Fife, then they went on to receive the Consumers Award – this was a massive, very unexpected surprise, as the couple were only aware of the nomination for the first award! The Scotland Business Awards are voted for by the public, so it was a great honour for Blue Star not only to be nominated, but to go on and win. However, because of the current situation, the Grand Finale was put on hold, so they have to wait now to find out if they have won the national title.

Owner David commented, “It’s strange, looking back at the awards night and how we won two awards; who would have thought, as we sat there, that a few weeks later there would be an imposed lockdown, that Blue Star as a business would need to diversify and adapt to ensure it could survive. It has been exceedingly difficult for all businesses. We know that Blue Star has been extremely lucky to have made it through the lockdown with a business still intact.”

Blue Star St Andrews continued to deliver their home-care and shopping services throughout lockdown and were amazed to receive news that they had been shortlisted for yet another award – Family Business of the Year, in the 2020 Great British Entrepreneur Awards, sponsored by Starling Bank. These awards have gone digital this year – Blue Star will find out on 23 September if they have won – fingers crossed!

Owners David and Lou are optimistic about the future of their business. Whilst the awards and recognition are an added bonus, they know that they have been extremely lucky, not only to have a business, but to have an amazingly supportive staff, as well as loyal service users – for this they are extremely thankful.

David and Lou’s main vision is for Blue Star St Andrews to be recognised as a passionate and adaptable cleaning and home-care provider, offering elite quality services to support people in their own homes.

For more information visit our website – www.bluestarstandrew.com or call and have a chat with David or Lou on: 07565 849 015 / 07967 025 121.

2. Iain Holmes talks to Roving Reporter about his new business

From the soccer pitches of Southern California to the classrooms of North East Fife, I have been educating and coaching since my early 20s. Now a fully qualified teacher registered with the General Teaching Council of Scotland, I have decided to start up my own tutoring and sports coaching enterprise to give extra support to the children and young people of St Andrews, The East Neuk, and North East Fife.

Iain Holmes Academics and Sports aims to help children and young people realise their academic and sporting potential in a safe and supportive environment. With education recovery at the forefront of many minds due to the school closures in the first half of 2020, I have drawn upon all my experiences, training, and skills as a teacher and coach to provide personalised programmes to help those wishing to get back up to speed in their learning journey.

Having started life as a community coach with Aberdeen Football Club, I quickly began picking up qualifications in a variety of sports, including rugby, hockey, golf, leading to a coaching role with Active Schools Aberdeen, then eventually Active Schools Fife, when I moved back to the Kingdom. With Active Schools, I was given the opportunity to coach in schools, which sparked my interest in a career in education. Following a season coaching and managing soccer camps in the USA, I returned to train as a primary school teacher. This training took several forms, including a Pupil Support Assistant role in an Edinburgh primary school, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the University of Dundee, and a probation year teaching in a North East Fife primary school.

The goal of Iain Holmes Academics and Sports is to provide pupils with personalised tuition in areas that they require. Working with many children over the years, I found that they all have very different learning styles; this is why I intend to put the pupils first, when it comes to tailoring their learning sessions. As with all teachers across Scotland during the lockdown, I was heavily involved in delivering learning remotely. Therefore, I am also offering online learning, should any pupil feel that this would be a more effective and comfortable way to access their sessions.

My ultimate goal with Iain Holmes Academics and Sports is to be an addition to the education sphere in St Andrews, The East Neuk, and North East Fife. Using the Curriculum for Excellence as a guide, while staying abreast of the latest policy and developments in education and sports coaching, I will hopefully help pupils gain increased confidence in their abilities and realisation of their goals. For further information please go to: ihacademicsandsports@gmail.com and Facebook: @IainHolmesAcademicsandsports

3. Reporter learned that the Junor Gallery in South Street is moving online. Beth Junor writes: “It seems every time we turn on the news these days there are hundreds more jobs lost. In that context I count myself fortunate in many ways. My main news is that I’m moving my Gallery online for now, in adapting to current difficult circumstances. However, next spring and summer, I’ll have exhibitions in St Andrews again, but in different premises. So be sure to keep an eye on my website and social media for updates!” Beth also told Reporter that she has been learning how to make videos. “I’ve had a go already (nerve-wracking and enjoyable in equal measure!) Now I need to learn how to edit it all – wish me luck! Coming soon, as they say – some short films: poetry readings continuing my Gallery’s Art and Poetry theme; interviews with artists; studio insights; virtual tours of forthcoming exhibitions in pop-up galleries.” For further information, please go to: info@junorgallery.scot

Tel: +44 (0)7986 639 357 Reporter wishes Beth much success.

4. Reporter was delighted to hear from Caroline Trotter, www.carolinetrotter.co.uk :

“As a photographer I felt that I wanted to make some record of this extraordinary time in history, so I put out a message on the local community Facebook page to see if anyone would be interested in taking part.

The idea was that on my daily walk I would go by their house, keeping the social distancing rules, and take a quick photo on the doorstep, or in the garden of whoever was in the household. I explained that there was no need to think about it, just come out in whatever you are wearing and with any pets. I would take a picture from at least 6 feet away (I have a long lens!) The response was phenomenal, with over 130 people contacting me to say yes, and what a brilliant idea. One lady said it was the most exciting thing to have happened since lockdown began!! From my point of view it has been absolutely brilliant to chat to such a lot of lovely people I had never met before – and all local! It’s a unique time in our lives, which will hopefully never be experienced again.”

But needing to be recorded, says Reporter enthusiastically!

5. Another new business has successfully opened in St Andrews – Pipeland Laundry Services, a family business run by husband-and-wife team, Milena and Marek Malecka, which opened its doors in June, at 3 Pipeland Road. Milena told a pleased Reporter that she learned her trade “helping her husband to run a small cleaning business”. She has discovered, ”how to deal with busy schedules, successfully managing and prioritising the logistical aspects of the job.” As a result she says she “knows all too well how precious time is.” However, she is still keen to learn, which is why, with her husband helping, she “is currently completing SVQ training in laundering and ironing.” Milena also told Reporter, that their “Pipeland Laundry aspires to be a modern laundry, with traditional values, where consistency and being approachable are essential for building long-lasting customer relationships.” Open 6 days a week, Milena and Marek provide all laundry services, for both commercial and private customers. For more information please visit: www.pipelandlaundry.co.uk email: info@pipelandlaundry.co.uk

6. David Morris told a pleased Reporter that the NPH Cinema in North Street, St Andrews will be reopening on Friday, 18 September 2020. The programme wasn’t yet finalised, he said. However, for the newest information please go to: www.nphcinema.co.uk or email: Info@nphcinema.co.uk

7. Last, but not at all least, Ken Ng, owner of the New Dynasty Restaurant in Crails Lane, St Andrews, told Reporter that he will be closed over the coming holidays, but that he wishes everyone a Very Happy Christmas and New Year. He looks forward to opening again in 2021, when he will welcome all old and new customers for takeaway and sit-in delicious Chinese and Cantonese meals! Reporter says ‘Amen’ to that!